THE LONE OLD TIMER 20

luther rolled his bike to a stop in front of the bar in the ghost town of pearce. it was a tourist trap. the only folks who came here was the ones looking to see what the old west looked like pearce had been a busy gold mineing area in its day. now it was just a bunch of weathered old wooden buildings accross the street was a general store and museium. but this little bar still did well on weekends. but harry downs the owner kept it open 7 days a week. luther propped the bike on its kick stand and tried to look normal as he slowley walked in the front door. he seated himself on the bar stool closest to the door. harry came to serve him but he noticed right away something wrong with luther. luther asked for a beer. when harry served the beer luther took a swig of the cold beer." you know a old cowboy a old timer who runs cows around here? got gray hair." harry was instantly suspicious" yeah i know him, nams buck. he isnt as old as he looks. why?" " i heard he can be a bad guy to deal with if your rideing your bike on his land" luther lied. " oh i imagine so but i never heard of him haveing any problems. he s usually a pretty laid back guy.he s a super team rope i hear."harry smiled but was careful to not tell much to this guy. he looked pale and was weak. he was asking to much private information. "i gotta go" luther gulped the last of his beer. when he stood up he gripped the edge of the bar. his hand was bloody. with his right hand he dropped a couple bills on the bar to pay for the beer. " you alriht fella? want me to call a ambulance?"harry noticed a couple of red spots on luthers shirt. "na, i just had a bad spill, ill get home alright." luther weaved as he walked out the door to his bike. harry didnt see how he could hold the bike up but luther got it started and turnned it down the road toward treasure road we happeened to be going by when luther roared up treasure road. he did a double take as they passed. "ok fella, now i know where those blood stains came from." he watched luther in his rear view mirror.

THE LONE OLD TIMER 19

when wes and buck pulled up to the foot hills gate they got out and carefully walked to the blood slotches on the gate stick and post. "i had hoped we were done with guy. how ever he got hurt it wasnt fatal." wes said as he walked around looking for any other eveidence."do you have any idea if your short any cattle, calves or cows?" ime still gathering them to put up here ime short a hundred head of my count but i know there are a lot of cattle down on the flat so its hard to tell" buck explained. "you got very many left over on the treasure road end of things?" we asked as he squatted down and poked at the blood stain with a stick. " i dont think so. but i havent been back over there in a while" buck was watching wes. " this blood is all but drieed up. he has been gone from here for a few hours. did you follow his tracks off here?" we askeed. " yeah until he hit the pavement it looks like he has another dirt bike."buck said. as he watched wes take some photographs of the blood . when he was through wes got back in his truck, buck followed "i would try to get every cow you own up here as soon as possible. if you need help ill come help for a day or two. i would keep a eye on this gate for more activity. is there another gate in this fence line?"wes was talking as he drove back down the slope. " one more buut its way up yonder and hard to get to horse back let alone on a motor bike." buck pointed up the fence line as they drove away. " is there a corral in that pasture? some where we could pen a cow if we needed to?" we asked absent minded as he drove. " yeah in the middle theres a old rock corral i figgured on finishing branding there once i got everything moved up there." buck explained. " i would get the rest of them cows up there as soon as possible its easier to watch one big bunch than two or three little ones." wes advised. buck nodded in agreement. " i would clean my hand gun and keep it handy. you dont know about this guy.:"wes stated. buck looked over at him in agreement.