THE SINGLE TREE 1

a single tree was peice of equipment used to hook a single horse or mule to a wagon or buggy. you couldnt hook a team with it only one single animal. thats why folks refered to blain adams as a single tree. he was nearing forty years old and no one had ever seen him with a decent woman for more than a day. he stayed to himself except for two or three times a year when he fell off the wagon and was the most sociable man around. and when his money ran out and he started sobering up you better stay away, far away. when sober he was a man of few words, but it was knowen he was the most honest man in town. and if questioned about his honesty he waould defend it with knuckles, or clubs or in rare cases bullets. he had never killed any one but he had put a couple in bed for a month or so. he was a teamster by trade. frieght wagons or stage coaches it didnt matter . a four horse hitch or a six it didnt matter. no one had ever seen it but he had at one time drove a ten horse jerk line rig with a load of oar from a copper mine. he was the kind of man every one wanted for a friend. but if he became your enemy it was for life. today he was in the trails end tavern. he was building a sandwich from the platters of cold cuts set out for a freee lunch for customers. his beer mug was half empty. he had just come in off a four day trip delivering a load of good to a store down near the border. through the saloon door came a well dressed man who marched right up to blain. blain looked him right in the eye as he took a bite of his sandwich. the dude was about to explode. he didnt know blaine or how he could be. "adams they told me at the livery you ben back in a good hour! why havent you brought the cash you collected from the store keeper you delivered to? a man could take it you were hideing some thing." blains smile faded as he chewed the mouth full of sandwich" i was hungry, i would have brought you your money in a bit. now, have a seat and wait until i finish this sand wich and then ill count your money to you." the bar tender slid a beer over in front of the dude. " here, take this and sit down a minute. he will deliver your cash in a minute if he said so. dont push this." " i dont have time for this nonsense! in new hampshire we didnt do business this way , now wheres the money?" blains good humor had evaporated, he sat his sandwich next to his beer mug. he reached inside his shirt and brought out a leather wallet. he opened it and pulled a wad of cash from it" here, you count it, just remember some of that is mine. take whats yours and never ask me to drive another load for you." " why you dirt bag! you cant make demands on me, your better!"the man had gone to far. the bar tender shook his head and stepped back pulling the beer mug with him. blain reached over and took the sheaf of bills from the gunsils hand while at the same time his left fist was on its way to deliver a solid blow. the gunsil never saw it comming. he opened his mouth to protest the snatch of the cash but when he did the left made contact with his mouth on the right side, spinning him half around and to his knees on the floor. blain calmly turnned to the bar and started counting the money into a sizeable pile.. he looked down at the gunsil and took the pile of money and calmly put it in the mans coat pocket. then he took him by the arm and helped him stand. " your gonna learn this isnt new hampshire. and dont you ever address me that way again. now , take your money and go away. and dont come back!" the man turned and wobbled out the door , holding his hand to his jaw where blaine had made conntact. " well it wasnt like you didnt warn him." the bar tender slid the beer back in front of blain. blain fished in his pocket and came out with a silver doller. he handed it to the bar tender. " i made that trip for nothing i guess, he never paid me." " i think you probably cleaned up the deal. " the bar tender leaned on the bar. " well that dont pay the rent. i might end up sleeping on your bar." blain was laughing as popped the last of the sandwich into his mouth.

THE BRONC PEELER 23

a week later bill was siting on the porch of jims house. his leg was still swollen and he could just barely hobble about the yard. jim had been doing the chores and kate was waitting on him hand and foot. they had stayed at the rodeo and watched the rest of the bronc rides. a young man from across the state line had won the ride on the blue outlaw. when the blind fold had been raised on the blue horse he had promptly flipped over back wards. the rider had barely missed being crushed with the saddle horn. kate looked at bill with a I TOLD YOU SO LOOK. bill didnt respond jim shook his head. " that plug needs a trip to the glue works." " no doudt about it jim , if he dont kill someone with that stunt he will break his neck sooner than later." bill murmmered. the next day kate rode bills horse and followed the buck board back to the ranch. bill was stretched out in the back on a pallette of blankets. jim drove the team whistling a tune as they went. kate would boil a cloth in turpintine and then wrap the swollen knee in it. the first time bill had jumped and bucked and bawled at the heat. but as time went on and he realized the swelling and soreness was slowly going away he would simply grit his teeth and maybe moan a little. when not doctoring on bill kate was rideing every day checking cattle. a few more calves were being born.she told bill that he needed to get well so they could start range branding. bill was leaning on the barn wall watching kate saddle horse one morning. he asked " do you want a church wedding, or a simple affair with just a few friends?" kates head snapped around and looked at him. " just like that? no proposal? just what kind of wedding i want? i might not want one with a hired man with no social graces." bill ducked his head but didnt answer. kate mounted her horse and totted out of the yard. jim came from the back of the barn. " when she gets back you better take your hat in hand and beg a little forgiveness. " bill looked up at jim" i never been married before, not close, so i guess its plain ignorance on my part. you better clue me in." " ill give you a start, but your looking at a life time of a womans temperment. its a learn as you go affair. but the good times far out weigh the bad believe me."jim put his arm around bills shoulder as they walked back to the house.