BIG HORN 19

as they neared the water lot con could see a long line of cattle filing into the lot through the triggers. cattle lined the pond all the way around drinking. when all the cattle had entered the lot roy trotted up and pulled the triggers shit and tied them solid. con sat his horse counting the herd. " a shade over 200 roy. i couldnt tell how many slicks and branded there was." con explained. " good pay day no matter how you cut it. these cattle dont seem as wild as the ones at dead horse. wonder why?" roy asked. the night before con had told earnesto to bring the truck and trailer here around noon. con looked at his pocket watch. " just bareley 10, lets try and sort some off. while we wait." they eased into the corral through the loading alley. roy checked all the gates that might lead out side and tied the solid shut with his piggin strings.con had been slowley rideing through the herd. the cattle were full of water and laying around under the trees and along the fence line. there was every breed and cross breed imaginable. cows, calves yarlings bulls and a few big steers. there was a hand full of brands, and a lot of slicks. con didnt recocnize any of the off brands. more work for the brand inspectr. by the time earnestos dust was on the northern sky line the two cowboys had cut off 45 head of cattle branded with the ranch brand belonging to fawn there was still another 166 head of slicks and off brands to work. they would be the rest of the day and part of tomorrow hauling the ranches cattle to the head quarters. con thought maybe he would go call the brand inspecter and inspect the rest right here. and let him decide how to deal with them. as earnesto pulled up to the correl con could see fawn in the passenger seat. he smilled and looked at roy" the boss has come to check our work"both men broke up laughing. fawn jumped to the ground when earnesto had stopped.she ran to the fence looking at the cattle around the water lot." are those all mine?" she almost yelled. " some of them some belong to some one alse. yours to sell are in the corral over there.con pointed to the stacked mesquite corrals. when she looked over the fence fawns eyes fairley bugged out. earnest had backed the trailer up to the loading chute and was setting the gates. roy climbed the fence with a long stick and counted ten cows down the alley.he then ran up behind them whooping. when all the cows pushed into the trailer earnesto shut the gates. " did earnesto get your casita set up for you?" con asked fawn. "yes, but i didnt want to stay there. if its ok ill ride with him."fawn pointed to the truck. " if he dont care i dont. me and roy are going to head back our horses have had a full day.. theres more to do here but it will wait until tomorrow." con reined his horse back toward the head quarters. it was still a good two hour ride away. when con and roy arrived at the headquarter they found a sherriffs deputy parked at the gate. he was leaning against the front grill with his arms crossed. con rode up to him. " what can i do for you officer?" the owner of this property says you have him locked out and ar stealing his cattle. i see the lock. ive come to see you unlock it and the brand inspecter will be here in just a bit. open up!" the deputy was thowing his authority around pretty heavy. behind him con heard earnesto drive in. he turned to roy" go get fawn." roy turned his tired horse toward the corrals and trotted off. " the ranch owner is right over there in that truck. not who ever you talked to. as for the cattle, when she bought this ranch she bought the cattle also. i havent stolen anything. the cattle the inspecter sees goes to the auction in this womans name. but you did one thing right, i need that inspecter." con leaned down on his saddle horn while he talked to the deputy. fawn came marching up, a hard look on her face"and what do you want?" she asked. when the deputy explained she shook her head" wait here" was all she said as she turned toward her mootor home. a half hour later the deputy had taken pictures of the divirce decree, the purchase agreement and the judgment keeping george off the property.fawn also explained that george had verbally abused her and threatened her with bodily harm. the deputy was writting it all down in a note book. just as he got through and closed the note book the brand inspecter pulled off the hiway. the deputy excused himself and backed away from the gate. con unlocked the gate and let the inspecter in. after being introduced to fawn he walked ovr to the corral and looked at the cattle earnesto had unloaded. co told him the total number to go to the sale barn . the inspecter said he would look the total over there at the barn. then con told him about the bunch with assorted brands. " ime not going to stray those like i did the first bunch. those are papago cattle. ill have them and a indian inspecter come get them. do you want a semi truck for these?"the inspecter asked. " tomorrow afternoon they will be ready to load. we will bring the indian cattle in here as soon as possible ." con explained. ill get you a big truck. her husband is raiseing holy hell with everyone who will listen. but i think its about something more than this ranch and the cattle. watch your back."the inspecter tore out the papers he had written on and handed them to fawn. " ill collect the fees from the cattle sales if thats ok?" fawn shook his hand and thanked him. he got in his truck and pulled out. roy walked up as con and fawn shut the gate and locked it." well the poop almost hit the fan huh?" "its a big fan and theres a lot of poop, keep a eye out. ime hungry lets eat." con turned to the houses.

BIG HORN 18

JUST AS THE SUN WAS DROPPING BEHIND THE JAVALINA MOUNTAINS, CON AND ROY ALONG WITH EARNESTO WERE WALKING TO THEIR TRAILERS WHEN THEY HEARD A HORN BLOWING AT THE HIWAY GATE. EARNESTO LOOKED at con. " ill go check it out, you two go get some supper" con turned toward the gate in the gathering darkness. at the gate sat a small motor home pulling a jeep. con walkd on thinking he had a tourist wanting to camp. but what he found was a lot different. fawn stuck her head out the side window" its me !" she yelled." let me in please." con almost lost a step when he stumbled. he unlocked the gate and let fawn drive into the yard. after relocking the gate he turned to her." what the hell you doing boss lady?" " when george got served with the divorce papers he he started calling me and curseing me. when i wouldnt take his calls anymore he showed up at the apartment door. beating on it and curseing. i had to call the police. the next day i went and bought this motor home.. since i own the ranch i just as well live here. it has a locked gate and people working here. he wouldnt dare show up here."fawn stood as tall as her 5 foot frame would allow. " well you do own it, theres no doubt. pull on down to the houses for the night. ill have earnesto hook your house up tomorrow. roy and i are leaveing before day light to work some cattle. the house crew will be back tomorrow to start on the interior of your house. you can supervise."con started walking away. fawn watched for a moment then got behind the wheel and drove to the trailer houses and parked. at the house con turnned to fawn we were fixing to have supper. we arnt much cooks but your welcome to eat with us." "no i ate at the truck stop in stanfeild.. ill just go to bed."fawn pulled the blinds on her little motor home. con explained to the other two men about the circumstances. he and roy would still leave before day lite. earnesto was to hook up fawns motor home to the water, the generater and the septic tank. he was to try and park the motor home behind the trailer house if possible out of sight of the gate. he gave earnesto a old 45 caliber army pistol with a extra clip earnesto stuck in the waist band of his pants. at this point con wouldnt put nothing past george. he had lost his meal ticket. it was pitch black when con and roy trotted out of the yard headed toward the 13 tank. each carried a rifle in a scabbord under their right leg. as they rode past earnestos little trailer they could smell food cooking. no lights shone in the motor home. in the western sky a few dim lights twwinkled, there was no moon.neither man said a word. when day lite broke the two riders were almost half way to the 13 tank and water lot. creosote bushes and cactus was easy to make out. con waved roy to the east and he rode into the west to start a circle. they would stir up the cattle and start them to the water lot. but they knew enough to know driveing the cattle would just start a run. roy rode along casully whistling. if he saw some cattle away from the way he was going he would turn to them, get them going toward the tank then return to where he was. on the western leg of the trip con rode along popping the tail of his rope on his chap leg and smooching the cattle out of the brush. as the sun showed itself over table top mountain the two men could see a sizeable dust ahead. if they all went in the water lot it would be a good payday for fawn.