TO FIND PEACE 23

ty rode though the paires in the corral they had cut the fresh branded slicks back out to the eight acres . he decided the cows didnt look to bad after the rain. he knew that cleve only wanted to see a few of the cows. but they were showing age.there were better, younger heifers in the fresh branded cattle ty rode over to katey and said as much. why not sell all of these and replace them with the fresh branded cows?there wasnt a lot of differne in the quality as the branded cows were the mothers of the slicks.. as far as numbers were concerned they would almost be a straight trade. katey listened to tys argument chewing on her lower lip. " i am a partner huh?" she asked. " if we sell them all we can buy more hay and pay DEA off. after its done there isnt a lot he could do but yell. and we can afford ear plugs." katey and ty started laughing. after lunch they drove to the closest phone and called for a inspecter and made arrangments for two cattle trucks. the cows were stronger but still poor. but it was a close trip to the auction barn after makeing all the arrangments katey had called the hospital to check on cleve. he came on the phone and before hello he asked about the cattle and the works . katey assured him everything was fine. a good rain with another predicted tonite. she told him to rest and they would be there to see him in a day or so.cleve had katey put ty on the phone and for another 5 minutes quizzed him on the condition of the cows since it rained. also if the dirt tanks had filled with water from the rain. ty had done a masterful job of painting a solid picture for cleve. finally a nurse took the phone and told him to rest. and hung up the line. ty and katey laughed all the way back to the ranch. but one thing ws perfectly clear, the bed roll was back on the porch. neither said a word about it. the next morning two tavasi trucks rolled up into the corrals with a brand inspecter following . the inspecter wwas running late so he had ty start loading the trucks while he wrote out the papers he didnt look at all the brands . he trusted them. when he was done katey handed him the state citation and explained the dates. the inspecter fell over backwards laughing. " he s citing you for over grazeing a empty pasture? i guess he could get a judge to look at it if the dates matched . but as i understand it the kj is empty. the people he needs to cite is the DEA. cleve took the cattle off the ranch.. if he pushes this call me ill testify for cleve."the inspecter went to his truck shakeing his head and laughing. the cattle trucks loaded they pulled out for the auction barn. ty and katey loaded the hay trailer to feed the fresh branded cattle then followed along to town they wanted to see cleve.

TO FIND PEACE 21

the next morning ty had the horses saddled before day light. katey was rattling the skillits in the kitchen for breakfast. there ws no stars or moon showing, the aior was warm and muggy. ty looked up once and felt what he thought was a drop of rain on his cheek. he shuddered. he went inside the saddle room and came back with two slickers. he tied one on behind each saddle. katey called out the kitchen window to come eat. he struck a trott to the house. as he sat down he smilled" we better whoop up on this good mean weare gonna get wet before we see another one?" he marveled at kateys fresh early morning countence as she worked around the kitchen. ty loaded his plate with eggs, bacon and biscuits and gravey. a big pipeing hot mug of coffee sat at his side. " i wont get much done today packing a meal around in my middle. i keep eating like this ill weight 400 pounds!" ty stuffed a fork full of egg in his mouth . thiert minutes later they left the yard at a long trott. in the east there was a lightning in the sky but visibility still was limited. as they reached the back side of the pasture they had passed numerous bunches of cattle but it ws still to dark to tell what they were, fresh branded or pairs. rain was starting to spatter as they turned back and started the cattle toward the corrals. they wanted to hurry all they could but there was a lot of little baby calves that couldnt handle the rush. the closer to the corrals they got the heavyer the rain fell. the water was running off the slickers in rivelets. kateys hair under her hat had straightned. it was one thirty when they entered the corrals with a big bunch of cattle. when everything was penned ty rode over to the gate that led into the eighty acre trap and kicked it open he waved at katey to bring the cattle . as they starteed trickling through the gate ty was counting the branded cows. but it was hard to ignor the fact they had a lot of fresh branded stock too. when the last few head went through the gate he looked over at katey" we are in trouble girl" kateys face fell into the question she didnt verbalize. "we gathered all of them cows and calves except 2. cleve will want that every time from now on!" ty grinned through the rain dribbling down his face. katey wanted to slap him for scaring her. after unsaddlng their horses and sloshing to the house katey had kicked her muddy boots off and gone inside and came back with towels. the rain was driveing now with big puddles in the yard. when dried off the two went in the house. katey went back into cleves room to get out of the wet clothes.. while gone ty dug out dry clothes from his war bag and started changeing. when katey came back in ty was buttoning his dry shirt." yw know gal, we didnt do to bad. gathered almost all the cattle we needed and made it rain to. cleve may have to put us on full time!" they both broke up laughing while katey was fixing lunch.