THE LONE OLD TIMER 7

when you entered a draw roping the book keeper drew you three partners. buck found he had drawen wes the brand inspecter. on one hand wes was probably the best horn roper for miles, but on the other some one could clai wes was giveing him preferational treatment . he mentioned that to wes but he only laughed it off. buck decided if wes wasnt worried he wouldnt be either. bucks first two partners didnt do so well one missed his steer, the other ran the steer to the bottom end of the arena before ropeing it buck had heeled the steer but they were so long chances of comming back in the third go, even if their second run was to be fast wasnt good. when buck and wes were called to rope buck backed baldy in the far corner of the heelers box and glued his eyes on the steer. o the headers side wes had his buckskin head horse squared up in the box. his loop ready. he nodded and as the steer hit the score line the buckskin left the box like a rocket three fast strides and he was in position and wes let fly with the head loop encircling the steers hornes. wes pulled the slack out of the rope snugging the loop around the the steers hornes. at almost the same time the good buckskin had started dragging his butt and slideing into a left hand turn. as that was happening wes wrapped his rope around the saddle horn. the steer was switched into a left hand turn in tow behind wes. baldy had been running off to the right of the the steer. buck picked nhis loop up and began to swing it over head as the steer switched directions. baldyhad automaticily spun in behind and to the left of the steer . as the steer took a hop buck delivered his loop to a standing position in front of the steers hind legs. the steer hopped into the loop and buck raised his hand to hold the loop around the steers legs baldy had slid to a stop and as the rope came taught buck dallyed it around his saddle horn. as it all came tight the buckskin switched ends and was faceing down the rope. all that happened in a quick six seconds.they were the fastest team in the first round. in the seond round buck and his other partner were a ten second run, to long to put them in the third round. but wes and buck came blazeing on a hard running steer . when their run was done it stopped the clock at eight seconds and two tenths. though all this cleo sat watching. she couldnt believe this old time could rope this well. he was by far the best in the crowd she couldnt wait for the third round. as the second round was finishing buck strode up to where cleo was setting. " well lady what do you think? you like roping steers?" " with a smart smirk cleo turned to buck" you never done this before have you. just a beginner huh?" " i am haveing a good day so far theres no doubt. but my ropeing is right up there with my good looks!" buck laughed. cleo giggled and reached over and pulled buck close and kissed him" thats for the ropeing part, not the good looks" buck straightened up and grinned,"well the good lookss may have to move in on that later." when the third round started wes and buck were the first to rope. they had such a lead on the rest of the group it was a anstated plan to go a step or two and be sure of their catches. and that was what they did a eight second run no one but them had roped a steer that fast all day and their plan held together giveing them the first place win. while buck was unsaddling baldy cloe came up and put her chair in the back of the truck " that kiss did the trick lady"buck smilled at her" i may have to keep you around just for that!" " i think that could be arranged cowboy if supper is involved" cloe stated. at that wes stepped up with a hand full of cash. he told cloe to hold out her hand and started counting the money into her hand, when he had counted half into her hand he looked at her and said" i think that will get you supper" they made plans to go eat supper at the best mexican food cafe in town cloe folded the cash and stuffed it down the front of her blouse into her bra. we may have to re think this partnership" buck laughed at wes as he loaded baldy in the trailer. both were laughing as buck started the truck.

THE LONE OLD TIMER 6

all the rest of the week buck roamed the ranch.he did his best to keep the cattle drifted away from the road to the head quarters and the nesters house. he found no more problems except a water trough with a broken float which he was able to fix on sight.. it could have been broken by a cow rubbing on that part of the float so he didnt think much about it. he had caught it before it had wasted much water. the western part of the ranch ran up into the foot hills of the dragoon mountains. while not steep they were rough and brushey in places but there was a good stand of grass therebuck had been saveing that pasture until all his cows had calved but now as he rode along the fence line that divided the hills from the rest of the ranch he thought maybe he could start putting the cows with calves up there. he would need some help but it might discourage his neighbors from helping themselves to his calf crop. sunday morning he cleaned up and loaded ole baldy in his trailer and headed into town. when he entered town he drove to cleos house and parked in the street. as he walked up the side walk to the house cleo pushed her screen door open and smilled at him. "i was afraid you got lost or forgot where i lived " she said " nope, just makeing a lot of tracks at home. you want to go to the ropin with me today? ill buy ya supper if they dont clean me out." he laughed. " we got time for me to clean up?"cleo asked, "yep, but how you gonna improve on perfection?" buck asked as he came in the house. " oh you silver tounged devil, i think ime gonna like being with you," cleo laughed" the coffee is on the stove help your self while i scrub up." buck walked into the kitchen and found a cup and poured himself some coffee. he like cleos little house. it was well aportioned and clean she had lots of cowboy pictures and trinkets. he felt comfortable there. soon she came out of her bedroom, she was a bright beam of sun light to buck her hair was styled, she had a white blouse and snug wrangler pants that showed off her figure. "ok cowboy , lets go see how well you can catch a cow." she bubbled. bbuck got up and started to the door, she came behind him and pulled the door shur behind them. "well if i dont catch enough of them you may well go hungry" buck opened the truck door for her. " well i know how to cook, supper, and breakfast" she hinted. " this is gonna be good" buck said to him self as he walked around the truck. the local arena sat just outside of town. it belonged to a roping club made up of ranchers and different people around town. they had a jack pot ropeing once a week there. in the winter months on sunday afternoons and in the summer on saturday nights. they allowed nonmembers to enter which added to the number of teams and raised the pot pay off. when buck pulled into the parking area there was already a half dozen rigs there a tracter was working the arena ground smoothing it up. two other men had thirty head of roping steers in the chute putting horn wraps on them. buck unloaded baldy and tied hime to the trailer then got a brush and curry comb from the truck and started grooming the good soreel. cleo sat on the trailer fender and watched, when baldy was failey shinning from the brushing buck started saddling him and checking his gear. while all that was going on more rigs rolled in crowding the parking area. a ford car pulled thru the crowd right up to the edge of the arena and a woman dressed in a dress with a flared skirt got out and pulled a box and cash box out of the car. she carried it all up into the announcer stand." shes the book keeper and announcer."buck explained to cleo." theres a ice box down by the back of the chute by the storage shed. it has beer and soda. its on the honor system just help your self. ill pay for it when we are done." " i drink soda while ime ropeing. but you get what you want and keep track of how much." buck slipped a silver mounted garcia bit ito baldys mouth. then slipping the reins over his head buck hung a coiled rope on the saddle horn and mounted," theres a lawn chair in the back of the truck. ill be in the arena warming up." buck rode away into the arena. cleo watched him go thinking how when he got here his whole attitude changed. serious and all buiness. she pulled the lawn chair out of the truck and as she walked by the ice chest pulled a soda from it and walked on around until she found a spot that suited her. there were a lot of ropers warming up. looked like it was going to be a long afternoon.