ENTANGLED 3

off and on for 2 more days the thunder storms rolled through the valley. washes that hadent run in years was boiling with water and debree. there was no chance of getting into town the road had washedout the second day. leo stood around on one foot then the other. he went to the barn and saddle room and oiled the saddles and brideles he wven washed saddle blankets and hungthem from the rafters in the barn to dry. but hehad run out of things todo. millie and cassie had spent lots of time in th kitchen cooking pies and things to freeze for the up comming round up. they knew when it started every wakeing moment would be used for cooking meals for a hungry crew. dureing the night of the third night od storms the wind came up and pushed the storm on farther east. the ground surface was firm the next morning when leo went out to feed. big puddles of rain water still stood but in between you could walk and not bog down. leo seeing the wind had dried out the ground somewhat saddled a horse and set out to see how the cattle had faired the storm. cassie stood at the porch and watched him ride out of the yard she yerned to go but knew that leo couldnt keep a eye on her and see the cattle too. she rode plenty well but with the wet ground she couldnt be sure that she wouldnt get bogged some where. another day she would feel more confident about rideing in the mud.leo was in a great mood, she didt wabt to be a problem tight off moveing back home. on the morning of the fifth day a rust colored rsttle trspm chevey pick up splashed into the yardmollies checkens had ben prcking around in the mud, when the truck rolled to a stop chickens scattered in ten different directions. leo had been at the corrals digging drainage ditches to help dry the corrals he came marching across the yard shovel in hand the driver stepped out of the truck his black felt hat set at a rakish angle he wore a loud colored wrangler hirt . his wrangler britches were tucked into the scalloped tops of tony lama boots. he was whip thin but a big smile was spread across his face. " i heard in town you would start round up soon, ime here to apply for the job." his attitude was confident if any thing. leo walked up" we wont start for another week." he was looking the dandy up and down. " i dont believe ive seen you around. where you worked before?" " ivw worked at the cross f and the lazy k. i been on the road a lot the past year. i was raised over in portal." leo stood there speechless looking at the cocky bantam rooster.he noticed the young man had a belt on with a big silver belt buckle with a bronc rider on it . " you been rodeoing? how do i know you wont drag up when you got enough comming to go enter another rodeo?" leo asked. " because ive swore off rodeos, i promised i was done. i got bigger plans.!" the youngster didnt back up a step. " i need the job, you will have to beat me away when your through. but you wont because ime the best hand in this corner of the state." leo couldnt put his finger on it but heliked this popinjay for some reason. he stood there a moment longer then said" be here monday morning. bring your bed roll and your ponies. whats your name?" " ZANE MCCAIN."the youngster stuck his hand out for leo to shake" you wont be sorry" as he got back in the jalopy of a pickup leo could see cassie on the steps watching.

ENTANGLED 2

that night at supper cassie hadnt stopped chattering except to draw a breath. molliehad cooked up a big meat loaf with all the fixens. leo had poured himself a generous shot of whiskey. and sat and listened while cassie told of her two years in san francisco pursuing her dream of being a t v reported. as he sat there listening and sipping his drink he couldnt understand why she would have been hired. her blond hair hung just opast shoulder length, she had her mothers angelic features . her figgue was beyond discription. he was as proud of her as if she was his own, but then she was his own she had knowen no other father all her life. donnie henly was just a picture that hung in the hall. again there was that twinge of guilt. leo took another drink. after supper leo excused himself and went to his little desk. he had to figgure how he was going to get the bills paid and everyone fed. they had been in a year long dry spell. the calf crop percentage was down and the calves they had were light weight. their hair rough and coarse. they looked like what they were droughth out orphans. as he was cratching away on a legal pad there came a rumble of thunder outside. he ignored it at first, then it dawwned on him and he got up and went to the kitchen door. cassie and mollie stood back just inside watching out the door. leo pushed the screen door open and stepped into the moist air and rain that was cascadig off the tin roof. he turned to cassie, " you should have come home sooner! your the best good luck charm we could ask for." cassie was beaming and mollie came to leo and wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. " we will need a lot more of this but its a great start. we might just pull out of this slump yet." leo grinned. the thunder rolled and the rain increased.