SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 5

a couple of days after jakes funeral del was rakeing up the loose hay in front of his barn when a county sherrif rolled over the cattle guard and stopped i front of the barn a chunky deputy got out and strolled over to del. " you del?" the deputy asked as he pulled his sun glasses off. " thats me, what have i done now?" del grinned at the law man. "nothing yet. ime comming from the court tho. it seems the old rancher jake had no will or family to speak of. maybe a brother but we havent run him down yet. the judge wants to know if you will take care of jakes outfit until they can decide how to dispose of it.the court will pay wagws and expenses."the deputy laid it out. sharon was walking from the house. the deputy glanced her way then spun his head for a second look. " thats my sister sharon, you got paper work on her?"del giggled. "no but i wish i did. " as sharon steped up the deputy took his straw hat off and extended his hand. "ime jerry holloway" your a sweet sight on this morning." the deputy gushed. sharon smiled a toothy smile at him" talk like that could get you a cup of coffee and a peice of pie." "ime short on time but can i come back later for that?"jerry stated then turned to del" go to the court house and see judge weber. he will give you the details. but between you and me i dont believe that ole man fell off his horse. something out there stinks in my book." " ive had that feeling myself but when i found him there was no plain tracks just the ground was tore up by his horse. but ill help all i can."del explained. jerry tiped his hat to sharon and turned to his car. sharon was beaming.del stood there shakeing his head as jerry drove out of the yar. " i better go bake a pie, ime thinking,"sharon turned to the house. del watched her walk away with just a hint of a sway in her hips. later that day del stepped into the court house then into judge webers chambers and introduced himself. "i have been studying this case, and i dont have a good feeling about it. but, we need to find jakes relative and in the mean time we need someone to watch over that ranch. the damned ole cow theives will strip it clean if we dont."weber while not a old man had a old mans attitude. del nodded" ime like you all, i dont feel good about that whole deal jake rode like a horse was a extension of himit had to be a surprise to him and the horse and then the chances of unseating him would be slim.ill look after the ranch like it was my own. just let me know what the court wants and needs. if anything comes up ill bring it here." " you do that, you come well recomended so ime putting my faith in you while we investigate this deal just keep it quiet. tell folks we are looking for a releative."the judge advised.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 4

del was at jakes just as the sun was peeking over the eastern horizon. he unloaded his horse and was leaning against the side of the trailer when jake came from the house. he simply said good morning as he walked by on his way to catch a horse. del watched the crusty old rancher and smilled to him self. when he had left home that morning sharon and little mike were still sleeping soundly. del didnt realize how much weight sharon had lost since he had last seen her. little mike was full of play before supper and del had enjoyed it all. he had left a note on the kitchen table with a pile of cash telling sharon to load up on grocerys and get settled in. it was plain to see his sister had been doing without so mike could have what he needed. jake came leading his horse up to del" you ready cowboy?" dell nodded and turned to his horse snugging up the cinches and tightning his chap belt a knotch"when ever you are. your the boss." the two horsemen left the ranch yard at a trott. jakes ranch while on a map wasnt to big it was up hill all the way to the back end. the mountainside it lay on wasnt steep but it was rocky and rough. the grass grew thick in the open areas with mesquite and oak trees in clumps scattered across it. it hadnt rained a lot lately and the grass and the ground was dry. the horses raised little puffs of dust as they moved along. occasionaly they would see a few cows grazeing and the two riders would turn to them and ride around them looking them over. del was impressed with the shape the cows were in since it was so dry.almost all of them had a big calf at their side. it woulldnt be long befor a round up would be in order to strip the calves. the more cattle they saw del expected jake to lighten up and be more jovial. it didnt happen. finally they reached a spot where jake said he had seen the horse tracks. he pointed them out to del." you follow them back the way they came from. ill follow where they go. ill seee ya at the house when you figgure out where they come from." del nodded and turned his horse back on the cold trail. he really didnt expect to find anything earth shakeing but jake was dead serious about this whole deal by the tracks there appeared to be four riders. they hadnt made any effort to hide their tracks or spread out. they all rode in a bunch. not at all like cowboys out to grab a hand full of cattle.after a hour or so the trail ran under the fence to the neighboring ranch. the wire had been cut and tied back with baleing wire. that caused del to raise a eyyebrow. it was a old rustlers trick. from a distance the fence would look normal but the rustler had a ready gete if he was returning.jake hadnt told him to go on to the neighboring ranch so he turned down hill toward the ranch house. when he reached the yard two hours later he found jakes horse standing in the yard trailing his bridle reins. some where back up the way jake was afoot or laying hurt. del grabbed the reins to the horse and started back along the tracks the horse had made comming home. del hoped to find jake walking in. but the worse stayed in the back of his mind. the farther he rode the more that bad senario came to the front. then, he crossed the trail of the four riders they were tracking. only now the tracks were fresher and deeper. after rideing just a short ways del stood in his stirrups and yelled jakes name a time or two. nothing. then he saw the single set of horse tracks belonging to jakes horse. del turned on them and rode slowley looking about. in just a short ways he saw jakes boot sticking out behind a boulder. del stepped down and hurried over to the old rancher. he lay in a twisted pile with his head on a small rounded rock.he was dead. his head crushed against the rock. del carefully turned the old man over but found no ther wounds, he knew jake was a excellent rider and wouldnt have fallen from his horse unless something unexpected had caused it. carefully he loaded the old man on his horse and lashed him down to stay. then del mounted and started back down the mountain it was going to be a long slow ride.