A FRESH START 12

bill was settled. he hadnt seen or heard from any one for two weeks. he liked the solitude. he had rode through his cows daily, doing the things he enjoyed. . he had come here to get away from people in general and from the first day he had had a steady stream of people and their problems. early in the mornings he sat on the front of his house and watched the sun up with a cup of coffee. relaxed. he hadnt heard a word from the sherrif. so maybe they had those problems ironed out with out his input. and it was just as well he didnt want to be involved. at the beginning of the the third wek he was finishing his coffee and takeing his time about getting started. when he came back out side from putting his cup away a bay horse stood at the corral gate. he was saddled and dragging his bridle reins. bill eased up to the animal when he picked up the bridle reins he saw a rope tied hard and fast to the saddle horn. about 20 feet out it was frayed and comming unraveled. across the saddle seat was two deep scratches starting at the front of the saddle and running paraelel to the back of the saddle. spur tracks. the horse was a good quality animal but he carried no brand. bill tied the horse, coiled the broken rope and hung it on the saddle horn then he caught a saddle horse and tyakeing the bay he started back following the bays tracks. some one may be hurt bad, late in the afternoon the tracks led him to a big arroyo, on the bank the ground was tore up and deep pot holes about where a animal had been pawing the dirt. bill sat a minut then stood in his stirrups and yelled. a faint answer cam e from down in the arroyo, he rode toward itabout half way down the slope was a jumble of boulders. as he heareed it he heard a voice call " over hear." turnning into the boulders he found a young man stretched out on the ground one pants leg tore up to the knee. a ugly gash lay along the shin. the man had used his chaps fopr a pillow but it was plain he was in pain. " how bad you hurt ?" bill asked as he dismounted " it aint broke, but its sure as sunday painful. i think with a little help i can get on my horse.help me outta here and ill tell the tale."the cowboy replyed. bill reached down and grabbed the young mans shoulders and heaved him to his feet. then helped him hop over to his horse. with a lot of straining and grunting they got the cowboy on his bay horse. bill hung the chaps over the horses neck then mounted his own horse and started back up the slope. the young cowboy hanging on to the saddle horn. bill struck a straight course to his house. " my name is harvey. me and my wife got a little out fit at the mouth of pinery canyon. i found one of our bulls back there. he didnt want to drive so i roped him, when he hit the end of it he broke it. this knot head darn near lost his balance but he started up the slope trying to buck. i went out the back door." " how did ya get the cut on your leg?" bill asked. " that bull was still there. so i made a dash for them rocks, but i tripped and fell across the sharp granite. but i got behind the rocks any way. bull didnt leave until this morning." harvey was swaying in the saddle. bill stopped and took piggin strings and tied harvey onto the saddle. " hang in there its still a couple miles to the house." bill told him harvey only nodded but he couldnt fall from the horse and bill set back out a bit faster.

A FRESH START 11

the trail to willcox was pretty well layed out even tho there wasnt a lot of traffic. il left dos cabezas on the west side and dropped down into the sulphur springs valleu there was talk of a branch railroad line going in to carry ore from the different mines down to the main line where it passed through willcox. all along the trail was numerousclaims and prospect holes. about a mile out of dos cabezas slaughter turned around to wave bill off and send him home. then a scowel crossed his face and he spit. " hold it ! theres something dead near by! he almost shouted. as bill rode up to the buggy he caught the unmistakeable aroma of rotting flesh. slaughter had produced a bandanna and was holding it to his face. viola was doing the same. bill started rideing a circle around the buggy. as he came to a large prospect hole the stench became stronger. his first thought was a animal of some kind had fallen in and died. when he looked over into the hole he saw it wasnt a animal, it was the brand inspecter bryce. he backed away to keep from vommiting. he rode to the buggy. " its bryce, , it looks like some one killed him then threw him down that hole. he s in pretty bad shape. lets move away to get away from the smell." bill reported. viola whipped up the team and moved the buggy away from the spot. a hundred yards down the road she stopped. slaughter had taken his bandanna away and was a pale color. bill rode up shakeing his head.. that was a pretty crude thing to do. i guess we know who is to be responsable for this?" " dont jump the gun here bill, just because kearny has that horse doesent mean they killed him there could be a dozen reasons for them haveing the animal. . i would like to nail them kearneys hide to the jail house wall my self but only if proven guilty. we need a coronor to give us a sworn statement on cause of death. and ill get the search warrent. you go home. thank you for your help. but i cant emphasise enough to watch your back. stay close to home. ill be in touch." john instructed just as viola whipped up her team toward willcox. bill sat his horse and watched the buggy as it drifted down the trail. bill slowley turned his horse back toward his ranch. he was going to drop down into the valley and go home on the lower trail. the thought of bryce being killed and dumped in that hole had him angry he had like the brand inspecter. killing him for his horse was senseless. there had to be a bigger reason.