THE LONE OLD TIMER 30

a few days later art had been released and was back at bucks house. sharn had returned to work but she and cloe drove out every night and cooked supper for buck and art. buck had commented he would need a few new pairs of pants because these were getting to tight. on the next monday morning buck asked art if he would be ok for the day. he had some business to tend to. art assured him he was good. so after breakfast he watched buck drive out of the yard. his side was still tender but he could move around if he was careful he was going to wash the dishes and clean up the house a little then maybe go to the barn and brush his horse. late that afternoon buck came back. he seemed very happy. he went out and did the evening chores. as he was walking back to the house wes drove in followed by cloe and sharone. buck thought to himself" ill have a audiance i guess." wes and buck and art were sitting on the porch with cold drinks when buck called sharonen to come out side. her and cloe stepped out the door. " that ole hard case judge ruled on roy slapping that cop. he got a year in the pokey for that, no parole. so for at least a year you wont have to worry about him."wes explained. sharon nodded and said" thank you for bringing that" when supper was ready all of them bunched up at the table and enjoyed a good meal. when they all had finished and got up from the table buck simply" said you all stay put" he stepped up to cloe. reaching into his shirt pocket he brought out a diamond ring" he took her hand ad slid the ring on her finger" ime asking you in front of our friends but will you marry me?" cloe threw her arms around his neck and kissed him long and hard. when she backed away she simply said" yes"

THE LONE OLD TIMER 29

luther hd the handlebar throttle twisted to the stop he looked down and the gas guage was tickling the E on the bottom end. he was still 15 miles from douglas and the border. freedom. he was hopeing the gas held out there was no place to stop between here and the border. he came around a curve and up ahead he could make out a couple of deputy s cars, lights on. one on each side of the road. as he drew near both deputys stepped out into the road. holding up their hands for him to halt. in the fence line to his right luther saw a cattle guard. it was over growen with grass and weed fro not haveing been used in years. it led to a open pasture dotted with mesquite. he made the decision without letting off the throttle but very little he skidded into a turn and lined up on the cattle guard. what he couldnt see was a steel cable slung a foot above the cattle guard to keep people from driveing onto the pasture and trespassing. luther hit that cable at 40 miles per hour. it caught the front tire, and flipprd the bike back over front, sending luther flying. luther wasnt wearing a helmet.he landed head first and started to roll but the bike caught up and landed on his head and shoulders. he never moved again. when buck had unloaded the second load of steers he stopped at the hospital. when he entered arts room he found sharon sitting at his bed side. a faint smile crossed her face. " hi, thanks for this." she held up arts arm. after a few words of greeting buck asked what the doctors had to say about letting art go home. sharon said the doctor hadnt been in yet to give them a up date. buck nodded and skidded a chair up. just as he sat down wes came in a grim look on his face. " they got luther. he wont be comming back. he wrecked that bike and it grushed his head. i hope that stopped the cattle theft. a judge will rule on the stuff at luthers out fit if he has no kin folk. i think he was furnishing your beef to half of pearce." " well at least its stopped for the time being." buck commented.