THE BIG HORN 5

three weeks later con was saddling his horse at early daylite. he had contracted with the morales family frogila bend to build the corrals. they camped on the site and were up early every morning working. they had enough built it would hold his horses and a few cows. a houseing contracter was hard at it working on the main house where the bender had set.fawn had decided she wanted adobe so it had taken a while to find a contracter to build with that. but everything was up and running. the trailer house for con had been delivered and set up with propane and a generater. con stuck his foot in the tapadero and mounted the good horse. then reined him away to the south. con didnt know why or have a firm reason for it but he had strapped his rifle scabbord to his saddle. his winchester rested there. he couldnt explain the reason for takeing it but he felt it was needed.by later in the day he had found 3 bunches of catttle. they had congregated at the salt blocks he had scattered. they wre full of water and not prone to run far. con had gotten each bunch held up and settle then put them together and started driveing them toward the corrals at the bender. the moralis family were a cattle family and would watch for him approaching. they would have the gates open and be ready to haze the cattle into the corral. a quick count showed con he had 75 head in the drive. but the cattle wre nervous. cons horse was wringing wet with sweat. con was sitting on pins and needles. as they approached the corral the lead cows slowed and started milling and fighting the other cattle back. con was hard pressed to keep them moveing forward. from out of the brush came the moralis men, each with a long stick with a rag on the end. every direction the cows turned they were confronted by this new booger. finally the leaders took the only way to eescape the men with the waveing flags, right into the corral! isac moralis was tying the gate shut with a long peice of rope as con dismounted and started uncinching his saddle so the horse could get a lung full of air. isac turned to con" BUENO! a good gather patron. " yes we got lucky. after lunch tomorrow we will brand the slicks. then load the old branded cows to take to the auction. that will make fawn happy!"

THE BIG HORN 4

when con got back into casa grande he went to the sherriffs posse rodeo grounds and unloaded his horses. he had a corral rented there. then he went on down town to the EL RANCHO apartments where he had a one room apartment rented. after a shower and shave he put on clean clothes and went to the corner phone booth and called george and made a appointment to meet him and fawn the following day. he was ready to get on with this project. he just hoped george and fawn were. he rightfully figured that they had no idea what they had bought into. but he decided he would ride this wave just as far as he could. the next day they met at the holiday inn coffee shop. george looked out the window while con explained everything he found. fawn was on the edge of her seat listening and writting down notes on a legal pad.con was almost to loose his temper at george. he never asked any questions or commented but fawn had a bundle. when done con sat back and looked at the two dudes. finally george turned his head and looked at con. " when can you get started rebuilding the improvements"? " ill need to hire a crew, get some equitment together and figure out about liveing quarters.do you want two crews? one for corals and one for the house?" con decided to push this as far as he could. before george could answer fawn leaned in " get a houseing contracter, ill get you some prints for the house. you can get laborers for the corrals?" " as you say. ill start in the morning."con answered. george had returned to his stare out the window. con finally asked" did you get posetion of the brand there or are you going to use another?" " we have one registered already. we will get you the paper work on it." once again fawn answered, george didnt even act like he heard. " we have a ten wide mobil home for you to camp in while your building everythin. as soon as you think it prudent start gathering the cattle, the cash flow will help." fawn was once again lineing everything out "here is a check for expenses. save the recipts. you need more or need to pay for something above that call me. ill watch for your call." george still hadnt turned his head, he was watching a long legged brunette in short shorts out on the side walk. fawn ignored him.