SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 19

on the day of the auction sharon drove del there in her new suv. when they were parked and del was getting out the brand inspecter came walking up. "i got some bad news. that land developer has filed a petition to stop your calves from selling. he claims they are his because you didnt get them off the ranch in time according to the eviction order." del gritted his teeth. check the court house records o who ownes the ranch and the cattle. is that bag of hot air here right now?" " no he left but he had a process server bring the paper work. i figgured he was up to no good.. give me a little time to call the court." the brand inspecter turned and hustled back into the office. sharon , mike and del were sitting in the auction barn watching the cattle sell when the brand inspecter came back in. in his hand he had a couple of sheets of paper." you better keep this handy, i kept a copy and the auction office has a copy. ime checking with the main office. that guy may have broken the law in what he tryed. your calves will sell pretty soon." del took the sheet of paper faxed from the court house and thanked the brand inspecter. no one knew it but nafzigger was standing out side the auction barn watching the cattle come off the scales after they had sold. when the calves from the ranch started selling he was writting down the amounts for each pakage and their weights. he wasnt looking around but concentrateing on what was going on in the barn. he didnt realize the brand inspecter had found him and was standing right behind him. when the last bunch of calves sold he turned to go and ran head on into the brand inspecter. "your under arrest nafzigger. for useing a false document to claim owner ship of those cattle."the inspecter had a pair of hand cuffs ready to use. nafzigger with a whine shoved the inspecter aside and back handed him as he rushed into the parking lot. the inspecter was shook pretty bad but turned to chase the crook. but saw him leaveing the parking lot in a cloud of dust. the inspecter went to his truck and sent out a alert on the radio to the county sherrifs. he wanted that crook big time. nafzigger beat them all to the punch. he drove straight to the court house. he demanded a audiance with the judge.there he told the judge he had made a mistake claiming the ranch calves he was dropping his claim on the calves. saying he was never notifyed about del takeing possetion. the judge listened with a dubious look but could find no reason to hold nafzigger. he wasnt yet aware of the altercation at the auction barn. when the judge declared case dismissed nafzigger hustled out of the court left town. he had things to do out of state.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 18

a long hour passed. del and sharon were restless jerry was dozeing in his chair. mike was running around the lobby bucking and playing bronc rider. a bailif came to them and said" courts in session the judge requests your presence. follow me please." the court room was empty when they entered. the judge sat behing his high desk wwith the county attorney.del looked around his head swivling like a night owl a light was suddenly shined on. " ive read all the documents you have brought me" the judge began" the attorney here has also read them and concures with what ime going to rule. ime doing this here so a solid record will exist. these documents are the final will and testement of the rancher knowen as jake brown. i wont reaad all the legal mumbo jumbo but will summerize. jake brown states he has no knowen family. since he has been ranching in this area only one person has showen him the respect he felt he had comming. he had been a cowboy all his life and didnt want his ranch falling into someone who wasnt a bona fide cowboy. that person is del green. everything , livestock, equipment and anything else on the ranch is now the property of del green as part of this agreement you cannot sell the ranch for ten years.do you understand what i say and hav e ruled upon?" del was in shock. his knees were shakeing and in danger of collapsing"i undrstand your honor, but why me? and what does this do to the problem with the state and nafzigger?" jerry was all but danceing a jig from where he stood. "i will notify the state land department of these developments. you go on and operate the ranch as it should be.all of this will be put on file here at the county level and the state level. now, for the contents of the second wallett. since the deceased, mr. brown didnt believe in banks this wallet has a substancial amount of money that amount comes to onehundred seventy five thousand dollers. that is yours to do with as you wish."the judge pushed the wallet to the bailif who handed it to del. del collapsed into a seat. his face white, his hands shakeing. a sly grin crossed the judges face" i think all this will put a certain land developer on the bench. you have our good wishes sir." del was in shock. sharon grabbed one arm and jerry the other and walked him from the court room when the judge declared case dismissed. out side at jerrys car del leaned against the front grill." ime not jake, i want to put this in a bank instead of a dirty clothes hamper. then lets go home and make a plan!"everyone broke into laughter at that point except for mike who stood looking at the adults in confusion. the next few days went by in a hirl wind. del wanted to finish gathering the cows to take the big calves off before a winter freeze whenhe had the bulk of the cows gathered he and jerry and sharon sorted the big calves off and sent them on to the auction bar, nafzigger hadnt been heard from. everyone assumed he had got the word and backed away. the calves went to the auction barn on the last day of the weeks notice. the cows were turned back out on the range for the winter that was comming. sharon had gone to town and traded her old car for a new suv. with the money her brother had given her she bought a new wardrobe and decked mike out in a cowboy set befitting a cowboy. everyone was relaxed and concentrating on what lay ahead.