THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 22

for two more days the little herd traveled north toward willcox the vaqueros allowed the herd to spread out a little and graze as they traveled. the cattle were looking good..they had a full look and were gentle it was a easy dive almost pleasureable. out side of willcox they held the cattle up and prepared to go into camp. billy left the pack horse with the vaqueros to cook supper and he rode on into town to the deputy sherrifs office. when he went into the office the deputy looked up. "oh let me guess, your the cow theives from the jk in gleeson?"the deputy grinned. billy was stopped dead in his tracks. then walked on across the room" well i see the beligerent jerk has been here already." " well you tagged him about right, i sent a wire to the county seat , they verfed the true owner as dale little. i told that loud mouth that but he has been helling around town braggind what he is going to do to you guys for stealing the cattle off his ranch" the deputy explained. " we dont want any trouble, we just want to sell these cattle then go home.. but i wont back water from him either!" billy made sure the deputy understood. the deputy listened then nodded"just keep it legal. you may play hell selling those cattle with that sucker disputing the owner ship. i have the wire from the county saying who the true owner is. if you need to bring a buyer by and ill clear up the owner ship issue." billy stood up and reached over and shook the deputy s hand. " ill do my best"then he went outside. down the block toward town was a bar , he turned and walked down the board walk to the bar. inside a card game was going in the back, other wise it was empty of customers. billyy went to the bar and ordered a beer. when the bar tender came with the bar billy dropped a silver doller on the bar then placed his hand over it before the bar tender could pick it up. "i need a cow buyer, who do i look up?"billy grinned. the bar tender pushed billys hand away" he is in that card game , pete browning. ill go get him for you." when the bar tender leaned over and spoke to agray haired man with his back to billy. the man straightened and raked his money off the table and stood up. he turned and walked back to billy. "ime pete. you got some cattle to sell?"the buyer introduced himself. "one hundred fifty head we have the held up out side of town if you want to look them over." billy shook his hand as he told him about the cattle. "ill get my horse, lets go look at them before it gets to dark"pete went by out the door folowed by billy. a short hour later they had agreed on a price and a delivery time the net day. pete was to make payment when the cattle were counted into the railroad corrals. pete then turned and rode back to town . the vaqueros had a camp set up with food on the fire. francisco stood to one side"did you see the loud mouth man?" he asked billy. " no, but the deputy said he has been makeing a lot of threats around town. the deputy said what ever we do keep it legal, he will back us.when we go through town tomorrow ill get him to come to the corrals with us."billy was dishing up aplate of food.

THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 21

when the drive reached soldier holes fracisco let them slow and water out then spread and start grazeing.. he had purposly driven themhard to get them off the home ground. they wouldnt be as apt to try to return. the gramma grass here was deep and thick. within a hour the her had filled upp and were bedding down spread over a good sized area. billy had camp set up and supper cooking .with only one vaquero rideing guard on the herd the rest were in camp awaitting supper. francisco looked up into the fadeing light and saw a man rideing through the herd.. at this day and time that was considered a blatant execution of bad manners. francisco walked to the edge of camp and met the rider as he pulled up. " buenos tardes senior.. we are about to eat, you are welcome to join us." francisco was being hospitable. " where did those jk cattle come from?"the rider demanded without preliminary. " these cattle belong to senior dale little of gleeson. we drive them to willcox to market. the rest of the cattle belong to don frederico of mexico."francisco was now being cautious. behind francisco billy had stood up from his pots and was walking up to francisco. "and, if you dont mind me asking whats all this to you?" billy was clearly agrivated at the breech of etticut this stranger was useing. " i own the jk, i won it on a horse race with judd wilkinson. where is he?" the man was getting more rude. " he is burred in boot hill with a load of buckshot in the seat of his pants. dale little won the jk on a horse race from wilkinson over a year ago. when did you deal with him?"billy leaned a bit forward. francisco and the other vaqueros had all removed the hammer strings from their pistols. the stranger took note of that. "i won it fair and square 5 months ago in douglas. he told me little was the manager and keeping a eye on it, not stealing the cattle!"the mans belligerent attitude was getting worse. " go to the county seat, check the land registration and brand ownership, you will see that dale ownes it all, lock stock and barrel." billy was pushing his good nature."it looks like wilkinson was gambling with something he didnt own" "ill be in willcox to collect on my cattle cookie. you will see me there."the man reined his horse around and rode back to the north in the direction of willcox. " francisco watched him ride away then turned to billy" i think i should have killed him and buried him here , he will cause much problems i think" " before we sell anything ill go to the local sherriff. if he wants to be a problem we will let the law tend to him."billy turned back to the fire and his cooking food.