BACK FROM THE SIERRA 20

j.t on his 76 brown with billy foure next to him jog trotted into dragoon. it was late in the day but they rode right to the boarding house where charlie was supposed to be, when going inside they found charlie gone, the house keeper wasnt sure where he went but that blond haired woman helped him. j.t. looked at billy" that would be adel." they rode through the scattered houses to the cabin where adele lived. there was a horse in the corral but no light showing at the house. j.t. stepped off his horse and went to the door.when he opened it the house was dark and cold. he lit a lamp and walked to the table in the kitchen area. on it was a slip of paper." have taken charlie home will return in the morning."was scribbled on the paper. j.t. took the note to billy who reaf it then handed it back. " i got no idea where charlie lives. all i know its north of here. we better spend the night here and see if she gets back."billy mused. they went back into town and found a small cafe and had supper.while eating the cook came to their table she looked at j.t." there was a guy here a day or so looking for you. he said he was here to collect a bounty on your head. i think thats when adele and charlie left town." " that has been taken down! that bounty wont be paid! the court in tombstone found him innocent of any crime." billy was agrivated. j.t. kept eaating. he didnt look up. the cook turned and went back to his stove." that hand bill is going to cause trouble. you better watch your self." j.t. only nodded. the next day mid morning adele drove a single horse hooked to a light wagon into the yard at her house. j.t. and billy met her there. she explained that charlie was much better but didnt want to ride his horse home so they rented the wagon and she took him home. the horse in the corral was his. billy asked for directions to charlies house. he stated he would go see him and take the horse home. a bit later he left leading the horse. j.t. told adele he would go with her to take the wagon back, then walk her home.. the small livery stood next to the railroad building. as j.t. and adele walked out from the livery a man stapped away from the rail road station. "ok mr. lordsberg gunman, ime here to take you back." j.t. slowly turned to look the man head on" that has been cleared and dropped. theres no more bounty on me. so your wasteing yours and my time," " i dont believe that, i got a hand bill right here. you can go back sitting up or in a box, it dont matter to me. the man s hand hovered over his gun on his hip. " you touch that gun you will die. now just go about your business and let me see to mine!"-j.t. pushed adele to the side. "you are my business and the man grabbed the pistol, then stopped. he let it slide back into his holster. j.t. had his gun out and holding it at arms reach, the hammer at full cock. he hadnt even seen j.t. s hand move. " j.t. stepped a step closer, " now, unbuckle the gun belt and let it drop." the man slowley did as he was told. a pale palor on his face. "now get on your horse and leave here. i dont ever want to see you again. now GIT!" J.T. MADE IT PLAIN ENOUGH. the would be bounty hunter rode out of town toward cochise. j.t. picked up the gun belt and carried it to the rail road messenger office and handed it to the telegrapher inside" put that on the next ttrain east and have it delivered to lordsberg along with a message that bounty is dead on the books." the station man nodded. j.t. went to adele and took her arm and they started to her cabin. no more lordsberg gunman.

BACK FROM THE SIERRA 19

shug took the big cats pelt and folded it into a tight bundle and tied it behind his saddle the looked at his companions" ime going home unless you want me for something else?" " see ya" was all billy said.j.t. waved a lazy hand at him. shug turned his horse and rode out of the clearing headed to the slopes of the dragoons. the two ridrs watche him go then billy turned to j.t." well i sipposewe ought to be as smart. lets go." they kicked up their horses and headed to the ranch house they could see up on the slope of the mountain. for a long ways neither said much. then j.t. looked at billy" do you think we thinned the varmits out?" billy rode a ways then without looking at j.t said" i dont know, maybe the four legged kind, and since we took the rustlers in i havent seen any evidence of the two legged kind, so maybe the word got around"you wanting to quit me" billy asked. " not really but i do want to go to dragoon and check on adele and charlie. ."j.t. said