THE LONE OLD TIMER 17

the next morning buck almost skipped going to do his chres at the barn. his heart was light and he was looking at the riseing sun with a new attitude. cloe had spent the night and he just couldnt believe he had been missing all these years the feeling of haveing some one lay so close dureing the night. back in the ouse cloe was drifting around the house in her bath robe. a smile of contentment crossing her face. she went in the kitchen and went to work o a breakfast. buck had made the coffee and she sampled it.when it hit her taste buds it knocked her head back. her eyes flew open another notch. she had to shake her head as the strong caffiene slide down her throat. " cowboy coffee darlin" buck was standing in the kitchen door. " ill leave it be but take the cowboy" cloe put the cup on the drain board. she went on with cooking breakfast while buck poured himself another cup of coffee. cloe swore she could see fumes riseing from his cup. after breakfast she dressed and was getting ready to return home. buck was down at the barn saddling a horse. when she came out to put her bag in the car buck walked over and took her in his arms . " ill be in sunday as usual. maybe ill come earlyer tho. that ok?" buck asked. " you better. i can do breakfast if you want it. if i had a place for baldy you could come the night before."cloe snuggled against his chest. he leaned down and kissed her and opened her car door." see ya sunday.' buck stood and watched cloe drive out of his yard. he turned and walked to his horse. he had to make a circle and chek on his cattle. but his mind was some place else. he rode up toward the foot hills fence watching for cattle and anything that needed his attention. the blood trail at treasure road hadnt even entered his mind.he was just enjoying the free easy feeling he had. as he rode along he saw a few cattle, their black hides shineing. the clves fat and friskey when they were sucking milk from their mothers their tails wringing like helicopter propellers. this is what a cowman was supposed to see and feel. when he reached the foot hills fence he found a single tire track following the fence, a motor bike tire track. it still didnt crush his good thoughts he turned and followed the tire track as it ran along the fence line. as he drew near the gate on the jeep trail that went up into the pasture he found it open and throwen back by the tire tracks he could see the bike had come out of the pasture and gone down the two track. he got off and was pulling the gate shut when he looked at the bottom of the gate post where the gate would be latched. a big brown stain was at the base of the post and some of it spread along the post. "well, theres the reason theres no body, he aint dead!"

THE LONE OLD TIMER 16

the next day buck was once again brought back into the room. roer sat there waitting for him. "alright they are going to release you, just stay in the county. i had a temper tantrum in front of the judge but he finally agreed with me they had no case.they are doing the paper work now to release you. the big question in this whole thing is where is the body. i saw all the photo graphs, that guy had to die. if i were you i would quietly snoop around on that. of coarse i didnt tell you that." " i thank you for all this, whats the bill? ill get you paid as soon as i get to the ranch" buck shook roers hand. " i dont know yet, it wont be much, i hate seeing law enforcement doing this kind of deal. maybe next time you butcher send me some beef , i dont know. just keep your nose clean." roer turned to go to the door. and as he did cloe came in a hand full of papers" i got it, lets go!" she shook the paper over her head.on the way back to the ranch buck was quiet watching out the window as the scenery whizzed by. " what you thinking buck?" cloe asked. "what happened to that guy? with all that blood, he had to die. so if he did who hauled him away? who set me up?" buck murmered as he watched the real estate going by. " i didnt ssee any one all that day except the cow cop.and i dont think he would have done it." " want to put it behind us, just move on, you didnt do anything so we can go on with life. maaybe that killing will put all the rif raff on notice about stealing your stock." cloe spun the steering wheel and turnned up the drive way to bucks house" ime cooking a welcome home supper. ime takeing tomorrow off work so i can spend some time with you. is that ok?" buck looked over at her and grinned "well the meal will be great, ill withhold judgment on any thing else." " thats more than you have said yet on that so we must be makeing progress. ill take that for now." cloe beamed. for supper cloe set the table with baked potatoes, sour cream . corn and a big ole roast beef. buck felt his stomach grumble.. a bit later after his second plate full he got up and poured a glass with whiskey from the bottle on top of the refridgerater.he stepped out on the porch and watched the sun set from his favorite wicker chair.presently cloe came out with a glass also and sat down close to him." this is about as good as life gets. you got it pretty good here." she took a sip of whiskey. buck turned and looked at her. " behave your self and you might get to see it a bunch more."he chuckled. " your awful sharp for a guy just out of jail" cloe was almost laughing.