COCHISE COWBOYS 18

myles had just got the stolen herd held up in the canyon where dentons ranch lay when the cowboy he had left at the canyon mouth came lopeing up to him. " theres a big dust cloud comming behind us. they will be here any time. we gotta go!" the cowboy was out of breath. " get the boys, leave this bunch of cattle we will come back for them another day. LETS GO!" myles had already turned his horse back into the narrow canyon. as he reached the mouth of the canyon he could see the dust cloud not more than a half mile away. he shuddered, a white horse was in the lead. that meant one thing. he spun his horse back to the north and useing the tail of his rope he started whipping the horse down the hind leg he was at a dead run in two jumps. behind him his crew of cow theivees were just leaveing the canyon gun shots erupted from the dust cloud. two of the cow theives fell from their horses.the other three followed myles in a hail of bullets. whipping their horses. as slaughter and kosterlinsky came up on the two down cowboys they pulled to a stop looking down at the two bodys slaughter turned to kosterlinsky" theres two that left the country!" denton and inez turned up the canyon toward the ranch. their horses as well as the rest of the mounts in the possee were heaveing for air. even tho myles horses were tired they had a good lead and hadnt run to this point full out. both slaughter and kosterlinsky knew they didnt have the horse flesh to catch the cow theives. denton and inez rode into the canyon to find the stolen herd bedded down, give out. theyhad passed a half dozen little calves in the chase to reach here. but they would have to wait until morning to pair the calves with their mothers. denton looked over to inez and realized she had a rifle laying across her saddle in front of her lap. " would you have used that?" denton asked pointing at the rifle. " any man from now on who try s to take advantage will find i can use it."inez was grim "does that include me?"denton asked " we will have to wait and see wont we."inez didnt give a inch. denton shuddered. he knew she meant it. as denton and inez rode around and through the herd slaughter and the rest rode in through the canyon. kosterlynsky and his men held up at the mouth of the canyon. slaughtr and his crew rode around the give out herd slowley looking them over. when he came up to denton he stopped his horse. "these cows are to give out to take back home. ime thinking they maybe the beginning of out share agreemet"slaughter had a defeated sound to his voice. denton looked over at inez who slowley nodded and then back to slaughter" lets get a good count. so we know where we are." " there is 86 head of mother cows. i counted 6 calves left on the trail. do you agree?"slaughter spit it out. denton was amazed at the ld cowmans ability to count the cattle as he rode by."if you say so its good for us. do you all want to camp here for the night?" " no, when our horses are rested we will start back. emillio needs to get back across the line before he is missed. we will bring the balance of your agreement cattle in a few days. is that ok with you all?" again inez slowley nodded her agreement as did denton. ahour later the possee minus denton and inez left the canyon ranch and started home.it ha been a long hard day.

COCHISE COWBOYS 17

EVERYONE IN SLAUGHTERS YARD STOOD WATCHING AS THE RUALES LONG TROTTED INTO THE YARD RAISEING A DUST CLOUD. KOSTERLINSKY RODE FORWARD WHEN ALL HAD STOPPED. " I SAY, I SAY EMILLIO, WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?"slaughter almost yelled. " we found these body s back along the border, i thought maybe they belonged here." kosterlinsky pointed to two forms lashed to the backs of horses. slaughter walked past kosterlinsky as he sat his white horse and up to the first body. he looked long at the bloddy face revealed under the tarp. he looked back over his shoulder at denton " its wes." he said as he lowered the tarp. he walked to the next one and repeated the process" this one is pedro., both employed here and good men.how far were they from here?" he asked without looking up. " a little more than a mile. by the tracks with them the cattle they were driveing were taken."kosterlinsky said. " what direction did they go?"denton stepped up as he asked. "north, and by the sign not long past. its the reason we didnt pursue them.but we would place ourselves under your command to go after these murderes." kosterlinsky leaned forward to look at slaughter. slaughter looked around at denton then at some of his other cowboys. " you boys tend to these fellas. enrnesto , saddle my horse." denton had already started to the corral for his saddle horse. just as he got there inez caught up with him "mine too, please , ime going to change my clothes." denton looked her in the face and no longer found the sweet young woman he though that accompanied him, just a firce native woman with blood in her eye. he didnt argue a half hour later the possee made up of half ruales and half slaughter cowboys loped out of the san bernadino yard. denton and inez were in the group. ernesto turned to mrs. slaughter" i pity the bad men when they are caught. thats a bunch of angry men there." two hours ahead myles compton and five of his cochise cowboys were driveing a bunch of slaughters cows and calves. the smallest calves were give out, their toungs hanging out of their mouths. but they were given no rest, as the little calves played out the theives left them behind, forceing their mmothers on ahead. myles drove his cowboys as hard as they drove the cows.he knew they had to get away from that border fast. as the cattle slowed from exhaustion the cowboys took their ropes and beat them down the backs trying to hurry them along. to their right a narrow canyon opened, myles loped ahead and turned the leaders into it. it would be a good place to spend the night. they could rest the herd while guarding the entrence. myles felt confident he could handle the cowboy and apache who lived here.