THE BIG HORN 34

within six months con had the big horn operating like a legitimate ranch. he and roy had gathered and shipped almost all the old branded cows. they had kept enough of the slicks after branding them to restock the ranch. a few of the wildest cattle still remained at large but they were trapped a few at a time and sold the southern boundry was remaining stable and they had become fast friends with the papago cowboy across the boundry line. con had moved into the new bender house. earnesto and his family took over the trailer house. fawns motor home was kept and used when ever they camped and worked at the farthest reaches of the ranch. then one day in late winter roy came to con and said he wanted to move on. things had gotten to quiet here he said. but if he could he would like to return in the fall for the fall round up and shipping of the calf crop. con understood but wasnt entirley happy about it but paid off roy. they had fixed up cons old truck and he gave it to roy. he pulled out early one morning before day lite. things at the big horn had slowed down considerably. con had his morning coffee on a little porch faceing the north east. he could see the gate from there. in the evenings he had a small glass of bourbon at the same place. he kept watch on that gate but no one came to it. he had bought earnesto a jeep pick up and he spent his time checking waters, repairing corrals and fences. miriem was cooking and keeping the bender house clean for him. occasionaly money would leave the bank account. but no other word came from fawn. con knew at some point this would all change, but for now it was settled and quiet.

THE BIG HORN 33

when roy and con had filled 2 carts at the grocery store and started checking out, con could see in the parking lot a man in a white shirt and khaki pants leaning on the front of the ranch truck. con bumped roy and nodded toward the man. roy simply grunted. in the parking lot each cowboy had a cart full they were pushing toward the truck. when they reached the front of the truck con pushed his cart past the man and stopped in front of him. " what can i do for you?" con asked. the man produced a wallet with a badge, FBI, " ime looking for fawn capps." the man said. " i got no idea where she is. i wouldnt mind seeing her myself."con answered. roy was loading the grocerys in the truck but stopped and was listening. " we just want to talk to her. she left you pretty well set up with the ranch. there is no where you can contact her?" the man asked. " she left me some instructions and a bank card. i cant say more, because i dont know more."con responded. " understood. will you contactt us if you do hear from her?" the man handed con a business card. con took the card and placed it his shirt pocket" will do." the man turned and walked back to his bronco. roy watched him go" i thought, hoped, we were through with them guys." " they might just being to tie up some loose ends. i wouldnt worry to much. we got our jobs and control of the ranch. they cant hurt us none."con started helping roy load the bags. a couple of hours later con stopped the truck next to the mail box for the ranch. it set along the asphalt out side the main gate. " i dont know why i keep checking this , theres never anything in it." he commented as he shut the front door on the box. at the trailer they were un loading the bags wwith miriam helping and putting the food away on shelves and in the refridgerater. when they finished miriam reached into her apron pocket and brought out a post card with apicture of a bunch of pine trees on the front." this was in the mail box"she said as she handed it to con. when con took the card he noticed the post mark was a small town on the washington state coast. he turned it over. fawn had written " dont expect to see me ever again. just operate the ranch as if it were your own this address is that of my father. should you need direction contact him. your bank account will be short some cash. thats me. i hope it doesent cause a problem we will talk soon." con stared at the card a long time then handed it to roy to read. when roy was through he looked at con" now what?" con shook his head" i dont know. it sounds like she dont want to be found. why i dont know." miriem quietly said" i know why. she told me one time before she left. she needed to talk to some one." " well? what is it?" roy blurted out. " she shot her husband and his mistress. it wasnt the cartel." miriem quietly said while looking at the floor. " she comes back the feds will charge her with murder. damn!" con stated. mirem pushed abig manila envelope down the counter. it was addressed to con. in it were documents giveing con posetion of the ranch, a instruction sheet of where to deposit funds and what percentage of the income to deposit." con read it through twice " damn" was all he said. on a small privatley owned island off the washington coast fawn cast her fishing line into apool . she could see the shore line a mile away. she had a bungalow to live in, a boat came to her once a week with supplys and news her father took care of her needs from his home on the main land. she had a lot of time to reflect on her life.