SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 26

a few months later jerry and sharon married. no one was as much excited as mike. he was already calling jerry dad. del gave them the 40 acres and the remodeled house as a wedding present. he took his things and moved to the old house at the ranch. he had plans to remodel it down the road. he liked the close proximity to the cows, his cows. his lifes dream was comming true. he had even met the new waitress at the local cafe.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 25

for three weeks nafzigger wasnt seen or heard from. he had walked off into the mid night darkness and evaporated. the law enforcement people turned over every rock they could find. it was assumed he had left the country. a lot of folks let out a sigh of relief. but not jerry or del.del kept his snub nosed pistol in his chap pocket but went about his work as if it was just another day. and jerry proweled every back road and abandoned building he could find. nafzigger was a mad dog and would be back for revenge. but time ticked on with no sighn or mention of him. with some folks that was good, they let down the defences.but jerry and del? they just bacame more edgy not sleeping well, not eating a full meal. they knew that huge glob of muscle and grissle would show up sooner or later. and just what damage he would do was yet to be seen. a month later del was comming back to the corrals at the ranch. his horse had his head down and marching along. it had been a good day with a long circle through the cows. as they came in sight of the barn and corrals del could see jerrys patrol car at the barn. he thought to himself it would be the ending to a good day. his cows were in good shape, lots of calves that were growing like little weeds. and now his good friend was waitting to visit. maybe he would have a cold drink for him. as he drew near he could hear voices a argument was in process. del wondered who he would be argueing with. del rode along with a loop from his catch rope in his hand. as he rode around the corner of the bar he came in sight of a confrontation he had never expected. there with his back to del was nafzigger, a pitchfork in his hands pointing at jerry who was backed to the barn wall. jerrys hand was easing toward his pistol. but nafzigger noticed it. " you touch that gun ill skewer you before i planned you and that cowboy have ruined my life!" nafzigger was a mess, his hair was no longer styled. it was long and ragged. his clothes hung on his massive frame he hadnt shaved in weeks. he took a step closer to jerry. del spured his horse and jumped him forward. at the same time he swung the ready made loop in his hand and threw it at nafzigger, going over his head and down around his upper arms just below his shoulders. wit a roar the big man raised both hands above his head slipping the loop up and over his shoulders. but dels horse was in a run away from there and the loop as it came off nafziggers shoulderspulled down snug around the giants neck. dels horse hit the end of the rope and jerked nafzigger backwards. a audible pop was heard. by the time del got his horse under control he had dragged the big german 20 feet on his back. jerry came forward and threw the pitch fork aside out of reach. as he got close to nafzigger he saw his eyes stareing up, sightless. he knelt next to him and felt his neck. jerry looked up at del" i think you broke his neck. he is dead." del shook his head and it was plain he wasnt happy about it. jerry pulled the hard twisted rope loop from nafziggers neck it had left a deep groove. jerry stood and turned toward his car" ill call for back up and a meat wagon." as he walked away del heard him say" well looks like you scored the big catch for the day"