BIG HORN 15

A FEW hours later con rode up to a tank named 13. just a number. no one knew why it was named such a thing but it was a big tank with lots of water. i was south west of the head quarters. the moralis crew had just finished the fenceing and corral work there. the water lot took in a good 3 acres with a corral built from stacked mesquite in the north east corner. cattle tracks were abundant. con rode around to where the triggers were built the tracks were thick , no telling how many cattle watered here. he decided to set the triggers and work this area.. when he got off his horse he found fresh foot prints going through the triggers on top of the cattle tracks. he carefully stepped through the triggers on one side of the fresh foot prints. he followed them through the water lot toward the corral. as he neared the corral the smell of mesquite smoke was in the air. he opened the gate to the corral to find the ashes of a small fire built inside the corral, sheltered and hidden by the solid stacked mesquite fence. there were foot prints for one person only. a few food wrappers scattered about but on one side of the fire he found a cigarette butt. like the ones he saw on the side of the road. he fished in his shirt pocket and came up with the one george had throwwen at his feet. it was short and he couldnt tell if they matched. he pocketed both butts. he would pass them on to the border patrol. who ever had been here had climbed over the fence to leave. con sould see the foot prints going away to the north. he returned to his horse and set the triggers. then rode over to the single set of tracks and started following them north toward the hi way. he needed the border patrol. it looked like the smugglers were scouting a new trail. late that aternoon he rode back into the headquarters. he saw fawns car parked over by the bender where thecarpenters were putting a roof over the adobe walls. as he pulled the saddle from his horse he saw fawn comming toward him behind her he could see roy standing in the door of the trailer house watching. earnesto was no place to be seen. he put his saddle on a rack and stepped back out side. earnesto had taken his horse to the corral fawn was almost to him. he leaned back against the barn wall and waited. " things look good con." fawn said as she walked up. " but why the locked gate?" " george told the brand inspecters i might be stealing cattle from you. i locked the gate to keep him out."con answered. fawns face blushed immediatly, her temper riseing." dont let him back in again. i didnt even think that. ime sorry." " dont be, i knew you wouldnt have insinuated that. ill try to get some more cattle to the sale this comming week." con then explained about roy being beaten and his hireing earnesto. fawn stood there nodding and listening. " if you want start going armed. i dont want anyone treated that way. earnesto seems like a good har working man. as soon as the house is liveable ime moveing in here. do you have any idea how many cattle are here, any idea at all?" fawn inquired. "not a number, but plenty. george told me he had made a deal with the brand department to sell the fresh branded cattle.i dont trust either one, him or them. but you might follow up on that because we could end up holding as lot of cattle here before being able to sell them."con told her. fawn looked him in the eye, " you think george is trying to steal some cattle or the money they are worth dont you?"fawn asked. " hes up to something i just dont know yet. i didnt want to acuse him yet. but he has made it hard for me to ignore." con scuffed his boot in the dust. " i didnt want to start this, your married to him but i think he will try to take advantage of you.. you been straight up with me. he hasnt." fawn nodded," ok, when the adobe crew show up get them started on the bunk house and your bungalow. i hate that trailer sitting there.ill be back in a day or so. ill have george served with seperation papers tomorrow. the divorce might be worse and take a while. but dont let him on the place."with that fawn turnned and started back to her car. earnesto materialized from no where" go let the patrona out then lock it up better." con told earnesto. con broke into a trott and caught fawn"when you get to town tell the border patrol i need to talk to some one." " you know something i should know?" fawn asked. "ime not sure. it maybe nothing you will be the first to know if we nail something down."con nodded. earnesto passed them on the way to the gate. fawn watched him pass" ill get you some one right away"

THE BIG HORN 14

when con stopped in the parking lot at the hospital it was 415. but sitting on a concrete bench in the front of the hospital was roy. a small bag at his feet. as con walked up roy smiled and stood up. " glad you made it, that bench was wearing ablister on my back side" " how long you been sitting there?con was incredulos. " about a hour. them nurses are heartless. i sighned my self out in self defense."roy confessed. " i bet it was more like them getting you gone in self defense! damn roy."con picked up the baf and pointed roy to the truck. just at dark they rolled back up to the cattle guard at the ranch. two 12 foot corral panels were standing across the gate way. con opend the panels and then drove through. after shutting them back he took chain and a padlock from the back of the truck and chainned the panels shut. when con got back in the truck roy looked at him"what the hell is that all about?" "to many nosey tourists." con explained as he drove to the trailer house. the next morning con gave ernesto a key to the padlock. he told him to watch for the house contracters and any of the morealis family and the owner fawn. no one else got in. roy stood to one side and raised a eyebrow as ernesto took it all in. " you think thats really a good idea?" he asked con when he finished with earnesto. " what giveing him a key?"con asked. " no locking everyone out. it makes you look like your doing something crooked."roy spoke careful and slow. "i already been accused. i dont trust that cow cop or george. besides fawn is going send george down the road kicking cans and horse turds. what you feel like doing today? you want to ride or keep house?" con smilled at roy. " ime not to sure about the rideing. ill keep house and help earnesto as much as i can. for another day or so."roy was still walking slow and deliberate. con nodded and turned for the barn. he was going to ride and check some tanks and triggers. fawn might need all the cash he could raise. he didnt trust george. he was a slippery lawyer. just as he pulled the cinchas snug on his saddle he heard a horn honking out at the cattle guard. ernesto was standing at the barn door with the ever present pitch fork in hand. " ill go earnesto" con told him as he stepped up on his brown horse.. earnesto nodded and turned back to his chores. con trotted out to the cattle guard. parked there was georges suv. behind the tinted windsheild con could make out the out line of a woman. " brazen bastard" he whispered as he rode up. george got out of the suv" hey what gives? you just cant lock me out!" " well the brand inspecter told me yesterday that you were afraid someone was stealing cattle. if they cant get in they cant take any out."con leaned over his saddle horn looking down at george. " ok, but that dont include me!"george sputtered. " everyone until fawn tells me different. she is the owner remember?" con was looking george right in the eye. " this is community property, you just cant do this!"george was ranting. "when fawn tells me to let you in then i will. she is supposed to be here today i think. come back tomorrow."con started to rein his horse away.george kicked the front tire of the car. "you better start thinking of another job mr.!"george threatened. " i got jobs waitting on me. but fawn will fire me, not you. see ya."con rode away without looking back at georges cussing and raveing. as con rode by the trailer house he saw roy standing in the door way. " you made that ole boy mad." was all roy said. "yep he will be even madder when fawn hits him with the divorce papers. hes been skimming a liveing off her for a while i think." roy nodded and turned back into the trailer house " go round up some more of those cattle your gonna steal" he said as he picked up his broom.