BIG HORN 7

con was headed into casa grane. he needed to order hay and he had a good idea where to get a good cowboy. at the thought of that he almost laughed a hay company had a yard on the out skirts of town. he rolled through the gate and up to the little frame shack used as a office. before he got out of his truck oscar the owner was standing right there. "HOLA con! how have you been?" the short mexican man greeted him. " fine amigo. i need four truck loads of good hay delivered to the big horn. can you do it?" con asked as he shook oscars hand. "when?" i can start today. will that be ok?"oscar had a big toothy grin. "you arnt done yet?"con teased when con pulled back onto the hiway he could see in his rear view mirror oscar with a hay squeeze loading a truck. he had promised two loads this day and two tomorrow. on into town con drove to the down town city hall and police station. going in the front door he was met by a officer. "i want to get roy brisco out of jail. who do i see?" con asked. the officer pointed to a open door to a office." see the capitan in there". in the office a gray haired, pot bellyed officer sat behind a desk writting. the name plate on the desk said CAPITAN POWELL. "i need to see about getting roy brisco released." con flatley stated. the ccapitan slowley looked up from his writting."he stays right here! he wrecked the wonder bar and put two men in the hospital nope he stays here."the capitan was hard and firm, no warmth in his voice at all. "con looked down at him" do i need to go see judge hayden?" " your gonna go over my head? ok smart alec, roy owes 400 dollers in damages at the wonder bar and 200 more in fines. you pony that up and get his stinking carcas out of town." the capitan was visably angry. con fished his wallet from his back pocket he then pulled a credit card from it and dropped it in front of the policeman." here, take it off that. we will be out of town just as soon as we can scrape his stuff together" thirty minutes later con was pulling into a drive way in a poor side of town"get your gear and clothes. you wont be back here for a while." the man in the passenger seat nodded then got out. he had a slight limp, a black eye and his hat sat at a jaunty angle on his brown hair covered head. his shirt had a torn sleeve. he looked like what he was, a bar room rounder. but con knew him as a top cowboy in rough, dry country. just what he needed. he just had to remember to not let him drive a company truck. he would be right back in the wonder bar. two hours later con pulled off the hiway at the bender. oscars first load of hay was loading at the corrals when they drove by. roy slouched down in the seat and set his hat on the side of his head next to the window. con took notice but just grinned as they went on to the trailer house. " put your clothes and stuff in there. the back bed is mine. i gotta go check on that hay. stay inside until the truck leaves then ill explain what we are doing here."con outlined what he had to do. roy slide out of the truck and pulled a duffle bag from the back and went up the trailer house steps. con was chuckling as he pulled back away.

THE BIG HORN 6

the next saturday afternoon con and fawn sat in lawn chairs next to his mobil home. each had a cold beer and fawn had a open note book laying on her lap. she was so short her feet barely touched the ground. she was stareing at the adobe walls of her house going up at the bender. the carpenters were working on setting the a frames for the pitched roof. it wouldnt be long she would be liveing there. with out turning her head to look at con she asked about the cattle, how many he had seen and could he get them gathered to sell. " theres more than i could count. they are beating the ground to dust. i need a cowboy or two and a a lot of luck. the morales family is finishing up fenceing the useable waters with triggers installed. i have put salt blocks out at all those places to draw the cattle in.i could have some ready to go to the auction next week the fresh branded ones we have to turn back out until the brands peel. or at the very least feed them. that would take a lot of hay. " con explained. " was george out here this week?" fawn still hadnt looked at con. " yes, he was asking about the cattle. i thought he would be with you today,"con said looking at fawn from the corner of his eyes. " he had to advise a client today. what ever you do dont give him any of the money from the cattle. he only married me to get a hold of my fathers money and investments. i maybe cutting him loose soon. when we married daddy fixed everything so it stayed in his name. i just have access to it." fawn had never turned her head while talking to con. she just watched the carpenters. a stray tear rolled down her cheek. " hire who you need to help get the cattle off the ranch. when they finish my house have them start on a bunk house kitchen right here. i dont want anything thats not permanent. a bungalow for you next to it."fawn had pulled herself back together and spoke through gritted teeth. " thats going to cost a fair bunch. you sure you want to do it all at once?" con had concern in his voice. " daddy needs to spend some cash some place. doing it here keeps the cash tied to the ranch. selling some cattle will help it along. send all the bills to me. ill take care of them. ill bring your paycheck every two weeks. order what hay you need to hold the cattle. ill keep your credit card funded use it as you need to."fawn closed her note book and then leaned her head back and drained her beer, then handed the empty can to con " ill be going now" she said as she stood up. con got to his feet and walked her to her car. "what do i do with george if he shows up again?" con asked " dont tell him anything more than he can see. ime sure he will come snooping.ime calling my attorney in the morning."fawn pulled the door on her suv shut and started the engine. as she drove out the gate con stood there like a statue. " DAMN" was all he could muster. the next morning he took what hay he had, leaveing enough for his horses, and drove to dead horse tank. there the morales family had fenced it with six strands of barbwire. they had built a large corral in one corner with a ally for sorting and loading a trailer. the triggers built into the fence line were made from inch pipe and bung from a 2 inch pipe fram set in concrete. they were tied open and there was a steadly stream of tracks in and out though them. con scattered the hay inside the water lot and put out a few fresh salt blocks. then reset the triggers to a almost closed position. the cattle would have to push through them to get to the water, hay and salt. the triggers would swing shut behind them as they pushed through. it was the place to start.