COCHISE COWBOYS 16

that morning on leaveing the canyon ranch inez had pulled on a pair of dentons canvas pants and shirt. she had folded her dress up into a small package and was tieing it behind her saddle when denton stepped up " it looked like you didnt use this ole horse to hard so i saddled him again. i hope thats alright?" inez nodded and smiled and led the horse out in the yard. the animal was on his tip toes but didnt hump up again. when she mounted he spun a tight circle and tried to buck, she picked his head up useing one rein pulled him around. looking at denton she smiled" ime ready." a few hours later they rode into the ranch yard at the san bernadino ranch of john slaughter.he can marching from the barn hand extended to denton. from the house his young wife almost ran to inez. and helped her untie her dress" i hardly ever have a woman to talk to!" she exclaimed"i have coffee in the house, come in!" inez looked over her shoulder as she was led away. denton smiled and nodded his approval. the sherrif led him over to a large shade tree with a olla hanging in the branches. a bench sat under the tree. they had a cool drink then sat down. "what brings this visit deputy?"the sherrif asks. denton started explaining his many concerns and with each one slaughter had a positive res olution. denton had relaxed and was laughing and jokeing with slaughter when mrrs. slaughter called out the kitchen door that lunch was ready. when denton and slaughter stepped into the kitchen they were greeted by inez in her dress, her black hair brushed and shinning and her brilliant smile . denton almost took a step back. slaughter turned to him"i see why you want to enlarge your cabin." denton went to inez and pulled a chair out for her. she looked at him with a question in her eyes. " its the gentelmanly thing to do my dear." slaughter said as he did the same for his wife. everyone laughed. after lunch denton and slaughter were back under the shade trree. slaughter was packing tobacco into apipe. " i know some mexican boys down at santa cruz village. they do excellent work with stone. ill send word to them. as for your ten steers emillio kosterlinsky brought them here. i didnt ask how he came by them nor did he say. i sent them to pearce.. heres the cash payment." john pulled it from his pocket and handed it to denton" it should just about pay for the labor on the addition to your cabin." as for the hundred head of cows you need i have thought it over, and here is my proposition, i will front you 150 cows, you pay me fifty percent of the calf crop for the first year. then you own them. is that agreeable?" " thats great for me, but is it enough for you?" denton was shocked. "ime over stocked right now. i need to lighten up my herd. if it will help you and that young woman ime glad to do it. ill have my boys bring the cows next week if thats ok?" slaughter was rambling. he was looking out across the flats toward the mountain as he talked" we are about to have more company. there comes the black hats and kosterlinsky."

COCHISE COWBOYS 15

as the stranger rode away inez let the hammer down on her rifle. then eased her mount out from under the cotton wood tree and slowley started following him. she was going to make sure he left.she had decided she like it here, she liked denton crouch, she didnt want any one messing that up. after two years with the apache she was ready for some stability. she hung back as the rider entered the canyon leading back to the sulphur springs valley. then when she was sure he was still moveing along followed him to the out side entrence. from there she could see him in the distance rideing west at a jog trot. she watched for a moment then turned and went back. when she got back to the cabin she found denton already there. his horse cared for and he was walking around the outside of the cabin slowley, looking at it. when she walked up he smiled at her" just figgureing on how to make this a bit bigger. its kinda cozy like it is but we could stand a bit more room." " it wouldnt hurt. ill start a meal while you study on it."inez walked on by. denton was a bit surprised she didnt say more. when denton went in the house he found a peice of brown wrapping paper. he spread it out on the table and with a lead pencil started sketching the addition to theiir cabin. inez looked over her shoulder from the stove. "how you plan to pay for all this?she asked. " i found enough graze on up the mountain for a hundred more cows. ime going out of here to see john slaughter in the morning. we got a little cash, and we are still owed for ten steers. ime going to see where we stand on that. as for this cabin we got building materiel all around us. theres enough loose rock for ten houses."denton taped the paper with his pencil. " you know how to build a rock house?"inez asked with a raised eyebrow. "you wouldnt want to live in a rock house i built. no ime going to try and find a couple of men." denton almost laughed. " what you plan to do about myles compton? he sent a man snooping here today. ime afraind we arnt done with him or the cowboys."inez had a glum attitude. " you didnt shoot him did you?" denton asked. "no i just made sure he left. i could have shot him. ime afraid we dont have enough ground with out rocks to start a grave yard.you got other things that is more important than digging graves."inez stated. when we go to san bernadino tomorrow we will have to talk to john about this." denton folded up his paper. when myles cowboy got back to camp he told myles what he had found. myles came unwound. " those three men are gone?and the cattle? what the hell. the first two i sent were solid. the saddle tramp that followed i wouldnt be surprised if he skipped but not the first two. and you say a woman run you off?" myles was slobbering he was so mad. "a woman didnt run me off, the rifle she held did. i didnt sign on here to fuss with women. all she said was everyone and the cattle left the country."when the rider said that myles head snapped up. " thats a term the sherrif uses for dead men. you were right to leave if she had a rifle on you. we will go see about all this tomorrow."myles kicked a rock out from under foot.