THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 21

when the drive reached soldier holes fracisco let them slow and water out then spread and start grazeing.. he had purposly driven themhard to get them off the home ground. they wouldnt be as apt to try to return. the gramma grass here was deep and thick. within a hour the her had filled upp and were bedding down spread over a good sized area. billy had camp set up and supper cooking .with only one vaquero rideing guard on the herd the rest were in camp awaitting supper. francisco looked up into the fadeing light and saw a man rideing through the herd.. at this day and time that was considered a blatant execution of bad manners. francisco walked to the edge of camp and met the rider as he pulled up. " buenos tardes senior.. we are about to eat, you are welcome to join us." francisco was being hospitable. " where did those jk cattle come from?"the rider demanded without preliminary. " these cattle belong to senior dale little of gleeson. we drive them to willcox to market. the rest of the cattle belong to don frederico of mexico."francisco was now being cautious. behind francisco billy had stood up from his pots and was walking up to francisco. "and, if you dont mind me asking whats all this to you?" billy was clearly agrivated at the breech of etticut this stranger was useing. " i own the jk, i won it on a horse race with judd wilkinson. where is he?" the man was getting more rude. " he is burred in boot hill with a load of buckshot in the seat of his pants. dale little won the jk on a horse race from wilkinson over a year ago. when did you deal with him?"billy leaned a bit forward. francisco and the other vaqueros had all removed the hammer strings from their pistols. the stranger took note of that. "i won it fair and square 5 months ago in douglas. he told me little was the manager and keeping a eye on it, not stealing the cattle!"the mans belligerent attitude was getting worse. " go to the county seat, check the land registration and brand ownership, you will see that dale ownes it all, lock stock and barrel." billy was pushing his good nature."it looks like wilkinson was gambling with something he didnt own" "ill be in willcox to collect on my cattle cookie. you will see me there."the man reined his horse around and rode back to the north in the direction of willcox. " francisco watched him ride away then turned to billy" i think i should have killed him and buried him here , he will cause much problems i think" " before we sell anything ill go to the local sherriff. if he wants to be a problem we will let the law tend to him."billy turned back to the fire and his cooking food.

THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 20

forty five daays later dale sat his horse on the edge of the round up.. don fredirico sat next him watching the vaqueros rope and brand every un branded animal. the don had brought 15 vaqueros to help out. dale was still shock at the generosoty. billy was off to one side with a fire going cooking for the big crew. when they had finished branding francisco rode over to dale" 280 branded senior." again dale was shocked. but he wrote it into a tally book. the crew of men had gathered well over 400 head of cattle.. he knew many ere don frederico s but he had no idea there was this many cattle under his brand. dale still suffered head aches.. he was weak and dizzy much of the time. the doctor told him on leaveing tombstone this may linger a good year he should stay in bed as much as possible. but he was so restless he had to get out do something if only set his horse and watch. ddon frederico turned to him" do you plan to market some cattle?" " i had planed on it. but i dont think i will be able and billy couldnt do it alone."dale explained. " if you would permit me, i have no place to market my cattle below the border. i would be indebeted to you if you would allow us to take our cattle as well as yours to the market. you are planeing on going to willcox are you not?" frederico was being proper in his proposition. dale nodded." that would be great.. we can send billy along to cook and negotiate the sale. if you agree? ?" almost on cue billy started banging on a wash pan that lunch was ready. half the men left and rode down to the cook site. the other half held the herd. when the first bunch was through eating then they would trade with the second bunch. after every one had eaten francisco rode into the herd and slowley started cutting fredericos cattle out. four of the vaqueros rode off to one side and held up the cuts when francisco had finished he rode over to dale." would you care to cut your market cattle out?" dale rode forward slowley" ill point them out if you will cut them out and put them with don fredericos cattle." francico nodded and followed dale into the herd. two hours later the market herd was holding a good 150 cattle almost a half and half split. "our corral at the house will hold these tonite. we can start to willcox in the morning.just turn the herd loose here.. " dale explained. frederico had told half the men to stay along with francisco and help drive the cuts to willcox. they would all camp at the headquarters this night whil frederico and the rest of the men started home. at the house billy already had his fire goeing.. seven men was still a sizeable bunch to cook for. no one was sure how to go to willcox , the only one haveing been there before was dale. billy didnt want dale going so told him to draw a map gor them. down on the floor of the sulphur springs valley the gramma grass was almost waist high.. dale told them to drive the herd slowley letting them graze as the went and fill them .. the first night they would stop at soldier holes for water. after that they would stop at the sulphur springs and then on into willcox. billy was to find a buyer and evenly divide any sales money with frederico, giveing the money to francisco. the next morning just at day light francisco opened the gate to the big corrall and started the herd up the trail to gleeson. once there they would turn east . as the last of the herd left the corral billy finished loading his pack horse and turned to dale "stay in bed or at least sitting some place.. you know what the doc said? ill be back as soon as possible. you want anything from town?" dale slowley shook his head" use your own good judgment just be careful comming back with that much cash" billy mounted and takeing the lead rope to the pack horse, he waved to dale and rode off to catch the distant herd.