TO FIND PEACE 14

when the trailer was unloaded at the sale barn cleve and katey went into the cafe in the auction barn. it was a bit early for lunch but they ordered hamburgers any way. cleve went to the inspecters office and explained the situation on the kj cattle. the brand inspecter told him he would be out the next few days to make a plan.. he inspected the cattle that cleve had brought to townn useing the purchas agreement from the bank to show owner ship. the auction barn had a short run of cattle and they were through selling around 2 in the afternoon. the kj cattle were some of the last to sell. the 4 dairy cows brought a bit more than cleve had hoped for and the rest brought good prices. they werent fat but had good frames. the feeder buys liked that. cleve explained these things to katey as the cattle sold. when the sale was over cleve went to the sellers window and picked up their cheeck. " lets go to the bank, before they close." he told katey. at the bank cleve went in alone , katey was a bit embarrased from the manure spattered on her close.when cleve came back to the truck he didnt say a word but drove down town to a western wear store. when he pulled into a parking spot katey looked at him with a unasked question. when he turned the key to off he fished into huis pocket and came out with a wad of green backs. he handed to to her. " theres five hundred there its your share of the cows that sold.ime sure you need a few things, ill wait here." katey looked at the cash then at cleve" what about the bank?" she blurted out. " i took care of them first so we are covered. enjoy the shopping ." cleve smilled at her. katey slowley got out of the truck and went to door of the shop she stopped and looked back at cleve who waved her on into the store. two hours later katey came back with a arm load of packages and a boot box and a new black felt hat atop the blond hair.when she got in the truck she beamed at cleve" i may not be a hand but at least ill look the part." " well it wont take long to make you act the part as well as look it. i know a place that serves good cowboy food and beer , you ready?" cleve was starting the truck. katey was nodding and grinning on a back street was a little bar and resteraunt combo called the GREEN FROG. cleve and katey took seats in a booth on one side of the little dance floor. a couple of young men sat at the bar. cleve knew them as good cowboys. they ordered supper and beer and were talking about working the rest of the kj cows when one of the boys at the bar went to the juke box and fed some coins into. presently a slow toby keith song started to play. the young man walked across the dance floor to katey" would you care to dance with a clumsey puncher." katey looked over at cleve for his permission. " he didnt ask me to dance, its up to you." cleve told her. she slid out of the booth and slipped into the arms of the puncher.they danced until the waiter brought kateys supper. the cowboy brought her back to her table. he looked at cleve " i didnt know a old grizzled puncher as you had such a pretty daughter cleve." he turned to katey " thanks for the dance i hope we can do it again." he then went back to the bar, " do you know him?" katey asked as she dug into her food. " yep, good kid from a good family. they got a outfit accross the valley. his name is ty wilkins. i wouldnt have let you dance with him other wise." cleve kept eating when they had finished cleve got up and went to the bar to pay the tab. katey could see he was talking to ty while he was paying the ticket. when he came back he said" we beter roll, we got lots of work ahead of us." katey looked to ty who gave her a slight nod and a wave she returned the wave and let cleve take her out the door. ALL THE WAY HOME THEY TALKED ABOUT THE WORK THEY WERE LOOKING AHEAD. BUT EVERY DAy wasto start with feeding a trailer load of hay. but cleve was fast thinking about bringing the kj cows to his corrals. the wouldnt have to haul the hay as far and they wouldnt be haveing to hurry back horseback to sort and brand. they could use cleves squeeze chut for the bigger slicks . katey was getting into the swing of things with a lot of enthusiasim.

TO FIND PEACE 13

cleve was sitting behind thewheel of his truck, motor idyling. he ws watching the house and wishing katey would hurry up. the day was warming up and hauling those cattle in the heat wasnt a good thing. they would loose weight and they didnt have it loose. he beeped the horn a couple of times and sat there thinking how lucky he was. she was a pretty girl, she gave him all the respect she could kept the house spotless and still managerd to help him with the ranch as he was sitting there she came bounceing down the steps and jumped into the cab. she had a tight pair of desighner jeans and fluffy blouse. " i thought your legs were burning up?" cleve asked. " that stuff you gave me was great what was it?" she was gushing. " alo vera juice. old remedy. ime glad it worked. but i dont think those sale cattle show you any respect dressed that nice. manure will be the order of the day" cleve giggledd. at the corral he backed his traile right up to the chute. when he bunoed it the post s wiggled. when he got out of the truck he pulled a hot shot prod from behind the seat.katey got out and skipped around to him " ehat do i do?" she asked. cleve was opening the trailer gate and pulled it back to the fence" hold this gate right here. when i tell you shut it. its gonna be tight " katey stepped behind the gate and took a hold of it cleve walked down the ally and let the cattle drift past him when the last one trotted by he turned and trotted up behind them.useing his hot shot on the cattle trailing behind he got them to hurry toward the open trailer. the four old dairy cows were last to get in the trailer. he pushed and proded then motioed for kathey to swing the gate. with both of them pushing they finally got the gate closed and latched. just then the last old cow coughed, a big glop of loose green manure issued from under her tail the end gate deflected most of it but some spattered kathey and cleve. cleve picked up a stick and started scrapping the green waste from his clothes. kathey stood there shocked. she found a stick and started doing the same. thing muttering curses about the cows parentage. "see what i mean" cleve grinned at katey. " theres nothing to laugh at this was my last clean clothes." katey was attacking the green spots. " people will know your the real deal in the cow business." cleve was still smilling. but the smile fadded when a state goverment truck rolled up in a cloud of dust. a short man in khaki uniform got out, a baseball cap perched on his head. he marched right up to cleve and stuck his hand out" ime mark dillon, range con for the state. i just got assighned here. headed to town?" cleve shook his hand and pointed to katey and introduced her . " yes we were just going its getting hot and i want these cows off the trailer before noon. what can i do for you?" " i was just makeing the rounds evaluating everyones leases. every time ive come here the gate is locked i want to drive through your pasture ill be back in a while."mark said matter of factley. " go ahead but we will be gone when you get back just besure to close and lock the gate.. i know theres to many cattle but we are just getting started moveing them come by tomorrow and we can talk about it."cleve invited. katey was getting in the truck. mark stood there shocked he wasnt bowed down to. he stood and watched cleve drive out of the drive way and head toward willcox. cleve turned to katey as he shifted the gears" damn goverment man. nothing but trouble we will see what his story is tomorrow."