THE OLD TIMER 28

the next morning just at day break, wes and two sherriffs deputys pulled up to lithers front gate. it was chained and padlocked. one of the deputys has a pair of bolt cutters and chopped the padlock from the chainthey pushed the gate open and walked into the yard. it was a mess with machinery parts and old tires scattered they walked on toward a old single wide trailer parked toward the back of the compound. wes carried a shot gun and doing a search. they nered a couple of locked cargo containers. the deputy chopped the locks there. inside was a complet meat processing set up. in the end of one a meat locker stood it was full of wrapped meat.the cuts labeled on the paper.just as they turned to walk back out side a roar came from the dirt bike as it went past the cargo container. as they stepped out side they could just make out the bike and rider roaring down the road. one of the deputys ran for his car the other was on his hand held two way radio calling in the discription of the fugative. wes walked on down to a open aire shed where he found a couple of black hides stretched on wooden frames and drying. each hide had bucks brand. he produced a camera and took pictures of everything he told the deputy everything was to be impounded as evedince. luther had no idea where he was going, he just knew he couldnt stay in the area. he had stuffed pockets with what cash he had and was burning up the road to the east.there was a junction ahead, if he turned north he would surely find more deputys, south it was 45 miles to mexico, that seemed to be the best choice. in town roy was just getting ready to be released from his night in jail. when taken into the police office one of the police men began telling him to stay away from sharon. until they could go in front of a judge. roy spun and slapped the police man" you dont tell me what to do!" two other police men grabbed him and wrestled him to the floor and hand cuffed him. then let him up and hustled him back to his cell. when the closed the door the policeman he slapped said" get used to this area its all your going to see for a while." back at the ranch buck was loading half the steers in his trailer. it would take two triips to haul them to the auction.. on his way back he would stop at the hospital and check on art. everything was up in the air. wes had come by and let him know about what he had found at luthers place. he was going into the hospital to see art. buck breathed a sigh of relief, at least the problems with his cows was exposed and stopped. he wanted to get these steers sold for two reasons.. takeing care of art and buying a ring for cloe. he had never thought of another family but she seemed to fit the bill.

THE LONE OLD TIMER 27

buck at first had a hard time getting the steers to line out for the corrals at home, they didnt want to leave the good feed and the cows. but after a bit they lined out along the fence started driveing.it was a late in the afternoon arrival when he drove the steers into the corrals at the head quarters. he was shutting the gate when wes came up on him. "you better come to the house. we need you up there" buck looked at him with a question on his face unasked and followed wes to the house. in the bedroom art was propped up in bed but he was pale.wes went to arts side and pulled up his shirt tale. buck was shocked at what he saw. "thats not a brush cut buck, thats a bullit hole in my opinion. it went clear through. we need to get him to a hospital and get a report done. ime pretty sure where that dirt bike guy lives so maybe now i can get a search warrent." wes spoke through gritted teeth. a few minutes later bucks truck roared out of the yard. art was propped up with pillows on the passenger side. behind them followed wes in his state truck. at the hospital in the emergency room the doctor confirmed that the wound was a bullit hole. other than loss of blood art was in no danger. it had just passed along in the loose flesh above his hip bne. just as the doctor got through with art a plain clothes deputy came in the room. he asked the doctor a number of questions then took a picture of the wound. when he asked art what he remembered art simply said he didnt remember seeing anyone. just the burning sensation in his side. we explained that the bike rider had a rifle and fired a wild shot at him. he thought that shot was what hit art. wes and the deputy left together going to find a judge who would write a search warrent.they were wanting to raid that chain link yard. buck made sure aart was settled for the night. then headed back to the ranch. but before he cleared town he wanted to go by cloe s house and tell sharon about art. but as he pulled up in front of cloes house a big rough looking man was dragging sharon out the door. she was yelling for him to let her go. buck recognized the man as the drunk at the reasteraunt. just as roy reached the curb dragging sharon buck stepped up behind him and said" turn her loose. now" roy turned to look at buck " like hell, this is my wife." the next thing roy knew buck had laid a chunk of cedar post up aside his head. he turned sharon loose as he slumped to the side walk. buck poked him in the chest with the chunk of wood. "leave here now and dont come back.she is through with you. if you come back around your liable to end up in jail. understand?" roy cleared his head and with a roar came to his feet" ill kill you! you cant keep her from me. she is mine!" the cedar clib fell again. a little harder than the first time. just as buck lifted the club for another swing a city cop car rolled up. cloe had called one when roy dragged sharon out the door.the police man came over to roy. " looks like you bounced your head off the concrete fella." he hand cuffed roy and pushed him into the back seat of the car. the police man looked at buck"i didnt see that fire wood. butter put it in a stove some place." he got in the car and drove off. buck turned to sharon who was being hugged by cloe. " arts in the hospital , he is ok but you might want to go see him"