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after moveing the cattle to the far end of the pasture denton and slaughters crew rode back to the cabin. from a distance a stream of smoke could be seen .evidence of a forthcomeing meal. upon reaching the house the cowboys all hobbled their horses and headed for a bench holding a wash pan and towel. behind the house the two rock masons had unloaded their burros and had alreaady laid out the outline of the new room. denton decided things were hustling right along. in the house inez and mrs. slaughter were happily chatting as they prepared a meal for the cowboy crew. slaughter stated that everything was going to well, he feared a blow up. he and denton laughed. after eating the cowboys all caught their horses and headed out back to the slaughter ranch at san bernadino. slaughter waitted for his young wife while she helped inez clean up and wash dished. the female chatter hadent stopped all the time they were together. " i dont think we know what this meaqns those two haeing each other this close so they can visit. ill try to bring inez over to see her soon."denton told slaughter as they sat in front of the cabin smokeing slaughter agreed. " we tend to forget they have a different view of thing s than us. ime the worse one about it." slaughter chuckled while puffing his pipe. behind them they could hear the rock masons working away. they already had one wall up and were working on the back wall for the addition.. as they looked out across the basin toward the canyon entrence a lone horse man loped into the basin and was comming straight toward the men at the cabin. when he pulled up they saw it was a black hat ruales. his horse ready to collapse. he held out a folded scrap of paper. slaughter stepped down and took it from the mexicans hand. then told him to dismount. when the rider stepped down the horse nearly fell over into him. slaughter opened the paper and read slowly then a second time" emillio says that myles grabbed a small bunch of mexican cattle last night and rushed them across the border. this is as much a warning as a anything." slaughter was glum. " i better try and catch my cowboys and see if i can find their trail with those cows. i would appreciate it if the mrs could stay here ot you escort her home?" slaughter was already heading to his horse. the messenger stood looking lost. his horse was done but he wanted to go. denton pointed out one of the outlaws horses grazeing a short didtance away. he told the boy to take that horse and go with slaughter. inez and mrs. slaughter came out of the cabin. denton handed her the note. slaughter and the black hat were lopeing away . inez smailled" well we have a house guest." denton nodded in agreement.

COCHISE COWBOYS 20

denton heaved the last shovel full of dirt onto the mound that covered the out law cowboy. he and inez had trailed the new group of cows into the inner basin and got them settled there. when they returned to the home place inez hadnt said a word but went to the cabin. she had unloaded all the stuff she had taken off the dead outlaw and was stacking it on the porch. denton took the horse she had taken from the dead man and unsaddled him and put him out to graze. he stood there watching as the animal walked away from the house yard. in just a few days they had aquired a sizeable arsnal of weapons and extra saddle horses to add to their herd. at first denton hadnt thought on it much but after today it struck him hard, inez had killed them all., without so much as the blink of a eye. the thought entered his mind, would she kill him if she was mad enough? he knew he wasnt the easiest to get along with but he had taken a likeing to inez when she wasnt in a bad mood. she had saved his life a couple of times and had taken a hit herself and still evened things up. he knew the two years captivity with the apaches had left a hard mark on her way of thinking. maybe it was justifyed what she had been doing he determined to talk to her when she seemed settled and back in a good mood. looking over to the entrence to the basin he saw a horsemaan emerge in front of a set of cattle strung back into the canyon. he felt a presence next to him and glanced over at inez who had stepped up next to him. "go tell slaughter ill have a meal ready for him and his crew". she bumped denton"i think we are in the cow business now!"a grin crossed her face.she turned and went back in the house. denton could see the cattle comming on the men starting to hold them up . he went to his horse and mounting loped out to meet them. the last of the cattle came out of the canyon with two ridres driveing them. he was shocked to see slaughters young wife was one of the riders sitting side saddle on a paint horse. slaughter rode up to him" she wouldnt stay behind. you know women when they get something set in their mind!" " yes ime starting to find that out. lets move these cows to the back of the basin. ime going to tell your wife to go up to the house. inez will be glad she came!" behind the drags of the cattle herd came two mexican men leading burros piled high with bedding and gear. denton looked over at slaughter" thats the men to build onto your cabin. that will make inez happy i bet?"slaughter turned his horse and started back into the basin. denton rode on to mrs. slaughter.