COCHISE COWBOYS 14

denton chose a way up the side of the mountain that didnt have a trail. he was surprised because it wasnt steep and a fairley easy climb. as he got higher up on the side of the mountain the hills got abit steeper but also got farter apart. a couple of hours after leaveing home he topped out a smooth rounded hill that was to the north of his home place. there before him opened a long, wide valley surrounded by hills. the mountain on the east side and a stream of water comming down off it. it flowed into the little valley and disapeared into the knee high gramma grass. he stepped down from his horse and sat at his front feet. this little valley was twice as big as his canyon where he ran his cows. he studied the surrounding hills but saw no way in from the north or the west. the trip from the south wouldnt be bad but you had to climb a lot of those smooth hills. but from what he could see it would be worth it.he needed more cows. back at the ranch inez was getting around the cattle there and checking for any sighn of a preditor. he bay horse had finally given up on trying to buck. she rode with a loose rein and at a flat footed walk. while with the apache she had been in a position of ride what was given her or walk. she had learned fast how to handle rank, poorly broke horses. she didnt like walking. on the back side of her circle she looked back and saw a lone rider entering the canyon. she turned and moved into a stand of cottonwood trees. the rider moved through the cattle looking at them turning them around so as to see the brands. as he got closer inez could make out his face, she had never seen him before. she drew her rifle. she rested it on a limb the crossed in front of her face. she levered a round into the chamber as quietly as she could. the rider was intent on the cattle as he rode slowley through them. as he drew closer in a flat monotone vaice inez said " who are you? and what do you want?" the man jerked his horse to a stop looking all around. " myles sent me. he had some cows here, he sent three other men but i see the cows are gone and so are the men" the man finally found where inez sat her horse. he also saw the rifle pointed at him. " the cattle are gone home, the men left the country. i think you need to go back the way you came or you maybe leaveing the country right behind them. you tell myles we dont want to truck with cow theives. dont come back! now git!"inez sounded hard and firm no give or argument there. the rider had raised his hands chest high, the bridle reins in his left hand. he didnt say anything else but turned his horse back the way he had came. there was no doubt the black haired woman with the rifle would shoot him and not bat a ye. he would let myles deal with this. stealing cows was one thing, shooting it out with a woman was something else all together.

COCHISE COWBOYS 13

while denton ate, inez sat across from him with a cup of coffee. she never said a word. when he had finished eating he pushed his plate to the center of the table and smiled at her. " that was real good, ime gonna miss that when your gone." he took a sip of his coffee. " thats what we got to talk about. i been thinking things over." inez was serious. " i dont think i want to go. i got no wwhere or no boby to go to. you treat me well with respect. when other people find out i been with the apache for two years they will probably shun me. you never have. ill work my butt off for you. i dont need much. i can do a lot to help you here." inez was almost pleading. " ill saay this, i like you being here. your a good friend. and you have already done a lot for me. lets take it one day at a time. you may change your mind. my concern is being able to support us both."denton told her. " remember i lived with the apache, they didnt have any money. ill plant a garden, you bring us a deer every so oftern. we will make do. il watch the entrence for myles compton and his cowboys. some times they have ......"she didnt get to finish he sentence. denton had a hard look on his face. " none of that, wind falls are one thing, ambusches are another. you might have just a touch of that apache left there."denton stood up. " as of right now this is your home as well as mine."he turned and walked out the door. behind he could hear inez let out a held breath and starting to pick up the dirty dishes. " i hope i havent done something stupid here." he said to him self. during the night at some point denton heard a mountain lion scream. not close but a ways back up the mountain. he sat up in his bed roll and laid his hand on his rifle and listened. but he heard no more. he slowley laid back down. but he could see the outline of inez standing on the porch and looking up the mountain. in her hand she held a rifle. as he drifted back to sleep that was the last thing he registered seeing, inez in the dark with a rifle in hand. at breakfast the next morning inez asked him" when you saddle your horse for the day can you leave me one too?" denton looked up and nodded. " ill see to it. he will be tied at the corral ." " it may take both of us keeping the lions off your cattle. just tell which way to go."inez explained " you ride the flat, the bottom of the canyon. ime going up some of the side canyons. we need more grass. maybe a few more cows." denton ponted up the side of the mountain. inez watched later as he rode away . she finished her house work then took a rifle and went to the bay horse denton had left saddled and ready. she stuffed the rifle down into the scabbord then untied the horse and led him a few steps. he humped up, standing the saddle up on its forks over his withers. " oh its like that huh?"inez jerked the latigo strap up ahole tightning the cinch. then grabbing the cheek peice on the bridle pulled the horse into a circle with inez on the inside. as the horse came around she jumped and caught a stirrup with her left foot and swung on over the broncs back catching the stirrup on the far side. the horse snorted but could do no more than spin a circle. inez laughed" your not so bad." when the bay stopped spinning she released his head and kicked him out into a long trott, his head held up on a tight rein.they had country to cover.