NORTH OF VEGAS

 IN THE LATE 1970 S MYSELF AND A FEW OF MY COWORKERS WERE QUALIFIED TO ATTEND THE INTERNATIONAL FEEDYARD ROPING FINALS IN ELKO NEVADA.  we all worked together and of course roped together. our wives roped and we were all good friends. we played poker one nite a week, roped on weekends , watched each others kids and were supportive in any thing we attempted.  after attending the regional roping we were fortunate to have all qualified for the finals.  in those days working in a feed yard wasn't exactly a flush deal financialy.  we all had side deals to make extra mony for entry fees and travel expenses. i shod horses. some of the fellers rode colts after work or worked them in the feedlot.  we had a few monthes time between the regionals and the finals. we saved all we could for the trip to elko. when we left headed to Nevada there was a small convoy of pick ups with campers and two horse trailers. the c b radio fad was on and we were all outfitted with them.  our plan was to drive to caliente neveda just north east of vegas and spend the nite. the rodeo grounds there would accommodate the horses and we had our campers for our selves.  about half way to caliente from vegas we were moving along , talking on the radios when a sweet syrupy voice broke in asking where all the cowboys were going. we explained  where we were headed . she came back and said we ought to spend the night at her place as it was just off the road and called the mustang ranch. she stated that she had corrals and could make us very comfortable!! joes wife grabbed the mike and ask if they could these cowboys wives comfortable too? radio went silent and we went on to caliente!!