EL RANCHO

The EL RANCHO store was a hold over from the days of general stores. the front had a modern look, a paved parking lot, big glass windows and double glass doors. but once inside the shopper was accosted  with a variety of aromas. the store carried everything the farm worker or rancher could possibly want. the closeset villages of the papago nation came and traded here. the local ranchers and farmers did business  there unless they wanted something extra fancy. fancy wasnt to be found here. they sold  canned goods, and sacks of flour and beans along with rice, spices and some produce. in a room off the side they sold dry goods, shirts, pants and dresses. you could buy bolts of materiel, and basic sewing supplies. in the back room was sacks of grain for livestock
block salt, saddles, leather goods and all manners of horse gear.  you could even get vet supplys and peerless screw worm dope!  sam  bender and sissy rolled into the parking lot in sams old pickup just as cotton was openning the front door to the store.  there was 2 other vehicles in the parking lot when sam stopped the truck in the back where the grain was loaded out. sam and sissy went inside and sam told sissy to stay in the back til he returned. he then went to cotton robbinet and  explained that sissy would be doing the shopping for the ranch . he also told him she would be buying some  "womens things'.  COTTON SMILED A KNOWING SMILE WHEN HE SAW SISSY. SAM MADE SURE HE UNDERSTOOD UP FRONT THE SITUATION.  LEAVING SISSY TO SHOP SAM WENT OUT FRONT TO WAIT FOR EPPI
          it wasnt long the papago policeman parked his wagoneer and got out.
         " sam whats this all about? we need the feds to help out with these illegals. runnin that agent off isnt a good way to start things out." eppi was primmed for a argument.
       " get another agent eppi. that one is rotten to the center from  both ways .  remeber in nam you were looking all over for the black market  profeteer who  was stealing and selling supplys? well thats him.  and if he works for DEA its because hes got a angle." sam was grim and defiant
       " really? he seemed pretty straight arrow to me. but if you say so. but till i can get another agent we got to deal with him. ill take responsibility for him. but i will watch him close.  now, what happened to the mexican girl that was with that coyote? we need to ask her a few questions and i got a feeling you know where to find her. " eppi had put on his cop face
    sam stared at him looking for a small crack in the facade of officialdom" i know where she is eppi.  but i dont want you given her a hard time. will you promise to leave her where she is when she answers your questions?
          "you cant set terms on this one pard. this is important. theres a bunch of dope that they were carrin that is missing. we need to know where they stashed it. thats what rigsby was lookin for. he has contacts in altar that told him there was two back packs not one." eppi was still stern
          " yeah i bet rigsby has contacts alright. he probably wants those drugs himself. will you let me find out and let you know? you guys start quizzen her and she will stampede for sure. "sam was as firm as eppi
         " you will let me know? no jerken me around.? " eppi had a little softer tone
          " yeah, but i wont tell rigsby squat. i mean it eppi keep that son of a bitch away from me. he is about as crooked as they come. there was good men died because of him. " 
          " ok, ill give ya 3 days. if i dont hear from you then ill come with search warrents and the border patrol. dont make me do it sam. " eppi warned him
    " fair enough eppie. now will you do me another favor and leave here before me?" sam grinned at the papago.
          eppi turned on his heel and started to his car." 3 days sam, 3 days." eppi started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.
   the parking lot was filling up. sam went inside and saw a box boy carring boxes of goods to his truck. sissy was sitting in the passanger seat slouched down as far as possible. taking a check from his pocket he went to cottons office . he looked at the bill then wrote the check, thanking the merchant who was still grinning at sam. 
   in the truck he noticed a bag at sissy s feet. a few girly things stuck out the top. sam grinned, started the truck and turnned back toward the ranch.