trouble at the bender

The sun was going down in a red ball over the javalina mountains on the west side of the vekhol vally. Sam Bender was pulling the saddle off a tired horse, thinking about the good supper waitting for him . his new cook and house keeper had spent the last 2 weeks cleanning, washing and cooking . he had found her name was esmiralda, but liked to be called sissy.  her english was fair and she was happy here. since the night he had been forced to shoot her captor she had been in his employ.  Sam put the .357 he habitually carried in a holster on his belt under his jacket. and started to the house. as he rounded the corner of the barn and came in view of the house he saw a white jeep wagoneer parked at the yard gate.  as he came into the yard a big man got out from behind the wheel. sam glanced at the house but no light shone and he thought he could see a shadow inside the kitchen window. they couldnt see sissy. the big man was a papago indian. as wide as he was tall. he wore a uniform of law enforcement.
    "What you doin here eppi" sam asked as they shook hands
   " brought some one to meet you. and let you know about the formation of a new force on the res. ive been appointed the captain of the desert wolves, the tohono border patrol." the big mans voice rumbled as if in a cave
       "well good for you, now maybe we can slow down the smugglers a little. they have been reeking havoc on the ranch. trash, broken water lines. its a full time job cleannin up after them"  sam was grinning at the indian cop
      both men had served in the army in viet namn , sam in the special forces and eppi moreno as a m.p. when eppi had returned home he was immediatly drafted by the reservation police. a short 5 years later he was now promoted to head up a special force to patrol the reservation, mexico border. miles upon miles of two track roads and 4 strand barbwire fence.
     sam kept looking over the shoulder of the cop at the house hoping that sissy stayed out of sight.  the passanger door opened of the jeep and a short black man stepped out. kakhi pants bloused into combat boots, a polo shirt with a fatige jacket over it was what he wore . mirrored sunglasses covered his eyes even tho it was comming on to dusk the smile on sams face faded.
  " Sam bender this is" the big indian didnt get to finish the introduction
   " i know who he is" sam broke in
   " the little man had extended his hand but at seeing the hard look of disapproval in sams face he slowley lower it.
     " i know marvin rigsby. and i dont want him on my place. get him  off here eppi"  sam had set his jaw in a hard line
   " sam he is a dea agent and is here to help stop the smuggling" eppi explained
   " how do you know me mr. bender?" the agent asked
     " i used to see you around saigon. in the company of the wrong people. " sam growled
    " well we all had a job to do there"
    " yeah but most of us did it for the army, not for ourselves. now ime thrrough being cordial, get out of here and dont let me see him again!! sam spoke to eppi but continued glaring at rigsby
      rigsby backed away and got in the jeep" sam whats wrong with you? we need his help." eppi said
      " you know how i feel about jane fonda? well he is a hundred times worse. while men were fighting up near the dmz he was selling their supplies and ammo to the cong.  normally i would invite you in for supper eppi, but not while that drug pimp is here. meet me in stanfield tommorow at the el  rancho store and ill tell you more. " sam had turned and was walking to the house.
 eppi was in shock, but returned to the jeep and drove out of the yard. he had known sam bender for years, knew he could be hard , almost callused , but never saw him this adament.
    sam stepped through the yard gate, shut the gate behind him and stepped up on the porch. the screen door opened and sissy handed him a cold beer without comming out the door.  he took a sip and smilled at her.
    " thanks it tastes good. did they know you were here"he asked
      " no, they didnt even come to the porta. " her teeth were brilliant against her dark skin when she smilled.
      " good, tomorrow we go to the store. we need groceries and you need some things. you been here two weeks with one change of clothes. i dont know how you keep them so clean but you have some money comming to you.  and i need to talk to eppi some more. he will meet us at the store in the morning. " sam smilled at her
    "bueno patron. comida es listo? " she lasped to mexican when excited.
     they went in to eat with the screen door banging shut behind them.