HEADED IN

Sam Benders bay horse was tired. his head was low, at wither level marching toward home on the narrow, dusty trail that followed the vekhol wash. Sams hat was pulled low in front to keep the afternoon glare of the sun out of his face. his blue denim shirt was caked with sweat and dust.  his chaps and tapaderos were brush scratched and a small brush cut was along sams ear. a trickle of dried blood ran down his neck..  that morning the bay had cow kicked at sam as he saddled the long legged bay. with that sam had taken a big circle to iron the kinks out of those legs. after fifteen miles in the desert heat the bay had decided that maybe that kick wasn't the best course of action.
   as they drifted down the trail sam could see tennis shoe tracks in the trails soft dust heading the same direction as he was. almost automaticly he reached to his chap pocket and felt the reassuing lump of the pistol he carried there.  things had been realy quiet since rigsby s death but sam wasn't convinced that things were settled yet.
   the long geared bay shuffled into then yard at the ranch in a little cloud of dust. as they rounded the corner of the barn sam saw a white jeep waggoneer parked in the  yard. eppi Moreno, capitan of the desert wolves, the papago police was sitting on the porch with sissy. laughing and sipping a cold drink. sam couldn't explain the pang of  jealousy he suddenly felt. but he knew it wasn't founded. eppi and sissy called each other brother and sister. on the porch steps coaly and Ralston allen sat smoking and talking.  as sam was unsaddling the bay he heard a soft sound behind him. a slow look over his shoulder let him see the top of the head of the prettiest girl to come out of Sonora mexico. in her hand a cold, sweating bottle of beer. she held it out to him as she smiled a greeting. taking the beer he swallowed almost half of it and smilled back. " hello pretty lady. I see ya got company."
 " they are waiting for you. they have news.' she answered.
"  ill be along, letme put this nag away. hes as tired as I am." he sipped some beer.
 sissy smiled back  with even white teeth that stood out against he olive colored skin. she turned and started back accros the yard. sam watched her go  and wondered at the length of her hair and legs then caught himself and returned to the chore at hand, almost ashamed of himself.