problems

Monday morning found arch warming up his truck and checking through his supplys in the barn. iris had left the night before as she had a town job to tend to. while she was at the ranch it became painfully clear that his cupboard was on the lean side. with not much to work with iris had managed to bring a good feed to the table at meal time but had told arch he needed stock up on the basics. as she drove away sunday nite he made a mental note to do just that. he had a grocery list in his pocket and was checking through the barn. horse shoes, horse shoe nails , the grain barrel was almost empty and some gall salve. a few minutes later he driving out of the yard headed to town whistling a George strait tune. iris made him want to run, buck and play. as he approached the gate at the road a green chevy  truck was parked there. the whistle died and a frown replaced the grin. getting out of the bob tail arch walked to the gate as a man in a khaki shirt got out of the chevy.
" are you Hawkins?" he asked , his voice firm with authority
  "yes I'm arch Hawkins, and you have my gate blocked. mind moving so I can get through?" arch was unlocking the gate as he spoke.
" ime chet wilkins, I am your BLM range con. I just took this distric  over. ime trying to get around to meet all of my permit holders.," there was no warmth in the statement.
the man held out his hand for a moment and arch stared at it like it was a snake. " are you the one who put that notice on my gate and tore it down?" arch asked
  " well as a matter of fact I am. its government regulations you cant lock up public lands. I hope we can keep this gate open in the future a nd allow acsess for  the public. " wilkins dropped his hand as it became painfully clear  arch wasn't going to shake it.
" no WE arnt going to open the gate to the public  and no this isn't blm land here. its my land and and I don't need a stream of people coming through my yard. now will you move your truck? I have things to do. " arch was firm.
  " the public has land beyond that gate that they have a right to use it. you  don't have a right to lock it up. ill have to get a court order  if you don't open this gate." the federal agent was throwing his weight around.
  arch swung the gate open and walked back to his idling truck. he pulled it up to within inches of the green chey and glared out the window at the agent. finally the agen got in his truck and backed it out into the road. arch pulled up, walked back to the gate and shut it. clicking the lock shut in the chain he returned to his truck.  as he pulled up next to the BLM truck he rolled his window down," when I come home that gate better be up and still locked. if not I wont get a court order, ill come see you. and it wont be a  pleasent visit. the public has acsess to their land from peoples valley.  I wont lock those gates but they better stay shut". . with that arch  drove off leaving the fed sitting in his truck with a scowl on his face.