RETURN

 arch  Hawkins was hunched over the steering wheel of the bob tail truck hurtling down the dirt road toward home. he had spent Christmas at his sisters house with iris in tow. her family were all out of state and she had consented to the invite. arch es sister helen had taken a instant liking to the shapley brunette who made her brother smile a lot more than he had in years. arch had left iris at her little home and headed back to the ranch . he hated being away from there.he promised to be back for new years.
 on reaching the old wooden gate at the turn in to the ranch the bob tail came to a slidding halt. arch couldn't believe the sight that confronted him. the gate had been taken from its hinges and pulled to one side hanging by the locked chain on the other end. on the gate post was a cardboard notice. leaving the truck arch ripped it from the post. it was written out by a BLM agent stating it was illegal to close off public lands. arches temper boiled. returning to the truck he started down the mile and a half drive way to the ranch. as he pulled into the yard his 2 cattahoula cow dogs met him barking and bouncing along. past the corrals he could see a whisp of  smoke down on the bank of date creek. parking the truck he walked down the cow trail toward the creek and could see tire tracks in the dust. the truck had run over scrub mesquite and bounced over rock to get down to the creek. no road existed here. stepping around a ancient cotton   wood tree arch came in sight of a wreck. a dilapidated travel trailer was parked a few scant feet from the creek. a hose from the toilet tank running to the water. around front a grizzled , pot bellyed man was sitting in a folding chair, a beer in his hand with empty cans and trash scattered around the   chair.a rifle leaned against the door of the trailer.
 stepping up arch cleared his throat " morning, " he said
  the camo dressed man jumped to his feet as if he had been bee stung. dropping his beer he reached for the rifle. but arched stepped between him and the trailer. " what you doing here?
the man stepped back, looking right and left and stammered " I, I well, we are camping"
  " well you cant camp here. this is private property. ide advise you to pack up and leave. and pick up your trash when you do. you got thirty minutes. arch tried to be friendly but stern.
  " you cant tell me what to do, I know my rights, this is public lands. you cant shove me around." the man blustered.
   arch spun on his heel and faced the man inches from his face " THIS IS PRIVATE LAND, ALL THE WAY TO THE MAIN ROAD. IF YOU DONT BELIEVE ME GO TO THE COUNTY RECORDERS OFFICE AND CHECK IT OUT. IN THE MEAN TIME GET YOUR ASS OUTTA HERE!
  the man tried to reach around arch for the rifle. arch reached back and picked it up. " and ill hang on to this until your out on the main road. get moving." arch turned and walked back to the house.  man was cussing and stomping around, but was rolling up the sewer hose and packing it up.
 " what a goober" arch said to the dogs as he reached the house.