the gate

the next morning by the time breakfast had been finished the snow was melting into the sandy soil of the date creek canyon. arch had done his morning chores and stood on the porch with the last cup of coffee. janets chevy truck sat idling , warming up with the heater on high. the sun was bright and glistened off the snow that lay in patches around the ranch yard.
 few knew it but arch had a hot temper that went from zero to physical in a flash of a second. when he had served in the army he had seen people who used their authority to abuse those of lower rank, and he had fought against it, barely missing court martial. by staying at the ranch these past few years he had learned to control that temper. but it took  very little to bring it to the surface.  the day the BLM range con chet wilkins had confronted him at the gate , wilkins had said arch was beligerant. he had no idea that he was close to taking a beating. only through super human will power had arch restrained him self.
 janet came out of the house, he bag in hand and a warm carhardt coat on. she hugged arch and patted his shoulder. turning her truck around in the yard she started down the mile long driveway. arch watched her go, alone in his thoughts, planning the rest of the day. he returned the empty coffee cup to the kitchen and started toward the barn, his dogs playing along in front of him. from the driveway came the sound of a approaching vehicle. janets truck rolled to a stop at arches side." you better come down to the gate." was all she said as she turned the truck toward the main road.
  arch rolled his bobtail truck to a stop at what remained of the gate. flames still flickered from the few remaining wooden splinters. the iron hinges still hung to the cedar post they were bolted to even tho it was engulfed in flames. the opposite gate post was already a charred hollowed out remenant of itself. the chain and padlock still hung around it with the lock closed. janet  stood to one side her hand on her hip. in a hackberry tree at one side of the road was another placard from the BLM  stating that public lands lay beyond the gate. arch was trembling with rage as he pulled it from the nail that held it in place.
as he started to his truck janet grabbed his arm " what are you going to do?"
ime going to see a certain BLM agent. I told him.."before he could finish janet spun him around.
" no your not, you rebuild this gate, ill go see him. I don't have enough to bail you out of jail, and that's where you will end up. stay here and cool off. ill handle it."
 as janet drove away archs temper was still smoldering like the remains of the gate. but deep down he knew she was right. he had already decided how to rebuild the gate. it would take all day and maybe the next but it would be pipe posts set in cement and welded gate and hinges. it wouldn't burn. and if he had cooled off by then he would go see iris. .