BONITA 23

when butch and blondy rode up into simones camp they found him sitting by his fire. he had three tin cups lined up on a rock next to the fire,he waved them down and started pouring coffee into each cup.blondy stepped down and marched right up to the fire and accepted a cup. butch was a little more cauctious, he didnt entirely trust simone. but he finally came over and took his cup of the brew. in spanish blondy told simone about the apaches in the area. simone looked at him with no emotion and told him he had seen them passing by. blondy sat back and looked at butch" the apaches passed here yesterday, he saw them headed south. so i guess they didnt go to the san simon." blondy then asked simone if he needed anything from the 76. simone shook his head. blondy finally asked about if he had seen the fast cat before he he was killed. simone got up and walked over to his hogan. when he returned he carried a rifle, a pistol belt and a scalp. he dropped them in front of blondy and explained he had found the fast cat abuseing billy and trying to take his horse. he didnt elaborate any more but it was plain what had happened. blondy stood up and picked up the scalp. but he left the weapons where they lay. turning to butch blondy saw the blood had drained from butches face." lets go, i dont think we will get any more conversation here." butch tirned to his horse, and blondy looked at simone" muchas gracious" was all he said. . SIMONE NODDED AND STOOD AND WATCHED THE TWO RIDE AWAY. THEN PICKED UP THE WEAPONS AND REPLACED THEM IN THE HOGAN. when the two cowboys reached the stockton pass trail butch looked over at blondy" you think that ole blister scalped the cat?" blondy rode a few steps then looked over to butch" looks like it. and ole cat was probably alive when he did it. . you can send this scalp over to new mexico and tell them this was all you could find of fast cat. now you know how ole simone is. dont ever turn your back to him. he hates white men." butch didnt bring up the issue again but from time to time would steal a look at the bundle of hide and hair tied to blondys saddle. back at the c n simone remounted and rode to his spot on the top of the hill south of his camp. to the north west he could see the cowboys going back toward bonita. but just south of him he could make out line of indians walking south through the brush. the cattle he was charged with the care of were scattered out and moveing away from the line of march geronimo had taken. simone looked farther south as if he could see into sonora, he was home sick. but he didnt dare return there.