THE JACKASS ROPERS 13

with the dogs and two more cowboys dan worked the rock ranch right down to the gravel. by the night of the fourth day they had two trailer loads of yearlings. and had branded so many calves the wire was sagging with the weight of the ears strung there. at supper that night dan announced to tthe crew and the women at the table the next day they would haul the yearlings to prescott, call the blm and see if the camp at lake pleasent was ready.he looked to ellen " make a list of what you need and ill pick it up before comming back. make it a long one because i dont know how long we will be at lake pleasent. i need to find a camp cook while ime in town. but with just three of us it might take a while catching thos donkeys." ellen nodded" ill have it ready before you leave in the morning." the next morning the three men were finishing breakfast. travis and dusty dropped their dirty dished in the wreck pan and said the customary thank you and went out the door. ellen came to the table and layed a piece of paper in front of dan. he glanced at it then back to ellen"you sure ? is this enough?" he asked. " we just stocked up a week ago. that will fill the cracks. just bring the last item."ellen pointed to the paper. dan looked at the last item on the list and saw it was a box of ammunition for the old rifle. he swallowed a lump in his throat"you plan on useing that rifle a little more.?" " better to have it than not. uou on;ly had 3 more rounds for that ole gosh danger. lizzy and i here alone it would be good to have."ellen quietly explained. " well the way you made one round count i dont thinnk i want to go up against you. ill get them" dan stood up. out side travis and dusty had the trailers loaded and pulled dans rig up to the house"gotta fly ladys see ya tonite. the boys will be back before me. should be here for supper". " we will watch for them." ellen said as she started washing the dishes. at the sale barn dan asked the two cowboys to hang out a little bit. he was going to make a phone call. in the resteraunt he told the waitress to feed the men he would pay for it. then he stepped to a phone booth and dropped a coin in to the phone and dialed the number on the card he had. when he came back into the cafe he sat down across the two cowboys",we move into camp tomorrow and start catching jackasses." the father and son grinned at each other " were ready." travis said. "go get a full tank of gas and fill a couple of cans . then head back to the ranch and start packing up. ill get this list of ellens filled and try to find a cook. ill be along as soon as i can. without a cook we maybe doin for our selves." dan told them. dan stood up and dug in his pants and brought out a wad of green backs. he counted out one amount then a second and laid it next to the first" the first pile is expense money. the second is you boys wages for the past week it probably isnt enough but ill make it up when we catch some donkeys." " its enough, just getting to eat at that good womans table was enough. see ya at home." travis picked up the money.