THE JACKASS ROPERS 17

LATER THAT MORNING THE THREE WERE CLIMBING UP A ROCKY TRAIL ON THE WEST SIDE OF LAKE PLEASENT. THEY RODE SINGLE FILE WITH DAN THE LAST MANhis mind was far away at the ranch in the boulders. ellens face kept comming before him as he rode not paying attention . his horse bumped into travis horse who had stopped. bringing dan back to the present. "right down there is where i saw them." dusty was pointing down in a hollow, choked with brush. dan sat there a moment. lets get on the up hill side of this thing. keep a eye peeled JACKASSES not cattle ok?" three hours later they were in a down hill race with four jack asses headed toward the corrals. the cholla was think so the donkeys didnt run full out as they threaded their way through the cactus thicket. when the roper emerged from the thicket they pulled up there below the donkeys had stopped at the hay pile and were busy eating. dan pointed right and left for the crew to spread out. then started on down the trail. there were 5 burros left in the corral that wouldnt fit on the truck. one being the mean old jack that dan had roped the day before. he was a battle scared old ruler. one ear was broke and hung at a awkward angle. hair was gone from a dozen places along his neck and shoulders he was a real warrior. he brayed a time or two and the wild burros at the hay stack brayed back. dan had a ready loop should any of the made a break for freedom. suddenly they did break right at dusty on dans left travis made a wild dash past dans front and rolled up on a jenny and looped her while dusty had one roped and wrapped around a palo verde tree. as dan started to go catch a donkey he saw a woman at the corral she was trying to pull the pins holding the corral panels together it was the woman with the camera. he let the donkey go and ran to her at the corral. the woman was franticly trying to pull the last pin that would lay down the whole side of the corral. as dan rushed up she turnned to face him hatred smeared across her face. behind her the old jack was eyeying her. as dan rode closer she backed up and leaned on the fence. to late dan yelled at her to move but the jack had a mouth full of the designer jeans right at the waist band. the woman screamed and tried to run but the jack set back with his jaws locked. finally there was a tearing sound and the woman stumbled forward the back end of the pants still in the jacks mouth. with out another sound she tried to cover her behind as she sprinted for her car but her hand couldnt cover the bare bottom . the jack had even gotten the bikini under wear. when he realized no one was hurt dan broke into gales of laughter. behind him his jackass roping crew were bent over their saddle hornes laughing . standing in the middle of the corral was the jack with a mouth full of rags hanging from his jaws. as the woman drove away she left them with the foulest good by imaginable. it made them laugh harder. later that afternoon a deputy rolled into the yard a hard look crossed his face as he got out of his car. dan turnned to travis "uh oh, here we go." " ime looking for dan martin" the deputy announced. raiseing his hand dan said" that would be me." "ime here to investigate a assualt made on one" the deputy looked at his note book" madalyn hooper. she claims you tried to sexually assalt her." travis turned away and bent double laughing. dusty was leaning on one of the trucks unable to contain his laughter. the deputy looked at each in turn" i dont see what funny about this, this is serious charge. " finally dan couldnt hold it any longer and waved at the deputy to follow him. while laughing he went to the corral and pointed at the pile of rags laying in the corral. he then told the deputy the whole story. the deputy was trying to keep a straight face but was loosing the battle. "ill need the uh uh evidnce?" he finally burst out between gasps of laughter. he pointed to the rags laying in the corral. dusty came by with a long piece of wire with a hook bent in one end. he reached through the bars and snagged the rags just as jack made a run at the fence popping his teeth at the deputy. this only made everyone laugh harder. dusty pulled the rags through the fence and balled them up with the black bikini under wear on the out side and handed them to the deputy. " do you want the assailent to take with you?" travis broke down laughing. the deputy threw the rags in the back seat and when he quit laughing shook his head " you have him encarcerated you keep him." a few moments later he drove out of the yard. dan was catching his breath" i wish i had a drink on this maybe we go to town tonite and have supper. lets get cleaned up.