THE JACKASS ROPERS 29

late that afternoon dan was approaching the turn off to his ranch. his horses in the trailer and his camp outfit tucked away in the back of the truck. when he came in sight of the turn off he saw cars and trucks parked along the hiway and on his drive way. he slowed too a crawl and made the turn on the dirt road. from out of the brush came a horde of women and old men holding cardboard sighns decrying him a animal cruelty. he creeped ahead but the people were standing in the road waveing thier card board sighns and yelling obsenities at him. he drove ahead slowley pushing them out of his way. one man ran forward and threw a plastic bag of blue paint onto his windheild. that was the last straw. he shoved the gear shift into park then started to get out . he had a pistol in his right hand. gut just as he unlocked the truck door a man ran up and leaned on the door to make him stay in the cab. his anger riseing he started to roll the window down when he heard a siren. the protesters heard it to and broke in a run for thier cars and trucks. dan settle back into the seat and stuck the pistol back under the seat. in nothing flat the protesters disapeared. when the deputys cars rolled onto the dirt road there wasnt a protester anywhere. a deputy got out of his car and came walking up "you all right? we got word there was a mess of wild horse annies here going to shake you up." " they were sure here until they heard you all comming." dan was trying to wipe the paint off enough to see to drive. " do we need to post some one here for a few days in case they come back?"the deputy asked. dan shook his head , if they come back ill bring my dogs and sic them on them. i dont plan on comming back out for a while as long as they stay here i dont care. they come to my home it may be different." dan waded up the rag with the blue paint and threw it in the back of the truck." thanks for comming , it might have gotten out of hand. i had had about enough of this nonsense." when dan drove into the ranch yard ellen was standing where she could see down the road to the hiway.when dan got out of the truck she smiled at him" you ok?" " i guess, but the cops saved them protesters a smoken i was gonna give them." dan was opening his trailer to unload the horses. " we been worried about that but we are glad your back. lizzy will be happy." ellen said. "well, how bout you? you happy?"dan asked without looking up from what he was doing. " i think i will always be happy when your home." ellen almost whispered. " well, i better make a point of staying around huh?" dan put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. "jack asses or no jackasses."