THE JACKASS ROPERS 31

ellen brought dan a cold drink in a frosted glass. a smile crossed his face when he took a long swallow. "whats for supper? i could eat the south end of a north bound steer!" " its on the table, i been holding it for you come on."ellen slipped her hand into dans and gave it a little squeeze. " i may get used to this kind of liven." dan whispered . " you better ime not going any place."ellen squeezed his hand again. but as they approached the house she pulled loose and took a step aside." lizzy is still up."was all she said. as they entered the house lizzy looked up from a cross word puzzle she was working on"you two better quit thinking your keeping me in the dark. i saw you two were gonna get together before you knew it. you dont live as long as i have and not learn a few things. now, pour me a glass of whiskey and lets celebrate you to getting together."the old woman pushed her glass across the table. after the whiskey was poured dan held his glass up and smiled" you ole biddy if you knew what we were up to a long time back why didnt you tell US?" " you would have missed all the fun leading up to to you finding out. its no fair skipping parts of the show!"lizzy sat back in her chair and looked at ellen" besides i think ellen needed some time to be sure you were the one." ellen ducked her head and went to the stove and takeing a plate of meat and potatoes from the warmer took it to dan and set it on the table." better eat." was all she said. two days later the BLM agent rolled into the yard at the ranch when he got out of the car it was plain to see he was upset dan walked up and shook his hand. "whats wrong?" " that deputy who arrested madilyn took her in front of a sorry municipal j p. he turned her loose. she has been helling around trying to get people to follow her out here to cause trouble for you. she even tried to press charges on you for ropeing her. ime sorry about this i thought the fbi would handle her but they didnt want the paper work thats why they let the deputy have her." the words tumbled out in a rush.. dan stood there thunder struck" did she get a warrent for me?"he asked. "not that ime aware of. i called the senaters office before i left town and raised the roof with him over it. i hope some one picks her up before she gets here."the agent explained." just stay close until we get her shocked up. i think she s a loose cannon."as the men stood there talking a deputys patrol car pulled in behind the BLM car. a young , tall, thin deputy got out and approached them." i been sent to notify you, madilyn hooker has been rearrested and is incarcerated. she was found trying to steal the portable corrals at lake pleasent. when the crew arrived to take them down she already had some layed down and had a hammer beating on some that was still standing.this was a big enough infraction that she will have to go in front of a distric federal judge.we need you to come to the office and fill out some papers. she threw the hammer at the crew boss who was after the corral panels. he filed assualt charges and with the theft or attempted theft she will get some time in the iron bar hotel. "she is a prime jack ass herself! " the deputy started laughing . the blm agent looked at dan, well i think you roped the last jack ass that was available!" all three men broke up laughing.