BATTLE AX REMNENT 10

the next morning while it was still dark the crew saddled horses then ate good breakfast at jakes fire. each cowboy had broke out his heavyest leather gear, chaps taps and barry even had a leather jacket. the trail had been opened the afternoon before. rick and the boys had slaved hard to finish it. barry and rick takeing turns with the lopers. but a half hour befor dark they had cut the last standing cholla from the trail. connie was the last to come to the breakfast fire. she did have a denim jacket and her designer jeans were protected with a yellow pair of chaps with fringe a foot long up and down each leg they were buckled with a bright silver buckle . rick simply glanced at the attire. but barry and mickey gaped like they were looking at a playboy pin up. jake didnt say a word as he filled a plate and placed a fresh biscuit on it. he nodded at connie and smiled. a hour later the four rode out of camp down the fresh cut trail two abreast. when they reached the bank of johnny long wash rick pulled up and pointed at the salt block there"some body take that and put it up at the mouth of the trail please." mickey fell off his horse , picked up the salt block and handed it up to barry who balanced it on his saddle horn and turnned back to the opening in the cholla trail. yhere he dropped it then returned to the group. "ok", rick started " mickey you go down river and start hazeing everything back this way. dont worry if something gets back but try to keepem drifting along and try to be back here in time to turn what ever we bring out of johnny long. we will try to make a big drag out of the canyon no whoopin and hollering and dont rope anything if you can help it wwe will get plenty of that later. the deal now is these steers." with that mickey struck a trot down river. rick turned and started up into the canyon. the cattle sign was stong. after rideing a ways connie started to ask a question in her normal tone of voice. rick looked back and shook his head and shushed her. " quiet! " connie nodded and sat back into her saddle.the farther they rode the thicker the cow sign became. as they rode around a bend in the canyon the windmill came into view. the ground all aroundit was covered in cattle most were fighting for a place on the salt blocks. rick took the eiders up high along the wall of bronco mesa and rode past the herd. a few of the cattle watched them ride by but made effort to leave. again evidence these cattle had never been choused or bad a crew trying to gather them. as they rode on connie once again spoke this time at a whisper" we arnt going to get those?" rick didnt look back but shook his head" not yet, theres more up ahead patience." as they rode along connie noticed that rick was makeing a strong effort to keep his horse from rattling the rocks. behind her barry was doing the same. she started guiding her horse in the same tracks as ricks horse, keeping to the softer dirt. presently a wide steep trail opened on the bronco mesa face. it was rocky and steep the rocks loose. rick didnt look back as he passed it but waved his arm and said " barry" when barry turned off and started up the trail rick stopped."dont go out on top. just keep everything from going up there. " barry nodded . rick started again with connie in his tracks. thirty minutes later rick and connie came to the head of the canyon. a few tracks went over the head but most turned back the way they came. rick got down and reset his saddle . connie sat there a moment then took the hint and did the same thing. when rick had his saddle reset he quietly said" your going back the same way but give me a little time to get over on the outside of the canyon . everything i kick out on the slope will be in front of you. watch for barry, when he comes down he will work the wall next to the mesa. you move over and work the middle. no hollering or yelling , make just enough noise to keep them moveing." with that rick rode away leaving her sitting there. she was starting to under stand how this country was hard to gather. scattered cholla, cat claw and mesquite. all growing in the devils own rock garden. after a bit she saw rick up along the canyon wall just a little ahead . "well here we go" she spoke under her breath and kicked her horse back the way they came.