BATTLE AX REMNENT 11

as they started working their way back down johnny long canyon rick started kicking little bunchs of steers down off the canyon wall in front of connie.the steers didnt run and were actually a little dog slow. by the time they reached where barry was guarding the trail up onto bronco mesa connie had 15 or twenty head of the steersin front of her. once in a while she had to ride out away from the trail to kick up a laggard steer. she was finding her texas ranch horses werent doing so well in the rocks and catclaw. but she took her time and didnt push them. barry came down off the spot he was holding and took her position allowing her to move over into the middle of the canyon. just before reaching the wind mill she jumped up four pairs, young cows and calves. they moved off pretty fast but when they got with the steers slowed to their pace. " this wild cow story isnt so bad" connie thought to her self. as they got closer to the windmill the numbers of cattle picked up. mostly steers but a few unbranded cows and calves. but everything did just as the steers, just ambled along on down the canyon. the unbranded cattle were a bit nervous acting but didnt make a break away from the main drive. barry and connie kept the drags moveing with out getting them into a run. out on the right a ways they could see rick comming along. every once in a while he would turn a few cattle down to the main drive. connie looked over to barry and would have swore he was holding his breath. after a bit they saw rick kick his horse into a long trot. the could see sparks flying off where his horses hooves were hitting the rocks. connie looked over at barry and he had a worried look on his face. as rick forged ahead barry quietly told her to move out toward where rick had been and work that part of the country. when she asked what was going on barry only shook his head and waved her out to the right. the drive was strung out for a quarter od a mile the canyon being so rough and brushy. the cattle traveled two or three abreast in places it was so narrow. connie was up hill from the drive, she could see the cattle bunching up in front. they were starting to enter the sand bed in the wash. presently she could see a man horse back moveing around trying to turn the cattle up the east bank toward the cholla trail. she hustled up on up to help turn the drive. when she got there rick was fighting the cattle to make them turn east toward the corrals. some of the cattle had broke past him and gone down river.connie knew enough to back up rick and turn the main bunch of cattle toeward the cholla trail. but they had lost a third of the drive. mickey wasnt to be seen. the leaders of the drive went up the wash bank toward the trail but were balling up and trying to turn back barry came in sight and the three of them made a push on the drags that forced the leaders into the trail. a few of the steers started along the trail toward the corrals and when they did the rest of the cattle fell in behind. up a head jake had taken rick, barrys and mickeys trucks and traiilers and parked them in a line to make a wing to help pen the cattle. he had some hay scattered around the corrals and in the gate. as the steers drew close the leaders could smell the alfhalfa. and actuall trotted into the corral and started eating . the three riders behind put a quiet push on the main bunch and brought them into the corral.barry had jumped from his horse and was swinging the gate shut on the drags when connie noticed rick stareing at a saddled horse tied to mickeys trailer. he rode over to jake with a unspoken question jake looked up "he came in about a hour ago by himself." rick spun his sweating horse and struck a long lope back to the cholla trail. barry and connie followed . rick hit the wash and didnt slow down as he crossed it headed down river. a few cattle were scattered in the brush but he paid them no mind. about a mile down river he came to mickey, propped up against a mesquite tree. he looked up at rick and in a weak voice said, " sorry i wasnt there , but i just couldnt get there, this was as far as i was going i think." rick started looking mickey over as barry and connie rode up."i think he has a broken coller bone but we gotta get him to camp." barry fell off his horse and handed connie the reins and squatted down on the opposite side of mickey from rick. " we can get him on my horse , ill walk in"barry looked over at rick. rick was trying to raise mickey up as carefully as he could" mick, do you think you can set a horse to camp?" " lets go, if i hollar just look the other way." mickey had gritted his teeth. when they had him standing connie brought the horses as close as possible. he didnt hollar but he grunted awful loud when the two men lifted him up into the saddle. rick got mounted and rode up next to him he nodded at connie to start to camp. she led out, rick rideing along next to mickey balanceing him. barry came along behind on foot.