BATTLE AX REMNENT 12

rick and jake loaded mickey in to ricks truck. with rick driveing and jake supporting mickey they headed into superior to a hospital rick had told barry he would call the brand inspector and for a truck. he felt sure there was a load of steers in the gather. while they were gone barry and connie would sort the gather . when they started to work barry began puttting the steers in the ally that led to the loading chute. he found real quick that connie was more than capable of working in the corral. in a couple hours they had the ally loaded with steers. more than enough for a truck load. into a side corral they cut the unbranded cattle. young cows and calves, first calf heifers and three young yearling bulls. what was left was a assortment of branded cattle with a assortment of brands. while takeing a break a state truck rolled into the yard with the brand inspecter at the wheel. the inspecter got out and walked to the corral. barry and connie met him there. when he looked at the cattle he whistled. " man you guys gotem shocked into a pile!" " yeah and we lost a bunch! but to be honest i dont think this corral would have held them all." barry explained. the inspectoer went to his truck and returned with a legal pad and pencil. " well lets get started" was all he said as he crawled over the fence. in the main corral barry and connie pushed the strays into a corner and let them out one or two at a time. the inspecter writting down the brands , the sex and possible age of each animal. then they moved to the ally. they allowed the steers to trickle past the inspecter so he could count them and be sure there was no strays . then they moved to the side corral where the slicks were. he made a list of the sex s and ages. then headed to his truck. "can i work in the shade of the cook tent? this is going to take a while."he asked barry. barry waved him over" make your self at home." when the inspecter was getting his paper work done up a fancy chevrolet truck rolled into the compound raiseing dust. when it stopped and the door flew open jason the cattle contracter stepped out. looking like he just stepped out of a clothing catalog. he walked over to te corral and looked at the steers in the ally. then turning back to the cook tent marched up to barry." my truck will be here in just a few minutes we can load them out and get them on the road before dark." barry bristled" i dont take orders from you. rick will be back in a minute thats who i work for. the one thing i know for sure is we load nothing with out you paying for them" the brand inspecter stood up, jason hadnt seen him yet."there is 145 head of steers. you wont get them all on one truck. we have a copy of your agreement with rick. it clearly states you will pay the fees before they load. ill allow you to load if you hand this young man a check for the agreed amount." jason stood there his mouth agape. behind him the cattle truck was turning off the hiway. " i think we can get 100 head on the truck , ill write a check for that." jason spun and went to his truck and took out a leather bound brief case. from it he pulled a check book , opened it and began writting in it.presently he returned with a check in hand. he handed it to the brand inspecter"there! does that satisfy you?"he asked in a sarcastic tone. " lets get the truck loaded"the inspecter turned to barry and connie.the three of them trooped to the corrals where the truck was backed to the chute. when the truck was loaded thirty minutes later the inspecter walked up with a hand full of papers he handed them to the truck driver. " dont deliver them to anywhere except where that paper says. understood?" the trucker looked at the papers. i was told to take them to corrals at sonoits." jason looked down at his boots. the inspecter looked at him" i talked to the cattle owner two days ago and thats where he wants them where it says on those papers. if they dont get there ill assume they were stolen." the trucker climbed in the cab and dropped the transmission in gear and pulled away. jason turned to go" and by the way jason, that check better be good, got it?"the inspecter was laying down the law. as the cattle truck pulled up on the hiway ricks truck turned in and came to camp.