DENTON CROUCH 1

brad hayden stood in the door of his livery stable, watching the horseman approaching from the south east. the rider hand led two horses as he came on through the gathering dusk. the sun was slipping down the western side of mountains that lined the cattle capitol of the world, willcox. the rider came into town from the south and boldly rode right up the middle of railroad avenue looking neither right or left. haydens livery sat right next to the shipping corrals for the santa fe railroad and thats where the rider stoped. he droped the reins to the hand led horses and slowley eased to the ground. he was bone weary.. brad hayden steped out and gathered the reins to the led horses. " these look like those riggs horses that was stole in front of the saloon two nights ago," " thats just what they are. can you put them up until the riggs brothers come for them?" the rider still hadnt moved away from his own horse. "arnt you denton crouch, the deputy, for the county?" brad asked. " thats me" denton had started uncinching his horse slowley. "how did yoou get these back, you must have rode a fair peice." brad was pulling leather from the first horse. " i caught up with them down the other side od douglas. they were on their way back to texas. they decided to return the horses."denton flatly stated. "they didnt argue any?"brad was surprised. " we talked it over for a while. they finally saw it my way. can you take care of these horses? i think i need to get in bed." denton was still leaning on the horse he had rode. it was then that brad saw a small puddle of blood pooling at the side of dentons boot. " i got the horses, let me help yopu over to the hotel then ill go get the doc." he put his arm around dentons shoulder to support him and they started to the hotel. after getting denton settled in his room brad hustled up the cross street and got the local doctor. he then returned to his business of careing for horses.