THE BATTLE AX REMNENT

the auction barn was only half full of bidders. the auctioneer was rattling away when through the door from the lobby came a dapper dressed man. he had a fancy pair of fronteir pants pressed with a crease down the front of each leg a white shirt, and a snap brim stetson hat sat at a jaunty angle on his red hair that was combed to a fair thee well. he stood just inside the door and watched the cattle in the ring being sold then looked right and left . seeing the man he was looking for he walked over to where the man sat eating a hamburger. he had a little bag of potato chips and a pepsi as he watched the cattle passing through the ring. he was a sure enough dyed in the wool cowpuncher. wrangler pants, olathe boots with spurs still strapped to them. his shirt was a faded blue cotton shirt. a black resistol that had seen better days but was worn because it was comfortable. the dandy sat down next to the cowpuncher. and stuck out his hand. "rick, ime j.z. roberts." the dandy introduced him self. the cow puncher looked at the extended hand and then returned his gaze to the cattle in the ring being sold" i know who you are j.z. what can i do for you?" j.z. pulled his hand back " i got a job for you. ime told your the only man who might take it and will finish it." rick took a bite of the burger and watched the package of cattle in the ring go out the gate. " i ask you j.z. what do you want?" " i had 2000 steers on the A diamond ranch. when we shipped off i was short 250 head. they told me they must have swam the gila river and went to the battle ax. the crew i had wouldnt go after them. the owner of the battle ax lives in texas. he dont have any cattle there. he gave me permission to get mine back but i cant find anyone who will go after them. they all say to talk to you."j.z. was almost whinning. " i dont want to do it either. i just got done cleaning up one mess. my horses are give out and i need a few weeks off. sorry." rick took another bite of the burger.. " ill pay top doller i need those cattle back. when can you start?" j.z. insisted. rick finally turned and looked at j.z." i know the battle ax. its 40 sections of pure hell. bronco mesa right smack dab in the middle. its haired over in cholla and cat claw and down by the river its a mequite thicket so dense a dog wont go into it. i just told you ime tired, my horses are tired and ime not sure i could put a crew together because they are tired. if your in a stud horse rush to get them gathered you better go talk to some one else" rick tried to make it sound final, he turned back to watching the cattle in the sale ring" " ill pay 150 a head for every live steer you bring out. " j.z. made his offer. " just to show you how far apart we are i want 250 , ill have to camp there and have a cook working full time the corrals there are just a net wire affair so we will have to haul the cattle out as we catch them ." rick thought that might back j.z. up but he came right back. " the corrals have been rebuilt, they are pipe and sucor rod. you wont have to haul anything. ill send a truck." then in that case i want a truck load of hay to feed those we catch. its going to be just one or two a day at best. ill need to feed my horses too. it will still be 250 a head. and i wont start for 30 days." rick held firm." and just so you know ill lein evry anumal i catch there, we all know your history j.z. nothing will leave there until we settle up. now, do you understand? i dont want to do business with you."rick looked j.z. right in the eye. j.z. sat there and watched the sale ring as another package of cattle went through.finally he stuck his hand out " deal" rick looked at the hand like it was a rattle snake." ill get a contract drawn up. ill call you when we need to sighn it." j.z. nodded and stood up" call me was all he said as he turned to walk away. seeing the brand inspector at the lobby door he turned around and went out the side door. the brand inspector walked over to rick who was opening the potato chip sack" you make a deal with that crook?" rick nodded." 250 head on the battle ax." " just so you know, those cattle arnt his, they belong to a steer man from california. he might have to be the man who pays on the deal." " nothing leaves until i get paid, period, wether its j.z. or some one else. that battle ax is hell turned upside down. but ill go scout it first to be sure the cattle are really there. its no golf coarse like j z is used to."rick turnned the pepsi can up and drained it." ill keep you in the loop." they shook hands before the brand inspecter left.