DELBERT BRIGGS 7

when del rode back into his yard there was a small economy car parked at the house. he paid it no mind and rode on to the barn. he was pulling the latigo through his cinch when he heard the car door slam. he looked over the saddle seat at a woman marching his way a brunett in a snug skirt and white blouse open at the neck. he ducked his head down below the saddle as if he hadnt seen her. when he pulled the saddle from the horses back she stood on the other side of the horse." are you delbert briggs?" she asked. " thats me, what can i do for you?" delbert carried the saddle in the barn. when he returned she still stood in place. " i came to warn you, the bank is looking for a way to get the ranch back or at the least to get you to agree to a larger price."the woman stated. " i figgured they were up to something how did you know?"delbert had started brushng the sweaty back of the horse. " i over heard mason and jacobs talking today. i want you to know i dont agree with that stuff. ime going to quit them tomorrow"the woman sounded apologetic. "dont quit because of me. besides if you stay there you might pick up on something we can use.. i dont believe i got your name? miss? delbert looked her over as he spoke . he had to sadmit he liked what he saw. " me a spy? thats almost as bad as what they are doing! "she was incredulas" my name is norma sanders." " ime pleased to meet you miss sanders. no i dont want you to spy, just if you hear something let me know. i want their hides. i thought mason was friend of mine but i see he is far from it. well i got plans here. i think ill throw a monkey wrench into their little scheme.how many other people have they done this to?"delbert asked. " two, and they were folks who couldnt afford to loose their down payment just like you. i didnt understand just what they were doing until they handed me your papers to file. then i heard them laughing and talking about it." norma was angry. " how about a cold drink and lets sit in the shade and talk this out. i got help they dont see. i think they will be a little surprised." delbert walked by her headed to the house"you comming?" norma turned and followed along . she wasnt expecting this kind of response. now she was curious. at the house del poured a couple glass of ice tea and dropped some ice cubes in each. then handing one to norma and showed her a chair on the porch in the shade.once they were seated and had time to sip the ice tea del looked norma in the eye. "i wanted my own ranch in the worst way and my friend mason knew it. it looks like he and jacobs thought they had a sucker. ime a lot of things but a sucker ime not. ime going to break up their little con game the best i can maybe what they are doing isnt illegal but its sure immoral ime a little better cowboy than the last poor folks they ran this scheme on. i come from a family of good cowboys. not a bunch of rube s." " do you have a plan to pay them out? a pay off would all go to the bank. they wouldnt be able to skim anything."norma asked. delbert was a bit close mouthed when it came to telling norma their plans. he just said har work would be the difference. he still wasnt sure he could trust this good looking woman. until he knew she could be trusted he was keeping th e plans to himself.