DENTON CROUCH 33

the next day will let everyon know it would be a week or so before they held the sale of alvies belongings. denton at that time decided to take a pack horse and go to the fw and start range branding his calves. the fact he had found one mis branded lay heavy on his mind. after becoming aquinted with abe he no longer believed it to be a honest mistake. the morning he was prepareing to leave will told him abe had been on drunk ever since the court hearing. when denton tried to turn in his badge will refused to take it." your still a deputy. just go about your business . but remember i might need you some time." will explained. denton put the badge in his shirt pocket reluctantly. a little after dark denton rode up to his cabin at the fw on a sweated out horse.he couldnt wait to get to work on his herd. after a good nights rest he gtot mounted and makeing sure he had a pocket full of read headed matches rode out onto the range he shared with abe. by the end of the day he realized he needed a couple more horses.he had branded 22 head of calves. he hadnt had to run them down to catch them but it was still hard work on the horse holding the calves while denton flanked and tied the calves the second day he had used the pack horse letting his saddle horse rest. he had only gotten 12 cqlves branded. the pack horse was dead headed and not broke very well. but every day denton worked day lite to dark and was makeing good progress. he saw very few K3 cows. he didnt know how many cows abe was supposed to be running but it couldnt be very many. the cows he saw were old and very few had calves. by the fifth day his supply of food was about gone. he sat outside his cabin finishing his coffee. he decided to head back to willcox. he had branded a little over a hundred calves in the time he was there, it was a good start. once he moved here full time he could keep every thing caught up. he and jody would have to make a plan concerning pearl jodys boarding house was a rented building. it would be easy to walk away from. he wanted to move in here as soon as possible and begin a new chapter of life. by seven that morning he was shakeing a booted foot in the stirrup to hustle his horse to willcox. when he rode up to the boarding house and dismounted pearl rushed out of the house and into his arms. " whats all this ?" he asked. pearl was sobbing , her head buried in his shoulder. he looked over her head and saw jody standing at the door a look as bad as death it self. "watch your self, abe is roaring, he has the town treed. will is inside with a bullit hole in his belly.abe has swore your next." jody explained. " he has been by here a time or two demanding pearl go with him but my shot gun convinced him to move along. he caught will from behind. when will turned he shot him." denton went inside and into wills room. he was pale as skim milk.his eyes fluttered open and the sound of dentons foot step. "hey pard " he whispered. " how is it will?" denton asked. " take my word for it you dont want to do it again. watch that big trash bucket. dont let him behind you. hes been roaring around we stole his brothers belongings. and you have been stealing his cattle. no one believes him but no one is ready to tackle him. dont give him any chances. if you do he will kill you. he may have killed me already, doc isnt sure."will was running out of breath. denton stood up and rested his hand on will shoulder. a grim look was pasted on his face. jody stood at the door to the bed room tears flowing down her cheeks. pearl was behind her her hand over her mouth. denton walked back out side. he went to his horse and dug down into the saddle pocket and pulled out hhis gun belt.he buckled it on. " i hoped to never have to do this again. but i guess some folks just wont back off. let me put my horses away then ill be back"denton led the animals toward the livery stable. jody reched inside the door and pulled the double barrel greener from where it leaned. looking to pearl she said " stay here." she stepped into the street ans went following denton in the waneing light. ahead denton led his horses through the dark door of the livery barn. jody came on, the shot gun under her arm.but before she got to the barn out of the dark stepped abe from the side of the barn. he had a pistol in his hand. jody stepped closer leveling the greener as she did. " abe said" turn around you theiveing dog and keep your hand off that pistol!" dento dropped the reinns and lead rope. he knew no matter what he was going to take a hit he only hoped he could kill abe in the process. but before he could turn he heard jody. "get out of here abe, right now, i told you what would happen if you came back around." abe spun to face jody bringing his pistol in line pointing at her. but the twin barrels of the greener exploded. abe was throwen back into the barn, a bundle of rags soaking up the blood leaking from a dozen holes of double ought buckshot. jody sat the shot gun down on the stock end of the gun. denton stood there in shock then walked to her " thanks girl, you saved my bacon."he picked up the shot gun and putting his arm around jodys shoulder turned to the house.