DELBERT BRIGGS 23

whilr delbert was working away at the ranch thinking everything was good with the bank, the banker jackson had fevorishly been shuffling paper work trying to find some way to get that ranch back. he was deep in debt to a cartel in mexico and had promised them a big pay off as soon as he got the ranch back he was even willing to turn the ranch over to them to settle the debt. but he had mis judged delbert. delbert was rooted right in solid. jackson could find no legal way to get the ranch back short of delbert dying. and at this point jackson hadnt ruled that out. loosing mason wasnt the worse thing that could have happened a lot of what jackson was doing went in the coffin with mason. the one loose end was the exsecretary norma. jackson still wasnt aware of her being out at the ranch. it was looking more and more like he needed a clean sweep of everyon involved. he would just need to find norma before putting everything in motion. bob had come to the ranch and he and delbert had roped the big slicks and got them all branded. delbert had even showen norma hot a branding iron was applied. a bit hesitant at first it took her a few try s and she was right in the game. bob noticed delbert beaming with pride watching her. the next morning ther three of them left the headquarters in the dark headed up country. delbert didnt believe for a moment they would clean the ranch off but was hopeing for a good sized gather. he wanted to restock with some good gentle cows. the kind a man and his wife could take care of. he was makeing plans in his head. when they reached the wire gate leading farther up country delbert half expected to find it down, but he was surprised to find the gate shut, the brush he had piled and laced into the wire was skewed around but still stood. cattle tracks were lined up and down the fence line but nothing had gone back into the upper pasture. the three of them spread out and started back toward the wind mill. delberts mind was raceing with the possibilities of a good gather.