DELBERT BRIGGS 31

norma sat there in shock. she had hoped this day would never come. she stared out accross the land scape for a count of twenty. when she turnned back to delbert a tean ran down her cheek" i dont want to leave you. i dont want to go to jail. i figgured if i stayed out of site they would give up on me." "what could you know that would put you in jail? you may know enough to put jackson in the hoosgow. if you told me right you simply filled out the paper work....." delbert looked her in the eye. " thats right, but if jackson found out he could kill me or tell the law i did more than i did. i dont want to bring trouble to you. you have been good to me even knowing i was involved in scamming you. i couldnt stand the thought of you hateing me."norma was looking at her folded hands in her lap. speaking just above a whisper. " well now theres more than jackson in volved. a bunch of las vegas loan sharks bought up jacksons debts. they want their money any way they can get it. i dont know if what you know will help or not, but it will clear the air between us and maybe help the law to put this to bed.. i dont want you going any where either, but we cant go on with this hanging over us. if you turn states eveidence, i wont think any less of you i promise." delbert took her hands in his" what you say? ill stand right with you when you go in. i promise." " ok is that cattle ?" norma pointed down country at a line of red dots raiseing a small dust. delbert snapped his head around" you sure know how to change the subject. yes thats cattle lets get a horse back" a few minutes later they were cinched up and turnned down hill in the direction of the cattle. these cattle had now escaped a couple of times. they were headed toward the windmill. delbert took a angle that would put them in front of him before they reached the wind mill. he had cinched his rope down snug around his saddle horn if he couldnt have them all he would have one of them.. norma had done the same but he took no notice as she was a couple yards back and to the left of him. when they rode up in front of the cattle it startled the cattle. they threw their heads up and looked to delbert then norma.the old cow in front was long horned and the brands on her ribs was a raised calous. she shook her head and pawed the dirt under her hooves. delbert glanced over at norma,then quietly said. " lets see if they will settle and maybe hold together." norma nodded. delbert hadnt noticed until now but she had a ready built loop in her right hand resting on her hip. the horses under them were tense, on edge, ready for the wreck. the high headed old cow stood her ground. slobbers drooled from her mouth. when another cow brute tried to go past her she hooked and fought them back. she was in charge here, and she wasnt going in quietly. soon it was plain she was going to make a break past delbert.he quietly said"ill catch her, you try to keep the rest together. if you cant do that then catch one." the old cow let out a moan and charged delbert. just as she was about to hit his horse he moved aside, she flew by on his left side. delbert spun his horse and jumped at the cow swinging his rope. as he closed in he took two hard swings and let his loop fly . it settled around the old cows hornes. delbert waved the slack in the air and his horse set down in preperation of the comming jerk. the old cow had never been roped she ran on like she was free. when the rope came tight the slack lay almost right down the middle of her back. her head came back and her feet continued she landed on her back with all four feet sticking up in the air.when it was plain she wasnt going to try to get up delbert flew down the rope and tied two hind legs together then her front feet. jerking his rope off her horns he looked about.......norma and the herd wernt in sight. but the trail headed down country toward the house and the corrals. he mounted and spun into the trail.