BRONC PEELER 7

the next morning billy had penned the broncs at day lite. he cut the 5 head he wanted to keep out and tied them in a nother corral along with his personal horses. then he went to the cabin and cooked himself a big breakfast . he was half way through the plate full of bacon and eggs when heard a horse trott by the cabin front. he kept his head down eating even when heard foot steps on the porch the screen door opened and kate came in. " good morning billy. you got any more of that?" she nodded at the coffee pot. " cups in the cabinet help yourself. you want breakfast? you had to leave in the middle of the night to get here this early ill whip you up a plate full." " if you dont mind i would eat." kate was pouring her cup full. a few minutes later billy put a plate full in front of her and slid the pan with the biscuits next to it." sorry about yesterday, i didnt mean anything by it." " well i shouldnt be so touchy. ever since don got kiled i been trying to take his place i guess. hey this is good!" she hefted a fork full of egg." you get tired of snappin broncs you could hire out as a cook." billy grinned" lots of practice. i was orphaned at 12, had to learn or starve but ime not ready yet to hang up my riggin yet." a hour later they opened the gate to the corral.kate pushed the broncs out and billy pointed them at the open gate above the house. after a quarter mile the bunch slowed to a swinging trott. theyhad never been outside the pasture at the horse camp so that made it a little easier to keep them together and pointed the right direction.they lined out on the wagon trail and trotted along as sweet as you please. late that afternoon they trotted into the headquarters yard and into the corral that jim had opened and fed for them. billy and kates saddle horses were sweated pretty good. when jim shut the gate he walked by bill and the apron faced horse he rode. jim rested his hand on the broncs hip. " this the pick of the litter?" he smilled up at bill. " well, i like him, theres four more back at the camp almost as good. what am i gonna do with them?" " ride them thats what i pay you for! jim was definate".when these are gone i want the brood mares penned. ill cut off 6 of the best and sell the rest along with the stud. we will buy a saddle horse stud to put with them." bill listened to the old man and realised he was listening to kate when she preached about more cattle and less horses. bill nodded" we take these some place yet?" he pointed to the corral full of horses. " they got a crew of them rodeo cowboys comming to drive them to the railroad to ship the, they be here tomorrow." jim seemed almost sad when explaining the deal. " but he did pay my price so it was a good deal" kate was unsaddling her horse. and looking over the horses back listening.she caught bills eye" you want to try my cooking? you might get hungry before you get back to camp. " bill smiled and loosened the cinches on the apron faced bay" well you survived my cooking i guess it would be plum rude to not give you a shot at my belly>"with that all three broke into laughter and headed to the house. while eating a late lunch kate explained her ideas on makeing the ranch more profiable. when she stopped to get her breath jim looked over to bill" ime so crippled up i cant keep a bunch of horses like that anymore. kate is right. we could run more cows. with them gone. she agreed to let me keep some mares to raise saddle horses for the ranch ill need to find a good man to work my part of the ranch then we just hire seasonal help in the spring and fall. you wouldnt know of a fella like ime talking about for a full time man?" " yeah i know a feller, he aint worth much, he s rude to women and thinks every horse is a rank bronc. but i think you could maybe convert him to a more senseable hand."bill kept eating " you dont need to hire a cook either. he looked over at kate. " ill take that as a complement. and your full time from here on out if jim agrees." she looked at jim who was looking down at his plate." i agree" was all he said.