THE BRONC PEELER 8

for the next 3 weeks bill rode every day from the horse camp he put lots of miles on the five head of horses they had kept from the bronc herd. the brood mare band ran a long distance from camp . he would put the miles on his green saddle horse to go find them. every day he tried to move them closer to the camp but they always drifted back to their home range over night. the colts were big enough to wean but he still hated to drive the band a long ways and wear the colts out. but it was looking more and more like that is what he was going to do. kate had taken a train up country to look at some blooded cattle. heavier bodied, with a lot more beef on their frame. bill finally decided he would just have to grit it out and bring the mares back in one drive. he left early in the morning in the dark. he did pack a lunch. he rode the apron faced horse he had started calling angel/ he was a smart knowing sure footed horse with lots of stamina.and thats what this job called for, stamina. mean time, kate had returned to the ranch with the news she had bought 150 head of shorthorn, herford cross cows with herford bulls on them. but when she rode into the ranch yard she felt there was something wrong. she put her horse away and went to the house calling for jim. from his bedroom he called in a weak voice. kate rushed to him. he was still in bed. "bring me a glass of water girl, ime dry."he croaked after a good long drink of cool water he lay back with a sigh." thanks, that probably saved me. when i woke up this morning i had a pain in my chest. i was weak, to weak to get out of bed. i maybe done for ." kate took note of the ash gray color of his skin, and the way his hand shook with the glass of water" you old buzzard, your not done yet. you arnt going off and leaving me with this wreck of a ranch." jim looked up from where he was laying and a smile crossed his face. " just let me rest a few days. that water brought me around. just dont leave me alone for a while. " takeing another swallow of water he lay back into his pillow and closed his eyes. to say kate was scared was a understatement. she wanted to go for a doctor but didnt dare leave the old man. she had no way to contact bill. she knew she was just going to tough it out. she would make some beef broth maybe that would help when he woke back up. she got up and softly left the room. " dont die jim, please dont die!" she sobbed. at the horse camp late in the afternoon bill put the brood mares and colts into the horse pasture and chained the gate. his horse was limber as was he. as he headed for the house he told himself " maybe the cow end of things is a better way." the next morning early he left on a fresh horse for the headquarters to tell them the brood mares were where they could be corraled. when he rode into the headquarters all was quiet. no one was in sight. he tied his horse and went to the house. before he could knock kate pushed the door open and held her finger accros her lips. she came out and sat in a chair. bill could see something was terribly wrong but before he could ask she started explaining. "i been back 2 days jim is layed up, i think its his heart. we need a doctor but i couldnt leave him for long . " ill go. wheres the closest doctor?' bill started to the barn " ill need a fresh horse." in about ten minutes he was back mounted on one of kates horses. "rent a buck board or buggy to bring the doctor. heres some cash" kate handed him a wad of cash.bill stuffed it down in his pants pocket. " if he wakes up tell him ime on the way ill be back as soon as possible." he kicked the horse into a lope and left the yard. kate went back in the house and saw jim sitting up in bed " was that bill? wheres he going in such a hurry?" " he s going for a doctor. you just rest,do you want something to eat?" kate asked hopeful. he did look better, " i could eat something , a little something, i hope bill dont kill that horse." jim mused. "lay back, ill fix you some food. you look a lot better but stay in bed until the doctor gets here." when kate came back with a bowl of soup jim was snoreing a litle . she returned the soup to the pot on the stove and collapsed into a chair." hurry bill, just hurry" she said under her breath.