HIDDEN SPRINGS 13

latigo rode up to the boundry fence at the bombing range. he sat there looking across the fence at the wide expance of desert. the more he thought about it the more mad he became. they were useing him. takeing advantage of his patiot feelings. he couldnt figgure how they got the back packs out of the bombing range except for the helicoptrs. and what kept them from getting shot out of the sky. no air craft were to be in that air space. he kept rideing along the fence his mind in high gear. there didnt seem to be any activity so he turned back toward home. he hoped he ride into a fire fight theree. but he couldnt just sit there waitting for something to happen either. he made a circle in his pasture that the road to the house crossed. he hit the road about two miles from home and started toward the house. but he heard a motor comming up behind him. he rode into the brush at the side of the road and waitted. it was capitan louis that passed by. latigo didnt let himself be seen. he wanted to confront the capitan about the situation but he wasnt in the best place for it. louis drove by and latigo rode back out into the road and followed the more he thought on it the more he was convinced any place and time would be right. these people were abuseing his good nature and irenes presence. he hadnt rode very far when he saw louis truck comming back . he just sat his horse in the middle of the road. louis skidded his truck to a stop in front of latigo who was leaning on his saddle horn. laying on the seat of the truck was a service pistol. he started to reach for it but something told the capitan to not do it. he didnt see any weapon in view on latigo. he opened the door and stepped out. " what you say lat ?" he called out. latigo still leaned on the saddle horn looking holes through louis" what kind of game you playing here capitan? what ever it is i dont like it. i set you all up for murder so you can steal what ever it is they are carrying. well its over. done. move on. do your business some place else. this is a warning, dont push me any farther." latigo was speaking matter of factly. louis stood in the middle of the road looking like he didnt know what latigo was talking about. " but lat, we were going to cut you in later. its a good deal " i dont want or need your good deal. just leave me out of the picture. i wont turn you in unless you keep trying to use me. just move on some place else. ."latigo made it as plain as he could. " ok, just give us the back packs from the last caravan my partners in pheonix is pretty upset they didnt get them."louis spread his hands in front of his waist. " ME? i dont have squat. your choppers picked them up. i did what i was told to do ,, no more. no i dont have the back packs so you go chase your tail!" latigo was incredulous. " i didnt send any choppers, how do you know thats what picked them up?" louis asked. " i found the tracks where they landed and buried the dead. i dont know whats going on hre capitan, but i dont like it. i dont want anything to do with it. you swore a oath to the country just like i did. and your useing it to get rich. the cartels i can understand , they arnt obligated to any one. but you? you have screwed a whole country for your own profit. get off my ranch and donnt come back. i see you or any of those cartel people its open season. understand?' latigo spured his horse and rode around louis, leaveing him standing in the middle of the road.