A FRESH START 12

bill was settled. he hadnt seen or heard from any one for two weeks. he liked the solitude. he had rode through his cows daily, doing the things he enjoyed. . he had come here to get away from people in general and from the first day he had had a steady stream of people and their problems. early in the mornings he sat on the front of his house and watched the sun up with a cup of coffee. relaxed. he hadnt heard a word from the sherrif. so maybe they had those problems ironed out with out his input. and it was just as well he didnt want to be involved. at the beginning of the the third wek he was finishing his coffee and takeing his time about getting started. when he came back out side from putting his cup away a bay horse stood at the corral gate. he was saddled and dragging his bridle reins. bill eased up to the animal when he picked up the bridle reins he saw a rope tied hard and fast to the saddle horn. about 20 feet out it was frayed and comming unraveled. across the saddle seat was two deep scratches starting at the front of the saddle and running paraelel to the back of the saddle. spur tracks. the horse was a good quality animal but he carried no brand. bill tied the horse, coiled the broken rope and hung it on the saddle horn then he caught a saddle horse and tyakeing the bay he started back following the bays tracks. some one may be hurt bad, late in the afternoon the tracks led him to a big arroyo, on the bank the ground was tore up and deep pot holes about where a animal had been pawing the dirt. bill sat a minut then stood in his stirrups and yelled. a faint answer cam e from down in the arroyo, he rode toward itabout half way down the slope was a jumble of boulders. as he heareed it he heard a voice call " over hear." turnning into the boulders he found a young man stretched out on the ground one pants leg tore up to the knee. a ugly gash lay along the shin. the man had used his chaps fopr a pillow but it was plain he was in pain. " how bad you hurt ?" bill asked as he dismounted " it aint broke, but its sure as sunday painful. i think with a little help i can get on my horse.help me outta here and ill tell the tale."the cowboy replyed. bill reached down and grabbed the young mans shoulders and heaved him to his feet. then helped him hop over to his horse. with a lot of straining and grunting they got the cowboy on his bay horse. bill hung the chaps over the horses neck then mounted his own horse and started back up the slope. the young cowboy hanging on to the saddle horn. bill struck a straight course to his house. " my name is harvey. me and my wife got a little out fit at the mouth of pinery canyon. i found one of our bulls back there. he didnt want to drive so i roped him, when he hit the end of it he broke it. this knot head darn near lost his balance but he started up the slope trying to buck. i went out the back door." " how did ya get the cut on your leg?" bill asked. " that bull was still there. so i made a dash for them rocks, but i tripped and fell across the sharp granite. but i got behind the rocks any way. bull didnt leave until this morning." harvey was swaying in the saddle. bill stopped and took piggin strings and tied harvey onto the saddle. " hang in there its still a couple miles to the house." bill told him harvey only nodded but he couldnt fall from the horse and bill set back out a bit faster.