A FRESH START 6

the next morning viola headed their team back to the west . slaughter sat up straight holding the shot gun pointing skyward. he told bill he would get the kearny brothers settled down , not to worry. bill saddled a fresh horse and started up the mountain trail to bring the cattle up there back down in the north black clouds were building , he wanted his cows down off that mountain before the storm hit. the trail was steep and narrow and he had to stop and let his horse catch its breath numerous times. the trail finally widened and became less steep. it wasnt long he rode into a a meadow, where he started finding small groups of his cows. it took him a good two hours but he threw all of them into one bunch and started them down the trail the air temperature had dropped and the wind was picking up about a third of the way down the mountain bill felt a cold drop of snow hit his face. the cows had to walk into the wind , a cold blustery wind . not the best traveling circumstances. snow began to come down a little heavier. he couldnt stop, there was no where to hold the cattle. bill wanted to build a fire in the worst way but he knew the cows would either turn back or bunch up and freeze. he kept pushing. presently the snow turnned to a wet drizzle and the black cloud that enveloped them lifted. he could see the roof tops below of his outfit. as they grew closer to the bottom of the trail the cows picked up the pace. in a good hour he rode into his yard, he had pushed the cattle on out into the west. he didnt think they would want to go back up that trail any time soon. after careing for his horse he stumped to the house. he stopped at the wood pile to grab a arm load of stove wood. it was going to take a bunch to warm him up. the wind still howled and he was soaked and cold. as the fire warmed the cabin he dried him self and found a dry set of clothes. the way the storm was lashing the valley he knew he would have a couple of days rest. he fed another stick of wood into the stove.