A FRESH START 9

" YOU WANT ME TO HOLD THE HERD OR THE CUTS?" BILL ASKED JOSH. " IME JUST GONNA CUT THOSE BIG MAVERICKS FROM THE HERD TO SELL. I GUESS HOLD THE HERD IF THAT SUITS YA. YOU CAN BE SURE THAT I DONT CUT ONE OF YOURS THAT WAY." JOSH WAS BEING BELIGERANT. " mine are all branded i dont think you would try to take one of them. ill go relieve one of the boys. you got any special one you want me to replace?"bill was trying hard to be congenial. "shep is the closest on right there. " josh pointed tom a cowboy. bill rode down and took the cowboys place. a good hour later josh had a dozen big yearling mavercks in a bunch off to one side. bill kept his mouth shut but was wondering just how josh would sell a bunch of unbranded cattle. josh rode over to him " you satisfyed with everything?" bill looked him in the eye " sure enough. anything else i can do for you?" he asked " no, we will take our cut and go. see ya." josh wasnt as combative. bill sat and watched him and his boys drive the cut away toward dos cabesas.he took a minute and rode through the herd before they scattered checking for any problems. when he was satisfyed he turnned toward home. he was still puzzled as to how they could sell unbranded cattle. he wouldnt have contested any of them he had his cattle pretty much branded up. but if some one wanted to make a argument out of it josh didnt have a leg to stand on. the state would seize the unbranded cattle to stop a argument. as bill rode back into his yard he saw a sorrel horse tied to the corral in his yard. a man sat on his porch. " for a man wanting to be left alone i sure been getting a lot of company" he thought to himself. as he rode up to the barn the man on the porch came from the house and walked toward him as he drew near bill could see a small round badge pined on the mans shirt pocket. " howdy. you bill jefferys?" the man asked. " yes sir, what can i do for you?" bill was unsaddling his horse. " ime zack bryce, brand inspecter for the state. i heard the kearnys are giveing you a hard time over some unbranded cattle." bryce explained. " well, we had a few words. i helped them today. when we split i think we had everything worked out. i keep my cattle branded up. it appears they dont. but ime not gonna squawble over their unbranded stock."bill pulled the saddle from his horse and went into the barn. "slaughter said they were giveing you a hard time called you a sqwater.. they arnt the best folks to have for neighbors." bryce was standing at the horses head. when bill came back he said" your right there. but i paid for this outfit in cash. i got it all recorded. they are the ones with a lot of slicks running around not me. how can they sell a bunch of slicks?" bill laid it out. " if they got the cattle on deeded ground they can do as they wish 5 head at a time. but more than that they need them inspected." bryce said. " well they got a bunch headed to dos cabezas right now not a mark on them. i dont want no trouble with them but if i gotta follow the law they should have to also."bill stated. bryce mounted his horse. " thanks for the info. you can always get me though the sherrifs office if you need me. adios." he spun his horse and left at a long trott. " i maybe should kept my mouth shut." bill mused