ENTANGLED 5

leo and his two helpers left at a trot just as the sun was creeping up the horizon. the more he studied on zane the more he was puzzled. when they saddled he drug out a sure enough cow punchers rig and saddledhishorse. his chaps were scared and blood stained. cassie was stepping around and watching him. his black hat sat at a ralish angle on that pile of unruley hair. he had pulled a denim shirt from his truck and changed into it his horse was chunky showing some good breeding but its hair was coarse and thick on it legs, cassie had led a good horse from the barn that leo had saddled for her. leo thought her wranglers were just bit to snug ubder her chaps. and she seemed to make exra steps around zane that she really didnt need to. finally leo had enough of this, " get a horse up your butt, lets go!" a few moments later he led the two out away from the corrals into the raiseing sun. as they trotted along cassie stayed right next to leo, but zane rode to one side and was preoccupied with his horse who was showing every bit of intent to fall apart and go to bucking. but zane had him short reined and was kicking him with every step leo was starting to understand this kid was a sure enough cowboy from the head of cripple creek. he sure looked the part, leo just hoped it wasnt superficial. and the last thing he needed was a round up romance. zane was holding up but how long would he go before caveing in to casassies attention? a long hour later they topped out a rocky ridge. leo pulled up and stepped down to reset his ddalle. the other two ddid the same but zane had stopped out away from leo and cassie . his horse was sweating but you could tell the animal was sureley mad. leo led his horse back a few steps where he could look back the way they had just came over. back a mile or so was a wind mill. he pointed to it and said" cassie? when we leave here work out to the side of the mill, then pick up every thing that comes in there zane will be to the other side with me on the outside of the circle. dont leave that mill until your sure ime past . zane will help you bring the drive. bring them all. but if something gets back let them go. dont loose 20 wwhile your chaseing one. " zane seemed to be listening, but cassie was watching zane. " cassie? are you paying attention to me?" leo asked. he tried to not be hard but his parttience was growing thin.he stuck a foot into a tapadero and mounted. cassie had led her horse to a big boulder and used it as a mounting block. but zane had led his horse to a open spot and with his left hand grabbed thee cheek peice of the bridle and doubled the animal back and at the same time stuck a foot in a stirrup and swung up into the saddle. the horse made it plain he was going to fire but just as zane got his off stirrup leo rode into the bronc. knocking him off balance. zan gathered up his reins " thanks, i had hoped he had given this up by now."zane was trying to get settled and ready to start back. " gimme a bout a half hour before you start cassie." looking at zane he said " you ready?" zane nodded and reined the big sorrel around to follow leo. they trotted away from cassie without looking back. after a half mile or so leo pulled up and looked at zane pointing back down toward the wind mill" take everything you find dow to that mill. then help cassie bring them in watch for me , anything i jump ill try to push to you. you going to be ok?" leo pointed to the bronc under zane. zane looked over to leo, i would rather deal with this bronc than your daughter. but illhandle my end of things, bronc or not." he snugged his hat down close to his ears. " ill see what i can do about cassie. just try to hold it all together." we need to get these cattle worked." leo softened a little. he swung his horse around and continued on leaveing zane sitting there. he didnt look back. zane watched leo for a few minute all the while keeping the sorrel bronc walking in tight circles once in a while he would back toward cassie he could see her watching him. he admitted to himself she was very attractive, and withher attitude would be a easy conquest. but he needed this job more but she was makeing it hard to keep his mind on the work. looking back to leo he could see him turn back toward home. zane pointed the sorrell dow into cholla amd mesqiite he started picking up cattle almost immediatly. they were comming off their beds or where they had been grazeing.. off to his right occasionaly he would hear leo whoop. it was a steay stram of cattle comming to the wind mill. zane was impressed the cattle were gentle and easy to handle, but his bronc had his tail tucked between his hind legs and was watching every move zane made waitting for him to loosen up or drop his attention. when zane came into the windmill he had a big slug of cattle in front of him. cassie sat back away so the cattle would drift into the mill and start toward the head quarters. as zane arrived she rode up and the two started bunching the cattle and starting them home. zanes bronc still wanted to fire. it was a constant battle but zane kept the horses head up and moveing right along as they worked their way on toward the head quarters cattle kept drifting into sight from the direction leo was working. zane would turn out and go around them and them put them into the drive. almost half way back to the headquarters zanes bronc seemed to let down and relax. zane was able to get more work done without have ing to be on guard so much. through all of that cassie watched in admiration. it was plain to see zane was the real deal as cowboys come.. while working zane was careful to not get engaged in conversation with cassie. he was fighting his own battleswhen it came to the vivatious young woman. no one knew just how bad he needed this job..