ENTANGLED 6

zane and connie were keeping a good hundred mother cows in to one who bunch as they neared the head quarters, but the cows seemed to be slowing down and stiring , the cowboy loped around the outside so he could look down into the yard. there, parked in front of the corrals , right where the cows needed to enter, was a big liveing quarter trailer and one ton truck hooked to it. behind it he could see horses standing in the corral. before he could see anything else the cow boss loped by in front of him. he looked back and the cattle were starting to mill. he turnned back and started trying to hold the drive. it wasa good thing the cattle werent dry they milled and milled which kept the two riders busy holding them together. at the corrals zane found a fancy goose neck liveing quarters trailer hooked to a one ton ford. horses filled the corral where the cows wnt. he looked over toward the house and saw a tall well dressed young man talking to his wife. he loped up to them"HEY! GO GET THAT RIG OUTTA THE WAY WE GOT CATTLE TO PEN NOW! the tall young man turned slowand looked at zane. " who are you? he asked i run this out fit. go move that out fit. hurry up!" the rider sat there slowley comming to a boil. the young man was a sharp dresser. ironed and creased wranglers, a bright printed shirt, polished tony llama boots and a resistol silver bodied hat. he slowley stepped down from the porch " i guess i can go move it" he mumbled as he walked slowley toward the corrals. leo rode along behind slowley finally his temper flared" hustle up town boy i got cattle out there waitting to be penned MOVE NOW!" he almost yelled. the young man looked over his shoulder and seemed to speed up a step. leo sat there watching him. he was probably 6 foot tall, broad shouldered and narrow waisted. he was sandy haired and clean shaved, but he had a aparent attitude. the young man got in his truck and pulled up 30 feet or so, just past the gate. leo loped up before he could get out of the truck " MORE! TAKE IT BY THE HOUSE!" LEO LAID THE LAW DOWN. THE DRIVER RESTARTED HIS TRUCK AND ROLLED IT UP CLOSE TO THE HOUSE. BEHIND HIM LEO HAD OPENED A GATE , GONE INSIDE AND OPENED A SIDE CORRAL HE HAZED THE HORSES INTO IT AND LOCKED THE GATE BEHIND THEM HE THEN BLOCKED THE MAIN GATE OPEN AND LOPED OUT TO HELP ZANE AND CASSIEE. THEY WERE ON THE VERGE OF SPILLING THE HERD. WHEN LEO GOT THERE HE RODE INTO THE MILL AND BROKE IT SENDING SOME CCOWSM TOWARD THE CORRALS. THE REST QUIT MILLING AND FELL IN BEHIND AND IF ANYTHING BEGAN TO RUSH THE GATE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE CATTLE WERE PENED AND THE GATE SHUT.AND TIED SOLID. THE DUDE WALKED UP TO THE THREE HORSE BACKERS. " I WAS TOLD IN TOWN YOU NEEDED SOME HELP, I SEE WHY." he had his hand on his hip. leo was doing his best to keep his temper but zane had already lost his and was getting ready to step down , but cassiee put a hand out and stopped him. " we need help alright, but not the kind that needs baby sitting, i could use you for sure but you gotta work. flank calves fix fence etc, can you do that?"leo was laying it on the line. " i can do what anybody else here can do." he was s tareing at zane. leo turned to zane and cassendra" turn those cows into the holding pasture, count them one of you count the calves. its late we wont make another circle today."leo explained. he sat there as zane and caandra rode to the corral. then he turned to the dude standing there. out of courtisy ime going to give you a shot. park your rig over there out of the way then see to your horses. supper be ready in a while."leo turned his horse to catch up to zane and he said" i need cowboys not rodeo bums. "he left the man standing there in the middle of the yard.