ENTANGLED 9

after supper that night zane had quietly got up and went out into the gathering dusk. leo had sat there watching him he could tell something was bothering the young cowboy. when he finished his supper travis got up and without thanking mollie went out on the porch and plopped into a chair. leo sat at the table with a coffee cup that mollie had filled with jim beam whiskey she could tell he was working something over in his mind but she didnt say anything. cassie finished the dishes and claning the table and went out side. leo could hear her talking to travis. small talk just chattering away. when he finished his whiskey leo got up and went out the door.. he didnt look right or left or say anything to travis and cassie. he walked on down to the barn inside the barn a light was shinning. when he stepped through the door into the breeze way he saw zane with travis s horse he had the horses leg in a five gallon bucket of water soaking the cactus quills. leo walked up and looked down on zane who was squatted at the front of the horse. "he didnt get them all out. left the poor sucker tied up. fed himself but this one didnt get any thing. " zane was shakeing his head. "we are going to brand those calves tomorrow. then ime going let him go. he can flank calves for his supper tomorrow. this is mighty big of you takeing care of his horse." leo remarked. " isnt the horses fault. that gunsel didnt have enough sense to try and ride around the cholla. he s to busy shinning up to cassie . she just see s the glitter with him i guess." zane was carefully pulling the wet cholla from the horses leg. " well she was shinning up to you and you paid no attention to her. if you had i might have got mad but i would have been wrong." leo mumbled. zane looked up at him" it wasnt because i didnt want to, shes some kind of pretty, but i got responsabilitys and cant get wrapped up with her. i cant afford her." " what you mean by that? you got a good solid job here and talk dont cost much." leo was a bit shocked. " i got a mother and two younger sisters to support. very dime i earn here will go to them i know you cant keep me on here full time so ill earn what i got comming until then. you been darn good to me."zane took the horses leg out of the bucket. it was clean of cholla. he dumped the water out to settle the dust in the breeze way of the barn. then untied travis good horse and led him to his corral and fed him. " some day ill be able to afford a horse like that" he said to no one inparticular. he then walked over to where his bed roll was spread and sat down and began pulling off his boots. leo stood there through all of what zane said and did, he now had a better understanding of this solom young man he turned and walked out of the barn and started to the house. travis was still sitting on the porch entertaining cassie.leo walked up the steps onto the porch. " big day tomorow, better get to bed cassie." he walked on by and went in the house. travis shut his mouth and made a sour face" well i guess that shuts me up. good night." he stood up and walked off to his trailer. cassie sat there a minute then got up and went in the house. leo was getting a glass of water at the sink.when she walked up " that was a rotten thing to do! " she said. leo slowley turned and looked at her " yeah it was, but he is going flank calves all day tomorrow. i dont think he will hold up. we wont need him after tomorrow." leo liad it out. cassie made a face then turned and went to her room. leo watched her go. then dumped his glass of water out into the sink " hell ime gona have everyone around here mad at me before we get this deal done." when leo got into bed mollie snuggled up close to him" you cant control who cassie takes a likeing to you know that dont you?" she said. " i found out some thing s today about that guy and about zane too. i been wrong about zane. but ime not wrong about travis. cassie just sees a man, not what kind he is. travis is all flash. no substance he used her all day today she worked her country and most of his. if he would do that what else will he do? we are gonna brand calves tomorrow. we will see just how good he is. i bet he will spit the bridle out before we get through." leo explained mollie looked at him a long time then closed her eyes and went to sleep.