TO FIND PEACE 15

TWO DAYS LATER CLEVE SADDLED TWO HORSES AND LEFT THEM TIED AT THE SADDLE ROOM. HE AND KATEY TOOK THE LOAD OF HAY ON TO THE K J TO FEED THE COWS..cleve was wanting to get to working the cows. some of the younger cows were strong enough to stand sorting branding or if they were already branded hauling to town. the sumer monsoons werent far away he wanted all the cattle off the kj before that happened. it would give the ranch a chance to recover. at the kj corral they unloaded a dozen bales as they had before and then proceeded to feed the rest on the two track road as they did every day before. cleve had a eighty acre trap at his corrals that was deeded. he could hold this bunch of cows and feed them there with no problems as they liquidated them. when they had fed the cows along the road they pulled back up to the corrals and he and katey started breaking bales in the corral when done katey walked over to the gate to the road to open it for the truck. she didnt notice cleve leaning against the trailer in a relaxed posture. as she pushed the gate open she saw a horseman comming down the road leading two horses. she looked back at cleve but he was fiddling with a peice of hay twine. as the rider drew neared she realized it was ty. he had cleves horse and ole bob in tow and long trotting toward her. as he rode through the gate he smiled at katey. " sorry ime late." was all he said. he rode on over to cleve. " close the gate darlin" cleve yelled at katey. when katey got back to where cleve and ty were cleve was snugging the cinchas on both saddle horses" i found us some day labor partner. we are gonna take this bunch of nellies back home. stick ole bob up yer butt and lets get them headed that a way. " cleve mounted and grinned over at ty. who had ducked his head at the remark. katey did her best to look like she had spent her life horseback , she mounted and picked up her bridle reins and the three started to the back end of the hay grounds. once again the cows had cleaned up the hay and were starting to the corrals on their own when they reached the end of the hay ground cleve sent ty down one side and he and katey took the other side. as they rode along katey was fidggiting. " why didnt you tell me he was comming today?" she asked cleve. " you would have been worthless looking for him. we are gonna keep him around for a few days." cleve chuckled as he rode out around a pair and put them in the drive. in just a short while they had all the cattle in sight in the corral. cleve sent katey to open the gate she was to go out on the road past the gate and make sure all the cattle turned to ward the home place. just as she got the gate opened the state truck roared up and stopped blocking the gate. the pudgy range con leaned out the window" where is cleve?" he asked in his most official voice. katey pointed to the corral where cleve and ty were turning the cows out of the corral. the corral was spotless of hay. ty rode along one side of the cows pointing them toward the gate. cleve was in the corral pushing the drags out. as he rode through the gate he saw the state truck coming up through the cows. ty was working himself silly holding the drive together. cleve clenched his jaw and growled. the state man stopped in front od cleve" i need to talk to you cowboy." he demanded. " when we get these cattle at home you can talk all you want. but until then ime busy. now get your truck out on the road so we can shut and lock the gate." cleve rode on by the truck following the cattle out the gate. he turned and waited for the state man to come out on the road. ty had taken the point of the drive keeping the cattle lined out in a long string. the day was already heating up. they didnt want to over heat the little calves. katey came up to cleve who motioned her ahead. when the state truck came out on the road cleve swung the gate shut and padlocked it. the range con leaned out his window" ime going to site you for over stocking the state permit with all these cattle!" cleve rode on past him" what cattle? i dont see no cattle in there." cleve struck a trott and caught up with the drags and katey.