TO FIND PEACE 21

the next morning ty had the horses saddled before day light. katey was rattling the skillits in the kitchen for breakfast. there ws no stars or moon showing, the aior was warm and muggy. ty looked up once and felt what he thought was a drop of rain on his cheek. he shuddered. he went inside the saddle room and came back with two slickers. he tied one on behind each saddle. katey called out the kitchen window to come eat. he struck a trott to the house. as he sat down he smilled" we better whoop up on this good mean weare gonna get wet before we see another one?" he marveled at kateys fresh early morning countence as she worked around the kitchen. ty loaded his plate with eggs, bacon and biscuits and gravey. a big pipeing hot mug of coffee sat at his side. " i wont get much done today packing a meal around in my middle. i keep eating like this ill weight 400 pounds!" ty stuffed a fork full of egg in his mouth . thiert minutes later they left the yard at a long trott. in the east there was a lightning in the sky but visibility still was limited. as they reached the back side of the pasture they had passed numerous bunches of cattle but it ws still to dark to tell what they were, fresh branded or pairs. rain was starting to spatter as they turned back and started the cattle toward the corrals. they wanted to hurry all they could but there was a lot of little baby calves that couldnt handle the rush. the closer to the corrals they got the heavyer the rain fell. the water was running off the slickers in rivelets. kateys hair under her hat had straightned. it was one thirty when they entered the corrals with a big bunch of cattle. when everything was penned ty rode over to the gate that led into the eighty acre trap and kicked it open he waved at katey to bring the cattle . as they starteed trickling through the gate ty was counting the branded cows. but it was hard to ignor the fact they had a lot of fresh branded stock too. when the last few head went through the gate he looked over at katey" we are in trouble girl" kateys face fell into the question she didnt verbalize. "we gathered all of them cows and calves except 2. cleve will want that every time from now on!" ty grinned through the rain dribbling down his face. katey wanted to slap him for scaring her. after unsaddlng their horses and sloshing to the house katey had kicked her muddy boots off and gone inside and came back with towels. the rain was driveing now with big puddles in the yard. when dried off the two went in the house. katey went back into cleves room to get out of the wet clothes.. while gone ty dug out dry clothes from his war bag and started changeing. when katey came back in ty was buttoning his dry shirt." yw know gal, we didnt do to bad. gathered almost all the cattle we needed and made it rain to. cleve may have to put us on full time!" they both broke up laughing while katey was fixing lunch.