THE LONE OLD TIMER 16

the next day buck was once again brought back into the room. roer sat there waitting for him. "alright they are going to release you, just stay in the county. i had a temper tantrum in front of the judge but he finally agreed with me they had no case.they are doing the paper work now to release you. the big question in this whole thing is where is the body. i saw all the photo graphs, that guy had to die. if i were you i would quietly snoop around on that. of coarse i didnt tell you that." " i thank you for all this, whats the bill? ill get you paid as soon as i get to the ranch" buck shook roers hand. " i dont know yet, it wont be much, i hate seeing law enforcement doing this kind of deal. maybe next time you butcher send me some beef , i dont know. just keep your nose clean." roer turned to go to the door. and as he did cloe came in a hand full of papers" i got it, lets go!" she shook the paper over her head.on the way back to the ranch buck was quiet watching out the window as the scenery whizzed by. " what you thinking buck?" cloe asked. "what happened to that guy? with all that blood, he had to die. so if he did who hauled him away? who set me up?" buck murmered as he watched the real estate going by. " i didnt ssee any one all that day except the cow cop.and i dont think he would have done it." " want to put it behind us, just move on, you didnt do anything so we can go on with life. maaybe that killing will put all the rif raff on notice about stealing your stock." cloe spun the steering wheel and turnned up the drive way to bucks house" ime cooking a welcome home supper. ime takeing tomorrow off work so i can spend some time with you. is that ok?" buck looked over at her and grinned "well the meal will be great, ill withhold judgment on any thing else." " thats more than you have said yet on that so we must be makeing progress. ill take that for now." cloe beamed. for supper cloe set the table with baked potatoes, sour cream . corn and a big ole roast beef. buck felt his stomach grumble.. a bit later after his second plate full he got up and poured a glass with whiskey from the bottle on top of the refridgerater.he stepped out on the porch and watched the sun set from his favorite wicker chair.presently cloe came out with a glass also and sat down close to him." this is about as good as life gets. you got it pretty good here." she took a sip of whiskey. buck turned and looked at her. " behave your self and you might get to see it a bunch more."he chuckled. " your awful sharp for a guy just out of jail" cloe was almost laughing.