THE LONE OLD TIMER 9

sunday rolled around and buck was ready for a day with cloe. he got his chores done, shaved and showered then loaded baldy in the trailer. pulling up at cloes house he saw she was ready also as he never had to open his truck door, she hustled down the stepes and got in the truck. she was radient. her hair was styled her cloths were just right for a day at a ropeing and she had a fresh sweet smell. buck was mezmerized. "well? are we going or just gonna sit here?" she asked. buck put the truck in gear and got the truck rolling still speechless.at the arena he was unloading baldy and she was digging the curry comb and brush out of the truck. while she was brushing the horse buck was sorting out his best heel rope from the jumble in the truck bed. finally he couldnt hold it in any more and he asked her "why do you keep seeing me? you could do so much better. i probably give you night mares." " your looks dont meaan nothing to me. its whats inside that counts. i see a good man there. thats what ive been looking for. i hope you will be wanting to take our relationship to another level. but i have one question. your so level and resonable until you get here. then its like your mad or your going into a fight. why? buck looked at his feet for a moment then looked up at cloe" these guys call me the old timer. behind my back they make fun of my scares. well my answer is this , i ride a better horse, i take their money some times. they have no answer to that. now i do those things with a good looking woman at my side. i didnt plan on you. ever since the fire i had no intrest in women. but that night you drove me home to keep me from getting a ticket, that lit a little fire. all week i look forward to seeing you." buck was being honest, cloe was taken aback before cloe could answer wes walked up" buck i got a half dozen fresh branded calves seized down at the sale barn they look like your cattle, are you missing any?" " i dont think so, ive been rideing pretty steady when i find a pair i brand thhe calf put them up in the foot hills pasture. i havent found any bagged up cows or anything. but ill come look at the calves in the morning" buck replied. wes nodded, he turned to go get saddled . cloe reached into the truck bed and pulled her lawn chair out. " i got a hankering for mexican food tonite. win a bundle." buck grinned at her as she walked away. " well baldy we got our orders best we get to it." buck spoke to the good horse aa. he mountd.