BACK FROM THE SIERRA 18

the frst morning back j.t. was up long before sunrise. the coffee was already boiling when he came to the kitchen. the chineese cook was working at the stove. he gave j.t. a sour look but poured him a cup of the boiling brew. j.t. sat down at the table and was trying to gather his wits about him when billy came stumping in. he took his cup and came to the table. " i figgured putting all your problems behind you would have let you sleep better" j.t. shook his head " theres still one more problem , that big cat. i dont think i ever heard of a mountain lion that big and agressive.i been trying to come up with a idea for getting him in my rifle sights." " shug has tracked him a time or two , but never seems to catch up with him, he says te same as you. he is starting to think its a spook or a haughnt or something.i think shugs apache is coming out." billy was sipping his coffee. " well it was no spook clawed them horses or killed them cattle. a mountain lion hides what he dont eat for later. not this one he kills fresh. with that trap he cant run fast enough to catch a horse or mule and i bet that makes him cranky." i guess we just keep rideing until we find him. he is staying along the river so that cuts down on the ground we got to cover"j.t. was mumbling through his coffee as he sipped it. when they went to saddle their horses they found shug waitting for them at the barn his horse standing there saddled. billy noded as he walked by. j.t. stopped and shook his hand. " what you think shug? how do we go about this?" the trapper looked at j.t. and shook his head" ive never dealt with such a animal. everything i know of dont seem to work. i think he got into the trap by accident or we wouldnt have that much. that stake chain was solid to the stake, he had to be super strong to have pulled it out like that. maybe super spirit." " sookem and bunk, " billy said as he walked by with a bridle. shug stared at billy as he walked away. j.t. went for his bridle but when he came back he stopped" spook or not we got to find a way to stop him he was prowling and stalking that nestrs wagon and little children. we cant have that not to mention billys cow herd." "one thing ive noticed, the coyotes and wolves have left the area. i found a dead wolf the other day where that sucker got him. tore the body all up and scattered the parts. i dont know of any animal does that."shug spoke just under his breath. a half hour later the three left the barn headed down country toward the river. about half way there they split and each saying they would be in a certain area. j.t. had the center part of the area to ride. as he neared the river he hadnt seen any tracks. he crossed the river and rode the bank checking for drag maks of the stake chain when he approached the edge of the area where shug was to be he recrossed the river and turned back. as he rode into a clearing of the mesquite thicket there on the ground lay a large spotted lion panting. the trap was still secure on one hind foot. j.t. slowley pulled his rifle from the saddle holster. the cat slowley turned its head and looked at j.t his eyes were yellow his head massive. he rolled to his belly and stood up and at that moment j.t. knew the cat was going to kill him. j.t.s horse wouldnt stand he kept danceing wanting to leave. the cat was getting closer. the only advantage j.t. had was the cat couldnt run with the trap on his hind leg. a low rumbling growel came from deep in his chest. j.t. pulled his rifle to his shoulder when a voice behind him said" you gonna shoot or what?" but the rifle shot came from the other side of the clearing. the big cat jumped straight up in the air and snaped at its side, snarling. a second shot came from j.t.s rifle. when the cat hit the ground it didnt move. all three men sat their horses stareing at the big cat. "tigre is what the mexicans call them, ive never heard of one up this way tho." billy exclaimed. " just spent five years in mexico and never saw or heard of one." j.t. said. " unless something stires them up i dont think they get out much, mostley at night. that one sticking his foot in shugs trap put him on the fight." billy stated. shug had gotten down from his horse and walked over to the cat, he poked him a time or two to make sure he was a sure enough real animal and not a spook. then he pried the trap jaws open and took it off the cats foot. the heavy trap had almost cut clear through the cats leg. shug put the trap on his horse then began skinning the cat." unless one of you want this it will makke a good rug for carrie when she gets here." he didnt look up. no one said a word.