BACK FROM THE SIERRA 5

dragoon wasnt a very big village and it wasnt laid out very orderly. it existed to support the rail road and being in a big boulder pile folks had built helter skelter among the bif rocks. . j.t. wandered around through the houses and boulders trying to follow the hand drawn map. soon he found himself at the edge of the houses and just a little farther out he could make out a small cottage. he rode to it and realozed it was the one he was looking for. it set next to a giant boulder twice the size of the little house. a corral was next to the house made fromstacked rock. the grass in it was knee high from not being used. a half of a wooden barrel stood along the fence catching water from a spring and over flowing into the corral. j.t. rode to the front of the cabin and leaned over and knocked. twice more but still no answer. he dismounted and hung his bridle rein on a snag on one of the boards of the house. he tried the door and found it open. inside he looked for anything that would tell him his sister lived here. the one room cabin was clean and orderly. on a dresser by the bed he found apicture, old and faded but it was of him, his mother and sister. he sat down on the bed and held the picture in both hands remembering the day they had the picture taken. outside the brown horse was stomping at the black flys buzzing around . j,t, got up and went out and led the horse to the corral and unsaddled him. he turnned him into the corral. he took his saddle bags from his saddle and carried them into the house then closed the door and sat down out side to wait until his sister returned. the sun was just starting to disapear behind the santa rita mountains when j.t. saw his sister walking his way. next to her walked a tall broad chested man with a large brimmed hat leading a sorrel horse. he carryed a bag on one arm. they stopped at the corral and at the sight of the brown horse the man growled" them damn 76 cowboys, ive warned them about comming around" at that point the blond girl looked up and saw l.t. leaning against the cabin wall. her mouth dropped open and a squeel came out. she broke and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck and sobbing. the big man walked up on them" ime charlie foure, evedently adele knows you." he stuck out a ham sized hand. adele looked back over her shoulder" this is my brother j.t. , ive told you about him." " oh the gunman of lordsburg. i thought you were on the run." charlie said with a grin. " i been in mexico. but imeback to stay. i appreciate what you have done for adele." j.t. sounded a little shook up. " ill start supper, you two get aquinted" adele pulled loose from j.t.