THE LONE OLD TIMER 19

when wes and buck pulled up to the foot hills gate they got out and carefully walked to the blood slotches on the gate stick and post. "i had hoped we were done with guy. how ever he got hurt it wasnt fatal." wes said as he walked around looking for any other eveidence."do you have any idea if your short any cattle, calves or cows?" ime still gathering them to put up here ime short a hundred head of my count but i know there are a lot of cattle down on the flat so its hard to tell" buck explained. "you got very many left over on the treasure road end of things?" we asked as he squatted down and poked at the blood stain with a stick. " i dont think so. but i havent been back over there in a while" buck was watching wes. " this blood is all but drieed up. he has been gone from here for a few hours. did you follow his tracks off here?" we askeed. " yeah until he hit the pavement it looks like he has another dirt bike."buck said. as he watched wes take some photographs of the blood . when he was through wes got back in his truck, buck followed "i would try to get every cow you own up here as soon as possible. if you need help ill come help for a day or two. i would keep a eye on this gate for more activity. is there another gate in this fence line?"wes was talking as he drove back down the slope. " one more buut its way up yonder and hard to get to horse back let alone on a motor bike." buck pointed up the fence line as they drove away. " is there a corral in that pasture? some where we could pen a cow if we needed to?" we asked absent minded as he drove. " yeah in the middle theres a old rock corral i figgured on finishing branding there once i got everything moved up there." buck explained. " i would get the rest of them cows up there as soon as possible its easier to watch one big bunch than two or three little ones." wes advised. buck nodded in agreement. " i would clean my hand gun and keep it handy. you dont know about this guy.:"wes stated. buck looked over at him in agreement.