THE LONE OLD TIMER 22

wes had settled down a little compared to how he was while they were searching for the rider of the dirt bike. he was hopeing the man had stopped his theivery. he didnt want to deal with him. the brand inspecters job was a simple one look at brands determine they belong to the people asking for the inspection and write the papers , simple. until something like this showed up. he harboured a dislike for these nesters who bought up chunks of good range land and fouled it with their junk yards. wrecked cars, packs of mongrel dogs trash scattered everywhere. he had talked himself into a hatered of such people. he suspicioded thats who was stealing bucks cattle but couldnt prove it yet. he would keep a sharp eye out. luther was healing fast. the last couple of pellets had come out by them selves he had some antibiotic salve from mexico and he had healed the raw spots faily well. dureing that time he had stayed busy selling meat from his freezer. not many people knew he did that but he had a pretty good clientel. he could sell it for half of the cost at the super market. he had no over head because he was useing bucks cow herd for a supply source. but now he was running low and there was no more cattle running in the area. and going into the foothills was a slow deal it was rougher and took longer to get the carcas down out of there. he would look around for a alternative source before going into that foot hills pasture.he had a good racket going, he kept that pack of dogs not because he liked them, but because they ate the offal when he butchered something. he had a friend who did custom leather work and he took the hides and cured them and tanned them when he got through he had belts, purses and any number of custom leather goods. his over head was nothing too. he asked no questions other than when was the next hide going to be available. luther needed to find another source, quick. on the way home to cloes house buck made a point of swinging by the little cafe arts mother waited tables in. it was still open so he decided they would eat supper here. inside they seated then selves at clean table. a tired thin woman in a skirt and blouse, her hair pulled back from her face. her shoes run over. came to their table with two glasses of water and menues.she had a order book in the pocket of her apron. she pulled it out" what can i get you?"she asked both buck and cloe ordered hamburgers. a lunch counter took up one third of the room at the far end of the counter a drunk man sat his head resting on the counter. a glass of water in front of him. cloe nodded to him" do you think.......?" buck nodded" it all kinda falls in place huh?" the hamburger plate was passable, nothing special.. when done buck took the ticket to the cash register and met the tired waitress there. he counted out the cash for the meals then counted out the same amount again and pushed it to the waitres. " thats a tip, for YOU and you alone. not for booze. inderstand?" the waitress nodded, a tear came to her eyes" thank you." " i want to talk to you alone, when is a good time?" buck asked. her eyes grew wide" why?" "about art, when?" buck insisted. "tomorrow here around ten," it slows down then and he is still asleep"she pointed to the passed out drunk. buck nodded " ill be here." was all he said then he followed cloe out to the truck.