THE LONE OLD TIMER 27

buck at first had a hard time getting the steers to line out for the corrals at home, they didnt want to leave the good feed and the cows. but after a bit they lined out along the fence started driveing.it was a late in the afternoon arrival when he drove the steers into the corrals at the head quarters. he was shutting the gate when wes came up on him. "you better come to the house. we need you up there" buck looked at him with a question on his face unasked and followed wes to the house. in the bedroom art was propped up in bed but he was pale.wes went to arts side and pulled up his shirt tale. buck was shocked at what he saw. "thats not a brush cut buck, thats a bullit hole in my opinion. it went clear through. we need to get him to a hospital and get a report done. ime pretty sure where that dirt bike guy lives so maybe now i can get a search warrent." wes spoke through gritted teeth. a few minutes later bucks truck roared out of the yard. art was propped up with pillows on the passenger side. behind them followed wes in his state truck. at the hospital in the emergency room the doctor confirmed that the wound was a bullit hole. other than loss of blood art was in no danger. it had just passed along in the loose flesh above his hip bne. just as the doctor got through with art a plain clothes deputy came in the room. he asked the doctor a number of questions then took a picture of the wound. when he asked art what he remembered art simply said he didnt remember seeing anyone. just the burning sensation in his side. we explained that the bike rider had a rifle and fired a wild shot at him. he thought that shot was what hit art. wes and the deputy left together going to find a judge who would write a search warrent.they were wanting to raid that chain link yard. buck made sure aart was settled for the night. then headed back to the ranch. but before he cleared town he wanted to go by cloe s house and tell sharon about art. but as he pulled up in front of cloes house a big rough looking man was dragging sharon out the door. she was yelling for him to let her go. buck recognized the man as the drunk at the reasteraunt. just as roy reached the curb dragging sharon buck stepped up behind him and said" turn her loose. now" roy turned to look at buck " like hell, this is my wife." the next thing roy knew buck had laid a chunk of cedar post up aside his head. he turned sharon loose as he slumped to the side walk. buck poked him in the chest with the chunk of wood. "leave here now and dont come back.she is through with you. if you come back around your liable to end up in jail. understand?" roy cleared his head and with a roar came to his feet" ill kill you! you cant keep her from me. she is mine!" the cedar clib fell again. a little harder than the first time. just as buck lifted the club for another swing a city cop car rolled up. cloe had called one when roy dragged sharon out the door.the police man came over to roy. " looks like you bounced your head off the concrete fella." he hand cuffed roy and pushed him into the back seat of the car. the police man looked at buck"i didnt see that fire wood. butter put it in a stove some place." he got in the car and drove off. buck turned to sharon who was being hugged by cloe. " arts in the hospital , he is ok but you might want to go see him"