THE LONE OLD TIMER.N 25

the next week was taken up withbuck getting things set up around the ranch for art and sharon. buck had got the school to run the bus by on the main road at the ranch. art caught the bus every morning at seven then got home around 430 in the afternoon. that left him time to help do chores around the ranch.. sharon was spending her days cleaning bucks house, doing laundry and cooking buck had about decided hehad never had it so good. art and buck had gone to the weekly roping as if nothing had changed. while there cloe had told buck that sharons husband was roaring around town looking for sharon and art. it was two days after they had left before he sobered up and realized they were gone. not many people knew just where they had gone and the ones who did know wouldnt tell him. for eating m0ney he had been forced to take a job sleaning up after closeing time at a local bar. into the second week cloe had taken sharon to a local clothing store and out fited her with a fresh couple sets of clothes, and a new pair of shoes. cloe had found her a job as a receptionist at a local real estate office. she would move in with cloe. in his spare time art was helping out around the ranch. art had a set of two year old steers up in the foot hills pasture. he planed to take a saturday and he and art bring them in to the ranch so they could be taken to the local auction. going into the second week buck could see that art was filling out through the shoulders and hips , a steady meal was doing wonders. the same for arts old horse. the dead hair was slipping and leaveing him a shiney coat. he had more energy and spark. late one afternoon wes drove in to the ranch. he and buck took up chairs on the porch each with a cold beer. they sat and watched art roping a dummy down at the barn. wes looked over to buck" youve done a good thing here buck, but that boys ole daddy is raiseing hell all over town looking for him and his momma. you know its just a matter of time until some one spills the beans." buck took a swallow from his beer" yes ive thought of that. ill just have to deal with it when it comes. sharon is talking divorce, i havent said anything about it one way or another.ive just given them a boost out of the hole they were in." " have you been up in the foothills lately?" wes asked " no but we are going saturday. why?" buck responded. " when i go along trasure road i see that damn dirt bike s tracks. i followed them back to a place thats got a tall chair link fence around it. but i cant get anything to give me a reason to go in there. i was just wondering if you missed any cattle.?" we was fishing. " ill go check friday and make circle up there. . i been kinda busy here. if you want to go saturday your welcome to tag along."buck invited. " if i dont have any calls friday ide like to go along with you then too, that be ok?" wes asked. buck held his beer up" the more the merryer!"