THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 12

when dale got back to the ranch house he found billy and two mexican teamsters un loading the two wagons of materiel he had bought. billy was all smiles as he was handing down lumber for the teamsters to stack.. dale wasnt sure just what they would do with all this lumber but billy stated he had plans. the teamsters were in agreement to stay and be carpenters dale told billy about wilkinson comming by and his threats. the smile on billys face faded quick. "do you think he was serious with those threats?" billy asked when dale was through telling him about the visit. "i think we better take them serious.. start packing your gun. i think he is a big coward but not above back shooting some one." dale explained. " we arnt going to back down from our work here. i see a solid roof on this ole house. just let us get these wagons unloaded" billy had returnned to his happy go lucky self. the next few days as soon as the thatch was pulled off the roof and hauled away the two carpenters were nailing boards in place makeing a solid roof. one afternoon dale couldnt stand it anymore , he had to ask"whats going to keep the rain from comming through the cracks between the boards?" billy looked at him in disbelief and pointed to two five gallon buckets of tar" when they paint that roof with that, nothing will leak through."while the two carpenters were finishing the roof, billy had nailed a wooden water trough together in the corral it was sealed with tar and had to be buried half its height to get the water to run in to it. but in short order the trough was full and over flowing. dale stood looking at the trough then the roof. , " in short order we have a well improved cow out fit.but i think we need to see how many cattle this outfit has." billy explained the carpenters would be done the next day. then they would fly at gathering the cows. dale couldnt wait.