THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 13

as dale rode up to the two mexican vaqueros one stood up and waved. "hola senor, we have coffee come join us.dale saw no weapons in site and billy was sitting up on the opposite ridge keeping a eye on the proceedings. so he shoved his rifle back down in the scabbord and stepped down. the vaquero handed dale a tin cup with the hot brew" are you the owner of this rancho?" he asked. " i am now, we were going to start throwing these cattle together to get a count on whats here" dale explained. " bueno! we are employed by don frederico montoyas whose ranch is just below the border. there are no fences or boundrys between us so we have been sent to see if any of the dons cattle have come this far north.we would gladly join you in gathering these cattle if you would invite us."the tall mexican asked. " there is no doubt we could use the help" dale waved at billy to come on down the slope." it appears there are more cattle here than i aquired in the transaction when i took the ranch.maybe your boss has cattle here. i need to cull some of the cattle with my brand and take them to market. your help would be greatly appreciated." the mexican stuck out his hand " i am antonio, my friend here is francisco." the four men sat down and talked over the coffee and made a plan for the day. " we were told the owner here was a loud profane man but you dont seem to be that way?"antonio said. " he is the one i got the rancho from. we are just barely getting things pulled together and can start working the cattle."dale explained. while they were talking francisco had caught their horses and ws saddling them.when through he came back to the group and picked up the plan for working the day. when they rode out the mexicans went south while dale and billy went north. there was a flat peice of ground about a mile to the south of the water. they planned on holding their gather there to see what they had. the cattle wernt wild, and the cattle belonging to don frederico were gentle and they helped hold the gather together. in a couple of hours the round up ground was covered in cattle.the four men sat their horses and let the cattle settle down. in a hour antonio rode thrrough the round up looking at brands aand getting a count on the cattle carrying don fredericos brand. when he was through he rode to his place and sat while dale rode through the herd. he had a big calf crop of unbranded calves, there were a hand full of two year old steers. and a few older cows and barren heifers. he figgured he had 50 head to take to market. he rode over to antonio." do you wish to cut your employers cattle and take them home?" antonio shook his head"there are more than two men can handle you have much work here as well and need more men. we will return to the rancho and bring more vaqueros. i know we missed cattle in this gather. with more help we can make a better gather. we need to report to don frederico. "- dale agreed.they shook hands annd antonio waved to francisco and they turned and rode south. billy rode around the herd slowly to dale and watched the two vaqueros ride away." we might have stumbled onto a good deal with those guys" " yes sir. good neighbors for sure. lets go home, my belly is rubbing a blister against my back bone." dale grinned they turned toward home. some of the cattle were already starting to trail to the water hole. it had been a long good day.