GO EN RODEO EN 15

joe had taken a seat next to a window looking back out on the street. he was sipping his beer and watching folks walk by.. one thing he noticed was all the men seemed to be carrying side arms. now this was a time that was no longer something considered needed. he himself carried a rifle but it was for prediters or long range game. deer, elk and such. a side arm was considered personal protection.. but this quiet little town of winkleman didnt seem to have a personal problem to proyect from. it was like he had stepped back in time ten years. when momma arviso brought his carne asada he asked her why everyone was armed. she simply turned to another table and picked up a weathered news paper and layed in front of joe. she pointed out a article that was on the front page. joe took a bite of the food and started reading the article. it told of a prisoner who being transported to prison in florence had while his hands were shackled in front of had beaten a sherriffs deputy nearly to death before escapeing into the desert from a moveing train. he was discribed as a mountain of a man with a slight limp from a leg wound when he was captured. his name was dutch girven. joe almost choked on what was in his mouth when he read the name. he had almost lost his appatite. he looked to momma arvizo"you believe he is comming this way?" " he was seen going through the desert comming this way. it is told he is a bad man." she stated. " i believe he is a bad man. is there a place here i can purchase a hand gun?"joe asked as he finished the meal. " across the street a few doors to the north. old alfredo repairs hand guns, he may have one to sell."the woman picked up the empty plate " more coffee?" she asked. joe just shook his head and pulled some cash from his shirt pocket and payed for his meal" very good thank you." when joe reached the shop of the gun smith he found the door standing open and a old gray haired man behind a counter poloshing a scofield 45 caliber pistol. " the old man looked upp as joes shadow fell across him" yes? may i help you? he asked slowley. " do you have a side arm for sale?" joe asked slowley. the old man got to his feet and walked to the end of the counter. there he reached inside and brought out a pistol in a belt. it was a colt 36 caliber. very old."this was brought to me to repair but the owner never came back. i have ammunition for it also. 50 dollers." joe dug out the cash in his pocket and counted out the required amount. it didnt leave him very much . he told himself he would need to get some from his money belt later. alfredo worked the action on the old pistol to show it was operational.he picked up the cash and pushed the pistol over to joe along with the box of ammunition. joe belted on the gun belt then opened the ammunition and started loading the pistol. when he had the gun loaded he pushed it down into the well oiled holster. he didnt put the hammer string on it. he wanted it ready to use. alfredo took not of all of that, ne nodded his approval. " thank you"was all that joe said as he walked out the door and headed back to the stable. he had planned on sleeping in a bed this night but had changed his mind, he would sleep with his horses.then he would get a early start toward home. he liked winklman but the fact that dutch might be near was enough to stir his feet into action.