THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 21

when the drive reached soldier holes fracisco let them slow and water out then spread and start grazeing.. he had purposly driven themhard to get them off the home ground. they wouldnt be as apt to try to return. the gramma grass here was deep and thick. within a hour the her had filled upp and were bedding down spread over a good sized area. billy had camp set up and supper cooking .with only one vaquero rideing guard on the herd the rest were in camp awaitting supper. francisco looked up into the fadeing light and saw a man rideing through the herd.. at this day and time that was considered a blatant execution of bad manners. francisco walked to the edge of camp and met the rider as he pulled up. " buenos tardes senior.. we are about to eat, you are welcome to join us." francisco was being hospitable. " where did those jk cattle come from?"the rider demanded without preliminary. " these cattle belong to senior dale little of gleeson. we drive them to willcox to market. the rest of the cattle belong to don frederico of mexico."francisco was now being cautious. behind francisco billy had stood up from his pots and was walking up to francisco. "and, if you dont mind me asking whats all this to you?" billy was clearly agrivated at the breech of etticut this stranger was useing. " i own the jk, i won it on a horse race with judd wilkinson. where is he?" the man was getting more rude. " he is burred in boot hill with a load of buckshot in the seat of his pants. dale little won the jk on a horse race from wilkinson over a year ago. when did you deal with him?"billy leaned a bit forward. francisco and the other vaqueros had all removed the hammer strings from their pistols. the stranger took note of that. "i won it fair and square 5 months ago in douglas. he told me little was the manager and keeping a eye on it, not stealing the cattle!"the mans belligerent attitude was getting worse. " go to the county seat, check the land registration and brand ownership, you will see that dale ownes it all, lock stock and barrel." billy was pushing his good nature."it looks like wilkinson was gambling with something he didnt own" "ill be in willcox to collect on my cattle cookie. you will see me there."the man reined his horse around and rode back to the north in the direction of willcox. " francisco watched him ride away then turned to billy" i think i should have killed him and buried him here , he will cause much problems i think" " before we sell anything ill go to the local sherriff. if he wants to be a problem we will let the law tend to him."billy turned back to the fire and his cooking food.