THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 22

for two more days the little herd traveled north toward willcox the vaqueros allowed the herd to spread out a little and graze as they traveled. the cattle were looking good..they had a full look and were gentle it was a easy dive almost pleasureable. out side of willcox they held the cattle up and prepared to go into camp. billy left the pack horse with the vaqueros to cook supper and he rode on into town to the deputy sherrifs office. when he went into the office the deputy looked up. "oh let me guess, your the cow theives from the jk in gleeson?"the deputy grinned. billy was stopped dead in his tracks. then walked on across the room" well i see the beligerent jerk has been here already." " well you tagged him about right, i sent a wire to the county seat , they verfed the true owner as dale little. i told that loud mouth that but he has been helling around town braggind what he is going to do to you guys for stealing the cattle off his ranch" the deputy explained. " we dont want any trouble, we just want to sell these cattle then go home.. but i wont back water from him either!" billy made sure the deputy understood. the deputy listened then nodded"just keep it legal. you may play hell selling those cattle with that sucker disputing the owner ship. i have the wire from the county saying who the true owner is. if you need to bring a buyer by and ill clear up the owner ship issue." billy stood up and reached over and shook the deputy s hand. " ill do my best"then he went outside. down the block toward town was a bar , he turned and walked down the board walk to the bar. inside a card game was going in the back, other wise it was empty of customers. billyy went to the bar and ordered a beer. when the bar tender came with the bar billy dropped a silver doller on the bar then placed his hand over it before the bar tender could pick it up. "i need a cow buyer, who do i look up?"billy grinned. the bar tender pushed billys hand away" he is in that card game , pete browning. ill go get him for you." when the bar tender leaned over and spoke to agray haired man with his back to billy. the man straightened and raked his money off the table and stood up. he turned and walked back to billy. "ime pete. you got some cattle to sell?"the buyer introduced himself. "one hundred fifty head we have the held up out side of town if you want to look them over." billy shook his hand as he told him about the cattle. "ill get my horse, lets go look at them before it gets to dark"pete went by out the door folowed by billy. a short hour later they had agreed on a price and a delivery time the net day. pete was to make payment when the cattle were counted into the railroad corrals. pete then turned and rode back to town . the vaqueros had a camp set up with food on the fire. francisco stood to one side"did you see the loud mouth man?" he asked billy. " no, but the deputy said he has been makeing a lot of threats around town. the deputy said what ever we do keep it legal, he will back us.when we go through town tomorrow ill get him to come to the corrals with us."billy was dishing up aplate of food.