COCHISE COWBOYS 14

denton chose a way up the side of the mountain that didnt have a trail. he was surprised because it wasnt steep and a fairley easy climb. as he got higher up on the side of the mountain the hills got abit steeper but also got farter apart. a couple of hours after leaveing home he topped out a smooth rounded hill that was to the north of his home place. there before him opened a long, wide valley surrounded by hills. the mountain on the east side and a stream of water comming down off it. it flowed into the little valley and disapeared into the knee high gramma grass. he stepped down from his horse and sat at his front feet. this little valley was twice as big as his canyon where he ran his cows. he studied the surrounding hills but saw no way in from the north or the west. the trip from the south wouldnt be bad but you had to climb a lot of those smooth hills. but from what he could see it would be worth it.he needed more cows. back at the ranch inez was getting around the cattle there and checking for any sighn of a preditor. he bay horse had finally given up on trying to buck. she rode with a loose rein and at a flat footed walk. while with the apache she had been in a position of ride what was given her or walk. she had learned fast how to handle rank, poorly broke horses. she didnt like walking. on the back side of her circle she looked back and saw a lone rider entering the canyon. she turned and moved into a stand of cottonwood trees. the rider moved through the cattle looking at them turning them around so as to see the brands. as he got closer inez could make out his face, she had never seen him before. she drew her rifle. she rested it on a limb the crossed in front of her face. she levered a round into the chamber as quietly as she could. the rider was intent on the cattle as he rode slowley through them. as he drew closer in a flat monotone vaice inez said " who are you? and what do you want?" the man jerked his horse to a stop looking all around. " myles sent me. he had some cows here, he sent three other men but i see the cows are gone and so are the men" the man finally found where inez sat her horse. he also saw the rifle pointed at him. " the cattle are gone home, the men left the country. i think you need to go back the way you came or you maybe leaveing the country right behind them. you tell myles we dont want to truck with cow theives. dont come back! now git!"inez sounded hard and firm no give or argument there. the rider had raised his hands chest high, the bridle reins in his left hand. he didnt say anything else but turned his horse back the way he had came. there was no doubt the black haired woman with the rifle would shoot him and not bat a ye. he would let myles deal with this. stealing cows was one thing, shooting it out with a woman was something else all together.