COCHISE COWBOYS 15

as the stranger rode away inez let the hammer down on her rifle. then eased her mount out from under the cotton wood tree and slowley started following him. she was going to make sure he left.she had decided she like it here, she liked denton crouch, she didnt want any one messing that up. after two years with the apache she was ready for some stability. she hung back as the rider entered the canyon leading back to the sulphur springs valley. then when she was sure he was still moveing along followed him to the out side entrence. from there she could see him in the distance rideing west at a jog trot. she watched for a moment then turned and went back. when she got back to the cabin she found denton already there. his horse cared for and he was walking around the outside of the cabin slowley, looking at it. when she walked up he smiled at her" just figgureing on how to make this a bit bigger. its kinda cozy like it is but we could stand a bit more room." " it wouldnt hurt. ill start a meal while you study on it."inez walked on by. denton was a bit surprised she didnt say more. when denton went in the house he found a peice of brown wrapping paper. he spread it out on the table and with a lead pencil started sketching the addition to theiir cabin. inez looked over her shoulder from the stove. "how you plan to pay for all this?she asked. " i found enough graze on up the mountain for a hundred more cows. ime going out of here to see john slaughter in the morning. we got a little cash, and we are still owed for ten steers. ime going to see where we stand on that. as for this cabin we got building materiel all around us. theres enough loose rock for ten houses."denton taped the paper with his pencil. " you know how to build a rock house?"inez asked with a raised eyebrow. "you wouldnt want to live in a rock house i built. no ime going to try and find a couple of men." denton almost laughed. " what you plan to do about myles compton? he sent a man snooping here today. ime afraind we arnt done with him or the cowboys."inez had a glum attitude. " you didnt shoot him did you?" denton asked. "no i just made sure he left. i could have shot him. ime afraid we dont have enough ground with out rocks to start a grave yard.you got other things that is more important than digging graves."inez stated. when we go to san bernadino tomorrow we will have to talk to john about this." denton folded up his paper. when myles cowboy got back to camp he told myles what he had found. myles came unwound. " those three men are gone?and the cattle? what the hell. the first two i sent were solid. the saddle tramp that followed i wouldnt be surprised if he skipped but not the first two. and you say a woman run you off?" myles was slobbering he was so mad. "a woman didnt run me off, the rifle she held did. i didnt sign on here to fuss with women. all she said was everyone and the cattle left the country."when the rider said that myles head snapped up. " thats a term the sherrif uses for dead men. you were right to leave if she had a rifle on you. we will go see about all this tomorrow."myles kicked a rock out from under foot.