COCHISE COWBOYS 6

as they threaded their way through the foot hills of the chiruachoua mountains denton didnt say a whole lot. inez sat behind him snug and quiet. they rode up to a narrow gap leading into a rocky canyon the bottom of thecanyon was smooth water washed rock. the horses stepped up onto it and slowley carefully walked forward. they left no tracks. denton felt inez tense up as they made their way over the rock shelf. " you live back here?" she asked in a hushted tone. "yeah, and it gets better in a bit. i dont get many visitoers." denton chuckled. the solid rock footing gave way to a sand bed and started to widen just a little. soon they turned a curve in the canyon and a massive basin opened in front of them. denton could hear inez suck in her breath. cattle could be seen scattered all over the basin. on the far side almost a mile away a cabin could be seen. " who would ever guess this was here?" inez said "before me only one other white man, braxton starr. he could see from above he ranches the top of the mountain. he told me about it. i spent six weeks searching for a way in. i think the way we come is the only way."denton explained. " the cattle stay here on their own. plenty to eat and drink. the only bad thing is the mountain lions. thats why i was in a hurry to get back. the cows are calveing, the ole lions will eat me out of house and home." denton explained. he drew up infront of a neat well built rock cabin sitting on a bench with pine trees standing behind it.he helped innez slide to the ground and then handed her the bridle reins. "let me go in and make sure no one moved in while i was gone" he smiled. the door was pegged shut and when he pulled the peg and pushed the door open inez could get a whiff of the stale air. she took a involuntary step back. denton opened a window from whithin and propped the door open " all clear. lets unload the pack horse." when the pack horse was unloaded and the supplys stacked inside the cabin denton took the horses around the end of the house. he penned the pack horse and unsaddled him then returned to the front of the cabin. inez was standing there taakeing in the view of the canyon. "before it gets any lateer ime going to make a circle and check my cows. will you put the supplys away?" denton asked. " any certain thing you want for supper? ill start something." inez asked. " surprise me!" denton smiled and reined his horse around and trotted off.