COCHISE COWBOYS 9

it was just dark when denton walkd into the yard leading the horse packing the buck deer. he could make out the out line of a horse standing at the front door standing ground tied. his rifle was up under the deer. he wouldnt reach it very easy. a light shown out the open door into the yard. he stopped and tried to reach under the deer for his rifle. he could touch it but couldnt grab it he was about to unlash the deer and just drop it off in order to reach the gun when inez spoke from behind him. "you wont need the rifle. take this pistol." she pushed it into his hand."he dont seem bad but you cant tell. ill take the horse."she pulled the lead rope from his hand and turned the horse away. denton stuck the pistol in his waist band of his britches , took a deep breath and stepped up to the house. as he came through the door he saw a man sitting at the table with the half empty bottle of whiskey in front of him.the man looked up at denton and said" i guess ime drinking your liquior, ill need to replace it on the next trip in here." " why do you think you will be back.?"denton asked good naturely. " well, me and my boys been looking for just such a place to hold our cattle on the way north. we will pay a fair fee to lay over for a day or two.i imagine you and that apache buck could use it."the man poured a half glass full of the whiskey. " ime not intrested, i like being left alone. i dont need a herd of cattle comming and going through here all the time.besides i dont know if the spring here will water very many more cows. why dont you drive to soldier holes. theres good feed and water there." " oh we tried that, last time one of out crew got shot and our cattle stampeded."the man slurped the whiskey. " yeah i know, you took ten of my steers when you went." denton quietly stated. the mans eyes grew wide and he sat the glass down" that was you?" denton had dropped his hand to the pistol grip sticking above his waist band"yes, i like to mind my own business. i think it would be good if you did the same. just so you know, i was a law man, a texas ranger then a arizona ranger, plus a deputy sherriff. i know your business. i want nothing to do with it. you had a generous dose of my hospitality, now i think you need to move along, and dont come back, understand?" the man stood up slowley and put his hand on his pistol butt" i could kill you right here. we need this place." behind him inez levered a round into the rifle chamber." you might kill him , but what about me?" the man turned to look at inez, then back to denton who had drawen the pistol."ok, ill go but ill come back with the boys." " you do that, but fewer will leave than come . do your self a favor and forget you found this place. think on this.. we could plant yyou here right now, keep your horse and nobody would ever know. is that what you want?"denton looked the man square in the eye. " i dont do those things as a habit." inez spoke up, " but i do, now git!" the man slowley turned and walked out the door to his horse. he mounted then gathered up his bridle reins"ill see you again cowboy"he turned and rode away. inez leaned the rifle up against the door frame" you must be hungry, ill get you something." back at the table denton lifted his whiskey bottle and saw there was just a swallow left." bad enough haveing him find us, but he drank almost all the whiskey!" denton turned the bottle up and swallowed the last drop.