BIG HORN 19

as they neared the water lot con could see a long line of cattle filing into the lot through the triggers. cattle lined the pond all the way around drinking. when all the cattle had entered the lot roy trotted up and pulled the triggers shit and tied them solid. con sat his horse counting the herd. " a shade over 200 roy. i couldnt tell how many slicks and branded there was." con explained. " good pay day no matter how you cut it. these cattle dont seem as wild as the ones at dead horse. wonder why?" roy asked. the night before con had told earnesto to bring the truck and trailer here around noon. con looked at his pocket watch. " just bareley 10, lets try and sort some off. while we wait." they eased into the corral through the loading alley. roy checked all the gates that might lead out side and tied the solid shut with his piggin strings.con had been slowley rideing through the herd. the cattle were full of water and laying around under the trees and along the fence line. there was every breed and cross breed imaginable. cows, calves yarlings bulls and a few big steers. there was a hand full of brands, and a lot of slicks. con didnt recocnize any of the off brands. more work for the brand inspectr. by the time earnestos dust was on the northern sky line the two cowboys had cut off 45 head of cattle branded with the ranch brand belonging to fawn there was still another 166 head of slicks and off brands to work. they would be the rest of the day and part of tomorrow hauling the ranches cattle to the head quarters. con thought maybe he would go call the brand inspecter and inspect the rest right here. and let him decide how to deal with them. as earnesto pulled up to the correl con could see fawn in the passenger seat. he smilled and looked at roy" the boss has come to check our work"both men broke up laughing. fawn jumped to the ground when earnesto had stopped.she ran to the fence looking at the cattle around the water lot." are those all mine?" she almost yelled. " some of them some belong to some one alse. yours to sell are in the corral over there.con pointed to the stacked mesquite corrals. when she looked over the fence fawns eyes fairley bugged out. earnest had backed the trailer up to the loading chute and was setting the gates. roy climbed the fence with a long stick and counted ten cows down the alley.he then ran up behind them whooping. when all the cows pushed into the trailer earnesto shut the gates. " did earnesto get your casita set up for you?" con asked fawn. "yes, but i didnt want to stay there. if its ok ill ride with him."fawn pointed to the truck. " if he dont care i dont. me and roy are going to head back our horses have had a full day.. theres more to do here but it will wait until tomorrow." con reined his horse back toward the head quarters. it was still a good two hour ride away. when con and roy arrived at the headquarter they found a sherriffs deputy parked at the gate. he was leaning against the front grill with his arms crossed. con rode up to him. " what can i do for you officer?" the owner of this property says you have him locked out and ar stealing his cattle. i see the lock. ive come to see you unlock it and the brand inspecter will be here in just a bit. open up!" the deputy was thowing his authority around pretty heavy. behind him con heard earnesto drive in. he turned to roy" go get fawn." roy turned his tired horse toward the corrals and trotted off. " the ranch owner is right over there in that truck. not who ever you talked to. as for the cattle, when she bought this ranch she bought the cattle also. i havent stolen anything. the cattle the inspecter sees goes to the auction in this womans name. but you did one thing right, i need that inspecter." con leaned down on his saddle horn while he talked to the deputy. fawn came marching up, a hard look on her face"and what do you want?" she asked. when the deputy explained she shook her head" wait here" was all she said as she turned toward her mootor home. a half hour later the deputy had taken pictures of the divirce decree, the purchase agreement and the judgment keeping george off the property.fawn also explained that george had verbally abused her and threatened her with bodily harm. the deputy was writting it all down in a note book. just as he got through and closed the note book the brand inspecter pulled off the hiway. the deputy excused himself and backed away from the gate. con unlocked the gate and let the inspecter in. after being introduced to fawn he walked ovr to the corral and looked at the cattle earnesto had unloaded. co told him the total number to go to the sale barn . the inspecter said he would look the total over there at the barn. then con told him about the bunch with assorted brands. " ime not going to stray those like i did the first bunch. those are papago cattle. ill have them and a indian inspecter come get them. do you want a semi truck for these?"the inspecter asked. " tomorrow afternoon they will be ready to load. we will bring the indian cattle in here as soon as possible ." con explained. ill get you a big truck. her husband is raiseing holy hell with everyone who will listen. but i think its about something more than this ranch and the cattle. watch your back."the inspecter tore out the papers he had written on and handed them to fawn. " ill collect the fees from the cattle sales if thats ok?" fawn shook his hand and thanked him. he got in his truck and pulled out. roy waled up as con and fawn shut the gate and locked it." well the poop almost hit the fan huh?" "its a big fan and theres a lot of poop, keep a eye out. ime hungry lets eat." con turned to the houses.