BIG HORN 20

for the next week all was quiet. the cowboys stayed busy catching cattle at dead horse and 13. the house crew were working long hours getting the bender house finished. the moralis crew was working on a water lot and corral on a dirt tank and windmill farther south. they reported lots of cattle sighn the wind mill was in bad shape but they were repairing it. con continued to be amazed at the amount of cattle the big horn had on it. they had gathered enough to justify the blm permit and still there were cattle under every bush. earnesto and roy spent a few days repairing the fence line next to the bombing range and the papago reservation both places had been cut to allow foot traffic through. smugglers con refered to them as. fawn was keeping a low profile but nothing had been heard from george in over week. but one morning when con opened the gate for the house crew he found 2 cigarett butts like the ones they had found before, dureing the night some one had parked at the gate. con suspectioned george. when con and roy had shipped a third load of cattle to the auction the brand inspectr had told them in a few days the papago inspecter and some cowboys would be out to look at the cattle with all the different brands. that was a relief to con. they had been feeding those cattle , not wanting to have to go out and regather them later. con had ordered two more truck oads of hay. he and roy had branded over 300 mavericks and was holding them at the head quarters. it was almost a full time job for earnesto to keep them fed. con pushed the inspecter for a ruleing from the state to ship and sell them. but no onee wanted to take on the responsability of the decission. con though maybe george had something to do with it. so every day they rode con and roy added to the numbers. the pickup and trailer they were useing was cons, and they were takeing a beating. almost every day earnesto was repairing something on one or the other. fawn had promised a new set to replace them but with the house work no one had time to go shop for them. then one day when con and roy rode back into the yard they saw earnesto talking to two mexicans at the barn. roy looked at con with a unasked question on his lips. con shook his head" lets wait and see whats what." as they rode up the two visitors turned and walked off toward the hiway. earnesto had a worried look on his face" some of my family, they want me to keep you away from the trail at dead horse so they can bring a train of smuggleed dope through.they didnt tell me when." " i know they are family, but we cant have that going on. did you tell them that?"con asked. " yes, they threatened to take my wife and children to mexico if i didnt do as they asked. they will be back in a day or so."earnesto was crestfallen. fawn had walked up and over heard the conversation" take my jeep, go get them and bring them here! we cant let that happen." all three of the men looked at fawn in disbelief. finally earnesto asked"where will they stay? " " we will make room. ill move into the bender house and camp there. we will make it work." fawn was determined and had a hard set to her jaw. earnesto turned and walked off toward fawns jeep. con looked at fawn" you know your buying into a lot of trouble dont you?" " i dont care, you cant threaten a man with his family like that. we got a lot of ground here. if we have to we can bury a lot of trash!"she turned and stomped off. roy looked at con " i dont think i wanna make her mad . george better stay gone!"