BIG HORN 8

be fore day lite the next morning con and roy had saddled two of cons horses and loaded them in the trailer. roy was struggling with wakeing up. con told him he had spent to many nights in jail sleeping in. roy didnt see the humor in that. just as the sun was comming up they stopped a mile from the dead horse corrals and tank. when un loaded con told roy to make a big circle to the north but not to chase anything. just start them toward the tank. con would go to the triggers and set them. then make a circle to the south doing the same thing. he hoped to catch enough cattle to make up a semi truck load, but deep down inside con knew the chances of that to be slim to none. these cattle were wild like deer. a little past 11 that morning con topped a low rise looking down on the water lot of the dead horse. he could just make out roy north of there sitting and watching the cattle as they lined out through the triggers. con could tell there were a lot of cattle already in the lot. he reined his horse back toward the west and made a wide circle toward the pick up and trailer. he could see roy comming along also. they had water and lunch waitting. if they didnt stir the cattle up they would catch a bunch more in the next hour or so. when roy rode up to the truck con was sitting on the tailgate with a burro in his hand munching away. roy dismounted and tied his horse to the trailer and got a burro then sat down next to con. " lots of cattle out there" roy commented between bites of the burro. "yep, and you havent seen but a pinch of them. we may be at this for a year or so to get them all."con replyed without looking at roy. " i saw something else out there. a trail, made by people, north to south."roy looked over at con with a unasked question on his face. con looked over at him "were there any fresh tracks on it"? "none i could see, what you think? drugs or just wet backs?" roy asked "i dont know. i found that too. but it looks like no one is useing it now. but when ever your rideing out here check on it for fresh tracks." con took a bite from his burrito. a hour later when they rode up to the water lot and the triggers the lot held a bunch of cattle and there were a big bunch laying around out side the fence. as the two cowboys rode up the cattle out side jumped to their feet and stampeded to the east. the cattle in the water lot ran to the east fence and balled up there makeing the wire sqeel with the strain on it.con looked at roy. "wild cows for wild cowboys huh?" after closeing the triggers and tying them shut they turned back to the truck roy stated he had counted 85 head inside the water lot. not many were branded. con explained they needed to haul them to the headquarters to sort and brand them then haul the branded cattle to the auction barn in town.he could see roy s eyes light up at the mention of town. two days later they had the cattle needing branding sorted off and branded. they had 28 head of branded cattle to take to town. their trailer would only hold twelve at a time. con decided they would take what they could in two loads and any left behind they would put with the fresh branded cattle to feed hay to. roy was on the edge of his seat ready for the trip to town. but con told him to stay home dureing the first load and he would decide about him going on the second load when he got back. roy pouted like a little kid. "behave your self and ill bring some beer when i come back. remember the law will be watching you. just settle down. while ime gone ride down to dead horse and check for any cattle in the water lot."con started the truck and pulled out with the first load.