THE BIG HORN 32

late that aternoon con and roy drove into the ranch yard. earnesto, miriam and their daughter were sitting at the motor home. fawns jeep was no where to be seen. when con and roy got out of the truck earnesto slowley stood up. it was plain to see it was a painful thing to do.. " HOLA amigos" he called out. when they close to him they helpe him sit back down. " where is the patrona?" con asked "she left. when we were comming home and she saw all the police on the road she got scared. she left us here then drove away. she left this for you." earnesto handed con a envelope. when con opened the envelope he saw it was full of hundred doller bills. it was bulging with them.. " what the ......" con asked. " she said you should keep the rancho going. sell more cows. that she would be back." earnesto spoke slowley. " has the police been here?"roy asked. "you are the only ones. i dont understand.why would she be afraid?"earnesto slowley shook his head. in the envelope with the cash was a debit card on a account at the local bank. a note said to deposit the cattle checks in that account and draw funds as needed. con looked at roy" ime sure this is legal but it seems awful fishey. but its work and these folks are depending on us. what do you think?" " well if you think its on the up and up i guess ime in. i got nothing else to do. we came here to punch cows so i guess we will."roy spoke slowley. all of them were puzzled. for the next two weeks con and roy worked the cattlew at the paradise and then back to the 13. they shipped 4 loads of cattle to the auction and there were still cattle left on the ranch. there was no more smugglers crossing the ranch. the federale agent showed up at the end of the first week and told them the raid on the cartel in mexico had be accomplished. he stated it had turned to gun fire and many criminals had died. off handidly he asked about fawn. when con explained about her disaperance the agent asked no more. at the end of the second week earnesto was getting up and around. doing little chores about the ranch but very slow. miriam was cooking for the whole bunch and cleaning and setting things in order in the bender house. con remarked that for once things were going like they should. at the uction barn when con picked up the cattle check his eyes bulged out. he had no idea they would bring that much money and when he deposited the check and saw the balance on the account again his heart almost stopped. out in the truck roy was waitting for him. " you know we are being tailed?" he asked con. con looked at him" who?" " dont stare but that ford bronco parked out on the street. he was at the sale barn too. what do we do?" roy told him. " we havent done anything wrong. we go about our business like always. if they want something let them come ask."con was terse. they headed to the grocery store.