SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 24

for the next week del was busy with the carpenters working on enlarging the house. sharon and mike stayed busy shopping for things to go in the addition. when he could del would take a horse and go ride through his cows. he was liveing the dream he had always wanted, thanks to a old batchalor he had befriended and respected. some times he felt he needed to pinch himself to see if it wasnt a dream. jerry had made a habit of being there every night for supper. and sharon was liveing it up. mike had drawen closer to jerry over time. del looked at the three of them and saw a budding little family group. that made him happy. del wanted to relax a bit and enjoy life. but jerry was still strung tight as a fiddle string. he admitted he didnt know why, just a feeling he had. del thought jerry came to supper every night to check on sharon and mike. del had stopped shoing horses for the public. he shod his own and took care of them as if they were his own children. he had been shopping for a replacement for the one that he had lost. he had one pictured in his mind just how he wanted to be. but had yet to find him. every morning when he stepped out on the porch on his way to the barn he looked to the sky and said a little thank you prayer. he wasnt very religious but he knew enough to know where all these good things he was experianceing came from. he no longer carrid a firearm. he was relaxed. he didnt constantly search the sky line while rideing. he took his time and looked at his cows. it was a healing process.at night he slept the sleep of the just.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 23

jerry was keeping the survey truck in sight. other traffic had disapeared. blocked up ahead and being held back behind. it wasnt long uuntil he saw the pick up trucks brake lights flicker. then a few moments later the tires on the truck locked and started skidding, smoke rolling from under them. the truck skidded side ways and stopped. jerry pulled to withing 50 feet and stopped. he sat still waitting to see what nafzigger ould do. the passenger door on the truck flew open and mike jumped from the cab and started sprinting into the desert. when he had jumped out nafziggers arm had reached for the kid but come up short. jerry steped from his car and stood behind the open door with the mic from his radio in his hand. over the loud speaker he called for nafzigger to throw down his arm and surrender. jerry wanted the big man alive. he could see two patrol cars the other side of the pickup truck. deputys standing behind them rifles resting on the hoods of the cars. finally nafzigger held his weapon up outside the cab and dropped it. then got out of the truck hands held high. jerry instructed him to lie face down on the ground. jerry put the mic back into the car and he staarted walking toward nafzigger. nafziggers pistol was right in front of his right hand. he reached for it, but two rifles behind him fired. blood spurted from two holes in his back. he wasnt dead. jerry got to the pistol and heaved it away and yelled for some one to call a ambulance.this big man had absorbed the lead like it was a thumb tack. a hour later a helicopter had nafzigger straped to a gurney and was lifting off. jerry had mike in the car and was headed back home. but for some reason jerry wasnt satisfyed. he couldnt tell you why he just wasnt. back at the home place mike fell into his mommas arms and snuggled there while she cried tears of relief and joy. del and jerry stood to one side smilling. del turned to jerry " well i guess thats the end of that dirt pirate" " not so fast. i never saw anyone take lead like that. he s not done. lets hope trial and jail keep him away a long time" jerry was over serious.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 22

nafzigger was scared. he had never been shot at, and del s bullit passed within inches of his ear. it scared him enough he wet his pants. that made the big man madder than before. as he roared down through the pasture leaveing del behind he was already formulating another plan of revenge. he had to get del out in the open where he could get a clean shot at him. then he would be on his way to south america. with the cash he carryed and the income from his other propertys he would live well. he could travel the world. he was headed to dels home, he would catch him when he came home. the big man was completly off the rails. as he blew down the asphalt toward dels home place he blew past a county sherrifs car parked on the side of the road. the deputy realised what he saw and called it into dispatch. they inturn sent it out in a general dispatch. the closest car to dels house was jerry. he spun his car and headed toward dels out fit. he knew sharon and mike would be there alone if del wasnt. when jerry rolled into the yard he passed the survey truck going back out. the only thing he noticed was mikes little round face in the window of the truck. when he reached the yard and went to turn around he saw sharon laying prone in the dust of the yard. he screetched to a stop and fell out of the patrol car and ran to her. lifting her head he saw a raw knot on her forhead. her eyes fluttered open " mike! wheres mike?" just then del rolled to astop next to the patrol car and came running up. jerry looked at him" take care of your sister, ime going after nafzigger, he has mike. " in his car jerry called in a all points to watch for nafzigger. explaining he had kidnapped the boy. then he spun his car and left in a rush throwing gravel and dust in rooster tails. del eased sharon to her feet and helped her to the house. the carpenter crew had been gone a while waitting on materiel. nafzigger was in a panic. when he got to dels house the only ones there was sharon and mike. mike was playing in the yard . sharon on seeing nafzigger rushed into the yard to grab mike. but hafzigger grabbed her by the arm " wheres your brother ?" he groweled. he knew where he was but wanted her to think he might not. sharon twisted free and grabbed mike and started to the house. nafzigger hit herwith his balled up fest. she dropped like a pole axed steer. he grabbed mike when he attacked nafziggers shins screaming and kicking. " you can be my bait you little scum " he threew mike in the cab of the truck then jumped in and roared back to the high way. just as he got there he passed a patrol car comming in. he didnt let up but stomped the gas pedal to the floor. mike was screaming and bounceing around the truck cab. nafzigger finaly back handed the child to make him quit. mike didnt cry but sat back on his seat. in just a few minutes jerry pulled with in sight of the truck but didnt get to close. he radioed ahead for a road block but advised everyone of the child in the truck. nafzigger didnt know it but he was running out of road fast.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 21

del and sharon had taken the check for the sale of the calves to the bank. del had plans for that money and the old frame house he lived in with sharon. then he was going to tackle the house at the ranch. he figgured sharon might need some privacy soon the way jerry was in the loop. the first morning the carpenters arrived at the house del showed them the plans he had layed out for the addition to the existing house. the carpenter forman raised a eye brow "why not just rebuild a whole new house? with these plans your not far from it." "lets just say ime attatched to the old house." del smilled. "as you wish , its your nickle."the foreman rolled the plans up and turned to his crew. sharon stood back behind del with a smile creaseing her face"thank you brother. its not every girl gets this kind of attention." del smilled and waved a hand," you earned it , enjoy it. ime going to the ranch see ya this afternoon." nafzigger had called tom, the head of the survey team. the team had dispersed and disapered but tom still hung around where he could be found. nafzigger had him bring the survey truck and pick him up early in the morning at the motel. nafzigger used the excuse of going to the ranch to double check the survey markers. tom was like a sled dog, he did what he was told and didnt question it. he had seen nafzigger in pinches before and he always wiggleed out. this wouldnt be no different.it was still dark when they left town headed out to the ranch. when they arrived tom drove to the spot he and his crew always parked in. it was secluded and hard to see unles you ride right up on it. nafzigger was through with tom, he didnt need him anymore. when tom parked the truck and got out nafzigger walked over to a pile of boulders as if to look down country. when tom walked up nafzigger turned and shot him point blank. a look of shock spread across toms face as he slide to the ground between two big boulders. " dumb hick. when i get del they will think you did it." nafzigger hadnt thought this through at all. he had gone to the other side , leaveing his reasoning behind. nafzigger was stacking big rocks over toms body when he heard the far away growel of a pick up enjine. looking between the boulders down toward the head quarters he saw del s truck roll to a stop in a cloud of dust in front of the barn. it was a good mile down the ridge to where del was parked. nafzigger watched as del unloaded his horse , mounted and set out comming toward him. " right into my lap" nafzigger whispered. as del ddrew close to the boulder pile he couldnt explain it but he felt uneasy. something wasnt right. he reined his horse away from the trail he followed and started around the end of the boulders. suddenly his horses knees buckled and the animal went down just as the sound of the shot echoed. del rolled to the side of the down anumal and was fishing his pistol from his chap pocket. he was cussing under his breath. he brushed the dust from the pistol and slowley looked over the saddle toward the rockes. the fork on his saddle exploded with a bullit hitting it. del ducked behind all was quiet for a moment and del looked again. he saw movement in the boulders, he fired a round through a crack in the rocks and heard a surprised yell. then a few seconds later the engine on a truck fired up and he could hear it roaring away down hill. del slowley got to his feet and walked over to the boulders. at first he found nothing, then he saw the half buried body in the crevas of the rocks. shakeing his head he returned to the dead horse. the animal had fallen in such a way there was no way to pull the saddle off. del took his chaps off and laid them on the dead horse. he took the pistol and stuck it in the waist band of his wranglers. he turned and started down hill toward his truck " well at least its down hill" he said out loud. in the distance the survey truck was raising a dust cloud. del pulled his head between his shoulders and started marching. walking wasnt his long suit.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 20

NAFZIGGER WAS SITTING IN A CHEAP ROADSIDE MOTEL IN LORDS BURG. HE WAS ALMOST OUT OF MONEY. HE WAS IN A BAD MOOD. HE REALIZED HIS SITUATION WAS HIS OWN FAULT. his quest for revenge had caused him to do a dumb thing, trying to get posetion of the cattle del and sharon had sold. he had gone to far. he had no problem skirting the law but he hadnt used good judgment in that case. here he sat, his wallet empty, his car almost out of gas and sleeping in this flop house. his safe back in arizona had a goodly supply of cash and gold coin. but every law enforcement officer in the state was watching for him. once again he opened his wallet, there wasnt any more cash there than had been before when he looked. but a plan was formulating, just down the street was a used car dealership. he got up and straightened himself up. combed his hair, packed his over night bag and went out to his car. he drove to the car dealership lot and in just a few moments sold his car for half of what it was worth. back on the street in front of the car lot he could see a bus station just up the street. no one in arizona would expect him back on a bus. buying a ticket he sat down to wait for the next west bound bus headed into tucson. four hours later he stepped off the bus in the terminal in tucson. his land office was accros town but he had enough cash left to ride a intown bus to a location closer. he didnt want to be out walking very far knowing he would be recognized. when the sun was sinking in the west he left the bus stop and carefully started walking toward his offfice building now in sight. but as he neared it he could see a security officer standing in front. he ducked up a ally and keeping to the shadows came around back of the building through the parking lot. he still carried his ball of keys and he fished out the one for the back door. once inside he felt his way down the hall to his officeno light from it would be seen out side. going to his safe he fell to his knees and spun the dial on it and opened it up. inside were numerous bundles of cash and a few gold coins. he raked them into his over night bag. what he didnt realize was the local police department had wired his safe. if opened it would alert a local station. when nafzigger stood up he could hear sirens going off. in his desk drawer he found a pistol and a box of ammunition. that cowboy was still going to get a taste of nafziggers revenge. another bad decision. he turned back out the back door.tomorrow was soon enough.out side nafzigger had simply walked down the back ally and into a local motel lobby. after renting a room he settled in and ordered a pizza and then called his survey team . he needed transportation.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 19

on the day of the auction sharon drove del there in her new suv. when they were parked and del was getting out the brand inspecter came walking up. "i got some bad news. that land developer has filed a petition to stop your calves from selling. he claims they are his because you didnt get them off the ranch in time according to the eviction order." del gritted his teeth. check the court house records o who ownes the ranch and the cattle. is that bag of hot air here right now?" " no he left but he had a process server bring the paper work. i figgured he was up to no good.. give me a little time to call the court." the brand inspecter turned and hustled back into the office. sharon , mike and del were sitting in the auction barn watching the cattle sell when the brand inspecter came back in. in his hand he had a couple of sheets of paper." you better keep this handy, i kept a copy and the auction office has a copy. ime checking with the main office. that guy may have broken the law in what he tryed. your calves will sell pretty soon." del took the sheet of paper faxed from the court house and thanked the brand inspecter. no one knew it but nafzigger was standing out side the auction barn watching the cattle come off the scales after they had sold. when the calves from the ranch started selling he was writting down the amounts for each pakage and their weights. he wasnt looking around but concentrateing on what was going on in the barn. he didnt realize the brand inspecter had found him and was standing right behind him. when the last bunch of calves sold he turned to go and ran head on into the brand inspecter. "your under arrest nafzigger. for useing a false document to claim owner ship of those cattle."the inspecter had a pair of hand cuffs ready to use. nafzigger with a whine shoved the inspecter aside and back handed him as he rushed into the parking lot. the inspecter was shook pretty bad but turned to chase the crook. but saw him leaveing the parking lot in a cloud of dust. the inspecter went to his truck and sent out a alert on the radio to the county sherrifs. he wanted that crook big time. nafzigger beat them all to the punch. he drove straight to the court house. he demanded a audiance with the judge.there he told the judge he had made a mistake claiming the ranch calves he was dropping his claim on the calves. saying he was never notifyed about del takeing possetion. the judge listened with a dubious look but could find no reason to hold nafzigger. he wasnt yet aware of the altercation at the auction barn. when the judge declared case dismissed nafzigger hustled out of the court and left town. he had things to do out of state.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 18

a long hour passed. del and sharon were restless jerry was dozeing in his chair. mike was running around the lobby bucking and playing bronc rider. a bailif came to them and said" courts in session the judge requests your presence. follow me please." the court room was empty when they entered. the judge sat behing his high desk wwith the county attorney.del looked around his head swivling like a night owl a light was suddenly shined on. " ive read all the documents you have brought me" the judge began" the attorney here has also read them and concures with what ime going to rule. ime doing this here so a solid record will exist. these documents are the final will and testement of the rancher knowen as jake brown. i wont reaad all the legal mumbo jumbo but will summerize. jake brown states he has no knowen family. since he has been ranching in this area only one person has showen him the respect he felt he had comming. he had been a cowboy all his life and didnt want his ranch falling into someone who wasnt a bona fide cowboy. that person is del green. everything , livestock, equipment and anything else on the ranch is now the property of del green as part of this agreement you cannot sell the ranch for ten years.do you understand what i say and hav e ruled upon?" del was in shock. his knees were shakeing and in danger of collapsing"i undrstand your honor, but why me? and what does this do to the problem with the state and nafzigger?" jerry was all but danceing a jig from where he stood. "i will notify the state land department of these developments. you go on and operate the ranch as it should be.all of this will be put on file here at the county level and the state level. now, for the contents of the second wallett. since the deceased, mr. brown didnt believe in banks this wallet has a substancial amount of money that amount comes to onehundred seventy five thousand dollers. that is yours to do with as you wish."the judge pushed the wallet to the bailif who handed it to del. del collapsed into a seat. his face white, his hands shakeing. a sly grin crossed the judges face" i think all this will put a certain land developer on the bench. you have our good wishes sir." del was in shock. sharon grabbed one arm and jerry the other and walked him from the court room when the judge declared case dismissed. out side at jerrys car del leaned against the front grill." ime not jake, i want to put this in a bank instead of a dirty clothes hamper. then lets go home and make a plan!"everyone broke into laughter at that point except for mike who stood looking at the adults in confusion. the next few days went by in a hirl wind. del wanted to finish gathering the cows to take the big calves off before a winter freeze whenhe had the bulk of the cows gathered he and jerry and sharon sorted the big calves off and sent them on to the auction bar, nafzigger hadnt been heard from. everyone assumed he had got the word and backed away. the calves went to the auction barn on the last day of the weeks notice. the cows were turned back out on the range for the winter that was comming. sharon had gone to town and traded her old car for a new suv. with the money her brother had given her she bought a new wardrobe and decked mike out in a cowboy set befitting a cowboy. everyone was relaxed and concentrating on what lay ahead.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 17

the next morning del just stepped down off his porch into the dark yard when jerry pulled up. " breakfast is over so come with me we got cows the gather."del chided jerry. just as the stepped off toward the barn sharon called out the screen door." you two better come look at this." the two men turned and looked to each other and started to the house. inside on the kitchen table lay two, leather bound wallets. big ones. sharon pointed to them " they were in the bottom of jakes dirty clothes hamper" del steped over and gently turned them over and looked at them they had a strap buckled in holding them shut. each had jakes brand burned into the leather. del started to pick one up but jerry placed his hand on del s arm" dont, ime still a officer of the court, ime a independent party. let me open it." del nodded in agreement. and stepped back next to sharon. jerry sat down and pulled the smaller of the two wallets to him. he turned it over, looked at the ends then knowingly unbuckled the strap holding the wallet shut. when he did the contents stuffed tightly inside sprung the accordien folks apart. jerry slowley reached inside and drew a official document from the wallet. he quietly sat there as he read it but a big smile slowley spread across his face. he refolded the document and pushed it down inside and buckled the strap to hold it shut. " we going to town this day, we gotta see the judge, the attorney or both. lets go now!"jerry pickeed up the wallets and started to the door. "whats going on?"del blurted sharon at his arm. " ill tell you on the way now come on times a wasten!"jerry was half way down the steps. " ime comming to! let me get mike!" sharon ran back into the bedroom and grabbed the boy from the bed and caught up out side just as jerry started the car. jerry spun the tires ALL THE WAY TO THE ASPHALT. they got to the court house just as the security was opening the doors. they took seats just inside while waitting for the judge. del and sharon were still confused of what jerry had told them. but jerry asurred them he understood it all to well. at half past eight the judge strolled into the court house, but stopped when he saw the bunch sitting there. jerry stepped up and politley asked the judge for some time in his office. looking from mike up to del . the judge nodded and turned and started down the hall to his office. once in the judges office del, sharon and mike sat down. jerry took the wallets and layed them on the judges desk. the judge looked at the but didnt touch them. jerry then explained that del and sharon were following the court order when sharon had found the wallets.jerry explained he had opened one and then decided it was the judges duty to see the contents. the judge had a look that would curdle milk. "what makes you think you can decide what i do or dont do?"the judge growled. "please your honor, just look at them." jerry pleaded. the judge pulled the same wallet jerry had opened over in front of him and unbuckled the strap holding it shut. when it opend he dumped the contents on the desk and started sorting them out into little piles. he read just a bit from one document." ok you all wait out in the lobby. ill need the county attorney with this. jerry will you fetch him then wait out side." the judge ordered. out in the lobby del and sharon sat down again with mike. jerry hustled across the lobby to the county attorneys office. in just a moment the attorney came hustling back, went in the judges office and slamed the door. jerry strolled back, his hands behind his back whistling a cherry tune,"gonna be a bright sunshiney day friends."was all he said.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 16

del was brushing his horse in preperation for another dayrideing through jakes cows. for a couple days now all had been quiet and he had relaxed a bit.he looked up at the sound of a car comming across his cattle guard. it was jerry and he wasnt in a big rush. everyone was letting down just a bit. jerry didnt stop at the house but came on down to the barn where del was. he rolled to a stop a respectful distance from the horse del stood next to. getting out of the car jerry had a large manila envelope and came walking up. but the usual smile was missing. " whats up jerry?" del asked. " nothing good ime afraid. this is from the judge and county attorney." jerry handed the envelope to del. opening it there was three sheets of paper. a letter from the attorney, a letter from the judge and a letter from the state land commisioner. del read slowley, letting the order set in. all three had the same order, just different wording. he had to clean the ranch of livestock and any other posetions with in a week. del looked at jerry" they cant be serious. a week? " " that german has some pull some where , ime sure he is behind this. the judge is furious but unless we find something big we gotta comply."jerry had ducked his head. " even the stuff in jakes house, its gotta be cleaned out. the judge said donate it to a charity. send the cows to the auction barn. after the week nafzigger takes over and takes posetion of what ever is left. its a steal for sure."jerry wasnt happy about the situation either. " let me go see if sharon will go takele jakes house? that way i can start on the cows right away."del had dropped his brush in a bucket and was walking toward the house. jerry sat on the hood of his car with his arms crossed. i a few moments del and sharon were walking back to the barn. little mike was running and playing as they came on. "sharon is going to work on jakes house. she will need some help with the big furniture but i think she will be ok. let me get saddled and we can go start."del went into the saddle room. a hour later dels pick up rolls to a stop in the yard of jakees ranch. sharon and mike jumped out and headed to the house. del unloaded his horse and started for the area he knew had the biggest bunch of cows.jerry had told them he had the day off the next day and would help where he could. " he may get some stuff but that german crook wont get it all!"dell told his horse as he jogged trotted up country.by mid day del had a bunch of cows moveing toward the house. the horse pasture only had jakes horses so it would hold almost all the cows for a week or so. the cows moved slow but held together well there were lots of big weanable calves in the herd. del was amazed at the rapid growth since the branding. when they neared the corrals the lead cows struck a trott and went in the open gate with the rest following along. a bif smile creased dels face it had been almost to easy. he shut the corral gate then opened the horse pasture gate and as the cows started trickling out he was counting when done he was amazed at the count being just a bit more than half of the cows the ranch held. he was writting the number into his note book when he heard a car cross the cattle guard. when it rolled into the yard del realized it was karl nafziggler.his hackles stood on end. the big man lurched out of the seat and started stomping toward del. del had unbuckled his chap pocket and was resting his hand on the handle of the pistol. "well cowboy i see you got some of my cows gathered. when will you have the rest?"nafzigglers arrogence was thick. " they arnt your cows yet, and i hope to have them all in the next day or so. you might have engineered a steal for the ranch but you wont get nothing else. so until i finish why dont you just move along. or are you gonna send your back shooters around on me too?"del was bitter and hard. nafziggler stood there drawen up to his full height"cowboy, i can buy and sell you three times a day and not even notice the draw down at the bank account." at that point sharon stepped through the screen door at the house with a laundry basket and set it down. nafziggler took notice and stared rudely at her. " dont get any ideas karl, they could lead you some place you dont want to be."del had left the pistol just a touch. nafziggler turned and went to his car, got in and roared out of the yard.del went to help sharon she had a few things to load in the truck clothes from jakes closet, his dirty clothes hamper and this laundry basket full of bedding from jakes bed. " we did good today brother." sharon proclaimed. " you got cows i got everything except the furniture. ill take tomorrow and wash all this up then take it to the good will store. then when jerry gets here we can move the furniture out side" del was still fumming. if i never see that scum bag again it will be to ssoon."he hefted the dirty clothes hamper into the back of the truck" damn, was ole jake washing rocks in there?" that thing is loaded." " just like any batcholer, istead of washing just bought new clothes."sharon was laughing.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 15

when del pulled back into his yard there were two rigs with horses tied to them waittting for him. it was late in the day so when he got stoped a young man went to his trailer and started unloading dels horse" get started del, ill put your outfit away" he called. when del was down to the last hoof on the last horse the lights in his barn were on. it had been a long day but the court hadnt paid him yet and he knew sharon had to be running low on grocerys so he needed to shoe these horses. when the last outfit pulled out of his yard he started to the house. as he trudged along with his head bowed down he was thinking about the nails with the ribbon and the pay stub from nafzigger. just as he reached the house he looked up and saw jerrys patrol car parked at the front gate. in the house jerry and little mike were setting at the kitchen table with a plate of beef stew each. it smelled great. del patted mike on the head as he went by. sharon stood at the stove is a fresh dress with a flower pring. del smiled at her as he reached for his whiskey bottle above the refridgerator. " load me up sis i can eat every bit from a bulls back side!" everyone chuckled at that. he sat down at the table with his glass just as jerry finished eating. " well did you find anything today cowboy?" jerry asked. del fished in his shirt pocket and dropped two nails and ribbons in front of jerry. then fished in the other and produced the pay stub," there ya go pard i dont know what the nails are for but theres a line of them driven in the ground up there."del took a big swallow of the jim beam. surveyors use these when they dont want to use stakes that will get knocked over. " jerry was unfolding the pay stub." where did you get this?" he asked. del explained the trash site and haveing to clean it up. jerry looked at the three items and grinned" good job cowboy, the county attorney will want to see this." " well ask that guy when i will see some cash. feeding you every night is starting to take a toll." del was grinning at jerry as sharon slapped the back of dels head as she put his plate in front of him. jerry had a sheepish look and answered ill ask him in the morning. i didnt mean to be a problem here." " your not ime just picking on you your always welcome here. more so than a few others around." del handed sharon the horse shoeing money " when yer at the store tomorrow grab a fresh bottle of whiskey will ya. this job is going to make a drunk out of me yet."

small town big catch 14

karl nafzigger sat behind a big mahoganey desk in his office in down town pheonix. like the desk he was a big man 6 foot six and 300 pounds. but he wasnt fat. for a man of 55 years he held a good figure to his german frame. accros from him sat a man in denim work clothes, his straw hat in his lap. " they got a care taker out there daily karl. they think the killing was on purpose. but i swear i only shot to warn the old codger. he got killed......" " i know all about that , you should have rode on. on one hand we got to many snoops there but on the other the old man is out of the way." nafzigger was shuffling paper around. " you boys get back out there and finish that survey. i need to figure what the cost of land prep will be.you boys get back up there as soon as possible. i got a whole crew of dirt movers and equipment ready to move in there." "but what about that care taker?" the man asked. " what about him?, get rid of him , pay him off, do what you got to do. i got a hearing on the land trade this week we need to get moveing." nafzigger didnt look up he signaled the meeting was through. the man turned and slowley went out the office door. at the receptionist desk she handed him a envelope. he pushed it between the buttons on his shirt and rested it next to his belly. he went on out to his truck. he had worked for nafzigger a couple of years and had always been well paid for his work. but nafzigger had never told him to eliminate some one. scareing a old mans horse was one thing but eliminateing them was something else del was being as quiet as he could. sharon and mike were still asleep. it was a good hour until sunup and he wanted to be in jakes pasture then. his horse clumped up into the traier. del shut the trailer gate as easy as he could and latched it when he started the truck he didnt let it idle and warm up, he dropped it into gear and let it start rolling out of the yard, the air outside a cool feel, a few clouds skirted the horizon and there was no breeze. out on the road he mashed the accelarater and rolled up to 55 mph. the dust rolled out behind the rig as he moved along. it wasnt that far to jakes yard. when he rollled into jakes yard he pulled down by the barn and corrals. the sun was just peeking over the blue mountain range.before unloading his horse he pulled on his scared and worn chaps. then unloading the horse he cinched up his saddle. tapaderos covered the stirrups , his 50 foot of rope hung over the right side from the saddle horn the coils neat and snug. a couple of piggin strings were laced through the gullit of the saddle and hung down the left side of the rig over the horses shoulder. del with out thinking put his hand on the pistol he carried in his chap pocket. he didnt want to ever use it but he had been warned. takeing a little hop he stuck his left foot into the tapadero and swung on up into the saddle. he rattled a foot in the tapadero and started the horse off into the riseing sun. he needed to check this pasture and when satisfyed head home. he had two horse shoing customers there that afternoon. it was going to be a long day. as he slowley made his way up the gentle slope he kept a weathered eye for cattle and stray horse tracks. he found neither as he rode along he kept seeing peices of red plastic ribbon on the ground. he stopped and got down and found they were attatched to a big nail that was driven in the ground. he startd looking about and found there was a line of these one every fifty yards or so. he pulled a couple and stuck them in his chap pocket. he kept looking all around. remounted he rode on looking for cows. ahead was a wind mill. when he rode up cattle stood about, some bawling. the discharge pipe from the windmill had been pulled aside and the water was running down the hill in a small stream the trough was empty. cussing ablue streak he pulled the pipe back over the trough it would be a couple hours before there would be enough for a cow to drink.looking about he found more of the red ribbons nailed to the ground above the well.here he found foot prints of work boots.remounting he could look down country and see the barn and house a good two miles away. as he rode along the boot tracks he absently minded un butoned the chap pocket and eased the gun around in case he needed it. all along the trail he kept seeing the red ribbons. then ahead he saw a cloud of dust made by a vehickle as it left.he rode on. when he came to where the vehickle had been parked he found a mess. trash scattered everywhere. empty soda and beer cans. sanwich wrappers as well as choclate candy bar wrappers.del started collecting everything and makeing a pile of it but then he picked up a crumpled paper and when he flatened it found it was a payroll recept from nafzigger. he carefully folded it and put it in his shirt pocket. he then struck a match to the pile of trash and watched it burn.when down to ashes he mounted and trotted back to the wwindmill. the cattle were drinkig up the water as fast as it came from the well. it was a good hour before all the cattle had drank the breeze was slight and the well pumped a slow stream.glanceing at the sun del mounted his horse and turned him down hill. he was going to be a long time shoeing the horses the customers were bringing. he hhoped jerry would be there ogaling sharon. he had to admit she was a fine looking woman. he said out loud as he rode along," she got all the looks in this family"

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 13

a hour later the state land commisioner arrived. he had a brief case buldging under his arm. as he came into the room he looked to each person with a open face revealing nothing.he sat the breif case on the desk corner then fell into a arm chair that had been placed there for him. " good day gentelmen, ime glad you could meet with me here." he began "i understand theres some confuson about the old man jakes ranch . ill try to clear it up best i can. you all know who nafzigger is and what he does. well he has petitioned the state land department for a trade on some deeded land he has north of pheonix. its four sections of rock, hills, cactus and mesquite and palo verde. its worthless. he wants the two sections of jakes state land. should the trade take place it would break the ranchinto peices, makeing it worthless.jake was aware of the petition. he was fighting it . then he was killed. accidently or not he was still dead and nafzigger increased his efforts for the trade. we at the state office are charged with keeping the state owned lands in trust and maintaining its value. nafzigger has been plying a state senater to pressure us to make the trade.what i want is for you all to find me some evidence as to nafzigger committing something out of line, illegal would be better. he has a habit of building houseing developments in out of the way areas then selling the houses dirt cheap. you can see what it would do to the community."the commisioner stopped to take a sip of water and draw a long breath. gil sat there in total silence trying to absorb all the man had said. the commisioner looked at him" i would like you to ride the ranch out daily , specially the state land portion. report any activity you find there. as long aas its state grazeing lands they could be trespassing. we could use that if we tie them to nafzigger" " well ime the care taker as it is so i guess it wouldnt be to hard to follow those instructions." gil answered.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 12

del opened his eyes to inky darkness. the smell of coffee drifting through his bed room. when he got a handle on where he was and what he was doing he rolled over and set there on the edge of his bed for a few seconds. sleep hung heavy on him and he couldnt shake it. finally he arose and stumbled into the bathroom. he drug a comb through his hair and washed his puffy face. " that will have to do" he muttered and he went out the door into the kitchen. jerry was sitting at the kitchen table forking biscuits and gravey and bacon into his mouth, sharo poured a cup of coffee for del and started fixing him a plate. the sun was up and shinning bright through the kitchen window. "you get enough of that bed del?" jerry asked as he chewed his last fork full. " mmmm yeah i suppose so. your here early."del mumbled over his coffee cup. " came to see if you found anything yesterday."jerry kept eating. "like hell, you came to see sharon and get a good meal! yeah i found some stuff. i dont know if it will be enough tho."del got up and went to a cabinet and brought back a envelope then slid it across the table to jerry. " we need to take this to the county attorney. and he will get the vet to tell him if this is what caused jake to get bucked off. this whole deal stinks. who is to say jake getting killed was nt just a accident? but why were those three guys out there prowling around?" jerry ws wiping his chin."you going with me?ill wait while you shave." "are you saying ime to crusty to ride with you?"del grinned. " no, but the county attorney might mistake you for some one needing a warrent,: jerry and sharon were laughing. a hour later the patrol car roared out of dels yard with jerry and del in it headed to the county court house. at the county attornys office they laid out the rock shards and peiced them together. they almost formed a circle as big as a fiftey cent peice.while speculating on the rock chips the attorneys office phone went off. after listening for a moment he said ok and hung up. " that was the state land commisioner. he s on his way here. the judge will be here in a minute. you birds know what is going on?" the attorney asked. jerry and del looked at each other and shrugged" no idea." jerry answered. a few moments later the judge walked in. he looked at del and jerry then the attorney. he pulled a arm chair up to the desk."do you guys know who nafzigger is? the judge asked. all three shook their heads. " ok short version, he is a real estate developer who has been involved in some questionable land deals. he builds large houseing tracts. but he has always been legal as far as any one can tell. the state land office has had some dealings with him. thats why the commisioner is comming here." judge laid it out. " that land scapeing truck that you got the plate number on, belongs to nafzigger" raised some eye brows up the line. ole jake getting killed kicked the lid off the slop bucket."

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 11

it was getting late in the day but del was going back up the slope to where he had found jake. he was determined to bring this problem to a end. he had the bit between his teeth as the old timers would say. the sun was law in the western sky when he rode up on the boulders where jake had died. he tied his horse back away from the ground that was tore up from jakes horse bucking when he got stung. the first thing del did was sit down on a low rock on one side of the area he was going to search. he ran his eyes over the site in a methodical search pattern. but it was getting late and the shadows were growing long. soon he spied a sliver of granite half covered by the soil. he very carefully crawled out into the site and plucked it from the dirt. but it wasnt big enough. it was just a long narrow sliver. he carefully put it in his shirt pocket and began rakeing the loose soil with his fingers as a rake on the end of his hand. it was getting dark. late that night del rolled his pick up to a stop in front of his house. a light still burned through a liveing room window and into the yard. he slowley trooped up the steps and into the house. sharon was sitting in the liveing room sewing a rip in mikes pants.she held them up for del to see" that boy is wearing his clothes out before he out grows them." she laid them aside and got up" ill get your supper, you look wrung out." del went to the cabinete and took down his whiskey bottle and poured a double shot from it. then held it up and apraised the amount left in the bottle." yeah ime plum limber. but i think i got what i went after, or at least some of it." he sat down at the table and took a long swallow from his glass. then started picking peices of granite from his pocket. when sharon brought his plate to the table she saw he was laying the peices out and fitting them to gether like a puzzle. "i think jakes horse must have stepped on the peice that stung him these are all the peices i could find. they almost make a chip like the vet said hit that ole horse and caused him to buck ole jake off and kill him." i think jerry will be by in the morning to see what i found. i left my horse over at jakes. at least he will get a good nights rest." del attacked the plate of food like what he was, a hungry cowboy. "jerry was already here tonite looking for you. he said he will be back tomorrow"sharon told him in a sheepish voice. " ha ha tell me the truth, he came to see you. i was secondary." del was laughing around a mouth full of food. sharon blushed like a school girl.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 10

ABOUT A HOUR LATER JERRY PARKED HIS PATROL CAR IN front of the cafe. he came strolling in like it was a sunday picnic. del met him just inside the door and started explaining things to him. he perked up. and when del handed him the napkin with the plate number he did perk up. he went to his car and grabbed the mic for the radio and called in the number to dispatch. he also had dispatch contact the local vetrenarian to look at jakes horse. things were maybe, just maybe comming to gether. later that afternoon del, jerry and the vet were at jakes place checking out the bruised horse. he agreed that the bruise could have been caused by a flying rock chip. but wouldnt swear to it he drained the bruised pocket of any fluid and left some ointment for it. he promised a written report. del admitted to jerry he hadnt looked for a rock chip but would go back and try to find one that might match the bruise. he handed over the shell caseings he found also. " what you think those birds are up to jerry?"del asked. " i got no idea, but let me make a few calls. the best thing would be to ask those birds a few questions and maybe get some direection on things."jerry responded. on the way back to town jerrys dispatcher called and told them the plate number belonged to a truck that belonged to a landscapeing commpany from a neighboring town. "land scapeing?"jerry and del said at the same time. he also told them the landscapeing company belonged to a high end land developer. " now what the hell is a land scapeing company doing out there?"del askked the open window as they cruised back into town. in town jerry dropped del off at his pick up. del stated he was going back to the site where he found jake and try to find the rock chip. the vet had thought it was as big as a fiftey cent peice. jerry agreed it would help to have it. as he drove back to jakes ranch dell kept asking himself what a landscapeing company was doing in jakes pasture.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 9

back at the ranch del got the horse that jake was rideing up from the pasture. he ran his hands over the horses neck and down the fore legs then over the horses rump and down the right leg. but on the left leg just over the gaskin muscle he found a big lump. and when he toucheed it the horse kicked at him. it didnt have any hair to speak of growing over it. he carefully went around the out side of the lump with his fingers. feeling for anything that might have made the lump. but each time he touched the lump itself the horse would try to kick him. he finally gave up. he would need a vetranarian in order to search for anything more. he put the horse in a small corral and fed him. loading his horse in his trailer he headed to town. he needed to find jerry. at the sherrifs substation he he asked the desk clerk where he could find jerry. the clerk called jerry on the radion and was told to have del wait at the local cafe. it might be a while. del thanked the man and went across the street to the cafe. except for three men seated at a table the place was empty. the three were talking loud and laughing. del took a seat at the lunch counter and when lloyd the owner came to wait him he ordered a glass of ice tea. when lloyd brought the cold drink he leaned close and said, "listen to them yahoos, they have been laughing about getting some old man bucked off his horse a while back. i never saw them before, have you?" del perked up and slowley turned his head so as to hear a little better.""give them what ever they are drinking and ill pay for it. jerry is on the way. what are they driveing?" lloyd pointed out the window at a white pickup truck with a decal on the door. del slowley got up and pulling a napkin from a holder on the counter just stepped to the door where he could see the lisence plate on the truck he wrote it on the napkin. then the name on the truck door MAIN LAND ENERGY. he turned and bunped into one of the three men. "what you doin mr?"he asked. " just looking, never saw that name around here before. where yu boys from?del acteed friendly and smiled. " none of your business cowboy, now get out of our way!" the speaker pushed past del and was followed by the other two. they rushed to the truck , pileed into it and roared away. lloyd stepped up "not very sosialable were they?" " nope, they been here before?"del asked. "nope, do you think they had something to do with ole jake getting killed?"lloyd was curious. "i dont know. we better let jerry handle it tho. dont say nothing to anyone else ok?"del was folding the napkin and putting it in his shirt pocket.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 8

the next morning in the dark del is loading his horse in his stock trailer. he feels a presence and turns to find sharon standing there in the dark she hands him a brown bag and a thermos. " you might get hungrey before you get back" was all she said. " thank you." del went to the cab of the ruck and got in fireing the engine. he poured a cup of coffee and pulled out of the yard headed to jakes. it was just getting light when he pulled into the yard att jakes, the brand inspecter was right behind him. del took the inspecter to the corral that held the cow with the misbranded calf. the inspecter looked them over and agreeded it was a mis branding. " did you see who did it?"he asked. " no, i just found them i wanted tolet you know this was going on."del stood his ground. " rebrand the calf, bar out the wrong brand. i cant do anything until we have at least a name of who is doing it. this is the hardest thing to prove with out a witness. and yes, i know the scavengers are going to be moveing in from all directions. i wish i could do more." the inspecter was shakeing his head on the waay to his truck. del stood there clinching his fist. when the inspecter had left he unloaded his horse and put his chaps on then mounting and calling brother he headed back up country. reaching the back of the pasture he turned to the area where jake had been found. what he expected to find he didnt know but the fact jake rode so well still lay heavy on him. what had caused him to fall off and crack his skull? as he and the dog approached the site he slowed down and rode away from the actual site and began makeing a circle, rideing slow. the horse tracks were still visible. on his ssecond circle he came to a spot where a horse had stood for a while. a large pile of dried manure marked the spot behind a large boulder. del stepped off his mount and didnt let him walk close to the site. as he walked up behind the boulder he could see that useing it for a blind you could look back up toward the spot he had found jake. then at the base of the boulder he found two shell caseings. useing his handkerkeif he picked them up and wrapped them and put them in his chap pocket. turning to go he saw the scratch on the moulder. he stood there a moment before he realized that who ever was doing the shooting had used the boulder to rest his rifle while he sighted in on what ever he was shooting at. but jake hadnt been shot. del mounted and rode back to the spot where jake had died. once there he tried to mentaly draw a line from the shooters boulder. they didnt match up. he moved until he did line up. it wwas with a big rock and searching around he found where chips had been knocked from the rock, maybe by bullets. he would have to have a look at jakes horse when he got back to the ranch. it had been a while but maybe something remained.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 7

WHEN DEL DROVE INTO HIS YARD JERRY S PATROL CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE HE SMILLED TO HIMSELF AND THOUGHT" WELL SOME THING IS GOING RIGHT FOR SOMEBODY." WHEN HE STEPPED INTO THE HOUSE HE SAW JERRY WITH HIS CHAIR UP CLOSE TO SHARONS WITH HIS ARM ACROSS THE BACK OF HER CHAIR.jerry dropped his arm quick as del came through the door, sharon jumped to her feet and stepped over to the stove where she had a plate warming for del. " i didnt know when you would be back but i saved this for you" she said. dell rubbed jerrys shoulder as he walked around the table. "you got all the bad guys on the run today jerry?"he asked. "pretty quiet day del what you got goin on?"jerry picked up his glass. " found a misbranded calf today. i called it in to the brand inspecter a while ago. he will be here in the morning over at jakes."he lifted a fork full of food " with that place up in the air like that i wouldnt be surprised if the scavengers dont start stripping it clean."jerry took a long drink. " yes i think its already started. ill keep you in the loop on stuff other than the livestock"del made it plain. jerry scooted his chair back from the table and stood up" you do that. i better get back out there for a while." he looked at sharon" walk me to the car?" sharon cut a quick glance at del and then walked with jerry out the door. del finished his meal just as sharon came back in the house.she was a bit sheepish but she started putting the dirty dishes in the sink. " sister,your a growen woman you dont need my approval of who you take up with. but for the record i think jerry is a good choice. you wont hear squat from me unless i think its some one who is bad for you and mike, ok?"del was getting up. " and dont get boogered but theres a big ole dog out there now. he is plum friendly his name is brother."del then explained how brother came about.del sat down in a easy chairand started thumbing through a stockmans magazine.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 6

the next morning del rolled into jakes yard a horse in his trailer just before sun up. he was going to make a big circle back up country whre jake had been found. maybe get a handle on what had happened at the very worse check jakes cows. when he got stopped in the yard he could see the door to jakes house standing open. trash scattered in the yard.his temper took over, muttering curses on vandles he started walking to jakes house. "poor old man isnt cold in his grave and the scum are going through his belongings." just as del got to the yard gate a big brindle cataoula cow dog came bounceing out the door his tounge hanging out and slobbering all over everything. a short peice of chain was hooked to his coller. del stopped dead in his tracks. " now where the heck did you come from?" the dog ran up to him and sat at his feet panting. del stepped around the dog and went in the house. all that had been destroyed was the garbage can. everything was un touched. the dog sat in one spot out side while del cleaned up the mess. he couldnt remember jake haveing a dog. he was sure he didnt have one.when the mess was cleaned up del pulled the door shut firmly and as he started to his trailer and passed the dog he simply said" come on". the dog stood up and trotted along next to him.del unloaded his horse and started buckling on his chaps all the while looking at the big dog. finally he reached down and unsnapped the chain the dog was dragging and when he did he saw a brass name plate on his coller. BROTHER wa all it said. del stepped up on his horse and turned to go looking back he simply said" well come on brother lets see what you know." brother fell in at dels horses heels and strotted along like he belonged there. a hour later they wer comming up on the spot where del had found jake. he circled the area looking for any sighn at all. a few cattle grazed just a couple hundred yards away. when del started to them they turnned to trot away. brother shot past del and in just a few moments was circling the cows , nipping at any thing that tried to run off. as del rode up he praised the dog then rode around the cattle looking them over. when he was satisfyed he started to turn the cattle loose but stopped at the sight of a young calf with a fresh brand and it wasnt jakes brand. this changed things. he needed to take these cattle back to the headquarters corral for a brand inspecter to see. turning the cattle around he started them down slope. when the cattle tried to run brother was right there to slow them down. "darn dog is better than another cowhaand." del mirmered under his breath. back at the corral he determined the mother of the fresh branded calf. she had jakes brand. del cut them off into a seperate corral and turned all the rest loose. del hadnt accomplished what he set out to do but this was something needed doing also. he needed to get to a phone. when he loaded his horse in the trailer brother ran and jumped into the back of his truck. " just like he is mine" del said. del pulled up in front of the little grociery store and got out. inside he asked for the loan of the phone. when he got the brand d epartment on the phone he explained what he found. they said a inspecter would be there the next day. he went back to his truck to find the pretty young girl stokeing and petting the dog. he turned and went back in the store and bought a sack of dry dog food. takeing it back out side he put it in the bed of the truck and cut ahole in the side of it. brother buried his head into eating. the girl without saying a word went back in the store. del started for home.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 5

a couple of days after jakes funeral del was rakeing up the loose hay in front of his barn when a county sherrif rolled over the cattle guard and stopped i front of the barn a chunky deputy got out and strolled over to del. " you del?" the deputy asked as he pulled his sun glasses off. " thats me, what have i done now?" del grinned at the law man. "nothing yet. ime comming from the court tho. it seems the old rancher jake had no will or family to speak of. maybe a brother but we havent run him down yet. the judge wants to know if you will take care of jakes outfit until they can decide how to dispose of it.the court will pay wagws and expenses."the deputy laid it out. sharon was walking from the house. the deputy glanced her way then spun his head for a second look. " thats my sister sharon, you got paper work on her?"del giggled. "no but i wish i did. " as sharon steped up the deputy took his straw hat off and extended his hand. "ime jerry holloway" your a sweet sight on this morning." the deputy gushed. sharon smiled a toothy smile at him" talk like that could get you a cup of coffee and a peice of pie." "ime short on time but can i come back later for that?"jerry stated then turned to del" go to the court house and see judge weber. he will give you the details. but between you and me i dont believe that ole man fell off his horse. something out there stinks in my book." " ive had that feeling myself but when i found him there was no plain tracks just the ground was tore up by his horse. but ill help all i can."del explained. jerry tiped his hat to sharon and turned to his car. sharon was beaming.del stood there shakeing his head as jerry drove out of the yar. " i better go bake a pie, ime thinking,"sharon turned to the house. del watched her walk away with just a hint of a sway in her hips. later that day del stepped into the court house then into judge webers chambers and introduced himself. "i have been studying this case, and i dont have a good feeling about it. but, we need to find jakes relative and in the mean time we need someone to watch over that ranch. the damned ole cow theives will strip it clean if we dont."weber while not a old man had a old mans attitude. del nodded" ime like you all, i dont feel good about that whole deal jake rode like a horse was a extension of himit had to be a surprise to him and the horse and then the chances of unseating him would be slim.ill look after the ranch like it was my own. just let me know what the court wants and needs. if anything comes up ill bring it here." " you do that, you come well recomended so ime putting my faith in you while we investigate this deal just keep it quiet. tell folks we are looking for a releative."the judge advised.