THE OLD COWBOY Part Thirty Eight
(continued)

"When all was said and done, four out of the six band-dit-os was dead, and one of the posse'd been shot in the arm. We'd lost three more head of cattle to bein' trampled in the confusion..."

"Grandpa, did they shoot at you?"

"Yes sir! Me an' 'Ol' Tanner' had the bullets bouncin' off rocks right near us while we was cuttin' the herd toward the box canyon. That 'Tanner,' he never flinched, steady and true.

We took the rest of them bandits in ta town and went to see the constable. We wanted to let him know the wrong-doers did not get away this time. I'm sure it was a little bit of comfort to him, even though they said he'd never walk again. That's the way it is, bullets have no eyes."

"Grandpa what happened to the constable? Did he ever have a job after that?"

"Grandboy, there was several job offers waitin' for him after he healed up. That's what he told us. Grandboy, I'm just glad that sort of thing never happened to me. Honestly, I think the young fella wound up in the bank as a loan officer."

"Grandpa you've seen all kinds of things ridin' 'Ol' Tanner' all over the west, haven't ya?"

"Yes sir, me and 'Ol' Tanner' rode back down through what is now Arizona and over in to New Mexico Territory. Found me another herd to move to the rail head in Amarillo.

It was outside a town called Clovis. This rancher named Jim Mc Clenahan, a big Irish fella, had a small herd ta move. Didn't matter ta me I enjoyed the ride. Just bein' out on a trail. Nature all around me. Just the way the..."

To Be Continued. . .