If course . It is the law, as I have already pointed out anything of interest, specially of precious items found in archaeological digs have to be declared in Quito as they are now the property of the Ecuadoran govt.
That's fine by me Professor. No doubt you'll write a paper or a book about the find. At least pictures can be taken for the record. It's been a very interesting venture Professor, thank you.
I have enjoyed sharing it with a fellow Aussie and archaeologist too Terry. Excellent news, I have just been notified by Dean Reynolds that the four of us are to be the guests of honor at the Australian Geographic Convention this year additionally we will be representing Sydney Uni in a series of talks at both Hale and Oxford Unis early next year. Terry I am recommending you become my permanent assistant if that is your wish. Then you will be able to keep up to date first hand with the book I intend writing of our incredible expedition of discovery.
Tom Jones needed a new life. His past was a mess even given he was found not guilty for the deaths of two men, one with his fists and the other with his revolver. Self defense. Nevertheless, there were some baying for revenge. So he went bush again looking for work as a Cowboy, a job he'd done years before in his late teens. A hard life which he enjoyed with all the horses and cattle dogs. Just soaking in the nature of life was quietly satisfying to Tom. He had no dog now but did ride a tall stocky black mare he called Delilah who loved the green, green grass of his old home.
Jesse was standing by her open window, the cool breeze felt nice on her warm skin, she longed for some passion in her life but her older sister watched her like a hawk, the last man she was with was scared off by her sister so this time she'd be more discreet, more secretive, oh is that the clip clop of hooves I can hear, wonder who that can be riding through this quiet town.......
He came riding up the dusty lane just after noon. He rode easy in the saddle like he and the mare were part of each other. His gun was strapped low on his hip. I watched him as he came. “Gunfighter,” I thought. My rifle was in easy reach as usual. You never know when you will need it on a ranch. To kill snakes, other varmints. I’ve never had to kill a human but ……. He rode up to the shaded porch where I sat enjoying a few minutes rest after eating dinner. He tipped his hat and said, “Howdy, Ma’am. Mind if I get some water for myself and my horse?” “Help yourself,” I replied. He rode over to the pump and dismounted. He primed the pump and pumped water into the horse trough. He dipped his hands into the water, lifted them to his mouth and drank deeply. He splashed water over his face and head. Then he let his horse drink but not too much. It would be dangerous to let her drink too much at once. As he came striding back to the porch, I could see that he was a handsome man, even though he was sweaty and dusty. Too handsome. His muscles rippled under the wet shirt. His eyes were as blue as the Texas sky. I better send him on his way before Jesse, my flirty younger sister sees him. She almost ran off with a worthless, good for nothing cowhand a while back. There are not many men out here to choose from. I suppose I should send her back east to find a suitable husband but since the outlaws murdered my husband two years ago, money has been short. If it hadn’t been for Rick, my trusty foreman, I couldn’t have saved my ranch. He has been my rock that I lean on. “Names Tom Jones, this here is my horse, Delilah.” the stranger said. “Word in Tombstone is that you are looking for hands. I am looking for a job.” Well, I do need an extra hand desperately. “You know anything about ranching?” I asked. “Yes, Ma’am. I worked on a ranch back in my teens.” I can round up cattle, rope’em, brand’em, anything you need done.” “Alright, you got a job,”I told him. My name is Victoria Emig." The corral is out back. The bunkhouse is just beyond the water pump." Just the Jesse came out onto the porch. Her shirt was unbuttoned way too low. I caught a whiff of her perfume as she sat down beside me.
Sheriff Rick Sanderson was well respected in Sandy Gulch a small but growing town in Arizona Territory. Sanderson found himself in this backwater three years earlier after the stress as a Pinkerton detective in Chicago became overbearing. He had heard of a wagon train heading west and immediately signed up as security officer. The 3 month journey across charted states was uneventful apart from the odd bout of petty theft and drunkeness. Once the train reached Arizona he had feared Indian attack as there were still small groups of hostile renegade Indians that had refused to settle on govt reservations......
I could see his rippling muscles beneath his wet shirt, that did it for me. Hello Mr Jones, I'm Jesse, I shouted as I rushed down the steps with my hand outstretched. He shook my hand but his glare was on my unbuttoned shirt, he was smiling at me, I knew I wanted this guy, I just have to get out of my sisters sight for a while to snare him......
'Nice to meet you little sister' said Tom to Jessica shaking her hand and moving his gaze to her face whilst buttoning up his dirty shirt.'Call me Tom or Mr Jones as you like.' 'Is that a Baptist church on top of the hill back aways in Sandy Gulch? I have some thanking and confessing to do. God sees all as you know.'
"Excuse me Mrs Victoria Emig, may I say thank you for the work, a dollar a day is fine by me along with food and bed. I'm from Tombstone lately and skirted around your local small town of Sandy Gulch to get out here. I hear the Sheriff there is a savvy ex Pinkerton man called Sanderson. Do you know him, or about him? Is he an honest man? Clean? All I know is he's new. I'm not a wanted man but, to be upfront, I've got some bad men who want me dead. Even "Tom Jones" is not my real name and best you don't know my real name for all our sakes. I just want to vanish and as I see you're pressed money wise, so if it helps, I'll work for free. I'm ok money wise. Truly, I'm not here for your money and to show that Victoria, here's $70 in small bills as a thank you to take me on. Sorry also to hear your husband was murdered. That tragedy was no doubt done by cowardly evil men, so think of my guns as yours if needs be. But please keep this quiet about me." "You too please Miss Jessica. Promise us. cross your heart and hope to die ...." "I'll go and see your trusty foreman Rick now about details, and thank you again Mrs Emig, and nice to meet you too Miss Jessica, a pleasure."
Sanderson was 40, tall, well built, ruggedly handsome with fair/brown hair and dark blue eyes. The Arizona sun had darkened his complexion. He was now used to rising with the sparrows, rubbed sleep from his eyes, washed, shaved, dressed, then ate breakfast and left for his small office and jail cell two hundred metres down the main street. The door was opened and he walked in only to find his deputy Bill Symon sitting at his desk reading the morning paper. "Morning sheriff" Symons was only 35, shortish with red hair and a freckly complexion. " Morning Bill. Has Harry Fenner put anything of interest in his rag today" "Nothing much Sheriff. Plenty about the annual fete and Mrs Lynch lost her pet tabby up a tree. Hang on there is a piece about a bit of a bad lad from Tombstone being seen about these parts." "Interesting."....
Within the hour Sheriff Sanderson got a coded telegraph message from Marshall Wyatt Earp of Tombstone saying to keep a discreet eye on a key witness to a huge legal trial. "He's changed his name with initials TJ but it was made public by some criminal agent here in the "Tombstone Telegragh" paper, anonymously of course but they gave his true name of "Terry James", not his new name, now TJ again, same initials only. It's to do with Cattle Barons and their corrupt ways. TJ is a key witness we need kept alive. Keep me informed and I might drop over sometime with a few deputies if needed."
He called me Little Sister, moaned Jesse, how could she now have a fling with someone who called her Little Sister. I need a new game plan, she thought, men like him, rugged and dirty, can't resist a full figure, I'll get him if it's the last thing I do. Oh I'll cross my heart and hope to die just to keep his tale quiet, but I'll show him properly how I'll cross my heart when I undo my corset the next time he comes riding by my window....
Tom seems to have settled in nicely. He and Rick share the chores but Tom always defers to Rick, in spite of Rick being much younger. I suppose it’s because Rick is a much more experienced ranch hand. Tom always calls Jess, “Little Sister” which infuriates her but I find it amusing. He is way too old for her; much closer to my age. I plan to talk to Rick soon and give him some advice on how to charm a girl. He has the looks, he just needs to learn to charm. It’s time for the fall roundup. The cattle have been free ranging all summer. They should be ready for market by now. Rick and Tom will need help rounding them up so I will ask Rick to ride into town and see if he can hire some extra hands.