“I guess we could take some of our men up there and have the guys show them how. But they can drive horses. We have some of those stout teams you drove out here. That might be a big part of it.”
“Tonight get an opinion who would go up there and work for a while. We can get the trees to the mill with our horses.”
Tom nodded. “I guess if we can get some lumber down here we can find some more carpenters.”
“We may need to switch help from job to job. I saw maybe enough framing lumber to start the bunkhouse stacked out there. Then we can go back to work on your house when we get supplies to do it.”
Tom agreed. “We have some more troubles on the west end of the ranch. I think we have rustlers. You know Ryan sold calves instead of keeping them till they were grown, so we don't have a backlog of two- and three-year-old steers that pay for a ranch. I think someone is pulling the ones we do have out and driving them somewhere.”
“Where could they sell them?”
“If I knew that I'd have caught them.”
Chet laughed. “Maybe we need a spy out there.”
“I think it would be a good plan.” Tom took off his hat and wiped his sweaty face on his sleeve.
“Let's get a few heads together and talk serious about that.”
His foreman agreed. “We can do that. These bulls need to be scattered more. Those Herefords aren't as aggressive as those longhorn ones. We may need one bull to fifteen cows. I found two or three bulls at a waterhole, that means they aren't spread out where the cows are at.”
“You're on the right plan there.”
“You told me to look for more cows to buy when you went back to Texas. I've not seen any numbers of them I'd want. They all had lots of broken-mouthed cows in every bunch when I got them up. We have too many of those kind ourselves.”
Chet agreed. “Running a ranch is never easy.”
“I got word several Utah ranchers want to sell some cows.”
“How will we get them over the Grand Canyon? Swim them across at Lee's Ferry?”
“Yes, when the river is low. But we could buy cattle in Colorado or Kansas easier than that.”
Chet nodded. Something he'd have to figure out. “I'm going to try to go back to Preskit and do some business tomorrow. I need to see Jenny at the café too. The sheriff. You seen Roamer? I expected him to lead the posse. He wasn't there.”
Tom shook his head. “That surprised me too when I heard he wasn't the man. I heard that none of them went on to help you either”
“I expected Roamer to come.” Chet had looked for him right up until he took the prisoners.
“Those rustlers all drifters?”
“One of the guys named Jeff had bought cattle from the small ranchers in the Basin. The rest no one knew.”
Tom made a grim face. “I guess they won't bother any of us anymore.”
“Not unless they can throw six feet of rocks and dirt aside.”
Tom nodded.
The men were coming in and shaking Chet's hand.
Â
Â
Before dawn he rode to Preskit. He didn't dare stop at Marge's house and went on into town first. He hitched the horse at the rack at Jenny's café and pushed his hat back. When he came through the door she shouted, “The great state of Texas has returned, ladies and gentlemen.”
The crowd jamming the place applauded. She ran over and kissed him like an old-time lover of his. He held her out and laughed. “You are one great friend, girl.”
“Keep talking. You hear him call me girl? Ain't that nice. You aren't home two days and you're off running down outlaws.”
“Someone had to do it.” He waved his hands for reprieve. “Are there any carpenters in here out of work?”
Two men stood up.
“Get out to the Quarter Circle Z on the Verde. We can use you.”
They smiled. It drew a good shout.
“The guy who ordered this has got time, so here's you a big breakfast, cowboy.” Jenny put a loaded plate down in an opening on the counter and waved him in. Followed with a mug of steaming coffee she faced him off eye to eye. “It's damn good to have you back, mister.”
“Good to be back. I missed your warm receptions.”
“Oh, I could track after you barefooted, Chet Byrnes.”
“Too many cactus needles.” He began to cut up his ham.
She kissed his forehead and left him to go back to eating.
He resettled his hat on his head and watched her exit into the kitchen. That would be Susie's choice for him. She had big blond braids piled on her headâa big woman to keep him warm in winter like the German girls she suggested that were in their nearby communities in Texas.
After Jenny, he saw the banker named Tanner, who welcomed him back. They had cordial words. He made plans to transfer more of his money out there.
Sheriff Sims came next. When Chet came into the outer portion of the sheriff's office he waved him inside. The man got up and closed the door.
“How have you been, Mr. Byrnes?”
“Fine.”
Sims reached in a drawer and put the
Globe Arizona
newspaper on his desk. “Maybe you've read this story?”
Chet shook his head.
“This story came from a resident in Rye. He gave no name.”
Two men showed up in Rye one day last week on jaded horses, they headed for Clyde's Bar, and paid for a bottle of whiskey. The man's last name was Catlin and he hailed, he said, from Fort Worth. His partner was a boy in his late teens also come from Texas, perhaps not directly, because according to others they rode in out of Verde River country.
A tall man came in an hour later and he said he was the law and came for two horse thieves. He got the drop on the two from Texas and asked Clyde for some rope. He tied them up and put them on the floor. He paid for the rope and their whiskey. Then he gave Clyde the money to go and buy two ropes seventy-five feet long. Clyde went to Barnes Store, procured the rope, and brought it back. The man politely thanked Clyde. I never asked but I do not believe this man had partaken of any of the whiskey.
Clyde said the boy was crying. The other man stiff lipped. He drove them on foot a quarter mile down the Rye Wash. There he sat the two prisoners down in the sand. Their hands were tied behind their backs and like an experienced executioner he made two hangmen's nooses.
The witnesses said he stood on his horse and tied the ropes on a stout overhead limb of a large cottonwood tree. Then he tossed each man on the horse that they rode in on and he got them seated. From there he rode in and he placed the knots beside the left ear of each man.
No one among the onlookers heard what the two doomed men said to him. He reined the big bay horse back and dismounted. Then he took his lariat in his right hand, and a hat in the other. With a hoop and holler, he choused the two horses away.
Witnesses said both of their necks snapped in the drop. They never suffered. This stranger gathered the other horses, took them, and rode away. None of us knew his name.
Let all the horse thieves in Gila County know this story and sleep in fear. The Phantom of Justice will find you. (from a concerned citizen of Gila County)
Chet looked up. “Interesting story.” He put the paper back on his desk.
“I thought so. I guess you're back from Texas. I guess I should thank you. I don't condone rope justice.”
“I understand. Those men shot two good local men. All of them raped a rancher's wife up there and stole two more horses from another rancher they beat up.” Chet had his back up. “And if this phantom of justice had not followed them I suppose they'd have gone on to do more bad things.”
“That was the story?”
“Yes, sir. I won't try to tell you your business. Where was Roamer?”
“I did not send him.”
“I know that.”
“I'm the sheriff of this county and I'll assign who I decide is the best man for the job.”
“You knew those storekeepers would peter out getting up there. And you sent a man of like qualities. Didn't you?”
“I'm the sheriffâ”
“Today you are. Did you know any of those men?”
“Are you accusing me of something?”
“You wear that badge 'cause people want you to. They can vote you out of office fast as you got in.”
“Is that a threat?”
“No, it's the truth. I've heard lots of folks say you're an office lawman.”
“Get out. And Byrnes, if you lynch anyone in my county, you will pay the price.”
“Good to know whose side you're on.” He went out the door firing mad. Crossed the street to the Palace bar and ordered a beer. Someone elbowed him and he about swung at themâthen he recognized Jane, the short barmaid.
“Where's Bo?” he asked about the real estate agent.
“I don't know.”
“Why not?”
“Him and I broke up.”
“He's dumb then,” he said in disgust.
“Word is you already ran down some horse thieves?”
“Don't spread it around. The sheriff ate my butt out over a like deal. What's he got against Roamer?”
She frowned. “I don't know but I'll damn sure find out.”
He slapped a silver dollar on the bar for her. “Thanks. I'll kick Bo's backside when I find him for quitting you.”
She put the coin down between her small breasts and nodded. “Thanks.”
Once the beer was downed, he paid the bartender and left the Palace. He walked to the hitch rail on the other side of the courthouse square, untied his horse, and headed east. Still mad about Sims's attitude toward him, his plans were to stop and see Marge. A brief visit with her might settle him down. From the top of the hill, he looked back at the gray stone courthouseâsomething was going on down there. Maybe he'd learn what it was about. It wasn't all over the lynching, there was another issue. One that evaded him at the moment.
No matter, he'd find out in time. He was in Arizona for the long haul.
An hour later at Marge's yard gate, he dismounted and heard the door open. When he looked up she came off the stairs and flew in his arms. “Oh, I wondered if you were ever going to come see me again.”
He shook his head, swept his hat off and with her in his face, he whispered, “I was here all night.”
“That's an eternity,” she said. Again he had forgotten how tall she was. They kissed and he dropped his hat to really hug and kiss her again.
Her forehead pressed against his, she shook her head. “I have never had a man in my life that I wanted more than you.”
“Marge, I'm a man loaded down. Everything is going fine, except I hired two carpenters. Not three. JD is taking a few men and some teams up on the rim next week and get us some logs out if we can get the sawmills to run up there. We have to finish my foreman's house as well as a bunkhouse before fall.”
She took his arm and snuggled to him. “What else is wrong?”
He looked around to be certain they were alone. “I made the sheriff mad somehow. He had the
Globe Arizona
newspaper with an unsigned letter to the editor about the whole deal that he showed me. Then I asked him why he didn't send Roamer over there, instead of some deskman and a damn town posse over to help Raphael. I expected Deputy Roamer to come on where I went, but he never sent him, and I asked if those two killers were some buddies he wanted protected.”
“Oh. What date is that
Globe
paper? Dad gets that.” She put her knuckle to her lips. “I never read it.”
“Don't read it. You may get shocked and hate me.”
She shook her head at his reply. “Now you know I will have to read every word of it.”
He closed his eyes. “Marge, should I bring my sister and the others or will you invite them?”
“Oh, I'll invite them.”
“There is my sister Susie, my sister-in-law May, and my Aunt Louise. May probably won't come; she has a baby daughter about a year and half. Oh, and Millie, my foreman's wife.”
“Come inside. Wait there a minute, I think Raphael is coming to check on your horse.”
She stepped out to the edge of the porch. “Yes, put his horse up, he's staying for supper.”
“He don't need to be unsaddled, partner.”
“Yes he does,” she said. “Never mind him.”
The man waved and led the horse away. Chet shook his head. “Will he be your next foreman?”
She frowned at him. “That is my father's decision.”
“Come on Marge. Will he make him foreman?”
“Are you on his side too?”
“He's a good guy. He'd get the job done.”
“I guess if anyone else is hired, I'll lose you and Monica both.” Then she laughed and drove him inside.
Once in the living room, she put him on the couch and then went over to a fresh stack of newspapers beside a Morris chair and soon came back with a paper. “I had them stacked for him to read when he gets back from California.”
“Get ready for a shock then. He showed that to me when I got to his office.”
“The one about the Phantom?” she asked, and reading away, she dropped on the couch holding the paper in her hands.
“That's the one.”
“Oh my gosh, Chet. You never told me this.”
“I've never told you anything but the truth. I know that is grim but we live in a grim time. Those four men ambushed two of your people. They raped a poor rancher's wife. A dear person who lived all alone, her husband works away at a mine. They obviously took turns on her.”