Blood on the Verde River (20 page)

“We'll find them some horses to ride.”

“There's enough kids over there now so they will hold school. They are going to have a four-month session.”

“Good.”

They shook hands and Hampt went to join his wife in their buckboard.

Marge had already climbed down and grinned at him. “Take care of her.”

“Oh, I will ma'am. If she'll just mind me.” He climbed on the spring seat and turned the rig in a circle to leave. May was waving and shaking her head at him.

Chet kissed his wife. “Have fun?”

“Yes. May is a changed person and she talks to me now.”

“I guess she was under so much pressure being my brother's wife and a family member her lips were sealed.”

“I think Hampt brought her out of her quiet silence. I think he made a happy woman out of her.”

“Good. He's found more work for me. I need to talk to Raphael about some Mexican boys to cut fence posts.”

“He'll find them for you. He knows the ones that will work, too. Where are you building fence?”

“Around some land on the Hartley place that has alfalfa on the Verde.”

“When I have the baby I want to go down there and see that lower place. What did he think about the ranch next door?”

“He about cried. Never thought he'd ever get a chance to run a real big ranch. Let alone the size of those two combined.”

“What else?”

“My nephews need faster horses.” They both laughed.

“May told me they were going to get to go to school again. You know she's been home schooling them all this time?”

“I knew she and Susie were concerned about the short sessions and no school setup over there.”

Marge hung on his arm. “Lots to do, isn't there?”

“I'm almost as busy as I was in Texas.”

“Oh pooh. You have more irons in the fire than any man I know including my own father when he was building this ranch.”

“All right. I am busy. We aren't getting it all done as fast as I'd like, but we are making strides.”

“Big ones.” They went inside the house, kissed, and she went to tell Monica about her day with May.

He read the Miner newspaper until supper.

 

 

The next morning Chet struck out for The Quarter Circle Z, arriving at the Verde Ranch mid-morning. He entered the kitchen where Susie was busy making cinnamon rolls for the crew as a treat. “Morning Mrs. Times,” he teased, kissing her cheek.

She grinned. “Morning, Mr. Byrnes.” She poured him a cup of coffee and told him the wagon train people were seriously talking about going down to Hayden's Mill and farm.

He found his blacksmith John in the shop Tom had thrown up for him. The man in his big leather apron was working on his anvil and forge. He took off his gloves and shook Chet's hand.

“Is it all going all right?” Chet asked.

“Fine. We're repairing the mowing equipment. It needs lots of work and some reinforcing. Those implements were made for cutting smooth orchard grass and timothy hay fields in Iowa. Not sagebrush in Arizona.”

Chet laughed. “Have you ever seen those clam-like posthole diggers?”

“I think I have. Why?”

“Could we make some?”

“Sure. Why?”

“We are going to fence the lower hay fields on the Hartley place next year and we'll need several of them.”

“I'll draw one up,” John promised. “My wife said to be sure to thank you. The house is solid, dry, and warm with a fire in it. My kids are in school and we're settling down. Tom has gotten me everything I needed. We've fixed single and double trees, made parts for that boy up at the sawmill for his wagons, and kept busy. How are you going to fence it?”

“They make a twisted wire at the blacksmith shop in Preskitt with sharp barbs on it.”

“I have seen that. We could make that here. Maybe when things settle down for the cowboys this winter we can use them to help.”

“Let me talk to Tom about that,” Chet said.

“Fine, but I bet we can beat the price in Preskitt.”

“John, you have the right idea.”

They parted and Chet went by the cook shack to see how Hoot was.

The old man was sitting down at the long table, drinking coffee.

“You all right?” Chet asked, concerned, stepping over the bench to sit down beside him.

“I been having some sorry days lately. Guess I'm just tired today.”

“You need to go see a doctor.”

“He got any pep pills? I'll come out of it. That last boy Tom hired—Clarence—can feed the hands. Susie's making rolls special for them today. She wanted to. I'll go lay down. Don't worry. I'll get over this.”

“You should see a doctor,” Chet advised.

“If I don't get better, I will.”

“Do that.”

Hoot shuffled off to the bunkhouse, leaving Chet concerned. He'd never seen the old man that low.

Back at the house, he talked to Susie about him.

She wiped her hands on her apron. “He's been failing lately. I've been baking pies, bread pudding, 'cause that boy, while he's good, can't get it all done, otherwise.”

“Hire him a helper.”

“I'll tell Tom. Hoot will listen to him. Me, it would be crowding in.”

“He's not well. Hampt and May came over the other day. Singing May is really doing good as a wife.”

“Why didn't we ever know she could do that?”

“Damned if I know. But she truly is happy and so is he.” Then Chet told her about what the new ranch deal might be like.

“Man, you are hoeing and going.”

He also told her about his wife receiving the home place as her own.

Susie shook her head. “You always liked being busy.”

Since Tom wouldn't be back until late, he decided to ride on up to the Windmill Ranch and come back the next day. Sarge would be there and he wanted to see what his plans were.

It was past sundown when he arrived, but thanks to the mild day, the ride across country had been pleasant.

Victor cooked him some food as Sarge told him how things were going at Gallup. “Hay partners are set up. They didn't get the snow you got at Preskitt. We're doing fine here. Tom sent me a letter that the next shipment would be up here in a week. It will be early, but we'll head out right away to be at the Navajos for the December delivery. That okay with you?”

“You're the boss. This winter will be a booger to get cattle there on time but the agency knows that. They still happy?”

“Oh, they say they are. I hear all the time that some Texans are underbidding us, but so far they ain't won that contest.”

“Rumors can be just that. The agency needs orderly deliveries. The last bunch couldn't do that, so they'll be wary.”

“We got a bed. You are staying for the night. Boys grained and put your horse up already.”

“Hey, I'm ready for bed.” Chet turned to the cook. “Thanks, Victor, for caring for the men. This is a critical operation for our ranch.”

“Ah,
sí
. You tell your wife to come see me.”

“I will.”

Satisfied, he slept in the bunkhouse and woke to eat Victor's breakfast with the crew and talk to the men, then he rode back to the Verde ranch without incident. Despite the sunshine, he kept his jumper buttoned against the north wind that kept him hunched up in the saddle. Next time he'd wear his sheep-lined jacket.

Tom was at the ranch when Chet returned in late afternoon. They visited at Susie's house. Leif was out with two others making sure cattle hadn't drifted too far north of their range.

A fire crackled in the fireplace and the radiant heat felt good on Chet's face. The two sipped fresh coffee.

“Any word on the three that got away from you and Roamer?” Tom asked.

“No. I imagine we won't ever hear about them again. We were lucky to get back the loot we did and that one brother.”

“You hear anything from JD?”

“He's working for someone west of Socorro, New Mexico. He says it's out of that range war.”

“I hope so. Some tough stories coming out of there.”

“I'd say. We'll have to wait and see.”

“No telling about him,” Tom said. “He really went under after the breakup with that woman. She didn't appreciate all he had done for her.”

“JD's father was a strange guy. The government said he was killed in the last battles in Mississippi during the war, but records weren't good in those last days. A lot of us thought he'd probably show up one day. He never did.

“He was a gambler and wanted no part of the ranch work. That was why I ended up running it. My mother always said he was like other relatives in the Byrnes family who ran sideshows and other flimflam deals.”

“He never showed up again?”

Chet shook his head. “And I have not missed him.”

Tom changed the subject. “All was well with Sarge?”

“He's fine. Expecting cattle is all.”

“I sent him a letter. We will have those cattle up there next Wednesday.”

“He's ready.”

“Good. What else is news?”

Chet told him about the pending ranch deal, then Tom went to his house for supper.

Chet ate with Susie. Leif wasn't back and it was dark. She acted edgy at the meal over his tardiness.

“You finally have someone?” Chet asked her.

“Oh yes, and I enjoy every day. I dreaded marriage, but I love it and him so much.”

“Good. I am going to turn in. I'll have breakfast with the boys in the morning.”

“No, please don't. Leif will be up regardless and I'll have it here.”

“Fine. Wake me.”

“I will.”

Susie woke him in the middle of the night. “Leif is back, but someone shot one of the cowboys. They brought him over here and sent for the doc. Tom is coming.”

Chet woke quickly. “Who? What's his name?”

“Utah. He's a new hand Tom hired two weeks ago.”

“I'll be right down.” Chet dressed hurriedly and took the stairs two at a time.

Leif looked exhausted. He and two others had the victim on a cot in front of the fireplace. Tom arrived and so did two other hands. Susie was running around getting things.

“How bad off is he?” Tom asked, entering the room. His wife Millie was right behind him.

“He was shot in the shoulder and then thrown off his bucking horse. He was out most of the time coming back. I shot at the men who shot him, but they were riding hell for leather to get away. I'd have gone after them, but he looked in such bad shape I decided we'd be lucky to get him back here. We made a bed between two horses with poles and a blanket. Cole there rode double with me to get him back.”

“All we had to cut them poles down with were some dull hand axes,” Cole said, shaking his head.

Susie was putting wet compresses on the boy's head, trying to ease him some.

“Did you know any of those men who shot him?”

Leif shook his head. “We stumbled on three men—I counted—driving a half dozen head of yearlings up the mountain going north. They started shooting and got Utah. His horse went crazy, threw him down the mountainside, and we went to see what we could do for him. Cole told you we had to chop two poles and make a sling to haul him back.”

“Randy left to get doc,” Tom said.

“Cattle thieves up in that country. What next?”

Leif shook his head. “What were they going to do with them anyway?”

“I have no damn idea.” Chet shook his head in disappointment. “What did you notice about them?”

Cole jumped in. “One guy had a gray horse, another had a red roan like your good horses, and the third had a bay. He had some silver on his saddle. It shined in the sunlight, didn't it Leif?”

“Oh, we could have found them from what we saw and their horses. But we couldn't quit Utah.”

“No problem. You all did good getting him back here considering where you came from. Tom, send someone to my place and tell Marge what's happened and get Jesus. Tell him this will be a long ride and to dress warm. That boy can really track.

“Susie, we need food and supplies for two weeks. Tom, we'll need two stout packhorses. I want my other roan—”

“Cole and I want to go along,” Leif broke in. “We want a chance to even the score for Utah.”

Tom nodded his approval.

Chet said, “Get ready. It will be damn cold up there and may get worse.”

Things were moving. Lamps were lit to saddle horses and the whole crew was up. Chet sized the situation. “Everyone take a minute and get on your knees. We're going to pray for Utah here. He's in the Lord's hands now.”

Quickly, everyone was hatless and he began. “Dear Lord Heavenly Father, we are just some cowboys living out here on the frontier. Tonight, we ask you to take one of our fallen men ambushed by the devil's workers and protect him and make him well. Utah is a member of our crew of hard workers. He may never have been in a place of worship, but he lives under the greater cathedral—your sky.”

They made soft amens and he continued. “Lord, he's been our true partner and went to stop the outlaws stealing our cattle. Be with him this night and help him return to the job he loves. Amen.”

The crew rising up didn't have a dry eye and quietly thanked Chet, then they went about doing the things needed for him and the others to leave.

“Leif, you and Cole go sleep. I can get it all ready. We can't leave till Jesus gets here. Go upstairs and fall on any bed. We'll wake you in plenty of time.”