Blood on the Verde River Read online

  Midday, he left and rode for home. His plans were to stop at the sawmill, check with Tom on the Verde place, and then get back to his wife before he rode off to see about Sarge and his crew. Things went uneventfully, except he swore there was frost on his blankets after camping out near the base of the San Francisco Peaks. He about froze to death making a fire for coffee.

  By the next day, after his mill visit, he used the steep military road to come off the rim and the sun coming off the mountain warmed his bones. He reached the Verde operation before sundown.

  The “howdy, stranger” from the crew made him shake his head. Hoot had supper ready so he and his about-to-be-a bride sister ate together while Hoot excused himself.

  “Those two all right up there?” she asked, taking a seat across from him.

  “Those two are in love, my dear. I’ve never seen the likes of their magnet-like relationship. They are still out roping mavericks and they can do it sweet and smooth. Except . . . while I was up there we had a run in with the Steward brothers, some local ranchers who accused us of hogging all the mavericks. Does that ring a bell?”

  “Sounds like the Reynolds to me.”

  “Amen. I froze in my tracks.” He shook his head. “Lucy says they’re a lazy lot and want all the others to do their work.”

  “That sounds like a bunch of no accounts.”

  Chet agreed. “I told Reg I’d send them four cowboys and not to go out roping with only each other.”

  “Did they cry?” Susie laughed and shook her head.

  “I knew they didn’t like it. I was not afraid of those goons. I was afraid for Reg and Lucy.”

  Susie agreed. “What else?”

  “The workers have the house done outside. They’re working on the cook shack and bunkhouse and plan to finish the inside of all that this winter. So I came home.”

  “Your wagon train is camped west of here. Nice people. The leaders are still at Hayden’s Mill looking at the situation. Their blacksmith made Tom a big spit to roast a whole steer on for the wedding.”

  “That’s good. I’m going to get a few hours sleep and get on home. What is JD doing?”

  She chewed on her lower lip. “We have not seen him since he came back.”

  “Is he in Preskitt or at Marge’s?”

  “Someone said he went back to Texas.”

  “Did he rob a bank? Where did he get any money?”

  “Honest, Chet, I have no idea.”

  “I’ll check on him and let you know. Sorry. This is your wedding week?”

  “Yes. Leif and I are going on our honeymoon in Oak Creek Canyon at the Bailey’s cabin. My nephews and my niece showed me how to fish this week. They stayed three days with me this week while May and Hampt had a little time to themselves.”

  “She happy?”

  “Oh, yes. She sings.”

  “Sings? I never heard her sing outside of church and then she had a tiny voice.”

  “That was the old May. This one can sing and she has the best time with Hampt. I am almost jealous.”

  “It’s good she’s happy, but don’t be jealous.” Chet stood. “Get me up in a few hours. Thanks for the meal.” He turned back. “You get your wedding dress?”

  Looking wet-eyed at him, Susie began to cry. “Yes, and it is too pretty to wear. Oh, I didn’t intend to cry—honest. Your wife is such a sweet person. I always wondered why she paid your bills when you first came here. That’s simply her way. I know that now.”

  He swallowed hard.

  She stood up and he hugged her, patting her back. When she recovered, he went upstairs and slept four hours. Near sunup, she woke him and fed him a small breakfast and coffee. He left his weary horse in the corral, chose another roan, and rode on before the hands were up, leaving Tom to handle whatever came his way.

  Mid-morning, he came up the drive and Marge ran out on the porch.

  “Stay there I’m coming,” he said, dismounting.

  Jesus was there to take his horse. “Good to see you hombre. How are you?”

  Chet clapped him on the shoulder. “Things going all right?”

  “Oh, sí. Everything is fine here.”

  “Wonderful. I better go see the boss lady, huh?”

  Jesus looked up toward the porch and smiled. “I think she always misses you when you are gone.”

  “Good thing,” Chet said, anxious to kiss and hug her. He climbed the porch steps and wrapped her in his arms.

  “At last you are home,” she said, squeezing him.

  “How are you?”

  She whispered to him, “Wonderfully pregnant.”

  “That’s what we want. Let’s go take a bath and I’ll change clothes.”

  “How is everyone at the ranches?”

  “Fine, except my sister is scared.”

  Marge nodded. “I know that. We can talk later. It is a little cool for the outdoor shower.” It sounded like she was concerned for him.

  He shook his head to dismiss her worries. With her leading the way, they went through the house and kitchen, where he told Monica hi, and straight on to the back porch. He quietly asked Marge, “Have you seen JD?”

  Tight lipped, she nodded.

  “You give him money?”

  She nodded again. “Should I not have done that?”

  “It’s no problem. I never thought about it until I asked Susie. She said she’d not seen him and that she had not paid him.”

  Marge nodded, looking a little upset. “You didn’t want him paid?”

  Chet shook his head then hugged her to reassure her he wasn’t mad about it. “I should have known you were the soft heart in the family. It isn’t anything, except he’s probably either drunk or on a binge.”

  Arms full of bath needs, they went to the sheepherder’s shower. The cold water about stopped Chet’s heart as it struck his skin when he pulled on the rope. Whew. In combination with the cooler air sweeping his bare skin, the bath was a very quick task for him. Marge laughed the whole time, drying him off.

  Under the long-tail nightshirt, he shivered going back to the house with her.

  “Oh, did JD tell you why he needed the money?”

  She shook her head. “I guess I should have asked. He said you’d pay me back when you got home. I said for him not worry about that.” She ruffled Chet’s hair. “You need a haircut. Want me to do it?”

  “Sure. Go get a bowl.”

  She broke out laughing. “I’ll go get scissors and a sheet. Oh, your friend the deputy came by.”

  “Roamer. Was he looking for work?”

  “He never said so. Said he was working up here now and just dropped by to say hello.”

  “I’ll look him up this week. Do they have a new baby?”

  “Oh, yes and I guess they’re working on having another,” she said quietly.

  They laughed again.

  Inside, she went after things to cut his hair. Monica brought a ladder-back chair for him to sit on and asked how his trip was.

  “Fine. We have ranches all over, but things are moving along at a good pace. My sister Susie, as you know, is getting married Saturday night.”

  “She is such a sweet person. I really like her. We all three went to the shop and she was so pretty in the gown at that fitting. Leif’s a lucky man to be getting her.”

  “She’s been my right arm for years.”

  “And I think you did the right thing for her,” Marge said, coming back with her things, “when you took her away from feeding the cowboys.”

  “I broke her heart, but maybe Leif can mend it.”

  Marge agreed. “Monica and I have talked about it. We think he’s strong enough to do that.”

  “Good.”

  “Lunch can wait. Get shaped up here,” Monica said and left them.

  When Marge was well into the haircut, Chet asked her, “Where was JD going?”

  “I am not certain. Said he met a woman somewhere and needed to go see her.”

  “That might be a shock, too.” />
  They both laughed.

  The next day they drove into Preskitt. They went by and saw Jenn at the café. Bonnie and Valerie were working as waitresses. Both girls greeted them heartily and each of them kissed him on the cheek.

  It was after lunchtime, so the crowd was gone. Jenn took a break, leading them to a back booth and she bubbled on how good things were going. How hard the two girls worked and how having two nice-looking girls serving food had increased her business.

  Chet asked if she had seen JD. Jenn hadn’t. In turn, she stopped Bonnie when she passed by to refill their coffee cups. “Where did JD go?”

  “I am not sure, Chet. He was in here, oh, a few days ago.”

  “Valerie where did JD say he was going?” Jenn asked.

  “I’m like Bonnie. I’m not sure. He wasn’t very talkative that day with me. Bonnie had his attention.”

  They all laughed and Bonnie blushed. “Not so.”

  Jenn told the two it was fine and Chet would find him.

  “I need four top hands for the ranch at Hackberry. They better like to round up mavericks ’cause Lucy and Reg do that seven days a week,” Chet said.

  “I’ll find them,” Jenn responded.

  “Thirty and found. But they have to know how to rope and wear a gun.”

  Jenn frowned. “Trouble up there?”

  “No, but you never know when it will start in. A big ranch is always a good place to steal from. Are you coming to my sister’s wedding Saturday night?”

  “We drew straws. I get to go. Those two are watching the store.”

  “I need to see Bo about some land deals. We better get going,” Chet said.

  Jenn and Marge exchanged a quick hug.

  “I’ll find you some cowboys and send them out to Marge’s place to find you,” Jenn promised.

  Chet nodded. “Thanks.”

  The two drove over to the real estate office. Bo was behind his desk. He even looked clear-eyed and rose to shake Chet’s hand and say hello to Marge. “Have a seat. I have news.”

  “Good or bad?” Chet asked.

  “I’ve found two sections west of the road junction at the base of the Peaks and I can buy them for twelve hundred dollars. The seller needs the money.”

  “Are they on the track survey where we can have a siding to load cattle?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’d take them.”

  Bo grinned. “Good, ’cause I already bought them.”

  Chet laughed. “How is Jane?”

  “Mean as ever. It’s like being married—excuse me Marge—it’s like being married to a hellcat.”

  “Good. She’ll keep you lined up.”

  “I agree. I am busy selling property.”

  Chet nodded. “What a nice way to live.”

  “Oh, hell, I don’t have hangovers to get over, anyway.”

  “Have you seen Roamer?”

  “He may be up at the livery. I ain’t sure he gets on that well with his boss these days.”

  “Sims better thank his stars he has him. The sheriff won’t get off his ass to get out of that oiled chair.”

  “You running for that office?” Bo asked.

  “Hell, no. Now show me on the map that land tract that you bought for me.”

  “Right over here on the wall.”

  Both Chet and Marge went to look at the location of the property. Bo pointed it out and Chet nodded. He’d had an idea where it was, west of where he found the wagon train camped.

  “Good. We will see you later.” He and Marge prepared to leave.

  “What? No land title you need cleared up?”

  “Not this trip. Tell Jane hi for us.”

  “I’ll try, but she’s ornery.” Bo grinned.

  “Just what you need,” Chet called as he and Marge left the office.

  He found his deputy friend at Luther Frey’s Livery sitting on a milk stool in the alleyway and whittling.

  Frey’s wife talked to Marge in the office while Chet and Roamer had a short visit. Things were fine with his friend. Their new baby was doing good. Had a helluva pair of lungs on him according to his father. He’d only gone by Marge’s place to visit. Things were quiet since the Apaches were calming down, except for horse stealing, and Roamer said that was due to so many folks traipsing back and forth though the country.

  Chet told him about the arrow in his saddle and finished with, “Those two won’t kill anyone else’s saddle.”

  They both laughed.

  Marge came out of the office and they headed home. She reminded him about the liveryman’s wife and how she had worked in a brothel to feed her kids. Frey got her out and married her and she was pregnant, too.

  “I hope Bonnie and that other girl Valerie find themselves a place in life,” she said.

  “You never can tell. JD was the best young man and he’s a real worry now.” Chet drove down the hill toward the Preskitt Valley and home, Where in hell has that damn near-grown boy gone off to?

  Marge kissed him, turning his thoughts in a different direction. Damn he was glad he had her.

  CHAPTER 9

  A big crowd was gathering at the schoolhouse for the wedding, including Robert Brown from the mill—no doubt to court his girl. Jesus and another boy from Marge’s crew had set up a sidewall tent earlier on Marge’s orders. It was to be the bride’s quarters. A fat beef was barbequing on a large spit the wagon train blacksmith had built especially for the event. A hundred dishes of food covered the tables. Women and teenage girls became the security force to shoo flies away.

  Marge walked up to Chet, watching all the activity from afar. “I’m going to get Susie from the ranch with the buckboard.”

  “You may have to drag her,” Chet teased.

  “No, in the end, she’ll come.” Then she checked around to be sure no one was close before she spoke again. “I don’t think she’s been kissed by anyone four times in her entire life. We talked about it. She’ll be ready.”

  “Thanks. I’ll be here. Drive easy. You have lots of time.”

  “No worry, Mr. Byrnes, I will be careful.”

  He joined the ranchers and their hands under the shade of the cottonwoods. They had a pint of whiskey or two they were passing around, but he declined any. The touch of fall was turning the hardwoods. Cottonwoods higher up on the rim were already golden yellow. He planned to go find a big elk before it snowed.

  Casey Monahan from the Three Stars outfit said the elk bulls were screaming up on the high country. Chet hadn’t heard any, but made some mental plans to look for them when he rode up to the east place. He saw Sarge and some of his men ride in. The poor man had secretly admired his sister, but had never moved an inch toward her. Chet would bet there were more men in the crowd who had put their boots under her table and felt the same way.

  Sarge reined to a stop and dismounted. “The last trip went wonderful. No Indians. No stampedes. We may be getting better at driving cattle. Tom says he will have the next sale cattle ready so we can take them home Monday, if that’s all right.”

  “Sure. You two are the mainstays I count on. This cattle deal may be the best one yet for the ranch until we get trains in here.”

  Sarge shook his head. “Not much news about the rails ever coming at Gallup.”

  “Waiting for a train to build tracks is strange,” Chet said. “Then one day, they come at a mile a minute laying track.”

  “We like herding cattle when things go smooth. I know winter is going to be hell.”

  “We can handle it.” Chet shook the man’s hand. Sarge told him Jenn had arrived and he wanted to talk to her. Chet had gotten Sarge from her, like so many others she’d found for him when he’d started out.

  Hampt and May, the boys, and the girl arrived. The two boys beat the adults and their sister over to talk to Uncle Chet about teaching Susie how to fish. The two were wound up. May had made them matching shirts. In their felt cowboy hats, new jeans, and boots, they looked spiffy. “We taught her. Where is she?”

/>   “She and Marge are coming,” Chet told them.

  “Good. We could teach her, too,” Ray said. His brother echoed, “We taught Aunt Susie good. She caught some big carp, too.”

  Chet shook Hampt’s hand and hugged May as they caught up to the boys.

  “I’m going to have a baby,” she whispered to him.

  “Wonderful,” he said. “So are we.”

  “Oh, I knew that. Is Marge behaving?”

  “Oh, yes. It kicked her, and she about raised the roof over that.”

  May smiled. “She’ll get tired of that soon enough. Hampt’s happy about it, too.”

  Hampt quickly agreed. “Everything okay, boss man?”

  “If you are,” Chet teased.

  “Oh, God. I’m fine and about to bust my buttons over the baby deal. That woman is so good to me—”

  “I understand. We’re damn lucky to have them.”

  “May’s worried for a week. She’s going to sing ‘How Great Thou Art’ today. My land, she can sing, but she’s afraid she won’t be able to do it.”

  “I’ll encourage her.”

  “Her father paid for piano and singing lesson when she was a girl, but she said she was so insecure she never played or sang for your brother. I found an old piano at a sale and we had it tuned. You need to come over and hear her play. She’s real good.”

  “Hampt, for an old, uncouth cowboy, you ain’t half bad at this marriage game. May’s been around us for several years and I never knew a thing about her skills. Marge told me all about it.”

  Hampt shook his head. “She sings all the time at home. It is so great. I can’t believe no one ever got it out of her before. She has them boys singing, too.”

  Chet shook his hand again, and went on to see the newest arrivals—the Yeager family. He had recovered their horses stolen by outlaws in Bloody Basin. They’d come a long way. Shelia hugged him and he shook his hand. They visited and asked if it was all right for them to join the festivities.

  “Lord yes. My sis is my favorite relative and I have a boatload. Good to have you. Speak to her today. She’d like to meet you and so would my wife Marge.”