Arizona Territory (12 page)

“What you going to do with dat?”

“Get this operation ready to move north.”

“You must have damn deep pockets, mister.”

“I have the authority to do whatever is necessary. Get me that information.”

Chet dismounted. “This is Hampt Tate. I'll introduce the others tomorrow.” Then he took a tablet from his saddlebags and two pencils. One of the hands came and held their horses, and they went into the larger tent. The tables were rough, weathered boards with benches set around them. Two open bottles of whiskey and some cups littered the one they sat down at.

“You want a drink?” Decker asked.

“No, thanks.”

“We don't have any coffee left.”

“I understand.”

He wrote coffee on his list.

“Sugar?”

Decker shook his head.

“What do you have?” Chet asked bluntly.

“Two hundred pounds of rice. Three hundred pounds of
frijoles
. We'll open one sack of those tonight.”

“No chuckwagon?”

“No.”

“It was too damn hard to get dem from place to place out cheer,” Yeager said. “We left it down in the Indian Territory.”

“I'm going to buy one and we'll figure out how to get it moving. How many modern rifles do you have?”

Decker looked at his man. “Five?”

Yeager nodded in agreement.

“How many of your men have pistols?”

“Maybe a dozen. Why?”

“Every man here needs a working firearm. The damn Comanche, Cheyenne, and Kiowa all have working firearms. They haven't found you yet, but they could. Now, how many horses?”

“Maybe a hundred.”

“How many can be ridden to herd cattle?”

“Sixty.”

“How many horses did you start with?”

“A hundred and fifty.”

Yeager shook his head. “Dat ain't right. Dey weren't all sound horses.”

“That'll be the problem. It may take a few days or so, maybe more, to get them here. But I have a promise by a rancher to bring me some good ones.”

Hampt spoke up. “Tomorrow, I want eight men to take rifle training. They'll each have a rifle and be shown how to use it, and keep it clean. They turn it in when we get to Nebraska, or pay for it.”

“You think—”

“These Indians will kill black men as quick as they kill white. You just haven't faced them. You're an invader, and they won't treat you any better than a white cowboy.” Chet dropped his head down and shook it. “My wife is with me. I expect her to be treated with respect. See that every man knows it. We can talk more tomorrow.”

“Where you going to get the water for dem?”

“Yeager, I can't make water, but these cattle are in tough condition today. They'll die when winter comes unless we get them on some real feed and water.”

“Where will you live?”

“My wife and men will be in your camp tomorrow, and we'll move with the herd until we deliver them. I'll be here, too.”

“What about water ahead?” Yeager asked.

“We'll have to find sources. Maybe hire someone to help guide us northward.”

He and Hampt shook their hands, then they mounted up and hurried for Tularosa in a long lope.

“What did they think they would do for food?” Hampt asked.

“I have no idea, but we have a big task ahead, and I can't see us pulling out of here in short of a week.”

Hampt nodded in agreement.

They met the others in Tularosa and went to supper in a bar the hotel man said served good food. It was mid-week and there were few customers in the place, so they got a nice welcome from Johnny Reed, the man who owned the bar. When they told him their plan to move the big herd north, he nodded.

“We all wondered when someone would be in charge of that outfit. You'll need lots of luck to get that bunch to even get off their butts. Excuse me, ma'am.”

“No problem.”

They ordered supper and Chet explained his plans. He finished with, “We want to send a messenger out to Herman Acres's ranch, for him to send me a hundred and fifty using horses quick as he can.”

“I can get a boy to do that. Write a note and he can deliver it.”

Chet wrote the note and put two silver dollars down.

“One's enough. Two will spoil him.” Reed left the other one laying there and went to take care of it.

“They have no horses?” Liz asked.

“Not very many. When you're driving cattle and not graining them, you need several changes to get anything out of them.”

“Who cooks for them?”

“We haven't met that person yet. We only met Decker and his man Yeager. I was not impressed. They abandoned the chuckwagon—too hard for it to keep up. Maybe I can talk to the big storeowner tonight. I'll ask Reed about him.”

When he spoke to the bar owner about the man, he sent a boy to find Phillip Rymore. Before they finished their meal, a big man arrived, took his hat off for Liz, and pulled up a chair.

Chet explained his plan to Rymore, and before he even listed his needs, the storekeeper told him he could get about anything they wanted. He might have to ship some of it up the trail to them after they'd gone.

Chet told him about the bank arrangement on receiving payment, and how they would honor his purchases. Rymore agreed that would work for him.

“Three dozen Winchesters?”

“I have a dozen. I can beg, borrow, and steal the rest. They sell for about seven fifty. I'll try to hold that price.”

“Two barrels of flour?”

“No problem.”

“Four hundred pounds of
frijoles
?”

Rymore nodded.

“Dried apples?”

“Got them—and raisins?”

“I'll need plenty of both.”

“I've got some good dry sugar, too.”

“I'll need it. Canned tomatoes and peaches?”

“I have them in stock.”

“Lard, baking powder, bacon, Arbuckle coffee.”

“That I have. I have some new potatoes, too.”

“Good, add them in.”

“Cinnamon, and red peppers,” Liz put in.

Rymore nodded that he had them. “I have a chuckwagon in good shape. Someone brought it back and left it here and I can sell it to you for eighty bucks, which was what I gave for it.”

“We can use it. Can you find us four solid mules and harness? They sure won't have any. I also want girths, and latigo leather, plus some bridle leather. And a couple of reels of grass rope.”

“Those mules may take a day or so to find. But I'll get you some.”

“I'm sending for horses from a man that promised he could find me some. I want some canvas sheeting, too. Some lamps, and coal oil, in the mix. Tomorrow, I want about forty cans of peaches for that bunch. Tobacco and paper. I'm going to meet with the whole outfit and tell them how this is going to work.”

“Two sacks of old bottles for target practice,” Hampt added.

“No problem. I have a big draft horse and a two-wheel cart, so I can send some of this up there in it for now.”

“Sounds good. You have anything else for us?” Chet asked.

“I know an older man who's been up that trail several times. He really knows the water and the rest.”

“Can I meet him here tomorrow night?”

“Sure, he could use the pay. His name is Lou James. Well, men, I appreciate the business. Thanks. I'll try to outfit you best that I can. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Byrnes.”

“Liz will do.”

Rymore smiled at her. “My wife is Hispanic. She would love to meet you.”

“I don't know what I have to do for these guys, but maybe we can find the time to meet.”

“Thanks again, and be careful. You know this hostile Indian thing is not over.”

“We like our hair. We will,” Chet promised him.

Later, in the hotel bed, he told her he thought from his attitude and attention to details that Rymore was a good man.

“He certainly sounds like a real businessman. I know your head is swimming in all this business. Don't worry about me. I'm proud to be here with you. I will be fine, and I can help, if you tell me what to do.”

“You keep track of what we order and what we get. I can work that bunch then, and not have to worry about this end of it.”

“Good.”

He drew in a deep breath. “I know it will be hell ahead, but we may make a good deal out of this lost herd business.”

“Ooh, yes.”

In the morning, Reed had their breakfast ready at five. After that, Hampt went by the store and it had the lights on. When he joined them, Rymore told them he had a boy to drive the two-wheel cart out to their camp and it was near loaded. Their horses were at the livery yard next, and they were loaded quickly.

Chet added a couple of glass jars each of peppermint and licorice sticks. He aimed to use all that as carrots to lead those men. No one had spoiled them lately, so he aimed to start. The peaches and tobacco were going to work for that day.

Mid-morning, they reached the cow camp and the men were assembled on a slope. Most sat cross-legged on the ground. Some of the crew stood, but Decker assured him they were all there.

“This be the new man,” he said in a loud, deep voice. “His name is Mister Byrnes. You listens good to him, 'cause we going to be on the move soon.”

“Good morning.”

No answer.

He said it louder, and they replied.

“My name is Chet. No mister about it. You work hard the next six to eight weeks and you'll get a bonus. If you don't, you can start to walk back to Texas. That big man is Hampt Tate, and that cowboy is Cole Emerson. That Mexican is my right arm, Jesus Morales. This lady is my wife, Miss Liz, to everyone. We came from Arizona to get you to Nebraska.

“These Injuns we may meet will want to kill you. Every man will have a rifle and ammo. If you are threatened, shoot first, ask them questions later. If you can't shoot an Indian, shoot his horse. We'll show you how to shoot it. If you shoot another cowboy, you'll hang before sundown. If you lose that gun, you will pay for it in Nebraska. Am I clear?”

“Yes!”

“My men will pass out tobacco and paper next. There are matches, too. Don't, whatever you do, set the prairie on fire.”

As his men and the store clerk passed each man who wanted one a pouch of tobacco, paper, and some matches, the talk went on furious among the men. One bare-chested man stood up and waved.

“Thank God fur you's, Mr. Byrnes.” A cheer went up.

Decker, sitting in his folding chair, shook his head. “They've been out for weeks. You impressed me a lot already this morning, sir.”

“Dey going to lick you boots,” Yeager said, and freely laughed for the first time.

“Listen up, men. We'll go to having good meals.” He held up his hands to silence them. “But we're going to work hard, too. We may have to be in the saddle moving cattle for two days to reach the next water. So, sleep when you get a chance. Stay close to camp unless there's more than two of you. Indians will try to pick you off and get your rifle.

“I have more good horses coming this week. But be ready to pull out. I have, as a bonus, a can of peaches for each man this morning.”

The cheers went up again. “File by and pick up one. Hoarders get none.”

His men gave them out.

“Then get back to you job!” Decker ordered, then turned to Chet. “I want you to meet my cook next.”

Three Orientals in silk clothing bowed to him.

“That's my cook, No Ling Ling.” A short, angry-faced Chinaman carried a hatchet and wore a que.

The man bowed. “You got plenty food?”

“I'll have it here by tomorrow.”

“Good thing. Damn near starve here.”

“You won't with me.”

“Good men no work good on empty belly.” He pointed. “That my helper, Du Wang. That my number two helper, Nu Wa Tye.”

“Glad to meet you all. Food and supplies are coming.”

“The eight men you asked for are here. They've all shot rifles. Maybe not good as yours, but they can shoot,” Decker said.

“Hampt, you have gun class today. Show those men. Tomorrow, I want ten more new ones. Yeager, you go with him and help them.”

“Yes, sah.”

“Cole, you and Jesus look over the horses we have and figure out what we need to do.”

“What else you need done?” Decker asked.

“A couple of nice men to put up Liz's tent and help her organize it.”

“I can do that,” Jesus offered.

“No, he has some men who aren't busy. We need to meet and get acquainted with them.”

Decker smiled. “You will have them too spoiled to work again.”

“Good. I treat people right. If they don't work, I don't need them.”

Decker lowered his voice. “You don't smoke. Your men don't smoke. I think that tobacco was the best gift of all.”

“I figured that. They get a pouch a day.”

Decker shook his head. “I sees why dee boss man done sent you already. But you worried about Injuns, ain't you?”

“They have their backs to the wall. I've fought Comanche all my life. They kidnapped three of my family members. Today, they are even more desperate. If we don't have a fight somewhere on the trail, I will be so pleased I'll pay you a hundred dollars.”

“You do be concerned. I'll be more watchful. I ain't seen none.”

“Trust me, they've seen you and sized you up already.”