Blood on the Verde River (2 page)

Tired and stiff, he arrived at the main headquarters of the Quarter Circle Z at dawn. Tom and the men were saddling up and looked shocked to see him back so soon.

Chet waved off their concern. “Aside from an Apache raid on the herd, it was uneventful.”

“What happened?”

“Oh, one shot an arrow in my saddle. Cole shot the other one off his horse. I ran down the arrow shooter and he surrendered then tried to kill Cole, so he shot him, too.”

“That boy got him two Apaches?” one of the hands asked.

“Yeah. We had a small stampede because of it and finally got them all up there.”

“Cole's going to get a reward?”

“I don't know. Who'd award him one?”

“Damned if I know, but we'll sure award him when he gets back.” Everyone laughed.

Chet grinned. “Be a good deal. He's a tough enough guy.” Then he waved Tom away from the men and spoke to him about his plans.

“We're riding up to Perkins to check on the Herefords. Routine head count is all.”

“JD around?” Chet asked.

Tom shook his head and never said a word.

That was enough for Chet. He thanked him and went to the house. He could see his sister standing on the porch with her hands shading her eyes against the sun's glare.

“Saddle a roan for me,” he said to the young man who took his horse.

“You back already?” Susie asked. “Come in. I'll have coffee and breakfast in a few minutes.”

“How are you doing without May?”

“Boy, I really miss her. But she brought the boys over to fish yesterday, since Hampt was gone. She says the house on the Hartley place is nice now that they have it cleaned up. Ray and Ty fish some below the house on that part of the Verde, but they like the river better over here.”

“She's happy?”

“Oh, yes. She's really happy to have a man who treats her nice and loves her.”

“Good. I sure like Hampt, but I don't have to live with him.”

Susie laughed. “I like Leif, but I wonder if I could stand to be married. I have become so independent since I don't feed the crew meals. Now May has married Hampt and moved over to the Hartley place and . . . well, I wonder what my role is. Aunt Louise lives with Harold Parker most of the time. I suspect they will get married some day, which is fine, but I don't know what I should do.”

“Don't do anything unless your gut tells you that's what you want.”

She nodded. “Leif is serious and would take me if I was a raving witch. Will being married to him make me feel more his wife than I do today?”

“Hell, you know how wild my life has been. I really worried about how marrying Marge would work out. But I love her ten times more as my wife than I did when we were going together. We have a wonderful private world that I miss every time I step out of it.”

“I know that. I really misjudged her. You two are like a gentle stream flowing together when you are in each other's company. In fact, I am jealous of the ease in your marriage. Everyone doesn't have that or get that way after the honeymoon.”

“Sis, I can't tell you what it is, but we have it all. I hope for Marge's sake, and my own, she can carry our child. I think she wants it for me even more than herself. But win or lose, I'll still love her.”

“She confided to me it was her main goal in life to have a son.”

Chet nodded and cupped the warm coffee cup in both hands. “What have you decided?”

She looked at him hard. “I guess I'll jump in the water, if he still wants me.”

“Good. Don't make plans about everything. Let the plans come to the both of you. Where you will live? What you will do with your lives? Be dedicated and that will find you a better path to float down. I am going to go see my wife. God bless you two.”

“Big brother, will you pray for Leif and me?”

He reached over and grasped her wrists. “I used to pray more out loud.”

She agreed.

“Let's pray.” He dropped his face and swiped off his hat “Our heavenly father I want to thank you for all our blessings in this new land. We are grateful. Be with all the family members and their families. Lord help JD to find his way. He is lost at sea, but show him the way back, sir. I want to ask you to bless the coming wedding of Susie and her fine young man Leif. Lead them into an inspiring life of love that will carry them to higher places in life together as man and wife. And Lord protect the unborn we await. Amen.”

Susie sniffed. A tear ran down her cheek before she could capture it and when she tried to stop it with her finger, it only spread more.

“Thanks, that really helped me, Chet.”

He swallowed and stood up. “I better go tend to my own wife.”

“Yes, you should.”

Susie hugged him and whispered, “Thanks. You made me feel so good.”

“I meant it. Go rent a cabin in Oak Creek for your honeymoon. Have him show you how to fish.”

“Can he fish?”

“Damned if I know. But do it. Fall in the creek, let loose.”

She shook her head, hanging on his arm as he went out the front door.

“I'll see you.” He saw his saddled roan at the rack.

Three hours later, his wife exploded out of the big house when he rode up and dismounted. She flew into his arms from the porch. “You're home a day early. Gods, it is good to have you back.”

“I need a bath and a shave.” Chet nodded at the stable hand Jesus, who'd come on the run to welcome him and take the gelding and roan away.

“You came to the right place. I have a nightshirt for you to wear back from the shower. Have any problems?”

“Apaches tried to attack us, stampeded the cattle, and two of the Apaches got shot.”

“Oh, my heavens. I thought they were all on the reservations.”

“Not all of them stay there.”

Turning to the housekeeper who also cooked, Marge said, “Monica, look who got home early.”

“Ah, señor. Always so good to see you.”

Chet used his thumb to point to his wife. “Cause she's asked you a thousand times, I hope he hurries back?”

“Oh,
sí
. But that is a wife's duty, no?”

“I guess so. It is good to be home.”

“I have some lunch ready when you two are ready to eat it,”

“Fine. I'll be clean and get shaved then. Has she been minding me when I was away?” he asked Monica quietly.

“Oh,
sí.
She is well behaved.”

Marge gave him a shove. “I am the perfect minder.”

They laughed and the two of them went on to the sheepherder's shower tank atop the shop building that the sun heated. Undressed and standing on the wooden grates, he soaped and showered it away by pulling on a chain. The water wasn't hot but warm enough he didn't shiver too much. Then she personally dried him off and brushed his hair.

“You can't tell anyone, but Susie is going to say yes to Leif this Saturday night. Act surprised.”

“Oh, how wonderful. They will make a neat couple.”

“I thought so myself. But now I'm not certain. She might have fretted a lot about it. He's younger than she is.”

“So what about that?”

“I don't mean anything. But she's had some kinda reservations about him.”

After Marge shaved him, they ate lunch and he told Monica about the Apaches and their raid.

“They are blood thirsty devils. They will never settle down and live on those reservations. They are too free-spirited.”

“Then they may all be dead. It is that simple.”

Monica agreed.

That evening, Jenn drove out from town all red-eyed and obviously distraught. The big blond-headed woman ran the café in Preskitt—what the locals called Prescott. She had fed Chet and his nephew Heck when they first came to Yavapai County three years earlier looking for the ranch. She'd found him most of his help for the ranch, too.

Later, on their way home one night his brother's son was killed by road agents. Chet hunted them down and put them away.

Hearing the rig pull into the yard, he and Marge met Jenn at the door.

“What's wrong?” Chet asked as the two of them led her to the couch.

Marge went for a towel, pausing in the doorway to hear her say, “It's my daughter in Tombstone. She's disappeared. No one knows where she went or what happened to her. Here, read this letter from Mr. White, the town marshal.”

Marge turned back and sat next to Chet as he read the letter.

“What can we do?” Marge asked.

Jenn raised her chin. “Only man I know who could find her if she's alive is your husband. I won't be mad or upset if you throw me out. I know I'm not family nor kin. My respectability ain't too shiny, but I am her mother and God bless her soul I begged her not to get in that business. I knew the day she told me what she aimed to do something like this would happen to her—but I still wasn't ready for it. Chet's got a million irons in the fire, but let's face it. He can do what no lawman can do—get results.”

“I won't stand in your way,” Marge said to both of them. “You have some good men to handle the ranches. I can do the books or your sister can. Jenn's been a big help to you getting started here. Damn it, Chet you have not said a word to either of us.”

“I really don't know where to start. I have never been to Tombstone. They say it's a tough town. Finding your daughter will be like looking for a small gold nugget on the floor in the dark.” He held up his hands to both women when they started to protest. “I will go and look hard for her, but when all the roads end, I'll simply come home, Jenn. I don't want you to hate me if I fail.” He closed his eyes. They were burning and no tears flowed to wash the flame away.

“Take someone with you,” his wife said softly.

“Only one who isn't tied up is JD. I lost one of those boys already.” He dropped his chin. “I can't lose another of Louise's sons.”

“It might change his life,” Marge said. “He's rudderless now.”

“I'll go wake Jesus and have him ask JD if he wants to go with me.”

“I can—”

Chet stopped her. “Not everyone on the ranch needs to know our mission.”

“Will you go by stage from here?”

“No, we'll go as cowboys. As far as folks in Preskitt are concerned, we will have gone bull buying. To the people who see us, we'll be drifters and look like we're out of work. Make less of a scene that way. We'll stay in the shadows. Jenn, make me a list of the girls Bonnie worked with. I want to talk to them privately. Do you have a photo of her? That might help.”

He took the tintype in the metal case that she'd fetched from her purse. An oval pocket-size picture of a pretty girl in her late teens. “Reddish hair?”

“Yes. Green eyes, too.”

“You two make the list of those other girls' names. I'll go talk to Jesus.”

Marge nodded and Jenn agreed, thanking him for accepting the job.

In answer, he looked at her hard. “We will go look is all I can promise you.”

She nodded. “I understand.”

He left the women in the house and found the young man in his room in the stables.

The youth bolted up in his bed. “What is wrong, señor?”

“Shush. I need you to do a special job for me. Ride to the Verde Ranch and find JD. Tell him I need to go look for a lost woman. No more. Ask if he wants to help me. I will leave in the morning to go find her.”

“What if he says no?”

“Thank him and ride back here.”

“If he won't, may I go with you?” The boy was quickly dressing in the dark room with starlight streaming in a couple small panes.

“I would have to ask my wife.”

“I can ride and shoot. And I can speak Spanish to people who would not understand you.”

His words amused Chet. “I don't doubt that, Jesus. I will consider your offer.”

“Gracias.
I will be back by dawn.” In minutes, Jesus was gone in the starlight to saddle a horse to ride.

Chet went back to the house. Marge opened the door. “Did he understand?”

“Yes.” Chet smiled at her. “He wants to go along with us. Says he could talk to people that would not understand my Spanish.”

She laughed. “I guess your Spanish is shy of being all right.”

“I guess.”

“What is that?” Jenn asked, coming in from the kitchen.

“Aw, my stable man thinks he should go along,” Marge said. “He insulted Chet, saying his Spanish was not too clear.”

Chet shook his head at her words. “I wasn't insulted. I was amused.”

“Will JD come and go with you?” Jenn asked.

Chet shrugged his shoulders.

“If JD's brother Reg was here, he'd go too, but he's at Hackberry,” Marge said to her. “They're Chet's boys.”

“They are my boys until the new one gets here.” He hugged Marge.

She escaped. “You go sleep, Chet Byrnes. Jenn and I will put the things you will need in a pannier or two and have them ready. Raphael can pick you out some good horses and have them saddled in the morning. If Jesus wants to go, take him along. He needs to know these things, too.” She stomped her heel on the floor. “Go sleep.”

“Yes ma'am.”

 

 

Marge woke him. “JD came back with Jesus last night. Jenn told both boys the story of her daughter.”

“Neither of you women slept?”

“No. Raphael has the packhorses loaded and ready. I could not think of one more thing some unemployed ranch hands might need. I think he'd like to go this time. He still regrets that deputy telling him he could not follow and help you go after those horse rustlers and murderers.”

“He has no need to fuss over that. Consider the source.”

“What do you really think happened to Bonnie?”

Chet shook his head. “A whore is a simple commodity. Some people kill them out of meanness. They sell them into slavery. For no reason, they torture them and slap them around like they were jackasses.”

“I'd simply never thought about that being the case.”

“It is not peaches and sex. The dark side is so close to them every day they work. The people who manipulate them don't care. Abuse is a tough game they must play.”

She hugged him and wept on his shoulder. “Be careful, my love. Don't take any chances. Our baby is resting good. I never had one kick me before. I can't wait for it to do that to me.”

“God bless it and you. I will be back. I promise.”

She kissed him hard. “I'll pray for your return. If you need anything, send a telegram. I'll send the men to help you.”

“Word travels fast. That is all they need to know.”

“Yes. Jenn has to go back and run her business. I'll help her get through this some way.”

“That's great. I bet those two guys are worn out riding all night.”

Marge shook her head. “They're as anxious as you are to ride on this morning.”

In the backyard, Chet met up with JD and Jesus and shook Raphael's calloused hand. “Thank you for packing the horses.”

The short foreman hugged him. “Be very careful. Those men in that business will cut your throat for a quarter. I hope you find her,
mi amigo
. I can help you, wire me. I know that country well.”

“Take care of my wife. I will return as soon as I can.”

The three swung in the saddle. Chet waved good-bye and then led the way down the lane to the road. JD fell in behind him. Leading the two packhorses, Jesus rode last, and they left at a long trot in the first rays of sunlight.

After crossing the Prescott Valley, they turned left on the Black Canyon stage route headed south. He planned to get past Hassayampa City, where they knew him, before dark and stay at a ranch near there. The day grew hotter as they rode south, passing by north and south bound stages in clouds of dust that obscured them from being recognized by anyone.

When they passed the cutoff where the stage robbers took Heck as a hostage, Chet felt a knot in his throat that he could not swallow. He spent the saddest days of his life on that road to the mountains trailing the kidnappers and then still hadn't found that boy alive.

The three pushed on south and found a rancher willing to put them up for the night. He wouldn't take any money for the hay and grain they requested to buy.

“I know you, Chet Byrnes. I know it was you hung them killers over at Rye. You ever need a dollar or even fifty cents, you come see Jimmy Dicks. That's me. I'll find some money for you. And you got them stage robbers murdered your boy, too. Oh, and if you ever want to be sheriff up here, I'll campaign my heart out for you.”

“I hope I never have to be the sheriff, Jim Dicks.”

“We could damn sure use you as one. You boys be all right out here, tonight? Mrs. said to tell you all could sleep on her floor inside the house.”

“Tell her we're obliged. Out here is fine. We may ride off early,” Chet told the man.

“I can tell you right now, you won't beat her getting up. She'll have you three breakfast fixed before daylight. Eat with her. She's a fine woman and don't get much company down here.”

“We will. Thanks,” Chet said.

 

 

The light was on in the house the next morning as they saddled and loaded the packhorses.

“You boys get ready,” she shouted to them from the back door. “I've got hot water in the bowls out here to wash your hands and face. Towels on the nails. Food gets cold fast.”

Chet told them they could finish up later. They followed him to the porch, taking off their hats, putting them on the hat holders, and washing up. Hands dried, they filed in to look at the huge meal she had spread on the table.

“I knowed you had hard jerky last night, so I made it up for you in this breakfast.”

“You did swell, ma'am.”

“
Sí, señora
, this is wonderful.”

“Sure looks great,” JD added, shocked by all the food they had to eat.

She served them coffee, so Chet knew they weren't Mormons. The woman, in her thirties, was willowy-shaped and attractive. Nearly bashful, she quietly asked about his wife.

“Oh, Marge is at home running things. We are going south to look for bulls. This is my nephew JD Byrnes and Jesus is my wife's horse trainer.”

“Nice to have you men here with us this morning.”

“Well, this is sure lots of good food. Thank you, ma'am,” JD said.

“Very good, gracias,” Jesus added and went back to eating.

They finished in due time and returned to the task of loading the packhorses.

When they rode out, Jim Dicks was still trying to get Chet to reconsider running for sheriff. Chet gave a wave and headed away from the ranch.

He noticed the frequency of large saguaro cactus studding the mountainsides around the ranch. “How old are those tall cactus, Jesus?”

“I was told that they watched the first Spaniard Conquistadors centuries ago when they first came here.”

“I see.” The spiny desert flourished and Jesus pointed out the century plant stalks. “It will only bloom once and die. Apaches consider them a marker of where they live.”

“I'll recall that someday. What is the light colored cactus?”

“Cholla. Jumping cactus. You brush close to it and it will stick many thin, barbed needles in you.”

“We have prickly pear beds in Texas like these here.”

“Later, I will show you the barrel cactus. If you are out of water, you can use it for water. It tastes like an alkali water melon, but you can live on it.” Jesus talked on. “The Indian women use long sticks to harvest those saguaro fruit and the prickly pears. There is a small wild pig here called a javelina who eats the prickly pear pads. They run in packs and sometimes charge men on foot. They also eat the pods from the mesquite trees.”

“We have some of those kind of pigs in west Texas. JD, you listening?”

“I just want to stay out of those damn spines.” JD laughed. “It is sure a tough country. I've been seeing a few cows out there. How the hell do you round them up?”

Jesus laughed. “Being a vaquero is a tough job.”

“Damn tough. I'll stick to the high country or Texas to cowboy in.”

Chet wondered if asking his nephew to come along was his best move. JD was not the same youth who rode with him and Reg after those horse thieves stole the entire ranch remuda in Texas that started the feud with the Reynolds. Chet hoped he was wrong. Somewhere ahead he might need a steady gun hand.