Blood on the Verde River (30 page)

Chet shook hands with Cole and Jesus and told them they'd be relieved of guard duty till morning and to meet him at Susie's. He did the same to Kathrin and left.

It was long after dark when he reached Susie's house. She came on the run and hugged him. Tom had put on his coat and came over and so did half the crew.

“You all right?” Susie asked.

Chet nodded in the candle lamplight. “I am fine. Leroy Scales is well. We arrested his kidnapper and the three Marconi men who had robbed the stagecoach. They also murdered a man on the road going up there. Good to see all of you.”

They cheered.

“We'll have more time to talk later. Cole and Jesus will bring the horses and prisoners here tomorrow. They are sleeping at the sawmill tonight. Saddle me a fresh horse. The roan is worn out.”

“You are going home tonight?” Susie asked.

“Yes.”

“Sarge and I are going to be married tomorrow night. We hoped you'd be here to give me away again.”

“I will. I wish you two the best.”

“I know I can't stay up there at Windmill because the only house is the bunkhouse.”

“We will build one for you two.”

“I didn't know if we could. I worry about all the expenses we've had. In the spring, I'll use a tent. Until then, we will get along. He really likes the cattle driving business and wants to keep that job.”

“Good.” One less worry for Chet.

“Remember, the wedding is tomorrow,” she said quietly.

“I'll be back for it.”

The fresh horse came saddled. He spoke briefly to Tom. “All well here?”

“Tomorrow, some of us will go meet Cole and Jesus and help with the prisoners.”

“I want them held here until Monday and then we will deliver them to the jail. Cole and Jesus have worked their butts off. They deserve lots of the credit. I will send Mrs. Scales down here to meet her husband tomorrow. He is a great guy as well. I want everyone to see these pitiful outlaws delivered to Sims on Monday.”

“We can handle that.”

“Susie, in your wedding preparations, I would like Leroy and his wife Betty Lou to be your guests at the house tomorrow night.”

“Fine, Chet. Right after the wedding, Sarge and I are going to Oak Creek for our honeymoon. Millie can entertain them.”

“Swell.” Chet stepped into the saddle, swung his leg over the cantle, and slid into place. “They will be so glad to be together they won't need much.”

Susie laughed. “Ride careful.”

“I will. Thanks guys and gals. I'm going home.” He swept the fresh roan around and headed for the cross bar at a healthy run. On the Camp Verde road, through the starry night, and in the silver landscape, he let him out. The grade was steep. He let the gelding walk and halted on the top for him to get his breath.

Then he set out again in a lope.

At last, reaching the cross bar over the open gate, he charged up the drive to the house. Sliding to a stop, he began to undo the girth and gave a loud, “Yahooo.”

A light came on in their bedroom and he dropped the saddle and hot pads on the ground. The roan wouldn't leave. He might graze some. There was little snow on the ground there.

The front door opened. “Chet! You're home!”

He took the steps two at a time and hugged Marge's warm form.

“Where are the others?” she asked as they went inside.

“Everyone is fine. We have the kidnapper. Leroy is all right. We also caught the Marconis. They killed a man on the road. A lady, Kathrin Arnold, got mixed up in it, but she had no hand in it. She's a Mormon and her husband had married one teenager and planned to marry another sister, so she left him. The kidnapper had picked her up and she had no choice but go with him. She and the two boys he hired as ranch hands looked out for Leroy.”

“Where is she?”

“She's coming down with Jesus, Cole, and the prisoners. I promised her that you and Jenn would help her.”

“Of course. You look a little bushy, but I don't care. You are safe and healthy.” She hugged him again.

Monica stuck her head in the room. “I started the boiler. It was already warm. I have some cake and soon will have coffee.”

“We're coming. You spoke to Susie?” Marge asked.

“Yes. That's why we are going to bring the prisoners into Preskitt on Monday. I promised her we'd be there tomorrow.”

“I am sure some will think it is too quick, but both of them want each other. So who else has any word in it?”

“No one. Let their tongues wag. I want her happy . . . and him, too.”

Monica's chocolate cake was wonderful.

But before she got away, he asked. “How is your friend?”

“Oh, he's fine. He's taking me to the wedding tomorrow. Marge said we could sleep in separate bedrooms at the ranch. Is that all right?”

“Or use one.” He laughed, but she was gone.

Marge snickered. “They might, anyway.”

By the time he bathed and shaved and they went upstairs it was past three a.m. It would be a short night, but who cared? He'd have her in his arms and be in his own bed. Thank God.

Up at eight, they hurried to get ready. Raphael sent a vaquero with a buckboard to get Leroy's wife Betty Lou and take her to the Verde ranch. He had a note and instructions on what she should do. She was to keep quiet about the whole thing and she needed to bring clothes for both of them to wear at the wedding.

Marge had his best clothes cleaned and pressed. They were packed in a small trunk with her best dress. The buggy hitched and a horse tied on behind, they left for the Verde ranch.

Monica was in a dither before they left, but her date wasn't in sight when they turned east for the main road and headed for the ranch. They had the fast team and he let them go. They slowed going downhill and in no time were on the flats. Marge was so excited about his return, she could hardly contain herself. Having him home and safe at last, he figured out, recalling Jesus's story about her worrying where he was when he was gone, was probably true. The baby inside her was not a problem.

They reached the ranch in early afternoon and Susie rushed out to hug her. “How is the momma doing?”

“Oh,” Marge swept the hair back from her own face. “Wonderful, now that he's home and safe. Let's work on your hair and get you ready.”

“There is food in the house,” Susie said to him. “We decided to have less of a wedding than last time. There will be plenty of food, but we cut back some.”

“You didn't need to.”

“I know, but the government owes you lots of money.”

“They will pay us.”

Susie wrinkled her nose at him as they walked inside. “The men from the mill aren't here yet, either.”

“They will be coming. They are no doubt taking their time. We sent a man to get Betty Lou Scales. His name is—”

“Orlando,” Marge said. “A polite vaquero who will deliver her here with fresh clothes to wear. And Monica is bringing her rancher and they will sleep in separate bedrooms.”

Susie laughed. “Our aunt is coming with her man. They will sleep in one.”

Chet made a sliced beef sandwich with mustard. “Either of us get a letter from JD?”

“No. But Lucy and Reg were invited by mail in plenty of time.”

“They'll come if they can.”

“He may not want her to ride in her condition,” Marge said.

“She'd be a damn sight harder to convince than you were,” he said before taking another bite.

“Someone is coming now,” Marge said, looking out the front windows.

“That is my husband to be and he is driving the buckboard he and Hampt rebuilt with John the blacksmith.” Susie ran out, kissed him, and on the way in she told him that Chet was back.

A big smile on Sarge's face, they shook hands. “Glad you're back, boss man. This has been a whirlwind, but I couldn't be any prouder that she wants to be my wife.”

“She said you want to stay at Windmill and herd cattle. I said we'd build you two a house to live in. Weather lets up, she wants a tent over there, but we will start on it as soon as they get done at Hackberry.”

“You can't beat that. I am impressed and I'll do my damndest to make it work. We've got time for a short honeymoon and then she's coming back here and I'll need to head for New Mexico. The boys have them all bunched close so we can leave in a week.”

“Sounds great. Robert from the sawmill will be here. We'll start cutting timber for your house over there.”

“Boy, I recall riding out here the first time and saying, ‘Well, I'll try this job and in six months I'll go on down the road.'”

“You ever want to?”

“No. I was so busy and having so much fun, I never thought about that again.”

“You've made a good hand and you'll make a good brother-in-law partner in this outfit.”

Sarge wet his lips. “Hampt and I both talked about the deal we've got here with Tom and we all three said it won't get no better.”

“It will. We'll be real big ranchers one day,” Chet predicted.

“You worried any about this paper they hand me for the cattle?”

“I'd like to have the cash, but that's how they do business in D.C. If they can't pay us, they can't pay lots of their suppliers. My banker isn't worried. He says it will come through. Meanwhile, we will supply them cattle.”

“You feel safe. I won't worry.”

Chet clapped Sarge on the shoulder. “We will survive.”

“Good and thanks. I am very proud to get to marry your sister. I know people will talk about it being too soon, but life ain't that long. I don't want to miss a chance to have her for my wife. I was too dumb before so she escaped me, but not this time.”

“I hope you two have a great life together. I won't trade mine for anyone else.”

“We will. Susie said you will have some federal prisoners held here at the ranch?”

“Yes. I aim to deliver them to Sims on Monday. Know that we won't ever ranch on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.” Chet shook his head.

“Tough country?”

“Very harsh. I liked the Kaibab Plateau and the Joseph's Lake region, but I'll leave it for others.”

“How tough were the men you arrested?”

“Just thugs.”

Sarge nodded he understood. “We haven't had any more Indian trouble. Guess they are in a wickiup till spring.”

“Keep your eyes open. They have not called it quits yet.”

“We will.”

The train had arrived from the sawmill. Tom assigned guards. The prisoners were chained together and he locked them in a log barn. Marge took charge of Kathrin, escorting her up to the house. Chet assured Leroy they'd jail the prisoners on Monday and that his wife was on her way.

“Oh, that is so good of you. I sure have missed her. But if you and those two men had not come—I'd be dead. All I went to do was to settle an estate and come home. I didn't carry any money because that road is steeped in people getting robbed and killed.”

“Naw, you'd have found a way out. Thank Betty Lou, too. She came and convinced my wife to send me looking for you. One of our men went to get her since we knew you wanted to hug her.”

“Hug her? Oh, you are sure right.”

“Stay and enjoy the wedding. You can take her home in the rig tomorrow. There are plenty of rooms at the big ranch house tonight.”

“Thanks. We will have an enjoyable time.” Leroy shook his head. “I am glad that I don't have to haul those outlaws another mile.”

“We will deliver them, like I said, on Monday, but I'd like you to be there to talk to the prosecuting attorney about Evans's actions.”

“Oh, I will be there.”

“Thanks.”

Marge showed up, wearing a light coat over her dress. “How are your men?”

“I guess fine. I have not spoken to them yet. Just Leroy here.”

“Oh. I really like Kathrin Arnold. I think we can help her. She appreciates all you have done for her. I would, too.”

“Fine. Everything is going well. We will be ready for it all.”

“I imagine you are worn out, aren't you?”

“I'm fine. I am home at last with you. That's what counts.”

She hugged him. “So am I.”

Despite the weak sun, he felt warm to have her attached to him. Something about being with her simply made him feel good. Of all the great women in his life, Marge had power that they shared and it powered both of them.

Cole and Jesus found them.

“We're coming to the wedding. Tom has guards to watch the prisoners,” Cole said as both of them took off their hats in respect to her.

“Chet tells me you have been busy,” Marge said.

“We sure have, but I can tell you that isn't any place to take a vacation,” Jesus said to her and they laughed.

“Chet did mention he thought it wasn't ranch country,” Marge said. “Thank you for looking out for him.”

“He looked after all of us,” Jesus assured her.

“I know,” she said. “We all use him.”

Chet shook his head at their banter. “You two guys have a good time tonight.”

“We will,” Cole said. And the young men left them.

Chet and Marge walked to the house to change clothes. Betty Lou arrived and she danced with Leroy in the yard. Chet saw them from the window and smiled. “They'll have fun tonight.”

Marge joined him and watched the two dancing.

“That is wonderful. Well, I'm just glad things are settling.”

“A few months ago, I would never have gotten away with changing clothes at the same time with you,” she said buttoning up her dress.

“I am not that numb, but it didn't seem proper with all we have to do.”

She kissed his face. “I was only making a point.”

He two-arm hugged her and kissed her. “Next week, I will be yours.”

“No. You have prisoners to deliver. You will want to check on Reg and then Sarge's deal while he's on his honeymoon.”

“I swear I will.”

“I know and I love you. Don't change for a silly pregnant wife's whims.”

“Good. It has been a tough near ten days on the trail.”

She silenced him and they kissed hard.

The wedding was ready to start. The schoolhouse would bulge, but there was room for all. Standing room only. Chet led Susie down the narrow isle and they chatted under their breath.

“You two have fun up there,” Chet whispered.

“We will. He's a wonderful guy.”

“Yes, he is. All right, you are on your own.”

“Thanks Chet, I love you, too.”

 

 

After the ceremony, the married couple ran out to the buckboard, and folks threw rice at them before Sarge took charge and drove away.

Chet and Marge faced the crowd. “Let's all go eat. There is plenty of cake and we should have fun,” Chet hollered. He was ready to go to the ranch house, but they stayed and danced.

All at once, someone shouted, “Reg and Lucy are here.”

Soon the tall Reg came through a doorway crowded with well-wishers. Lucy, on the end of his arm, was coming along behind, talking to everyone.

Chet's nephew looked exhausted and his wife shook her head at Chet. “You've been out chasing outlaws again.”

“Yes, we got them, too.”

“Hey, we tried to be here on time,” Reg said. “I guess we missed the newlyweds.”

“They drove off minutes ago. How are the two of you?”

“Fine,” Reg said. “And Lucy's doing great. House

is nearly completed and she says the baby will be a boy.”

“This spring we'll have a new generation of kids in this family.”

“We'll each have our own gang.” Reg laughed. “Snow has slowed down our mavericking and we could've come faster on horseback, but I worried about her. She didn't think it would hurt her and the baby, but I wasn't taking any chances.”

“Good idea. I'm sure you're getting lots done up there.”

“We are sure trying.”

“Good. Cattle delivery is going fine. We have not been paid for any, but my banker says it will come.”

“God, I hope so.” Reg looked taken aback by that news.

“Standard federal procedure. Before you go back, I want us to sit down with Tom and look at all the things you need.”

“Good enough. Lucy and I made a list.”

“Go get something to eat. We'll be here.”

“They are the cutest pair on this earth,” Marge said as they headed for the food line, talking to each other all the way. “I loved her when she showed us around that first trip, but those two together are simply cute along with sweet to one another.”

“I agree. We better dance.” So they waltzed and then danced to another tune. They had magic and she moved so smoothly with him, he really enjoyed dancing. Good to be back home. That damn country above the Grand Canyon was a real wasteland.

About midnight, they went back to the big house. All parties came over about the same time. Without Susie to organize things, Marge made coffee and served them cinnamon rolls Susie had laid out for them. Chet's aunt and her man, Monica and her rancher, Betty Lou and Leroy, plus Reg and Lucy made a houseful. Hampt and May had gone home to their place earlier. Tom and Millie dropped by, but by then Chet and Marge were tired. They told them all good night and headed up the stairs.

From the stairs, he stopped and thanked them all for coming and said he was sure happy with the ranch, all the workers, and the wedding. “We are all one here.”

They cheered.

In bed, Marge said he was so sweet to tell them that.