Blood on the Verde River (31 page)

“I wasn't lying. This is growing into a large successful operation on the frontier.”

She snuggled closer to him. “I know what you've done for the ranch and me.”

They kissed and he wondered if the baby was going to survive their frolicking. So far so good.

 

 

In the morning, Monica and Marge made breakfast. Lucy and Betty Lou joined them and the meal was soon set out. Chet sipped coffee and watched them take their places. Susie would have been proud. He was surprised she hadn't stayed to make this meal herself.

Dishes done, he and Marge headed for their house. Tom was bringing the prisoners in a buckboard and then taking them into Preskitt in the morning. He'd have four armed, mounted men to guard them. That would cover it.

The trip uphill was without incident. The sun had warmed some when they turned toward Preskitt and headed home. It was a sparkling day and Chet was satisfied that things should iron out across his operations. JD was still on his mind, but that boy was big enough to take care of himself. Wherever he was.

Word had spread all over about the prisoners and Preskitt was crowded with the curious despite the bit of cold. A known stage robber gang and the kidnapper of a local man drew their attention. Lots of folks knew Leroy and wanted his kidnapper in jail.

Chet rode his roan in, balancing a rifle on his leg. He and his men rode up to the courthouse. Tom stopped the wagon with the prisoners next to them.

An undersheriff, Ralston, came out. “Who are these men?”

“U.S. Deputy Marshal Chet Barnes. Three are Marconis wanted for stage robbery and the murder of Joseph Smith in this county near Lee's Ferry. The fourth man is a kidnapper, Evan Evans. He kidnapped Leroy Scales in this county and took him to Utah and held him for ransom. His wife was to send him money for his release.”

“Marshal Byrnes, are you prepared to file these charges?”

“I am, sir.”

“Are there any rewards on these men?”

“The Marconis have a Wells Fargo Reward on them. That goes to my men.”

“Are these men wearing your irons?”

“They are.”

“Where's the gawdamn Sheriff?” an angry onlooker shouted.

A yell went up from the crowd. “Sims! Sims!”

Chet shook his head, but they didn't stop. The prisoners were marched inside and the door closed on the jail entrance.

He spoke to his men in the crowd that he'd buy them a beer at the Palace and turned his horse to go across the street. He hitched the roan at the rail and went though the left side tall doors with the batwings tied back for winter entrances.

He found them all at the bar. “I'm buying two beers for this bunch.”

The bartender counted noses and gave the count to him. “Be two dollars.”

Satisfied, Chet put the money on the bar.
Must have a few noncrew members in the lot—oh well.
He waved away any change and turned on his heel. Outside the bar, he mounted his horse and rode over to Jenn's diner for lunch.

The girls welcomed him and had to hear his story. He made it brief and ordered a plate lunch and coffee. Jenn came out and slid in to talk to him. “Do you know the Nelson brothers? Lonnie and Delta?”

“No, why?”

“I got word they've been hired to gun you down.”

Chet frowned at her. It couldn't be true. “Who hired them?”

“I'm not sure. But word is out that they're coming to kill you.”

“I trust your information, but is there any description of them? I'd also like to know who hired them.”

“I'll find out what I can. Meanwhile, you better get loaded for bear.”

Chet nodded. He, Tom, Hampt, and Reg were meeting in the morning. Maybe one of them knew the pair. Damn. Where in the hell did they come from? He picked at his food. A shame Marge hadn't come along with him. He'd go back home and try to find out who they were. His problems never ended.

 

 

The meeting of ranch foremen was at his house. All except Sarge were there. Chet had paper and pencils set out for taking notes.

When they were all settled with coffee, Chet began. “Thanks for coming. I wanted us to go over the operations and get everyone's ideas on what we should do in the future. I mean, we all are in this together, so I want to hear about each aspect and what we need. But first, I want to ask have any of you ever heard of Lonnie or Delta Nelson?”

“Where are they from?” Reg asked.

“Damned if I know. Jenn said she had word they were hired guns coming to kill me.”

“I never heard of them,” Hampt said. “She know anything else?”

“Not any more than that. But Jenn doesn't carry idle threats around. She's looking for more information.”

“You think they've been sent from Texas?” Reg asked.

“Wait. Let me look on the sawmill payroll. Several of those men have come and gone. Robert has fired some for drinking on the job. I figured most of them were on the run anyway and liked the isolation up there better than working on the ranch.”

Chet nodded. “Check it and let me know. Last time I looked on those books the sawmill was making us money. Now we still have another house to build on the Windmill Ranch for Sarge and Susie. You all know we have not been paid yet for any delivered cattle, but Mr. Tanner at the bank says that is not unusual, and that we will eventually get our money. It will be a considerable amount, but we will keep it for a rainy day and try to buy the Rankin place. Now, how are we doing with other things?”

Hampt began first. “I have three hundred mother cows and I think the range, if we have rain, will improve. I have fifteen Hereford bulls and we cut any longhorn bulls on our range. I should have a half whiteface calf crop by next year and all part whiteface calves the next year. We are fencing some acreage down on the Verde with barbed wire this winter. John has ordered wire. We'll twist and put barbs on it here. It was the cheapest way to go. I have four Mexican boys cutting posts.”

“Everyone knows those log fences don't keep cattle out of alfalfa.”

“We used wire and stakes in Texas. This barbed wire takes less maintenance. I think our hay fields are under stake and wire.”

“It takes two full-time men to keep it repaired, too,” Tom said. “Of course, the previous management used the cheapest material to build it.”

“Our hay contractor is going to return our equipment. He's buying his own. We need for John to look at it and have it ready. We need hay equipment for Sarge, and for you two, Hampt and Reg. Tom, what we have may not be worn out too bad for you to use for a year or so. To get anything new here, I need to order it soon.” Chet wrote it down on his list.

“Tom, how are you doing?” he asked next.

“Four hundred fifty range cows and twenty-five bulls—either Hereford or Shorthorn range bulls. That doesn't count the purebreds. We have around a hundred of those and five bulls at the Perkins place. I weaned eighty-nine calves. Forty are good bull prospects, five were culls, and the rest are heifers. I have them on some fenced grass upriver that I rented.”

Chet tapped his pencil on the table. “You have some big stuff from the past years we can sell to the Navajos?”

“Yeah. Ryan tried to sell all the cattle as calves. My estimate is about two fifty yearlings plus. We sold some. But I will have a better count at roundup next spring. I have about three eighty head calf crop from this season.”

“How is our range?”

“Oh, I think it improved this season, but I'd like more forage on the stalk out there. The departure of the extra cattle sure helped. We can heal in time.”

Chet looked at his nephew. “Reg, how's your deal?”

“We have eighty mother cows, sixty calves, and a bunch of old stags—seventy-five now. I have a few shorthorn cross bulls I left standing. I'll need some hay equipment and—”

“Wait.” Chet held up his hand. “These are all maverick cattle you and your wife rounded up and branded this year?”

“Yeah. We're still finding them. The two cowboys you sent me can rope anything.”

“You may stock that Windmill ranch yet.”

Reg smiled. “We're trying hard.”

Chet nodded. “You'll need water development this coming summer. Either windmills or tanks. I looked at some over at Rye that really work.”

“I built some tanks at a few springs with my boys and they work,” Hampt said.

“It is the only way we can get the stock spread out to eat the grass,” Tom said.

They agreed.

Chet continued the meeting. “We have no word on the Rankin Ranch. We will add that to Hampt's place when it comes. Now on to horses. We will need horses to pull the mowers and the stacker, rake and sweep the hay. I may need to send back east for some of these things, but mustangs and knotty-tailed saddle stock won't do the job. Frey may know where we can get work horses. Keep your ears open.”

“We all need about two dozen more saddle horses to run our operations,” Tom said. “I know they cost more money.”

“Sarge, for sure, will, too.” Chet was writing it all down.

“I'm going to need some alfalfa seed to plant twenty more acres, probably need some barley for a nurse crop, too.” Hampt shook his head. “Have we spent all your money, now?”

Reg shook his head. “I won't get any land cleared catching cattle this winter so I'll put planting off till next year.”

“You sure?” Hampt asked, and then laughed.

It was time for lunch. Marge told them to put all their papers up. Monica, May, and Lucy had fixed them a big lunch.

“I bet you had a hand in it,” Hampt said.

“Oh. A little bit.” Marge smiled at him, dealing out the plates.

May brought silver ware and Lucy had coffee cups. Monica brought the fresh coffee.

Plates of fire-cooked steaks, potatoes, green beans, and applesauce in bowls along with brown topped sourdough biscuits and flour gravy appeared on the big table.

“Raphael cooked the meat for us,” Marge said. “The four of us did the rest. Who needs something else?”

The men applauded. Chet invited the women to join them.

Marge shook her head. “No, we have more interesting things to discuss in the kitchen, but we will check on you.”

“Now ain't that like a woman,” Hampt said. “More important things to talk about than ranching.”

They all laughed. The women retreated to the kitchen and the men sat down at the table.

Chet spoke as the food was passed around. “Christmas is coming. I think we need to have a party for our hands maybe at the Quarter Circle Z. Most don't have families around here. I want each man to have a sack of hard candy, a couple oranges, maybe a kerchief, and ten dollars. The gals can fix them up for the party. Sarge's men will be on the road so I'll go up there when they get back and have one with them. Reg, you and Lucy can take things back for your people. Tom oversees the sawmill log haulers so he can have a party for them.”

“Let's invite them to the ranch,” Tom said. “They need to be part of us, too.”

“Good idea. I bet Robert invites his girlfriend.” Chet looked at the men at his table. He was so blessed to have them working for him. “Now all of you, I'm giving you an extra month's salary this year. We are doing good. And Robert gets a foreman bonus, too.”

“You know Hoot ain't going to be here much longer,” Tom said. “Can we buy him a large rocking chair?”

“We'll put ribbons on it,” Hampt said.

“Sure. Marge will handle that.”

“What am I to handle? Anyone need coffee?” She said as she and Monica entered the room to pour refills.

Chet smiled. “Get the old cook a big rocker and a wool blanket for Christmas.”

“I can sure do that.”

 

 

Things had gone fine enough to suit him during the meeting. Lucy and Reg were spending another day with them before they left to get the Christmas things to haul back to Hackberry.

Tom pulled Chet aside and talked to him in private. “I think Cole is a good man. I am sending him to ride with you until we know who those hired guns are. We don't want you shot. I'd say Jesus should ride with you, too.”

Chet started to protest but Tom held up his hand. “I am serious. You are the one who holds this operation together. I want you to accept them as your guards.”

“I'll think on it.”

“Reg get over here,” Tom said. “I want those two men who rode with him to Utah to be his bodyguards.”

“Good idea. Do that Chet.”

“I'm not afraid—”

Reg cut him off. “But you got a baby coming that will need you. You won't let your wife ride a horse. So I say yes, the two men go where you go.”

“I'll see,” was all Chet promised.

Reg stuck his head back into the kitchen. “Marge, come in here.”

“No, don't get her involved.”

Once Marge was in the room, they all turned to her. “Tom wants Cole and Jesus to ride with him all the time until we find out more about those hired guns,” Reg said to her.

Marge nodded. “Good idea. You do that, Chet Byrnes. I don't want you hurt, either.”

Chet looked at the tin squares on the ceiling for help. None came. “All right. Send for him. Jesus is here.”

“Good,” Tom said. “Marge, thank everyone. I need to get home and be sure all is all right.”

Chet shook his hand. “Thanks. We had a good review. This ranch will work.”

Tom left, then Hampt and May. She kissed Chet good-bye and thanked him for the day and said how much she enjoyed it. They should do it more often.

“I'll try to do that. Hampt tell those boys I am still looking for small horses.”

May shook her head. “Those boys are getting to be something else. Last time I was gone, they shot a skunk with a twenty-two.”

“Oh?”

“I was worried about them shooting anything without one of us there. But worse than that, they shot it on my front porch. I asked them why they shot it there. They said 'cause it was trying to get in our house.” She waved her hand in front of her nose. “It has smelled bad for a week, both inside and out.”

Chet kissed her cheek and hugged her shoulders. “They love you.”

“I am not sure I love them at times.”

They were off. Marge was laughing as she closed the front door. “Those boys will be boys.”

“You will have your turn at that.”

She hugged him. “Oh God, I hope so.”

“You will. I promise you. Marge, you agree with what Tom proposed, don't you?” Chet asked.