Blood on the Verde River (32 page)

“Oh, yes. I definitely agree that you should have your
companyeros
with you at all times.”

“No one has a letter from JD?” Lucy asked, coming into the room.

They all shook their heads. “He didn't write you, either?” Chet asked Lucy.

“No, Chet. And Reg is concerned. At least he wrote to us for a while. Now nothing.”

“Lord, I hope I don't have to go and try to find him.”

Reg shook his head. “He knows we'd come if he needed us. But like Chet says, he's a damn long way away in New Mexico.”

“I am going to find those two hired guns. I don't need bodyguards.”

“Until they're gone to hell or jail, you do,” Reg said.

No one is going to take his side—might as well give up. The four of them played cards and laughed a lot that afternoon. They ate leftovers for supper. Afterward, Reg read magazines. The girls sent Monica off and did her dishes. Chet looked at the things he needed to buy and figured he must order them shortly or they wouldn't get there until after hay session.
Bodyguards
. He never thought he'd be tied to them, but Marge would make him promise to use them.

 

 

When Cole came up a little later to stay at the upper ranch, Tom sent a note with him that said the Nelsons had never worked for the mill operation. No one by that name was on the ranch books. Also, without Susie there, he'd need to hire a bookkeeper to write checks, keep the accounts up and straight. No way could she run the ranch and keep the books from the Windmill Ranch.

He also wanted to know who would move into the ranch house. It was too good not to use. And a house not lived in soon fell apart, got roof leaks no one noticed and so on.

Chet would have to think on that one for a while. She'd be there until spring, anyway.

It snowed the next day, but it was light. Reg and Lucy rushed around to get everything they needed and the Christmas deal arranged as well. Chet knew his nephew was concerned about going home in the buckboard if the snow was deep up on the rim. No telling about that and no way to get word and find out.

Most of it melted around Preskitt and then it turned cold that night.

Reg and Lucy left the next morning with plans to stay at the sawmill if it looked bad. Chet, Jesus, and Cole rode to town. They met the new owner at the mercantile—Ben Ivors—and he invited Chet into his back office to discuss merchandise.

Chet said, “I am going to need some mowing machines, hay rakes, buck rakes, and stackers. I've seen some in the catalogs. I know if I don't get them ordered, they won't ever get here for next year.”

Ivors nodded. “Exactly. They could get to the end of the tracks over by the east New Mexico line and then take forever to get here. What brand you want?”

“I have some Case mowers now. I want six to start. Plus three rakes, three buck rakes to gather the hay, and three stackers.”

“Oh, man you need a lot of machinery. I can order some extras to sell when they get here and maybe save some money for both of us.”

“Good.” Chet could see his two men waiting out in the store for his return.

“I can send a telegraph today and see if Case has any closer than Iowa.”

“Do that. I have the money to pay for them and you get us the best price.”

“I will. It's sure nice to finally meet you, Chet.”

“My pleasure. I'll drop back in a week and see how you are doing.”

Ben rose to shake his hand. “Hey, anything I can help you with, let me know.”

Chet stood. “Good luck. You must have had some experience at this business. I see new items and things I never saw in here before.”

“My family was in business in Kansas for twenty years. I wanted to come west and found this store was for sale.”

“Come down to Camp Verde schoolhouse. We have pot luck and dancing on Saturday night.”

“My wife and I will do that.”

“Folks don't let it get wild. So you can bring your family.”

“That's swell. I only have my wife. Thanks for ordering all this from me.”

“Good enough. Let me know you're coming. We have extra beds at the ranch house so you won't need to drive home over the mountain after the dance.”

Chet returned to the front of the store, picked up his two men, and they went over to Bo's office. There were magazines to read and Chet invited them inside with him. After a thorough look around outside, they went in.

“Who are they?” Bo asked.

“Oh, Jenn heard word there were some killers coming to get me. My family said I needed them.”

“Ha. Now I'm getting even.”

“No, they don't tell me what to do like those two I hired to dry you out.”

“I still miss getting drunk, but I know you did me a big favor.”

“Anything on the Rankin place?” Chet asked.

“No, they are still in court. Might be six months or more. I won't lose it.”

“Tell Jane hi.”

“Her and the baby that's coming?” Bo grinned.

“Yeah. I'll have one by May, the good Lord willing.”

“That will be something. Me a daddy. I'm swearing to do better than my old man.”

“I hope so.”

“See you.”

The three left and Chet went by the bank and saw Tanner in his office. He handed Chet a telegram that said the U.S. Treasury was to pay the first six months' vouchers.

“What about the second? Will they pay those, too?”

“Yes. They say they will pay the second half of the year or at least part of it when they get back into congressional session.”

“Thanks.”

“I think your money for this year will be here by next March.”

“Good.” Chet nodded. “I ordered some hay machinery hoping to get it here by May or even June.”

“I have a loan in arrears on some equipment. I may have to recall it. Two mowing machines and two rakes.”

“Have they been kept up?”

“Never used. They're still in crates. However, the lady seems unable to pay on them.”

“Is her first name Kay?” Chet asked.

“Yes. Her man shot himself, they tell me.”

“I won't go get the equipment for you, but if you have to take it in, I will buy it.”

“Thanks. You have some problems there?”

“My nephew JD moved her out when she wanted a divorce. He tried to help her. She remarried someone else when he left to do a job for me.”

“I won't say a word.”

“Thanks.” Chet left the bank and told the two young men waiting for him that they were going to Frey's and talk horses around his potbellied stove.

Frey's wife was home, so they had the warm office to themselves.

“Man, what 'cha three doing in town on a day like this?” Frey asked when they entered the livery.

“Draft horses. I need about sixteen teams,” Chet answered.

Frey had a coughing spell and when he finished he apologized. “Damn winter cold. That is a big number for me to find. What they going to do?”

“Make hay with them.”

Fret whistled. “You need stout ones. Some big stage horses can do that. You want them broke?”

“That would help. But we can break some of them this winter if we have to.”

“All right. I have three teams I can sell right now. One is green broke, the other two are all right to hitch up. Cost you three apiece for the two broke ones. Two for the other team.”

“When will you have them here?”

“Oh, Friday,” Frey said.

“I want to see them and try them out before I buy them.”

“That one team is only green broke.”

“That means they will lead?” Chet asked the stableman.

“Well, sort of.”

Chet's henchmen laughed.

“Aw, how soon are you farming?”

“Springtime. Haying mostly,” Chet said.

“I can find them by then. Look at these Friday and I'll get some more that I know about.”

“Good. Get busy.”

Frey looked at Jesus and Cole. “What are you guys? His horse breakers?”

“Naw, we're just learning the business,” Cole said.

“Well, Chet can teach you two a lot.”

“He has already,” Jesus said.

“You two help him get those outlaws out of Utah?” Frey asked.

“They were there,” Chet said.

Leaving Frey's, they went on to lunch at Jenn's, choosing a booth near the back.

Jenn crowded in beside Chet to tell him something.

“You can talk,” Chet said. “These are my guards. When everyone heard about the pair prowling for me, Marge and the others made them my helpers.”

“Good for her. I learned more about those two Nelsons from a new woman in town—Kathrin Arnold.”

“We brought her back from Utah with us,” Chet said.

“Yes. she is staying with Leroy Scales and his wife Betty Lou. Kathrin thinks those two were hired by her ex or a former husband in Utah.”

“Marge was going to help her get on her feet. We had the wedding for my sister and then a meeting. Kathrin must have left with the Scales. Didn't see her go, but wondered where she got to.”

“They're all Mormons. I imagine she felt better with her own kind.”

“I guess. She is a good person. I hope it all works out for her.”

Jenn shook her head. “Divorces are not easy to attain nor are they done without being shunned by many people. But she thinks that Arnold hired the Nelsons.”

Chet told Jesus and Cole, “We need to go by the marshal's office and find out what we can about those two.”

That part of business taken care of, Jenn said, “Well, your sister is married to Sarge. I hate that I missed it. He is a special guy and what I saw of her, she is special, too.”

“They will do well together.”

Jenn stood and said to the young men, “You two watch out for him. Those Nelsons don't need to harm a hair on his head.”

“We will,” Cole promised her, and she left them to eat the heaping plates brought by her daughter.

Chet introduced her to them.

They were all smiles. When she swished away, they watched her retreat without a comment.

 

 

The next week Marge, Chet, and his two bodyguards had an early Christmas with Robert and his crew. They took his girlfriend up with them. Marge had promised her folks she'd chaperone. It was a fun evening and everyone was shocked when Robert gave the young woman a ring. She was shocked even more. They planned to get married in April. Robert had found a cabin he could buy near the sawmill. Several of the drivers cried after opening the silk neckerchiefs Marge had bought for them.

The fivesome went home the next day. Robert's girlfriend showed off the gold band and talked all day about the men and what all happened.

They did Tom's crew next. The rocking chair was made of hard maple and the wool blanket colorful enough to please a squaw. The old man had wet eyes over it and hugged Marge. A ten-buck bonus, oranges, candy, and a silk neckerchief was too much for several of the men as they sang Christmas carols. Chet hoped Reg's bunch had fun, too.

Susie and Sarge came in while it was going on and she cried. Susie, Sarge, Chet and his two helpers were going up the Windmill in two days to have a party there.

Hampt's outfit was next—five cowboys and the four Mexican boys cutting posts, along with May's boys and her daughter. She promised them they'd go to Aunt Marge's house for their Christmas. They were fine, but Chet could still smell traces of the skunk.

He still needed two small broke horses for those boys. May sang three Christmas carols and everyone wanted more. No one could believe the bonuses and neckerchiefs.

There was no end to Christmas. The Byrneses and the bodyguards arrived at the lower ranch early, fully loaded for the Windmill Ranch party. Susie drove the team to the Windmill with Marge beside her. She wouldn't stay home. She didn't want to miss a thing. They arrived in the night and told everyone to go back to sleep. They'd party all the next day.

All the men danced with Marge and Susie while Victor played the music and another cowboy fiddled. Chet's head was full of names when he passed out their money in envelopes. Candy, oranges, and the silk neck rags made a sparkling morning.

 

 

Smiling faces saw them off the next day because Sarge had to go to New Mexico with cattle for the Navajos.

“We have to have Christmas with your hands as well,” he reminded Susie, helping her into the buckboard all bundled against the cold.

“Oh yes. I know we need to. It spreads such good cheer to all of us.”

Susie drove the team home. Except for the celebration of Christ's birthday and the good feeling that someone cared about them, the whole trip was uneventful.

It was after dark when they got back to the Verde Ranch. Chet knew his wife was worn out, but happy.

 

 

The Preskitt Valley bunch included several married men and their wives, so they and their children were in the big barn. The sun outside was warm enough to enjoy the outing. Raphael hired a band to play Mexican music and they shuffled on the dry dirt floor.

The food was cooked and lots of it. Many Mexican dishes and plenty of barbequed meats. Everyone's lips were greasy. Chet paid the workers ten dollars and they all got oranges, bags of candy, and a silk kerchief. Marge had shawls for the girls and straw hats for the boys and more shawls for the mothers.

Raphael could not believe his bonus. “There is a mistake here, no?”