Chaparral Range War (9781101619049) (22 page)

“I wondered about a place for us to . . . well, hide after the ceremony. A friend of Dad's has a mountain cabin up on Mount Graham. Maybe we can borrow it—or is that too far away?”

“No, that's fine. That's north of here, right?”

“Yes. Could we go there for a few days, maybe a week, for our honeymoon?”

“Sure.”

“I'll get hold of him. It is pretty up there, and it will even be cool.”

He had done enough bookwork for the time being and rose. With a hug and kiss for her, he went outside. Noble had gone to Soda Springs with the rest of the petitions for Judge Collier that they'd rounded up. Dan was off to borrow tents and horses. Now Guthrey had to check on his law clerks. He discovered when he rounded the house they must be campers. The first tent was set up and looked good.

He spoke with the three young men lounging around the tent. “I guess you need to talk to folks about who they've seen riding on the raids. We need the names of individuals who have been riding with those raiders. Many were unmasked and known by name. Maybe people are ready to spill about them now that it appears we may succeed in getting them out of the country. When Noble gets back, he could take you out to meet many of these folks and you could get names from them.”

“There is a murder warrant too,” Jory said.

“Yes, there was a shooting that eventually killed Ted Rawlings. One of the shooters is in the Soda Springs jail. He was wounded but still alive last I checked. A second man is one who has been raping any woman he wanted to. Before, no one came forward to report his crimes, but there is a woman coming forward now, and I say more will join her in her effort to get him put away.”

“Was the other man you arrested at the same time as the murderer an accomplice to that gang?” Heffner asked.

Guthrey nodded. “I believe he was. He threatened us when we tried to get past him to the doctor. Also another man involved was wounded during the murder and I hear he's over in the Chiricahuas. His name is Kyle.”

“There's a lot to straighten out for us to charge these men,” Heffner said.

“You know any more about this Kyle? We don't have him down on our list,” Jory said.

“When you are trying to get rid of widespread corruption in power, there are bound to be some vague things. I had no deputies to help me run him down.”

“Oh, Mr. Guthrey, we think what you have done here is amazing, but now we need to finish the job. Put the guilty ones away and clean up this mess following the referendum election.”

“It still has to pass,” he reminded them.

The clerks laughed, and Jory spoke up. “Those petitions contained eighty percent of the people who are even eligible to vote. You didn't need that many, so already we know you will win.”

Amused, Guthrey chuckled. “I knew those officials had asked for a lot of signatures.”

“It's a wonder they didn't tell you that you needed everyone to sign,” Heffner said, as if he could not believe the situation had even occurred.

“According to what has been going on here, if you're shot dead today, there is not a chance that an officer of the law will investigate your murder, so don't make anyone mad today.”

They laughed, and he considered what he should do next. People were coming by and offering to help to be sure the election sites had ample protection. He encouraged them to do that. They would look like an armed camp on election day, with deputy U.S. marshals transporting the lockboxes back to Soda Springs, where they would stand over the counting.

He wondered if those people in Boston that threw the English tea in the harbor had been this mad. In his short time spent in the territory, he had seen the quiet people being run over by the barons. Those same people were well-armed these days, and their memory began to find the names of those thugs who rode with the terrorists. He recalled his early questions. Who were they? They were all masked.

In the early morning of the twentieth, with the Texas Ranger–style raids that he planned, they were going to cover the prime troublemakers—Whitmore's headquarters and the rapist Slegal with the ruby ring, as well as his gang, plus Killion, who he aimed to arrest himself and have charged with dereliction of his duties regarding the murder of Cally's father, Harold Bridges. He could still see the lawman in his expensive suit that morning sitting on his horse acting like Guthrey was less than welcome in the Arizona Territory.

* * *

T
HE NEXT MORNING,
two men in a buckboard arrived, and he recognized them as ranchers from the eastern part of Crook County. He met them in the yard and shook hands with Ute Gleason and Kelly Brightwater.

“Congratulations, Guthrey, we heard you had most folks in the county signed up to vote for you.”

“It sounds good. We still need to hold the election. What brings you two over here today?”

Kelly nodded. “We investigated that cattle rustling deal you got mixed up in. Found out that a guy called Hampton who works for Whitmore was involved. According to what we could find out, they sold those worked-over cattle to Clanton and they were delivered the next week to the Apache agency.”

Guthrey nodded. “And of course no chance to find the hides and arrest anyone. Those squaws use those hides. Not like a slaughter operation where a check of the hide pile would point a finger at the thieves.”

“Right,” Gleason said and shook his head in disgust over the matter.

“We wanted to tell you that several of us will help guard the ballot box sent to Farnam Schoolhouse and the deputy marshal who comes with them.”

“That's good. I'm sorry I didn't get back to you again. There's been lots to do. I want you two to tell your story today to the law clerks down here taking depositions. They are lining up the arrests we plan to make with real names. We will make a huge sweep when we have that appointment, but let's make it a surprise.”

They both agreed to his terms, shook hands with him, and then he took them to find Jory. With the two ranchers lined up to talk to the young men, Guthrey told them one day after the election, he'd need some posse men. They were invited.

“We'll damn sure be here that day,” Ute said and his partner agreed.

There were so many details, Guthrey needed a secretary or something. Back in the house he went over all his notes and the timeline he planned. Word was bound to get out about his proposed raids. But if the three Rangers answered his call, he'd have three more professional lawmen to head up the parts of his plan that would swoop up the bad guys altogether in less than forty-eight hours.

By midday, he realized that all the business about their wedding was also being planned. Several women dropped by. There was hugging, and Cally was busy saying thank you all day.

Dan came by and told Guthrey he had two loads of hay donated and plenty of good ranch horses promised. The hay would come the following week. Horses the day after the election.

Cally and one of the other women who was on hand somehow managed to feed them all their meals. Noble rode back after lunch. He and Guthrey talked at the corral where he unsaddled.

“Tommy sent you word, but there is something afoot,” Noble began. “Three men in suits came and met with the sheriff in a closed meeting in the courthouse for several hours early today. He thinks they are part of the Tucson ring. Says they sent telegrams to the governor protesting the election and seeking writs to stop it.”

“Any replies to their tries?”

“Tommy said the governor sent the sheriff a direct telegram saying anyone attempting to stop or disrupt the elections was to be stopped and arrested. Helluva lot of good that would be, huh? That said, we'll need some level heads in Soda Springs the days before and after the election. They ain't going to take this business lying down. Tommy also sent word he's got a boy with a fast horse can bring you any answer to your wires.”

“Talk to Dan. He's got hay donated and the horses we may or may not need.”

“We'd better check the cattle again this week.”

Guthrey agreed. “Locate some good men to ride through the herd for you and Dan this week and next. You both need to be available if anything breaks loose.”

“I can do that.”

“Cally has got some lunch for you to go eat,” Guthrey told Noble.

“Thanks. I'm amazed how this is all happening.”

“Yes. You recall me telling you about the rustlers I had to dodge going to Farnam?”

“Sure do.”

“Two ranchers from over there told me just an hour or so ago that it was Hampton's deal and they sold those cattle to the Clantons for a San Carlos Apache delivery.”

“Those sonsabitches. Can we ever stop them?”

“Damn right we can, and we will.”

“You know, I even believe we're going to do it.”

Guthrey clapped him on the shoulder. “You take good care of yourself. We're going to be busy as hell around here.”

A smile peeled back Noble's sun-bleached lips and he asked, “You and Cally getting hitched this Saturday night?”

“Yes.”

“I'll be looking forward to that event. She's done asked me to walk her up the aisle.” Noble looked ready to burst over it.

Guthrey thanked him and watched him limp for the bunkhouse Cally had cleaned up for them to sleep in. That old man was a treasure and a good one besides. What else? He realized Cally had joined him and hugged his arm.

“You getting concerned about the wedding?”

“No. But I don't want anyone hurt or left out from this cleanup of lawbreakers.”

“Will your buddies from Texas come help you?”

“If they can get away.” He was watching a distant eagle soar on the wind drafts. Then he turned and wrapped her in his arms. “I won't forget you. Don't worry. You're the light in my life.”

TWENTY-THREE

W
HEN
S
ATURDAY ARRIVED,
Noble drove Cally to the dance with her white wedding dress packed carefully in a box in back. Dressed up, the old man was going to give her away. Guthrey's best man, Dan, rode on horseback with him.

The law clerks were guarding the ranch. Guthrey hoped they weren't challenged. He doubted they were really tough enough to withstand an attack, and his roiling guts warned him it would be a bad situation if they did have to defend the place.

The sky was deep blue and the summer temperature was raising waves of heat off the ground, making the mountains to the west look fuzzy. A few buzzards, searching for something dead to feast upon, coasted across them on the wind.

There had been no answer to his wires for help so far. But the Rangers were all busy men and the messages may not have reached them if they were off chasing down criminals. And Guthrey had asked Noble to ride to Tucson while he and Cally were gone and take care of paying the rent on the pasture and collecting the money for the cattle they'd sold to Michaels.

The main thing on Guthrey's mind was his bride. For the next week or so he intended to forget about everything but her. A man who had waited this long to pick a bride had many things to fret about.

Would he please her? Be the partner she expected? Would the honeymoon evening when they were finally alone shock her? Damn, things got so complicated.

The schoolhouse looked like a grand ball was about to begin. There were hordes of campers and folks set up all around the yard who must have come from miles away. They spilled out into the desert and set up their tents down near the dry creek. He hoped the yard pump had plenty of good rubbers in it. They might burn them out trying to get adequate water up from the depths. He needed to stop worrying about every damn little thing. He couldn't fix them all anyway.

“You look nice,” Dan said softly.

Guthrey dropped his chin and shook his head. “Nice isn't good enough. I hope I'm not dragging your sister down with me.”

“Hey, you've worked your butt off to help all of us and it is still unfolding. I'm proud to have you in the family. She's a big girl. She can take licks and wants to be your wife. Just enjoy yourself. You deserve her.”

“Thanks. We'll have a good life, I am certain.”

“You will. There's some people outside who want to volunteer to help you.”

“I'll speak to them.”

He stepped out of the tent set up for him. Cally had her own tent across the grounds. He glanced up there and saw she was having lots of company and probably getting more friendly advice.

When he came out, a cheer from all the folks spread out before him went all the way up to the schoolhouse. He stood and nodded, saying thanks. “I want all of you to be involved in our election and use your vote to send the bad officials out of office.” They cheered. “We plan to take charge immediately after you vote them out, and those lawbreakers better get on a fast horse or catch it from us. We will get all of them. You must support all the deputy U.S. marshals in charge of those ballot boxes and be sure they aren't bothered.”

Someone handed him a telegram. He frowned, reading it.

I am on my way. Stand your ground. C. Magio.

A smile swept Guthrey's face. Number one was coming. It was all going to work.

Think about your bride
, he told himself. He reminisced about those sparkling dances with his princess at the various times they'd gone to socials. Time to dedicate a new life for both of them.

Finally it was time for the wedding ceremony to begin. There was not room enough for everyone there to fit inside the schoolhouse. Guthrey wore his new starched white shirt and britches Cally had acquired for him. Noble, like a handsome prince, brought Guthrey's bride to him at the altar. The vows they repeated were like fat snowflakes falling to earth on soft pillows. He kissed the bride and then they went through at the head of the food line. They ate a few bites of the enormous amount of dishes set on the tables, then Cally cut the great cake and they fed each other a piece.

He saw the sparkling pride in her eyes. In a few minutes after the cake cutting, they rushed out to the waiting team and buckboard. Guthrey swept her up on the rig in the snowy dress and drew some loud cheering. Joining her, he waved at the crowd ahead to make room for the horses to pass through them. The people backed up and he clucked to the excited team. They danced away, and she squeezed his arm.

“This is the biggest day of my life, Phil. Oh, my heavens, I think I can fly, I am so high. I'm glad you have so much patience for me.”

He leaned toward her as they reached the end of the lines of well-wishers on both sides. “This is really the first day of our lives together and they will all be this rich or richer.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder as they hit the river road and headed north. They camped their first night off the road at a watering hole that Noble had told him about. The topknot quail flocks came cautiously in for water. The two of them ate some packed food and sat on a blanket to watch the small soldiers come in at double time to seek water and then dust in the loose dirt.

They soon melted into each other's arms upon the blanket and the sunset on their first exciting honeymoon evening.

* * *

T
HE SECOND MORNING
the honeymooners woke up on top of the summit of Mount Graham in the tall pines as the cool air flowed over one of the highest ranges in southern Arizona. They had set aside a little over a week for their honeymoon. Noble and Dan could keep an eye on the ranch that long, and McCall and Brown would be monitoring events in the county seat to make sure that no one succeeded in putting a halt to the election that would take place in two weeks. For the next week, Guthrey and Cally had nothing more pressing to do than cook their meals and spend time in each other's arms.

After a week of bliss, Monday morning Cally was busy making them breakfast with the front and back door of the small cabin wide open to usher through the soft coolness.

“We have one more day of this peaceful world.”

She looked up at him from her cooking and quietly asked, “I hope you are pleased with me. I have no experience at pleasing a husband as his wife.”

“Don't change a thing you do. I am very pleased with the entire experience of becoming your husband. Does that answer all your concerns? I want us to go on day after day living our life so we please each other.”

“It is so unbelievable. I'll try.” She spun around, then laughed. “I am still light-headed.”

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. “You're not alone, darling.”

“We better go home today . . . or tomorrow?” she asked.

“One more day up here in heaven, then we better get back to work.”

“Someday we need to get us a cabin up here to get away from it all.”

“Yes, we will.”