Deadly Is the Night (21 page)

A million things flew through Chet's mind. Most of the Apache renegades were down in Mexico. But who knew anything for sure? Why didn't they burn the ranch house? They used to do that every time.

His roan horse was running smoothly and Liz was holding her horse back. He slapped the slowest packhorse with his rein to make him go faster.

She nodded her approval and they pushed up the road. Chet worried about an ambush where the road went into the pine forest. In the clear open country they could see anyone coming, but the forest offered cover and the road into the ranch was heavily tree lined.

They reached the ranch sign and turned north onto the narrow road leading into the ranch.

“If we get attacked, let loose of the packhorses,” he said to Liz.

She nodded grimly. If it was only him and his men he'd feel a helluva lot better. Now he had her safety to defend, but no need to regret the trip. They'd been lucky thus far.

Some hatless riders appeared on the road. Jesus shot his pistol at them. They panicked and fled north. Had they burned the ranch and killed his crew? Miguel spurred his horse past Chet and Liz and also shot at the fleeing riders.

“Let the packhorses loose.”

Determination showed as Liz bent over, urging her horse on, and she shook her head. “Not yet.”

“Damn it, turn them loose.”

No reply. He rode in to press the packhorses to run faster. He could see the ranch house and new barn structure. The braves had ridden off to the west to avoid the new barbed-wire fencing on the right side of the drive.

He heard someone shouting and waving for them to come on up to the house. It was Toby with a rifle—at least he was alive. Then several men and women came out onto the porch.

“Look there's some of his neighbors,” Liz shouted, a smile replacing her grim look.

Chet slid his horse to a stop and Toby ran to meet them. “Thank God you came. It's been hell up here. My neighbors all came here when things broke loose, knowing me and my brush cutters had plenty of rifles and ammo.”

Folks were hugging each other and some of the women were crying.

His wife, Talley, wet eyed, said, “I kept saying if only Chet could come save us like he did me before. And you did. God I love you, Chet Byrnes.”

“Hey, let me help them unsaddle the horses.”

“No,” Jesus told Chet. “You take everyone back into the house. We can do this.”

Liz had his arm. “You hear your guardian tell you what to do?”

He smiled, shaking his head. She steered him across the porch to the front doorway. Inside he unbuttoned his heavy coat and Cecil Hayes began telling how they learned there was a war party roaming the rim. “A friendly Apache came by and warned us they were coming. We decided there were more guns up here than defending our places.”

“They ransacked your place,” he said to Crystal. “But didn't burn it.”

“No,” she said. “That would signal the army to find them.”

“The army is up here?”

“We understand they are.”

Her husband, Cecil, shook his hand. “Damn sure good to see you.”

“I am glad to be here. We haven't had any Indian problems since Cole shot an Apache that we captured herding cattle to the Navajo. That was over three years ago.”

“Well, we have it again.”

“Have they attacked you here since you came over here to Toby's?”

Cecil said, “They tried but those Mexicans working for him laid down a barrage of rifle shots that stopped them. They lost some horses and bucks. They have not tried anything like that since. They did burn some of his brush piles out on his meadows, which saved his men doing it. I want to tell you I thought you'd hired a kid. But he's serious and knows what to do.”

“I thought he'd make the grade.”

Toby, Jesus, and Miguel came in and the women serve them cake and hot coffee.

“Boss man, we have done all we can. Those Apaches got a good taste of .44/.40 ammo two days ago. I got some boys than can sure use gun sights. You see the army?”

“Didn't see anyone on the road.”

“We thought they were coming,” Crystal said.

Chet shrugged and turned to Toby. “How is your food supply, Toby?”

“Good. That big snow storm taught me to have a good supply on hand in winter.”

“You've done well. I'm proud of all of you. We were just coming to see your progress. Never dreamed to find this.”

“When Cecil Hayes and his wife came over and told me about them bucks being on the warpath, I told him I had some sharpshooters and plenty of ammo. Those men all fought shoulder to shoulder to turn them back. Those Indians never expected that kind of firepower. No one of us was even scratched.”

“I think they were mostly young bucks. We are lucky Geronimo is down in the Sierra Madres,” added Hayes.

“Lucky or not, these boys have really been a big help.”

Chet smiled at him. “I saw all that cleared land. Looks great. Your mowing machines are ordered.”

“I won't be settled until we find mother cows for this place.”

“Keep working. They will come.”

“I know. Just anxious. Thanks.”

The barn builder Harold Faulk came over. He shook Chet's hand. “Things have been pretty busy up here. Me and my family sure appreciate the work you give us.”

“I may have another job down near Oracle. We are building a new ranch headquarters on a new place I bought, and they will need corrals there.”

“We'll get the barn done here and we'll come over to Preskitt and make the deal. Save it for us.”

“I will. Coming here I certainly didn't expect an Indian attack. Glad no one was hurt.”

Things were crowded with everyone sleeping on the floor of the main room heated by a large wood-burning stove a ranch hand kept going. No one complained. Two men stood guard even though everyone knew that most Apaches were so fear filled about being killed in the night and not going to their heaven, that they would not attack.

They ate well the next morning. Jesus and Miguel did some scouting and found no fresh signs, but that didn't mean they were gone, merely being more guarded about their movements. Still the pair found nothing but empty camps where the Indians had been.

A company of the black cavalry came by the ranch and the white officer told them they could all go home. The renegades had been disbursed. The danger was over for the moment.

Thank God . . .

Chet decided to take a course northwest the next morning and go to the Windmill and then home by the Verde Ranch, so after a quick breakfast, Chet told everyone thanks and they headed for Susie's place.

They made it halfway, found an empty soddy to sleep in out of the cold, fed the horses grain, and ate a supper of elk steak that Toby gave them. Oatmeal for breakfast and then hit the windswept rolling grasslands for the Windmill.

Liz had a scarf wrapped around her face against the cold, but never complained. Long after dark they reached the ranch and Susie met them with a lantern. Hands showed up and put up the animals. Her boy Erwin was excited about Liz being there. He commanded her full attention.

Susie ran them baths and Chet shaved. He felt alive again. The women made a big meal. Chet sat in the warm living room and talked to Sarge's man about things. Sarge had left early with the herds in case of snow.

They had to tell everyone about the Indians, how Toby was doing with the new place, and about the Oracle Ranch and their plans for it.

“You four need to stay here another day and get rested,” Susie said at bedtime. “Besides, Liz and I have not finished our visit with each other.”

“We will do that, sis.”

Liz smiled. “I didn't think they would argue with you about that. It has been quite a trip. I heard my first war cry and it gave me goose bumps.”

They turned in. Chet and his wife shared a double bed and slept in each other's arms like newlyweds. There were no threatening dreams or nightmares. Susie's house was like being home.

Up early, he found Susie in the kitchen feeding her foreman and four hands a breakfast of oatmeal and flapjacks. Just like Texas, he reminisced. He had a nice conversation with them. Jesus and Miguel went with the crew to feed hay.

“What next, brother?”

“I am waiting for the wire to string a telegraph across the territory.”

“Oh, my God. I hoped that was put off. You don't have time to check ranches and do that.”

“Susie, that line will open the northern part of Arizona. We need these features to ever become a state.”

“All right, empire builder. I should be used to your spreading yourself out. You've done it since we came from Texas. I see why you brought Liz along this trip. It may not have been a real vacation but she needed getting out, didn't she?”

“I thought so.”

“It was good for her, even with the Indian scare, since nothing happened. There is something in her that makes her need these times to ride with you.”

“When I can I do it.”

“I don't need that kind of thing. I am an old hen who needs her coop. I made one trip to New Mexico and I saw it all. I ate enough dust to do me a lifetime. Those poor Navajo women live such a very gritty life. If Sarge needed me I'd go, but I like my house.”

“I guess I never thought much about how different women think about those things. I am always glad to be back at Preskitt, but I can leave it long enough to settle a problem or two.”

“When you have a mission, you saddle up. Like finding those two women. That was so nice. Few men would take the time you did.”

“And solving murders. Someone needed to solve all four of them, and if I was needed I'd saddle up again, but I have been thinking, I should be out feeding cattle with the others this morning.”

“No, your boys are doing that. How is this new man?”

“Miguel. He's like a twin to Jesus.”

“How is Jesus's marriage going? She put him off forever.”

“Anita? I think she dreaded becoming an equal of her former boss, but she is learning how to live as a wife and equal. They are looking at a place Bo has between the ranch and town. I don't know which one, but he has saved his money and they can have what they want.”

“Amazing. A few years ago he was a tracker, and now there is no one any more loyal to you.”

“Oh, Cole and him were a great team.”

“I know and now he runs the stage line. I thought my brother would not find another good man. Jesus chose Spencer and you now talked him into building a headquarters. Where did Miguel come from?”

“Raphael told me he was going to pick a man to replace him some day. Could he ride with me to learn? I said yes and I am seeing how, by riding with me, he could become the man to replace him. It would not seem right to appoint a foreman from the ranks of the
vaqueros
, but, after having ridden with me, that would work.”

She nodded, hugged him, pleased that she didn't have him to worry about.

The ride to the Verde Ranch the next day was sunny warm and they made it after dark. Beside Rhea, at the front door, Adam shouted, “Momma Liz is here.”

Not Daddy is here. Momma Liz is here.

The women fixed supper. Victor was at home and after eating, played his guitar and sang for them. A nice easy evening that brought back memories to Chet. Victor had cooked for him and his first wife Marge on their honeymoon where they found the ranch that Bo had handled for them. Lucy was their guide, for exploring the large tract of deeded land that became their north ranch.

After hugging his son the next morning, as he started for the horses, he heard Adam say, “Momma Liz, come see us more. He don't have to come.”

“I think you have a new admirer,” he said to her under his breath, swinging into the saddle.

“A good one, too.”

“He's growing up.”

“Way too fast.”

They rode home in the shadows of the deep canyon and at last topped out on the mountain and rode west. Be good to be home at last. They rang the bell and the bundled-up women came to welcome them home.

Lisa came to kiss Miguel and like newlyweds they left. The stable boy hooked up a buckboard to take Jesus home. He hugged Liz, thanked Chet, and was off for Anita until he was needed again.

Raphael went with the boss to the house to listen to the Indian stories. Monica served them lunch and after his foreman left, Chet read his mail. Hannagen wrote that the telegraph situation was still hung up, but he expected them to have news shortly.

A U.S. marshal wrote him a letter about a man who embezzled a large sum of money from a small town bank and might be headed his way. Theodore Danbury had disappeared from Wall City, Utah, leaving the bank vault empty of several thousand dollars that belonged to the local depositors. Danbury was described as a man near forty, brown hair, mustache, five-nine. He might have been accompanied by a female, Regina Porter, twenty-three years old, brunette, near six feet tall, very attractive. There is a photo enclosed of both Danbury and Porter.

The letter went on to say that the marshal had heard Chet was a very dedicated law officer and that he knew northern Arizona. It was thought that the two probably took the Honeymoon Trail, what they call the road out of Utah, that they would cross the Colorado at Lee's Ferry and go south into Chet's region. The letter writer added that he would appreciate any assistance Chet could give and be in touch if he heard anything about their whereabouts. It was signed Chief U.S. Marshal for Utah, Kenneth Manhattan, Salt Lake, Utah.

Chet wrote Cole Emerson to be on the lookout for the couple and to spread it down the line east and west. Then he wrote Manhattan that he would look for them.

Chances of finding them he counted as little to nothing, but he would make an effort anyway. They had to be somewhere. Then he busied himself with doing ranch bookwork. Lots of expenses were coming in from the Oracle Ranch. Plus Toby's payroll had to be met and the feeding bill paid. But Toby and his wife would succeed. The bank had cashed another Navajo beef check.

Shawn wrote him a long letter about how well things were going for them and how many calves Spud saved. How fast Clem was growing. How neat it was to be Lucy's man and how he owed Chet his life for all he did for him to make his life so wonderful. Plus he thought with all the land they had deeded they could run nine hundred mother cows, would Chet think on it.

The letter made him smile. All that talk to lead up to nine hundred cows. Well, the boy was doing more than sleeping with her. Then he laughed. That boy would make it big someday and he had a good partner to help him.

Chet read the next note. It came from Texas.

Strange letter—get my money back and you can have half. Salty Hogan did not mean anything to him that he could recall. Hogan might want this guy killed or have other reasons for planting him. No county court was mentioned where he was wanted for embezzling so that could be a hoax, too.

He'd send a wire to the U.S. marshal in El Paso. Be the quickest way to find out about Sutter's real worth. He'd do that in town in the morning and have an answer in two days.

Liz came in. “What is it? You look perplexed.”

“I got a letter from Texas. Said we met a few times and that some bank embezzler is over at Horse Thief Basin. I'm wiring a marshal in El Paso in the morning to see if there is any truth to it.”

“And if it is?”

“I will go and arrest him and collect the reward.”

“No, you won't. You don't collect rewards. You give them to your men.”

“Might do that, too.”

“You will. Part of your code of the West business.”

“You short on anything around here?”

“No.”

“Then I'll split it with them.” He swept her up and kissed her.

She finally broke the kiss. “Times I could kill you, Chet Byrnes.”

“No, don't think you could. You recall the dizzy day I dried your feet down on the Santa Cruz? The same day I bathed you and in the night we swore our souls would never part.”

“Damn, cowboy. You have a good memory.”

“I can still smell hay like it was here today.”

“I have no plans to leave you or make love in a haystack, either.”

“Good, get your town clothes on. We're going to town and I am taking you to supper at the Palace Bar, get a hotel room, and have a honeymoon.”

“I won't be long. Get a buckboard ready.”

When they got to Preskitt, he wired the El Paso U.S. marshal regarding one Ralph Sutter and the charges and rewards on him. Then he drove down to the livery. His pal Luther Frey wasn't there. He had the swamper put his team up for the night. Then, the lady on his arm, they walked the boardwalk. He sent a boy to the Adams Hotel to reserve a nice room for him and his wife for the night. Told the boy they would be along after supper and started to give his name.

“I know who you are, Mr. Byrnes. You are the most famous man in Preskitt.”

“Thanks. What's your name?”

“Fred Brown, sir, and I will have that room reserved for you. You don't need a boy to help you, do you?”

“Can you read and write?”

“I can, sir. I wouldn't need much pay. I don't eat a lot. And I could do things for you like step and fetch things.” He swallowed, twice. “If you could use one?”

“Fred Brown. Be at the hotel at eight a.m. I'll put you to work. Here's a quarter.”

“You mean I am hired?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, yes, sir. I'll get that room and see you in the lobby at eight.”

“Thanks, Fred Brown.”

“Mister Byrnes—”

“Fred, you work for me now so I am Chet.”

“Chet. I can learn that.”

“You better tell your mother you are going to work for me.”

“I can't do that, sir—I mean Chet. I am on my own. I have been for two years.”

“Is she alive?”

“I think so—”

“Well, we can resolve that later. See you tomorrow, Fred.”

Liz had been silent. She caught his arm as they continued their way to the Palace Bar. “Is he an orphan?”

“We'll find that out tomorrow I guess.”

She was chuckling and shaking her head. “Big man, you can sure find them.”

“At least they ain't dogs.”

“No. But who else hires a boy for a chore and then hires him to work for him?”

“Me.”

Seated in the restaurant, he told the waitress, “I want a nice steak, knock off his horns and cut off the tail, cook it real quick on both sides. My wife wants one done and smaller.”

“You two on a honeymoon?”

Laughing so hard Liz could hardly speak, “Honeymoon is right.”

“I thought so. I will turn your order in, but if it butts you don't blame me.”

She left them, laughing.

“How did I ever find you? Oh, it was at your granite office building south of the Spanish Capital of Tubac.”

“You won't ever forget I only had a canvas shade for a roof over my office.”