Valley of Bones

by Dusty Richards

* * *

  Cole had decided to clear only the first section of land to be leveled for flood irrigation and Chet agreed. The first places for the water needed more leveling. It was tilled again and, under Hampt’s direction, planted with alfalfa, then irrigated.

  They planned to level the other eighth of a mile over the winter and in the end have eighty acres of hay ground.

  Cole was so pleased he bought Hampt a gold pocket watch for his help on the project. Hampt sure checked it a lot.

  The New Mexico banker, Monty Rubio, who came from Gallup to close the deal on the Arnold ranch, stayed at the house. Fred showed him the area topside and the entire Verde Valley spread out. He was impressed with the new hay meadow.

  The papers were signed. Tanner was to ship the money to Gallup so Rubio didn’t have to carry it home. Rubio told Chet if he ever needed money he had it to loan.

  * * *

  The big night came and they all flooded in that Friday. JD and Bonnie came and brought lots of grapes. She was very pregnant but told Chet she was not going to miss this event. She and Lisa hit it off and were laughing all the time. Susie and Sarge came with their son this time. Lucy, Shawn, their girl, the baby, and Lucy’s sister came to help as well. The Oak Creek couple brought apples for all. Robert and Betty with Caroline made it. Talley and Toby and their neighboring ranchers came.

  Spencer and a vaquero he borrowed rode in late Friday night. He told Chet they were making progress collecting all the big steers to sell and help clear up the range pressure there.

  “How many head do you expect you have to move?”

  “Six hundred head. They haven’t been worked. Some aren’t even branded. Some are bulls.”

  “You know six hundred head sold over at Gallup would almost pay for that place?”

  Spencer grinned and agreed. “That’s what I want to do. And, I know they don’t grow on trees, but I am going to need twenty-five or more British bulls next year. Between cows and heifers I am going to have six hundred head to breed back.”

  “Aren’t there any there now?”

  “There’s some sorry crosses and we’ll cut them and when they heal ship them.”

  “Talk to Tom. He does our buying and selling. What will we do if we get a snowy winter?”

  “I am looking at hay sources. There are some farmers on the Little Colorado that have hay. I may buy all I can before we have any winter. If we wait, it would be too late. Buying now might cost us, but I’d like to have some supplies on hand.”

  “Get it bought. Fred going back with you?”

  “Yes. We looked at two homesteads they say are for sale. Both have houses our wives would live in but I’d want some men to be around any headquarters over there. It is isolated, and you never know who’s going to ride by.”

  Chet nodded that he understood.

  Then Spencer asked, “Any word in the mail about Arnold’s whereabouts?”

  “Nothing so far. We will hear someday and go get him.”

  Spencer shook his head, then smiled. “You and Lisa have really hit it off, haven’t you? I can see it. I never knew your first wife, but you and Liz had a good marriage going. But there is something about you two fitting like a glove. I’m sure happy for the both of you.”

  “I thought it was way too soon, but the last thing Liz told me was find another woman as soon as possible and get on with my life.”

  “You hear any answers from the doctor?”

  “Some. He said it was cancer related.”

  Josey came and brought his jacket. “Time for you to get up there. Raphael is bringing the bride.”

  She helped him get the coat on. Gave it a jerk or two and was finally satisfied with how it looked. “You know, I lived on my own for almost four years. I never saw you once except at a distance. I heard them talk about you, but never saw you in person till Fred married me. I thought we’d be right back scrounging for things to exist. He kept telling that wouldn’t happen because you made him a marshal.” She hugged him, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I want to thank you. This child in me and Fred and I will hold our heads high being a part of your family. Don’t ever forget how glad and proud we are.”

  He kissed her forehead and headed for the altar. A Methodist minister was to marry them. His bride stood straight and tall beside him; they repeated their vows and then kissed.

  Hampt shouted in his big voice, “God bless both Chet and Lisa. Thanks for the food, and now let’s eat!”

  Lisa kissed him on the cheek. “You did well.”

  Chet and Lisa stood at the beginning of where the food was served. Everybody came past, shook their hands, and divided into two lines, one on each side of the food tables. Chet thought there was no end to them, but after a while they were able to follow the stragglers down the line for food.

  “Did it suit you, Mrs. Byrnes?”

  “Being number three?”

  He frowned.

  “Quit worrying. I’ll be here to nag you when you’re old and gray.”

  “May not be far off.”

  “No. I’ll keep you perked up—too.”

  He didn’t doubt that one bit. Though he never knew exactly why, she did keep him spiked up since their courtship began. They spent five days of wedded bliss in Oak Creek. She waded in the cold trout stream and he even caught some fish to eat.

  They drove home Friday and stopped at the Verde place. Played with Adam, visited Tom and Millie, and Victor played his guitar for them. He told them his corn was going to yield heavy on the new farm east of the village. Rhea made popcorn that evening and they went to bed early.

  They wore slickers going home in the morning and he drove the team up the steep canyon hemmed in by thunder and lots of rain. Nothing changed the pleasure they found in each other’s company. At the ranch a boy in a rubber coat came out and told them to get into the house because he’d unhitch the team. Their things would come later.

  Josey had lunch for them, and there were several letters waiting for him. Most said they were sorry there was no word on Arnold. One came from a retired lawman.

  Dear Marshal Byrnes:

  That no good shypoke Mac Arnold has been causing trouble since has was 16. He broke in Green Door Saloon on night in Brown Hill, Colorado. Drank so much whiskey he passed out on the floor and the owner discovered him the next morning. As the town marshal I locked him in the city jail for thirty days and made him repair the boardwalks and clean the horse watering troughs. You had to force him to do anything and I thrashed his ass I bet a dozen times in that month.

  His mother Viola Hawks worked in a house of ill repute and she could do nothing to make him behave. When his jail sentence ended I kicked his behind out of town and told him not to come back.

  Next he got arrested for stealing hawgs in the next county and they ran him off. He robbed two men who were drunk in Casket, Colorado. They had a warrant for his arrest outstanding. If I hear word on where he might be, I will wire you.

  Sam Router, retired Colorado Sheriff

  He’d read the letter to her and she nodded. “Now you wait to hear from him. At least they are looking.” With that she bent over and kissed him. “I am going upstairs, take a hot bath, get all clean, and change my clothes.”

  “Save the bath water and holler when you get out.”

  She bent over and whispered, “Better yet, you come scrub my back. I will scrub yours and we can take a short nap afterward.”

  “Something like that, anyway.”

  She gave him a small push, smiling at his answer. “Josey, we are—”

  “I heard all right. Taking a nap after that.”

  He rose up, stacking the letters. “I can do them later.”

  Josey came in the room with a dust mop. “I think you two take the prize for the best married couple. You two are always having the most fun. Lisa laughs all the time and so do you, Chet. You are like a pretzel all wrapped up in and around each other. I am so happy to have Fred, but boy, you two beat us all.”

  “Jo
sey, you are the best person while carrying a kid around. Most women have so many aches and pains and have to sit down all the time. You are the model mother-to-be.”

  “Listen. Back when I was on the streets and found out I was expecting I got afraid. What would I do? Fred was gone. No way he knew of my problem. I prayed. I prayed every day and one day I saw him. He got off his horse, came down that alley, and said, ‘I’ve come for you, Josey.’ Well, I didn’t believe him. He bought me two dresses. I thought I was in a dream. He got a hotel room and I took my first real hot water bath in forever. Then I told him he didn’t want me—I was pregnant.

  “‘Well, that’s nice,’ he said. I said he is yours. I haven’t slept with anyone but you. Not anyone else. He said we have to get married. I thought he is crazy. We have no way to live. He told me we did. That we had a real nice place at your ranch. I didn’t believe him, but I married him, and he brought me here. I kept thinking that these real rich people will hate a pregnant nobody girl. He was not lying. He didn’t need to come back for me. He had escaped our situation, so why risk losing it? But you all made me family. I have no pains, no hunger, no fear, except I know he has a dangerous job. I have fun when he comes home and love it. I thank God for all of you. Go have fun.”

  “Fred’s shared things with me about his past. I am glad he went back for you. It shows the character he’s made of. You two are lucky.”

  “Josey,” Lisa said, “he brought me back kicking and cussing. His wife right off told me I needed to eat some lye soap to remind myself I am a woman not a hellcat. It took a while for it to sink in but I realized I was in a different world here. No one was slapping me around, being abusive to me for no reason. I had three meals a day here, not just eating whenever I found a dead animal.”

  “That is different, isn’t it? Sitting down and eating three good meals every day. All you want. Not having to beg or steal it. Or cook for some filthy old men and get to eat their scraps. I could not believe that first night in camp. Chet said, ‘Women eat first. Fill your plate.’ Was he crazy or going to kick me for trying? All his men stood back. I grabbed whatever and went way off to the side, kind of hiding, like a dog with a bone, so I didn’t lose it.”

  “Josey, we are glad to have you, and I know Fred is, too.”

  “It has been a dream. And Fred has really grown so much, at times I feel I am not good enough for him.”

  “You are not the little street girl he brought, you are his lady. Josey, you really are. Hold your head up. We have accepted you because you are that lady and a part of us.”

  “I hope so.”

  “We all have a past. They found Val in Tombstone. She and Bonnie went there to work in the houses of ill repute. She hated it. Chet sent her up here to work for Jenn. Bonnie didn’t come, but slavers kidnapped her and Chet traded some horses for her return. Toby’s wife was rescued from more no-accounts. Those stories go on and on.”

  “Thanks. I will try harder.”

  “At what?” Lisa asked. “You do everything here well. Be yourself.”

  Chet and Lisa went upstairs, scrubbed each other’s backs, and napped some, too.

  Chapter 21

  Spencer telegraphed that he needed five thousand dollars. He had found a great place for sale close by and they wouldn’t need to rebuild the Arnold house. But the deal was now. Chet trusted him. It may be the bargain of the century, and he could handle it. No mortgages on the property, and it was worth every penny they were asking. He’d get the whole thing in his name and they’d be surprised.

  Chet had Tanner sent the money to Spencer at Holbrook.

  In three days Spencer wired back:

  DEAL IS MADE. I WANT YOU TO SEE IT WHEN YOU GET TIME. ALL IS WELL.

  Spencer and Fred came home. They were bushed from riding so hard and for so long in the saddle.

  “The vaqueros are getting the branding done at the Arnold place.” Shoulders stooped, Spencer had his hat in his hand and was beating his dusty pants.

  Why, two fingers would have pushed him over, Chet thought. “I am sending someone to get Lucinda and some clothing. Go inside and the girls will run you a bath. Fall asleep in a bed upstairs. You hungry?”

  “Too damn tired to do anything but sleep.”

  “Me too,” Fred said.

  “Both of you take baths. Here comes Josey.”

  He called to a youth. “Go tell Lucinda her man is back. To bring him clothes, too.”

  “Sí, señor.” He took off, feet flying,

  “Josey, get Fred into a bath and then put him to bed. Lucinda will be here for her man by then to do the same.”

  “How is it going?” he asked Spencer while they waited for Lucinda to come.

  “Smoothly. We wanted to come home. The men have a week’s work and plenty of food. They work hard as any men we know. They like it. Our cattle numbers keep growing. Why didn’t he sell some of them?”

  “Where could he sell them?”

  Spencer nodded. “I bought one helluva place. I can’t tell you a thing about what I found. You have to come and see it. Can you wait on the surprise? The women will love it.”

  “I trust you. You ready to move in?”

  “Damn right. You are going to be shocked. We will have to do Arnold’s like we did at the Verde years ago. Start over. New bulls and a new calf crop the next year, then we start replacing those longhorn cows year by year.”

  “I understand. But I think, when we are through, from what you say, we may have a thousand steers to sell.”

  “That would pay for it all.”

  Lucinda came running into the room. She tackled Spencer and he swung her around.

  “You have someone to watch the children?” he asked her.

  “Sí. How are you? You look so tired.”

  “Fred and I had a few days, so we thought we’d come and get you, but it was lots farther than we thought. We found us a great place to run the ranch from.”

  They hugged and kissed each other.

  Chet herded them toward the stairs. Lisa winked at him from the top. “You coming up, too?”

  He checked the sun time. Must be nap time for them.

  * * *

  In the next two days, they loaded two farm wagons with needed supplies for the Arnold ranch. Some medical items, painkillers, bandages and iodine, needles and catgut to sew up people and livestock. Coffee, flour, frijoles, lard, sugar, baking powder, canned vegetables, canned fruit and tomatoes. Salt for the cattle and horses. Extra blankets, slickers, towels, soap, britches, and shirts in case they lost their own. And a few cheap hats. Then came more things—girths and latigos, a roll of hemp rope for lariats. Smaller rope for tents and to tie up canvas shades, two rolls of canvas to make shades and ground cloths.

  They selected two teams of draft horses from Victor’s bunch, big Canadian Percherons, and two of his men to drive them over there. A remuda of sixty saddle horses and two wranglers to herd them, a chuck wagon they used for roundup at Tom’s, and a pair of mules to haul it. Spencer had the family’s things in it. Josey added enough to get by and to share the house with Lucinda.

  “You have to promise to come back here six weeks before the baby comes, Josey,” Lisa insisted.

  “Okay.”

  “There will be no one to help you but Lucinda up there. Now promise me.”

  Fred spoke up. “I promise she will be back here by then.”

  Spencer chuckled. “Yeah, me and Chet ain’t good midwives.”

  Hell no.

  Lisa said she would ride along with him. Jesus said he, Raphael, and the vaqueros could hold down the ranch. They started out on a nice mid-September morning. Chet told them bring jackets and blankets as it might frost up by Flagstaff. They didn’t stop, but Tom and Victor joined them, and they rode north for several miles, talking about their plans. Victor planned to use the same big wagons to haul corn. He would harvest soon.

  “You have any buyers for the corn?”

  “Several feed stores in Prescott want to buy so
me, and I have had some hog farmers want to finish their hogs on it.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “I want some to grow bulls faster. I need them working sooner,” Tom said.

  “That sounds good, too. We have so much going on sometimes I wonder how it works out.”

  Tom laughed. “I have been doing that for years as one of your foremen.”

  “How many windmills have you made this year?”

  “Eighteen. I am waiting on some bearings now to finish six more.”

  “Are we getting them spread around?”

  “Shawn got several. Sarge got seven to put on his homesteads that have wells already. Cole wants some for his new place, and Toby hasn’t had cows long enough. But he has several homesteads that I bet have wells and that will need the windmills.”

  Tom and Victor parted at lunch. In the afternoon Chet decided they’d go up the steep road to the rim in the morning. His men agreed. They camped at the base and ate a meal, rubbed down the draft horses, and slept in bedrolls, while the women slept in the wagon.

  Day two they made the sawmill and had a reunion with Robert, Betty, and the baby.

  “Tell Cole that from what I hear the stage line is not running on schedule. They’ve fired two men running it since he left. And several drivers quit when their pay was cut.”

  “I could’ve told them not to cut Cole’s pay, but they’d never have listened. He walked out the door and he should have. Those stuffed-shirt executives have no idea what makes a business like that run.”

  “I think half the telegraphers quit over their pay cuts.”

  “They are not easy to find. And living out on the frontier where they do on that line is not an easy life.”

  Later in their bedroll he asked his wife how sore she really was.

  “Sore, but happy. I knew I would be. I have not ridden much lately, but I am not too sore for any attention.”

  “Good. This has been a fun day.”

  “I think so, too.”

  * * *

  Dawn came and they re-harnessed while the women made breakfast. Oatmeal and bacon with coffee was served and then they got under way. They didn’t stop in Flagstaff but camped ten miles east at a watering place on the Marcy Road. Chet and Lisa had stopped at the various stations and they all said they wished he was back. The railroad made for a sorry partner.