The ranch gang had the meat set up. The aroma of the mesquite barbeque filled the damp air in the hall. They had a stove going to drive out the cold in the building and the tables were full of food dishes.
Rufus Ramsey of the Box 8 came by and shook his hand. “I hate we ain’t got boats to ferry them folks across the river to here.”
“Are there many up there?”
“Mary and I drove up there earlier and waved at some of them on the other side.”
“It is a good rain.”
“Damn right. So, if they can’t get across, they can come next week in the dust.”
Despite the flooding there was a hall full of folks. A preacher offered grace and everyone moved through the line choosing food to sample. Chet and Lisa were eating on a bench with Tom and Millie when Talley and Toby came in drenched.
“How did they get across?” Millie asked.
“Probably swam their horses across,” Tom said.
“Did you swim over?” Lisa asked when they joined them.
“He found us a place when there weren’t any trees floating down and we swam our horses across.”
“No big deal,” Toby said. “We wanted to come see you all and dance. It’s a long way back not to get to join you all after we’d made the trip to the river.”
“Was it a powerful current?”
“I knew it would sweep us some downstream, so I went in judging where, around the bend, there was no bank and we could get out.”
“Good thinking.”
Lisa found Talley a towel to dry her face and hair. They were the center of attention and got several good-natured laughs.
“Those two are doers. I guess the baby she carries had no problems, either?”
“It may be half fish. I know she is pregnant and you aren’t, and if we could do something we’d have done it.”
“I know how badly she wanted a child. I try not to bring this up with you, but each time a ranch wife is pregnant we talk about it. Know that, yes, I would like to have our own child, but that is in the hands of God.”
“Amen. Lisa, I love you and we have a—What in the devil’s going on? Someone is having a fight.”
Then he heard a familiar roar and over the crowd he heard Hampt shout, “You two dummies want to fight, get outside.” He had two men by their shirt collars and was parting the crowd headed for the door. And out they went.
Chet hurried over, drew the .45 out of the holster on the wall peg, and held it against his leg. He excused himself through the crowd on his way out. The two were still at it—wrestling and hitting each other in a fury.
He fired the pistol in the air. The blast caused heads to swivel.
“Stop your damn fighting. This is a community family-attended dance. We don’t allow fighting even out here. What kind of an example does that make for the children here? Fights solve nothing. Now get up and separate. Fight any more here, and I’ll send you both to hell to solve it with the devil. Do you understand?”
“Yes sir,” they both repeated.
“Now everyone civilized get back inside. It’s raining again.”
He turned on his heel and went back indoors. Men, going by, were thanking him as he reloaded his gun.
“Boy, when you get mad you really get mad,” Lisa said standing close. “I bet they heard you all the way down at Hayden’s Ferry.”
“There ain’t no mistaking Chet Byrnes when he gets his collar up,” Hampt said. “And he saved me kicking the tails off them.”
Cole and Val were standing there when Chet and Lisa went back to their chairs.
“We just got here,” Val said. “I talked to that crazy Talley. They swam it flood and all.”
Chet kissed her forehead. “You can’t stop any of the Byrnes family because of a flood.”
“And we damn sure know how to stop a fight,” Hampt said.
May ducked through and hugged Chet. “You stopped people from fighting at dances in Texas, too.”
“How are you, sister?”
“Great. Save me a slow dance.”
“You got it.”
The gun put up, he and Lisa danced off across the floor. Things were back to friendly.
When the fiddle music started he went over and got May for the slower one.
She laughed as they waltzed. “She is not as tall as number one but close. You know I loved Liz, but afterward I wondered if you would even notice Lisa. Some men never see the woman standing right in front of them. I am so glad you two got together. You act like you have been together for years.”
“We have. Not actually, but we do things in step and life with her is super.”
“I have told you often enough that you have done so much for me. My Hampt is so dedicated to me. We have had such a great life together, children all through it, and if it hadn’t been for you neither of us would have had this great a life.”
“And I had to order you to come to Arizona,”
She laughed. “Thank God you did that.”
Rhea had a house full but there were rooms enough for all. Chet, Victor, Toby, and Cole talked about Tom’s plan to expand the Hereford business. They liked the idea.
Before they went to bed Chet told Toby not to swim the flood to get home. They could stay there all week. It didn’t matter. They were too important to his operation to risk losing.
“We won’t. I promise.”
“Thanks. Sleep tight.”
“You told him not to swim to get back?” Lisa whispered to him in bed.
“Yes and he agreed not to.”
“You have to give those two credit. They do get things done.”
“They do. But I never expected her to do all she does. I knew Toby would give his all, but her, well, she acted like a perfect snob about everything when she first came to us. It worked out wonderfully. Just don’t get in their way or they’ll run you over.”
He went to tickling her and she caught his hands. “I really enjoyed myself again. I don’t have a real good reason, but my life is like floating on a cloud. It was great before and now it is super great all the time.”
They slept in each other’s arms like honeymooners.
The rain moved on and it turned colder. But no snow came to Prescott.
Talley and Toby came up to the ranch. Tom said he’d send them word when the river was down.
The four of them talked about their men and Christmas. The decision was reached to have it early and the two of them to come if the snow wasn’t too deep or the river flooding.
Toby told Chet, “Someday, one or two may want to go back to Mexico to see how things are going. Others will want to stay and get married. I’d like to keep them. If they want to marry, can we build them houses?” Talley nodded that she agreed with what Toby said.
“I see no reason why not. The plan has worked well here.” Chet told them.
“They live pretty far from anywhere. Toby and I want to, from our own money, buy them extra from what you are giving them.”
“What is that?”
“Two pair of pants and two shirts. A canvas jumper, gloves, a suit of underwear, and a stocking cap for cold weather.”
“Put it on our bill.”
“Are you sure? I have the sizes they wear. Those guys work hard every day. The place shows it.”
Toby said, “It really does and they are making great cowboys. They have all those horses you sent us well broke.”
“Tomorrow, if it isn’t snowing, take a wagon into town to get what you need. On our account.”
Talley came over and kissed him on the cheek.
“And you go by the dress shop, order yourself a full-length coat. Don’t say a word. It’s a Christmas surprise for all the foremen’s wives this year. You are one of those. Now, not a word and don’t get it until Christmas,” said Chet.
“Well, that is sure nice.”
“We want to be sure they know we appreciate them, too. We have so many good ranches because we have such great workers.”
“A
men,” Toby said.
* * *
The Verde River went down Wednesday and Toby drove the loaded wagon and horses while Talley led his pony.
“Didn’t the doctor make Talley stop riding after two months?” she asked watching them leave.
“I doubt anyone told her or if she’d listen.”
She hugged him. “Probably not.”
* * *
Things grew busier. The spirit was there. A tree in the living room was decorated with strings of popcorn strung by all the ranch schoolchildren who ate about half the amount they strung and really brightened up that Saturday. Lisa and the new girls made candy and cake for them, with hot tea in small cups she’d found in town. They sang Spanish and English carols.
The ranch women gave them a statue of the Virgin Mary praying. And Lisa thanked them, saying she knew it was a gift from their hearts and she would cherish it.
Christmas Eve was the ranch event with hands and family. That afternoon the children came to the house with lighted candles and sang carols at the foot of the stairs and then came in for hot cocoa. Lisa and the foremen’s wives treated them to cookies as well.
Then they all went to the large tent kept warm with heaters since the weather had a nip. The priest had communion. It was the first time it was held at the ranch but met the workers’ approval. The superintendent wives thought it was very good, and even Hampt said it set the stage for the occasion.
Everyone ate supper and then gifts for all were presented. Children were first and suitable things were given. A small girl a doll. A teen girl in school a sweater and skirt. Wives received dress material, and men suspenders and tough jeans with rivets, the ranch foremen’s wives received long winter coats—four got elk skin ones. Lisa added one for Anita since Jesus was supposed to have gone hunting with the men. She swooned. The foremen there got their Boss of the Plains Stetsons.
At the end, Lisa and Tom called Chet to come onto the stage and gave him a box.
He thanked them all for coming and hugged his wife. “This is all her and all these wives’ hard work.” They stood up and applauded.
“Open the box,” she insisted.
“Oh the box, yes.”
He raised the lid and couldn’t believe his eyes. There was a gold-plated .45 single-action Colt with an ivory handle and a longhorn steer’s head carved into it.
Tom took the box. “Every family put what they could afford into the fund to buy it. Every family.”
“My Lord. What a beautiful gift. I love you, family. All of you.”
Chapter 25
Christmas morning came with a lively discussion at the breakfast table.
“Reckon Fred and Spencer had a great Christmas?” Jesus asked.
“They planned one like JD and Bonnie planned theirs. Lucy and Shawn were holding one last night, and Spud and Shirley were all excited about what they were going to do.”
“Robert and Betty didn’t come?”
“They gave their crew a party and nice gifts. Their baby Caroline is very young and the weather threatened. Lisa has her measurements and is ordering her a coat. Betty Lou and her husband had some activities in their church they wanted to attend. We of course said we understand. We are so big now it is getting hard to get us all together in one place.”
“I want to shoot some tin cans.” Val teased. “Can I use your new peashooter?”
“If you promise not to scratch it.”
“I think that left you speechless.”
“It did.”
“Good. You deserve it.”
Lisa went to the back door and came back. “It’s a telegram for you.”
MAC ARNOLD IS IN TOMBSTONE. I DON’T KNOW FOR HOW LONG. VIRGIL EARP.
“Tell that boy to wait. I need to send an answer.”
“He’s right here.”
Chet ran to the office and wrote a reply.
HOLD ARNOLD FOR THE U.S. MARSHAL ON CHARGES OF MURDER. I WILL BE IN TOMBSTONE IN TWO DAYS. U.S. MARSHAL CHET BYRNES
“Send that to him.” He paid the boy two dollars.
“Jesus, Arnold is in Tombstone. I asked the law to hold him on murder charges.”
“We need to go down there?”
“Yes. Raphael can pick us a man.”
“The ranch can run. I want to go along,” Cole said.
“We’d love to have you.”
“Damn right. It’s time you did some real work.” Jesus teased.
“Taking the midnight stage?”
“Yes.”
“Val, I am going home to get ready. You can stay and visit.”
“No, I’ll help you. Thanks, everyone.”
Anita was up and Jesus had her coat.
“Anita, you need any help send for me,” Lisa said.
She smiled. “Thanks, Lisa. I promise I will if I need anything.”
They followed the Emersons out of the house.
“The party is definitely over,” Lisa said to the two new girls.
They smiled. Tina, the oldest, asked her, “Does this happen often?”
“Just a normal part of our life. It will happen many times. You girls will get used to it. Do the dishes, mop the floors in here, and the back porch. Then take a siesta. I will make plans for who will be here for supper.”
“Señora? Mona and I really like our jobs here.”
“Good. And I thank you for coming to work with me. Now, Chet, let’s go pack you a bag.”
“Yes. Girls, you make her take breaks while I am gone.”
“Oh, sí, señor.”
Lisa shook her head at him as they headed upstairs.
Midnight, the three Marshals kissed their wives good-bye and climbed on the Black Canyon Stage Coach for Hayden’s Ferry.
“It’s been a long time since the three of us did this together,” Chet said.
“Too long.” Cole stretched out his long legs. “What’s our plan?”
“Mac Arnold, I hope, is now in or will be, shortly, in the Tombstone Marshal’s city jail.”
“He’s the one behind those two boys’ deaths up at Rustler’s Ranch while you brought the cattle over?”
“He hired the men who did it. We found them down in Bloody Basin and they chose to fight us. Two-bit wanted men that he told to hang the boys but not to burn the ranch. He wanted it when they were cleared out.”
“This the ranch Spencer and Fred operate?”
“Spencer, Fred, and Miguel and others went to catch them all at Arnold’s place. From what they all told me, somehow they knew we were coming and poured out a deadly wave of gunfire. In that gunfire, they caught Miguel. He just lay there. None of them could get to him. I guess anger made them able to start taking them out. In a short time they were dead, or wounded. They cross-examined the living and they said that Arnold knew they were coming and if they killed me he’d pay them a thousand dollars. The men did try to get to Miguel, but it was too late.
“They recovered a rifle stolen from the Rustler’s Ranch when they murdered those men guarding the ranch. They killed the rest of them, and burned them in the house. Arnold gave the orders, which makes him a murderer.”
“I should have been there.”
“Miguel was a great lawman and a great guy. When we made those trips to Colorado to finally get those guys stopping your stage lines he was the best man I ever saw on the job,” Jesus said.
“He never asked for anything but for a house to marry Lisa and live in.”
“I bought the ranch and cattle when the bank was going to foreclose on it.”
The stagecoach rocked and jolted them around as it headed for the valley. Chet slept some only to be awakened by a bump and tossed around. Through the coach opening, a slip of a moon timed out the old year. Stars spread silver light across the towering mountains that hemmed the stage road in. The arms of the saguaros were held up to the sky. The night air grew warmer by the mile. Trying to sleep was difficult.
They stopped at Bumble Bee to exchange horses, giving them a chance to vent thei
r bladders and stretch stiff muscles.
“Every stop has our history in it, doesn’t it?” Cole asked.
“Most do. No one’s tried to make this a run a railroad track yet.”
“Do you miss running the stage line?” Jesus asked Cole.
“The telegraph saved me lots of false runs, but there were no ends to problems in those four hundred miles of road.”
“What did you think when they told you they were cutting your pay in half?”
“Let’s go, guys,” the driver called to them.
“I said to hell with you. I am through.”
Jesus laughed, taking his seat. “You shock them?”
“No. But they sure didn’t know one horse apple about running a stage line.”
Chet laughed. “I heard they are on their third manager.”
“They run railroads and no one dares to tell them they are doing it wrong.”
“We are not getting much sleep. Our next stage leaves for Tucson at two p.m. So we may be in Tombstone by eight tomorrow night. If Arnold was still in Tombstone when my wire got there, Virgil Earp has him in the city jail for us.”
“I hope he knows where he went if he doesn’t have him.” Jesus said.
“Everyone leaves tracks. We are running this guy down, no matter what it takes. I vowed I’d bring those killers to trial. Arnold’s men, under his orders, shot down Miguel Costa on duty as a U.S. Marshal. Arnold needs to pay for that. Wherever he tries to hide, we will find him.”
“He is a con man to start with, right?” Cole asked. “He conned that banker to loan him the money to buy the ranch and cattle. Then when he couldn’t sell the cattle, he decided he better do something else. How was he going to stock that ranch he planned to use of yours?” Cole asked.
“Con another banker,” Chet said. “I think he discovered it and thought Toby and Talley owned it. Those men raided it to kill the owner and the help. Maybe make it like Indians did the raid and with all dead he could hide out down there next.”
“It damn sure is isolated,” Cole said. “I still can’t believe that Talley is Toby’s wife and is the same girl you saved in Colorado. She was so stuck up and now, pregnant, she swam her horse across the Verde flood to get to the dance.”
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