Blood on the Verde River

by Dusty Richards

  An edge of high clouds were moving in from the north when he found a place in the pines that gave him a good view of that direction. He considered them harbingers of snow. He shook his head then booted his horse to the right to bring a stray grazer back into the horse herd—one who had veered aside to snatch a mouthful of bunch grass.

  So many things rode on his mind—his sister and Sarge, Hampt with the herd headed for New Mexico, the main ranch, and all his operations. Plus Reg and Lucy who must think he’d left them. Oh well. He booted the roan off the mountain.

  Up ahead, Leroy was managing the big horses, holding the wagon back on the steepest grades handily. That pleased Chet. The man was a real driver. The way down and off the Kaibab was a tough mountain road and he’d be glad to be at the base by nightfall.

  They stopped on a flat place to give the horses a rest. He dismounted and checked on Kathrin. “You doing all right?”

  “Oh yes.” She was on the ground stretching and bending. “I am a hundred percent better. Where did you meet your wife?”

  “On a stage coach coming from Hayden’s Mill to Preskitt.”

  “Oh.”

  “I was looking for a new ranch in Arizona. My family was involved in a family feud in Texas. We needed a new address.”

  “Do you like Arizona?” Kathrin asked.

  “We’re doing well here.”

  “Sounds like it. Cole and Jesus have told me lots about you. I consider myself fortunate to be in this train.”

  “If you hang on, we’ll find you a new future.”

  “I look forward to that. And I mean what I say.” She paused, ready to get back in her rig. “Thanks.”

  He gave her a high sign then turned his horse. Prisoners reloaded and seated in the wagon, he waved to Leroy to head out.

  Standing in the wagon, Leroy spoke to the big horses and they began to start out in a movement very much like a dance that singled out their breeding.

  Kathrin’s mare and buggy went next and then the horses led by a dun gelding that was bossy and barred his teeth at any challengers who wanted to pass him. Leaders like that kept a band of horses together like a bell mare.

  The grumbling prisoners were a pain in Chet’s backside and he wished he had them all in jail. He tried to ignore them, but they were a constant complaining force. The cold air and increasing bank of clouds made him conscious that things could grow worse before the gray day was over. They crossed House Rock Valley under the side of the red rim of the Vermillion Cliffs.

  Mid-morning it began to snow—dry flakes, at first, on his cheek. He trotted the roan to the front of the train and on a high place, viewed the far away gap concealing the ferry. It would be another day reaching there, with or without snow. He nodded to Leroy and shook his head. “This is all we needed.”

  Over the clop of hooves, rattle of wheels, and jingle of harness, Leroy said. “Hey, I am free. That is better than the weather.”

  Chet gave him a thumbs-up sign and rode back for the others. It was a great third day for Leroy who had barely lived, tied up as a hostage for over a month. Chet nodded to Kathrin as he went by her and she made a face at the snow.

  He shrugged. “I can’t help it. We will make it. Have no fear.”

  She smiled.

  In the back, he spoke with Cole and Jesus bringing on the horse herd.

  “This snow looks like it’s going get worse,” Cole said.

  “As a south Texan, I saw only one snow that covered the ground,” Chet said. “It melted by noon the next day.”

  Cole shook his head. “I loved Nebraska in the summer, but my winter there it snowed early and never let up. Folks said it was the worst one in years, but I didn’t want to be there for another record.”

  “My first snow was the first winter I came to work at Preskitt,” Jesus said. “I had heard of it. But when I slid down on my butt, I knew it was going to be crazy to work in.”

  They laughed.

  Noontime, they stopped and ate a cold lunch—beef jerky and cold biscuits. Chet was saving the small amount of firewood stored in the wagon for the night’s fire. The prisoners were allowed to empty their bladders and then they squatted under blankets, grumbling.

  “We should be turned loose,” Old man Marconi complained.

  “Yeah.” Evans added. “We will sure freeze to death.”

  “My alternative is to tie a rope around all your necks and then tie it to the wagon. You can run to keep up with those big horses. That would warm you up.”

  “That would get us drug,” Evans said.

  “You aren’t as dumb as I thought you were. Now shut up or I will gag you.” Chet pointed at the outlaws. “Load up. I will still shoot you if you try anything, snow or no snow.”

  They moved out again. The snow stopped, but it began again when they reached a watering hole in late afternoon. The weary business of unloading the prisoners went on again. Building a cooking fire was up to Jesus and Kathrin. The horses, after being watered, ate from nosebags. Snow really began to fall in large flakes. Chet shook his head at the turn in the weather while making certain the chain on the prisoners was locked on a wagon wheel.

  “You going to let us freeze to death out here?” Evans demanded.

  Chet shrugged. “I don’t really care what happens to you.”

  “I know that. Maybe your men would turn us loose if you were dead.”

  “I imagine they’d vote to hang you on the first tree they found and not have to listen to your mouth.”

  “My lawyer—”

  Chet kicked him in the leg. “Shut up.”

  “Don’t upset him,” Old man Marconi said.

  “I don’t give a damn. He’s going to let us freeze to death out here.”

  “Better listen to him, Evans.” Chet walked away. His concern was getting all of them out of this desolate land.

  Chet talked to Leroy and the others at the campfire.

  “This snow shouldn’t hamper us getting to Lee’s Ferry,” Leroy said. “But we’ve got four days to get to the Marcy Road and about a half of one to get to that sawmill.”

  Chet agreed. “We can rest there.”

  “That Cameron trading post on the Little Colorado, we can rest there, too,” Leroy said.

  “You are talking about almost two weeks drive to get back.”

  Leroy nodded. “It will take us that long to get to Preskitt.”

  “I am not complaining, but I’d sure like to be there already.” Chet shook his head. It would be step by step.

  He rolled up in his bedroll thinking about his wife. She was in a warm bed, anyway. He’d sure like to be there with her. His guard duty was the last one. He better get some sleep while he could.

  They reached the ferry midday and Lee met them in the melting, slushy snow. Their crossing would take lots of time and several trips. The horse herd would go on the last two. Lee also sold them a rick of wood and some hay that was loaded into the wagon. The grain Chet bought went on the pack animals.

  The trips began and in no time the prisoners and wagon were across. Chet and Leroy guarded them. Kathrin and the buggy went next with the saddle horses, and Chet rode back to help get the loose horses loaded. They didn’t like the hollow sounding barge but the first were soon over, and they were winched back for the last load. Mrs. Lee, a British lady, had generously fed them all, including the prisoners. Chet paid her ten dollars for her effort after he settled the fare, grain, and fire wood charges with Lee.

  She was so excited and thanked him as he was going out the door. “Oh that is so generous of you, sir. Come again please.”

  He thanked her again and headed back to the ferry.

  Jesus waited for him and the last of the ponies to arrive. The others had gone on ahead to get as much distance as they could before dark. Lee and his helper brought the rest of the herd onto the ferry.

  “I am so glad we made it this far.” Jesus crossed himself.

  “Me too, amigo. I will be damn glad to be home and may not leave th
e house for a century.”

  Jesus laughed. “I bet you are gone in two weeks, helping someone.”

  Bundled against the sharp wind, Chet smiled. He hoped his man was wrong about that.

  Three cold days later, they reached the large trading post at Cameron. Chet bought another rick of wood and loaded it in the wagon.

  He sent Kathrin shopping for their food needs. Her concern was they’d be much higher priced than at Preskitt and she’d limit them to their real needs. He thanked her for her concern. It had been a costly trip, but more than worthwhile. The Wells Fargo rewards for the three stage robbers would please his two men, too. The three faced murder charges as well.

  His back was sore from riding so far in the saddle and sleeping on the cold ground. Home would be a wonderful relief.

  The next morning, they were moving south again—over fifty miles left to get to the fork in the road.

  Bone weary, they stopped, camped and turned in early. He felt certain the next night they would sleep at the sawmill. The snow was crunchy under foot, only the ruts were icy.

  In the bitter cold with a blanket over his shoulders, he served his guard time, seating cross-legged, breathing out large clouds of vapor, and keeping the fire going for the morning cooking needs.

  Kathrin came awake early and began to make preparations. “You will be glad to home?”

  “Amen to that. We will be at the sawmill tonight and sleep in beds, I hope.”

  “Then the next day at your ranch?”

  “You bet.”

  “I hope I don’t make your wife mad—I mean, being with you all this way.”

  “You won’t. She doesn’t worry about those kinds of things. We are together and that is all that is important.”

  “She’s lucky.”

  “No. Her first husband died in the war. Number two was thrown off a horse and died. As a last resort, she ended up with me.” He laughed.

  Kathrin shook her head about the time Jesus came to join them. “Your boss says his wife is not lucky having him and he was the last resort.”

  “Oh, I am glad to be here, ’cause at home she would be walking the floors and asking me, ‘You think he is all right?’”

  They all laughed.

  They soon had the prisoners and crew up. Her hot breakfast of pan-fried potatoes and bacon, along with Dutch-oven biscuits even made the prisoners shut up. In an hour, they were on the road again. The sun felt some warmer. The big horses jogged and they made great time reaching the junction and at last the sawmill in mid-afternoon.

  Robert ran out to greet them. “Who did you arrest?”

  “A kidnapper and three murderers.” Chet pointed to the buggy, then the wagon. “This is Kathrin, and the hostage we rescued is Leroy Scales.” He wheeled the roan around. “Take a couple men away from the sawmill work and relieve my men of guarding the prisoners. Find her a private, safe place. I am going to the Verde Ranch. They can all drive on down there tomorrow.”

  Chet shook hands with Cole and Jesus and told them they’d be relieved of guard duty till morning and to meet him at Susie’s. He did the same to Kathrin and left.

  It was long after dark when he reached Susie’s house. She came on the run and hugged him. Tom had put on his coat and came over and so did half the crew.

  “You all right?” Susie asked.

  Chet nodded in the candle lamplight. “I am fine. Leroy Scales is well. We arrested his kidnapper and the three Marconi men who had robbed the stagecoach. They also murdered a man on the road going up there. Good to see all of you.”

  They cheered.

  “We’ll have more time to talk later. Cole and Jesus will bring the horses and prisoners here tomorrow. They are sleeping at the sawmill tonight. Saddle me a fresh horse. The roan is worn out.”

  “You are going home tonight?” Susie asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Sarge and I are going to be married tomorrow night. We hoped you’d be here to give me away again.”

  “I will. I wish you two the best.”

  “I know I can’t stay up there at Windmill because the only house is the bunkhouse.”

  “We will build one for you two.”

  “I didn’t know if we could. I worry about all the expenses we’ve had. In the spring, I’ll use a tent. Until then, we will get along. He really likes the cattle driving business and wants to keep that job.”

  “Good.” One less worry for Chet.

  “Remember, the wedding is tomorrow,” she said quietly.

  “I’ll be back for it.”

  The fresh horse came saddled. He spoke briefly to Tom. “All well here?”

  “Tomorrow, some of us will go meet Cole and Jesus and help with the prisoners.”

  “I want them held here until Monday and then we will deliver them to the jail. Cole and Jesus have worked their butts off. They deserve lots of the credit. I will send Mrs. Scales down here to meet her husband tomorrow. He is a great guy as well. I want everyone to see these pitiful outlaws delivered to Sims on Monday.”

  “We can handle that.”

  “Susie, in your wedding preparations, I would like Leroy and his wife Betty Lou to be your guests at the house tomorrow night.”

  “Fine, Chet. Right after the wedding, Sarge and I are going to Oak Creek for our honeymoon. Millie can entertain them.”

  “Swell.” Chet stepped into the saddle, swung his leg over the cantle, and slid into place. “They will be so glad to be together they won’t need much.”

  Susie laughed. “Ride careful.”

  “I will. Thanks guys and gals. I’m going home.” He swept the fresh roan around and headed for the cross bar at a healthy run. On the Camp Verde road, through the starry night, and in the silver landscape, he let him out. The grade was steep. He let the gelding walk and halted on the top for him to get his breath.

  Then he set out again in a lope.

  At last, reaching the cross bar over the open gate, he charged up the drive to the house. Sliding to a stop, he began to undo the girth and gave a loud, “Yahooo.”

  A light came on in their bedroom and he dropped the saddle and hot pads on the ground. The roan wouldn’t leave. He might graze some. There was little snow on the ground there.

  The front door opened. “Chet! You’re home!”

  He took the steps two at a time and hugged Marge’s warm form.

  “Where are the others?” she asked as they went inside.

  “Everyone is fine. We have the kidnapper. Leroy is all right. We also caught the Marconis. They killed a man on the road. A lady, Kathrin Arnold, got mixed up in it, but she had no hand in it. She’s a Mormon and her husband had married one teenager and planned to marry another sister, so she left him. The kidnapper had picked her up and she had no choice but go with him. She and the two boys he hired as ranch hands looked out for Leroy.”

  “Where is she?”

  “She’s coming down with Jesus, Cole, and the prisoners. I promised her that you and Jenn would help her.”

  “Of course. You look a little bushy, but I don’t care. You are safe and healthy.” She hugged him again.

  Monica stuck her head in the room. “I started the boiler. It was already warm. I have some cake and soon will have coffee.”

  “We’re coming. You spoke to Susie?” Marge asked.

  “Yes. That’s why we are going to bring the prisoners into Preskitt on Monday. I promised her we’d be there tomorrow.”

  “I am sure some will think it is too quick, but both of them want each other. So who else has any word in it?”

  “No one. Let their tongues wag. I want her happy . . . and him, too.”

  Monica’s chocolate cake was wonderful.

  But before she got away, he asked. “How is your friend?”

  “Oh, he’s fine. He’s taking me to the wedding tomorrow. Marge said we could sleep in separate bedrooms at the ranch. Is that all right?”

  “Or use one.” He laughed, but she was gone.

  Marge snickered
. “They might, anyway.”

  By the time he bathed and shaved and they went upstairs it was past three a.m. It would be a short night, but who cared? He’d have her in his arms and be in his own bed. Thank God.

  CHAPTER 19

  Up at eight, they hurried to get ready. Raphael sent a vaquero with a buckboard to get Leroy’s wife Betty Lou and take her to the Verde ranch. He had a note and instructions on what she should do. She was to keep quiet about the whole thing and she needed to bring clothes for both of them to wear at the wedding.

  Marge had his best clothes cleaned and pressed. They were packed in a small trunk with her best dress. The buggy hitched and a horse tied on behind, they left for the Verde ranch.

  Monica was in a dither before they left, but her date wasn’t in sight when they turned east for the main road and headed for the ranch. They had the fast team and he let them go. They slowed going downhill and in no time were on the flats. Marge was so excited about his return, she could hardly contain herself. Having him home and safe at last, he figured out, recalling Jesus’s story about her worrying where he was when he was gone, was probably true. The baby inside her was not a problem.

  They reached the ranch in early afternoon and Susie rushed out to hug her. “How is the momma doing?”

  “Oh,” Marge swept the hair back from her own face. “Wonderful, now that he’s home and safe. Let’s work on your hair and get you ready.”

  “There is food in the house,” Susie said to him. “We decided to have less of a wedding than last time. There will be plenty of food, but we cut back some.”

  “You didn’t need to.”

  “I know, but the government owes you lots of money.”

  “They will pay us.”

  Susie wrinkled her nose at him as they walked inside. “The men from the mill aren’t here yet, either.”