Blood on the Verde River

by Dusty Richards

  Chet tapped his pencil on the table. “You have some big stuff from the past years we can sell to the Navajos?”

  “Yeah. Ryan tried to sell all the cattle as calves. My estimate is about two fifty yearlings plus. We sold some. But I will have a better count at roundup next spring. I have about three eighty head calf crop from this season.”

  “How is our range?”

  “Oh, I think it improved this season, but I’d like more forage on the stalk out there. The departure of the extra cattle sure helped. We can heal in time.”

  Chet looked at his nephew. “Reg, how’s your deal?”

  “We have eighty mother cows, sixty calves, and a bunch of old stags—seventy-five now. I have a few shorthorn cross bulls I left standing. I’ll need some hay equipment and—”

  “Wait.” Chet held up his hand. “These are all maverick cattle you and your wife rounded up and branded this year?”

  “Yeah. We’re still finding them. The two cowboys you sent me can rope anything.”

  “You may stock that Windmill ranch yet.”

  Reg smiled. “We’re trying hard.”

  Chet nodded. “You’ll need water development this coming summer. Either windmills or tanks. I looked at some over at Rye that really work.”

  “I built some tanks at a few springs with my boys and they work,” Hampt said.

  “It is the only way we can get the stock spread out to eat the grass,” Tom said.

  They agreed.

  Chet continued the meeting. “We have no word on the Rankin Ranch. We will add that to Hampt’s place when it comes. Now on to horses. We will need horses to pull the mowers and the stacker, rake and sweep the hay. I may need to send back east for some of these things, but mustangs and knotty-tailed saddle stock won’t do the job. Frey may know where we can get work horses. Keep your ears open.”

  “We all need about two dozen more saddle horses to run our operations,” Tom said. “I know they cost more money.”

  “Sarge, for sure, will, too.” Chet was writing it all down.

  “I’m going to need some alfalfa seed to plant twenty more acres, probably need some barley for a nurse crop, too.” Hampt shook his head. “Have we spent all your money, now?”

  Reg shook his head. “I won’t get any land cleared catching cattle this winter so I’ll put planting off till next year.”

  “You sure?” Hampt asked, and then laughed.

  It was time for lunch. Marge told them to put all their papers up. Monica, May, and Lucy had fixed them a big lunch.

  “I bet you had a hand in it,” Hampt said.

  “Oh. A little bit.” Marge smiled at him, dealing out the plates.

  May brought silver ware and Lucy had coffee cups. Monica brought the fresh coffee.

  Plates of fire-cooked steaks, potatoes, green beans, and applesauce in bowls along with brown topped sourdough biscuits and flour gravy appeared on the big table.

  “Raphael cooked the meat for us,” Marge said. “The four of us did the rest. Who needs something else?”

  The men applauded. Chet invited the women to join them.

  Marge shook her head. “No, we have more interesting things to discuss in the kitchen, but we will check on you.”

  “Now ain’t that like a woman,” Hampt said. “More important things to talk about than ranching.”

  They all laughed. The women retreated to the kitchen and the men sat down at the table.

  Chet spoke as the food was passed around. “Christmas is coming. I think we need to have a party for our hands maybe at the Quarter Circle Z. Most don’t have families around here. I want each man to have a sack of hard candy, a couple oranges, maybe a kerchief, and ten dollars. The gals can fix them up for the party. Sarge’s men will be on the road so I’ll go up there when they get back and have one with them. Reg, you and Lucy can take things back for your people. Tom oversees the sawmill log haulers so he can have a party for them.”

  “Let’s invite them to the ranch,” Tom said. “They need to be part of us, too.”

  “Good idea. I bet Robert invites his girlfriend.” Chet looked at the men at his table. He was so blessed to have them working for him. “Now all of you, I’m giving you an extra month’s salary this year. We are doing good. And Robert gets a foreman bonus, too.”

  “You know Hoot ain’t going to be here much longer,” Tom said. “Can we buy him a large rocking chair?”

  “We’ll put ribbons on it,” Hampt said.

  “Sure. Marge will handle that.”

  “What am I to handle? Anyone need coffee?” She said as she and Monica entered the room to pour refills.

  Chet smiled. “Get the old cook a big rocker and a wool blanket for Christmas.”

  “I can sure do that.”

  Things had gone fine enough to suit him during the meeting. Lucy and Reg were spending another day with them before they left to get the Christmas things to haul back to Hackberry.

  Tom pulled Chet aside and talked to him in private. “I think Cole is a good man. I am sending him to ride with you until we know who those hired guns are. We don’t want you shot. I’d say Jesus should ride with you, too.”

  Chet started to protest but Tom held up his hand. “I am serious. You are the one who holds this operation together. I want you to accept them as your guards.”

  “I’ll think on it.”

  “Reg get over here,” Tom said. “I want those two men who rode with him to Utah to be his bodyguards.”

  “Good idea. Do that Chet.”

  “I’m not afraid—”

  Reg cut him off. “But you got a baby coming that will need you. You won’t let your wife ride a horse. So I say yes, the two men go where you go.”

  “I’ll see,” was all Chet promised.

  Reg stuck his head back into the kitchen. “Marge, come in here.”

  “No, don’t get her involved.”

  Once Marge was in the room, they all turned to her. “Tom wants Cole and Jesus to ride with him all the time until we find out more about those hired guns,” Reg said to her.

  Marge nodded. “Good idea. You do that, Chet Byrnes. I don’t want you hurt, either.”

  Chet looked at the tin squares on the ceiling for help. None came. “All right. Send for him. Jesus is here.”

  “Good,” Tom said. “Marge, thank everyone. I need to get home and be sure all is all right.”

  Chet shook his hand. “Thanks. We had a good review. This ranch will work.”

  Tom left, then Hampt and May. She kissed Chet good-bye and thanked him for the day and said how much she enjoyed it. They should do it more often.

  “I’ll try to do that. Hampt tell those boys I am still looking for small horses.”

  May shook her head. “Those boys are getting to be something else. Last time I was gone, they shot a skunk with a twenty-two.”

  “Oh?”

  “I was worried about them shooting anything without one of us there. But worse than that, they shot it on my front porch. I asked them why they shot it there. They said ’cause it was trying to get in our house.” She waved her hand in front of her nose. “It has smelled bad for a week, both inside and out.”

  Chet kissed her cheek and hugged her shoulders. “They love you.”

  “I am not sure I love them at times.”

  They were off. Marge was laughing as she closed the front door. “Those boys will be boys.”

  “You will have your turn at that.”

  She hugged him. “Oh God, I hope so.”

  “You will. I promise you. Marge, you agree with what Tom proposed, don’t you?” Chet asked.

  “Oh, yes. I definitely agree that you should have your companyeros with you at all times.”

  “No one has a letter from JD?” Lucy asked, coming into the room.

  They all shook their heads. “He didn’t write you, either?” Chet asked Lucy.

  “No, Chet. And Reg is concerned. At least he wrote to us for a while. Now nothing.”

  �
��Lord, I hope I don’t have to go and try to find him.”

  Reg shook his head. “He knows we’d come if he needed us. But like Chet says, he’s a damn long way away in New Mexico.”

  “I am going to find those two hired guns. I don’t need bodyguards.”

  “Until they’re gone to hell or jail, you do,” Reg said.

  No one is going to take his side—might as well give up. The four of them played cards and laughed a lot that afternoon. They ate leftovers for supper. Afterward, Reg read magazines. The girls sent Monica off and did her dishes. Chet looked at the things he needed to buy and figured he must order them shortly or they wouldn’t get there until after hay session. Bodyguards. He never thought he’d be tied to them, but Marge would make him promise to use them.

  When Cole came up a little later to stay at the upper ranch, Tom sent a note with him that said the Nelsons had never worked for the mill operation. No one by that name was on the ranch books. Also, without Susie there, he’d need to hire a bookkeeper to write checks, keep the accounts up and straight. No way could she run the ranch and keep the books from the Windmill Ranch.

  He also wanted to know who would move into the ranch house. It was too good not to use. And a house not lived in soon fell apart, got roof leaks no one noticed and so on.

  Chet would have to think on that one for a while. She’d be there until spring, anyway.

  It snowed the next day, but it was light. Reg and Lucy rushed around to get everything they needed and the Christmas deal arranged as well. Chet knew his nephew was concerned about going home in the buckboard if the snow was deep up on the rim. No telling about that and no way to get word and find out.

  Most of it melted around Preskitt and then it turned cold that night.

  Reg and Lucy left the next morning with plans to stay at the sawmill if it looked bad. Chet, Jesus, and Cole rode to town. They met the new owner at the mercantile—Ben Ivors—and he invited Chet into his back office to discuss merchandise.

  Chet said, “I am going to need some mowing machines, hay rakes, buck rakes, and stackers. I’ve seen some in the catalogs. I know if I don’t get them ordered, they won’t ever get here for next year.”

  Ivors nodded. “Exactly. They could get to the end of the tracks over by the east New Mexico line and then take forever to get here. What brand you want?”

  “I have some Case mowers now. I want six to start. Plus three rakes, three buck rakes to gather the hay, and three stackers.”

  “Oh, man you need a lot of machinery. I can order some extras to sell when they get here and maybe save some money for both of us.”

  “Good.” Chet could see his two men waiting out in the store for his return.

  “I can send a telegraph today and see if Case has any closer than Iowa.”

  “Do that. I have the money to pay for them and you get us the best price.”

  “I will. It’s sure nice to finally meet you, Chet.”

  “My pleasure. I’ll drop back in a week and see how you are doing.”

  Ben rose to shake his hand. “Hey, anything I can help you with, let me know.”

  Chet stood. “Good luck. You must have had some experience at this business. I see new items and things I never saw in here before.”

  “My family was in business in Kansas for twenty years. I wanted to come west and found this store was for sale.”

  “Come down to Camp Verde schoolhouse. We have pot luck and dancing on Saturday night.”

  “My wife and I will do that.”

  “Folks don’t let it get wild. So you can bring your family.”

  “That’s swell. I only have my wife. Thanks for ordering all this from me.”

  “Good enough. Let me know you’re coming. We have extra beds at the ranch house so you won’t need to drive home over the mountain after the dance.”

  Chet returned to the front of the store, picked up his two men, and they went over to Bo’s office. There were magazines to read and Chet invited them inside with him. After a thorough look around outside, they went in.

  “Who are they?” Bo asked.

  “Oh, Jenn heard word there were some killers coming to get me. My family said I needed them.”

  “Ha. Now I’m getting even.”

  “No, they don’t tell me what to do like those two I hired to dry you out.”

  “I still miss getting drunk, but I know you did me a big favor.”

  “Anything on the Rankin place?” Chet asked.

  “No, they are still in court. Might be six months or more. I won’t lose it.”

  “Tell Jane hi.”

  “Her and the baby that’s coming?” Bo grinned.

  “Yeah. I’ll have one by May, the good Lord willing.”

  “That will be something. Me a daddy. I’m swearing to do better than my old man.”

  “I hope so.”

  “See you.”

  The three left and Chet went by the bank and saw Tanner in his office. He handed Chet a telegram that said the U.S. Treasury was to pay the first six months’ vouchers.

  “What about the second? Will they pay those, too?”

  “Yes. They say they will pay the second half of the year or at least part of it when they get back into congressional session.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I think your money for this year will be here by next March.”

  “Good.” Chet nodded. “I ordered some hay machinery hoping to get it here by May or even June.”

  “I have a loan in arrears on some equipment. I may have to recall it. Two mowing machines and two rakes.”

  “Have they been kept up?”

  “Never used. They’re still in crates. However, the lady seems unable to pay on them.”

  “Is her first name Kay?” Chet asked.

  “Yes. Her man shot himself, they tell me.”

  “I won’t go get the equipment for you, but if you have to take it in, I will buy it.”

  “Thanks. You have some problems there?”

  “My nephew JD moved her out when she wanted a divorce. He tried to help her. She remarried someone else when he left to do a job for me.”

  “I won’t say a word.”

  “Thanks.” Chet left the bank and told the two young men waiting for him that they were going to Frey’s and talk horses around his potbellied stove.

  Frey’s wife was home, so they had the warm office to themselves.

  “Man, what ’cha three doing in town on a day like this?” Frey asked when they entered the livery.

  “Draft horses. I need about sixteen teams,” Chet answered.

  Frey had a coughing spell and when he finished he apologized. “Damn winter cold. That is a big number for me to find. What they going to do?”

  “Make hay with them.”

  Fret whistled. “You need stout ones. Some big stage horses can do that. You want them broke?”

  “That would help. But we can break some of them this winter if we have to.”

  “All right. I have three teams I can sell right now. One is green broke, the other two are all right to hitch up. Cost you three apiece for the two broke ones. Two for the other team.”

  “When will you have them here?”

  “Oh, Friday,” Frey said.

  “I want to see them and try them out before I buy them.”

  “That one team is only green broke.”

  “That means they will lead?” Chet asked the stableman.

  “Well, sort of.”

  Chet’s henchmen laughed.

  “Aw, how soon are you farming?”

  “Springtime. Haying mostly,” Chet said.

  “I can find them by then. Look at these Friday and I’ll get some more that I know about.”

  “Good. Get busy.”

  Frey looked at Jesus and Cole. “What are you guys? His horse breakers?”

  “Naw, we’re just learning the business,” Cole said.

  “Well, Chet can teach you two a lot.”

  “He has alread
y,” Jesus said.

  “You two help him get those outlaws out of Utah?” Frey asked.

  “They were there,” Chet said.

  Leaving Frey’s, they went on to lunch at Jenn’s, choosing a booth near the back.

  Jenn crowded in beside Chet to tell him something.

  “You can talk,” Chet said. “These are my guards. When everyone heard about the pair prowling for me, Marge and the others made them my helpers.”

  “Good for her. I learned more about those two Nelsons from a new woman in town—Kathrin Arnold.”

  “We brought her back from Utah with us,” Chet said.

  “Yes. she is staying with Leroy Scales and his wife Betty Lou. Kathrin thinks those two were hired by her ex or a former husband in Utah.”

  “Marge was going to help her get on her feet. We had the wedding for my sister and then a meeting. Kathrin must have left with the Scales. Didn’t see her go, but wondered where she got to.”

  “They’re all Mormons. I imagine she felt better with her own kind.”

  “I guess. She is a good person. I hope it all works out for her.”

  Jenn shook her head. “Divorces are not easy to attain nor are they done without being shunned by many people. But she thinks that Arnold hired the Nelsons.”

  Chet told Jesus and Cole, “We need to go by the marshal’s office and find out what we can about those two.”

  That part of business taken care of, Jenn said, “Well, your sister is married to Sarge. I hate that I missed it. He is a special guy and what I saw of her, she is special, too.”

  “They will do well together.”

  Jenn stood and said to the young men, “You two watch out for him. Those Nelsons don’t need to harm a hair on his head.”

  “We will,” Cole promised her, and she left them to eat the heaping plates brought by her daughter.

  Chet introduced her to them.

  They were all smiles. When she swished away, they watched her retreat without a comment.

  The next week Marge, Chet, and his two bodyguards had an early Christmas with Robert and his crew. They took his girlfriend up with them. Marge had promised her folks she’d chaperone. It was a fun evening and everyone was shocked when Robert gave the young woman a ring. She was shocked even more. They planned to get married in April. Robert had found a cabin he could buy near the sawmill. Several of the drivers cried after opening the silk neckerchiefs Marge had bought for them.