Deadly Is the Night

by Dusty Richards

  “She sounds like a good woman.” Liz chuckled.

  “Oh, she is very nice and funny, too, despite her isolation. She even told me where to build the new headquarters.”

  “More money.” She shook her head. “I understand you spend money to make money. You also have two long letters from Hannagen at the house, but I did not open them.”

  “Why not open it?”

  “I figured you’d be home sometime and you had to answer them, not me.”

  “How is Monica?”

  “My usual mother, she didn’t want me driving into town without a guard.”

  “You should listen to her.”

  She elbowed him, but their thick clothing kept it from doing much but making them laugh as she hurried the team through the night to get home. The piney smell in the air made him grateful to be back. That and a small amount of her perfume had caught his nose. Home would be great. Having his wife to sleep with again would be, too.

  Monica greeted him and turned on her heels. “Food is in the oven. I will have breakfast early for you.”

  He ate a portion of the beef and potatoes; then they went to bed with his whiskers and all. She told him he could fix that in the morning.

  Next morning he was up before dawn, leaving her sleeping. Monica had breakfast ready along with a thousand questions. He stopped her with a question of his own.

  “My wife acts like she is over the matter of the baby. She looks much better. Is she really okay with everything?”

  “Yes. She said it had to be behind her. You two had a life to live and she would not miss any of that.”

  “Thanks.” He sipped on his coffee. “I thought so. Hoped so, but wanted to be sure. And I appreciate all you do for her while I am gone, and for us when I am here. Now I need a bath and a shave.”

  “You need clothes up there?”

  “No, I’ve got some out. I’ll be fine. It is good to be home.”

  “Better to have you here.” She poured him more coffee.

  “The ranch all right?”

  “Fine. Raphael says it is a mild winter. I agree.”

  “Oh, we will get some big snows, but for now that is holding off.”

  “Are you off on another wild goose chase soon?”

  He laughed. “None that are planned right now.”

  “Good.”

  He took the bath, shaved, and regretted his too long hair as he was drying it. Maybe he’d get his wife to cut it. She was better than most barbers. Dressed and in his chair he read the two letters from his stage line partner in Gallup.

  Letter one explained the action congress was taking on all telegraph lines proposed nationally. They wanted more of them to connect the U.S. from coast to coast. Many lines were too crowded with messages to really be effective. Others like their project needed to be funded by the government to ever get them affordable for ordinary people’s usage. The rest of the letter contained reports from further hearings on the proposed law in both houses of congress.

  Hannagen pointed out that since they planned to follow the railroad’s eventual route it was an even more feasible project than most that would be used for years.

  Letter two contained a bill to be introduced in both houses of congress for ten such projects in the west. Their own route was listed as number three in importance in the list of needed lines, a fact he was excited about, especially with them funding it. This did not mean ready to go. Funding was still needed. That would come from the budget committees. They had nothing until the bill was passed by both sides. Hannagen felt it was going to pass through both houses, so they better be ready to move on everything. Fast.

  Meanwhile Chet needed a money account set up at Nye’s bank in Tucson to run his new ranch. He also needed an answer from Spencer Horne about him taking the superintendent of building job.

  Liz was dressed and came by to kiss him. “Any news, good I mean?”

  “Hannagen thinks the bill will pass in this session. The bill to sponsor the telegraph line.”

  “More work?”

  “Yes, more work.”

  “What happens today?”

  “I need to see Tanner at the bank about setting up another account in Tucson for the new ranch project.”

  “Who is going to run the deal down there?”

  “I asked Spencer to build the headquarters, but he is going to ask Rebecca, first, if she’ll go along. Yes or no he might decide to do it anyway.”

  “I tried to talk to her, and she told me she couldn’t talk it out. It was too complicated and she said she would simply need to figure it out. Figure out what she really wanted to do with her life. But she did thank me for asking.”

  “I guess that may be her way.”

  “I could not believe she would even want to go back to her old life. But I am not her, nor will I ever be that mixed up.”

  “Obviously it is something that really bothers her.”

  “She said when her husband was killed that she had no money and felt it was the only way to go. Spencer talked her into quitting before she even started working, but now she feels perhaps she should not have done that.”

  “He’s going to find out what she intends to do before he gives me his answer about the ranch headquarters building. This man Frisco wants to be the foreman but thought they might skin him on buying supplies to build it. They won’t touch Spencer. But it may all lie in her answers if she’d go along or not.”

  “Then who would ride with you besides Jesus?”

  “I can get someone until he gets the place built. It was provisional. He’d come back with me if he wanted to after the job was completed.”

  “I think you sure need a good second man to back Jesus. Let’s run into town. Eat lunch at Jenn’s. She will want to hear about the baby and what you can tell her about her daughter who is expecting again.”

  “She really is. And she laughs about it if you can imagine that.”

  Liz nodded she knew. “I can. She is very dedicated to JD and their life.”

  “Absolutely so. That ranch has turned the corner financially. Finally.”

  “I will get dressed. Has Raphael been here?”

  “Not yet. But he must be busy.”

  “I know he wants to talk to you.”

  “I can catch him later.”

  “I am going to get dressed for the cold.”

  The weather had warmed up some by then. Solar heat on their left side going in made their clothes seem much too warm as they got to town.

  Chet arranged to set up an account for the Apache Springs Ranch and for a money transfer to Nye’s bank to start it.

  Tanner was excited to talk about his own news. “Confidentially, Kay and I were married quietly by the JP, and I really appreciate having a wife as good as she is. Marriage is a great experience.”

  “Well, best of luck to you both.” Chet didn’t approve of her and the things in her past but it was not his choice, and he really liked Tanner. Poor man probably never had a woman in his life before her.

  “Thanks. I saw how happy you are with your wife. I never believed I’d ever find one, so I am sure pleased to have her.”

  “Good. I’ll tell you more about the new ranch later. Liz is waiting.”

  “I will be anxious to hear about it. Thanks for all your business, Chet.”

  Back in the buckboard he went by Bo’s land office and they both went inside.

  “How are you, Liz? And I see you finally made it back?” he said, appraising Chet.

  “I sure did.” He shook the tall man’s hand. “How are the wife and boy?”

  “Amazing. Absolutely amazing. He is growing like a weed. He’ll be walking soon I’d bet.”

  “Well, I bought thirty sections of grassy range north of Mount Lemon last week.”

  “Did you get it cheap?”

  “Fourteen thousand.”

  “You stole it. Need anything from me?”

  “No, it has a good deed and I think it was a bargain. What else?”

/>   “I bought five more homesteads all complete by the new east place. What’s wrong with that country?”

  “Too isolated. No place to earn a dime.”

  “I guess you’re right. Three more for Sarge and two for Shawn up there.”

  “They’ve been notified?”

  “Oh, I don’t buy them unless I have one of them look at the place first. Then I send them a letter so they know they have been purchased.”

  “My checkerboard ranches.”

  “Hey, some day they will all be worth much more than I pay for them. Having this deed land wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

  “I am in full agreement. Keep up the good work.”

  “Tell me what the place ailed from that you bought down there?”

  “No headquarters and isolated but it has grass and water.”

  “Show me on the wall map where it is at.”

  He went over and traced the line of the road out of Oracle. “See this place?”

  “That is deeded land. You must’ve done well. Boy it is all in one block, too.”

  “I call it the Apache Springs Ranch.”

  “Come have supper with us one evening. I know my wife wants to talk to Liz.”

  “Set a time and date with her and we will do that.”

  “I sure will.”

  “We better get back home.” His wife agreed and they left for the ranch.

  When they got back one of the boys put the team up and Raphael joined them. Chet invited him in to talk with him. A chill was beginning to set in as the sun slipped down.

  “Is anything wrong?” Chet asked his man.

  “No. But you one time said I should pick a man to learn my place. I have such a man now who could do that job. He is young but he will learn how. My bones are getting tired. I get up sore and maybe in my mind I forget some things. I feel it is time to start turning my job over to that man, but before I do, I want him to learn by riding for a time with you.”

  “Who is he?”

  “Miguel Costa who is married to the woman Lisa Foster that you brought back here. She already has settled enough to lead the other women. He and she make a good team together.”

  “Will it make the others unhappy? He is younger than most of them.”

  “Some but they are not foreman material. You have to tell them how to do it every time. That is not a foreman. They need to be helpers.”

  “Proceed with your project. If you think he would be good, then I agree.”

  “Gracias. I will prepare him for it and tell him he will be riding with you.”

  Good. With that matter settled, he went back to look at his books. They needed to be brought up to date. More money had shown up from the Navajo Cattle Sales script redemption. The government was shortening the time they must wait for their money. That was all right as well.

  He ate supper with Liz and then worked a few hours more. She filed the papers he recorded until she finally coaxed him to quit and go to bed.

  “Everything is fine so far.”

  “Biggest thing happening is the Diablo cattle sales that are covering their costs down there at last.”

  “So now we will have a new ranch to drain us.”

  “Not drain but grow into another paying operation.”

  “I understand that, too. You do well at this business and all the traveling, but I like you home with me, too.”

  “I try.”

  “I know.”

  Now all he needed was to hear from Spencer and his decision, so he could move on it and get to cut out a real ranch down there.

  They went off to sleep in each other’s arms.

  CHAPTER 5

  Spencer was on the porch waiting for Chet when he got up the next morning. Bundled up in a long tailcoat and more clothes on under that against the frosty morning, Spencer rose to his feet when Chet told him to get inside. Monica who’d overslept came hustling into the kitchen and looked hard at Spencer. “What’re you here for?”

  “To tell the boss man I’m taking the job.”

  “What will Rebecca do?”

  He shook his head wearily. “I guess go back to Texas. She has not decided what she wants to do.”

  “Really?”

  “I told her I had a job to build a ranch headquarters and we’d have to live down there until it was done, that we would be roughing it for a while but I’d get the bunkhouse done fast, for us to have a home. She said that wasn’t the way she wanted to live. Made me sad but I gave her the money for her fare back home and told her thanks.”

  “But you are still going to build the ranch headquarters?” Chet asked.

  “Yes.”

  “You want anything out of that house in town hauled out here and stored?”

  “No. The landlord can have it.”

  “We need to notify him to find a new renter.”

  “I can do that,” Spencer said. “Some things don’t work is all there is to it.”

  “I have an account started at Nye’s bank for the new ranch. Write me your plans as you go.”

  “Can I talk to you alone?”

  “Sure.”

  They went in the living room.

  “I want to know something. There is a widow woman named Lucinda Marcos down at the Diablo. Her husband got killed in a horse accident a year ago and she has two small kids. Would it be all right for me to go ask her to marry me and live on the new ranch while I build it?”

  “Fine with me. Do what you have to do and explain it in your letter when you get started.”

  “I’ll buy a wagon and team in Tucson, get her and the kids, and get back up there.”

  “No. I’ll pay for the wagon, harness, and team. You just make sure you get a good one. You will need it for supplies anyway. Buy an army wall tent and what you need to set up a camp for living quarters. Keep me informed how things go.”

  Spencer shook his hand. “Thanks, I can do that.”

  “Breakfast is ready,” Monica announced.

  “We’re coming.”

  They ate breakfast and Spencer left for town to close things up.

  “What did he find out?” Liz asked when she came down to join him.

  “Permission to go get a widow woman from Diablo and marry her.”

  “So soon?”

  “I think he already knew the last one wouldn’t stay with him.”

  “Rebecca sounded very much undecided about staying with him or going somewhere else when we talked.” Liz shook her head in disappointment.

  Chet agreed and hugged her. “He has his own life to live.”

  She agreed.

  Late in the afternoon a man on a weary horse reined up at the barns and told one of the stable boys that he needed to talk to Chet Byrnes. A youth ran to the house and told Monica a man was there to talk to the patron. Monica took the boy to the living room, where Chet was finishing the books.

  “You know this man?” he asked the boy.

  He shook his head.

  “I better go see who he is.”

  Monica frowned. “I’d wear a gun.”

  “I can do that.” He strapped on his gun belt from the hook, put on a jumper against the cool air, and went outside.

  The man, in his rather shabby dressed appearance, got up and came over. “My name is Harry Olson. You never heard of me I bet, but I’ve heard of you, Mr. Byrnes, and I rode up here to see if you could help me.”

  “What sort of a problem do you have, sir?”

  “My wife Marcella was kidnapped by some outlaws. I reported it to the law and they said she’d probably run off with them.”

  “Where do you live?”

  “Maricopa County. Between Hayden’s Mill and Mesa.”

  “The law told you that?” Chet could hardly believe a lawman would do that.

  “A deputy sheriff told me that when I said I knew someone had kidnapped my wife. I know it was a kidnapping because the neighbors heard her screaming that day and then she was gone. They told me so. She’d’ve never left me on purpose.
She was kidnapped.”

  “Any idea who they were?”

  “If I had, I would have gone after her myself. Instead I rode up here.”

  “You eaten anything lately?”

  “Some jerky.”

  “Come with me.” He went up the porch stairs, making sure the man was following him.

  At the door he stopped. “Aw, Mr. Byrnes, I can’t come into your house.”

  Monica was standing in the kitchen doorway, blocking it, watching.

  “Come on, Monica. Harry has not eaten a meal in the long ride up here. Fix him some food. Please?”

  “What?”

  Chet was hanging up his gun belt and jumper in the hall. “Anything you have.”

  “Breakfast?”

  “Fine.”

  “I didn’t—” Harry started to say.

  Chet sat him down at the table. “I don’t know what we can find out about your wife’s kidnapping, but we could go down and try to investigate her disappearance.”

  “I’d sure appreciate it. I heard you rounded up many criminals, and they said you lived up here. It was a further piece than what folks said it would be, but a man on the road pointed your place out to me.”

  “You farm down there?”

  “I do, sir. I raise hawgs. Fatten shoats and butcher them and I smoke some hams. Lots of Mexican people live around me and buy my meat. No big business but we don’t starve.”

  “How old is your wife?”

  “Eighteen.”

  “You been married for a long time?”

  “No, sir. About six months. Marcella has been a great wife and never minded our hard life. She really dressed up my house. Nothing like this one though.”

  “Where did she come from?”

  “Texas.”

  “How did she get here?”

  “She was the second oldest of eleven kids. They came there by wagon. Her paw wanted to raise cotton. He rented a farm by me. I courted her and she accepted my proposal. We got married in the Good Will Church.