“I was, but I never laid a hand on her. I swear to God.”
“Who else was there?”
“Kenny and Mitch Reynolds.”
“Did they murder and rape her?”
“Yes—sir.”
“Why didn’t you come tell the law then?”
“I was ’fraid.”
“’Fraid of what.”
“They’d kill me, too.”
“What made them go there to do that?”
“They said that she was having an affair with Chet Byrnes.”
An audible gasping went across the room, and then silence. Chet could have gone all day and not heard that for her sake.
“So?” Barr insisted.
“They said it was to get even with him for hanging their brother.”
“You know that being there was as bad as doing it and you not trying to stop them.”
“I would have if I could have, sir.”
“Scotty Campbell, I am turning you over to the sheriff to stand trial for Mrs. Porter’s murder. I am issuing a murder warrant for Mitch Reynolds as well.” Barr rapped the desk hard. “Court adjourned.”
The Reynolds clan had not even shown up. They must have known that the Campbell boy was going to testify against Mitch as well. But they weren’t through fighting—it had only begun. Two dead, a third in bad shape, and two more wanted for murder. It would be slim pickings around their outfits. But as he rose off his chair, he knew the feud wasn’t over.
He wished, nodding to folks as he left, they’d never heard about his affair with Marla from that boy for Marla’s reputation’s sake. But if it brought her killers to justice, then he had a tough enough hide to deal with the rest. The two missing boys were on his mind when he rode out of town. Short-loping the big roan, he made a record trip back home.
Heck ran out and took his horse. “They’re all right. Scared ’em good. They were down on Yellow Hammer last night and got lost, so they denned up.”
“Thank God.”
“How did things go today?”
“They indicted Mitch today for her murder and took Scotty off to Mason to stand trial for it, too. He don’t look good. He might not survive that wound.”
“What about your case?”
“Justified.” He nodded and thanked the boy.
Susie ran out and hugged him. “They’re fine. Reg found them right after you left.”
“Good, I worried all day. The Campbell boy let the cat out of the bag. Said they got after her to hurt me. I sure could have left that unsaid. But they did swear out a warrant for Mitch, and sent Scotty to Mason to stand trial for her murder.”
She nodded. “That’s important.”
“What’s for supper?” He slung his arm over her shoulder.
“Oh, some beef roast, potatoes, and cold biscuits.”
“Sounds good. Reynolds people weren’t there in court.” He looked around at the end of the winter-shortened day. There would be plenty to do and he needed it lined up.
The little ones had been headed off toward bed earlier, so he didn’t get a chance to speak to them. He’d do that some other time. Astria was washing dishes, and smiled at him.
He talked to Susie and ate his food slowly. Blasted feud had him off course; he felt like a derailed railroad train scattered out all over the country. In the morning, he was sending Dale Allen and the three boys to get some of those drifting stock off their grass. It would take some hard riding and lots of time, but if the drifters ate up all his feed before spring break, he’d be in trouble.
Someday, there would be fences—he dreaded them. He had enough fences as it was, but someday, they’d have to fence all their range and who’d need a cowboy?
“You talk to anyone?” she asked.
“Morgan and few others. They don’t understand this Reynolds-Campbell deal either, and it keeps getting worse.”
She clapped his arm. “Do you miss her?”
He nodded between bites. Then he looked around to be certain they were alone and lowered his voice. “She was going to leave him and get a divorce.” There, it was out, and he damn sure couldn’t swallow.
Chapter 14
The next day, he sent his hands under Dale Allen south to sort cattle out—except for Reg, who he left to guard the place. Then he and Susie drove Louise to Mason so she could catch the mail wagon the next day. Her trunk in the back, she sat on it in her new poncho, which she wore against the chilly wind. She also wore one of her late husband’s felt hats with a chin string against the wind. Straight-backed, she endured the ride, obviously anxious to see her long-separated kin and the old South that she remembered.
The four-hour drive ended with her taking a room for the night at the Sutter House. Then they had lunch with her at a small German café, and made ready to leave for home.
“Have a nice trip,” Chet said as Susie and Louise hugged.
“Oh, I will. I am sure that to be back in civilization shall be a large treat. You two be careful going home. I will inform you of my future plans after I look over the opportunities in Shreveport.”
“That would be fine,” Chet said, grateful for a calm separation.
They went out and climbed on the buckboard and headed for the ranch.
“You think she’ll be shocked at what she finds?” Susie asked.
“Yes. Her image of the South with slavery is very different than it is there today.”
“What about our brother and her?”
He closed his eyes as the thin wheels sliced through a shallow ford, spraying water. The yellow cottonwood leaves still clung in places to the limbs and spun in the wind. What could he say?
“I’m not certain about anything. When he lost Nancy, I think he lost a lot inside. He rushed out and courted, then quickly married May, and somehow she didn’t fill that void. His boys remind him so much of Nancy that he ignores them.”
“Will it ever get any better?”
“Dale Allen will have to find himself.”
“May won’t divorce him. She can’t go home. She told me that it would kill her to fail as a wife.”
He clucked to the team, which started up the long hill. “What if Uncle Mark came home one day?”
“Oh, you don’t think he’s dead?” She frowned hard at him.
“I’m not certain of anything. Just don’t be surprised at anything that happens.”
“I won’t.”
“I’m hiring some more hands. Leaving Reg there in charge worries me. He’s a good boy, but he’s never shot a man. That’s not easy. Knowing when to pull the trigger is a problem, too.”
She put a hand on top of her flat-crown Western hat and tightened the string under her chin against the wind. “You think we’ll have to kill more of them?”
“What I think doesn’t matter, sis. They aren’t through feuding. They could be watching for us to leave, too.”
“I can tell you’re concerned to get back today.”
He nodded.
“You had that talk with Kathren Hines yet?”
He shook his head and forced a grin. “I think she found out all she wanted to know that day she asked me if I’d hung her husband.”
“Oh, she’ll have cattle to send to market, I’m certain. With him gone, she might even need some help in that matter.”
He glanced over at her. “You know it roils my guts just being around her to this day. And I have never bothered her in the same way.”
“You don’t know.”
“You can tell in minutes if you’re connecting with someone. What about your fella?”
“He’s nice. He’s polite. He knows about my job at the ranch and respects it. I think he’s more there to have a dance partner than a real partner. He’s bashful and this way, he doesn’t have to ask other girls to dance who might decline him.”
Chet laughed aloud. “I thought the war would be over and I could go ride over the hill. Then the Comanche got worse. I wanted to ride to where the sunset goes and see the ocean, but I couldn
’t leave. I’ve never been a damn boy. Oh, I’ve been a fool all right several times, but I lack something in my life—I’d hoped once that Marla might fill in that gap and make me feel more satisfied with my place.”
“Oh, you’ll find someone.”
Stopped on the high point to let the horses catch their breath, he looked over the pale winter hills. He didn’t in any way feel certain about that notion—find someone.
“Let me down,” she said.
He helped her off and she disappeared behind a cedar. It bothered her some, he knew, that Ryan Thomas Stanton was almost two years younger than she was. Not unusual on the frontier. Age wasn’t much of a factor in matching people, and Ryan acted mature. But Chet felt that either she couldn’t leave her job as caretaker of their folks, or Ryan just wasn’t the right one for her.
Squatted in the warming afternoon sun beside the wagon, he nodded when she came swinging back through the waving brown grass in her pretty blue dress. A man could do a lot worse than marry his sister. He wouldn’t know what to do without her—they better hurry back. Maybe Doc had come by to check on Rachel. He hoped the physician had some answers that would settle May’s concern and improve the child’s health.
The dogs barked at their approach, and that made Chet feel better. Dogs barking meant there hadn’t been much to upset them. They were in their place. He reined up and Heck came running out.
“Get her off okay? I’ll put them up, Uncle Chet.”
“Yes, she’ll be on her way in the morning. Thanks. Any trouble?”
“Naw. We cut out several head today and sent them south.”
“Good.”
Astria had supper about ready. May smiled at them, then checked on her oven with the little one on her other arm. Susie took over for her and Chet poured himself some coffee.
“Doc came by and checked Rachel today,” May said.
“He know anything about what was wrong?” Chet asked.
May shrugged. “He said to keep getting her to eat. He said sometimes children had some problems that he couldn’t find. Like they didn’t digest food or had an infection he couldn’t find or treat.”
“He leave you any medicine?”
“Yes. It’s an elixir supposed to help her appetite and thicken her blood.”
“Where is she now?”
“Worn out and asleep.” May shrugged. “She tires very easy.”
“Your stepsons now know they aren’t supposed to get that far away?”
May nodded and took a seat at the table to feed her baby. “They were scared when they got back. I think they know now. Dale Allen is going to buy them a pony.”
“He needs to do that.”
“What are you going to do next?” Susie asked, refilling his coffee.
“I guess I’ll ride over tomorrow and see Kathren Hines and see if she wants me to take her cattle north.”
“I think that would be the thing to do.”
“I’m also going to hire some help.”
The next morning, a cold bitter wind followed him. He wore his fleece-lined canvas jacket, collar turned up, and huddled in the saddle on Strawberry. Crisp leaves danced around Strawberry’s hooves, and even the crows fought to stay in the air. At mid-morning, he rode up to Kathren’s frame house. Wood smoke from her fireplace churned by the wind filled his nose when he dropped from the saddle and hitched the gelding.
Nothing looked out of place when he stepped on the porch, and a friendly stock dog caught up with him. He knocked, wondering if she was home. Then he petted the dog and waited.
Kathren cracked the door. “Yes?”
“I dropped over to talk if you have the time.”
“I think we’ve said all we needed to.”
“I didn’t come over here to ask to be forgiven. I came over here on business.”
She looked undecided, and then relented and said, “Come in.”
With her arms folded, blocking his advance any further, she stood looking at her shoe toes peeking out from under the petticoats and skirt. He didn’t unbutton his jacket.
“I came to ask if you wanted to ship any cattle with us this year.”
“I’d thought I might look around and find another drover.”
“That’s fine. I wondered since we’d done business in the past that you might need some help gathering or whatever.” He felt too hot in the buttoned coat.
She chewed on her lower lip and then shook her head. “I’m sorry about Marla.”
“I’m more sorry they ruined her name.”
“Oh, take off your coat. My manners are horrible—” She turned away and sniffed. “I’m sorry I wanted you to pay—but I had no call—”
He undid the thick buttons. “You had every right.”
She held out her hands and took the heavy jacket and hung it on the wall peg. Then he gave her his hat and combed his too long hair back with his fingers.
“We can talk at the dining room table.”
He held out a chair for her and she acted embarrassed. “I’m sorry, I forgot what real men do.”
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“How is your sister?”
“Susie is fine. She sent her regards.”
“She runs the household, doesn’t she?” Acting nervous, she clasped her fingers together on top of the table.
“The folks are in bad shape. Dad does a little, but he isn’t there mentally all the time. Mother stays in bed. They live in the past.”
“Sorry. I told Cassidy I’d send my cattle with him this year.”
“I understand.” While the man wasn’t his choice, he’d not argue with her.
“Do you really understand?” Her blue eyes looked hard at him.
“I knew Hines’d cut his ties with you when he drove those horses out of our north pasture gate.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head with a pain-filled expression. “That’s hard to realize. You marry a man for his strength and you’re married for over a decade. But you don’t know him. I never knew what he thought.”
“I didn’t come to bring you bad news. I came to offer some help gathering your cattle if you need help no matter who you ship with.”
“Thanks, I’ll manage.”
“You change your mind or need help, let me know.”
“Thank you. I know coming here was a hard thing for you to do. A lesser man would not have bothered. But I really wouldn’t have felt you’d’ve done any different.”
“Excuse me then. My offer stands even if you ship with him.”
She wet her lips. “Maybe someday I can face this better.”
“Don’t worry on my part. You need help, call on me.”
He rose and took his coat down. There was so much unsaid between them, but it wasn’t the time or the atmosphere for them to talk.
“How is your daughter?” he asked.
“Fine, she’s visiting at her friend’s house today.”
He nodded. She must be six or seven, maybe older than that. He buttoned his coat and put on his thin goatskin gloves. His hat was in her hands, and he nodded to her while taking it. She was pretty as always; she still made his guts roil. Afraid he might be tempted to sweep her up and kiss her, he made a grim face and left her.
The first blast of cold swept his cheeks, and he realized he had not gotten over her and probably never would. He put a boot in the stirrup and swung in the saddle. Why didn’t she go inside? She was standing on the porch, hugging her arms in the cold like it was her obligation to see him off.
“Get inside,” he said, shaking his head. “You’ll freeze.”
She nodded, but did not move to obey him.
For a long moment, he considered getting down and putting her inside the cozy comfort of her house. Not his job. Better that he rode on. He reined Strawberry around and with a nod, sent him moving out. But when he reached the high point and looked back, she was still on the porch. Damn, she’d freeze to death.
All the way home, the thought of her
bothered him. Like he’d left something on the table with her—what was it? Damn, if he knew more about women—
It was after supper, the folks in bed. The boys gone to the bunkhouse. He and Susie sat at the kitchen table, sipping some fresh hot coffee she’d made for them.
He went over his tale of the meeting earlier, and ended with him telling her about Kathren standing in the cold until he was out of sight.
“You must have touched her.” Susie reached over and squeezed his forearm.
“What would make her do that?”
“I don’t know, except your visit took her back enough to shake her.”
“I guess I’ll never know what she thought.”
“Oh, Chet, she has had a tough time. She said she did not know his thinking even after being married to him for so long.”
He nodded in agreement. “You know being close to her still bothers me.”
“I know. But you did the right thing.”
“Good.” He finished his coffee. “I won’t bother you any more.”
She smiled, stood up, and kissed his cheek. “We still have each other.”
“Yes. And we’re going to the dance Saturday night at the schoolhouse, too.”
She frowned at him with concern. “Do we dare?”
“They aren’t scaring me out of living.”
She agreed and he left for his room. He was still thinking about the figure of Kathren standing on the porch watching him ride away. Damn.
Chapter 15
He drove up to the ranch that morning in a cart with a snowy-muzzled old mule powering it. His face hidden behind a full reddish beard, he sat on the cracked leather seat and nodded at Chet.
“My name’s Matt Green. I heard you were headed for Kansas and might need a cook.”
“What can I do for you?”
“I was looking for that job.”
The man was in his forties. Appeared to be no stranger to work, and when he climbed down and swung his left leg, Chet could tell he was a cripple.
“I can’t run a footrace, but I can cook, set broken bones, and make a team of mules head out.”
“Who’ve you been north with?”
“Staver boys, Circle T. I went north with Howard Carr last year.”
Texas Blood Feud Page 12
