Shatto's Law (Perry County Frontier)

by Roy F. Chandler

  Ted nodded but grumbled about it. "Darn rope will hang there unused for years. If we finally need it, no one'll dare climb it."

  Beth suggested, "We can string a small rope, Ted, and use it to haul up a big one when we need it. Small rope will be cheaper and if it gets old we can still use it for other things."

  "See, nothing to it, Ted." Chip grinned again. "And seeing it was my idea, I get to ride into Santa Fe and pick out just the right rope to order.

  "Fact is, I was thinking about finding just the right rifle for shooting off the cliff top. What we ought to have is a long barreled Pennsylvania gun, a heavy caliber that'll knock an enemy stone dead from where his own gun won't reach."

  Ted was uh-huhing agreement. "You figure it's worth riding all the way to Santa Fe for, Chip?"

  "'Course it is, Teddy. Being ready is important."

  It was Ted's turn to grin. "Well, seeing you're going in anyway, we've got a few other things you could pick up."

  Chip was suspicious. "What things, Ted? I don't want to be burdened with a lot of trappings coming back. I hate overloading a pack animal."

  Chip was still grumbling when he rode out with the rising sun. He didn't bother trailing a pack horse. He would be leading back a train of at least six wagons, "With enough people to fill a village," he claimed.

  Even Beth's sisterly kiss didn't calm him. Chip was feeling put upon. He stuffed his Volcanic in a saddle scabbard and laid his two-barreled Shuler across the saddle bow. He growled at his brother. "Dang you, Ted. You had this working trip all figured and hooked me into it Just like I was a big old Juniata River sucker."

  "You'll have a good time, Chip. No rush coming home. You can sit around every night telling exciting stories to the help you're bringing back."

  Chip groaned. "Women, kids, and grinning men that don't speak a word of English. They'll be spread for two miles with me wearin' out horses trying to keep 'em tighter." He glowered darkly. "I'll get you for this, Ted."

  On the way out, they saw him thumb his nose at the old Indian's mountain. Later on his singing rose and bounced from the cliff as he rode down the valley.

  Beth worried. "I hope he doesn't have Indian trouble, Ted."

  Ted smiled grimly, "They'd do better to wrestle a den of rattlers. You know Chip. He'd mark 'em so deep they'd hear Apache widows howling clear into Santa Fe."

  +++

  With Chip away, Ted figured it was time he started a new project. Though they had guns for a small army, only he and Beth could really use them.

  The Mexican men had a musket they used as a shotgun but, as peons, they had no training in arms. None could have afforded a respectable gun and their generations past had relied on their masters for protection. In times of strife the peons sought cover, fingered their beads, and prayed mightily.

  Ted had studied their weathered features and looked into their dark and glittery eyes. He saw the Indian in there and perhaps a touch of the hidalgo who had sired a distant grandparent. The peons were as tough as the goats they milked and eventually chewed on. He saw no reason they could not learn to fight and shoot.

  First however, he would have to bind them to him. If he did not, who could tell where they might turn their new found skills? Ted believed he knew how to do that, which was why he had waited for Chip to leave. His brother would automatically raise objections and Ted did not need doubts plaguing when he intended going ahead anyway.

  No Mexican leader had been appointed, but one had appeared. One always did. Put more than three men together and one would take charge. Ted was pleased by this leader. He answered to Juan, as many did.

  As worn as ancient rock and almost as hard, Juan Santos seemed in his middle thirties. His wife was a small woman with three lusty children to care for. All were boys, which gave Santos stature among his people. Boys would become men. Girl babies? A blessing from God but . . .

  Ted knew his Spanish was vile and Juan Santos had only limited English. When he spoke to his people, Ted did his best and Santos interpreted the result for better understanding.

  With the men gathered close and women and children standing silently behind, Ted stirred up his fire so flames lit brown faces and glanced from the women's few ornaments. The Mexicans sat, hats in hand, a humbled people, prepared to listen to the words of their newest master.

  Ted began, "Men of this ranch," he raised his eyes, "and women and children of these men." Ted sat down so that he would seem more a part of them.

  "Around us there is only God's wilderness and the Apache. This is a place where many have died. We see their bones lying around us." Men and women crossed themselves or shifted nervously.

  "Yet, here we will stay. From this desert will grow beans, onion, and corn. We will plant trees and their shade will cool us and our children. Strong houses will shelter our families and fat cattle will roam rich grasslands.

  "These things will happen as surely as the water falls to make them possible. Together we will do these things. Here we will build a great ranchero. From far places important men will come to see and to visit. This ranch will be mine. What is mine will be marked by this sign." In the dirt before them Ted scratched a large arrowhead.

  "This is the mark of my family. You have seen it on the horses we ride. We will place the mark of the arrow on our gate, our cattle, our horses, and our important possessions. All will know the mark and will honor it or . . . " Ted let a silence grow. "They will suffer for their disrespect."

  Now Ted rose, to move their eyes and enlarge his presence. Watching from her place among the women, Beth admired her husband's performance. So far, he had drawn a powerful plan with just the right mixture of we and I. His audience was caught and waited for more. Ted's intentions would astonish them.

  "In the land of my people it is the law that all men are treated with respect—because they are men. All women are greeted with courtesy—because they are women."

  Ted allowed a frown and concern entered his voice. "But this law is not often obeyed in the west. Men seek to own others and many forget the law in search of riches.

  "This law does not mean that all have equal land or equal silver. It does not mean that the poor may insult the rich. The law only demands equal courtesy, equal dignity, and fairness in all ways possible.

  "This law is important to my family. It will be important on this ranch. With this law of fairness and respect in heart and mind I now speak. Keep this law in your thoughts as you listen.

  "With only my hands this ranch could not blossom. The desert would defeat my hardest work. So, I have found other hands to help.

  "The hands are yours. The labor of Juan, Cheta, and Pedro will build the dream. The hands of Margerita, Juanita, and Conchita will make real what is now only in thought."

  Ted paused to allow the group to digest the words.

  Then he continued. "But it is more than the hands of many people. Do not our hearts and minds, perhaps our very souls, also become part of this that we create?

  "Without me, you cannot begin but, without you, I could not make the dream live, to become bricks and gardens and rich grasslands."

  Another pause was needed for these were strange thoughts to a people accustomed only to servitude.

  "Among my people it has been found that all will know pride and all will be better served if . . . if all find that they are truly a part and will truly gain from their efforts.

  "Those who dwell here must become part of this place. Their lives must become one with this ranch. Those who are of this ranch will not drift away or seek another place. As this ranch grows so will Juan and Juanita. As our young trees will sink mighty roots so will all who live here. Here we will live and here we will die.

  "None may stay who do not wish this to be so. As a family this ranch will grow. Through this ranch all of its people will gain strength, honor, possessions, and dignity."

  Ted again stood, for he now came to the heart of his plan. He paced a turn before continuing.

  "For those who choos
e to stay, to become one with this place, we will begin a plan. Close along the canyon walls we will build strong adobe houses. One for each family. All will assist in this building and we will not finish until all have homes. Each house will have a tree and each family must make their tree grow, just as they must patch their roof or repair their door.

  "Each man will be given a horse. All will be mares to breed with our stallions so that the one horse can, in time, become many. Each man will choose a mark and his horses will bear that brand so that none can claim his animals." Ted heard breaths suck, for in their experience only the great could boast such ownership.

  "Each man shall be given one cow each year. These too shall bear his brand and can multiply into many.

  "These horses and cattle will graze with the herds of this ranch. They are the man's but they may feed freely and drink from our water. For a long time, the cattle will have little value but, someday their worth may be great and our people may prosper from their sale.

  "Together we will protect our cattle and our horses. As one we will grow with this valley. As the valley ripens so will we." Ted allowed himself to dream for them.

  "Your children will ride proudly with silver on their saddles. They will know many things because we will teach them in our school. They will ride bravely because their fathers and their mothers became one with this place. Because mothers and fathers chose to learn new things and because they chose to stand like hidalgos and defend this place like conquistadores, they too will be proud and know their importance in the eyes of God and each other."

  When the workers had gone to their sleeping places and only the waterfall and a guard's soft crooning broke the night, Beth and Ted lingered. Looking about they could see only rocks and sand, but in their minds the valley was a giant flower inhabited by people who knew contentment.

  Ted wondered if his words lost much in their Spanish form, abetted by Juan Santos' translation.

  Beth laughed and answered, "I think you promised them each gold plated zapatos and maybe a share in our fathers' places in Perry County, Ted. Other than that, I thought it went well."

  Ted hugged her close. The first step had been taken. He had held out the carrots but he was not leading donkeys. He could only hope the intelligence he expected was really there.

  If his people could or would not learn, he would forget dragging them upward and hire the fighters he might need. But, he believed the words he had spoken, and his heart knew his plan was a good one.

  Tomorrow they would mark off plots for family homes. He would not begin their construction until the big house was done but his intent would show.

  When Chip got back, Ted would have to speak with the new families. He hoped Don Mano De Castella had again chosen their men with care. If Chip picked them out, he would probably have every hard-riding outlaw in the territory trailing in.

  +++

  Fall 1857

  Dear Ma and Pap

  We are all fine and doing well. We have found that ranch Beth and I have looked for. We picked a deserty place north of the pueblo called Taos. I remember you talking about this area so you will recall what its like.

  We have found a waterfall that will allow irrigating. We want good grass for our cows. Right now you don't see much except dirt and rock but we've got big plans.

  Chip says he does not want any part of ranching. All he cares about is what is over the next hill. Someday an Injun will hang his hide out to dry, but you know Chip, no telling him anything.

  The Apache are east of here but we have not seen any except for one old geezer who sits up on the side of a mountain maybe eight miles off. We watch him with our telescopes and he is always there looking across the valley. Makes you wonder if he can see this far. Not possible I guess.

  Big news is that Beth is expecting. Baby will arrive in early spring we figure. If it's a girl, we will name her Beth after her mother. I am hoping for a boy and am making up a name for him. He will be called Tiff. His will be a new name for this new land we live in.

  All for now. I will keep the letters short and send you one whenever I can. No telling how many will get through.

  Want to buy some longhorn cows? We could have Chip herd them east. He is always hunting something to do.

  Love from us all,

  Your son,

  Ted

  Chapter 4

  Chip was gone a month. He returned with ten heavily loaded wagons and seven families. Don Mano had chosen older men whose sons could be of use.

  Coming in Chip heard occasional rifle shots, but the herders along the river were undisturbed so he guessed Ted was practicing. Seemed like an awful lot of shooting though.

  Within the valley changes showed. For one thing, the human bones were gone. Off to a side a wooden cross had been raised and probably the bones had been buried there. The Mexicans would like that. If it were his people's remains scattered about, Chip would have wanted them decently interred.

  Some irrigation ditches were tentatively scratched into the valley floor. No water ran in them, Ted was just getting the feel of the probable grading.

  The house was the major improvement. From a distance it looked completed. Chip whistled in surprise. There had been real work going on while he was away.

  Ted waved and Chip saw a rifle fire an instant before the sound of the shot reached him. Looked as though Ted had some workers shooting.

  Beth was also waving from the new house porch and Chip headed that way. Juan Santos crossed over and without direction took charge of the wagons. Chip was grateful; he'd had enough of herding whole families around.

  Beth was glowing proud of the new house and Chip figured she should be. It sat, as solid as the earth it was made from. Fortress thick, it looked as cool and inviting as a plaza gazebo.

  There was no floor to the porch but the shaded area was deep and restful to the eye. The porch roof was heavily planked with adobe packed a foot thick on top. That was clever. Under the cliff overhang little rain would touch it and the thick adobe held off sun's heat. It could not be easily burned in an attack, which Ted had surely considered.

  As planned, four large rooms comprised the slightly raised ground level, with two rooms aligned above so that the load bearing walls could be continued upward. The rooms smelled of wet clay. Still bricking up, Chip figured.

  Only a ladder led to the second floor but the hole was staircase large. Chip leaned out a window and looked down on the dry hole that would be their pond. He imagined Apaches or even Comanches sweeping in to attack the house. He would surely rather be inside than out. With enough riflemen defending, it would take cannon to gain entrance. Which made him think about Ted's shooting. He had to admit it. Teddy looked ahead. Chip wished he had suggested teaching the Mexicans to shoot but he hadn't thought of it.

  Another ladder led to where the top floor would be and, from up there. Chip could see a lot of valley. Out a ways, Ted had two men working with rifles and another pair looking on. Women and men were hard at the brick making and a number of smaller buildings had a few courses raised. Santos had lined the wagons and the new arrivals were unloading. There was a large firepit near the house with seats made from planking, kegs, and stacked bricks. A few smoke wisps rose so Ted was having some kind of meetings. Chip hoped Ted's Spanish was doing better than his or the talking would be purely confusing.

  +++

  In the early dusk the workers gathered at the fire pit. When the herders came in they brought sticks and one dragged a heavy tree limb behind his horse. The wood was added to a pile stacked nearby. The trick was to burn a little less than came in so that the pile grew with relatively little effort.

  The Shattos sat on the crenellated roof of their second floor. Ted was describing the last of their month's accomplishments with Chip mostly listening.

  "So I figure we're ready to build our sluice and fill the pond. The hole is about right and the rest of our adobe can come from the irrigation ditches and the other ponds."

  "What other
ponds?"

  "Ponds further down the valley, Chip. You don't want the cows coming to the front porch when the ditches aren't full, do you?"

  "You don't have enough water."

  "Dang it, Chip, you've been saying that since the first day. There's plenty of water."

  "Ground will suck it all up."

  "No it won't. That clay will wet gradual and then it'll hold water. Just like the canals do along the Juniata and the Susquehanna."

  Chip shifted the subject. "You'd best get them cottonwoods I brought back into the ground real fast. They're wilted near to death." He heaved an aggrieved sigh. "You can't imagine how much bother those runty things were."

  Ted smiled, "What work did you have, Chip, reminding someone else to water the trees each day? Real tough job."

  "Well, they took up a lot of space and weighed a ton. Don't know why you couldn't jerk some out from down along the river. Probably won't grow anyway."

  Beth giggled and said, "Oh Chip, you'd complain if it rained gold pieces."

  "Just speaking my mind, Beth."

  She could hear amusement in Chip's voice. The brothers enjoyed annoying each other, but Chip was the worst.

  Beth rose and settled her skirts. "We'd better go down. Everybody is tired and they will be anxious to go to bed. Don't talk too long, Teddy."

  "Ted's going to talk?" Chip rose and stretched. "It'll be real short, Beth. Pap tried for years to get him to say more'n three words and here he is trying speeches. It'll probably be in Spanish. Then none of us'll understand it."

  Chip leaned across the parapet. "This wall lean a little, Teddy? Don't seem quite straight to me."

  "Seeing you didn't help build, Chip. Don't be criticizing. All you've been doing is gallivanting into Santa Fe for weeks at a time."

  "Hey, now wait a minute, Ted . . . "

  +++

  A place had been left for them in the fire circle. The Shatto men sat down and Beth stood behind Ted. The new arrivals squatted nervously, hats in hand, but Chip felt a difference in the original workers. They appeared at ease and he'd have sworn they seemed interested. That was different. Peons and horses were much alike in Chip's experience. The way he saw it, neither thought beyond the next feed bag.