She thanked him and they walked slowly back to the bench.
“Are you going home tonight?” he asked.
“Yes. I’d love to talk you into going home with me. I know you don’t want to be invited by a Mexican woman to go home with her tonight. But I appreciated your stories. I was well entertained by a gracious man. If you are here for a few days, I want you to come to my ranch house and have a meal. Bring your men and Louise and I will feed you well, with no strings attached. I am so glad you kissed me. I think it will bring me good fortune in the coming year. Good night, Chet Byrnes.” Then she kissed him softly and they parted.
He told the boys he was going back to the hotel. Jesus said he’d go along. Chet didn’t argue with him. They were his aides and they took things serious. He told Cole to stay if he wanted, but be careful.
When he and Jesus left the dance hall, they started down the hill in the cool night air. When he glanced over his shoulder, he saw two horseback riders across some open lots riding parallel to them.
“You see them?” he asked in a stage whisper.
“You think they could be trouble?”
“I think so. If they try anything, get down and shoot back.” He slid his gun from its holster, and Jesus did the same.
“I can do that. They are acting suspicious.”
Chet caught his sleeve and motioned toward a nearby wagon. “Get around behind that empty wagon and we can watch them.”
A dog barked somewhere close to where the two silhouettes sat on horseback. Hard to make out what they were doing, but no doubt they were watching him and Jesus.
Then one shouted to the other, “Vamoose.” In a pounding of hooves, the riders were gone.
After they charged away into the night, Chet and Jesus holstered their guns. Chet knew they couldn’t identify either man or their horses. More things to think about. He had little faith the coming meeting would prove much, but he wanted his high-priced lawyer from Santa Fe to arrive. Because of the holidays, he doubted the man could be there before the third.
Back at the hotel, Jesus asked if he should go back and see about Cole.
“Yes, but be careful. Cole may have plans. I think those men intended to shoot or scare us. Either way, I think we better have eyes in the back of our heads from now on.”
“Yes. I’ll go warn him anyhow.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Sure. If I can get Cole up.”
“You can both sleep in.”
Jesus shook his head. “No, not after tonight.”
“See you then, and be careful.”
Jesus waved that he would and left.
Chet still had hints of Mrs. Carmichael’s perfume in his nose. What a lovely woman. Not for him, but she was nice and some man was missing a lot. She steered on the dance floor like Marge—amazing on her feet. Oh, well, time for some shut-eye. Morning wasn’t far away.
He awoke about dawn. The hotel rooms weren’t well heated and frost made a pattern on the windowpane. He didn’t take long to get dressed. Out in the hall, he knocked on the boys’ door.
Jesus opened it. “Cole slept in. I’ll be right there.”
“Fine.”
When Jesus came out putting on his hat, he was grinning. In a low voice, he said, “He came in late and needs to sleep.”
Going down to breakfast, they both chuckled at Cole being so tired.
“Did you see anything else last night?”
Jesus shook his head.
Raines joined them for breakfast in the café. He had his head down, and Chet thought he acted nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers—busy glancing around. Finally, he spoke. “I have an offer you might not like—for a thousand dollars they will hand him over to you and nothing will be said.”
“Will his criminal record be wiped clean?” Chet asked.
“No. That costs another thousand.”
“I think we can get a new trial and his sentence set aside.”
“But that will cost you more money than their offer.”
“But it may straighten out this county court system and the sheriff.”
Raines shook his head. “Not in New Mexico.”
“We’ll see. They’ve denied me access to JD. They’ve ignored my Marshal badge. They did the trial in Spanish and had no interpreter for him. The whole thing was a frame-up and the sheriff and deputies sold the horses for their own gain. I’m not biting on this buy-out offer. My lawyer is coming from Santa Fe.”
“Who is that?”
“Herman Thomas.”
Raines’ eyes flew open. “He’s real expensive.”
“I told you I was getting this straightened out. I’m not a lawyer, but I know a few things. And when I get done, the sheriff may have a new look at things. Perhaps from behind bars.”
Raines gave up. Chet could tell the man had collapsed after the cash offer was turned down. His mention that a high-powered lawyer was coming might shake some fear into all of them. The threat of expensive lawyers had its way of impressing people.
“The meeting is at noon tomorrow in Judge Penso’s office. You don’t need your men there.” He motioned toward Jesus.
“They go where I go.”
Raines shrugged. He left his half-eaten breakfast on the plate and hurried out the café’s front door.
Their waitress shook her head. “He didn’t pay for his meal. Is he coming back?”
“I’ll pay for it. He’s upset.”
“He must be.” She took his plate of food and went back in the kitchen.
“Will we have trouble in the morning at the courthouse?” Jesus asked.
“With him for a lawyer, we may. If our man arrives, I think they will take notice and he may solve it.”
“He’s that powerful?”
Chet nodded. There was something afoot and he wasn’t certain with Raines running around—maybe looking for a counter offer before the meeting. He had already cut it to half of what that Texan paid. But they still made no offer to clear JD’s name. That might come later.
Back in his room, he wrote Marge a long letter about everything happening in New Mexico—but left Antoinette Carmichael out of it. Marge might think she was competition. He had no intention of telling her. It had been a nice interlude, but, in fact, he’d rather have been at home with her. The letter was about finished when there was a knock on the door.
When he opened it, an out-of-breath Raines stood there.
“We are meeting in the sheriff’s office in ten minutes.”
“Oh? What for?”
“He wants to talk.”
Jesus walked up behind Raines. “Need me?”
“Yes. Get your coat on. We’re going to the courthouse.” He turned to Raines. “I don’t intend to pay him a damn thing. You have that right?”
“I understand. Oh, the courthouse is closed today, so go in the back door.”
“We can do that.”
“See you there.” Raines rushed off.
“What now?” Jesus asked.
Chet smiled. “I think we may have a deal cut.”
“Should I wake Cole and get him up?”
“Sure. I’ll tag along.”
Jesus threw the hotel door open. “Cole. Wake up. We’ve just got more news. The boss thinks they want to settle with him.”
“You serious? I’m getting dressed. Be ready in a minute.” Cole threw his covers back and reached for his pants.
When they started toward the courthouse, the sun was warming things up. Chet figured it was close to ten. Not that time bothered him, but there was a lot to do and think about. Up in the north, Sarge was delivering six hundred head of cattle to the various Navajo agency divisions. He hoped things went without a hitch. Sarge’s wife, Susie, would be glad when he returned to the Verde River Ranch.
Another concern was the house Chet had to get built for them on the Windmill. And maybe the US Government would pay their past bills for the cattle delivered so far. The amount due stagg
ered him, but his banker said the government would pay it.
The three men walked the next two blocks discussing the night before when the two strange riders shadowed them.
“You really think Raines has got them to settle?” Cole asked.
“This morning, he came with an offer that we could have him for a thousand bucks. But they wouldn’t clear his record for that amount. So I told them hell no, that we’d fight them.”
“Isn’t it unusual to meet on a holiday?”
“I told Raines our lawyer from Santa Fe was on his way.”
“You think that changed their minds?”
“Yeah,” Jesus said. “When Chet told him that, he went white as a sheet.”
“He didn’t finish his breakfast, or even pay for it.” Chet chuckled at the thought of how the little lawyer had scuttled from the café.
“So what do you think will happen now?” Cole asked.
“We’ll see here shortly.”
When they entered the courthouse, a deputy told them to follow him, then he relocked the back door. The building was semi-dark, no lights on anywhere as they made their way upstairs.
Their guide knocked and the deputy from the day before, Diego, opened the door. Four men sat at the long table, one of them a white-mustached man seated at the head. Chet suspected he was the sheriff. The man to his right looked judicial, and the other man in a suit looked like an official, probably the prosecutor. Raines made the fourth one in the party.
“Please be seated,” Raines said.
The sheriff cleared his throat and stood. “There may have been some misunderstandings. First, I found out you’re a Deputy US Marshal, sir?”
“I am.”
“I learned from a wire I got from US Marshal Sam Sloan in Santa Fe that we were incorrect in not allowing you access to our jail and helping you. For this, I apologize. It will not happen again. Are you satisfied?”
“If you intend to allow me access, then I will not complain anymore.”
“Will you sign a form that your demands have been met?”
“As we proceed, I will take it under consideration.”
“Judge Penso. Your turn to speak.” Sheriff Hernandez sat down.
“After a review of this case, I have decided to set aside the conviction of JD Byrnes for horse stealing. He will be released today and his record cleared of all charges.”
“Good. Thank you. Now, I want compensation for the lost horses, his saddle, and personal things.”
They all looked shock-faced at each other.
“I think five hundred dollars might cover his losses.”
The sheriff made a face. “We are turning him loose today and he has no record. You still want five hundred dollars?”
“He wasn’t guilty in the first place.”
The third man cut off any more talk. “The county will pay you in the morning. Deputy Diego, go get the prisoner and his things.”
Raines handed Chet a court order that released and exonerated JD. Along with it was the paper Hernandez wanted signed. The third man gave him a note for five hundred dollars on the Socorro County account.
“The money will be paid in the morning at my office,” the man said.
When JD walked in the room, Chet rose and hugged him. Boy, the lad felt lean in his arms.
“Thank God. Is it ever good to see you, Chet. You, too, Jesus and Cole.”
“Good to see you.”
He turned to the four men. “Get me a pen and ink. I’ll sign this letter for you.”
Now that it was settled, he was eager to get moving. He had plenty to do. Wire Marge it was over. Try to stop the lawyer from making the trip from Santa Fe. And then get their asses back to Arizona.
They left the courthouse in a hurry. With the wires sent, they all headed back to the hotel. Before they got there, Mrs. Carmichael reined up beside them in her fancy two-row surrey.
“How did the meeting go?”
Chet smiled. She knew all about it. She may even have been in on encouraging them. The “word” travels fast. “It went very well. JD, meet a great lady, Mrs. Antoinette Carmichael.”
JD removed his hat. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Better yet, you are out of jail, huh? That uncle of yours is a tough hombre.”
She looked at Chet. “Get in my buggy. I want to feed your men today at my ranch. Where is that boy who went with Louise?”
Cole had disappeared. “I think he must have went back to his room to rest.”
“What a shame. Should you stop and leave him a message where you’ll be?”
“We can do that. You are very generous. How did you know JD was released?”
“News travels fast in a small place. The word was out that those people in charge might be in for a big legal mess over this matter. Even that, if it went on, Governor Betting might take over the county government. He could do that, you know.”
“They did act upset.”
“For them to settle it the day before the scheduled meeting meant they were afraid.”
“Maybe someone will investigate them.”
She nodded, stopped the horses at the hotel, and turned to JD. “I bet you’re glad to be free.”
“Oh, ma’am, I really can’t believe it. I’m just sitting back here saying over and over again, ‘I’m free at last.’”
“That is good. You’re the lucky one. That big man come to your rescue.”
“He ain’t new at the likes of that, either,” JD said, which made them both laugh.
Jesus hurried out of the hotel and joined them. “I left Cole a note. He was tired, so when they let JD go he decided to go to the room to sleep.”
“He will miss all the fun.”
“I don’t think he’s missed much of that,” Chet said.
The drive to her ranch was short. The large house sat under the tall leafless cottonwoods along the Rio Grande. Mrs. Carmichael had her arm around JD, who acted self-conscious as she herded him through the ornately carved front door into her palatial home.
Chet excused himself and made a swing around the ranch’s headquarters on foot. He spoke in Spanish to some of her men, and they showed him their remuda. They were a good set of horses, not some bangtail mustangs. When he bragged on their horses, the men’s faces showed pride in their stock.
When he went into the house, a young lady greeted him at the door and took his hat.
“Thank you. You must be a niece of Antoinette’s.”
“Oh, sí. My aunt is our favorite. She will have many good things to eat and drink today. She has a reputation as the best hostess in the area.”
“It must be nice to be a part of it?”
“Oh, sí.”
He moved on through the house toward the voices and music. In the two-story room, a band played and several guests stood around drinking wine. He found JD and Jesus and asked them what they thought.
“Fancy,” JD said. “Much better than that damn jail. How’s my brother and Lucie?”
“They were fine, last we heard. Lucie is going to have a baby, like the rest.”
“No kidding.”
“Then May and Hampt, Sarge and Susie, and Marge and me as well.”
“I knew Lief had been killed in a horse wreck. Susie married Sarge?”
“Whirlwind courtship. They decided they needed to be man and wife.”
“Good for her. I sure love her. She’s been so great to Reg and me. But I’m glad she married Sarge. He damn sure will appreciate her. I liked Leif, and it was a damn shame he was killed, but, to me, Sarge is a real man. What else happened?”
“Not much. I saw the land north of the Grand Canyon and I don’t want it.”
“What was that about?”
“They were holding a man for ransom up in Utah. We rounded up some more killers on the way up there and back.”
“It was damn cold, too,” Jesus added.
“I guess I missed a real run?”
Jesus wearily shook his head. “It is a to
ugh country.”
JD started to laugh. “Boy, four babies in the family. Man, we are going to be a tribe soon.”
“We are now,” Chet said. His hostess asked him to dance, so he took her hand and they danced away.
“What’s he laughing about?” she asked.
“Oh, my wife, my sister, my sister-in-law, and my niece are all with child.”
“That is a lot. It will be your first, right?”
“Yes, but my wife has never carried one full-term before. So far, though, things are going well.”
“Oh, I bet she bites her nails. I was like that and I tried so hard. The biggest disappointment in my life was that I never gave my husband a child. I will light a candle for your wife.”
“Thanks. Did I tell you that you could dance with anyone?”
“I am jealous of your wife. She has a great dancer and a serious hombre in you. I thought when you took this bunch on that you would lose. They underestimated the cowboy who rode in here.” She gave a throaty laugh.
“A cavalier will find you, Antoinette, and he will have a prize.”
“That would be nice. Be careful, hombre. Those bastards are real poor losers.”
“When Jesus and I went back to the hotel last night, I think they sent some hired killers after us.”
She shook her head in an upset way. “When will you go home?”
“Tomorrow, after I cash the note they gave me for JD’s horses they sold. There’s a stage to Mesilla around midday.”
She frowned. “Be careful. If I could see your wife I’d tell her how lucky she is to have you.”
“I think she knows that. We appreciate each other.”
“Let’s eat. We are celebrating that young man’s release.” She clapped her hands over her head and whirled around. “Time for food, everyone.”
JD sat with her at the head of the table as her guest. He laughed and teased her, acting like he used to. Chet felt better about the thin, quiet, young man they’d freed earlier. Maybe he’d make it out of the shell Kay put him in. There was a lot more to it than that—maybe he’d never know it all. But they were taking him home. And, to Chet, he appeared normal again.
Later, he thanked Antoinette for such a good time. A young man drove them back to the hotel in her buggy.
Brothers in Blood Page 3
