Ambush Valley (13 page)

Tom Miller met Chet when he rode in and prepared to unsaddle the gray. “Let the boys do that,” Tom said. “I want to hear about this confrontation out on the road that you had this morning.”

“Sure, let's go to the house,”

After he told Tom the details, his foreman shook his head. “I guess I've heard a lot about those brothers. They've ran over lots of folks in the past and I thought Sims turned his back on some who had legitimate complaints about what happened. You need to keep a sharp eye on everything. They're bullies and have some men on their patrol I would call out-and-out killers. I could have gone to work for them when Ryan fired me. Willis came over to the house and offered me a job. But I never trusted either of them. I won't work for anyone like that. Costed me some wages, 'cause all I could find was day jobs. But—” He shook his head. “I just don't think they're real truthful or even honest.”

“What we need to do is mind our borders. I expect Hampt to be back in a week or so and he might know about this western situation we talked about and have some good ideas how to watch that part of our country. We need any warning we can get, because driving in that many cattle like they talk about will ruin that range.”

“I agree. Mind me you be careful,” Tom said. “I don't think they're above back shooting anyone who gets in their way. I noticed we have more T B cattle on the range than ever before. I guess they are drifting in here. We may have to drift them out.”

Chet nodded he agreed. “Have those cowboys go in pairs.”

“I'll do that. Good idea.”

“And I'll give you some spending money, so two at a time, the cowboys can go drink a beer or two in Mayer and Preskit. We will need any rumor they can learn.”

“That will work. We all get so busy out here we haven't time to know what goes on around us.”

“You knew Roamer came last Sunday and apologized about the Rye deal and him not being available to help me?”

“Yes, Millie said he'd come over.”

“He thought Sims was concerned he and I made him look bad, running Ryan off this ranch last year. And so he sent him to that Crown King mining camp to get him out of sight.”

“Protecting his butt, huh?”

“I'm still not sure about Sims and the Hartley brothers. He acted like he could handle it.”

Tom shook his head. “It will damn sure bear watching.”

“I'm going to be edgy about this deal until we're both satisfied we've stopped their efforts, and not just hear from Sims that he stopped it.”

Tom agreed and they went their ways.

 

 

Things pretty well in hand, the next morning he saddled up a big sorrel horse and went to see Marge. She was exercising her jumping horses when he rode up. A smile big as Texas lit her face when she discovered he was there. It was near lunchtime and her boy Jesus took their horses. Then he went on riding her horse to exercise him. She took Chet with her to the house to change her clothing.

“To what do I owe this visit?” she asked, squeezing his hand.

“Oh, just momentarily caught up.”

“I can't imagine you being that close to completed.”

“They'll finish Tom's house next week. The crew has the bunkhouse corners done and will start framing it after that. And we are simply catching up. I want to go look for another ranch on the rim. Would you consider going along? We'd take a packhorse or two and camp.”

“I'd love to.”

“It might spoil your reputation for good.”

“I really don't believe I care.”

“What will your father think?”

“That we're testing the water.”

He nodded. “Kind of bold for me to ask that of you. But I really enjoy your company and I need to find another place. There are railroads coming they say, and when they do they'll bring big money from the East, and owning a ranch out here won't be bad. I think I need to move on finding that place.”

“Have you talked to Bo your agent about it?”

“No, Bo is avoiding me. He left the woman he was living with and must be gambling hard. Probably drinking too much. He has to grow up. He knows that I'm back.”

She nodded and they went inside the house. He hung his gun belt and hat on the hook in the hallway. Monica came from the kitchen and greeted him. She announced the meal would be served shortly.

“You have never seen the Grand Canyon country, have you?” Marge asked.

“No, ma'am.”

“I haven't either. Maybe we can go by there?”

“I don't know why we can't. I'd like to see it.”

“When can we leave?”

“Should we wait until your father is back?”

“That sounds fine. I expect him any day. What about the cattleman's meeting?”

“Tom can go to that. We talked this morning about what we need to do to prepare to meet them with force if they try anything.”

They were seated on the couch, stealing kisses. She checked to be certain they were alone. “You've turned me into a love struck girl whenever you come around,” She reached down and squeezed both of his hands. “Oh, Chet, I enjoy your company so much.”

“A week or so of camping out might change your mind.”

“I really doubt it.”

“Good. Do you have a sound, easy riding horse?”

“Of course. He's a real mountain horse too.”

“Be sure he's fresh shod. I'll find some packhorses and pick me one out.”

“That big gray?”

“No. He's good but not for that kind of a ride. He's too headstrong. Can you make me a list of things we'll need for food and things?”

“Sure.”

“There won't be a camp cook but we can share those chores.”

“You name the day.”

“Fine. After we eat, we can drive into Preskit. I want to see an old friend.”

“Who is that?”

“My friend Jenny who owns the dinner. I want you to meet her, if you don't already know her. Through her I found Hoot and the others last year. She's no competition to you, but she's a friend, and I also need to talk to the liveryman, Luther Frye. He promised me a couple of real mountain horses like the one I had before that Ryan shot mine out from under me.”

“Food is served.” Monica announced and they laughed, getting up to go in the dining room.

“I know Luther” Marge said.

“He sure treated me nice for a horse trader.” He scooted the chair under her.

“I don't mean to drag bad memories up. But do you still miss your nephew Heck?”

He nodded and, seated, put the napkin in his lap. “At eleven or twelve, not much older, Heck rode a couple horses into the ground getting back home to me and giving me the word about his father's death in Kansas. I almost lost my mind when those stage robbers kidnapped him as a hostage, and I'll never forget you coming down there in my worst hours and saving me from going crazy after they killed him.”

“I knew you needed me then. If there was any way for you to become untangled back there, I came to help you.”

“And you waited for me. I wasn't very nice to you. You had quite a while to wait when I was busy closing out the ranch.”

“You mailed me three letters.”

He nodded, recalling how hard they'd been to write. “Short notes were all.”

“I cherished them.” She squeezed his hand close to her.

Monica served them thin sliced beef in brown gravy to go over the steamed rice. Then she brought out some hot sliced bread and butter. And refilled coffee cups. “Anything else?” she asked.

“How is the pie business going?” he teased.

“Wonderful. I will bring some for dessert.”

“Ah, some man is going to run off with you,” he said.

Marge frowned. “He better be buckshot proof 'cause I'll shoot him for trying.”

All three laughed.

After lunch they drove to town and he found Frye in his office standing over a woman in her thirties, going over his books.

“Why, Chet Byrnes, I heard you were back a few weeks ago. This is my wife, Gloria. She does the book work for me.”

“Can I hire her to do mine?”

His words drew a smile from her and she went back to work.

“No, pure and simple, I have to have her. What can I do for you today?”

“When I lost my horse last year, you said you'd find me another, or even two.”

“I know who has them. Gloria, who is that man from Star Valley has those two roans?”

She looked up and squinted her blue eyes for a minute. “Jason Humbolt.”

“See, I don't have any mind left. She can recall more than I can dig up. Thanks dear.”

With a shake of her head she went back to work again.

“I can have them up here to look at by Friday,” Frye said, and seeing Marge outside in the buggy, he said, “Good to see you, Miss Stephenson.”

She waved. And said the same thing to him.

“Is that good enough, Chet?”

“I'll be here then. How much will they cost?”

“Eighty bucks a head, but—”

“If they're as good as the last one, fine.”

“You know they're special. There is talk you have a special claybank stud horse you brought up here from Texas?”

“He's from the Barbarousa Hacienda.”

“I have a long barrel mare.”

“Is she open?”

Frye looked hesitant. “How much is the stud fee?” “A hundred dollars, but to you, nothing.”

“You don't need to do that.”

“I know who I owe and don't owe. I can take her back or send a boy after her.”

“Hey, I'll send her up there if you'll breed her.”

“Whenever, just tell my man what I said. The deal will be all right.”

Back in the buggy, he clucked to the horses.

She nodded. “He just got married a few months ago to that woman, Gloria. Did you meet her?”

“Yes, she's working on his books. A nice lady, she appears to be.”

“I think she's educated, and I am not merely telling you for gossip's sake, but she was a widow with three young children. Her husband was killed in a horse wreck that broke his neck. He owed money on the place and she couldn't meet the payments and lost it. She brought the children to town and lived in a dirt floor shack. She worked nights in Mrs. Kane's house of ill repute to survive and support those kids. Frye found out and took her out of there and married her.”

“She's one of the very lucky ones.”

“Yes, and he's quite a man for taking on a woman with three children.”

He drove the rig over to Jenny's and parked, then helped her down.

Time was mid-afternoon by then and the place was about deserted. Jenny came out of the kitchen, reaching in her apron pocket for a pad and pencil. “Well it's about time you brought her by, you rascal. I'm the last one to meet her.”

“Jenny, meet Marge.”

“Sit on a stool, you two. Lands, I have seen you at a distance, but up close I see why he likes you. You are a lovely lady.” Then she stuck out her hand. “He's mighty well thought of in here. And he's right back righting wrongs in this country like the last time. We love him.”

“So do I,” Marge said, about to blush. “Thanks for keeping him here, so he came back.”

“No problem, 'cause if you hadn't roped him, I'd've branded him for myself.”

They both laughed and Jenny served them all some fresh coffee. It was a pleasant conversation and he recalled all of Jenny's help finding him Hoot and Tom along with the rest.

They drove back to Marge's place after she picked up some things Monica needed at the store.

“Guess I'm lucky to have you,” she said, leaning on him, going down the road. “I think she would have taken you.”

“Oh, she simply helped me and in turn I hired her customers who were out of work. But I always have to laugh at my sister Susie who wanted me to marry one of those German farm girls back in Texas. She promised me they'd produce me a large family, a big garden, and put up with me.”

They both laughed.

“She had some good advice, didn't she?”

That evening Gates came by her house and stopped to talk to him. He'd heard he was with her in town and wanted to catch him. The three talked about the Hartley brothers' threat in her living room, and Monica served them supper.

Over supper, Chet asked him, “Do they really have two thousand cows somewhere to drive up here?”

“I'm not sure. But if they do they have a financier someplace. They are borrowed pretty close to the bankers' limit around here.”

“That's interesting,” Chet said.

“I have checked, and from what I can learn, they are really stretched financially. Bankers don't like to admit that because it could cause a panic if depositors knew something like that. But they owe sizeable sums of money backed by their cattle on hand and ranch property. That you can learn at the courthouse records.”

“That might force them to take bigger chances, like ram a big herd down my throat?”

“Exactly. That was a lovely meal, Margaret. I have to get home tonight.”

Chet walked him to his horse and the man mounted in the light of the bloodred setting sun. “I hope this squeeze doesn't come on you. I'll check around and see if there are any big herd movements coming.”

“Thanks.” Chet watched the man ride off. Marge joined him and hugged his arm.