Ambush Valley (29 page)

“I will.” He looked at the dark copper ceiling tiles and wondered what would happen next. No need in that boy falling in a bottle. He about had Bo weaned off it, and now JD fell into one.

If Susie didn't have an answer, he'd go get him himself. A family could be trying at times.

“Throw in that rancher, who wanted to know if I'd run for sheriff.”

“Well?”

He smothered her with kisses. He didn't need any more of that business either.

After breakfast, Chet told Tom to pay everyone ten dollars and tell them not to shoot out the lights in any town. They'd see them Sunday night and to be ready for work Monday morning. The whooping and hollering was loud coming from their camp when Tom got through telling them.

He felt almost sorry for the ladies of the night. Amused, he sipped on his coffee under the tent Victor had set up.

Hampt and Tom joined him over more coffee.

“Them boys are off to a wild time,” Hampt said, straddling the bench to sit down.

“Aw, they deserved it,” Tom said, nodding, satisfied that was the thing to do.

“If they run into any sore footed T B men they may have a fight.”

His men laughed.

“That was damn best idea I ever saw pulled off on rascals.”

“You see their foreman in that crowd?”

“I didn't. He may have quit and rode on,” Chet offered.

“If he was smart, but I don't think he was that smart,” Tom said. “What's next for you?”

“I need to go check on Reg. He'll hate that he missed all the excitement. Something up there has him involved, I guess. No doubt he's probably still upset about losing his wife.”

“You and Victor going?' Hampt asked.

“I imagine my wife is as well. She likes camping and traipsing around.”

“Millie would turn her nose up at that right now.” Tom shook his head, like that would be impossible to get her to go. “She loves that new house so much, she about cries every time she gets up.”

“Good. She deserved it.”

“I sure appreciate it.”

Hampt shook his head. “Tom and I were both out of work two years ago when you came out here. I thought he'll try ranching out here and go back—too dry. But I never knew the hell you had back there.”

“You two never thought you'd be back on that ranch either?”

“Oh, hell no. Ryan had a tight fist on that baby.”

Tom smiled. “When I quit him I knew we'd have it tough. But I never thought I'd go back there as mad as I was at the time.”

“Well, we are loose from the extra cattle we've been carrying. We still need a hundred more cross cows for the ranch down there and to think about the upper place. We need it stocked next year.”

“Can we buy yearling cattle down on the border and drive them up here?” Hampt asked.

“We might if we do it early enough and have some moisture,” Tom said.

Chet nodded about that idea. “I bet Raphael has connections down there. I'll talk to him.”

“That might work,” Tom said, as if thinking the matter over. “They drive them clear to Montana from Texas.”

“Whew, glad I don't have to do that,” Hampt said, shaking his head.

“Well, some of us have to work.” Chet rose, laughing, and stretched. “It went well. I better go in to town and settle these charges.”

“I hope you get us off!” Tom teased.

“Oh, I will do that.” He left them and rode back to the house.

Marge met him at the back door. “I have the two-seat buckboard ready to go.”

“I saw it. We gave the men the rest of the week off and ten bucks to blow.”

“Susie is going with us.”

“Hey, fine.” Monica gave him a fresh cup of coffee and Susie came in the kitchen.

“Marge said you were going with us.”

She nodded. “I can't afford to have you in jail.”

“You got some big plans coming up?”

“You can't ever tell.”

“Marge and I are planning to go up and find your nephew.”

“Lots of luck.” Susie laughed. “I simply hope that he's all right. Marge told you about JD the other night in town.”

“What can I do about that?”

“She knows the lady; I don't. But he can come back to the ranch or go help Reg up on top.”

“Maybe offer that to him.”

“There is no need for him to stay there if they aren't getting along,” Marge said.

“I am certain she's under lots of pressure. The ranch has lots of needs and she doesn't want my charity.”

“It's JD's part of the ranch.” Susie shook her head. “We won't interfere if we can help it.”

“She might talk better to me than either of you,” Marge said. “I can drive out there while we're in town and see what I can learn.”

“We'd appreciate that,” Chet said, with his sister's approval as well.

“Let's go to town then,” Marge said.

He drove and Susie sat in the back row. Clouds were gathering and that pleased him. Any rain would be welcome, and they had the surrey top on this rig.

The two women talked over the seat and he kept the horse trotting all the way there. They went by the lawyer's office. Egan told him the whole matter was settled with the county prosecutor's office and the charges dropped. Sims had gone out of town to see about some wanted men.

Chet took that to mean the man didn't want to answer any questions. Fine with him. He knew on which side of him he sat.

Marge had gone to Kay's place and he went to Bo's office. Susie was shopping at the mercantile and was going to be in Mrs. Churchill's to look for a dress if she wasn't at the store.

Bo, fresh faced, had his argument all prepared for him when he got there. “If I marry Jane and get a house to live in, can I shed these two?”

“Has she agreed to marry you?”

“All my indications from her are that she will.”

“I'm not that certain she will. How is business?”

“I sold two houses and one small ranch in the past week. Is that enough?”

“No. You still act too damn anxious to go back to drinking and gambling.”

“I swear I won't do that.”

“She'd leave you quicker than a lamb can shake his tail if you did.”

Bo pounded on the desk. “I need to be free.”

“No, you're selling real estate and have an income. You could become an important part of this city—sober.”

He collapsed in the chair.

“I'm going up north to see about that ranch. I'd look at that land up there you say is for sale.”

Bo rifled through his files and handed him the sheets on it. “The west property may be the best. They have some stakes up there. I don't know if they'd help you find it or not.”

“I'll find it.”

“I heard they tried to arrest you night before last.”

“We had a misunderstanding with the Hartley brothers. We settled it and sent their cattle home.”

Bo shook his head. “The man with no fear. I still recall the first time I met you in the Palace Bar. I said then to myself, what a tough piece of Texas leather. Why, he might even buy that big ranch at Camp Verde.”

“And I am glad that I did.” Chet prepared to leave. “Keep selling land.”

“What about what I asked?”

“I'll go see what she says and get back later. Stay sober.”

“Gawdamnit! I am!”

He found Susie in a beautiful white gown having a fitting.
So much for Leif.
The bell rang over his head and he removed his hat for the two women fussing over the dress who, with their mouth full of straight pins, nodded hello.

“This is serious. Sorry I intruded.”

“You'd found out sooner or later. Tom and I are thinking we will get married on September first.”

He took a seat in a frilly covered chair and twirled his hat on his hand, thinking about all he and Susie had been through together. It was time she stepped into her own life, had some kids of her own—he guessed. It simply broke up the old ranch some more. He went back to the time they were winding up branding and the ranch horses were stolen. That was only yesterday—but it pushed on three or four years ago. Damn, time went fast.

“You haven't seen Marge yet?”

He shook his head. “No rush, we'll go to Jenny's café when you get through. She'll be along.”

“We'll only be a few minutes more,” the gray-haired Mrs. Churchill said, still on her knees making changes with her helper.

“No rush. You usually only get married once.”

When the women finished the fitting, they left the shop and walked to Jenny's café. The usual crowd was there and Jenny did a double take at Susie when she went by. “We'll have seats in no time.”

“Fine,” he said after her.

She was back drying her hands. “And this is?”

“My sister Susie. This is Jenny who fed me and the boy the first time.”

“I've heard so much about you from both of them. I feel I know you well. There are seats back there where those guys are getting up. You want the meat loaf on the daily special?”

“Two, and coffee,” he said when she nodded.

Jenny was gone to serve the crowd.

“She's the one feeds the unemployed?” his sister asked.

“That's Jenny.”

They were almost through with their lunch when Marge arrived and came in to join them.

“Learn much?” he asked her.

“Too much. Kay wants out of their arrangement. She has someone else in mind, I think.”

“He won't leave?”

“She hasn't told him yet.”

“Maybe she has and he isn't listening.” He looked over at Susie.

“I can't talk for him. What do we do?”

“I'll ride over there and talk to him myself.”

Marge looked disappointed. “I hate that. I introduced you all to her.”

“Marge, it ain't your fault. People change their minds. I will go talk to him. He don't need to be getting drunk at night to forget his days. And sure not at his age. Reg knew something was bad wrong a few weeks ago. He rode out because he knew it and couldn't do a damn thing about it.”

“That is settled in Byrnes ranch fashion. He will handle it,” Susie said, and clapped on top of his hands. “That is why Marge and I both have you.”

They laughed.

The next morning, he left the ranch before daybreak and rode for Preskit and Kay's place. It was a long enough ride to get himself squared away with things he aimed to say and do. Satisfied when he rode over the last hill that he had his story completed, he hoped the rest went smoothly.

He found JD refitting a plate on a bay horse. He dropped the hoof and wiped his face on his sleeve. “Everyone out of jail?”

“Yes and we sent a large herd of their cattle back to them.”

“I never thought you could do that. There are several around here.”

“On deeded land you can cut them out and drive them off.”

“I guess I need to do that.”

“Need help, holler.”

“Need help for what?” Kay asked, joining them. “Marge was here yesterday. Today you're here?”

“Marge said, you two weren't getting along real well. I simply came by to tell him, and you too, I sure have a place for him if he wants to come back home.”

“That might be a good idea. We haven't been getting along . . .”

“You want me to go?” JD demanded. “Just say so.”

“I don't think we are right for each other.”

“Well by gawd, I was fine when you wanted to split from him. Now you want me to leave well by gawd I'll do that and your damn ranch can finish falling down.” He threw his short-handled hammer on the ground and stomped on it.

“Hey, take it easy. We all can change our minds. That ain't worth boiling over about. Go get your things. Kay, you need anything, either my men or hers will come help you.”

She nodded, but never said a word. She turned on her heels looking close to crying and walked back to the house avoiding JD's angry exit with a bundle of his clothes and some more harsh words for her.

He saddled the horse he brought over and they rode back in near silence. At Marge's lane gate JD said he'd go on back down. Chet asked if he'd like to go find Reg and he said he'd see. And tell them later.

Susie had gone home earlier so she would be there when he got to the ranch. He dismounted heavily, and Marge joined him.

“How did it go?”

“He came back with me and rode on to the ranch. He's bitter. Feels like he was good enough to shelter her from her husband and now she's dumped him. Which she did. She went to the house in silence, I offered her help from either ranch if she wanted it. No answer.”

“I'm so proud of you. You are a great guy and patriarch of both places. I know that was a damn sight tougher to do than drive those damn cattle over there to Mayer.”

He laughed. He had her cussing again. He kissed and hugged her, then whispered in her ear. “Will Monica care if we go upstairs and take a nap?”

“I'm not sure about me letting you sleep, but hell no.”

“Good.” He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the porch. She damn sure was a bright spot in his world. A real bright star shining for him when he needed it the most.
Keep laughing girl. I love it.

Chet's plans were to leave on the next Sunday for the high country. That meant after the potluck and dance at the Camp Verde schoolhouse. Victor had the things ready—packhorses, food, Dutch ovens, utensils, tents, bedrolls, and a few folding canvas-wooden chairs as well. Plans were to catch him up at the sawmill on Monday and Marge had leased the honeymoon cabin for them that Saturday night. JD was going to catch them at the sawmill Monday night—if he decided to go along.

Tom had him shoeing horses, a good hard job to keep his mind busy.

There were lots of questions for Chet from area ranchers about moving the Hartley cattle at the Saturday night gathering.

“They arrested your men?” Jake Bowling asked him.

“Yes, the girls went and got them out.”

“What in the hell does Sims have on his mind?”

“I'm not sure, he don't talk to me. But he took those Hartley boys swearing out a warrant for us stealing their cattle and served it. Tom kept them hands from killing the deputies. He and Hampt went peacefully, but them cowboys were mad as hell about it.”

“What about you? I bet you were real mad about it too.”

“Yes, that's why I sent the women to bail them out.”

The small crowd laughed in agreement.

“They say that drive through Mayer was huge?”

“Cows and calves, I think close to a thousand.”

“Hell, it was a big parade.”

Marge drew him inside to eat, laughing about his being treed.

“I'm damn glad you got me out of there.”

“Your sister went home. I'm sorry—” Marge bit on her lower lip. “Tom Hanager brought Kay with him, he said 'cause she had no way to get over here. I guess Susie couldn't stand it and left.”

He closed his eyes. “Where was Leif?”

“I haven't seen him. How did she get home?”

“Knowing her she might have ridden home double behind him on his horse.”

“Let's eat. You suppose Kay wanted Tom all this time?” Marge asked.

Warily, Chet shook his head. “I'm not sure about anything.”

“They may have had an affair before she left her husband. I can't imagine her being such a bitch. I thought her to be my friend. Now I don't want to claim her.”

There she went to cussing again. Oh well, he'd taught people worse things than that. They had the cabin to themselves for the night. They could savor that time being all alone and carefree as they could get. He felt glad to admit they were still on their honeymoon.

Where was Reg? No telling. He was somewhere up there. He hoped they didn't pass him going west and him east and miss him. In that country they could do that. Had Leif taken Susie home? She might have asked him to. No telling how they'd work that out, or maybe not. But somehow, not seeing him there, he felt pretty certain he'd taken his chance at impressing her. Riding double back to the ranch with her was a good opportunity for him. He'd learn later all about it.

His good roan horses were at the cabin. Rio would come drive the team and the buckboard they came in back over to this ranch for their return. It was all set.

They left the honeymoon cabin for the rim at dawn. They joined Victor in the early afternoon in his piney camp, close enough to hear the steam driven blade whine through the logs. The mill man came down and joined them. They talked about his horses—they'd added more teams of mules in the past months. Chet had made a good buy on four teams of them from a freighter and sent them to Dave, who was in charge up there.

The operation was making the ranch money, so he decided to go on some more time hauling logs to the mill and hauling lumber out as well.

“It's going to be farther to haul up to our new place, and the mules might do well hauling out there as well.”

The mill man said, “I'm ready to start cutting lumber for it.”

“We about have everything down there. We'll be wanting some framing lumber up there shortly. I may have an order when I come back.”

“Good, we're getting some new business from out there now.”

They left the mill the next morning and headed for the San Francisco Peaks, and turned west at the base. He talked to a few resident folks about where they thought they were on the survey, and worked west. Yes, he wanted the land in the west after he saw the craggy stuff closer to the road junction. He'd get Bo to find it and decide then what to buy. They rode on for the ranch site across the rolling grass country west of the peaks. Camped at night, they sat around the fire and listened to Victor's guitar, playing songs they knew and some ballads from his homeland. A coyote or two howled at the half moon, and they went to bed.

“I'm glad I have you out here all to myself.”

“Oh, I enjoy every day we steal away from work.”

“I thought we were making more work?”

“Oh well, it's fun.”

She laughed and he hugged her.

They reached the ranch the next day. There was a wall tent set up and signs of ranch things Reg'd brought up there. A small corral had been built and used. There were some clothes on the line, and Marge smiled. “Now whose dress is that?”

He frowned. “I recognize that dress—Lacy wore it, when we were here.”

“You think Reg moved her in?” Marge made a smirk of discovery and about to laugh covered it with her hands.

They both laughed at the notion and he hugged her off the ground. “I reckon things found a way.”

Reg and Lacy rode in on jaded horses late in the day. Chet stood up when they dismounted, and thought they looked a little taken aback by their discovery of company.

“We've been working some mavericks. We've found about fifty head since we—well we got together. She's a real hand at roping cattle. We talked about getting married but it just hasn't been convenient.”

“That's your business, not ours.” Chet figured they were both grown-up people.

“How have you been?” Lacy asked Marge.

“Fine. We've came to see what Reg was up to. Let's you and I go somewhere and talk. I'm sure they have lots to go over.”

“Certainly.”

Chet showed Reg the chair.

“Lacy is quite a cowgirl,” Reg began. “I bet she can outrope you. We were looking one day at some of this ranch and we saw this maverick sneaking down the canyon, and she said, “Let's get him,” and by damn we did and branded him with your brand here using my cinch ring. I remembered grandpaw telling us how to do that once.”

“You got irons now?”

“Sure, I went over to her family's ranch shop and made me two. One for the quarter circle and one for the z, and they work fine.”

“Her father approve of her living here with you?”

“I guess. She told him she was leaving with me and he said ‘you two be careful.'”

“So you two are thinking about getting married?”

“I think there's a justice of the peace over at Hackberry. We could go do it over there. She don't care about anything fancy. What do you think?”

Chet nodded. “That would be nice. But why not bring her over to the ranch and we can have a family celebration?”

“I'm sure she'd like to do that. I'll ask her.”

“Fine. I need to tell you that I went and got JD before I came over here. He's at the Verde ranch shoeing horses, last I heard. Pretty shook up, but he'll recover in time.”

“Good, I'm glad that's settled. Chet, Lacy's been damn good for me. Juanita ain't coming back. I hate that. She's not pretty like her and I think that is good, 'cause chances are I'd never find another like her. But she's a pretty person inside and the damnedest competition at roping I ever met. She don't miss nothing heading or healing. She's been a tomboy all her life. Her father don't have any boys. I see why she's like that, but I do love her. What do you say to that?”

“I wish you two the best. I don't believe you ever told me that much in one conversation in our lives. But I think you did a smart thing, found you a real woman.”

“I have. Oh, my God I have. I guess I must have lost track of time, we've been so busy catching mavericks, we may have a large herd up here before long.” He unbuttoned his shirt pocket and handed him the tally book.

The list went on. Those two damn near had a herd already.

“That's neat. Hey, I didn't tell you, Susie was trying on a wedding gown in Preskit. But I think it may be over. Tom Hanager brought Kay to the dance. But there is another guy there I think took her home double on his horse.”

“Oh no. That is funny. Who's he?”

“A young man your age who was trying to get her to look at him. He rode with me and Hampt and we got two sorry outfits that murdered an old couple for their money that they didn't find. The old man's brother stole it.”

“What else have you been up to?”

“We took the T B cattle back to their ranch in Mayer, and Tom, along with Hampt, got arrested for stealing the cattle. I sent your aunt Susie and Marge to get them out.”

“How many cows?”

“Cows and calves we drove near a thousand head to them and stampeded them off the mountain to their place.”

“They offer any resistance?”

“Eight of their men they sent to stop us we made walk ten miles back, barefooted. We disarmed the one brother who rode out to stop us and sent him ahead of the cattle to the ranch.”

“Hey, Victor has supper ready, guys, come on,” Marge called.

“Coming.”

They laughed about everything at the meal, and afterwards, the women did the dishes and Victor played the guitar for them.

Later that night in their own tent, Chet whispered in Marge's ear Reg's speech about his new woman.

“I'd say he's figured it out, and she is pretty, just being Lacy. And her roping ability really impressed him. She's as awestruck with him as he is with her. That's neat. Good, like I am about you.”

“Don't lose it,” he whispered. “I am too.”

They laid out the ranch house on the site. Then the corrals and sheds. A sudden afternoon rain shower sent them to hide in one tent, and nickel-size hail peppered the canvas hard for a short while with lots of thunder and bolts of lightning rolling overhead.

He told about lightning running from horn to horn on those longhorns on the cattle drives and stampedes during storms. With his head in Marge's lap stretched out on the cot, the storm soon passed and the sun popped out.

The four rode out to catch some more mavericks the next day. Chet watched the two of them drive the first critter out of the junipers and into the vast open prairie. She rode in and headed this one, then she turned her horse aside and he went in and swept the hind legs with his loop. The critter was thrown on the ground and Reg dismounted and tied his three feet with a pigging string.

Chet had the second one making a wide circle on the end of his lariat. Lacy charged her horse to get behind him, tossed the loop around his leg, and then lifted the rope, and her horse flew backwards. They had two caught.

That day they worked twelve head. Lacy could brand with the best man and hold a yearling's leg while Reg cut out his manhood. They had mountain oysters for supper that night.

“See why we didn't come right home?” Reg asked.

“Are they like this all over up here?” Chet asked.

“They've worked the mavericks hard west of the Springs, but they didn't know that these were here. They got away from herds driven through. The old cows are slicker than these yearlings,” Lacy said. “They're wilder too.”

“We only have a dozen cows. The rest are yearlings, but we're getting them.” Reg looked proud of their adventure, and of her as well.

What a mess, but they were having a second honeymoon and lots of fun, too.

“Mr. Byrnes?” Lacy asked him.

“Chet.”

“Yeah you told me that before.” She gave him a big slow grin. “If we go back with you to get married, can Fern go, too? She's like me, she's ain't never seen Preskit either.”

“We don't care. We can't guarantee her a man, but she can have a good time.”

“I appreciate that. Marge said you'd say yes.”

“Lacy, when you get to know us, we are one big family.”

“I can tell that. I'm proud to be becoming one of you all. I loved getting to guide you two around up here, and won't ever forget that man wanted a way to get water.”

“We can buy her a wedding dress, can't we?” Marge asked.

“Hell yes, and a pretty one.”

“Oh, my sister will die if you do that. Girls up here just get married in the same old dress they peeled 'matoes in a few hours earlier.”

That set off a camp full of laughter.

“Hey, girl, this is the Byrnes outfit and we do things right.”

Lacy nodded. “He's told me the story of how your father and his father-in-law came out of the hills of Arkansas to find a Texas ranch.”

“Brave to come that far out, too.” Chet said. “They were forward-looking folks in those days to make that move. Mexico still owned it and Santa Anna wasn't having any white folks tell him how to do things. The Mexican army chased them all over Texas, and then one day they turned and whipped them.”

“That was how they did it.”

“Must have been tough.”

Chet agreed. “Life's tough all over when you think about it.”

“I'm sure it is.” Then she snickered. “But I never figured on all this happening to me. Whew it's been fast.”