Deadly Is the Night (3 page)

“He can work cowboys there is no doubt. I'm pleased having him run this big ranch that's for sure. His wife loves their big house even with her daughter gone and married. They are up at Windmill right now. Sarge is teaching him how to drive cattle and feed the Navajos.”

“Wasn't Millie mad at you about that deal?” Spencer asked.

Chet shook his head. “She got over it. She got married at fifteen. So did her daughter.”

“I'm seeing having all these businesses is not just a matter of being boss, but you get into things I'd never dreamed about being in charge of.”

“Part of the job.”

Jesus shrugged. “He gets it all done.”

“What about that boy on the east place you just bought?”

“He's doing good. He'll have his hay land fenced and ready to mow come next spring. Have corrals built and I'll need to find him a set of cows and bulls by fall.”

“You think that place will be operating that soon?”

“It sure will if he has his way.”

Spencer shook his head, taking a short rein on his horse that had bucked leaving Center Point the last time he stepped in the stirrup. He damn sure wasn't taking any chances about him this time.

It was past noon when Chet dropped out of the saddle at the yard. A stable boy took Chet's reins, and he looked wistfully at the back door for his wife to come welcome him.

Instead a very serious looking Monica came out, arms folded, and he hurried to see what was wrong.

“She all right?”

“Come inside. I'll tell you what happened. She'll be fine I think.”

“What's wrong?”

Monica shut the door and faced him. “She lost the baby last night.”

She caught his arm. “The doctor was here. He says she will be fine and he had no idea why the baby died. Things like that happen. But he gave her a sedative and told her to rest.”

“Thanks. Sorry I was not here.”

Monica agreed and said, “I will have your lunch. Those men need to eat?”

“No, they are going to check on their women.”

“Good. Go look in on her. Maybe best she sleeps for awhile. Come back and eat.”

“I'll do that. Thanks, Monica.”

Upstairs he quietly slipped in their bedroom. Her small form was under covers on her side and she breathed easy. Her face looked quite pale to him sleeping there. That might have been because of a loss of blood? He didn't know enough about an abortion or miscarriage to understand what happened. But she was alive and breathing. He'd not disturb her and quietly left the room.

Downstairs with lunch on the table, Monica brought him a letter from JD. Usually Bonnie wrote them with newsy things about the ranch operation and their life. This was in his handwriting.

“Is it bad news?” Monica asked him.

“Bad enough. His foreman, Ortega Morales, was shot by rustlers in Mexico by that bastard Buster Weeks's border bunch. He's recovering and they've got the cattle back, but he expects more trouble.”

“What must you do?”

“I guess go see when I am sure she is all right.”

“And I suppose they can shoot you then?”

“Monica, I need to lead these people.”

“I know that. Toby came by going to town and asked if I thought you'd be here later. I told him I had no damn idea.”

“You must have been real upset to swear at him?”

“Yes. The doctor was here and examining her and I had no idea what was happening.”

“This thing that happened to her? Ever happen to you before?”

“Yes, and it's not any fun, I can tell you. Liz really wanted the child. Me, I didn't care and it turned out well for me that I lost mine.”

“I do know how badly she wanted one. This will be a blow to her.”

* * *

Monica left the kitchen crying. How heartfelt that tough woman could get amazed him—she really cared about Liz and her feelings. How did he comfort her? Damned if he knew.

He went in the living room to read the
Miner
last issues.

His ranch foreman, Raphael, knocked on the back door. Chet came back and opened the door.

“How is your wife?”

“Fine. Come in. She is sleeping. How are you?”

“Fine.” Then his man laughed and unbuttoned his wool coat. “All the women are wondering how she is doing? They are burning candles at our shrine for her.”

“It must be working.”

“Good. They all love her so. I will tell them not to worry.”

“Is anything else wrong?”

“No. Everything is going well. How about you?”

“Rustlers shot my foreman at Diablo. He's mending, but it sounds like I better ride south and check it all out. He's a tough guy but you mess with those bandits long enough one of them will shoot you.”

Raphael agreed. “One of them even shot you?”

“They did once and I was lucky. Well, someone needs to check it out. She gets better I'll go south and find out what I can do about them.”

“I have some good men that know that country.”

“I am certain. JD has some, too. But thanks for thinking about me.”

“I consider you my friend and you know that. If there is anything I can do, call on me.”

“Yes, I will. Everyone good in the crew?”

“Everyone is fine. That girl Lisa you found with the rustlers who married Miguel is a real leader of the women. She has them sewing clothes for the children. Your wife provided the material, thread, scissors, needles, and buttons.”

“I saw her leading them older women at the
fiesta
.”

“She is not bossy. They will do anything she wants them to do. I think she was a real good thing to come here.”

“Yes, she has been. I better go see how my wife is doing.”

“Tell her we all are praying for her.”

“I will.
Gracias.
I will let you know when I plan to leave.”

His wife was awake when he got back upstairs. Her dark eyes wet, she stared at the ceiling from under the covers.

“Liz, I am so sorry I wasn't here.”

He settled on the bed beside her. “I know how much you wanted it.”

“Oh, Chet, there was no way—nothing I could do to keep it in me.”

“You didn't do it. That was God's thing. No one can change whatever the plan he has for us. You can't do anything but suffer the consequences. It was not to be. I consider you the neatest wife and person a man could have. I wanted nothing to happen to you. How do you feel?”

“Weary. Thanks, I love you, too, and I so wanted a child.”

“I know that well. We will strive ahead. Monica has taken this as hard as you have.”

She nodded that she knew.

“Anything I can do for you to make you comfortable?”

“Hold me for a while. I will clear my mind of this tragedy somehow.”

“We need to get on with our life. You are important to me. Raphael told me you are helping the women make some nice clothes for the ranch kids.”

“I want them to be proud. They are learning to read and write. Maybe they can't afford new clothes, but they can make them. Even the little ones smile and beam wearing new clothing. Lisa asked for my help and we laid out a plan. Those women know how to work hard. You know that from the way they work our events. Let's get up. I need to stop hiding. I am your wife and very proud of that, so I must get on with my life.”

“You strong enough?”

“Yes.”

“I'll wait for you. I don't want you getting dizzy going down the stairs.”

She shook her finger at him. “I am fine.”

“That's all I ask.”

She dressed quickly, brushed her hair, and led him downstairs. Monica met and hugged her. “Are you all right?”

“I am fine. I think I am hungry.”

“Supper will be ready in a short while.”

“I can help.”

“Why don't you—”

“Monica, I am getting on with my life. Chet, go read your newspapers.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Their conversation going away sounded like a mother-daughter argument.

He read the papers. Nothing stuck out. She came out and asked about JD's letter.

Carefully he explained to her what he had read.

“It said he was going to recover?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose you need to go see about it?”

He agreed.

“You and him were close working in the Force together?”

“Yes, Ortega is a hard worker. They have repaid me all the money I loaned him, and he and his family have a working ranch now.”

“When will you have to leave?”

“If you are well, in two days.”

She nodded. “I will be fine. A little defeated but I will be well.”

“I will send word to Jesus and Spencer that we leave at midnight Wednesday.”

“Fine. Supper is about ready.” She dropped her voice. “Monica is better.”

He rose and hugged her. “Thanks.”

The time flew, and with things close to wrapped up Liz saw him off under the stars at the stage depot. The others were hugging and kissing good-bye. Both of the other women came over and spoke to her as the men loaded their saddles and war bags in the back rack.

Chet waved at his wife and climbed aboard facing the back. Jesus took a place beside him and Spencer rode in the backseat. In a clatter of hooves, with driver Pike Moore shouting at his teams, they went rocking off to Hayden's Ferry.

“Your wife doing fine living in town?” Chet asked Jesus.

“She says at first it was different, but she says she really likes her privacy now she has it. The lady next door walks to the store with her. The merchants treat her very politely. And she attends church twice a week. So far she says it is fine.”

“How about your lady?” he asked Spencer.

“We had a long talk the past two days. She promised to give us some more time. She really likes your wife. When she learned about what happened to her, she asked if we should go see her. Then she changed her mind and said you were there and she didn't need us.”

“You think she will find her a place in your life?”

“I really hope so. But who knows—her life with me is not wild partying and raising hell with men.”

“A woman has to decide, I guess, whether she wants a real life and family or just a good time.”

“I've been around several crazy women of the night. She doesn't act like that even when we're alone. But I guess they act like other women, too, when they aren't raising hell. I'd say she hasn't found a track to run on in her life so far.”

“Good luck.”

Jesus chuckled. “Yeah, mine never wanted to marry me and now she says she really likes it.”

“Good for you. Chet, is your wife okay?”

“Disappointed. But she comes up fighting. It bothered her the whole time she was not pregnant. Now she lost it she's slipped back some in her disappointment. But we have each other. I have two sons. She really wanted one. We'll just have to wait and see what happens next.”

“I can't believe your story how she came to you to buy a gold horse and ended up marrying you.”

Jesus shook his head and laughed. “It happened. I was there. But the best part was her wading in the Santa Cruz River and him afterwards drying her feet and she thought he was like Jesus and the apostles before the Last Supper.”

“How was that?”

“She asked if she could wade in that small river. I said yes. There she was, pretty as any woman I ever knew in the golden sunlight, shafts coming down through the giant cottonwood leaves, her kicking water and wading around like a ballerina. I was in such awe and she came out saying that I sure had lots of patience to put up with her foolishness. I had gotten a towel to dry her feet so she could put her socks and boots back on. That was all.”

“Man, I could see her doing that. Well tell me—” They hit a large bump and had to regain their seats. “Then what happened?”

“She asked me to bathe her. That was hard but it didn't seem out of order to her. She later said, “I know I was bold but I wanted you to see me as I was.” Later we danced the night away and then took my bedroll and made love in the hay. I can't forget the night every time I am around hay.”