A Good Day To Kill (23 page)

“You never know about criminals.”

The meal was good, the bread fresh, and they ate it at a side table. Chet thanked the bartender and paid him, then they went out to their horses. Mounted up, they rode up the narrow road to the third house and stepped down from their saddles.

When a girl came to the door, Chet removed his hat. Her dress was patched and wash-faded. “My man ain't here, if you're looking for Ralph.”

He removed his hat for her. “You must be Petal?”

“I am, but I don't know you.”

“Your father asked me to come up here and ask you if you wanted to come home.”

She blinked her eyes. “It ain't no business of his.”

“No, Petal, but it's your business whether you want to stay or go home with us.”

She shook her head. “I ain't going back.”

“We didn't come here to make you go back. But many girls leave home and then they find their new life is not roses and want to go back. Your father will soon have a new house to live in and a shop, plus two boys to help him do his work. He'll have a buggy and a horse to pull it, so he can get around.”

“How did he get all that? Rob a bank?”

“No. A man went partners with him. We're painting the house and shop this Saturday and moving him in. A kinda grand opening.”

“I already done this business of taking up with him.” She dropped her chin.

“Is he going to marry you?”

“He never said so.”

“Well, maybe he won't, or maybe he will.”

“You shouldn't have come. You're going to make me cry.”

“Your daddy cried when he talked about you to me.”

A man rode up on a poor horse, jumped down, and rushed in the yard. “Who in the hell are you two, messing around with my woman?”

Hampt caught him by the shoulder and pressed a thumb into him. “It ain't who we are. We're making certain this fine young lady is where she wants to be.”

“Ralph, I never called for them. My daddy sent them to ask me if I was happy here.” She began to bawl.

Her man shouted, “Tell them you are. Tell them we're getting married soon as I can get ten bucks.”

Hampt eased up on his grip. “I've got ten bucks. Where's the preacher?”

She looked bewildered. “Ralph, you never mentioned that before. You never did.”

“Petal, I love you. You're my woman. You know I love you.”

“Petal, go back to your father's house. Help him. If Ralph really loves you, he'll come along, find a job, propose, and marry you. It will be winter soon, and if he has no work, you'll freeze or starve to death up here.”

“You ain't got no business messing with a man's woman—”

“You didn't mention marriage to her, because you ain't divorced from the last one.” Chet tried a ploy on him.

His face melted at the accusation. “How did you know that?”

“You just told me.”

“I asked you three times if'n you was married. You said no and never. Ralph Thornton, you lied to me,” cried the girl.

“I can't help what I done before. I love you.”

“When you get your divorce papers, she'll be in Preskitt,” Chet said.

Petal nodded. “I'll go back with you two.”

“Get your things.” Chet sent her inside.

“Damn it. Who in the hell are you anyway?” Thornton demanded.

“He's Chet Byrnes, owns Quarter Circle Z on the Verde, and I'm one of his foremen, Hampt Tate.”

“I'll be gawdamned. You're the guys got all those outlaw gangs?”

Hampt nodded. “You're lucky, too. We usually shoot first and ask questions later.”

“I don't even wear a gun.”

“That might be why we didn't shoot you.”

Chet gave Hampt her blanket-wrapped things. He lowered his left arm and brought her up behind him in the saddle.

“Let's ride.”

Hampt was on his horse. “You ate anything today?”

“No.”

“My wife, May, sent along some fried pies that ought to fit us all.”

“Bless May's heart. She just had a baby a few days ago,” Chet said over his shoulder to her.

“She must be a mighty fine wife,” Petal said.

“Petal, if I started now and talked all the way to Preskitt, I couldn't tell you all the good things she is and does for me in my life,” said Hampt.

“Believe me, he has that many stories to tell.”

Busy eating her fried pie, she asked him, “Would she show me how to make these?”

“You'll meet her Saturday night. You just ask her.”

“Mr. Byrnes?”

“Yes, Petal.”

“I sure hope I'm doing the right thing. I'm convinced, but I don't ever want anyone to see me again.”

“Petal, you hold your head up. You're a lovely girl with a lifetime to give to a man who has a job and a place for you to live. Don't ever let me catch you with your head down. God forgives us for our sins and he will forgive yours.”

“I'll try to remember that, sir.”

“I'm just Chet.”

“May God bless you for me.”

He knew she was crying, sitting back there behind the cantle. But as the evening sun settled west of the Bradshaws they were on top of, he knew she'd find her a real life. When Marge learned about the problem, she'd buy the girl a new dress to wear for Saturday night. He could always count on her to do the good things he couldn't handle. Damn, he was lucky to have her.

Chet, Hampt, and their ward rode all night to reach Preskitt after sunup. When they stopped at Jenn's Café, Petal didn't want to go in. Chet took her arm and guided her inside. Bonnie found them a table in the back.

“You're up early,” Bonnie said.

“We ain't went to bed,” Hampt whispered.

“Oh, yes, you are McCully's daughter, Petal. They went and brought you back?”

Petal dropped her head and never said a word.

“You are so lucky. I'm so lucky, too. They brought me back from Mexico where I was a slave. Don't act so upset. You're free now and no one can ever take that from you. Hold your head up.” Bonnie took a napkin and carefully wiped away the tears from Petal's face. “They did that for me. You were lucky, too.”

“Yes. I never knew that.”

“Now you do. Don't be sad. Live your days like every one of them is precious.”

Jenn brought them coffee and smiled. “Fast trip.”

She patted Petal on the shoulder. “Nice to have you back, dear.”

“Thanks, Jenn.”

After breakfast, they took her home. Once off the horse, he pressed ten dollars in her palm. “My wife's name is Marge. She'll be here to get you some new dresses. One to wear Saturday night.”

“Yes, sir.”

McCully came out of the door, shaky and too fast on his crutches. She caught him around the waist and saved him from a fall.

“Oh, thank God, my girl is back home!” he exclaimed as they hugged each other.

Chet and Hampt rode off for the top ranch where they fell across their beds and slept for several hours.

Around six p.m., Marge woke them up, gave them clothes, towels, and soap so they could go clean up. “Monica has lots of food fixed. I hope you two are hungry.”

“Only thing we had to eat was some of May's fried pies,” Chet teased.

“Well, you two didn't have Jesus along to cook for you.”

“We're fine. It turned out good; I promised you would help her find some new dresses to wear, and especially one for our
fandango
.”

“I better do that tomorrow.”

“I'm sorry, but she's in rags.”

“I can handle that. I'll get Jenn to help me.”

Chet and Hampt showered and dressed before going back to the house.

“When we were fighting for the Verde River Ranch, we'd sure have gave a lot of money for a shower and a cooked meal,” said Hampt.

“Hampt, I wondered how crazy I was to have come out here to buy a ranch and run into a deal like we had down there. Starving Indians to feed. I wasn't sure at all I had the patience to do all we did.”

“I'm just damn glad you picked me to help. I was a saddle bum. Out of work, except some day jobs, and I figured I'd never get to cowboy again.”

“You, Tom, and Sarge are the greatest men I ever knew.”

“Hey, I go along. But you find good men. We just needed a man to figure things out, so we could carry out his plans. I bet that little man on crutches builds some helluva good saddles.”

“If we can find him some good leather stock, I bet he can.”

“I better eat and ride home.”

“You can spend the night.”

“I can be home in a few hours. I enjoyed you taking me along, but this old married man misses his wife and the kids. Those two big boys and the girl are mine now, too. I won't forget them, but Miles is a treasure.”

“Let's eat. I'll have them saddle a horse for you.” They went by the barn and he told Jimenez to find Hampt a good horse and put his gear on him.

Monica had supper on the table. With large cuts of beef on their plates, they passed bowls of potatoes, gravy, green beans, and fresh baked sourdough bread. They worked hard at eating, bragged on her cooking, and laughed a lot.

“What convinced his daughter to come home?” Marge asked.

“When your husband asked him if he was divorced yet. Petal said he'd denied ever being married. I guess she figured out then that he'd lied to her,” said Hampt.

“Poor girl.”

“She's had a rough life,” said Chet. “Lost her mother. But her father's on the mend in his life. Maybe not from his handicaps, but they will live better in the future.”

“How did she get hooked up with that man?”

“There are buzzards like him floating around all the time, looking for poor girls.”

“Well, I am lucky none found me,” Marge teased.

“No, I'm glad none got you, too.”

After the meal, he sent Hampt back to his wife on a good fresh horse that he could run home on.

With Marge under his arm, they headed for the bedroom where they fed the baby and went to bed. He found sleep fast and woke before dawn. Monica was downstairs in the kitchen with coffee made and he sipped on a hot fresh cup.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to go up on the Rim to see Reg and Lucie, and their new baby, but I can't leave until Sunday. I never realized all the things I'd need to do here.”

She shook her head. “You'll still be helping people when the Good Lord comes for you, and he'll have to wait.”

“Oh, Monica. I'm just one man who likes to ranch and wants this territory to become a state.”

“I better get Marge up, so she can help that girl find some dresses. You taking her to town?”

“No, I may go look at the East Verde Ranch, and come back tonight.”

“You tell her. I don't want to be the mail service here.”

He looked at Monica's back and shook his head, but she never saw him do it.

She delivered his fried eggs, pushed the bowl of German-fried potatoes at him, along with the bacon. Then she went for coffee and poured it in his cup.

“Something wrong?”

“Why?” She whirled around and frowned at him.

He held up his hands. “You sound awful sharp this morning.”

She pointed her finger and shook it in his face. “If you tell her I told you, I will never tell you another thing.”

“What is it?”

She leaned over and whispered in his ear. “She fell off that jumping horse yesterday. I've tried to get her to quit but, of course, she made me promise to not tell anyone, especially you. She could have been hurt. But don't you say one word about it.”

Her words sobered him up sharp-like. How in the hell did he handle that? Her number one thing in this world was jumping her horses. And the baby was here, so she had nothing holding her back. Maybe he better take her to town and see if she would tell him anything about her fall. Damn, sometimes things in life made a big mess that was harder to handle than a ranch or law problem.

Not much in their lives they hadn't worked out, but her jumping was something he knew she wanted to do so bad. The whole notion hurt him, but he damn sure didn't want to lose her.

“Eat your breakfast,” Monica said. “It won't be good cold.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

She shook her head in defeat. “You ain't no tougher than I am about this matter. I can see that now.”

“I may shoot the damn horse.”

“Oh, no. You wouldn't do that. Ain't his fault anyway.”

“No, but I'm tempted.”

He found Jimenez and had him hitch the team. Maybe he could convince her to jump lower ones. No need to bring her groom in on it. All the poor boy did was what she told him to do. After that, Chet went down and checked the course. On the third jump there was a new bar in the top notch. She probably broke it in her fall.

He shook his head and went back to the house.

“Going to the Verde? Monica said you didn't tell her where you were going today.”

Liar
. “No I'm going to drive you to town to get Petal a dress or two. I can go by to see Bo and check on the contractor he hired to fix the place.” He kissed her. Then he sat down. “Jimenez is hooking the buckboard for us.”

“It will take me a little longer to be ready. I thought you might go to the Verde today?”

“I can go Friday, or next week, when I go to see Robert, as well as Reg and Lucie.”

“Oh, hey, I'm grateful you're taking me to town.”

“Good.” He clamped his hand on top of hers.

She winced at his touch.

“You hurt?”

“No, I just jammed it a little, that's all.”

“Is it broke?”

“No, silly. I'm fine.”

“I hope so.”

“I better go see how Adam and his nanny are doing. Then I'll be ready to go to town.”

“No rush. The horses are ready.” He noticed her slight limp on the right side. As she went to check on the baby, she was doing her best to hide it. Damn.

“She's pretty sore,” he whispered to Monica.

She shook her head. “I know. I know. You can't tell her a thing about that jumping.”

“Thanks. I owe you one.”

Marge came out wearing a canvas duster coat. The morning was cooler than usual. He helped her on the seat and she sat down gingerly.

“It's so nice to have you home. I almost feel like a wife again.”

“Good to be here. What else did you hurt when you hurt your wrist?”

“Oh, nothing. My hip is a little sore.”

“You don't need the doctor to check you?”

“Of course not. I just tripped and fell. Clumsy me.”

“Alright. I'm just concerned.”

“Alright. Alright, my horse took a fall. I know you worry about me jumping, but I've only had some minor spills. The dirt in the pen is sandy and not caliche hard. I won't jump him that high again, unless I'm certain he can clear it. Oh, Chet, I didn't want you to worry about me. I'm sorry.”

He hugged her. “You and Adam are all I have close to me. Make those lower jumps, please?”

“I will. Now did that ruin your day, finding out about me being clumsy?”

“No, but I worry about your safety, for both our sakes.”

“Well, you go and get shot.”

“Someone has to bring justice to this territory. I don't take many chances.”

She squeezed his leg. “Let's have fun today. Tell me about this poor girl.”

“She's young. But all girls have become young to me. Her and her father live in a trap. And I don't think they always have food. He's a craftsman, but I can see he has no leather to make things. Have you gone by their new house?” he asked.

“Oh, yes, that's a nice place, and with paint it will be great for them.”

“I thought so, too. Poor girl is in rags. Lost, and she agreed to come back on her own free will. I think she saw the mistake she'd made.”

“Should I have a doctor check her? She may have been exposed to some disease.”

“Yes, but make it her wish.”

“I understand.”

“You take the world on your shoulders. Are we going by Jenn's first?”

“If she can get off, I'm sure she'd like to go. Cole and Valerie are up at Oak Creek honeymooning. Jenn may not have enough help.”

“We'll see. I enjoy her company and she can help me boost this girl's morale.”

“She needs a ton of that.”

They went by for Jenn who had enough help and, with him standing in the back of the spring seat, they drove to Bo's office and let him off.

“I can make it from here. When you get done this afternoon, I'll be at Jenn's place. Take Petal to lunch. You need any money?”

“No, we're fine,” Marge said after he kissed her.

“You two are a great couple,” Jenn said, and they drove off.

He and Bo walked over to the house.

“You can meet my new lady,” Bo said. “Marge invited me to the party.”

“Hell, you knew you were invited.”

“It was still nice to be asked. You will meet her anyway.”

“I'll look forward to meeting the lady.”

“Rhineheart, the contractor, says we're lucky they have the matching wood siding on the house here in stock. So he can make a pretty good match on that enclosure on the back. The shed is going up and the barn renovation is going good, too. He went by and looked at Beam's saddle shop and got ideas how to make him racks and shelves. Good enough?”

“That should work.”

“He's making a place in the barn to park the buggy inside, as well as harness racks on the wall. There's way more room in that barn than he'll ever need for his shop. So, they're making a heated area that can be opened up in summer weather. Making a stall in the back of the barn for the horse to get out of the weather, and a hay shed at a distance so the shop won't catch on fire, or the barn, either.”

“You sound like you're getting it done.”

“I guess Marge's got enough paint and brushes. She said your foreman had enough ladders and they're bringing them.”

“I guess so.”

“How did your trip to Crown King go?” Bo asked.

“She agreed to come home with us. Hampt went with me.”

“Yeah, if I got in a fight, I'd want him to back me—or stand in front of me, would be even better.”

Chet shook his head. “Hampt is a prize. He married my sister-in-law, May, and he's got her singing and playing the piano. As long as she was around all of us, we never knew she could do that.”

“Now isn't that something.”

“They have a new boy named Miles.”

“I knew that. You and Reg each have a new one. Who's next?”

“Susie, my sister.”

“You will soon have a tribe.”