Brothers in Blood (15 page)

Chet shook his head. “No. He broke the law in the Arizona Territory. He doesn't have any special privileges in this country.”

“You don't understand,” said one of the lawyers. “He is—”

“Oh, but I do. He broke the law in the United States. You can't sell people anymore. He came here to buy a white woman. That breaks our federal laws.”

“You trapped him!”

“Talk to the judge. He'll rule on this business.”

News reporters flocked him for a story about what happened and why he was there.

“A young woman was kidnapped at Preskitt and her father asked me to look for her. We found her and learned Turley and Vasquez were arranging a sale for her.”

“They say Mexico may send troops to free him.”

“Come on, men.” He frowned at them. “Mexico ain't going to send any troops up here to free some farmer who tried to buy a young innocent woman for immoral purposes.”

“You said it pretty frank, Marshal,” one reporter said, chuckling.

“I mean it that way. We'll also file murder charges against Turley and his men up in Preskitt.”

“What do you call this agency you run?”

Chet sighed. These reporters just wouldn't let a body alone. “I call it, Don't Mess With Me.”

He met at the hotel with his men and Sheila. “We have one more night here. After your testimony, Sheila, you can go home.”

Cole spoke up. “Jesus and I can take the horses back.”

“Okay, you and Jesus take the horses home from here. Sheila, Shawn, and me can go home on the stage.”

“That won't work,” spoke up Jesus. “One of us has to be with you.”

“Not my words, but my wife's and Tom's.”

“Well, I will not be the one to explain to her why we left you.”

“Shawn and I can take the horses,” said Cole. “That Mexican's horses are good Barb horses, too.”

“Federal law says they're ours. That means you and Jesus. So take them along.”

“We can sell them?”

“Yes. And the sheriff here is searching for reward notices on Turley and his bunch that the three of you can share.”

“Is that for real?” Shawn asked.

“It is, that and more. My deputies share all rewards that we collect.”

“I think I want to help you more.”

“It ain't always that easy to find folks, nor do they give up so easy every time.”

“I still want to be on your team,” Shawn repeated.

“We'll see how that goes.”

He persisted. “Will you really consider me as one of your team?”

“I said I would think on it, but yes, I think we could do that.”

“Great. And I can sure help drive the horses home.”

“Sheila, it's suppertime. Let's lead these tough
pistoleros
of mine to supper downstairs.”

She took his arm and they went down to dine.

“I don't really like to even think about living in a city,” Sheila said as they descended the stairs.

“I agree. I'd miss the coyotes howling too much.”

“I might not miss them, but I would miss breathing clean air and not being hobbled by traffic in the street. Do you have any other nice cowboys on your ranch?”

“Maybe you can come to the house and go to the dance at Camp Verde some Saturday night, and look them over for yourself. Marge would love to take you with us.”

“That would be a big treat for me. I can dance some.” Her smile was sweet and Chet felt certain her brother being at her rescue put her more at ease with his bunch. After she testified to the grand jury, they could go home until she needed to return for the trial.

Over supper, they went over their plans for the trip home. Early in the morning, Shawn and Cole would set out with the horses for the drive north. Chet, Sheila, and Jesus would catch the stagecoach to Hayden's Ferry, which would take a day and a half. Then they'd take the Black Canyon Stageline to Preskitt, and be home.

He'd already notified Marge they were fine and in Tucson. Now he could wire her from the ferry to tell her he'd be home on the stage in two or so days, and for her to send word to the McElroys he was bringing Sheila.

They left Tucson for Papago Wells, then went on the ferry, arriving in late afternoon in time to catch the northbound stage, and with time enough for him to send his last telegram. When he came back across the street, Sheila and Jesus were in the coach. The gravel-voiced driver said, “We like to left yuh here.”

“Frog, I'd sue you for all you're worth if you'd done that.”

“Huh, all you'd get is a half chaw of 'baccy, two swallows in a whiskey bottle I got at home, and my old worn-out pair of overalls. They have to bury me in these good'uns.”

Amused, Chet shook his head. “After all that, you ain't worth suing. Get up there and earn your keep.”

“By doggies, I can do that. Nice to have you, too, young lady, you brighten up this whole coach.”

“Don't laugh,” Chet told her. “It only encourages him some more.”

The side lamps were on as the stage swayed from side to side going down to the ferry. Impatient horse hooves pounded on the hollow barge and they crossed the Salt. He slumped down in the seat beside Sheila to try to sleep. He had lots of that to catch up on. He'd need to retrieve his jacket before this night was over. Farther on, he'd freeze to death without it.

When they changed horses at New River, he opened his war bag from the back storage, got his jacket out, then pulled the drawstring tight and reloaded it. Right away he felt warmth surge through his body. He smiled and helped Sheila back in the stage. “We will get there before this night is over,” he assured her.

“How will I ever repay you for all you've done for me?”

“Just live your life with your head high and savor every day. That'll make me proud.”

“I will. Thank you.”

He wished the canvas covers on the windows fit tighter. The cold night air leaked around them, and the higher they climbed into the mountains the colder it became.

Jesus's soft snoring told them he was asleep, but they continued to talk.

“I'm going to try to not be too nosy,” she said. “But how did you meet your wife?”

“On this stagecoach, when my nephew and I came up here to look for a ranch.”

“Did you fall in love right away?”

“I didn't. At the time, I didn't consider myself free, because of a lady in Texas. I told Marge that.”

Sheila smiled. “She never gave up getting you, though, did she?”

He smiled at the memory. “No, and when stage robbers murdered my nephew, she helped me get through it. Mighty tough days those.”

“But you went back to Texas after that?”

“I did, and never promised her a thing. Turned out the Texas lady couldn't leave her elderly parents. We parted friends, so I came back still single.” He chuckled. “When I wanted to take Marge on a camping trip on the Rim, my sister told me Marge had gone to a finishing school and would never go with me. Well, she was wrong. Marge agreed to go. But then I went to worrying about folks talking about her, so we wound up going camping all right, but it was our honeymoon.”

“Have you ever regretted it?”

“No, ma'am. We have a great life together. When I'm gone, she worries a lot 'cause she lost two husbands before me. But I'm very grateful to have her.”

“Sounds like a fairy tale come true.” A soft sigh escaped her lips.

“It was that.”

“Maybe some handsome prince will find me some day.”

“Oh, I'm certain he will.”

“I'll keep my hopes up, but now I'll have a tainted background.”

“Don't ever think that. You're still the same as you were before this happened. Don't let yourself fall into a case of self-pity.”

“You give good advice. Thanks so much.”

“Meantime, I know your mother and father will be excited you're coming home safe.”

They arrived in Preskitt in a light snow. As soon as he helped her down from the stagecoach, her mother was there hugging her. Jesus gathered their gear and put them in the waiting buckboard. Sheila's entire family was waiting, and her father about wrung Chet's hand off thanking him—and tried to pay him.

“You can pay Cole, Jesus, and your son. Shawn and Cole are bringing the horses and will be here in a few days.”

“What else can I do for you?”

“Hug that girl. She's been through some tough days. She'll be fine, but she needs lots of love.”

“Count on that. We love all our kids.” He paused and ran a hand over his whiskers. “You know, people spin yarns about you. Some aren't true, and the next time I hear someone telling one of them, I'll knock his block off. You had—”

“Excuse me, my wife is here.”

“Tell her thanks from all of us for letting you go find our Sheila.”

“I will.” He turned and caught Marge in his arms and kissed her. “You all right?”

“Wonderful since you've come home to me.”

“Oh, Mrs. Byrnes.” It was Sheila's mother wanting to hug her.

He stepped aside and both Sheila and her mother hugged Marge. While light snowflakes fell in the starlit night, tears streamed down their faces.

“Oh, thank you so much. No one else would have ever found her. Your husband's a treasure. We know it's hard on you to be apart from him, but we do appreciate him finding her.”

“He's part yours, too,” Marge said. “He's very generous with foks.”

“Oh, Marge, I was so afraid I'd never see her again.”

“I know how you must have felt.”

The younger McElroy, Kevin, was there to shake hands with both Chet and Jesus. “Did Shawn help you get her back?” he asked.

“Big help. Cole, Jesus, and Shawn did a great job helping to arrest them.”

“You going to hire him?”

“I'd consider it, if I ever needed a good man.” Chet wondered what they were getting at, but nothing else was said. He hustled his wife to their buckboard and nodded to Jiminez, her driver.

“Let's go home.”

Jesus hopped aboard just as Jiminez popped the reins at the team.

“Is Sheila all right?” Marge asked in a low voice.

“Yes, they didn't molest her. They planned to sell her to this big hacienda owner as a virgin. So, besides thinking all the time that she'd end up some slave mistress, she's fine.”

“Oh, my. What were they going to sell her for?”

“Several thousand is the amount I heard.”

“Did they shoot at you?”

“No.”

“You surprised them?”

“That we did.”

She twisted sideways in order to reach over and kiss him. “Glad you're home in one piece.”

At home, bathed, shaved, and in bed, he felt a great letdown, so he reached for his wife and drew her to him. “Good night,” he whispered.

“It is. I have you safe at home.”

By dawn, Chet was up, dressed, and in the kitchen drinking coffee with Monica.

“What kinda trouble are you looking for today?” she asked.

“Are there any mice in the house?”

“No, I have a cat who stays around the house and gets them.”

“El Gato gets them all?”

“He's neutered, so he don't chase females.”

“I've seen him a time or two.”

“What else worries you?” She got up to peer in the oven, then sat back down.

“How are my ranches being run?”

“As good as if you were there. They know what to do and they do it. So you can go on another wild goose chase.”

“Getting that girl back home wasn't a goose chase.”

“No, but if that family had any sense they could have trailed them to the border and jumped those
bastardos
themselves.”

“In other words, you think I can be replaced.”

“If I find someone can do that, I'll send him to you. I'm looking hard, so she doesn't panic every time you leave.”

“Oh, she doesn't panic that much.”

“You don't have to live with her when you're gone.” She slid his plate in front of him.

He sure couldn't solve this impasse with her. He'd better eat his eggs, potatoes, biscuits, and gravy, and shut up. And go see if those horses had ever arrived.

Jiminez saddled him a horse and he rode off for town by himself. Jesus needed some rest, so he let him sleep. His other men were coming with the horses. He only needed to check on things in town. Then see if the horses Rose was bringing from California had arrived.

He stopped and drank coffee with Jenn. Valerie asked him about Cole.

“He's fine. Bringing our horses back. He'll be here in a few days.”

“Good,” she said, and nodded, smuglike. “We've been talking. He's a pretty swell guy.”

“I think so.”

She winked at him and disappeared toward the kitchen.

“You think she's got a winner?” Jenn asked when she was out of sight.

“He walks on his boot soles. Been a bachelor a long enough time.”

“I guess she could do worse.”

“Lots worse.”

“I got the word, your nephew ran away again?”

“JD can do what he wants. But, yeah, he left his brother up there on top.”

“What ails him?”

“That I can't imagine, nor can I nail his foot to the floor.”

“Oh, I know. Young people get so restless. I learned that the hard way.”

“How is Bonnie?”

“She's still here. But I'm afraid her life is too boring. Same disease as JD has, I think.”

“I was so damn busy holding our ranch together, I never had a chance to be bored.”

“She worries me, like he does you. But I don't know anything else I can do for her.”

“There are those like Reg who lost a wife and picked up the pieces. JD's different. But any way I can help, let me know.”

“Mister Byrnes! Mister Byrnes!” A boy raced into the café. “They said you were in town. I have a telegram for you from the Marshal in Tucson.”

“Here, let me read it.” The message covered two sheets, so Chet unfolded them and began reading.

“Man, he wrote you a book,” Jenn said. “You have an answer for him?”

“I'm going to answer him.” Chet leaned over and lowered his voice. “He wants a law enforcement patrol to clean up the bandits in south Arizona.”

“He knew who to call on,” she said, nodding her approval.

She turned to Valerie who'd returned when the boy came in. “Get Chet some paper.”

The girl brought two sheets and a pencil. “Enough?”

“Plenty.”

He put pencil to paper, but didn't need all the space the Marshal had used.

He gave the boy from the telegraph office two dimes, one to send the message, and the other a tip.

“Thank you, sir,” the boy said, and raced off.

“Who will help you?” Jenn asked, a frown wrinkling her forehead.

“That's what I need to decide, as well as tell my pregnant wife what's happenng.” He shook his head. “That may be even harder.”

“I can't help you there. Good luck, brother. I'm rooting for you.”

He went by the livery to check with Frye about the horses Rose was supposed to bring.

“I may be gone for a while. Tom, at the Verde Ranch, knows horses and what I'll need. When they get here, send word to him.”

Frye frowned at him. “Where're you going?”

“Can't say. Government business. All right?”

“Sure, I won't tell a word. Be careful. Folks around here count on you.”

Lots do. Some more than others. He better go home and talk to Marge.

She read the telegram through. “Where are those Rangers the legislature voted for?”

“They had no money to fund them.”

“Well, that is sure stupid.” She dropped her hands and the paper in her lap. “I know you can handle this, but I'll sure miss you. I promise not to cry on Monica's shoulder when you're gone. You have to be extra careful. This baby and I will need you. Who will you take with you?”

“If they will go, Jesus and Cole first. Then, I'd like to borrow Roamer, if he'll still have his job here when he gets back. Then, Shawn McElroy, he's a good capable young man.”

She agreed with his choices. “Who else?”

“I'd love to be able to take Hampt. When it comes down to it, he's the toughest guy.”

She shook her head. “You need him at that place and May needs him.”

“I know, and Reg would be my choice, too, but he's in the same situation. I can find another. I'd even like to take JD, wherever he's at. He handled himself well in Tombstone. I'll find someone.”

“Jesus was upset you left him behind to sleep. I told him you wouldn't get into much in Preskitt, or he'd of rode in there. He asked if there was a letter for him, but there wasn't. Do you think his girlfriend gave up waiting for him?”

“I don't know much about it. He said he'd write her one more time.”

“I hope that works out for him.” She sighed. “I know you need to go. You live on challenges and do a great job. I couldn't be prouder. I accept that you have a job to do, so you make your plans—whatever.”

“I love you, Marge Byrnes. God gave me a beautiful wife and a future baby. I treasure both of you. But we do need to make this territory a safe place to live. I have many things to do before I leave, but I'll attend to that tomorrow. Let's go to bed.”

“Yes, and do something cheerful for a change.”

Arms entwined, they went off to their bedroom laughing and teasing each other about lighter matters.