Dusty Richards [Byrnes Family Blood on the Verde River (retai

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.”“It will be colder then.Better get the men equipped for some hard cold after you make this October run.They tell me the snow’s going to fly any time before that November delivery.Folks who’ve been up here say the years vary in temperature and snowfall, but it can be damn tough.We’ll face that, getting over there with our cattle.”“We can figure it out.How’s Susie?” Sarge asked.“Fine.”“Word’s out she ain’t going to marry Tom Hannagan.”“I don’t think so.Leif Times has been around a lot.”“A good young man.He ride with you and a posse a couple times?”“Yes, he did.I like him.His dad has the Rafter Eight Ranch.He’s a polite young guy.”“That’s my luck.I guess I should have tried harder.I always really liked her and felt if there was a way, I’d have proposed.But I never felt there was much chance of her agreeing to marry me.”Chet shook his head.“You should never let things like that hold you back.”“Well”—Sarge turned his hands up—“I guess I’ve been a bachelor too long, anyway.”Chet laughed and clapped him on his shoulder.“You know I count on a whole bunch of you guys.You, Tom, Hampt, and even Hoot.”“Speaking of a guy.I promised Victor I’d take you right over to the cook tent when you got here.Man, he’s a helluva great cook.We sure like him.”“Victor took Marge and I on our honeymoon to buy the Hackberry Ranch.Never had a bad meal with him.”“What’s your nephew JD doing?”“Helping Tom.He ain’t been like himself ever since he and Kay Kent broke up.”“He’s young enough to come out of it.”Victor, the smiling, handsome Mexican, came out of the cook tent and shook Chet’s hand.“Good to see you boss man.”“They say you been poisoning these men.” Chet grinned.“Oh, they gripe all the time.If it ain’t my food, it’s my music.”“I doubt that.”“How is Marge?” Victor asked.“Fine.She sent her love to you.”“Tell her I miss her.The hands that just came in from the drive say some Apaches attacked you today.”“Put an arrow in my saddle.”Victor frowned.“What did they want?”“Maybe some beef to eat.”He shook his head.“Spooky isn’t it?”“At times, damn spooky.”Victor frowned again.“I thought all them renegade Apaches were in Mexico.”“Some were left behind, I guess.But two of them are dead now.”“Will the Army find the others?”“I hope so.”Victor nodded.“I am getting some food ready.Are you hungry?“Yes, thanks.”“Come inside and drink my coffee.”“Sure.”As soon as coffee was poured, Chet launched into his plan for Sarge and his men to take the cattle to the agencies for the October delivery.With all he had to do back home, Chet needed this business handled by one of his men.Sarge could handle it.That taken care of, he closed out the rest of his business and thanked the two men for their good work.After the meal and anxious to be back with his wife again, Chet resaddled his horse and headed back for the Verde outfit.It would be a long ride through the night, but he wanted to be back with Marge and handle more necessary business.He thanked Hampt and told him to take his time coming back with the rest of the men.“I’d sure like to ride with you back through that Injun country.” Hampt looked awfully concerned about Chet’s safety.“Naw.Apaches don’t attack at night.I’ll be close to home by sunup.”Hampt still frowned.“You just be damned careful.We’re all counting on you.”Chet rode out, short loping the tough bay horse the crew called Sam Brown—a stout six-year-old gelding.With lots of ground to cover, he pushed the horse to make as much progress as he could before sundown.Nighttime would slow him, but the moon should come up early.His mind raced over all the business things that involved him.The Hartley Ranch dispersal was about complete.He’d paid a fair price for the place and the cattle.The sale to the Navajos would save him.Plus he would have all the cattle sold after this month, except for the hundred and fifty mother cows Tom had chosen to replace the Quarter Circle Z aged ones.The rest of the culls Tom sold to the Indians at Fort McDowell.Things were taking shape, but the cool nights told him he’d not make great progress in the winter.Best he got it all done by the time snow flew on his northern range.Tired and stiff, he arrived at the main headquarters of the Quarter Circle Z at dawn.Tom and the men were saddling up and looked shocked to see him back so soon.Chet waved off their concern.“Aside from an Apache raid on the herd, it was uneventful.”“What happened?”“Oh, one shot an arrow in my saddle.Cole shot the other one off his horse [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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