Chapter 12
The late winter sun had set. The slicker Chet wore proved no cloak of warmth. He had put a blanket over the moaning, wounded man on the ground. The rain still dripped off the eaves and he thought he heard horses coming. Then the jingle of harness and the big Belgium hooves clopping over the muddy ground.
“Hey, Chet are you still here?” Reg called out.
“What took so long?’ Then he laughed when Trent got off his horse, produced a lantern, and came inside to light it.
“Reg said there were four raiders. The other two didn’t come back?”
Chet put his rifle down. “Nope, they ran.”
Trent handed the lantern to Reg and knelt to speak to Brown on the floor. “You’ll be on your way to jail, shortly,” he said and rose to his feet. Brown sat on his butt, head downcast after Trent spoke to him.
“I never hurt no one,” Thomas confessed when Trent asked him. “They said we were only going to scare them Messicans off. I didn’t know what they planned. I didn’t shoot anyone or touch a woman.”
Trent rose, shaking his head. “Did he say what they did with her?”
Chet nodded. “He said the kid showed him that they cut her throat when he asked them where she was at.”
“I never did a thing.”
Trent nodded at the prisoner’s words. “But you’re still guilty. We better form a posse come daylight and search for her.”
Chet agreed. “Let’s go back to the ranch. Is everything there alright?”
“Fine,” Reg said. “Susie wanted to come down here and help you. I made her stay home.”
“Good. You okay, Heck?” he asked, noticing the boy standing in the edge of the lamplight.
“Oh, yes, sir. Been some day for me.”
“You did good. Let’s load these two hombres, get back to the ranch.”
Trent agreed with a wary head shake. “What did they hope to do?”
“To scare our farm help off, according to Thomas.”
“Shoot down innocent men and women—rape women. Who in the hell leads them?”
Chet chuckled. “Now if they tell you who that is, you’ll have someone else to hang. Sorry I laughed, but this crazy killing business has been going on too long.”
Prisoners loaded, the extra horses on a lead line, Reg drove the wagon and Heck led the horse string. The dark night was hard to maneuver over the dim road, but Reg was a patient driver and managed to hold them in the shallow ruts.
Worn out, Chet rode ahead the three hours or so it required to get home. At the lighted front porch, Heck pushed in close to Chet. “Why does that damn Thomas smell so pissy?”
“Guess he had to go.”
Heck nodded, then he shook his head. “I’ll put the horses up. I don’t want to have to unload him. Yuck.”
“You can simply handcuff them for now,” Trent said. “We can lock them up after we eat. I bet she’s got lots of food ready for us.”
“You can bet on that, sir,” Heck said. Then he started off, leading his string.
“We need to do something for Brown,” Trent said quietly to Chet.
“You want us to take him to the doc in Mayfield?” Chet asked.
“He’s in my custody. I’m responsible for him.”
“Let’s eat first. Then Reg, J.D., or I’ll take him there. Sorry I have no feelings for the man.”
“I understand that, but I have a job to do.”
“We’ll help after we eat.”
“Fine. Thanks. I know you could have shot them both. I appreciate your holding them.”
“No, I’d have hung them right down there where you found them. You would never have had to worry about them. Killing unarmed men and children, raping women, they damn sure deserve to be hung.”
“They’re my worry now.”
Chet agreed, and they went inside the house.
The women rushed about to put the food out. How Susie and her crew ever put all this together after the day at the village, he would never know—but the food was spread out and he asked grace. Then all hands set in on the meal as the mantel clock struck eleven PM.
After the last bite was consumed, the menfolk headed out the door. Chet stopped Trent. “I’ll drive the wagon into Mayfield for you.”
“Thanks.”
“You ain’t going without me,” J.D. said. “The rest can take care of this place. I’ve missed all the excitement.”
Chet took his rifle, in case, and he and J.D. climbed onto the spring set and took off in the dark for town. The clouds had cleared out some and Trent led the way on his horse. By star and moonlight the way went easier. Near two o’clock, they woke Doc up and carried the groggy, wounded Brown upstairs and put him on a table. Then they went to Trent’s deputy’s house and woke Charlie Hat up. After that they drove back to the doc’s place and left Hat to guard the wounded prisoner.
The rain had quit. They shook Trent’s hand, ready to drive back to the ranch. He thanked them and said he’d be back up there with help to look for the missing woman’s body. Trent parted with them, leading his other prisoner, Thomas, back to Mason to put in jail.
“Did that damn Thomas piss in his pants?” J.D. asked, shaking his head. “He sure stunk of it.”
“I wouldn’t aid him. I guess he had to. I had no use for him,” Chet said, clucking to the team.
The two took turns trying to stay awake and not drive off into some canyon or ditch. The mares were good and knew the way. The jingle of the harness and the large hooves striking the soft ground made a song. But Chet found it harder and harder to stay awake. They pulled over and slept a short while in the back, then woke and drove on in, hearing the bell ringing when they splashed through Yellowhammer Creek less than a quarter mile from the homestead.
Susie came out to welcome them. “If you two ain’t too tired, breakfast is on.”
Stiff and sore, Chet jumped down and pulled his clammy britches from his skin and then hugged her. Good to be back. He wasn’t sure he could eat, but a cup of strong coffee might clear the cobwebs out of his brain. She led him along to the dry sink and he washed his face on the back porch. Hands lathered, he shook his head. “Guess you and Trent had no time for a word.”
“That was about it.”
“You invite Trent to the dance?”
“No.”
“He’s coming back to look for her remains.”
“We’ll see.” She looked across the dark pens and outbuildings.
“Damn, I shouldn’t complain. I haven’t asked Kathren either.”
He stopped before they went inside and gazed hard at her. “Running a damn ranch ain’t all it’s cut out to be.”
“I agree. Get in there, they won’t eat till you say grace.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Seated at the table, he thought about the pair of killers who’d escaped him. Cecil Crown and the kid called Doolin. Blowing on the vapors over his cup, he wondered how far they’d run. He’d get word in a few days where they went through and he’d have a lead to chase them down.
“What are we going to do today?” Reg asked.
“Saddle me a horse and one to pack her body on. A sheet to roll her up in. I’ll sleep a couple hours and be ready to ride.”
“I want to go,” Heck said.
“No, I’m afraid this will be a grisly job for anyone.”
“But I saw Dad dead—”
Slapped by the boy’s words, Chet nodded. “Alright. You and Reg can go along. Reg remembers the way we went, is why I’m asking him. J.D., go and see if they need anything at the village. Get it for them.”
“I’ll go with him,” Susie said.
Chet agreed. Then he went to the bunkhouse and his room. He sprawled face-down and collapsed. A few hours later he woke, rose, went out, and washed his face. Heck jumped up from a bench outside the bunkhouse and told him their horses were ready and Reg would met them at the village. He and the boy rode to where he waited for them.
Upon seeing them ride in, Chet saw Reg doff his hat at some pretty senorita and remount his cow pony. Chet joined them.
“The girl’s name they killed is LaLana.”
Not expecting a good answer, Chet asked, “Ain’t no one seen a sign of her?”
“I figured they killed her, from what Thomas told us,” Reg said. “I was hoping, since he supposedly wasn’t there, they might have lied to him.”
Chet agreed with a stiff nod. The search process proved slow, and he dreaded the results of their efforts deep in his gut. They rode up various side canyons and sidetracked until, in late afternoon, Heck spotted some turkey buzzards.
“They’re up on the next ridge.” Heck came riding in fast, reining up and setting his horse down hard.
In a quick agreement, they put Heck in the lead and tore out of the cedars. Hooves scrambled over the rock ledges and soon gained the overlook; then they rode off to the right. Chet decided this was where Thomas probably parted with them. He pushed in behind Heck as half a dozen vultures took off from the ground in a clearing and exposed her naked body.
Filled with rage over their eating on her corpse, Reg began to shoot vultures. He emptied his revolver at them, and several fell to the ground, squawking in an explosion of black feathers. Some wounded ones rushed for cover on foot.
“Sonsabitches,” he swore and slapped his empty gun away.
Chet waved the boy back, carrying the sheet to cover her. “Bring a rope to tie this on.”
On his knees to help and seeing the work of her killers, Reg swore again. “You’re right. We should have hung them.” Then he shook his head at the sight of the gaping cut across her throat. “Damn them, anyway. Chet, they don’t even deserve a trial.”
Chet stopped and steadied himself as they tied the sheet on with a lariat.
“Tough deal?” Heck asked, working beside him to tie her up.
No way Chet could swallow the lump in his throat. No way. He finally managed. “Yes.”
With her body loaded over the spare horse, they started back. Grim-faced, the three came into a line. Only a short ways back they met the sheriff. Trent saw the body over the saddle, and in a hoarse voice asked, “That her?”
“What’s left of her,” Chet said and booted his horse on by him.
“Sorry you all had to do this, this is really my job,” Trent said.
“No,” Chet said. “This is every man in this county’s job. Worthless trash like those bastards shouldn’t live to see another sundown. That woman had a child who will grow up without a mother. Never recognize her. They don’t deserve another breath in this world.”
“The law will handle them.”
“I know, Trent, but somehow, these things get swept under the rug somewhere. Hell, as some would say, they were just Mexicans. If the law turns them loose for this—their life ain’t worth ten cents. Trust me, pard. Trust me.”
“Word came this morning those other two had stolen some horses and saddles from a bunch of cowboys and headed west.”
Chet simply nodded. “Let them ride. I’ll find ’em.”
“I’ll swear out a warrant for both of them. You want to put a reward on them?”
“I’d pay a hundred dollars apiece on each of them.”
“I can do that.”
“Trent, I need three good men that aren’t scared of being in a shootout or sleeping with a six-gun. Reg’s going need them to help him run this outfit.”
Trent pushed his horse in closer. “I guess that you’re going looking for them two.”
“I may do that, too, but I really need a new home for the bar-C and I better get to looking for it.”
“Where will you go?”
“I ain’t certain. Maybe look in Arizona. Heard the Apaches are about rounded up out there.”
“I’ve heard it’s an uneasy peace.”
Chet checked his horse to look across the hills. “There damn sure ain’t no peace here with them Reynoldses till they’re all planted in the ground.”
“I’d hate to see you go. I’d sure like to court your sister, too.”
“Trent, I’m sorry you two haven’t had more time together. But me personally, I’m loaded with family, babies, and I can’t have them hurt. By God, there has to be some real estate somewhere that I can live in peace on. But I have no hold on Susie.”
“She won’t leave you in the lurch. She told me so. The old man in the condition he’s in, she has her hands full.”
“Kathren has the same problems, pard. She can’t leave either. Life’s dealt us some tough hands in this card game, but I know now there will be no peace for any of my kin as long as we live in this land.”
“When’re you going to take off?”
“As soon as I can find the men to help Reg.”
“I don’t envy your job. Any way I can help, let me know.”
Chet dropped back and rode between the two. “Reg, we’re going to hire three good hands to work for you. I’m going to try and find us a place where we can live in peace. They ain’t going to stop harassing us. Somewhere there’s a place, and by damn I’m going to find it.”
“I want to go with you,” Heck said. “I won’t get in the way.”
“I’ll take that under advisement. I ain’t promising you anything right now.”
Heck nodded.
“Those Hascal brothers, Walt and Rope, I think would make good hands.”
Chet nodded. They were Reg’s age and might fit. They knew how to work, and he’d never seen them back down when they thought they were right. “Keep thinking.”
“Utah Kline.”
“I’d consider him. I understand him and Frank Rich, the new boss on the Anchor, don’t gee and haw too well together.”
“I bet they’ll be at the dance Saturday night. I’ll talk to them up there.”
“Damn,” Chet swore under his breath. “I still have to go see Kathren about that. Anyway, we’ll talk to them over there.”
No time to go back and clean up. Kathren’d have to like him as he was. Better let the boys and Trent finish up this deal. He explained his plight, excused himself, and then set out east for her place. Really he’d not forgotten—she was in his dreams, on his mind, and the very notion of her even made a knot form in his throat. The worst part was he’d have to tell her about his plans.
Mid-afternoon, he found her on a rocker under the porch roof, mending a pair of overalls that she wore to work in.
She looked up at him and her face melted into a smile. “You look like the cat drug you in.”
He dismounted and looked over his clothing. “I just don’t have my Sunday best on.”
The overalls set aside, she rushed over to kiss and hug him. Then, tossing her hair back and smiling into his face, she asked, “What bucket did you fall into this time?”
“They raided my Mexican workers’ camp. Killed two men, wounded some others—raped two women and then killed one of them.”
“Oh, no.” They both took a seat on the porch stoop. “Who did this?”
“Toby Brown, a guy named Thomas, and those two who came in here with the dead man—Crown is his name—and they call the other one the Kid.”
“My Lord, you’ve been in a another bad scrap. Where are they?”
“I shot Brown. He’ll live. Him and Thomas are in jail. The other two, Crown and the Kid, got away from Reg and me, then stole horses from some cowboys and rode away.”
She hugged him and squeezed her eyes. “No wonder you look so bushed.”
“I’m fine. Came to ask you to the dance at the schoolhouse Saturday night.”
“Cady and I will be there.”
“Good.”
“I bet if you took a bath, I shaved your face, and cut your long hair, you’d feel a hundred percent better. I still have a clean pair of britches and shirt that you left when you went back home.”
“Well, ain’t I a lucky cuss.” He twisted around and hugged her. Kathren could chase away more things in his life bugging him than any woman he’d ever known. Somehow he needed to include her in his life—somehow.
“Is everyone alright at your place?” She stood up. “I’m not rushing you, but we need to heat some water to start this process.”
“Where’s your daughter?”
“Delivering eggs to her grandmother. She’ll be excited that you’re here.”
“Here, let me unsaddle Bridges. He’s been a fair piece. We had to go search this morning for the young woman’s body they’d dumped in the cedars.”
“Sure, put him in the corral.”
“If she’s going to be here—”
“Cady is a big girl, she’ll understand.”
Chet shrugged. “Be easier if you’d marry me.”
With a hard squint at him and her left eye closed, she shook her head. “It ain’t that easy, Chet, but thanks for asking me.”
“Again.”
“Yes, now put that dang horse up.” She was shoving him away with her flat hands on his chest.
“I’m going. But you remember, I asked you.”
“I haven’t forgotten the first time, either. Now go.” She pointed to his horse.
He relented and put Bridges in the corral. Tossed the saddle and pads on the fence and set out for the house. Damn, all he needed to set him off was the closeness to her and she always stirred him up. He removed his hat and combed his too-long locks back with his fingers before he replaced it. Why in hell’s name weren’t they married?
Kathren brought him some cool, sweetened tea from a large hanging bowl. Some pottery from Mexico that sweated and kept liquid cooler than usual. At the first taste he nodded his approval.
Tea finished, he picked up both pails and went to the well to refill them. His muscles complained coming back with the full ones, but they were only faint reminders of his beating. She was stoking the range and smiled. “When did you sleep last?”
“Oh, a little this morning.”
Her hand on his shoulder, she bent over laughing. “Chet Byrnes, you’re a mess. Where were you last night?”
“I told you we had to take that wounded prisoner along with the other one into Mayfield for the sheriff, didn’t I?”
“No.” She was still laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
She shook her head and wiped aside tears with her fingers. “Nothing. Just you and me. I get so I could kill you with me getting so upset about you not being here. Then you come and I fall to pieces.”
He hugged her. “I’m the same way.”
His bath went uneventfully. Then, with him dressed in his clean britches and tented by a sheet, she used the scissors on his long hair and the floor soon was covered in dark brown hair. This completed, Kathren let him look at himself in the small mirror.
“You look alright?” she asked.
“Of course.”
“Shave comes next.”
Chet ran a palm over his bristly cheek. “I need that, too.”
The mowing process completed, with him dressed, she told him to go catch a nap. “I’ll get you up for supper.”
He never argued. Then they kissed and he in his stocking feet went over, laid down on her bed, and soon fell asleep.
He heard her and Cady talking. China plates were talking too as her daughter set the table. His new hair-cut was the first thing he felt when he sat up and tried to escape the dullness of his sleep-filled mind.
“Good, you’re back,” Cady said as he emerged.
“How’s that?” he asked.
She wrinkled her nose and in a stage whisper said, “She’ll be in a better mood.”
“Cady,” her mother said to admonish her.
Cady shrugged. “Well, she’ll be better, anyway.”
Looking at the ceiling for help, Kathren let out her breath. “Now she has help. Oh, heavens.”
With each place setting, Cady arranged the silver-ware in its proper place. “I’m learning how to set the table for company. She says someday I will need it more than knowing how to rope a calf. I want you to show me how to do rope tricks.”
“I’m not the best. but I’ll try.”
“Oh, you will do fine. I saw you one day in Mayfield, making a circle and jumping in and out of it. ”
“Alright.” He wondered if he’d been showing off that day.
“You feeling better?” Kathren asked.
“I feel fine.”
“I’ve got some coffee.”
Chet stood up and stretched. “I’d really like some.”
“Mother said you had more trouble at the ranch.” She delivered him his cup.
“Yes, we did.”
“Cady, he may not want to tell you all that.”
“Mother, he doesn’t have to.”
Kathren raised her eyes again, but he saved her. “Cady, some mean men raided where my farm help lives and shot two men to death, wounded some other people, then they murdered a young mother.”
“Oh, that was terrible.”
“We arrested two of them and two escaped.”
“What will they do to the two captured ones?”
“Try them.” Then he blew on his coffee.
“Will they be hung?”
“I imagine they will be. A jury will hear the case and decide about their guilt or innocence.”
She nodded. “Thank you for telling me all this.”
“Now,” her mother said. “Let’s talk about lighter things. He came over to invite us to the dance Saturday night.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Should we go?”
“Why of course, mother. There is no reason not to go, is there?”
“Oh, there could be some.”
“What would that be?”
“You might have to dance with boys who would step on your toes.”
They all laughed. She put the plate of brown-crusted biscuits on the table, then they all three stood holding each other’s hands as he asked grace. His words slow and soft: “... Lord, we are grateful for the rain, our togetherness here tonight, keep us in the palm of your hand, may this food feed us in Jesus’ name, amen.”
“Did you start saying prayers for a reason?” Cady asked as they sat down. “I never heard you pray before.”
“No, it is alright, Kathren.” He blocked her from stopping her. “I felt so many things in my life centered around the things that I wanted for my friends, family, and myself, I needed to lead them to Him.”
She nodded she understood and they began to eat. Soon they finished the meal, talking about horses, what to plant in the garden as the days grew longer and warmer. At last, Cady went off to bed in her room.
The two of them talked in whispers. Kathren moved over to sit on his lap and her presence warmed him. The faint smell of lilacs in his nose, they settled into each other’s closeness.
“Wouldn’t it be nice to do this a lot of evenings?”
He agreed and kissed her. It wouldn’t only be nice; for him this would be heavenly.