Valley of Bones

by Dusty Richards

  Letter two:

  Phil,

  The money is enclosed to cover your expenses to get to Prescott. His ranch is about five miles east. I would not suggest you approach that area. It is well guarded. He also goes often to this place they now call Flagstaff where he has a stage line and telegraph wire. I cannot tell you often enough but haste is needed. You know your business. Get him buried.

  Frank

  “What do we do with him?”

  “Pay someone to bury him.”

  “Damn, don’t ever go in anywhere we have not checked first,” Miguel said as Chet paid a man two dollars to bury the gunman.

  “I won’t. Fred, go buy two dollars’ worth of hard candy for the kids. That was all I was going in there for.”

  “I’ll get it.”

  “Gather the horses. I want to get to the headquarters. That was crazy.” He stepped into the saddle and took the reins of Fred’s mount. When he came out, he put the large sack in Chet’s saddlebags, took his reins, and they left.

  “Is there an organization down there after you?”

  “I am going to have to figure it out. I think he was shocked to see me. And in the wild rush I was lucky to shoot him before he shot me. I’d thought an assassin would be more discreet than that. He was like those three that came out of the alley and tried to gun us down.”

  “We need to go down there and dig them out. I can go back in rags and find them.”

  “We may need to do that before this is over.”

  “Well, they are not too smart sending only one guy to kill you.”

  “Crooks are not known for being smart, Fred.”

  * * *

  They rode into the stage line headquarters a few hours later. Val shouted to them and, with little Rocky beside her, they came to greet them.

  “How are you, big man?” Chet stepped down and hauled him in the air. The boy really was getting big.

  “I am so glad you came” Rocky said. “I have my pony. He is real good, too.”

  “Chief Manuelito sent him to Rocky,” Val said. “He is a dandy.”

  “I’ll see you ride him, Rocky. Where is Cole?”

  “Anything wrong?” Val asked.

  “Things are going on underfoot. I need to talk them over with Cole.”

  “He’s in the main office.”

  “I can find him. Love you.” He kissed her forehead. That made her smile.

  “How is Liz?” she asked.

  “She sends her love.” He headed for the office building.

  In the doorway, his tall buddy shook his hand. “What’s up?”

  “It is private. We need to talk.”

  “My office has no ears.” He showed Chet into his office. They sat.

  “This is highly secret. The railroad wants to buy the telegraph line so they don’t have to build one of their own, I guess. Hannagen wrote they are willing to pay lots for it.”

  “What does he want to do?”

  “If we get enough money, sell it of course. I came up here to tell you if they offer you a big job to take it.”

  “I don’t know if I want a job with someone looking over my shoulder like I expect they’d have for me.”

  “If I sell my share you are entitled to a portion of it.”

  “Chet, I don’t need a desk. I’d come back and ride with you or look after a ranch.”

  “You might rise to vice president working for them.”

  “I have enjoyed this job once we got it settled down, but I’d take a horse under me any day. Money is not all of it. What about the stage line?”

  “The stage line dies when the train tracks go through. I suggested we sell it to them as well. If we keep it we will have to have an auction so if we can make the railroad take it, we will get back our full investment of the stage line.”

  “Whew. I knew that would come someday. It has lots of my sweat and blood in it.”

  “We can get that out of the stage line, too.”

  “Hey, the inevitable was coming. They are crossing western New Mexico now with tracks.”

  Chet stood up and stretched. “We can talk more after I hear from Hannagen.”

  The pine trees around the headquarters made for a nice picture from the window. Chet turned back. “Oh, and I have sold the Oracle Ranch to some investors.”

  “Get a good price?” Cole frowned as if taken aback by the news.

  “Three hundred fifty thousand dollars.”

  “Whew. Do you even have a hundred thousand in it?”

  “No. There are lots of things we still need to fix for the sale, but it is a good price.”

  “Everyone is talking about the Three V’s auction. They say it may bring half a million dollars.”

  “No telling. My bunch appraised it. Spencer said not to buy it, then changed his mind. It needs lots of things. Miguel and Raphael rode through and say as of now half the cows are not bred back. The others all had comments on the land and buildings.”

  “That would hurt, about the cows.”

  “I had two investors Hannagen sent to me about the Three V’s that are now taking the Oracle Ranch. With the Three V’s, the railroad will be over three years getting here. Where could they sell their cattle?”

  “Chet Byrnes, I have to say you have gotten some big things done since that first drive we made to Gallup.”

  “On the way here, an assassin tried to shoot me down on Pine Flats today. I never saw him before. We were in a crowd at the store entrance.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I gave a guy two bucks to bury him. The gunman was connected to a guy named Frank in Tombstone.”

  “Never heard of him.”

  “I bet no one else has, either. But I have his handwriting which may be worth something.”

  “Hey, let’s go eat supper. Val and Rocky will be there. Who came with you?”

  “Fred and Miguel. Spencer and Jesus are waiting for the cattle I bought for the Oracle Ranch, and the cattle go with the deal. They are great cross cows with calves that I bought to make money. The men that bought the ranch will make money and, if they have a good manager running their outfit, they will have real headquarters to come visit in the winter.”

  Cole locked the office, and they went to the building where they fed the workers.

  Rocky came to meet them and hung on to both of their hands to take them to the table. “Here she is.”

  “You get all your business done?” Val asked.

  “Most of it,” Cole said and waved Chet’s men to come over and sit with them.

  “Good. Now tell me more about Liz.”

  “Doing well. She and Lisa have a dozen ranch kids in the Cherry School. They coach them when they come home so they understand better.”

  “Lisa is doing Monica’s job?”

  “Don’t worry about her, Val,” Miguel said. “My wife loves it all. She has lots of energy. And you can bet she learns lots of things every day.”

  “Wish my husband thought that about me.”

  Cole shook his head at her. They all laughed.

  Chet said, “Lisa is a real force at the house.”

  “Fred, how about you?”

  “My wife’s name is Josey. She supports Lisa.”

  “Oh. New?”

  Fred agreed. “Pretty new. A week, huh?”

  Chet nodded. “Yes. Fred and Josey were reunited and married last week.”

  “Welcome to the ranch,” Val said. “Chet saved my life and this tall cowboy married me. Then Chet and Liz lent me Rocky to raise. I am the luckiest woman on this earth.”

  “I was on my own for two years in the alleys of Prescott. I am even luckier being here and Josey is with me now.”

  She reached over and squeezed his hand. “God bless you and Josey, too.”

  “Thank you, ma’am. I have a lot to learn, and I am learning. Miguel and I watch for Chet the best we can. We had an incident today. A man tried to shoot Chet. Chet had him buried.”

  “I am glad you two ride
with him. Cole did it for years and he learned how to run a business doing it.”

  “I know about that. I hope I can follow in his footsteps.”

  “You will. You will. I am anxious to meet your wife.”

  “You will.”

  Chet sent a telegram to Hannagen that he was in Flagstaff, checking on things if he needed him.

  When he awoke there was one waiting for him at the desk.

  CHET. I AGREE ABOUT THE STAGE BUSINESS. IT IS IN THE DEAL. THEY ARE GETTING MORE SERIOUS. YOU MAY NEED TO AGREE BY WIRE. HANNAGEN.

  “Hannagen says they are serious, which means he may think they are at the peak price. The stage business is in there, too.”

  “How much would that be?” Cole asked outside the tent.

  “He has the cost there. I hope he doubles it.”

  Cole grabbed him. “So do I.”

  They went in to join the rest.

  “Hey Rock, I want to see that horse when you get through eating.”

  “Yes, sir. He’s good.”

  Chet smiled. What a shame. He might have done different had he known Kathrin carried him when he left Texas. But he had to get his family out of there. If he stayed, it would only be a short time until he’d bury more kinfolk or they murdered him. Was that assassin at Pine Flats hired by the Reynolds family? Had they brought the feud to Arizona? He’d been convinced over the years that he was far enough away in Arizona to be beyond their grasp. Who else wanted him dead? Under the shingle roof of the building he felt a chill go up his spine. Goose bumps ran up the back of his arms.

  “You all right, Chet?” Cole asked him.

  “Yes, but I am concerned. I may know my enemy.”

  “Your eggs will get cold.”

  “I know. But I believe that the same family I left in Texas has come out here to destroy me.”

  He began eating. “They have a killer in Tombstone. I need to find that sidewinder.”

  “That the Reynolds family?” Cole asked.

  “Yes. I really believe they have a guy hiring these killers. And I will find him and end his existence.”

  “How can I help?”

  “Hold the telegraph and stage together until it is settled. I will find a way to ferret him out.”

  Cole nodded. “What will you do next?”

  “Tell all my people to be on alert. They may not know there is any danger, but I do. They are ruthless.”

  “Can I help you write the letters?” Val asked.

  “I would appreciate that.”

  “What can we do?” Fred asked.

  “We will need to find this killer that is hiring these slayers. I think he’s hiding in Tombstone.”

  “I can find him if he’s there,” Fred said.

  “I believe you can. Let us get some things settled here, then we will move on down there and find him.”

  Everyone agreed. He and Val sent letters warning everyone to be on guard. That he and his men were looking for the source but two attempts on Chet’s life made him concerned that it was a planned program and they could be in harm’s way. The letters told them to double their defenses and report any act against any of them. Chet promised to find the killers and stop them, but reminded them to be prepared and alert. Chet signed all the letters and thanked Val for helping him.

  A wire from Hannagen came that evening.

  I HAVE SOLD THE TELEGRAPH AND THE STAGE LINE FOR THREE POINT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS. ONE POINT FIVE IS YOURS. YOU BUILT IT AND IT NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF YOU AND YOUR COWBOYS HADN’T MET ME AT YOUR SISTER’S HOUSE. TELL HER HELLO AND THANKS. YOU DID THE IMPOSSIBLE EVEN WITH MY OWN MEN WORKING AGAINST YOU. IF YOU EVER NEED HELP CALL ON ME. HANNAGEN.

  “What next?” Cole said.

  Liz had sent him a telegram.

  I HOPE YOU GOT HANNAGEN’S WIRE. A MARVELOUS THING. I KNOW WHY YOU RAN UP THERE AND YOU HUG THEM FOR ME. TELL THEM LISA AND JOSEY ARE EXCITED FOR US, TOO.

  He sent her one back.

  GET TWO MEN TO BRING YOU UP TO THE RIM. WE WILL MEET YOU AND GO TO GALLUP AND CELEBRATE WITH HIM. WIRE ME BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

  In no time she wired a response:

  I WILL BE ON THE RIM TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

  He answered that he would be there waiting.

  Fred drove a company buckboard and they took the horses and gear, planning to meet her and camp overnight on the rim. All the way, Chet watched the forest for any sign of ambush. The Pine Flat incident had him more cautious than usual. He hated having to be that way, but that single assassin, no matter how clumsy he had been, had shattered his peace for his everyday safety and concern for his men as well. The next guy those people hired might be a really clever killer. Damn. He needed to find the source and this trip to Gallup would just be another chance for them to strike except, he hoped, they might not be able to trace that he was going there.

  Here he was with more money than he dreamed about ever having and someone wanted him dead. That was life. He could recall, perfectly, when those three Reynoldses had him pinned down and he was on his belly under those pungent cedar grove boughs with his sweaty hands on his Winchester stock figuring out how to kill them. That happened after he went back to close out the Texas deal. A cold wind blew off the Arctic that day. He still had a ranch deal out there he would need to sort out, and here he was pinned down by three crazy killers bent on killing him. But in the end, one by one, he killed them, found his horse, and rode on home. He had come way too close to death for him to be able to forget that cold day. His nose filled with the smell of cedar sap.

  He sure didn’t need to get into any traps like that again. They reached the campsite on the edge of the Mongollon Rim and set up camp.

  “Can I ask what Cole will do next?” Fred said when they sat down on a log to wait.

  “Oh, you still have a job. Cole will get an opportunity to work for them or work for us.”

  “He say what he’d do?”

  “No. But he knows I have work for him if he doesn’t like the railroad’s offer. That’s up to him.”

  “I wasn’t being nosy.”

  “Ask away. That’s how you learn things.”

  “I guess being last man hired, you might not need me if he came back.”

  “Not to worry. You are part of us like Miguel, Jesus, and Spencer. It takes all of us to handle things and keep me out of jams.”

  Miguel laughed. “I know how Fred feels. When I was last man hired, I always worried that you would send me back to be a vaquero.”

  “Well, where I came from nothing is permanent. You live hour by hour and under a threat of another bully wanting whatever you have.”

  “Did you have any trouble bringing Josey to the ranch?”

  “No. But I wore my gun. I sure didn’t want to use it but I figured I might have to in order to get her out of there.”

  “I bet you did.”

  “Guys, she hoped, but really didn’t believe I’d come back. She could’ve found a protector.” He shook his head. “She didn’t, but she’d about given up, knowing she and our baby would need help. At first I had to convince her I came as quick as I could, that I found a place for us. That’s when she told me she was having a baby, asked me if I wanted out? It was touch and go. I hated I didn’t come back sooner but I was too insecure to ask to leave and find her. She wouldn’t go into the Palace to eat with me that first day. We ate that meal in the alley, then we woke up a preacher and told him we had to get married. He married us and we got a room in the hotel. She’d never slept in a hotel in her life. Well, we didn’t sleep much anyhow.”

  Chet and Miguel shared a nod and smiled over his honesty.

  “I bought her some dresses and brought her out to the ranch. She couldn’t believe I had a bank account, a saddle, and horse of my own. She never wanted to go into the big house that first day. Now Liz and Lisa have tuned her up to living there.”

  “Tuned her up?” Miguel asked.

  “Aw, that’s what you do to a guitar to get it to play.”

  B
oth men laughed.

  “Fred, we are proud of you and Josey. Now maybe you can have a real life of your own like Miguel and I have.”

  “Oh Chet, we know we will, and that is why I asked about Cole’s next move.”

  “Cole Emerson, if he returns, will run a ranch or a business. He was a great saddle partner, but an even greater supervisor.”

  Liz and three ranch hands arrived at sundown. They were heavily armed and were glad to be there. He helped her down off the buckboard and kissed her.

  “Have any trouble?” he asked her.

  “With my army that Raphael sent along—no.”

  “Good. We have a nice roast of elk meat. Let’s eat.”

  Handshaking went around, then hands were washed in a pail, then dried on a towel Fred provided.

  Liz stopped them. “Chet, say a blessing for the safe trip and this food you three have prepared for us to share.”

  “Our Heavenly Father, bless this fine food Miguel and Fred cooked up for us. Thank you for delivering my wife Elizabeth here safely through the hands of these grand vaqueros who join us. Be in our lives tomorrow as they ride home and we continue our journey to Gallup. Guide and protect all our family on the scattered ranches and keep us in the palm of your hand as we go through life. Amen.”

  They made the sign of a cross and nodded approval of his prayer.

  “All fine at home?” Chet asked.

  “Oh yes. Lisa and Josey sent their best to you all as did your foreman before we left. Everyone is wondering what comes next in their lives,” Liz answered.

  “Ranching as usual,” Fred said. “The Three V’s will be on sale when we get back. Who knows who will buy it? I may bid some on it, but it is rundown and needs much attention. Someone inexperienced may bid more, then let them have it.”

  They all laughed. Damn, it was great to have Liz here and everyone laughing again. He needed to restore that atmosphere. He had been far too somber. They had plenty of space to enjoy all this good fortune that has fallen on them.