Between Hell and Texas (34 page)

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Authors: Dusty Richards

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“That's the road I must have taken way back at the start of my life.”

Then she buried her face on his shoulder. He could feel her tears spilling out on his bare skin. Damn, where to next?

Chapter 35

Chet rode back home the next evening. Though they never broached the subject, he and she both knew their situations. There was no way she could up and move to Arizona. Her father's health was no better. Her mother probably wouldn't leave, either. But kicking the bay horse into a lope, he knew all too well the answer. No.

Susie had kept a plate of supper for him when he arrived. He agreed to be right there, and put his horse up. Then he hurried to the back porch and washed up. May was washing dishes.

She looked red-eyed from crying. At the sight of him, she burst out bawling. He hugged her to him to try and stem the sorrow.

“Damn it. I tried, honey.”

“I don't blame you, Chet. I know all you did. It was just so sad. I'm sorry I argued with him. I hate that worst of all.” May wiped her face on her dry forearm and sniffed big time.

“Hey, he'd understood. He grew up a lot out there riding with those big guys. Thought he was one of them. Roped a bull one time and saved another hand's life. He was sure enough one of them. They cried, too.”

“Oh, if I only could take back my stubbornness.”

“You can't lick up spilled milk, May. He's in a better place.”

“What about you and Kathren?” Susie asked.

“Madly in love. Butâ” He shrugged his shoulders at her.

“But what?”

Depressed over the matter, he shook his head. “It simply won't work. She can't leave and I have to.”

“Eat,” May said, indicating his food.

“That's stupid.” Susie said.

“I agree, but I've cut that trail and now the two of us will have to live with it.”

Then he had two crying women to hug.
Oh, my God.

Next day, Chet returned the rented horse to Mason. Reg and Utah had left the ranch before sunup to check on some cattle they'd seen the day before that didn't belong on their land. He wondered if Reg was avoiding him, and where was Juanita? Reg wanted toâor was supposed toâmarry when he got back. Chet didn't bother to ask anyone. Some things were better left unasked than to stir up a hornet's nest.

He left the horse at the livery, paid his bill and went to eat lunch across the street. The usual noontime crowd was in the room, and he found an empty stool. Things were buzzing in the place.

A rancher named Dailey from Ash Creek stopped and asked if he'd found a place out west.

Chet nodded. “Northern Arizona on the Verde River. Some irrigated land and lots of range.”

“What's that near?”

“Preskit. It's Prescott on the map, but the locals call it that.”

“Land cheap out there?”

“They ain't giving it away.”

The man laughed, then wished him good luck and went off to sit at a table.

What did you tell men like him? That he was moving to the Garden of Eden. There wasn't such a place in the west that he knew about. Lots and lots of rough country. Drier than the hill country. It at times was dry enoughâmaybe too dry. Chet left the cafÃ© and mounted the ranch horse for the ride home.

Late afternoon he came up the valley, and met Reg riding to meet him.

“Thought we should palaver some before you got home,” the dark, tanned-faced nephew began. I'm going to marry Juanita tomorrow. Mom ain't going, she's so damn mad. But I don't have to please her.”

“What then?”

“Well, Henny offered me his place. I reckon we'll settle down over there when you get this place sold.”

“They're getting up in years and have no one to inherit it. They wanted someone who would tend them, I guess, in their old age.”

“That's the deal. He's got a lawyer drawing up the papers right now. You weren't here and we had no time to talk.” Reg shook his head as if to clear it.

“Reg, remember the men shooting at me will shoot at you with us gone.”

“I'm going to watch my back.”

“Just remember now, there are several of us they can choose to shoot. All of us gone, you will be a single target.”

“It sure looked like a good chance for me to have my own outfit.”

“I won't stop you. What time is the wedding?”

“Ten
AM
. Saint Peter's Catholic Church.

“I'll be there.”

“Thanks, I knew you'd understand.” ”Reg, you ever need me, you know where I'll be.”

“And I will.”

“What did you and Utah learn?”

“Bunch of cattle wandered in from the south. We sent them toward home.”

Whose were they? Chet wondered.

They rode on to the house. It was supper time. After the meal, he caught Louise headed for her quarters and acting huffy. He stopped her.

“You can cut the being mad at me. By damn, your son is getting married in the morning and after breakfast you have the dress that you want to wear to the wedding on. I'm taking you over there. You aren't cutting that boy off like that if I have to tan your hide with a rope.”

“Who do you think you are?” She shook her finger in his face. “Why, that little slut coaxed him in her bed.”

“Louise, that ain't none of your damn business. That's their personal business. Now I rode to hell and back for you. I'm calling my card in.”

She reared up like a fat toad. Then she deflated herself. “Alright. Alright. You saved my life. I'll go with you.” Then, furiously shaking her head, she said, “I don't have to like her.”

“But you will be pleasant.”

“Alright.”

That settled, he rode off to see Kathren. There had to be something bright in his life. In Mayfield he stopped and went in to Casey's bar and had a beer. He'd forgotten the ice would have run out by this time, and the tepid beer hardly cut his thirst. After telling Casey part of the story about Arizona, he went over and talked to Grossman at the store.

“I heard you were back and that young boy was murdered. How did such a thing like this happen?”

“You recall those three guys you warned me about? That Kid and a guy called Crown. There was one more named something. Kathren shot him. Well, those two were in the outlaw gang that held up the Black Canyon Stageâthey kidnapped and killed him.”

“Where are they at?”

“In unmarked graves.”

“Good enough for that kind. What do you need?”

“A nice gift for a wedding.”

“Does she have a dutch oven?”

“That sounds wonderful.”

“You don't have one, you need one, right?” The man went to get him one.

“Right.”

Chet decided after he made the purchase that he'd wait and see Kathren later. He felt sick about what would be the eventual outcome of their affair. Maybe he should send the family out there and stay here.

No, they'd need him out there as well. A no-win situation, and nothing would change it.

Back at the ranch after dark, Chet stowed the present in the buckboard. Someone had put a second set of seats on the rig. Susie must be going as well. The oven in under the back row, he rode on to the corral and put up his horse.

At breakfast, he learned that May and Susie were going with him and Louise. Them all loaded up in the rig, he slipped into the seat beside Louise, who was well dressed for the occasion.

“Who is the dutch oven back here for, the newlyweds?” May asked.

He was driving the dun team and nodded. “It's Louise's gift for the two of them.”

“Why I ...”

“Yes, you did. You forgot.” He clucked to speed up the team.

Louise slumped in the front seat, obviously pouting to herself. No doubt she was scheming on how to kill him. No matter. She'd better act nice or Chet would thrash her. He hoped all the church business might bring her around to acting civilized.

At the last moment, when he stopped in front of the church's front doors, Louise began sniffling. Bawling women were not his high card, but her crying was. He tied off the horses and went around to help them all down. He hugged her shoulder and whispered. “I knew this service would get to you. You aren't as hard-boiled as you act sometimes. Wait, I have to get the oven. They'll need it.”

Susie winked at him when he rejoined them with the large oven. “It will cook lots of frijoles,” he said.

“What do you do when you go in a Catholic church?” Louise asked him under her breath.

“If you're a man, take off your hat.”

“No, I mean ... never mind, I won't get it right.”

They found seats near the front and he let them file into the pew, then took his place beside them.

A man came and whispered in Spanish, asking if that oven he brought in was a gift for the couple. “Oh,
sÃ
, it is a gift from his
mamacita
.”

“Oh, I will put it with their other presents in the hall next door.”

“Certainly.”

Then he reached past Chet and shook Louise's hand. “My name is Carlos and I am so glad to have that fine boy in my family now.”

She stammered something and nodded. “Me, ah, too.”

Chet wanted to laugh. The man had meant what he said and she did not know how to take it.

The wedding went smoothly and the two made a handsome couple. The tall cowboy in his new black suit and she in a snow-white gown exchanged their vows before the rail, since he was not Catholic. Then, throwing streamers and colored-paper snow on them, everyone went to the hall next door. The food was beans, barbequed something, and flour tortillas to use for plates and silverware.

The music was lively, and the new couple danced around the room. Chet wished that Kathren was there. Then he watched Carlos invite Louise to dance with him, and she accepted.

“That's her father,” Susie said. “His wife died a few years ago.”

The man swept her away. One thing he could do was dance, and one way to her hard heart was a man who could dance well. They were locked up hopelessly into doing every dance. Then, when they were ready for the couple to open the presents, she stood beside him. Carlos Romano and Louise Byrnes, obviously out of breath. But she was not uneasy or out of place. Damn shame he didn't know about this man and how he could change his crappy aunt so easily.

“How did you know about him?” Susie asked in his ear.

“I didn't. I got lucky.”

She shook her head. “I believe he has impressed her.”

“Damned if I don't agree.”

Since Chet and Kathren had talked about everything during their reunion but the dance, after the wedding he rode over to the schoolhouse, in case she had gone there. He left his horse hitched on a neighbor's picket line. They had not seen her. Walking under the tall trees that shaded the stars, he was beginning to regret coming here. No sign of her.

Then he heard a rustling in the leaves behind him, and carrying her hem high, Kathren came on the run. Out of breath, she drew in some air.

“I thoughtâ”

“No, I thoughtâ”

They both laughed and hugged one another. He rocked her back and forth in his arms. What a heavenly deal. “It don't matter one little bit. You're here and so am I.”

“Oh, Chet, I had to see you.”

“I don't have a wagon or my outfit. Reg and Juanita were married today.”

“That's the girl who worked for your sister?”

“Yes, the pretty girl.”

“I heard his mother was very upset.”

He wrinkled his nose. “Not anymore. She danced with his father all afternoon at the reception.”

“She did?”

“Never mind Louise. What do you want to do?”

She looked around to be certain they were alone. Then she stood on her toes and whispered, “Did you bring your bedroll?”

“Yes.”

“Good, we can dance a few times, then we can go get lost.”

“What shall we eat?”