Ambush Valley Read Online Free Page B

will get on fine.”
    â€œI’m looking forward to meeting her.”
    â€œI better go find Tom. I’m certain that there are things we need to fix.”
    â€œChet Byrnes.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThanks for hiring Tom. We love this ranch and with the house it will be even better.”
    â€œGood.” He went and looked for his foreman.
    They met and discussed things. Tom planned to go look at some cows for sale. He had a good plan to ship some of their older cows and replace them with better ones.
    After lunch, Chet saddled a big stout horse and rode off to Preskit. He planned to get a haircut along with all else, but forgot it. He made good time completing his other business and in late afternoon, he reined up at Marge’s ranch gate. Drew a deep breath and turned Brother , his renamed horse, down the lane.
    He didn’t see anyone exercising horses, so he stopped at the house, hitched his horse, and went through the yard gate with the Scotch Collies barking excitedly at him.
    â€œOh my God—” Knuckles on her mouth, she looked pale enough to faint. Marge stopped halfway out of the open door. “You’ve come back from Texas.”
    â€œLike an old tomcat. It’s me. Are you all right?”
    â€œNo. I about fainted. I don’t usually do that. Oh, Chet it is so good to see you.” She fell in his arms and they kissed. And kissed. “I’m sorry, but it shocked me so much to see you on my porch, I wondered if I was dreaming it all.”
    â€œIt’s me all right. I knew I needed to stop. I sure never aimed to shock you half to death.”
    â€œOh, come in and sit on the couch and tell me all about Texas.”
    He put his hat on the rack and settled next to her on the sofa. “Texas is still there. I don’t own a shred of it. My family is about a day or so east of Camp Verde. I sent some of the boys to go meet them tomorrow.”
    â€œHow—how did you come?”
    â€œFirst six hundred miles we made in train cars. Took three days . . .” He had to take a moment to kiss her again and then he went on with his tale. When he finished, she jumped up.
    â€œMy new housekeeper must have supper about ready.”
    â€œNew one?”
    â€œYes. My long-term friend had to go to Tucson and take care of her mother down there.”
    A Mexican woman came in the room. “ Señora , is your friend here going to eat with us?”
    â€œYes,” she said, then turned to him. “Dad’s over in California on business. All my men are out chasing some horses that were turned out by someone.”
    â€œTrouble?” he asked.
    â€œI hope not. With my father gone—why I hope the gate simply came open and someone did not steal them.”
    â€œIf they did let me know. We can find them.”
    She smiled. “We better go eat. Monica, this is my good friend Chet Byrnes. He sold his holdings in Texas and has bought the Quarter Circle Z ranch at Camp Verde.”
    â€œSo nice to meet you, señor .”
    â€œYes ma’am.”
    â€œHis entire family has been on the road moving here.”
    â€œOh, how far is that?”
    â€œClose to twelve hundred miles by my guess.”
    â€œOh, did anyone die on such a long trip?”
    â€œNo, we only lost one horse.”
    He seated Marge and she made him sit in the head chair. When Monica left the room he kissed her again. They both laughed. Neither of them could take their eyes off each other. But somehow they managed to eat and after Monica cleared the table, they were still looking at each other.
    Marge made certain they were alone before she said, “You must certainly stay the night.”
    A horse came in on the run down the lane in the bloody sundown.
    She rose. “I wonder what’s wrong?”
    A short man under a sombrero came on the run. “ Señora , the rustlers shot Logan and Buck. I came for help. What should I do?”
    â€œThey