Ambush Valley by Dusty Richards Page B

tough cowboys. They may not like this work. But we will try to keep the ranks full.”
    â€œThat is all you can do.” McKnight stood up. “How about a drink of good whiskey to toast our business.”
    â€œGentlemen, I need to get back to the ranch,” Chet said, and stood up. “Excuse me. You two have a drink. I am going back.” He shook the man’s hand.
    â€œTell her hi from us,” JD said and they laughed at his expense.
    His nephew wouldn’t want to stay in a logging camp for long. But he could establish their presence and then replace him with someone who liked the work. His plans were to find another ranch up on the rim for his nephew to run anyway. Maybe near Hackberry where he’d arrested those shooters the year before.
    On his stout horse, Chet made a great distance and dropped off into the Verde Valley off the rim as the sun set in the west. He’d be at the dance all right the next evening, and he was excited about seeing Marge again. She’d sure become a lot more important in his life. With his sorry luck at matching up and making it work with a woman he hoped that things went better in Arizona than they had in Texas.
    His discovery of Marla’s bloody body still reminded him how she wouldn’t face a divorce from her cheating husband, and marry him despite his urging. If she had she’d probably be alive and be his wife. Then came Kathren and they made plans. He thought that was a heavenly arrangement, but his bloody feud with the Reynolds forced him to move his family out of Texas. And her parents’ health forced her to stay and care for them. Nothing he could do about that. Then the tall lady paid all his bills in an effort to be certain he survived in Arizona. He chuckled to himself riding downhill on the steep military road off the rim under the stars. She had been serious and endeared herself to him after he got over being mad.
    He reached the ranch after midnight and unsaddled his weary horse. It had been a helluva trip. The rig dumped on the horn in the tack shed, he put the pony in the corral. The cow pony, he noted, was tired enough he didn’t lay down and roll.
    He wondered if his bed in the office was empty. He looked at the dark stairs. The coolness of the night wind crossed his face.
    â€œGetting in late aren’t you?”
    â€œIt’s a long ride from up there on the rim.”
    Susie was sitting up under a blanket in a stuffed chair in the dark.
    â€œYou against sleeping?” He stretched his arms over his head and yawned.
    â€œNo. But I wish I’d stayed in Texas.”
    His sore eyelids hurt him. They could talk about it in the morning, but that was not going to work.
    â€œYou’re mad about my decision to give Hoot the mess for the cowboys.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWe have close to two dozen employees.”
    â€œI have always fed the ranch help.”
    â€œDifference. Family and employees. In those days we had little help. We need a separation of us here.”
    â€œI may go back to Texas.”
    â€œSusie, what for? Your family is here. I count on you.”
    â€œNo, you don’t—” She jumped up crying. “All you think about is your damn business.”
    â€œIt’s your ranch too,”
    â€œNo, it is not. Your new lady was here. She was concerned about you getting back. I guess she doesn’t have to worry now.”
    He closed his eyes. “Did she invite you—”
    â€œI am not going anywhere.”
    â€œDid she insult you?”
    â€œNo. She is very proper and polite.”
    He nodded.
    â€œDo you think you will fit in her world?”
    â€œI kinda hope so.” He felt trapped between the two women by her challenge.
    By then she was crying on his chest and he hugged her. “We can work it out. I need you, Susie. Understand, we aren’t in Texas on a family ranch. JD is going to take a crew up there and haul logs to the mill. He