Arizona Territory by Dusty Richards

the big horses.”
    â€œJesus will get you a good horse in the morning. Should I send a buckboard over to bring your father back to a doctor?”
    The youth shook his head. “We have good neighbors. I am certain they would bring him.”
    â€œThen it’s settled. Before dawn, we ride out. Bring a tent.”
    She shook her head. “Not for me.”
    Jesus returned Chet’s nod, that he would handle it.
    â€œSee you all early in the morning. Brant, Jesus will find you a bunk. Get lots of sleep.”
    In bed later, she snuggled in his arms. “Thank you for taking me along. I won’t slow you down.”
    â€œNot a matter of that. I may not want to get out of a warm bedroll with you.”
    â€œOh, you silly guy. I am very excited. Thanks. You won’t regret me being along.”
    â€œYou may have to hold the horses for us.”
    â€œI can do that, too.”
    He kissed her. Despite some misgivings, he felt proud she wanted to go with him. That way he wouldn’t miss her.

C HAPTER 9
    Under the early morning stars, his men assembled the pack train. The breath of humans and horses came in clouds of vapor. Lea had fed them breakfast and they were on the way shortly. When they left, the sun still had not peaked over the mountains in the east. Liz wore a large-brimmed black hat Jesus found that fit her. She looked enough like a Mexican teenage boy to suit Chet.
    Chet and Liz rode his strawberry roans and left in a trot. Cole had a spunky horse that bucked some, so he took the lead for Camp Verde Village. After passing through town, they began to climb the face of the north side. In a short while, they were in the pines, and Liz twisted in her saddle to look down at the great expanse of the river’s route far beneath them.
    Mid-morning, they took a short break. Jesus handed around some fried apple pies Lea made for the trip, and they washed them down with canteen water. Chet put Liz back on Baldy with a wink and they rode on. Mid-afternoon, with him pushing, they reached the Bates ranch. A woman in her thirties, wearing a black wool coat over a housedress, came out on the porch to greet them.
    â€œYou must be Chet Byrnes?”
    â€œYes, Mrs. Bates.”
    â€œYou sure got back here fast.”
    â€œHow is your husband?”
    â€œHe’s making it.”
    â€œDoes he need to go to a doctor?”
    She turned up her hands.
    â€œThis is my wife, Liz.”
    â€œNice to meet you, Mrs. Byrnes.”
    â€œYour name is?” Liz asked as they went on the porch.
    â€œOh, I’m sorry. I’m Doris.”
    She patted her arm. “Nice to meet you. May I see him, too?”
    â€œCertainly. I sure hated to bother your husband, but I knew if he came there was a good chance he’d get those rustlers and our horses back.”
    â€œHe’s good at that,” Liz said.
    â€œI knew that. Andy, this is Byrnes’s wife, Liz,” Doris said to her husband.
    The pale-faced man sitting up with pillows nodded. “Sure hated to call on you two, but I just couldn’t ride far after them.”
    â€œI want your wife to take you to a doctor in Camp Verde. Who can we get to haul you there?”
    Doris spoke up. “The Van Horns will take him.”
    â€œSend Brant to get them. I want all the information you have on these rustlers,” Chet said to the pair.
    â€œWhen they rode in here, I figured they were on hard luck. Three good old boys riding the chuck line, I thought.” Pain caught him and he winced. “Anyway, Doris fed them and then they pulled a gun to rob us. Made me mad and I ran for my .44.”
    She made a face. “They gunned him down.”
    â€œYou have any names?”
    â€œCurly, Fan, and Pick.” She shook her head. “Last name Smith.”
    Chet nodded. “Describe them for me.”
    â€œLong hair, whiskers. Curly had reddish hair, stood about five foot six inches. Fan had gray hair. I don’t