Arizona Territory by Dusty Richards Page B

year?”
    â€œOver seven thousand head. Of course, some we ship are ours, but we’ve helped the small ranchers around the area by buying from them.”
    â€œThat is a big business. I am impressed.”
    â€œTell her about waiting for your money,” Cole said.
    â€œWe get a paper from the U.S. Government at delivery. It takes up to six months to collect on that amount.”
    â€œOh, so you have to wait?”
    â€œYes. That really worried me. Any time that much money is waiting and the U.S. Government is having so many financial problems, you can sure worry when they will pay you. But we’re collecting on them now.”
    â€œBut selling that many cattle is big business.”
    â€œI realize that, too, but we need to manage it well.”
    â€œOh, yes, but I see why you can buy these homesteads, too.”
    â€œDeeded land belongs to you. Most are dry range homesteads and they have six hundred forty acres.”
    â€œPeople come here to scratch out a living, huh?”
    Chet shook his head. “What can they sell to make a living?”
    â€œI see. Thanks. I know you may not be having fun now, but all this ranch building pleases you.”
    â€œDamn near as much as having you along.”
    She shook her head at him. “He has supper ready, so let’s eat. Is it still snowing outside?”
    â€œLike a goose picking,” Cole said.
    â€œI figured so. Will we lose them?” she asked.
    Chet shook his head. “No, we don’t lose rustlers.”
    They set out again the next morning. The clouds still shed flakes and the cold wind threatened to burn the skin on their faces. Chet had found a kerchief for Liz to wear over her face and winked at his Mexican bandit. “It seldom gets worse than this.”
    â€œDon’t worry. I am fine. I am with you.”
    He shook his head. “Helluva place to be.”
    By evening, they were on the Marcy Road and he made a decision to ride to the Windmill Ranch. “Let’s go see Susie and warm up.”
    No one argued with him. Long past sundown, they arrived at the ranch and Sarge came out to see who it was.
    â€œSarge, meet Liz. Boys, put the horses up in a shed. We can unload them later.”
    â€œWhat are you all doing out here?” Sarge asked.
    â€œTell you in the house. We need to thaw her out.”
    The ranch crew quickly came and took over the horses.
    Chet stomped his snowy boots off, with Susie saying, “Get in here.”
    â€œIt won’t take much pleading to get us to do that,” Chet said.
    â€œWhatever are you up here for?”
    â€œHorse rustlers. They shot a rancher down on the rim, robbed him, and took all his horses.”
    â€œHow long have you been out in this weather?” Sarge asked, taking their coats.
    â€œA couple of days. We stayed in a soddy last night over east. Lucky it had firewood.”
    â€œThat was the Colby place. It’s yours. We had firewood there in case we ever got caught over there.”
    â€œWe got caught. Liz, you thawing out alright?”
    â€œI am fine. Thank you so much.”
    â€œShe’s damn sure a trooper. Said we couldn’t leave without her.”
    â€œWell, you all are here and warm anyway. Did you lose their tracks?” Susie asked.
    â€œWe didn’t think so. They were probably headed for Horse Head Crossing.”
    â€œThe mail delivery for Preskitt will stop here tomorrow. If he’s seen them on the road, he’ll recall them.”
    â€œGood, we may stay a while till things thaw out.”
    â€œFine with me,” Cole said, and Jesus nodded in agreement.
    â€œWhatever we have to do,” Liz said, and they all laughed. “I wanted to go along and it was cold, but you were cold, too. It didn’t kill me, and I got to see your fine house, Susie.”
    â€œThank you. Me having female company is unusual. But it’s good to have you here. We better fix some food.”
    â€œI