Brothers in Blood by Dusty Richards Page A

passed many recently planted citrus orchards. Large herds of sheep brought back from the mountains for the winter grazed fields of green barley and alfalfa.
    They crossed a shallow river, came out the other side, and rode south. By evening, they stopped at a farm that the outlaws’ tracks passed. Chet wanted to buy some good hay for their horses. The farmer, Al Holmes, came out, introduced himself, and looked them over.
    â€œYou a lawman?”
    â€œYes. Chet Byrnes. We’re trailing some outlaws that passed by here earlier.”
    Holmes nodded. “They had some loose horses, too.”
    â€œThey stole them. We’ve been tracking them for two days. Our horses could use some good feed.”
    His wife, a short woman, joined them. “I’m Nell. Al, you can show them where to put their horses and I’ll get these men something to eat.”
    â€œThank you, ma’am. This is Jesus and Cole, and my name is Chet.”
    â€œYou all are lawmen?” she asked.
    â€œYes, we are.”
    â€œMy, my. I’d better get inside and fix you something to eat.” She disappeared inside the house.
    Her husband showed them a corral to use and told them to store their gear in his harness shed. The horses were forked some of his fine hay. Soon, they had their chores completed and were talking with him about Chet’s operation up north.
    â€œYou’re a big rancher. How can you do all this lawman work?”
    â€œYou don’t understand,” Cole said. “Chet’s the only one ready to enforce the law up there. They made him a US Marshal because of his efforts.”
    â€œI’d heard something about him bringing in a man who held a Prescott man in Utah for ransom?”
    â€œThat’s us.”
    â€œWell, I’m honored you stopped here tonight.”
    â€œWhat time did those men pass by here?” Chet asked.
    â€œOh, about three hours ago.”
    â€œThen they aren’t too far away from here.”
    â€œWhen will you arrest them?”
    â€œWhen we catch up with them. Maybe tomorrow or the next day. We’re on their track now, but they don’t know that and they can get lazy.”
    â€œHow can you three be so calm?”
    Chet shrugged. “Just another job we have to do.”
    Just then, the farmer’s wife told them the food was ready and to come to the kitchen. She directed them to seats. “All of you sit down. This is just a quick meal I made up so you could eat. Sorry, I’d of done more, but I knew you must be hungry. It isn’t much.”
    â€œLooks good to us,” Cole said, “we didn’t have to fix it.”
    â€œThis’ll be just fine,” Chet added. “It looks good. We thank you for it.”
    After they were all settled and enjoying the food, she asked, “Marshal, do you live in Prescott?”
    â€œI’m just Chet, ma’am. We live on a ranch east of there. It’s my wife’s place.”
    â€œOh, what’s her name?”
    â€œHer name is Marge, and we’ve been married about a year.”
    â€œIs this your first marriage?” she asked.
    â€œYes, no one else would have me.”
    His men shook their heads and laughed.
    â€œI’m sorry if I ask too many questions.”
    â€œNo, Nell. I don’t mind. I’m proud of my wife.”
    â€œHave you been in the territory long?” Al asked.
    â€œNo, I brought my entire family out here last spring.”
    â€œMy, you sound like a busy man.”
    Cole passed the basket of her sliced sourdough bread to Chet. “Ma’am, he is busy. Try some of this, Chet. It’s wonderful.”
    Toward the end of the meal, Nell offered them coffee, so Chet figured they must not be Mormons. Lots of Mormons lived in the Territory, and he knew they avoided the use of coffee as if it was poison.
    The meal finished, they rose from the table and thanked Nell again for the good food. He told the Holmeses