Read Online Arizona Territory by Dusty Richards - Free Book Online

deer. When he dumped the guts in a tub, she took the liver and the heart out. She also cut out the kidneys and put them in a pan with the other parts.
    Cole had come back twice with fuel on the end of his lariat, while Jesus was busy chopping it up.
    Chet rinsed off the carcass. Mrs. Talburt took the parts to the cooking area, and came back with an ax.
    â€œHow do you want him cut up?” he asked her.
    â€œChop his ribs out, and I’ll slow-cook them all night. They’ll be good in the morning.”
    â€œI can do that.”
    â€œWe can use the quarters for jerky, and eat the back strap. Do you have a wife?” she asked.
    â€œI lost my wife a short time ago. She had a horse wreck.”
    â€œI wasn’t prying.” She had the big pan ready to go up the hill.
    â€œHave I acted like I wasn’t married?”
    â€œOh, no.”
    â€œThere is a special lady at my ranch now, waiting for us to close our business here so we can make plans for the future.”
    â€œI’ll write a letter and thank her for letting you come. Oh, and call me Easter. We’ve dressed a deer together today, so we can call one another by our first names.”
    Chet, amused by her comments, concealed a smile and agreed he would.
    Jesus had some onions to fry with the liver. The frijoles , he complained, were slow to get cooked, so he fried some German potatoes. They sat around the table, sipping his fresh coffee.
    â€œHow do we stand?” Cole asked.
    â€œWe still need to close the grave this evening. I want us to take a look at the Burris place. They may have some hides that don’t belong to them. If we can’t hang a murder charge on them, a rustling one will do the job.”
    â€œThey dumb enough to keep a hide with another brand on it?” Cole asked.
    â€œIf they think they’re tough enough, yes.”
    â€œHow will we do that?”
    â€œRide up and search their buildings.”
    â€œYou have a warrant?”
    â€œWe’ll get their permission.”
    Cole laughed. “That should work huh, Jesus?”
    â€œSure. We have searched lots of folks. It should work. The food is done. Come fill your plates.”
    â€œI think a surprise visit, early in the morning, might be good.”
    The two men agreed with him.
    â€œWhat if there are no hides?” she asked.
    â€œI intend to put the fear of God in them.”
    â€œYou three do this all the time?” Mrs. Talburt asked.
    â€œWhen we aren’t helping folks like you, we ranch,” Chet said.
    The men sat on the ground with their plates of food and she occupied the rocker. A bloody sunset showed off in the west and the temperature began to fall.
    â€œLeave the grave until tomorrow. We didn’t get it filled, but we’ll be back and complete it for you.”
    â€œThanks, you’ve been most kind.”
    â€œDo you have any relatives you can go live with when this is over?”
    She shook her head.
    â€œYour brother-in-law?”
    â€œI don’t get along with his wife, or she would not get along with me.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œYou don’t know her then.”
    â€œNo, I never knew him until he came and asked for my help,” Chet said.
    â€œI’m amazed she let him do that.”
    â€œHe came and asked me to help you.”
    â€œWhen the law would not budge, I had no one to ask anymore. So I wrote him.”
    â€œWell, I am trying to think where we could take you and you’d be safe. Obviously, this location is for some tough brush popper to run cattle. This bunch won’t be the last bullies to come here.”
    â€œYou’re saying I shouldn’t stay here alone.”
    â€œThat sums it up.”
    â€œBut I have no money to leave.”
    â€œI’ll think of someone who needs you or needs a house kept.”
    â€œThank you. And thank you for the deer and the firewood.”
    â€œWe aren’t done yet.”
    She smiled for the first