A Good Day To Kill by Dusty Richards Page B

Chief Justice about your neglecting your job.”
    â€œYou . . . you . . . can’t threaten me.”
    â€œI can, and I’ll take the top off this building when I do. If you don’t have this grand jury under way in ten days, I’ll call in the judges and find out why.”
    â€œYou can’t do that.”
    â€œYour buddies, Weeks and Townsend, are in my sights. But there are others who were going to get rich by stealing that ranch. I say you know who they are.”
    â€œI won’t be threatened.”
    â€œI’m not threatening you. I will press for this. Are you ready to get on with it?”
    â€œListen, you little Texas rich boy. Folks have trouble making a living here, and small deals ain’t that important.”
    â€œIf I shot your wife this afternoon and said she got in my way, would you defend me that I was only trying to make a living?”
    â€œThat’s crazy.”
    â€œThere’s a ring here ruling things about business. Now if you want them on the front page, then you refuse to bring this bunch to the bar. I have more power than you think. Besides, I’m not some little rich Texas boy. I stand six feet tall. I’m an Arizona resident. I’m a livestock rancher and, also, a deputy U.S. Marshal. And if Old Man Clanton messes with me again, he’ll be in Boot Hill with his nephew.”
    â€œYou’re a gawdamn fool!”
    â€œI may be, and you may be in Utah next, if you don’t get it done.” Chet knew federal judges and prosecutors hated to be assigned to Utah worse than Arizona. He turned to leave. “I’m counting. Get your ass busy.”
    Outside the office in the hall, a smiling Jesus joined him. “You are mad. Did you do any good?”
    â€œWe’ll know in a few weeks.” He lowered his voice. “He’s tied into this ring. They don’t want to be investigated. I promised him they’d be next. He may have to decide what he wants.”
    Crossing the blazing-hot street, Chet looked over at his man. “Wouldn’t it be nice to be back home?”
    â€œLet us get stage tickets. Hell, I hate this place.”
    â€œLet’s go.”
    â€œYes.”
    They headed home at eight o’clock and even the moonlit desert north of Tucson felt cooler as they rocked northward. He soon slept.

C HAPTER 5
    Hayden Ferry matched Tucson’s heat, but he and Jesus arrived there late in the day. Due to repairs being done on the coach, the Black Canyon Stage hadn’t left yet, so they bought seats. He wired Marge they were coming. Tired because of his still sore shoulder, he hoped he could rest at home.
    Jesus woke him on the stage-line bench. “I have all our things aboard. JD and Cole came through here last night. They’re all split up, like you asked.”
    Chet smiled at him. “Wonder why those newlyweds want to be the first ones home?”
    They both laughed.
    That night, the stage swept them out of the desert’s heat into the mountains’ coolness. He could smell the pines and felt better when he disembarked and shook Jimenez’s hand.
    â€œGood to have you back, señor.”
    â€œJesus and I can say the same thing. No baby?”
    â€œNo baby yet, señor. We are all waiting.”
    He could imagine his wife was as well.
    â€œI will get our things,” Jesus said after him.
    â€œThanks, pard. Sleep in. We both need some rest.”
    Jesus waved that he heard him and in the starlight headed in the opposite direction. That boy was so damn dedicated to him, he wouldn’t listen. Chet was grateful for such loyal help.
    Marge hugged him in the dark on the back porch. “Sneaking in?”
    â€œYeah. How are you?”
    â€œFull.”
    â€œI’m here to help for a few weeks, until my men are all rested.”
    â€œCan I say, I’m sure tired of being a mama in waiting? Oh, it’s so nice to have you home—I won’t complain any