Deadly Is the Night by Dusty Richards Page B

place.”
    â€œI think the same. Jesus, what do you think?”
    â€œI like it. More water development would help, but we can do that in time, too.”
    â€œGood. We will look at things on the way out. Next day see what Nye will take for it. Then we’ll know what to do?”
    â€œWhat is it worth today?”
    â€œI think anywhere from ten to twenty thousand for the land.”
    Jesus nodded in agreement.
    Rosa made them breakfast early and told them to come back and bring their women. She wanted to meet them.
    Chet shook the men’s hands and thanked them for their help. He told Frisco to look for a yes or no answer at the Oracle post office. The man smiled. “Good to meet you, hombre . I will look for it.”
    They rode off but didn’t make it back to Tucson that day, due to delays like looking around and stopping at the springs. His men agreed that the spring’s site would make a real salable ranch headquarters. The next day they rode into Tucson, put their horses in the livery, and had lunch. Then Chet went to find the banker.
    â€œWell.” Nye closed the office door. “What did you think?”
    â€œTell me the bottom dollar you’d take for the ranch?”
    â€œTwenty-five thousand.”
    Chet shook his head. “Too high.”
    â€œTwenty?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œFifteen?”
    â€œTwelve thousand,” Chet said.
    Nye shook his head. “You are a man that I know makes money and I know you can operate ranches. What will you do with it?”
    â€œIt is going to require lots of money. Frisco said you didn’t want to spend any more money on it.”
    Nye nodded. “But I can’t give it away.”
    â€œI’ll leave you with an offer of ten thousand dollars for thirty days, clear title and the cattle.”
    â€œYou offered me twelve once. You are getting cheaper?”
    â€œI’d pay twelve today like this—-three thousand now and three thousand every year on January first until the twelve is paid off.”
    â€œI’d do that on fifteen thousand. No interest, huh?”
    â€œThirteen?”
    â€œNo. Fourteen and the way you break it down—your deal. You know you are robbing me now.”
    â€œDraw up the papers. I will be here in the morning to sign them for fourteen at that same payment schedule.”
    â€œWhat in the hell are you going to do with it?”
    â€œMake it a working ranch.”
    â€œCan I have your ranch bank account on it, so I can make some money?”
    â€œI can’t move the Diablo one over here. Those folks have been good to me, but I will put this place to bank here.”
    â€œWhat will you call it?”
    â€œApache Springs Ranch.”
    Nye shook his head. “We can do all that paperwork tomorrow. I think a master of the arts of finance has scalded me. And I went to college to learn all that.”
    â€œJust think, you won’t have owning it on your mind anymore?”
    â€œHow many men do you have with you?”
    â€œTwo of my men who always ride with me.”
    â€œMeet me and my wife Helena at the Bull’s Head Restaurant at seven thirty. I am buying supper for you and your men.”
    â€œWe can’t dress up. We have no dress clothes with us.”
    â€œTell them you are my guests. It will get you in.”
    â€œI heard it was a real fancy place?”
    â€œThey take money like the rest of the places. Enough said, see you then.”
    Chet joined his men. “We have a ranch.”
    â€œHow much?” Jesus asked.
    â€œFourteen thousand.”
    â€œWow. You did good.”
    â€œI told him to accept it or my next offer was ten.”
    â€œAnd he did,” Jesus said. “Well, Spencer, the job building the house is in your pocket.”
    Spencer looked concerned. “I don’t know what Rebecca will say.”
    â€œGuess we will learn that later,” Jesus said. “Where are we eating?”
    â€œWith