Blood on the Verde River Read Online Free PDF Page A

soon rolled in the pen’s dust, grunting and appreciating their escape from saddles and packs. Then they rose and shook off dust like a whirlwind.
    The Vargas’s young children took pieces of hard candy from Chet and thanked him politely.
    Rio sat them at her long table and served them flour tortillas, fried beef strips, sweet peppers, onions and spicy salsa, and brown beans.
    â€œBest damn food we’ve had all this trip.” JD shook his head, looking amazed between bites. “Ronaldo your wife is a wonderful cook.”
    The other two agreed. Rio beamed, and they ate their fill of her rich food.
    â€œWhat brings you hombres to Tucson?”
    Chet spoke up. “A secret business to look for a woman’s daughter who was in Tombstone and disappeared awhile ago.”
    The man frowned hard at them. “You have no idea where she went?”
    â€œNone. Her mother wrote Marshal White down there and he found out nothing.”
    â€œWhat is the daughter’s name?”
    â€œBonnie Allen. If you can find out anything do not expose us,” Chet warned, “but please tell us all you know. I can pay you a reward.”
    Vargas nodded. “I will check around Tucson. If I find out anything, how will I contact you?”
    â€œSend a letter to me, Chet Byrnes, General delivery, Tombstone. I’ll check the post office daily or so.”
    â€œRio, get him an envelope and he can put that address on one,” Vargas requested.
    â€œSure,” Chet agreed between bites of food.
    Taking the envelope from her, he used her pencil to address the envelope, handed it back, and thanked her. “Bonnie has red hair. I have a picture.” He dug it out of his vest.
    The man and his wife examined it and then nodded. “She is a very pretty lady,” Rio said.
    â€œYes. Her mother is a good friend and we want to find her.”
    â€œOh, yes, I would, too, if I knew anything about her.”
    â€œWe will ride on this morning. If I can pay you—”
    â€œNo senor. Jesus is our favorite cousin. We are so glad to see him and learn about his life and meet you two as well,” Vargas insisted.
    â€œThis is a nice farm. I wonder how two young people like you could afford it.”
    â€œThis was Rio’s grandfather’s farm. We worked very hard for him for seven years and when he died, he left this farm to us because he knew we could make good, farming it.”
    Chet nodded. “I understand that. My grandfather left me our ranch in Texas. But we had to leave because of a feud. My brother was murdered in Kansas, taking cattle to market for the ranch.”
    â€œIt must have been hard to leave your home. If I lost this place, I know I would cry. I am so glad to meet you, señor.” Vargas frowned. “You said this woman who lost the girl is a friend of yours?”
    â€œShe helped me find a ranch in Arizona Territory for my family and she found most of my help.”
    Vargas shook his head, confused by the search business. “Where will you look for her?”
    â€œUnder every rock we can turn over.”
    Vargas laughed. “Lots of rocks in Tombstone.”
    â€œNo. Everyone leaves a trail, even a thin one. There is a trail. We must find hers.”
    â€œI bet you do that.”
    â€œThat is why we came here.”
    â€œYou are a busy man. Why would you do this?”
    â€œI owe her mother,” Chet answered. “I know the girl may already be in a shallow grave, but her mother needs to know if that’s the case, too.”
    â€œI believe you will solve this mystery about her disappearance.”
    â€œSee, you are more confident than I am.” He clapped Vargas on the shoulder. “Pray for us to find her—alive.”
    â€œWe will, señor. We will.”
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    The next day, the three travelers left early and headed for Benson—another forty-mile hitch in their travels across the hard desert.
    When they rode