Deadly Is the Night Read Online Free PDF Page B

Diablo was recently shot by some of Buster Weeks’s so-called employees from across the border. What do you know about him and his dealings?”
    â€œNot very much. There are some Arizona warrants out for his arrest, but he pays officials well enough in Mexico to remain at large.”
    â€œThey foreclosed on his ranches above Oracle?”
    â€œYes. And he was not in good shape financially when he lost his hold on that place. Old Man Clanton’s hold on the beef markets for the army and the Indians in this area is very strong, and you have the only other large cattle sales Clanton doesn’t have in the territory.”
    â€œI never understood why the government does business with him, but he must have connections. He also knows how hard the Navajo Agency is to get to, to deliver cattle to from down here, and besides that they have four delivery points to serve up there, not just one.”
    â€œOh, I’ve never heard a bad word about your deal. In fact, it runs so smoothly you actually scare people off who would love to have it.”
    â€œGood. That’s the plan. My brother-in-law Sarge Polanski is a real hand at cattle delivery.”
    â€œMust be. As for Weeks and those two ranches, two banks split those ranches of his.
    Arizona First has one; the Tucson Territorial Bank has the north one.”
    â€œAny idea what they would have to have for them?”
    â€œNot much. Bankers don’t like cactus spines in their boots. You know what I mean?”
    â€œYes. Price them. I’ll be back. Get a guaranteed list of the cattle, horses, any assets owned, and the private land in each. I might be interested if I could make them work.”
    â€œNo problem. That might be fun. I’ll try to get you low dollar. You will be back when?”
    â€œI hope in a week, but however long it takes, it takes. I’d like to get this Weeks’s rustling stopped so ranchers can go on with their business and not get shot at.”
    â€œI understand that nephew of yours is really shaping that place up.”
    â€œHe really has taken an interest in it.”
    â€œI met them at a social thing here in town. He has a very lovely wife.”
    â€œHer name is Bonnie.”
    â€œYes, I remember. Well, he must really work hard. They don’t attend many things up here.”
    â€œHe takes his job real seriously. Thanks for your time. I was in town and wanted to drop by. And know that I am very serious about considering those two places.”
    â€œNext time you come by I’ll know all about them. Good luck with Buster and his deal.”
    They shook hands, and Chet left to arrange for a buckboard ride down to Tubac.
    After lunch Chet and his men took the hired buckboard, loaded down with their gear, for the Morales Ranch at Tubac. The stock dogs welcomed them when they arrived and two of the men’s wives hurried to greet them. No sign of Roamer or the others.
    He hugged and kissed both women on their cheeks and thanked them for the warm welcome.
    â€œWe always are so glad to see you. We can fix some food in a hurry. I imagine you are tired. How is your lovely Spanish wife Elizabeth,” Bronc’s wife, Consuela, asked.
    â€œDoing well when I left her.”
    â€œOh, she is so pretty.”
    He soon learned that his three-man team had gone to check on a smuggling of gold bars operation coming across the border, so that federal agency in charge could get the matter under control. Gold ore could be imported to be smelted with no taxes, but on gold bars there was a U.S. tariff in place.
    The Morales women fixed them lunch and Chet said they’d go to see about JD and Bonnie in the morning if the men were not back. Both of the wives were friendly and as usual glad to see them. Jose’s wife, Ricky, had a new baby and Chet told them about his loss. They said to tell Liz they would pray for her and understood her sorrow.
    Chet could see that even with Maria gone, the place