CHAPTER 1

Christmas Eve was in full swing at the sprawlingByrnes house in Prescott Valley—or Preskitt as mostfolks called it. Chet's family members had gatheredto celebrate the holiday, and the piano musiccoming from May's fingers on the grand piano inthe crowded living room added to the holiday spirit.

May, his brother's widow, was now married toone of his ranch foremen, Hampt Tate. Beside heron the bench, Chet's two nephews, Ray and Ty,fingered keys and added notes to her music at hernods to them. That trick by his all-cowboy nephewsamazed him the most. Their stepmother had been inthe family for years before anyone knew she couldsing like an angel and play the piano so well.

Hampt, a big-shouldered great cowboy, marriedher six months ago, and a short while after that sheshowed up singing. May, like his own wife Marge, wasgoing to hatch in the spring.

He met Marge coming from the kitchen, shakingher head as she brought out more treats on a tray."She's so talented, isn't she?"

"Amazing what she can do. May, who sat aroundall those years and never sang a note."

"You said one time that your brother married herto babysit his three kids."

He nodded and smiled. "I better go check on mypartners, be sure they're ready to take the stage inthe morning."

She frowned. "Why didn't Cole and Jesus come uphere and celebrate with us?"

He wrinkled his nose. "I asked them. They saidthey'd be too self-conscious."

Leaning forward, she kissed him. "We can talklater."

Nice thing about having a woman as tall as Marge,she was easy to reach over and kiss. She'd had severalmiscarriages in her two past marriages, but the twice-widowedwoman fit him well and, so far, the babysituation was going along fine. The baby had begunto kick and she said that had never happenedbefore.

Chet tended to believe it was more a matterthat she hadn't ridden her jumping horses sinceshe learned about her condition. But he shruggedthat off, 'cause he knew so damn little about suchthings. All he really knew was they would have anoffspring. Boy or girl, he didn't care, as long asit had five fingers on its hands and five toes oneach foot.

Inside the back porch, he slipped on hissheepskin-lined coat, then walked out into thefrosty night. The bunkhouse lights were on and,when he stepped inside, the warmth from the potbellystove struck him in the face. The men sittingaround were eating fudge, cake, and cookies. Threewere vaqueros that worked for Raphael, the foremanfor this ranch. Some of the other men who workedthe ranch had families and lived in nearby jacals.

"How are you doing, boys?"

"Fine," Jesus, a Mexican youth in his late teens, said.

"We'll be ready to go in the morning," Cole Emerson,a bright faced young man in his mid-twenties,replied. "You heard any more?"

"No. Nothing. I guess we're lucky JD even got thatone letter smuggled out of the jail."

These two were his appointed companions. Margeinsisted, and his ranch foremen agreed, he neededthem to back him wherever he went. He didn't knowhow he got by for thirty-four years, handling his ownproblems.

"I guess we won't find out anything about JD'stroubles till we get to Socorro, New Mexico. I'm supposedto have the best law firm in the territorycoming to clear it all up."

One of the other vaqueros spoke up. "Good luck,señor. We all like JD and are sorry he is in jail."

"Thanks, Raoul. We'll get it settled."

In Spanish, both men told him Merry Christmas.

He thanked them. Then, satisfied his two sidekickswere set to go, he went back into the coldnight air. Outside, he looked at the million starsoverhead and recalled a story from his cattle droverdays in Abilene, Kansas. They said when the Texascowboys got to Kansas, they shot so many holes in thesky it was daylight at midnight there. He chuckled tohimself. Those days had been wild all right.

He slipped back in the kitchen and hung his coaton a peg. Their housekeeper-cook, Monica, was busygetting two large beef roasts out of the oven.

"They all right out there?" she asked.

"Doing fine. They've got more sweets than a candystore."

She wiped her damp forehead with a towel andsmiled. "You round everyone up and say grace. Thenwe can eat."

"I can do that."

He went out into the great room. "The food isready. Let's all stand and bow our heads to pray.

"Our dear heavenly father, we are here to celebratethe birth of your son. If we sound irreverent,that is because we feel it should be a joyous occasion.We thank you for our good health, and ask you bewith Susie's husband and his crew who are drivingour cattle to the Navajos, and with Reg and his wifeLucy up on the top ranch who had to stay home andwork. Lord, we ask you to be with JD, who is in jail inNew Mexico tonight. Give us the strength andwisdom to get him free and exonerated. Lord, blessthis food and all gathered here and on our otherranches. And, dear Lord, when you are ready for us,have a staircase to heaven for all of us. Amen."

"Amen," everyone repeated.

His sister, Susie, joined them. In a low voice, shespoke to him. "I told Sarge before he left about thebaby, and he agreed it was no problem for him. I'mgoing to have Leif's child, but it will have Sarge'sname."

He hugged her tight. While chasing rustlers withChet, her husband had been killed in a horse wreck.Shortly after that, Sarge Polanski, the foreman atthe Windmill Ranch up on the high country east,married her. Sarge had always been fascinated bySusie, but never so much as danced with her beforehe learned she'd married Leif—but he wasted notime in coming to her aid after her husband waskilled. They made a good couple and they'd workout well.

"When things open up, you two will have a greatlife."

"I warned him this might happen, but he said notto worry that he wanted me anyway."

"If I can get JD cleared of the horse thief charges,maybe things will settle down for all of us." He shookhis head and started to join his wife at the table.

Susie caught his arm. "They won't ever settle downfor you. You draw trouble."

He couldn't help chuckling. She might be right.

Seated beside Marge, he soon had his plate fullfrom the food dishes being passed. My, how he'dmiss Monica's cooking on this trip. His wife was ahand, but her cook was the world's best. For a whileit looked like a gray-headed rancher might steal her,but evidently the rancher's grown married daughterdidn't think he needed a Mexican wife. Monicamight be better off working right here than to getentangled with a prejudiced family.

"Susie talk to you?" Marge asked quietly.

"Yes. Back when she was considering the marriage,she thought she might be expecting. But it isn't anyscar. Sarge knew then and knows now. He's acceptedit. I think they'll have a great life, and this family willbe blessed with another baby."

"I'm trying to be cheerful, with you leaving me inthe morning and your son kicking me inside."

They both laughed.

Later, in bed, they kissed and tried to breach hisabsence coming up. He was so glad he married thiswoman. He wasn't sure at first about the rich girl thatpaid all his small bills behind him when he first cameto Arizona looking for a ranch. When he found outwhat she spent, he paid the money back to her.Before he left to get his family and bring them fromTexas, he told her not to wait. He had other obligationsto take care of, but if things worked out theymight, or...