Blood on the Verde River Read Free

I’ll have coffee and breakfast in a few minutes.”
    â€œHow are you doing without May?”
    â€œBoy, I really miss her. But she brought the boys over to fish yesterday, since Hampt was gone. She says the house on the Hartley place is nice now that they have it cleaned up. Ray and Ty fish some below the house on that part of the Verde, but they like the river better over here.”
    â€œShe’s happy?”
    â€œOh, yes. She’s really happy to have a man who treats her nice and loves her.”
    â€œGood. I sure like Hampt, but I don’t have to live with him.”
    Susie laughed. “I like Leif, but I wonder if I could stand to be married. I have become so independent since I don’t feed the crew meals. Now May has married Hampt and moved over to the Hartley place and . . . well, I wonder what my role is. Aunt Louise lives with Harold Parker most of the time. I suspect they will get married some day, which is fine, but I don’t know what I should do.”
    â€œDon’t do anything unless your gut tells you that’s what you want.”
    She nodded. “Leif is serious and would take me if I was a raving witch. Will being married to him make me feel more his wife than I do today?”
    â€œHell, you know how wild my life has been. I really worried about how marrying Marge would work out. But I love her ten times more as my wife than I did when we were going together. We have a wonderful private world that I miss every time I step out of it.”
    â€œI know that. I really misjudged her. You two are like a gentle stream flowing together when you are in each other’s company. In fact, I am jealous of the ease in your marriage. Everyone doesn’t have that or get that way after the honeymoon.”
    â€œSis, I can’t tell you what it is, but we have it all. I hope for Marge’s sake, and my own, she can carry our child. I think she wants it for me even more than herself. But win or lose, I’ll still love her.”
    â€œShe confided to me it was her main goal in life to have a son.”
    Chet nodded and cupped the warm coffee cup in both hands. “What have you decided?”
    She looked at him hard. “I guess I’ll jump in the water, if he still wants me.”
    â€œGood. Don’t make plans about everything. Let the plans come to the both of you. Where you will live? What you will do with your lives? Be dedicated and that will find you a better path to float down. I am going to go see my wife. God bless you two.”
    â€œBig brother, will you pray for Leif and me?”
    He reached over and grasped her wrists. “I used to pray more out loud.”
    She agreed.
    â€œLet’s pray.” He dropped his face and swiped off his hat “Our heavenly father I want to thank you for all our blessings in this new land. We are grateful. Be with all the family members and their families. Lord help JD to find his way. He is lost at sea, but show him the way back, sir. I want to ask you to bless the coming wedding of Susie and her fine young man Leif. Lead them into an inspiring life of love that will carry them to higher places in life together as man and wife. And Lord protect the unborn we await. Amen.”
    Susie sniffed. A tear ran down her cheek before she could capture it and when she tried to stop it with her finger, it only spread more.
    â€œThanks, that really helped me, Chet.”
    He swallowed and stood up. “I better go tend to my own wife.”
    â€œYes, you should.”
    Susie hugged him and whispered, “Thanks. You made me feel so good.”
    â€œI meant it. Go rent a cabin in Oak Creek for your honeymoon. Have him show you how to fish.”
    â€œCan he fish?”
    â€œDamned if I know. But do it. Fall in the creek, let loose.”
    She shook her head, hanging on his arm as he went out the front door.
    â€œI’ll see you.” He saw his saddled roan at the rack.
    Three hours later,