Free A Good Day To Kill by Dusty Richards

here.” The baby in his arms yawned like it was all beyond him.
    Marge nodded. “Does he suit you?”
    â€œFine. You’re alright?”
    â€œI’m doing fine.”
    â€œGood. He’s a great boy.”
    So his son was there at last. Things at home should settle down. He rocked the baby in his arm. One more of his widespread family.

C HAPTER 6
    Marge and the baby were fine, and Chet had Monica round up plenty of help. He intended to make a check of things on the Rim, so had Jesus load two packhorses. He planned to stop and see Betty and Leroy Sipes at the Oak Creek place, visit Tom at the sawmill, and then ride on to Reg’s at the Mogollon Rim Ranch. Bo had bought him, sight unseen, ten homesteads near the big ranch on the Rim and he wanted to look them over, if he had the time. Word of his plans must have slipped out, because the morning they were ready to leave, Cole was there to go along as well.
    After Chet kissed his wife and baby good-bye, the three set out for the lower place. Down on the Verde River Ranch, Susie met them on the front porch and laughed after hearing the news of his son’s birth.
    â€œWell you won this race, big man. How are they?”
    â€œFine, how are you?”
    â€œReady to get it over with. Come on inside. When they tell Sarge you’re here, he’ll come. I’ll make some coffee.”
    â€œCan’t stay long. We need to also see the Sipeses today.”
    Susie shook her head, amazed, and put the pot on the range. “That man is a wonder. He sends us food twice a week.”
    â€œMonica says he even brings her garden stuff.”
    â€œI don’t know how he has time for anything.”
    â€œBetty is probably doing a big part of that.”
    â€œI bet you’re right.”
    â€œBesides, he really wants to prove he’s valuable to us.”
    â€œHe sure is that.”
    â€œWell, the threesome is back,” Sarge said, taking off his hat and coming in the doorway. “Papa, congrats. We understand your wife is doing good.”
    â€œShe’s fine. I’m headed up to see Leroy, and then Tom at the sawmill. We’ll ride on to Reg’s after that.”
    â€œThe mill must be going full blast. We’re making money dragging logs. He says he’ll need at least two new teams before fall.”
    â€œSarge, don’t complain. Between him and his crew, we aren’t using any cattle sales money so far. His operation is carrying the ranches.”
    â€œWe have hay and grain going his way in the next two days.”
    â€œHow’s Barbwire John?” he asked his man with Sarge.
    â€œMaking rolls. But, for us, there is no end, is there?”
    â€œI don’t think so.”
    â€œHerefords doing alright?”
    â€œGreat calf crop on the ground. The ranch is having a good calf year, too.”
    â€œAnd we should have some steers to sell off this place at long last.”
    â€œOh, yes.”
    â€œSarge’s drives are working. Bo Evans has bought us several homesteads that join the Windmill ranch, too. That usually means there’s water at these places, maybe some farm land.”
    â€œDo you have a description of where they are?” Susie asked. “I’d love to go find them.”
    â€œYou can do that—after the baby is born.”
    She wrinkled her nose at him and began pouring coffee. “I won’t be a housewife forever.”
    â€œWe’ll see,” he teased her.
    They rode on, and by evening were at Oak Creek. Betty and Leroy hugged the three of them. Horses put up, Leroy showed them the cabins nearing completion and his acres of vegetables, fruit trees, and berry bushes. While they walked through his crops, Betty rushed off to cook supper for them.
    â€œAnyone ever tell you that you have a green thumb?” Cole asked.
    â€œNo, it’s the rich land I have to farm.”
    â€œEveryone that gets the fruit and vegetables appreciates