Emilia – Part One
Set 2 years after High Riders. Johnny has just turned 21 Scott is 26.
Chapter 1
Murdoch Lancer was startled from his book keeping by the sudden arrival through the French doors of a small figure. His first thought was an Indian, an Indian!
There were a few Indians local to this part of the San Joaquin, but this was not a local one this youngster had the look of hard travelling.
A large wide brimmed hat pulled low hid the face and a cloud of dust motes dancing around the figure gave it an un-earthly other worldly appearance.
The slight figure approached his desk drawing out from a shirt pocket a letter. Murdoch sat still he instinctively knew that his usual loud bluff manner was not needed in this situation. The figure spoke in Spanish, "Read, you must come, there is little time, read" the voice low and gruff with tiredness and desperation.
The figure stepped back from the desk head tilted towards the French doors but moved sideways with a quick glance towards the main door. Alert, listening, "Read, there is little time."
Murdoch took the letter and addressed to him puzzled and curious but not sensing danger. He opened the letter and read, his heart skipped a beat and his life changed.
The figure spoke again with urgency, "You will come now" not a question a demand.
As the front door swung open the figure was already moving towards the French door. Johnny appeared through those very doors crouched low gun drawn as Scott came in through the front door gun also drawn.
The youngster stopped as still as a cat watching a mouse, even as Johnny took a step into the room.
"Johnny Scott no need for guns."
Johnny kept his gun levelled at the figure, "Saw a hard ridden pony half hidden behind the barn, who is this Murdoch?"
At that he stepped forward holstering his colt until he was immediately in front of the figure and quickly tipped the hat from its head.
Raven black hair escaping from a long braid failing down was a surprise but it wasn't the fact this was a young girl, it was the deep sapphire blue reflecting back at him that took his breath. "Dios Murdoch who is she?"
The knife that appeared pricking at his belly came from nowhere. He looked down, it was a large hunting knife, the hand holding it although small was not trembling. "Whoa" he held his arms out in surrender as he looked into the face of the girl, under the grime she was mixed like him with high cheek bones and he saw in her his past.
She spoke holding his eyes, "It's you, he found you. The lost prince." At that her eyes rolled back, the knife fell to the floor as she passed out.
Johnny caught her as she fell forward into him. Scott came forward to look at her, "She is a child, who is she Murdoch what does she want?"
Murdoch rose from his desk and stood over Johnny and gently moved the girl's hair and ran a thumb down her face tracing the outline. "Her name is Emilia Louisa" he paused and looked at Johnny, "Valquez Orteza. Her mother is very ill and wants to see me."
Johnny was holding the girl close to his chest, "She a relative on mine ol'e man?"
Murdoch let out a breath, "Please take her to a guest room son I'll get Maria to take care of her and then we will talk."
Scott nudged Johnny tipping his head towards the stairs silently telling his brother to please do this.
By the time Murdoch had spoken to Maria and Johnny was back down Scott had poured drinks scotch for Murdoch and himself and tequila for Johnny.
Johnny ignored his drink his fingers tapped against his leg as he paced in front of the desk spurs jangled in the silence.
Murdoch sat behind the desk drowned his drink and rubbed his hands through his hair. He held the letter out, "This is from Louisa Estella Valquez Orteza, she is a cousin of your mother Johnny. When you would have been 5 years old I was sent word you and your mother were in Morelas. I left immediately leaving Paul O'Brien and Cipriano in charge of the ranch."
"Dios Murdoch you crossed the border and went into those bad lands. A gringo going into Carlos Estovez territory, were you crazy." Johnny stopped his pacing and stared at his father.
"Yes son crazy to get you back to ask your mother why she had taken you and left, and it damn near killed me. I ran into Estovez and his men, he laughed and boasted of having Maria and you under his protection."
Johnny cursed in Spanish and kicked the desk in anger, memories of that part of his childhood buried never to be spoken of.
Murdoch was watching Johnny, "They beat me and when I came to I was in the desert no horse no water no hat no boots. I would have died except I was found just in time by Louisa and her father Juan Vittorio. She nursed me back to life. She and her father were hiding out from Estovez and his comancheros in a small village."
Johnny picked up his drink and looked over at Scott, "Ugly place, ugly people. You know what Estovez would do to his enemies or even just for fun to intimidate the peons? He would take a family and make the father choose just one member, the others he would kill just like that" Johnny make a chopping motion with his left hand and drowned his drink.
Scott looked at his brother and father, the pain from those long ago years still raw.
He topped up the drinks, Murdoch sipped his, "This letter is telling me Louisa is dying she tells me this girl her daughter is mine."
Scott coughed on his drink, "Yours, you are her father!"
Murdoch nodded but kept his eyes on Johnny, how would his young son react. For a notorious gun hawk the boy had a heart that was too easily hurt.
Johnny turned to Madrid to keep his emotions under control, "Knew it, soon as I saw her eyes. You couldn't find Mama an' me so took the next best thing."
"No son believe me it wasn't like that. I was in such a bad place and Louisa was kind and understanding. She knew I loved Maria and you, but …. I, we, it shouldn't have happened. She deserved better and when I left ready to continue my search for you I wasn't aware she was with child. I am not sure what to say to you, either of you, I am a man and not perfect. I have made many mistakes in my life but I will not call a child a mistake and I believe that girl is mine and she is here asking me to visit her mother. But there is more."
Scott looked up, "We find we have a sister, you a daughter you knew nothing about and there is more."
Murdoch nodded and finished his drink. "Johnny please son stay put, I want you to promise not to go riding off being a one man army. You are not in any way to take the blame I need your word on this."
Johnny blinked and put his anger to one side to really look at Murdoch. His father had aged, the strong un-bending man had a look about him that spoke of if not fear but worry real strong worry, "'Kay."
"Louisa is in a village just over the boarder too ill to travel, afraid she will die before I get to see her. She wants me to take the girl and keep her safe. But not just her you as well Johnny. Estovez has re-emerged he has heard that Johnny Madrid was not executed by that firing squad but is alive. That Maria Lancers' son is back home with his father. It seems he is putting a gang back together to come here to kill me and you son and to take back Emilia."
"Madre Dios Murdoch it was his brother Bernardo Estovez who killed Mama and I killed him. Hell once I was good at the trade I went out'ta my way to pick fights with his men or take sides against him. I damn near killed him one time, he turned tail and ran off to Mexico City. Hoped that son of a bitch was long gone. How can I not be responsible, I can't let him near here I won't."
Murdoch stood and crashed his fist down on the desk. "You gave your word Johnny and it's not just you. It's me, I escaped from him and from what this letter says so has that girl upstairs. Louisa and she were held by him and his gang. He is crazy Johnny a cold hearted murder, this is not just your fight, we are Lancers and Lancers look after their own."
Chapter 2
Johnny listened to Murdoch and Scott deciding on tactics and safeguards. Cipriano to be informed he had family in Mexico who would send word if they heard of Estovez moving northwards. Val Crawford to be told of the possibility of trouble heading to San Joaquin so he could contact the other lawmen in the valley. Murdoch said he would contact the members of the Cattlemen's Association and wire contacts in Sacramento he would be discrete about the private family details but if Carlos Estovez did get to California it would be bloodier than the days of Day Pardee.
Johnny had nodded and agreed with them both and kept his true thoughts to himself because when it came right down to it he would be there to end the threat to his family.
That night he went out to the barn to check on the pony the girl had ridden hard to get to Lancer. It was a good sound honest pony but not ready for another hard ride any day soon. He patted its neck and spoke softly as he led it out to the home pasture and then slapped it on the rump, "You deserve a nice rest brave pony." He found a halter and picked out a pinto from the remuda and put it in the stall next to Barranca. The girls' saddle and bridle lay on the ground at the stall gate. "Well Barranca when she takes off it will be on a healthy cow pony that won't drop dead on her, and be easy to track." Barranca snorted and pushed his nose into Johnny as his ears were rubbed in just the right way. "You're a good fella you let me know when she leaves."
That night Johnny looked in the room Emilia had been settled in. Maria had undressed and cleaned her, she looked so young about 15 years old. Johnny felt sick to his stomach knowing she had been under the control of Estovez. When he and his Mama had been his prisoners it was on the Estancia de la Morelas. Estovez had killed Don Louis Morelas and all his family and installed himself and his comancheros there as the base for terrorising the towns and villages for miles around. It was a terrible time every single day being afraid for his Mama and she for him.
Johnny looked down at the sleeping girl and knew in that moment he would fight to the death for her. She was his sister his kin and they shared more than blood they were true kindred spirits. He closed the door of her room taking a small pebble from his pocket to put it under the door, it would make a small scraping noise if the door opened.
He left his own door slightly open kicked off his boots and lay on the bed fully dressed. All his instincts told him she would go back to her mother. She would not stay with strangers even if she had been told of them, she would go to her mother to be with her just as he had done as a boy.
It was pre-dawn when he heard the door and the footsteps. He didn't try to stop her, he tugged on his boots and watched at the window as she ran to the barn. He heard Barranca whinny and smiled, "Good fella." He went into the corridor and shouted, "Scott Murdoch wake up she is running." He knocked on their doors and put his head around Scott's, "Scott she's taking a pony and leaving. I'll saddle ours get Murdoch moving."
Scott was up and getting dressed in a sleep haze as he heard Murdoch moving around.
By day break Johnny had found her trail the Lancer notch in the shoe of the pony she was riding easy to spot. He reined Barranca up, she was riding hard he could have caught up to her but held back waiting for Murdoch and Scott. They were about an hour behind him so he would wait. He made a quick camp and had coffee ready for them when they did reach him. The habit of his pistolero years ensuring basic supplied were in his saddle bags coming to good use.
"Johnny where is she?" Murdoch was more concerned than angry.
"On her way back to her Mama, she is on a Lancer cow pony riding fast so I reckon about ½ day ahead of us. She knows about horses an' will ease up some 'bout now."
Scott sipped the hot coffee, "You know this how?"
"That pony she rode in on, well it had been pushed hard but not to the point of breaking down. Its feet and legs were good. The village where she left her Mama is a good 3 day ride across country so she ain't no novice and took care of it as much as she could."
Scott looked at Murdoch, Are you going to be okay with this ride Murdoch?"
"Of course, I'm more concerned about John crossing the border or running into Estovez."
Johnny looked down and scuffed the dirt with his boot toe, it was still a shock that this own welfare was so important to his father."
"I'm guessing from the letter that my Tio doesn't think Estovez is ready to be this far north. Least ways I'm hoping that. I've not heard anything of him looking for me and I've kept my ears open for that for the last 5 years."
Murdoch and Scott looked at each other so much of Johnny's life as Madrid still unknown to them and they had both noticed his use of the family description for Louisa.
"I'll go with your analysis brother you are the expert here." Scott smiled and put his hand on his brothers' shoulder.
Johnny grinned a lopsided smile, "Not sure about my an-lis just my gut instincts. Let's head south."
It was as Johnny had said a 3 day ride. On the morning of the third day they had crossed the border he pulled up and leaned down studying the tracks, biting his bottom lip.
"What is it son?" Murdoch rode up next to him.
"She is going hell for leather Murdoch not sure if she thinks she is being followed by us or Estovez but she is riding flat out. I'm going to take off after her. She is heading south west to the village her Mama is at. Scott can track me easy, but I really do feel I should try to get closer." Johnny held his hand up, "Now before you start I'll stay out'ta trouble if I can but I can't let her get herself into trouble."
Murdoch was shaking his head, "I don't like us splitting up even if Estovez isn't hereabouts there maybe Rurales and you are wanted by them."
"Hell Murdoch I've scouted out enough border towns to know what I'm doing trust me on this. If there is any danger I'll fire 3 shots." With that he wheeled Barranca round and set off at a fast canter.
Murdoch watched his young son worry and pride in equal measure written on his face. Scott shifted in his saddle, "Are you okay Sir, it's been a hard ride and your back?"
"I'll manage the ride Scott but what of the future what am I to say to this woman and her daughter. Not able to be a father to you boys and now this?"
"Sir you will do what is right, I know you to be honourable and as you said Lancer looks after its own."
Chapter Three
Johnny approached the dusty village, not down the main street but quietly around the rear of buildings. It was a poor place a small mission church a cantina a huddle of adobe houses around the village square with its well. There was a livery stable which Johnny approached he lightly dismounted and slung Barrancas' reins around a post and patted his neck. He drew his colt but held it loose by his leg his senses on high alert. He entered the stable through the rear door there was one horse and two mules and a young boy in the peon white clothes hunched over a saddle with a cloth who hadn't heard him. Johnny paused that could have been him as a child, he spoke quietly to not cause alarm, "Hola boy."
The boy turned in surprise, "Senor."
Johnny smiled and holstered his gun as he walked over to look through the front onto the village square. "I'm here to find a girl and her Mama Senora Orteza, the girl would have ridden in earlier. I mean no harm I'm here to help."
The boy studied Johnny, "Si Senor the Senora is sick she is in the home of Mamacita Ruiz." The boy joined Johnny at the stable door and pointed to an adobe house across the road. Johnny saw the Lancer pony tied in the shade at the side of the house.
Johnny reached in a pocket and took at some coins, "Here boy you go fetch that there pony over here and take good care of him. I'll get my own horse." Johnny ruffled the boys' hair, "My horse can be a mite picky so watch your fingers 'round him comprender?"
The boy took the money and smiled, "Si Senor."
Johnny put Barranca in a stall and told him to be good. He put his saddle bags over his shoulder and went over to the house where his aunt and the girl, not only his half-sister but a cousin of sorts were to be found. They were his family and needed his help.
An old lady showed him into a small airless room a figure laying on a bed the girl knelt at the side holding a hand.
"Emilia querida?" Johnny tried to keep his own emotions under control as he looked down at the woman in the bed. Death was so close, he was transported back to seeing his own Mama the light of life dying in her eyes as he held her.
Louisa Estella Orteza lay still her long black hair spread over a pillow, her deep chocolate coloured eyes sunk low in her face. Her lips a thin line an indication of the pain she was in.
He knelt by Emilia putting his hand over hers, the woman looked at him, "Juanito it is you?"
"Si Tia, I chased girl back here. I promise I will look after her."
"Ai Maria's hijo so like your abuelo." Louisa reached up with her other hand to touch his cheek.
Johnny fought to keep tears from falling, this dying woman so like his own Mama whose life was destroyed by the bandit Estovez. "Murdoch is on his way you just rest easy."
Louisa smiled as she closed her eyes to sleep.
Johnny waited to be sure then turned to Emilia, "Girl riding off like that, you could have said and I would'a come with you. I have some laudanum does your Mama need any?"
The girl dragged her eyes from her mother, "She is brave about the pain but she asks for the padre and he will not come." There were no tears but her face and eyes betrayed her distress.
Johnny rocked back on his heels and pursed his lips as that old helpless sick feeling washed over him another echo of his childhood. "Murdoch will speak to the padre, our father is a good man Emilia, tough but trustworthy."
Emilia looked into Johnny's eyes and saw the truth, she nodded and turned back to her mother.
Johnny stepped out and looked across the village square towards the mission. He was tempted to go there and confront the priest but he knew his anger would get the better of him He sighed wishing Murdoch and Scott would get here. He shook his head, "Dios Johnny boy when did that happen wanting your father and big brother to fix things?"
Instead of the mission he went over to the store, a poor thing but the only one in the village. He knew Senora Ruiz in whose home his Tia lay dying wouldn't accept charity but he could buy in basic supplies to replace those freely given.
He returned with coffee, flour, bacon, beans and sugar and spoke quietly to the Senora, "Por favor Mamacita I have medicine, laudanum. I can see Senora Louisa is beyond help but it may ease the pain if it becomes too much to bear."
Estella Ruiz was elderly and past being afraid of any Rurales or padres. The woman and girl had arrived just over a week ago. The village had watched at first they had been mistaken for Indians but the girl had looked at her and asked for help as if knowing it would be offered. And now this young man, another mestizo but one to be wary of an air of danger about him, a pistolero with that low worn gun. He was though respectful with her and gentle and quietly spoken with the sick woman and the girl. She instinctively trusted this young man.
Johnny knelt on the other side of the bed, the girl had her head bent low her black hair falling forward to hide her features. She was reciting a prayer slowly in Spanish and her mother was silently mouthing the words, her hand clutching at her neck. Johnny realised she was searching for a rosary of perhaps a religious medallion. He reached over his head and removed his chain and medallion of Our Lady of Guadalupeand placed in in the woman's hand.
"Emilia you should rest, I reckon you haven't slept much in a long while."
Emilia looked up blue eyes matching blue eyes, "No if I do I will not be with her."
"I'll watch over you both and wake you if needed, please Emilia."
She regarded him and nodded. It was only a few minutes before she was asleep her head on the bed by her mothers' right hand.
Johnny added a small spoonful of laudanum to a cup of water ready for when it was needed. He took a cloth and damped it in a bowl of water and wiped the woman's' face, all the while speaking softly in a mixture of Spanish and the Indian dialect he knew.
The old senora looked at the scene and made the sign of the cross, death was so close and waiting. She took her rosary from her pocket and muttered her prayers.
Chapter Four
Murdoch and Scott approached the village in the late afternoon, a small boy greeted them, "Hola Senor's Lancer?"
Murdoch looked at the peasant boy long black hair falling into his eyes but a welcoming white smile, "Si Chico."
"Senor Johnny he waits for you at the casa of Mamacita Ruiz. I will care for your horses."
The boy turned and trotted to the stable with the two Lancer men following.
Scott scanned the village, no sign of trouble or anyone for that matter.
The boy took their horses and pointed out the small adobe house they were expected at. An old lady stood in the door way to greet them, "Senor Lancer the woman has been waiting for you, there is not much time."
It was such a small place, hot and stuffy, the curtain separating the bed from the room was pulled open. Johnny knelling at one side of the bed turned to look at his father and brother relief showed for a moment then he turned to the woman in the bed, "Tia, Murdoch is here."
Murdoch approached as Johnny got to his feet to make room for him at the bed side. Time turned back for him even on her death bed Louisa Orteza had a gentle beauty. As he knelt where his youngest son had been she opened her eyes, slightly unfocused her tongue licked at her dry lips. "Louisa I'm here." Johnny passed him a cup with water for him to offer to the women holding her head up slightly.
She sipped the water laced with a little laudanum and sighed. "Murdoch I do not have much time you must make me a promise, to take our daughter to keep her safe from Estovez, he will come for you and your children."
"Louisa I promise, if only I had known."
"No Murdoch it wasn't to be, but now is the time." She coughed her eyes shut against the pain.
"Mama oh Mama" the girl on the other side of the bed took her hand and held it against her own breast, "Not yet Mama por favor."
Emilia looked at Murdoch, "The padre will not give her the last rites she will go easier if he will come can you do that for her?"
Murdoch frowned as he looked from Emilia to Johnny. Johnny shook his head, "Seems like the local padre disapproves of an unmarried mother and her mestizo child who have lived unchristian lives." His face was closed down his eyes dark with anger.
Murdoch understood, his knees creaked as he slowly rose, both sons moved to help him. "I'll talk to him."
Murdoch Lancer was a man of his word within the hour he returned with the padre. He owed the debt of his life to Louisa and now the responsibility of a daughter. He knelt by the bed and gently stroked the dying woman's face, "Louisa the priest is here, he will marry us so our daughter will be recognised and my dear when the time comes will perform the last rites."
Scott who had remained quiet and in the background let out a small gasp and looked towards Johnny to see what his reaction was. Johnny was kneeling close besides the girl his eyes on his father. "Johnny are you okay?"
"Yes Scott this is the right thing to do."
The padre performed a shortened version of the service as Murdoch and Louisa exchanged vows, her voice fading as she moved her head from looking at Murdoch to her daughter. "Emilia my dulce nino I am leaving you in the care of your Papa."
Johnny looked at the padre, "Now say the words."
The burial in the mission grounds was a subdued affair no tears from the young girl who simply laid her hand on the mound of earth in a gesture of farewell.
She rose and turned to look at these men who were now to be her family.
Tbc.
Word count 4,600.
April 2017
