A PAST FOREVER PRESENT

CHAPTER 9

Johnny had no use for the wake-up call from the clerk, at 4 a.m. He was already up and around. By the time the night clerk came to knock at his door, he was shaved, dressed and almost ready to go.

"Mr. Lancer, are you awake?" asked a polite voice on the other side of the door.

"Yeah, I am. Be coming down shortly," Johnny answered.

"I got some coffee started for you. No one else is awake yet," continued the clerk, the sound of his voiced muffled by the thickness of the door.

"Thanks."

Before long, Johnny went down the stairs and made it to the counter where a cup of hot coffee awaited him along with a few hot biscuits and butter on a small plate. He thanked the clerk, grabbed them and headed over to a series of chairs placed at the bottom of the stairs, along one side of the wall. He sat down and enjoyed his morning coffee. The clerk had made it just the way he liked it – strong, no sugar and no milk.

He made a mental note to tell Scott about this particular hotel and the nice people working here and that made him chuckle. He would never have noticed something like this before. Hell, he never did stay very often in hotels at that time – couldn't afford anything too fancy. He had mostly slept on the trail or in stables or anywhere he could find where he would be in relative safety – often in a not so soft bed with some female company that he, somehow, always found without too much trouble.

Now, things were so much better for him. As Murdoch Lancer's son, he could afford almost any fancy hotels he wished. But his preference always rested on simpler accommodations. He still didn't feel quite right in any place too ostentatious and, more often then not, he would choose a smaller hotel, unless his father was with him. Then, he would give in and try to make his father happy. His father… Somehow, this was now a comforting thought. Who would have believed that Johnny Madrid would have fallen hard for a father, a brother and a sister – a family, a real one?

Fifteen minutes later, he was on his way to the livery to retrieve his horse – a small dark grey mustang he had named Shadow and had trained himself. He was fond of the horse. Sure, it wasn't Barranca, but next to his palomino, Shadow was his favorite horse at the ranch. He was fast and strong and possessed a sure-footing, just what Johnny needed for this part of his journey to his past. A journey he wasn't really thrilled about but that he needed to do, for his peace of mind.

True to his word, Val had hurried out of his office to get a hold of Jimmy, his deputy, whom he had found making his rounds. Val had taken the young man back to the office, where Murdoch and Scott were still waiting.

"Jimmy, you don't go doing anything stupid while I'm away, okay?"

"No, Sheriff, I won't. You know you can count on me."

"I know that. Now, I don't have time to tell Mayor Higgs that I'm leaving. If he asks, just tell him I've gone with the Lancers on a rescue mission."

"A rescue mission?"

"Yeah. Just tell him I'll be back as quickly as possible."

The young man nodded; he was so thoroughly entranced with his "new" temporary responsibilities as sheriff of Green River during Val's absence that he didn't bother about asking who they were going to rescue. By the time the Sheriff finished giving him his instructions, he was puffing his chest.

Val and Scott were still laughing as they left town, even though the situation was less than cheerful. Soon after reaching the limits of the town, they stopped.

"Where to?" asked Scott, looking expectantly to Val.

"If I know him well, he will choose the most difficult way to get to the border."

"Why?" asked Murdoch.

"To make sure whoever is following him, if someone does that is, will think twice about going after him."

"You're sure?" inquired Scott, thoughtfully.

"Almost. But then, we're talking about Johnny here, not any two-bit no account."

"So, which way do we go, then?" asked Murdoch.

"Depends where you want to catch him – before, or after, he crosses the border."

"Preferably before," answered Scott. "Particularly since you said it is still very dangerous for him down there."

"He's got a few choices. He can cross the Tehachapi range either at the Tehachapi Pass or at the Tejon Pass. If he chooses the Tehachapi Pass, he'll be heading through the Mojave Desert in the direction of Barstow and then Phoenix and Tucson. If he takes the Tejon Pass, it's going to be in the direction of San Diego. Once there, he either heads over to Tucson or he crosses the border and travels through the Altar Desert up until he reaches Nogales."

"Nogales? Is that where this woman lives?" Murdoch wanted to know.

"Nope, but not far from there."

"What do you propose, then?" Scott asked. "We've got no idea which way he took."

"I'd say we ride first to Bakersfield. He's gotta go that way, no matter where he's heading after for. Maybe we'll find some clues there."

"To Bakersfield, then. He has at least an eight hour head start on us," Murdoch decided.

"Well, let's not waste any more time," said Scott, spurring his mount, closely followed by Val and Murdoch.

Johnny had been on the road for about two hours. The area surrounding Bakersfield was very similar to Lancer with rolling hills and green pastures as far as his eyes could see. And it reminded him of home. Not that long ago, he wouldn't have minded traveling alone, being on his own, taking care of himself and minding his own business. Well, up until he'd found work or trouble… And trouble had a way of finding him, always and forever, without consideration as to whether or not he was looking for it.

But now, things had changed. Gone were the days where he enjoyed being alone. Now, he was craving the presence of his family. He missed the easy camaraderie he shared with his brother and how Teresa and him were always teasing each other. He even missed bumping heads with his father, although this was becoming more and more rare.

This time, he felt as if he was on a deserted road, en route to perdition – which he was, in a way. Why was he being so loyal to his few friends? He snorted and looked around himself, listening to the sound of nature. Here and there, birds were chirping, chasing each other in the blue sky above his head and in the few trees disseminated along the path he was following.

He could feel his horse's restlessness under him. The mustang sure seemed to feel like he wanted to go like the wind. Before long, they would get into a more wooded area and Johnny would have to get the horse going at an easier pace. It was now or never.

"That what you want, Shadow?"

The horse shook his head up and down and Johnny laughed.

"Let's go, then," he said, spurring his mount to a gallop and letting him take full lead, only to stop as he reached the line of trees announcing the beginning of the forest, a couple of miles further.

"Whoa, Shadow. Enough," the young man said, as he pulled the reins to make his horse slow down. "Take it easy, boy."

They entered the woods slowly, at an easier gait. Huge oaks, majestics firs and pines and willows and poplars now surrounded them, along with various other vegetation – the names of which Johnny didn't know. They travelled along a narrow road, snaking across the forest. Soon afterwards, they reached a river and stopped there to rest a bit. Johnny led Shadow to the water. He bent down to drink the cool refreshing water and after refilling his canteen, let his horse drink his fill.

He then walked to a nearby oak and stretched down in the shade provided by its leaves; after ground-tying Shadow not far from him. He pulled his hat over his eyes and allowed himself to drift off for a few minutes.

Half an hour later, he woke up, feeling rested and ready to tackle the next part of his journey. He went to his horse, patted his neck and scratched him behind the ears. The horse whinnied with pleasure. The young man mounted swiftly and, once more taking the reins in his hands, he urged his mount back on the narrow path leading through the forest and slowly up the mountain.