Maddie rubbed the sleep from her eyes and yawned; the coffee sitting on the table in front of her did nothing to stir her from her lethargic state. The cantina was as busy as ever in the morning, serving coffee and breakfast to the locals as usual. Roosters crowed and horses whickered outside; a low murmur of Spanish flowed and ebbed inside, lulling Maddie to slumber.

"You're awfully quiet this morning," Landon said as he lifted his coffee to his lips.

Maddie nodded groggily. "Yeah. Didn't get much sleep last night."

"Why?"

She shrugged. "Don't know. Just couldn't sleep." She looked her mentor over and scoffed. "You're in better shape than I am."

A wise glimmer lit up his grey eyes as he uttered, "Well, I wasn't going on a moonlit ride."

Her heart stuttered in her chest, and her eyes widened. She took a long swig of her coffee.

"You're not as sneaky as you think you are, niña."

"Did… did you tell anyone?" she whispered.

"Now, why would I do that?"

Her grip tightened around the coffee mug.

He laughed softly. "You don't have to worry about me spilling your secret. He didn't belong here anyway."

She looked up at him and smiled. "Really?"

"Of course." He sipped at his coffee and stared off into space. His smirk faded as his eyes glossed over in thought. "If I were a younger man, I would have taken a shot at breaking him, but now…I'm too old to be doing that foolishness." He looked back at her, and his eyes brightened as he continued, "But you're young and spritely. You did just fine with him."

"Gracias, mi maestro."

He opened his to reply, but he was cut off as someone cried out, "¡Señor Ricketts!" He, along with Maddie and most of the people in the cantina, turned and watched as one of the horsemen ran inside, panting and wide-eyed. He rushed to Landon and huffed, "¡Senor Ricketts, por favor ayuda! One of the horses in the corral has been stolen!"

Landon jumped to his feet. "Which one?"

"The stallion! He's gone, señor!"

"How?"

"Someone must've stolen him last night! I went to go feed the caballos this morning and he was nowhere to be found."

"Are you sure he didn't just jump the fence?"

"Of course I'm sure! Por favor, ayudame. ¡Necesitamos encontrar el mesteño!"

"And just how do you plan to do that, señor?" Maddie asked. "He's a mustang—he's made to survive out there. How would you track him?"

The man looked her over with a suspicious scowl. "What do you know of it?"

She stood up. "I know more than you. I know how to catch them and earn their trust. You should know that senor. You watched me tame him, along with all the other supposed jinetes here."

His eyes narrowed to black slits. "Did you set him free?! ¡Dime!"

Landon stepped between them. "Maddie had nothing to do with that stallion's disappearance. I showed her to her room last night, and she didn't get out of bed until an hour ago."

The horseman looked around Landon and stared Maddie down. "¿Es esto cierto?"

She nodded curtly. "Si, es cierto."

He held her gaze a long moment before he looked back at Landon. With a sharp sigh, he turned and stomped out of the cantina, muttering incoherently under his breath.

Maddie felt her body become encased with a cold wave of trepidation as she watched him storm off. "Do you think anyone else suspects me?"

Landon finished his coffee and set the cup down on the table. "Perhaps, but it doesn't matter, Maddie. They'll take my word over anyone here. I've been good to these people, so they trust me. You shouldn't worry about it. What's done is done, and that's all there is to it."

The young girl smirked up at him. "Muchos gracias, mi maestro."


The sun beat down on Chuparosa that afternoon, encasing the town in the usual sweltering heat of Mexico. Maddie took refuge in the shade and sat on the bench under the alcalde. She finally felt relaxed, despite her morning scare. The horsemen had congregated near the corral and conversed in hushed tones, and from what Maddie could eavesdrop as she brushed out her horse, they suspected her of course, and when she finished with her horse and walked by them, they shot her dirty looks. She walked on, feigning innocence, but her heart pounded and her breath quickened the second she passed through the entrance into town. However, after three hours, no one approached or threatened her. Landon's statement held true as the day progressed, and before long, she was grinning with contentment as she watched the usual goings-on of the town. Men drank in the cantina and gambled at the poker table, women washed clothes beside the fountain, horses and donkeys stood tied to the hitching posts stomping their feet and swatting their tails at the incessant flies. A trio of Latinos stood nearby, talking the day away. Everything was as it should be; there was nothing out of the ordinary…

Except…

A man Maddie had never laid eyes on came riding into town on a palomino stallion. He stopped and hitched his horse by the banco next to Landon's mare. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, wearing a dark vest, a light-colored shirt with the sleeves rolled up just below the elbows, dark trousers, a dusty old satchel, and a dark-grey hat with a small white feather poking out from the black hat band on the right side. He was ruggedly handsome with his unkempt long hair and scruffy beard and mustache. Slung over his back was a Henry repeater; hanging on his hip was a revolver.

Her interest was piqued as he strolled past the three Latinos who were deep in conversation- Maddie didn't think too much of them, for they were hardly the sort of men she considered trust-worthy, outstanding citizens of Chuparosa. Maddie blinked as the three noticed the foreigner approaching them. They turned and walked out onto the street in front of the stranger.

"Eh, gringo, ¿hablas espanol?" the man with the large sombrero asked.

"No, sir," the white man responded as he slowed and came to a stop before them. Maddie cringed at the gringo's pronunciation as he continued, "Pardon, pero, yo habla un solo poquito español."

The Latinos chuckled.

"¿Habla English?" the gringo asked.

"Si, gringo, habla mucho ingles," the first man responded. He walked around the foreigner, counting with his fingers as he said, "Hablo 'filthy fucking bean eater'. Hablo 'slippery little Mexican'. Hablo 'little piece of shit'. ¿Comprende, amigo? ¿Comprende?" He faced the white man and spread his arms out. "Hey, what are you doing here, gringo? I don't remember inviting you to my country."

"I don't think you did, amigo. I mean you no harm."

The man threw back his head and laughed. "You mean us no harm? This is funny! What harm could you do to us, exactly?"

"Nothing, amigo," the gringo replied, sounding generally friendly and empathetic. "Now, I appreciate the welcome committee, but I'd hate to spoil a beautiful afternoon on such beautiful land with any further unpleasantries. Now, if you'll excuse me…" He took a step forward.

The man held up a hand, stopping his advancement, and said, "Ah, hold it, gringo. I think you are forgetting something: a little taxation!" He and his friends laughed boisterously. "I have a large family!"

Their laughter died down as the white man responded, "I too have a family, friend. So that we may see our families again, I suggest we part ways amicably."

Maddie gasped slightly as one of the Latinos came up behind him and plucked his hat off his head. The three laughed as the burly Mexican placed it atop his head and paraded around, giggling mischievously.

The man with the sombrero pointed down at his boots. "Can I see the boots, gringo?"

The American's tone turned deadly as he spat, "I think you can see them just fine from where you're standing, señor."

The Latinos took a few steps back; their hands hovered over their revolvers.

"Take off the boots, Americano."

He paused as he glared at the three. Maddie was surprised when he complied, "As you wish," and knelt. The Latinos laughed at him, but just then, the Americano stood back up, drawing his revolver at the same time, and shot them all down before retrieving his hate and putting it on his head where it rightfully belonged.

Out of nowhere, Landon appeared and approached the stranger. Maddie blinked, still in shock and not realizing he'd been sitting by the posada all that time. With a terse tone, he said, "Oh, very good. Very good indeed, sir. What a great way to improve border relations. An illiterate farmer crossing the river, coming into this civilization and butchering the local peasants. Thank you very much, sir."

"Don't mention it, old man."

Landon pointed at him. "You kill peasants, you become a peasant." He halted before the dead bodies and studied them briefly with consternation.

"I never aspired to be anything more," the stranger explained.

"Ah, a socialist, huh?" Landon turned back to face him and grumbled, "No wonder you left America."

"I am many things, most of them bad, but a man of political principles?" He shook his head. "No."

"Well then, I fear Mexico may not be for you, sir."

"Don't you worry about me."

"Oh, but I do worry. An angry man, a long way from home. A man who handles his gun as sloppy as you."

The gringo shifted his weight from one boot to the other. "I can handle a gun okay, partner."

"Yeah, as long as you're killing quail or peasants," Landon shot back, pointing down to the three dead men. "But if you have face another man, you don't stand a chance."

"And you do?"

"I can show you a few tricks." He beckoned for the man to follow and took a few steps. "Come with me."

"Hold on," the gringo said, stopping him in his steps and looking as if he recognized him. "What's your name?"

"Ah, that doesn't matter anymore. And you?"

"I never had a name, mister," he replied with a shake of his head. "I was raised in an orphanage."

Landon chortled as he offered his hand to the man. "A real American, huh? Wonderful, just wonderful."

They shook hands and met gazes before walking out of town. Maddie stood and followed at a brisk jog. The sound of gunshots spurred her to run faster, and just as she neared the edge of town, she slowed and found Landon and the stranger conversing like old friends while the gringo target practiced. Maddie slunk back around the corner and stood watching with rising anger.

"Well, you won't make it in the circus, but you can shoot," her mentor commented as he sat down on one of the chairs that he'd placed there. "Keep on practicing."

"Thank you, old man," the gringo replied and fired once more, shattering another bottle.

"Now, who are you?" Landon demanded.

"No one interesting." He lowered the revolver. "Who are you?"

"Landon Ricketts. Not a name that means much anymore."

The gringo's eyebrows rose as he turned and faced him. "It means a little. You were famous when I was a boy."

The old man scoffed. "Yeah, killing men's a strange kind of fame. I was the fastest in my time. I must have been. I'm the only one left."

"What are you doing here?"

"Living quietly, waiting."

"For what?"

"I don't know. And you?"

"I'm looking for a couple of men," he responded as he holstered his revolver. "Bill Williamson, Javier Escuella is from here."

Landon took out a cigarette and gave one to the man, who withdrew a match and struck it across his pant leg. He lit Landon's cigarette as the old man withdrew another from his jacket and put it in his mouth. "It could be... this whole place is teeming with Americans on the run, mercenaries, locals hell-bent on revolution."

"Revolution? Another one?"

"Yeah. Never really ends. This whole place has been a hotbed for revolution since before the Spanish left. Now, there's another local guy running around promising the peasants their freedom… just like the last two or three. Local government, foul bunch. Colonel Allende, he runs his place like a feudal king. He's an awful individual."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah… until someone puts a bullet in his head." Landon stood back up, as he the stranger. "C'mon, let's get back to it. You gotta keep that back straight, otherwise it makes the gun jump." He handed the man his revolver. "See if this Schofield makes a difference. Now that's a real gun."

Maddie's jealousy grew tenfold as she watched the man decimate three bottles in rapid succession.

"Well done," Landon praised. "Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" He waved the man after him as he walked off. "C'mon, I've got another idea."

Maddie gasped as the men walked closer to where she stood. She ducked around the corner.

The man followed as Landon continued, "The birds around here are always raising hell. Scavenging and scaring the life out of the locals. I say we put your new-found skills to the test, while doing a public service for the good people of Chuparosa." He stopped in front of the awning, where several vultures were perched. "Here will do. I'm gonna scare up some birds. Let's see if you can take down more than one at a time."

Rapidly, Landon drew his gun and fired, causing the vultures to spook and fly up in fear. Maddie's mouth dropped as the gringo shot down four in a row in no less than three seconds.

"Nicely done, sir," Landon praised. "You've been taught well."

Just then, her mentor and the stranger and walked toward her hiding spot. Maddie quickly jogged over to the row of hitched horses and donkeys and hid amongst them, pretending to be one of the horses' owner as she petted a bay gelding. Moments later, the men walked back into town.

"I have to say, I'm surprised you've heard of Landon Ricketts. I would have thought an old goat like me would have been long forgotten by now."

"I heard many a story when I was a boy," the gringo replied. "Still do, sometimes."

"What, these days? I find that hard to believe. What do people say?"

"Ah, you know how those conversations go. Fellas arguin' over who's the toughest, who's the fastest, and who shot people in the back."

"I'd place good money on me still being the fastest."

Both Maddie and the two conversing men were surprised when Ramon came jogging out of the banco towards Landon.

"¡Ay, Señor Ricketts! ¡Señor Ricketts! ¡Señor Ricketts! ¡Señor Ricketts! Por favor, señor. Our bank wagon's under attack just outside of town! We need your help again."

"Whoa, slow down, Ramon," Landon said as he held up a hand. "We'll take care of it."

Ramon appeared relieved and grateful. "Thank you, señor. Again, you are the savior of this town."

"Well, my friend," Landon said as he looked at the stranger, "are you ready to take a less… theoretical exam?"

"Sure. I don't think I even rode with no savior before."

The old man smiled warmly at him before walking over their hitched horses beside the banco. "Come on. These people need me."

With her mouth agape in outrage, Maddie watched as Landon and the stranger mounted up and rose out of town at a fast canter, their horses' hooves kicking up dust in their wake. Maddie shoved her way out between the horses and donkeys and ran out of town after them; however, she stopped just below the entrance when she saw them galloping down the road towards Tesoro Azul.

"You son of a bitch!" Maddie roared after her mentor. She knew he was too far away to hear her threats, but she continued in a tirade of curses. "How DARE you just throw me aside like that! How DARE you just give your trust to some stupid gringo who wasn't even in town for more than five minutes! YOU BASTARD!"

She spun around and stomped back to her room. "¡Ese bastardo! ¿Quien se cree que es? Who the hell does that gringo think he is, buddying up to him like that? I've been here for months, and here he is off riding with some son of a bitch he doesn't know from Adam in a day! ¿Por que no me pidio que fuera con el? ¡Puedo disparar y montar mas rapido que ese gringo!" When she got to her room, she slammed the door shut behind her and paced around with her head bowed and her hair and duster billowing about. Her boots clacked as she went back and forth in front of her bed. "This is BULLSHIT! How dare he!"

It wasn't long until she heard a wagon rolling into town and the clip-clop of hooves. She stopped in mid-step as she recognized Landon's voice; she stood glaring at the door, waiting and listening.

"¡Sano y salvo!" said Ramon. "¡Nunca podre agradecer lo suficiente!"

"Buy me a whiskey later, and we'll call things about even," Landon replied, and then there was silence. Maddie dared not to breathe as she struggled to hear what was transpiring outside. Her heart fluttered as she heard boots approaching her door.

Sure enough, Landon opened the door and walked in, looking worn out but with an accomplished grin on his face. His mirth immediately disappeared the second he met gazes with his young apprentice and asked, "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong with YOU, Mister Ricketts?!" Her hands balled into shaking fists at her sides as she bellowed, "You forbid me to help you with criminales outside of town, but the second some strange man shows up, you become his best friend and have him help you out?! I've been here for months, and not even five minutes after that fuckin' gringo shows up, you're best friends with him and go off without even considering me to go with you! Is it because he's a man, and I'm a girl? ¡Decirme la verdad!"

He held up a hand to calm her. "It was nothing but a quick ride outside of town. The bank wagon—"

"—Was bein' attacked, I know! But why didn't you come find me? Why did you just haphazardly decide to have that stranger help you? Haven't I proven I know what I'm doin' with a gun?! I've been bustin' my ass for you, and this is how you repay me?!"

The old man bristled and took a step towards her. He pointed down at her, his finger inches from her face, as he spat, "¡No hablar a mi como que, niña! As far as I'm concerned, that whole ordeal is no concern of yours! This was a very dangerous thing to have had you ride along with me—I'd much prefer it if you were here safe and out of harm's way."

"You cannot be serious, Landon! I'm better shot than that son of a bitch out there! You know I—"

"You are in no way better than that man, Maddie, and you aren't ready to go riding around facing certain death! How foolish do you think I am to have you come with me? I care more about you than you think I do. Someone has to!"

His heartfelt declaration cut off the angry retort she was about to throw at him. Her creased brow softened as she stared up at him.

Landon's countenance softened as he withdrew his finger from her face. He sighed greatly as he bowed his head and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Do not be angry with me over this foolish matter—that man is nowhere near as important to me as you are, mi niña. Besides, I don't even know who the hell he is. But while he's in town, I don't want you associating with him, not until I know he can truly be trusted. ¿Entiendes?"

"But you just went out there with him and saved the wagon! Why would you do that when you don't trust this stranger? Do you not trust me still?" She shook her head, her long hair swaying. "No lo entiendo."

"You will understand when I do, Maddie. For the time being, keep practicing, and avoid him if you can, alright?"

"But—"

"Alright?"

She pursed her lips as she studied his face. After another moment longer, she sighed and bowed her head. "Sí, Señor Ricketts. Entiendo."

He smirked down at her and cupped the side of her face with a large hand. "Bien."