Chapter 10 - The Daring Rescue
A while later, after the fennec fox was brought in to be healed by the women, the amigos were in the very airplane that Ned had spotted. "Ned, are you sure this is a good idea?" Lucky asked wearily, "I think this is stealing."
"Well, right now, it's called borrowing!" Ned replied as he started the airplane, "But it'll be just like the good old days when I was in Little Neddie Goes to War!"
In a matter of minutes, the plane was soon off the ground and in the air! Ned piloted the plane in the direction that El Loco and his comrades went, and they were soon in sight. "CECILE LAFLEUR AT NINE O'CLOCK!" Dusty announced when he saw the captors and captive below.
Back on the ground, El Loco and his friends heard noise and looked up in the sky. No one could believe their eyes! Cecile was amazed but worried about the plane; she didn't know if a friend or enemy was driving it, but then she saw the familiar black and white uniforms worn by the amigos and became relieved that they were coming to the rescue. El Loco and his men, however, were angered and distressed that the amigos found them. Soon, the airplane landed near the bandits and their captive, and then the amigos came out. "All right, El Loco," said Dusty with a glare, "My friends and I have lived up to not bringing any horses, guns or lassos. Now hand the girl over here!"
"You'd better listen to him, El Loco," Miguel whispered to his boss.
El Loco rolled his eyes and then looked at Dusty with a frown. "Very well," he said under his breath, "You may have her. But I guarantee you that we are not finished with you gringos yet!"
Ned and Dusty untied the ropes around Cecile's wrists and removed the cloth from her face. "Oh, my heroes!" the French woman exclaimed, putting her arms around Dusty. All Dusty could do was roll his eyes.
It wasn't long before the amigos and Cecile were back in the plane, and riding back to San Flores. As they rode off, El Loco and his friends looked on with glares on their faces. "Where do you think they're going, El Loco?" asked Miguel.
"I don't know," replied El Loco, "But we are going to follow them, and wherever they may end up for a long period of time, we will seize our moment!"
Meanwhile, after the amigos and French woman arrived safely in San Flores, everyone cheered, and Angel and Kitty greeted Cecile with a big hug. "I thought we'd never see you again," said Kitty with a smile.
"Likewise," said Cecile, "And where is the little fox that was injured?"
Angel bent over and picked up the golden yellow fennec fox that was resting on the ground. It had a bandage on its right foreleg, and looked up at Angel with its innocent, baby blue eyes. "I named him Philip, after my father," explained Angel, "He has that innocent look in his eyes that seem to say, 'I love you, and I want you to be my sweetheart forever.'"
"Oh, that's a perfect name!" said Cecile, "I'm so glad to see him alive, thanks to Monsieur Dusty, who saved my life!"
Everyone looked at Dusty, who blushed red and stammered, "I-I did nothing of the thought. I-I just w-wanted to keep this 'show' going and make it more a-adventurous!" He didn't want to admit two things: one – he cared for Cecile and was concerned for her safety, and two – he didn't want to spill the beans that he and his friends were no longer actors, but real heroes.
"Come on, Dusty," snickered Ned, "I see that look in your eyes."
Dusty was about to insult Ned when Lucky said to his friends, "I think we should be moving on our way to Hollywood. What do you think?"
"What about the bill for the bed and breakfast?" asked Angel, "And three extra horses for me and my friends?"
"Not to worry," said Socorro, who came up to Angel with a smile, "Putting on a show against those banditos and rescuing your friend is enough payment for all those things! Just this once, I will let you all stay for free and have three free horses to raise and travel with. My family and I have three young and fit mares who are also very gentle but obedient."
About twenty minutes later, Juan and Ricardo came up to the amigos and amigas with three dapple-gray mares to ride on to Hollywood. "Flora, Clara, and Lucinda are looking for a good home," explained Juan, "But I am afraid our stable is too small for three horses. Promise us you'll take good care of them, and you only have to pay fifteen pesos!"
"We'll take them!" said Lucky, handing Juan fifteen pesos.
"Gracias, amigos and amigas!" thanked Ricardo, "I hope you find great success in Hollywood, and my family and I hope to see you in San Flores again soon!"
"I think you may!" Angel said with a smile as she carried Philip in her arms, then she turned to her friends and asked, "Shall we be on our way?"
Everyone nodded as they all mounted their horses and Lucky announced, "Remember, whenever there is injustice, you will find us!"
"Wherever there is suffering, we'll be there!" added Ned.
"Whenever liberty is threatened," added Dusty, "You'll find…"
"THE THREE AMIGOS!" the amigos all said in unison.
"Let's ride!" said Kitty. And with that, the amigos, women and their new fox rode off to their destination!