South of the Rio Grande
Mid-Morning
Chris Larabee stood underneath the remainder of the roof that had once been a church steeple. He lit a cheroot and let the strong smoke ease some of the tension that had kept him from sleeping. He turned to look inside the cave and a quick smile formed when he heard the soft snores that told him Dunne was sleeping soundly. Chris returned his attention to the rain that continued to pelt the ground, turning the dirt into oozing mud near the entrance. The two horses were quietly eating the grass that had broken through the floorboards.
Larabee inhaled deeply of the smoke and let his thoughts wonder back through the years. What little sleep he'd managed to grab had been peppered with flashes of dreams. There were a lot of things about his past he regretted, but killing Alonzo De Rivera was not one of them. The man was cruel and what he'd done to Maria was something no man had a right to do to any woman. The problem was Nathan and Vin were in De Rivera's hands and if he found out who they were there was no doubt he would make them suffer for his son's death.
Again Chris inhaled deeply, blowing the smoke in circles above his head and watching as they were quickly dispersed by the wind that blew through the opening in the wall. Lightning flashed in the distance and Chris noticed the sky was beginning to lighten, a sign that the storm was weakening. He wanted to move out as soon as the rain stopped, but he knew the unknown terrain would probably be dangerous for them, yet in his heart he knew they had to move quickly.
Chris threw the half smoked cheroot on the ground and stamped it out in the mud. The rain would have made the Rio Grande impossible to cross and that meant Buck, Ezra, and Josiah would be delayed in joining them. That meant it was up to him and JD to find De Rivera's hacienda and figure out the best way to rescue their friends. He heard movement behind him and turned to see JD easing up off the ground.
"The storm seems to be letting up," Dunne observed as he joined Larabee. "Want some breakfast?"
"Yeah," Larabee answered simply and noticed the frown on Dunne's face. "Something bothering you, Kid?"
"I was just thinking Buck and the others are gonna have a hard time crossing the river. It's probably flooded the banks and is running hard."
"Probably," the blond said, watching as Dunne moved back inside and added several pieces of dry wood to the fire. "We'll head out as soon as the rain stops."
JD nodded and watched the dark clad gunslinger for several seconds. There was no doubt that Larabee was worried about the missing men, hell, so was he, but Chris and Vin had a special friendship. One that Dunne envied at times, and wondered if he'd ever find that kind of special connection that spoke of a tie that seemed stronger than blood. Turning away he began preparing breakfast from the food left from last night's meal.
M7M7M7M7M7M7M7
De Rivera Hacienda
Late Morning
Nathan stood on the verandah looking out over the wind swept grounds. The rain had finally begun to ease up, but the damage from the storm was readily apparent. There were several trees down to the right of the fields, and Jackson was sure there was more he couldn't see. It was what he couldn't see that had the healer worried. Since their arrival the day before he'd seen nothing of the Texan and that scared the hell out of him.
The tooth had been infected, badly, and although he'd removed it there was no telling if the infection was still present. That coupled with the fact that Vin had been put to work in the fields before he'd been given the chance to clean the gaping hole in his mouth properly. Nathan leaned against the railing and let the rain run down his face, but did not take his eyes from the structure where the mestizo people lived. He silently prayed Vin was safely tucked in one of the beds, warm and dry and away from the perils of nature's wrath.
M7M7M7M7M7M7M7
De Rivera Hacienda
Late Morning
Vin had not seen a soul during his imprisonment in the cage. Sleep had been fleeting, leaving him incredibly exhausted while the pain in his lower back kept him from finding a comfortable position. Even the rain, which was something he'd always welcomed had become a torment to his aching body. The simple clothing he'd been given was soaked and stuck to his skin, chafing in places as he moved to get comfortable.
Vin moved his hand to his jaw and felt the swollen area, slipping his tongue into the hole left by the extraction of the tooth. He tasted blood used his fingers to probe the outside of his mouth until he felt the tender lump and pressed hard. Blood and pus spilled from the abscess and he spit it through the bars of his cage as tears formed in his eyes. The pain was as excruciating as anything he'd ever experienced, but he continued to press the area, spitting the poison onto the ground until there was nothing left.
Vin looked up at the sky and opened his mouth, letting the rain fill the inside and swishing it around. It took a while to rid himself of the foul taste and then came the tremors that rocked his body. He'd always had trouble with the cold and right now he felt as if he'd never be warm again. He sat back against the bars, closed his eyes and tried to ignore the way his teeth chattered, sending pain along jagged nerve endings. Sleep finally came as the dark clouds parted slightly and the first rays of the sun broke through.
M7M7M7M7M7M7M7
North of the De Rivera Hacienda
Early Afternoon
Hernando Lopez rode slightly ahead of his men and thought about his life. Don Garcia De Rivera was a hard man when you were on his bad side and rotated his shoulders where the scars from his own caning remained. By bringing Nathan Jackson to the Hacienda he'd managed to erase some of the older man's anger, but it wasn't enough for all to be forgiven. He knew what he had to do to get back in De Rivera's good graces and riding back to Purgatorio was a small part of his plans.
Lopez knew the name of the gunslinger who had killed Alonzo De Rivera and had a good description of the man. He had enough men with him to take the man by force and bring him back to Don Garcia…alive if possible, but Hernando was not a man to take chances. That was the reason behind him taking so many men with him. Oh, he wasn't a coward, but he was smart enough to know that a man with Larabee's reputation was a force to be reckoned with.
Lopez planned on finding out the man's whereabouts by visiting some of the small spreads north of Purgatorio. Perhaps they could find another pretty puta to kill some time with. He knew Don Garcia would punish him if he brought trouble to his doorstep, but Hernando enjoyed using his hands on a woman…and leaving his mark on her.
"Hernando, are you sure going after Larabee is a good idea?" Pedro Gonzales asked.
"Larabee has to pay…Don Garcia will pay us for bringing him to the Hacienda," Lopez explained.
"What good is that if we are dead, Compadres? The stories I heard in Purgatorio say that he has six compadres of his own and that they are very good with their guns."
"Are you afraid, Pedro?"
"Perhaps, it would be foolish not to be. It is said Larabee is faster than lightning and has killed over fifty men."
"A reputation is just that and perhaps Larabee hides behind his friends because he is not so good with a gun," Lopez said and rode ahead. He did not care for Gonzales' reminder of how deadly their foe was. 'How good are you, Larabee? I bet I could take you down!' he thought and rode along in silence as the clouds began to dissipate.
M7M7M7M7M7M7M7
De Rivera Hacienda
Early Afternoon
Vin slowly became aware of the insects buzzing around him and flicked his hand at them, but they returned again and again. His jaw ached and he used his tongue to touch the spot where Nathan had pulled the abscessed tooth, wincing when he felt the lump there. He pressed his finger against the outside of his cheek and spat out the foul tasting fluid that erupted onto his tongue. He shivered in spite of the heat from the sun that shone through the bars and continued to spit the bloodied pus from his mouth until he collapsed against the bars in a huddle. He drifted toward sleep, listening to the incessant buzzing, but jolted awake when a hand reached through the bars and pulled his head back sharply.
"Hello, Puta," Fernando Gores said and jabbed the prisoner's ribs with the foot long stick he held.
"Fuck off!" Tanner snarled and pushed the stick away, receiving a jab to the groin for his efforts.
"Did you think you could sleep all day when there is work to be done, Puta? Your kind does not eat or drink until the work is finished," Gores warned and motioned for two men as he unlocked the cuffs and opened the cage.
"Trouble, Fernando?"
"Si, Juan, this gringo puta thinks he can sleep while the others work for their beds. You and Jorge get him on his feet and drag him to the fields," Gores ordered.
Juan and Jorge reached into the cage and dragged the prisoner out, dropping him to the ground and laughing when Gores drew back his foot and kicked the downed man in the right side.
"Now, Puta, get on your feet and get moving or that friend of yours will suffer for your insolence!" the overseer warned.
Vin ignored the taunting voices and slowly drew his body upward until he stood on shaky legs. His breath caught in his throat as pain flared in his right side, but he remained stone-faced as he turned to face his tormentors. He wanted to deck the man who'd kicked him, but had no doubt Gores would find some way to make Nathan Jackson pay.
Gores fought hard not to wilt under the ice blue glare that was turned in his direction and finally shoved the American toward the line of mestizos heading for the fields. It would be hard work after the heavy rains, and normally they would wait for the sun to dry the fields, but Fernando had a cruel streak to him and enjoyed watching others suffer. The gringo was strong, and insolent, but Gores vowed to find a way to make him suffer.
"He is a strong one, Fernando," Jorge said, as the Texan stood tall and walked past him.
"Si," Gores agreed, "but the gringo's strength will only make his journey to hell more enjoyable."
"Maybe he could warm my bed...would you enjoy that, Puta?" Juan asked and the trio broke out in raucous laughter.
Vin heard their comments, but refused to be baited and stepped up beside the man he'd worked with the day before.
Pedro nodded and his dark eyes shone with admiration at how well the gringo handled himself with the cruel overseer. The young man reminded him of a friend from long ago. His name eluded him now, a result of too many blows to the head, but he vowed to keep his memory and make it a part of who he was. He did that by showing kindness to those who fell under De Rivera's harsh ownership. The young man walking beside him had an inner strength that could not be denied and Pedro prayed he would never lose it because here, at the Hacienda, strength was sometimes the only thing that kept you alive.
Vin could feel the older man watching him, but his eyes strayed toward the building and his thoughts returned to the former slave. He knew Nathan hated what the Hacienda represented and that it was a reminder of his younger life at the Jackson Plantation. 'Keep yer chin up, Nathan,' Tanner thought as they reached the fields and bent to the task of caring for the new cocoa bean plants.
M7M7M7M7M7M7M7
Southwest of the Rio Grande
Late Afternoon
The clouds had parted and gave way to an azure blue sky dotted with puffy ones that were carried slowly on the afternoon breeze. The landscape was dotted with bright wildflowers and fruit bearing trees and they'd passed several streams that had overflowed their banks because of the storm. The sun poked out from behind a cloud and sent shadows across their trail, but neither Chris Larabee nor JD Dunne took the time to see the beauty of nature. They rode southwest, hoping and praying they were riding in the right direction. They'd stopped an elderly couple and asked about the De Rivera Hacienda and been told it was at least a two days ride over rough terrain.
JD thought about Vin and how much he'd learned from him. Tanner was a natural tracker, and could read sign as easily as most people read the newspaper. The Texan had told him he'd learned from the Comanche and Kiowa and he'd learned early on what to look for. A broken blade of grass could tell the direction a man had taken, while scuffed over stones could tell you whether the prey was in a hurry or riding at a snail's pace. He glanced left and right along the trail and knew the heavy rains had washed away any evidence that Tanner and Jackson's kidnappers had ridden in this direction.
"Are you all right, Son?" Larabee asked when Dunne suddenly drew his horse to a stop.
"I was just thinking about Vin…tracking comes so damn easy to him," the Bostonian answered.
"Vin had no choice, but to learn things the hard way, JD. He's been alone most of his life and for him it meant natural survival."
"He showed me things I never would have thought of when checking for signs and at first it didn't make sense, but he's right and it's simple things like a broken blade of grass or turned over rocks that can tell you which way a man's gone," Dunne said.
"Vin told me you were a quick learner, Kid," Larabee praised and saw the light in the younger man's eyes.
"He did?" Dunne's voice squeaked as Larabee lit a cheroot and they started along the trail once more. He didn't need an answer; the simple nod from the blond was answer enough. It was more than enough and made him sit up truer in the saddle.
TBC
