The Debt

Chapter 12

The yard filled with riders. José's first thought was one of relief. He had been expecting Tomas, followed by a quick death. He felt little interest in these new arrivals. They wouldn't be concerned about his plight, even if the guards should be lax enough to let him approach them. A fly buzzed close to his face and he raised his hand to brush it away. Two of the guards had moved closer, rifles raised and pointed at him and Johnny. Any minute they would be forced back inside, away from the prying eyes of these men.

It was Johnny's watchful stillness that drew José's attention back to the riders. They were soldiers, he realized, and their leader was…. He narrowed his eyes against the bright sunlight and peered through the dust stirred up by the horses. Hope replaced apathy and he would have moved if not for Johnny's hand gripping his sleeve. Following the direction of Johnny's gaze, he saw a slender blond man riding behind the colonel. So this was Johnny's hermano. Scott was staring at them, not quite managing to hide his feelings. José felt a pang of jealousy, quickly repressed.

"My name is Colonel Léon and I wish to speak with Captain Arriaga." The colonel's voice rang clearly around the yard.

The only sounds were the stamping of hooves, the jingle of tack and the creak of leather. One of the soldiers dismounted and came to hold the colonel's horse steady as the colonel swung out of the saddle. Léon's gaze raked the watching guards.

"Well?" he demanded. "Where is he?"

"Captain Arriaga is not here."

"Then I will wait in his office until he returns. Who is in charge in his absence?"

A heavily built man pushed through to stand before the colonel. "I am."

"Who's he?" Johnny asked softly.

"Paulo." José spat on the ground to show his contempt. "He is a mean bastard."

The two guards had moved closer, a tangible threat and José could almost taste the tension in the air.

"I am here at the request of Don Ricardo Martinez," the colonel continued. "He has received word that his son is being held here."

Paulo gestured to one of the guards who shoved José forward. As he stumbled, he saw the other guard blocking Johnny's path. He clumsily crossed the yard as Scott dismounted to stand just behind the colonel. The look of concern on Scott's face was a bitter contrast to the delight Emilio had shown at seeing him tortured and humiliated.

He was still some distance away when Paulo ordered him to stop. José didn't under estimate the seriousness of his position. His release was not a foregone conclusion and any display of defiance would be risky. He stopped and lowered his eyes, his heart beating wildly.

"You speak of this prisoner," Paulo said. "He was tried, convicted and sentenced to twenty years hard labor."

"There are concerns about the legality of that conviction." The colonel spoke as if the matter was of no great importance. "You also hold another man, Johnny Lancer. He has not been convicted."

"You are mistaken, Colonel. The man is a notorious gunfighter who is under sentence of death."

José risked a quick glance at Scott who looked pale, but remarkably composed. The colonel turned to say something to the blond man before answering Paulo. José was sure that it would be an admonition to keep hold of his temper.

"It is a very hot day. We would be more comfortable continuing this conversation inside with a cool drink." Colonel Léon held out his hand and one of his men handed him a saddlebag.

Paulo showed his stained, uneven teeth as he smiled. "Come this way, Colonel. I am sure we can resolve any…misunderstandings."

As the colonel and Paulo walked away José smiled to himself. He wondered how much money the colonel had brought with him, and how much he would be forced to part with. With Captain Arriaga gone, Paulo could take the bribe, while proclaiming himself blameless of any wrongdoing. With freedom finally within his grasp José allowed himself to think of Emilio and relish the prospect of taking his revenge.

For the men left in the yard there was nothing to do but wait. Everyone was on edge. The colonel's men had dismounted and all held their rifles loosely at their sides. José studied Scott. There was no resemblance to Johnny, whereas he and his friend could easily be mistaken for brothers. The well-bred face was bruised and dirty, and there was blood on Scott's shirt. As Scott bore no signs of serious injury José wondered whose blood it was.

He turned to look at Johnny. His friend's relaxed stance was deceptive. José had ridden with Johnny long enough in the past to know that the younger man was wound up tight like a spring. Also, Johnny had told him the story of his reprieve from the firing squad, including the attempts by his captors to renege on the deal. It was clear that Johnny was taking nothing for granted and, if trouble started, he was ready to go down fighting.

Thankfully, it didn't take long for the colonel and Paulo to return. Both men were smiling and the colonel immediately walked over to José and embraced him.

"You are free, my friend."

"And Johnny?"

"He is also free to leave."

It didn't take long for Paulo to persuade his colleagues of the wisdom of releasing the two prisoners. As one of the guards bent to unlock the leg irons, José watched Scott striding across the yard to shake Johnny's hand. Both men were smiling broadly, happy to be reunited. Once Johnny's shackles had been removed he dragged his brother over to José and the colonel.

"This is my brother, Scott," he announced happily. "Scott, this is José."

Scott held out his hand. "I'm pleased to finally meet you."

"Johnny has told me a lot about you. He is a fortunate man to have a brother he can rely on."

Scott's smile disappeared. "I met your brother," he said flatly.

José's stomach roiled. "How is my father?"

"I only saw him briefly. He does not seem to leave his bed, although he acted quickly to enlist the aid of Colonel Léon as soon as he heard what had happened to you."

"What of Emilio?" There was a cold place in his soul where his conscience had once lived. He needed to know where to find his enemy so that he could destroy him.

"He is at the hacienda under guard," the colonel answered. "Even in that, I have overstepped my authority. This is not a military matter, although I was glad to do this service for my old friend."

"We should get out of here," Johnny said, his watchful gaze roving around the yard. "Even with your men here I don't trust these greedy bastards to keep their word."

"You are very sensible. Come, José, I have brought more appropriate clothing for you. You can use the Captain's office. Somehow I do not think he is intending to return."

"And I need to find my gun and Barranca," Johnny said. "Come on, Brother, let's get moving."

LLLLL

Finding Barranca, restless, but well cared for, helped to release some of Johnny's tension. His gun belt was already securely fastened around his hips and now he rummaged in his saddlebags for a clean shirt. He carefully eased the shirt he was wearing over his head, feeling a renewed pulling on the healing wounds on his back.

"I was worried about you."

Johnny could feel his brother watching him and, no doubt, assessing the severity of these new marks. "Yeah, I was worried about you too."

"Tomas said that he whipped you, and that you told him who I was. I didn't believe him, but I wish you had told him to spare yourself the pain."

Johnny pulled on his blue flowered shirt, enjoying the feel of the soft material against his skin. Then, the significance of Scott's words sank in. His fingers stilled in the act of doing up the buttons and he turned to stare at his brother. "Tomas? You'd better tell me what happened, 'cause last I heard he intended to kill you if he got his hands on you."

"That was certainly his intention. I was Emilio's prisoner when the colonel turned up and rescued me. Tomas was killed by one of the soldiers."

"That colonel said he'd been sent by Don Ricardo. Guess Murdoch was right when he said we should try and talk to him."

Scott bowed his head. "I didn't speak to him. Did you know that Emilio is married?"

"No, and I pity any woman who has to spend her life with him. Why?"

"I told her about José and asked for her help. She refused, but I guess she must have changed her mind because she's the one who went to speak to the colonel."

"That was either brave or stupid of her. Emilio won't forgive her for that."

"There's something else – something that José doesn't know." Scott looked up, a frown creasing his brow. "She's pregnant."

"How far along is she?"

"Only a few months. I wouldn't have known if Emilio hadn't bragged about it. The fact that she's carrying his child might save her from the worst of his temper."

"It won't matter none soon," Johnny said matter-of-factly.

"Do you know what will happen if José goes after Emilio? He'll end up back in jail, on the run, or worse."

"What the hell do you expect him to do? Go home and pretend like none of this ever happened?"

"I know there isn't an easy answer…"

"Yeah, there is. Damn it, Scott, you know what it's like to be locked up. You held onto the memory of a loving grandfather and friends. What did José have to hold on to? Nothing! That hijo de puta had him force fed and beaten, and then laughed in his face. Could you forgive that? And, do you know what the law will do about Emilio? Nothing. He's too important to be put in jail. Besides, you've seen how it works here. Money can buy you anything."

Scott reached out to grip Johnny's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "I know all that. There has to be some alternative. Why don't you see if he'll come to Lancer, at least for a while? After all that he's been through, he needs a safe haven while he recovers his strength."

"D'you think I haven't tried?"

"I'm sorry, Johnny, I wasn't trying to be critical. If José goes after his brother, then he's no better than Emilio."

Johnny shook his head, angry with himself for losing his temper with Scott. "I don't know what to say to him. How can I talk him out of the same thing I'd do myself?"

"I don't know, Brother, but somehow you've got to try."

LLLLL

Scott felt as if he was sitting on a powder keg. Each side was eyeing the other, waiting for some act of treachery that would inevitably turn the yard into a killing field. Johnny was prowling around and Scott had the feeling that his brother wouldn't have minded the excuse to put a bullet in a few of the prison guards. After hearing a brief description of the barbaric treatment meted out to José, Scott could sympathize with that impulse. It had been no more than half an hour since the deal was struck to free the two captives, yet Scott felt as if they had been inside the prison for hours. The longer they stayed, the more chance there was of something going wrong. He kept his hand close to his gun and didn't allow his attention to stray.

When José finally emerged with Colonel Léon, Scott found it hard to hide his surprise. Rather than a ragged and subdued prisoner, José looked every inch the self-assured young Mexican nobleman. His black trousers and short black jacket were intricately embroidered, as was his white shirt. He had pulled his long dark hair back and tied it at the nape of his neck with a black ribbon. Striking blue eyes glittered like shards of ice in his tanned face. Only his work ravaged hands spoiled the picture, until José pulled on supple leather gloves. His gunbelt was a low slung as Johnny's and he looked comfortable wearing it.

Johnny strolled over to his friend and gave a low whistle. "Boy, you sure clean up well."

José's smile was brief. "I have a point to make."

"You're going back to the hacienda?"

José lowered his head and concentrated on straightening his gloves. "When I was first brought here, all I wanted was to go home to my family. Then I found that I have no home, and no family."

"That ain't true," Johnny protested.

"Si, mi amigo, it is, and I want my father to understand what he threw away when he chose to believe Emilio's lies."

José's words were as cold as his eyes. Scott was unsettled, not only by this frightening lack of emotion, but also by José's marked resemblance to Emilio. "What about your brother?"

"I will look him in the eye and see his fear before I pull the trigger."

"His wife is pregnant." Scott blurted the words hoping for a reaction, for something to show that this man still retained a shred of humanity.

Johnny's lips were compressed into a hard line, leading Scott to believe that he was treading on dangerous ground.

José's expression, however, didn't change. "Why do you believe that matters to me?"

"She's the one who saved you. It was Laurene who went to your father and told him the truth."

"I have no quarrel with her or her child."

"Do you want to hang?" When he received no answer Scott turned beseechingly to his brother. "Johnny, say something."

"It ain't our decision, Scott."

"What about you?" Scott challenged the colonel. "You have been a good friend to Don Ricardo. Do you want to see him lose both of his sons?"

"I have done all I can. This is a family matter and my friend would not thank me for interfering."

José inclined his head respectfully to the older man. "Gracias, Colonel. Now, I believe it is time for you to take your men home." His haughty stare lingered for a moment on Paulo who had been standing to one side, shamelessly eavesdropping. "If you see Captain Arriaga again, tell him from me that his days are numbered." Without waiting for a response, he strode toward the horse that had been readied for him. He swung into the saddle and spurred the animal through the open gate.

"Are you just going to let him go?" Scott demanded.

Johnny settled his hat on his head. "No. I'm going with him, and I'm gonna make sure he comes out of this alive."

Scott nodded slowly. "We're going with him."

"This ain't your fight."

"It became my fight when Emilio tried to have me killed."

"Then we'd best get going. We don't want him to get too far ahead."

With a brief word of thanks to the colonel and his men, the brothers mounted up and set off in pursuit of a man hell bent on destruction.

Tbc