North of the De Rivera Hacienda

Early Afternoon

Hernando Lopez had not slept very well and as dawn raised her glorious head, he'd woken the others and told them they had half an hour to eat and get the horses ready to ride out. He'd listened to his men grumble about the early hour, but it didn't mean anything to him, not when he had a mission, one that would put him back in Don Garcia's good graces. They'd quickly eaten cold biscuits and beans before mounting up and following Hernando north toward the Rio Grande.

Lopez rode slightly ahead of the others and was the first to realize there were riders coming toward them. He called a halt and motioned for the others to take up positions on either side of the gap that led into the pass. If the riders were friendly, he would let them pass unaware that they were being watched, but if the newcomers were gringos they'd soon find out what a mistake it was to be south of the Rio Grande.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

De Rivera Hacienda

Early Afternoon

The unbearable sun beat down on the fields, drying up whatever moisture had been left from the heavy rainfall. The soft breeze that had cooled his heated flesh during the early morning had died down and not a breath of air filtered through the surrounding trees. Vin lifted his throbbing head and rubbed at his lower back, wishing he had some of Nathan's salve as his jaw ached miserably. The little water he'd managed to take in had come back up as quickly as it went down, leaving him wondering how his body still managed to produce the sweat that ran into his eyes.

"Work…he comes," Pedro managed in broken English while pointing at the back of the fields.

Vin didn't need to know who Pedro was talking about and bent back to the work at hand. The weeds were encroaching on the fertile land where cocoa beans grew in abundance. It was grueling work, made doubly hard with the heat, humidity, and insects that plagued the workers. He'd removed his shirt, but soon felt the blistering heat of the sun burning his skin and was forced to put it back on before bending to the task of ridding the field of the insurmountable number of weeds.

"Work faster, Tanner, or there'll be no supper for you!" Gores said, punctuating his words by shoving the Texan with his boot.

Vin turned and unleashed a deadly glare at the hated overseer, but a hand on his arm reminded him that others would pay if he messed with De Rivera's men.

"Pedro, keep your dog in check or I'll take the cane to both your backs!" Fernando Gores warned, whistling as he walked past the two men.

"Thanks, Amigo," Tanner said, fighting to keep the mind numbing pain in his jaw at bay. He reached for a thick weed and tugged viciously, picturing Gores' dark head of hair in place of the green shrubs. It made the backbreaking work easier, but his eyes strayed to the main hacienda and he prayed the others were looking for them.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

Southwest of the Rio Grande

Early Afternoon

JD glanced over his shoulder as the sun cast a warm glow on the worried blond. The slump of Chris' shoulders and the dark rims around his eyes spoke of the lack of sleep. He remembered thinking Larabee looked terrible when he woke up and found him already drinking coffee.

Chris was tired, hungry, and impatient with the way things were going. He knew JD was doing the best he could, but they seemed to be getting nowhere…fast. With the sun beating down from high overhead and the insects buzzing around them, Chris' patience was quickly running out. They'd reached a narrow crevice and he knew it was dangerous to pass, but to backtrack now would mean the loss of half a day.

"JD, be careful," Larabee warned when the younger man maneuvered his horse into the narrow pass. He gazed upward and listened, but there was nothing to tell him of any real danger as he followed Dunne into the crevice. There was only room for one horse at a time and at first Pony shied away, but Chris managed to keep him moving forward.

"Chris, it opens up a little about twenty feet in," Dunne called over his shoulder.

Larabee didn't answer as they made their way deeper and the high cliff walls blocked out the sun. His eyes quickly adjusted and he scanned the ledge above them, but nothing moved. Instinct told him not to let down his guard as they neared the opening and his hand strayed to the colt strapped to his hip.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

North of the De Rivera Hacienda

Early Afternoon

"Quiet," Lopez warned and put his arm up as the riders entered the north entrance to the narrow canyon. His men were ready, and his orders were clear…let them come into view before taking action. If they could be taken without gunfire then so be it, if not, he wanted it over with as quickly as possible.

Pedro Gonzales motioned for those on the right side of the pass to be quiet and watched the entrance as the sound of horses reached his ears. He knew there were just the two riders and Ernesto had confirmed they were gringos once he'd returned from scaling the cliff and looking north toward the opposite end.

Raul Espinoza hid close to the entrance, but several feet above ground. He knew he had to time it right, or the plan Hernando had devised would not work. He heard Lopez's softly spoken warning and readied himself.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

De Rivera Hacienda

Early Afternoon

Nathan took a deep breath before stepping out into the bright afternoon sunshine. He'd been cooped up in Dona Maria's room since their arrival and had asked Evita for permission to stretch his legs. She'd given him the okay, but warned him against heading for the fields because Gores would report his presence to Don Garcia. He fought the urge to go to the Texan, knowing instinctively that Vin would pay dearly if De Rivera should find him there.

"Mama says you know what you are doing…that is good."

Nathan turned to see the young man standing behind him and searched his memory for a name to go with the face. "You're Evita's son."

"Si, my name is Luis," Martinez explained. "Mama asked me to check on your friend…"

"Vin!" Nathan's pulse picked up. "…is he…is he okay?"

"He is not well. The work, it is very hard, but he learns fast. Pedro has taken him under his wing," Luis said with a slight smile.

"Pedro?"

"Si, he is a good man and has been here since I was a boy. He does not speak very well, but he does like to protect the people Gores takes a dislike to," Luis explained.

"Vin can handle himself…most times, but he's already hurtin'," Jackson said, watching the face for any sign that he shouldn't be disclosing anything, but there was an honesty about Luis Martinez, something he was sure he got from his mother.

"If Don Garcia or Fernando Gores senses any kind of weakness he will use it against you and your friend. Try not to show any emotion when they are around."

"Thanks for the warning," Jackson said.

"I will keep an eye on your friend, but there is only so much I can do. If you believe in God then you should pray that your friend keeps his mouth shut and does the work when he's told," Martinez said and hurried away.

Nathan took a deep breath and thought on Vin's temper. He turned back toward the house, hoping and praying that Vin Tanner held onto his patience and waited for the others to rescue them.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

Southwest of the Rio Grande

Early Afternoon

JD sighed in relief as he exited the narrow pass, but he was unprepared when something landed on the ground in front of him. He recognized it the instant it poised to strike, but could not react fast enough as the terrified animal he rode reacted to the danger before it.

Chris watched as JD exited the pass and hurried Pony forward just as Dunne's horse reared up on its hind legs sending the younger man flying backward. The gunslinger reacted instinctively, drawing his gun and shooting the snake as he dismounted. He moved to help the younger man, but a bullet kicked up the dirt at his feet.

"Don't do it, Gringo, or the boy will get the next bullet!" Lopez warned, staring at the man dressed totally in black. "Now drop your guns and put your hands in the air."

"Who the hell are you?" Larabee asked angrily, helping the stunned Bostonian to his feet as his eyes swept the area, counting and calculated what the odds were. There were four men, each with a weapon drawn and pointed toward him and JD.

"Well, normally I might have answered that, but since you're in my country I believe you should be the one to tell me your name…"

"Chris…who are they?" Dunne asked when his vision finally cleared.

"Hernando," Pedro Gonzales called, his voice filled with awe as he recognized the man from a description he'd heard in Purgatorio.

"What is it, Pedro?" Lopez asked, impatient to get moving.

"Didn't you say Larabee dresses in black?" Gonzales asked.

"Si…why?" Lopez said and stared at the angry man before him. "Chris…the kid called you Chris as in Chris Larabee. Madre De Dios, could we be that fucking lucky? You are Larabee aren't you?"

Chris didn't answer as his eyes narrowed suspiciously and he stared hard at the leader of the bandits.

"Drop your guns on the ground and kick them over here," Lopez ordered.

"Chris we can't…"

"Shut up, Chico, or I'll kill you right here!" Lopez snapped.

"Others have tried…"

"Easy, JD," Larabee warned, realizing they had no chance with so many guns pointed in their direction.

"But…"

"Raul, shoot the boy if Larabee tries anything," Lopez ordered.

"Chris…we can…"

"No, JD, not this time," the gunslinger warned. He could see the disappointment on the younger man's face, but unlike the battle with Anderson's ghosts, the odds were stacked against them. There were at least a four men and each one had their weapons pointed at either JD or him and they'd need to bide their time until the odds were better.

"Very smart, Larabee," Lopez said and motioned toward the younger man once the weapons were discarded and Gonzales picked them up. "Now, Gringo, move away from Larabee and get down on your knees and place your hands behind your head."

"Let him go…it's me you want," Larabee tried.

"Not a chance, Gringo, I believe this boy is going be the one to keep you from starting trouble," Lopez said with a grin. "Move, Kid, or Larabee gets a bullet in the leg."

"Do as he says, JD," Chris ordered, glaring at the Mexican bandit.

"Very good, Muchacho," Lopez said, watching Larabee closely as Pedro placed his gun at Dunne's temple. "Now, Larabee, I believe there is someone who is going to reward me greatly for bringing him such a present as yourself. Jose, Raul, tie Larabee's hands behind his back and make sure he cannot get loose."

"Si, Hernando," Mendoza said and climbed down from the rocks he'd used for cover.

Chris could do nothing, but glare at their captors and could see the anger in JD's eyes as his arms were pulled roughly behind his back. He felt the rough rope wrapped around his elbow and tightened until his shoulders felt strained. A second rope was fastened around his wrists and he was forced to his knees as the bandits repeated the process with Dunne.

"Bring their horses," Lopez ordered.

Rodrigo Marquiz had caught the kid's horse and now held both sets of reins. He brought the animals forward and waited for Lopez to give the order.

"Raul, help the kid mount up," Lopez ordered.

"What about, Larabee?" Jose asked.

"I have something more fitting in mind for him," the head bandito answered. "Tie him face down on his horse and make sure he doesn't fall off!"

Chris wanted to fight, but he knew JD was dead if he started anything. Two men dragged him to Pony and threw him face down over the saddle. With no way to hold on, Chris knew he was going to land in the dirt and tried to roll in order to soften the blow. Unfortunately, his shoulder hit hard and the muffled curse was barely heard as a dirty rag was shoved into his mouth.

"Jose, try not to be so clumsy this time," Lopez said with a cackling laugh.

"Si, Hernando, sorry about that, Gringo," Jose said as they lifted the gunslinger and again threw him over the back of his horse. This time they held him in place and used ropes to secure him in place.

Dunne watched helplessly as the bandits used ropes to tie Chris down. There was nothing he could do as the others mounted up and they rode south, away from the pass.

TBC