Chapter 14 – Headed in the Right Direction

Alonzo Sequestre was prompt; that was an encouraging quality in a man who was about to ride herd on a critical job. Bart and Melodia met him at the spot they'd picked for the school and he agreed whole-heartedly with them about their choices.

Since Bart was the one providing the money, he did the hiring. Alonzo was offered the job of running the whole build and he accepted it. The first step was to procure a small crew to clear the land and re-route the fence around the property, and Bart guaranteed the wages for the crew. When it was all settled, the gambler and the school teacher rode back to town discussing the next step in the process.

"I want to hold a town meeting," Melodia proposed, "to let everyone know what's being done, and that we will have a school. Would you be there with me?"

Bart chuckled out loud. "As long as you don't ask me to speak. That's too much attention for a gambler."

"Not a word," she promised. "You can just sit there and look proud."

"Or befuddled," his reply came back.

"I still can't believe you're doing this."

"Gotta have somethin' to keep me busy. So I don't get escorted outta town as a vagrant. Or an undesirable."

"No one would do that to you."

He thought about being a professional gambler and shook his head. "Wouldn't be the first time. And probably not the last." He was thinking of the not-too-distant future. The money he'd won playing poker in Pesqueria wouldn't last forever, and if the school was going to be completed he'd have to go somewhere else to play before too long. He refused to do any more cheating, so his skills better be sharp. The sound of Melodia's voice brought him out of his reverie.

" . . . . . . let everyone know about the meeting. We can hold it in one of the social club halls. Perhaps La Batista. It's the larger of the two. On Friday night, if they will allow it."

"Tell them they can sell mescal during the meeting and they'll probably agree to it," he advised her.

"Come to my boarding house. I want to take a look at your arm."

"Do we have to? It doesn't hurt anymore."

She nodded her head firmly. "Yes, we have to. I don't want it to get back to the way it was. It needs to heal." Melodia rode up to the front of a two-story house and dismounted. Bart followed suit. Once inside they climbed a small staircase to a room in the very back. Melodia unlocked the door and ushered him in. "Coat?" was the next thing she asked.

He obediently removed his jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeve. Unlike the day before, the knife wound was considerably less swollen and angry-looking, although it was obvious the healing process had just begun. She poured some alcohol on cotton and wiped his arm down again, then smiled because she'd caught the beginning infection in time. Without warning, there was a pounding on her door and a stern voice that demanded, "Señorita Montoya. Abra esta puerta inmmediately. Usted sabe hay hombres se les permite en su habitación."

Melodia opened the door and faced the formidable looking woman standing there. "Señora Delgado, Este es mi amigo, Bart Maverick. Él es el hombre la construcción de la escuela para los niños."

"Oh, si. Lo siento, Señor Maverick, Señorita Montoya."

Señora Delgado backed away from the door, bowing and apologizing the whole way. "Was that what I think it was?" Bart asked.

"Si. Señora Delgado is very strict. No hombres allowed in the rooms. She made an exception for you, because of the school."

Bart rolled his sleeve back down and reached for his jacket as he shook his head. "How about that? For once being named Maverick kept me out of trouble."

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By the time the gathering was over on Friday the whole town was aware of the new construction. Alonzo had his land clearing crew and Dorado Martin had met almost everyone in town. Bart felt like his face might fall off; he hadn't done that much smiling since the last time he found himself holding four aces.

"If I hear one more 'gracias' I may leave town until the darn thing's built," he told Melodia at the end of the night. "I wish you'd done that by yourself."

"But I couldn't! You deserve all the credit you are getting," she protested.

Once again he had to disagree with her. "No, I don't. And from now on, I don't wanna hear anything about it. But I'm glad that Alonzo got himself a crew. Maybe when I come back I'll go out and give 'em some help."

"Come back? Where are you going?" She sounded worried.

"Up to Nogales for a few days. I need to replenish our rapidly dwindling funds."

"That means you will be playing poker, si?"

"Si. What's that look on your face?" He saw the expression of concern in her eyes. "Don't worry, I'm comin' back."

"I will worry the entire time you are away. When are you going?"

"Probably tomorrow mornin'. I won't be away long. The money's gone a little faster than I expected, that's all. I don't wanna run us down to the last peso. That's all there is to it, I promise."

"You are sure? You would tell me if there was something wrong?"

"I would tell you if there was somethin' wrong, Melodia. You're the one that fixes everything for me, remember? But there's nothin' here for you to fix. I'm goin' to play poker, that's all."

She lowered her head so he wouldn't see the apprehension in her eyes. She had a strange feeling this trip would not go well, but she didn't want to worry him any more than she already had. "How long will you be away?"

"Oh, I'm not sure. Maybe a week. No more than that. Will you miss me?" he asked, almost playfully. He'd gotten to depend on her nearly as much as she depended on him.

"Of course. Like I would miss a mischievous niño. Stay out of trouble, si?"

Abra esta puerta inmmediately – Open this door immediately.

Usted sabe hay hombres se les permite en su habitación. – You know no men are allowed in your room.

Este es mi amigo, Bart Maverick – This is my friend, Bart Maverick

Él es el hombre la construcción de la escuela para los niños - He is the man building the school for the children.

Lo siento – So sorry.