A/N - Next chapter! Wooo~ Thanks for all the support guys. :) Please keep the reviews coming! Even if it's just a words - it doesn't take long. Hopefully this chapter isn't too bad, I'm not 100% happy with it. Also, if the Spanish in this is wrong don't blame me - blame Google. XD
Chapter 21 – Welcome to Mexico!
At first impressions Mexico wasn't the friendliest of places.
We had barely crossed the border before we had a gun pointed at our faces and a podgy man dressed in a dusty poncho with a thick black moustache on his upper lip demanding us to hand over all our money. I had blinked at the barrel of the gun and before I could even begin to decide on what to do, Jack had skilfully shot the man in the wrist, making his hands buckle and his gun fall to the floor. The Mexican let out a cry of pain before lookin' at Jack fearfully and spurring his mule to death, urgin' it away. The man and mule disappeared into the brush.
"Well," I began after a moment of silence. "That wasn't very friendly." I couldn't stop the laugh that slipped out. Trust us to run into trouble jus' as we had crossed over the wooden bridge over the San Luis river, leaving America and now on Mexican soil. Jack chuckled, "I was expectin' a warmer welcome than this." He slipped off his horse and walked over to the gun, picking it up and inspecting it closely. "Well, look here," he said. I looked away from the Mexican landscape and at Jack. A smile was on his face that was always brought about by guns. "A bolt action rifle. He's gone and dropped a good gun." Jack looked the gun over once more before placing it into his holster, taking it for his self.
"You know, that's technically stealin'," I joked, grinning at Jack as he walked round and mounted his horse. Jack rolled his eyes and kicked his horse into a trot.
"Whatever, Eva." I quickly spurred Dash into gear and followed after him.
We followed the winding path, soaking in the Mexican atmosphere. The landscape wasn't too different to some of the places back in America; it was open and sparse, with tough grasses sprouting up, along with the odd bush and cacti. It was hot, perhaps jus' a little hotter than New Austin. We passed a few locals, most galloping past on horses, or trundling past on carts. "This is nice," I said. "We're in a completely different country!" Jack laughed.
"It is. I've been in Mexico once before, but that wasn't exactly a relaxin' trip." I looked sideways at Jack, curious.
"It wasn't? What were ya here for?" I caught the hesitation in Jack's eyes.
"I jus' had some unfinished business, that's all." It was obvious Jack didn't want to talk, so I left it there, changing the conversation as best I could.
"So where's the nearest town?" I asked. Jack welcomed the change.
"Chuparosa, it aint too far."
"What's it like?"
"Like every other town I guess," Jack chuckled. I rolled my eyes.
"That aint very helpful," I sighed. He laughed.
"Well, what d'ya want me to say? It's got buildings, a saloon, a market, same as most places." I sighed but laughed and moved Dash into a canter. "Where ya goin'?" Jack called behind me. I looked back over my shoulder, grinnin'. "We're going too slow! Let's get a move on, Marston!"
"Do you even know where you're going?"
"Nope!"
Chuparosa was, like Jack had described, like most towns. The buildings, however, was unlike any I had seen back in America. They had a certain Mexican touch to them. They were made of yellowed sandy bricks or concrete, with the odd parts chipped away. We passed under an arch to enter and on our left was a bank, with a pleasant little fountain, and on our right was a market place, with various stalls selling various edible items. In the centre of town was a larger fountain and a young woman with dark skin sat on the edge, hand dipped under the spray of water. We walked our horses round before hitching on a post outside the train station. I dismounted and scratched Dash's withers while he drunk from the water trough.
Looking around, the town was slowly coming alive. A large wagon pulled by two sweaty horses came in and stopped by the bank. White foamed dripped off the horses and a woman came immediately with a bucket full of water to relieve the animals. There was a buzz in the background of chatter from the market and the faint whinny of horses. A smile came across my face and I stretched my limbs. "Well, this is Chuparosa," Jack said, thumbs through loopholes on his jeans.
"What're we gonna do?" I asked.
"How 'bout we see if they've got any small jobs going? Always good to have a little extra cash," he suggested. I perked up and grinned.
"Oh! That's a good idea!"
We walked around the Mexican town, weaving through the market to see what they had. It was mostly vegetables that locals were selling in an attempt to make money. We made it round to the saloon. A young woman sat on the edge of a table, her skirt hitched up to her thigh, showing the dark skin to all around. I wrinkled my nose slightly and changed course, deciding to avoid the saloon all together. We made a slow loop back to the bank, where the wagon was slowly being unloaded. A marshal (if they were still called that in Mexico) was leant casually against a wall, his moustache twitching as he watched us walk past. I caught his eye and quickly looked away, not wantin' to start something.
"I don't think there's much goin'," Jack sighed as we stood just outside of the town. The sun was starting to set, the sky turning just a little orange and a few stars could be seen in the east. "How about we just go for a ride?" Jack plucked his hat off his head as he gazed out at the landscape. A moment passed before he answered, "Sounds a good a thing as any. We can either stay around here and come back or we can go to the next town?" I shrugged.
"Depends on how far it is. We'll need somewhere to stay the night." Jack opened his mouth to speak but a voice tainted by a heavy accent interrupted us from behind. "Oi, Gringos, you got somethin' to do?" We both spun round, Jack placing his hat back onto his head. The marshal, or sheriff from before had approached us, hands on his hips and eyes shaded by the brim of his hat. "We're fine sir," Jack answered politely. The man chuckled lowly, before speaking again.
"Well, if you two get bored then I got some jobs that need doing." I shared a quick look with Jack.
"Depends on what ya got goin'." The Mexican huffed a laugh again, before nodding behind him.
"That wagon is going to the next town, got some important cargo. How 'bout you American's escort it over and you may make a little pesos, or how you say, dollars." Jack was hesitant but I felt excitement bubble up. Something to do! "Of course, sir. We'd love to help," I spoke up. I felt Jack's eyes on me briefly before he agreed.
"When does the wagon leave?" The Mexican law officer rubbed his neck before nodding over to the wagon.
"In about 5 minutes, gringos." Jack nodded.
"We'll mount up then." The man nodded and walked away, leaving me to follow Jack over to the horses.
"We aint been here ten minutes and already we're being trusted with jobs!" I chatted. "Perhaps he can sense my talent," I joked, puffing out my chest. Jack chuckled and poked me somewhat sharply in the ribs, makin' me deflate. "That or he can sense my overwhelming skill and power."
"Pfft, are ya kiddin' me? I obviously have more talent than you," I retorted playfully.
"You better be careful Eva. Keep makin' claims like that and someone might start to believe ya. Then you're in trouble," he teased. I giggled and pushed Jack sideways, him barely stumbling, and I quickly mounted Dash. "Hurry up, don't wanna keep them waitin'," I scolded lightly, grinning down at him.
Once we were both mounted we walked over to the wagon, the two Mexican's driving sitting up at the front, reins clenched. "Are you the American's escorting us to as Las Hermanas?" one of the men asked, voice heavy with an accent, so heavy I had to puzzle over his words before I could understand what he had said.
"We are," Jack confirmed. The men looked at me dubiously.
"Even her, a girl?" Immediately I frowned, pouting at their comment.
"What do ya mean?" I asked, the men flinching slightly at my voice. Perhaps they weren't expecting me to speak up. "I can shoot as good as any man!" I defended, feeling my pride hurt. The two men looked at each other, still dubious but not wantin' to say any more. A tense moment passed before Jack cleared his throat. "Now, how about we get goin'?" he suggested.
The men nodded before the one holding the reins snapped the leather and the horses snorted to life, beginning to haul the wooden wagon. Jack and I slipped in behind the wagon, following it as it left town and begun along a dusty road. I heard Jack's quiet chuckles and glanced sideways at him. "What's so funny?"
"You," he said bluntly. I spluttered.
"Me? What's so funny about me?"
"I dunno... You jus' are." I pouted.
"What's that s'pposed to mean? Funny... huh. The only funny one round here is you," I countered, smirking at Jack. He simply laughed and shrugged.
"I guess I am," he replied. I blinked at him. There wasn't really much I could say to that. "Alrighty then," I finished, looking ahead as the wagon trundled on. We followed in silence for a few minutes, keepin' an eye on the land around us.
The sun was beating down on us, the lack of shade beginning to take its toll on the nape of my neck. I rubbed it as I felt the skin was hot. I was beginning to burn. Even Dash was feeling the heat; he was sweating his white foam and his head carried lazily. Even though it was slipping into evening it was still hot. "Somethin' doesn't feel right." Jack's voice jolted me out of my thoughts, surprising me a little.
"Pardon?" I asked. Jack's eyes were narrowed under the shade of his hat.
"Why were we asked?" Jack spoke. I took in his words and thought about it. It was strange we were asked, but still...
"Well, it ain't too suspicious... is it?"
"That's jus' it. I dunno. I got a bad feeling." The grip on his reins tightened. I watched the gloved fingers wrap around the leather tighter, following the tensing of muscles up his arm. I frowned deeper, knowing that if Jack had a bad feeling then something was amiss. "Well, hopefully it's just a feelin'."
The wagon continued its way along the winding Mexican road. A cloud of dust was thrown up behind it, making my nose twitch. I pulled Dash to the side, freeing my face from the dust and dirt. We kept along like this for a while, a silence falling over us like the sun as it stretched in the sky. A pair of Mexicans galloped towards us and immediately I felt Jack tense. I held my breath as they passed. They kept on galloping right past us, not givin' us a second glance. Once they disappeared from my sight I let out my breath. Jack's nerves had gotten to me, making me just as tense. I shivered as I heard more hoof beats approaching.
Calm it Eva, what's got you so jumpy? I sighed mentally at myself, feeling my nerves subside as another man on horseback passed.
Suddenly, a scream cut the air. I jumped, as well as Dash, and quick as a flash Jack's gun was out and poised, ready. I fumbled with mine and pulled it out, trying to guess what was happening.
Three men – Banditos – had circled the wagon, draped in heavy ponchos and hats with bandanas tied across their faces, leaving only the steely eyes to stare at their prey. Their horses jittered on their hooves, trying to fall into pace with the wagon. "Let's go!" Jack shouted, spurring his mount sharply in the sides.
The stallion whinnied and jumped forward, shooting up to the front of the wagon. The banditos sneered and began firing their guns at us. I yelped as a bullet skimmed past my arm and pointed my gun at the nearest man. I pulled the trigger twice, hitting him in the leg and side. The man fell from his horse, disappearing behind us in to the dirt. Jack swiftly took care of the other two banditos, and I caught up with him at the front.
"Perhaps your feeling was right!" I said over the pound of hooves and the creak and rattle of wood.
"I told ya, something just don't seem right," he answered. The men sitting atop the wagon cowered in fear.
"Oi, gringos, the banditos are coming. They got reinforcements." We looked behind us and three more men were galloping towards us. Jack narrowed his eyes dangerously and ordered the drivers to keep going, before he manoeuvred his horse, turned over his shoulder and began shooting. I watched him move with skill and couldn't help but be amazed. Amongst all the playfulness of him it was easy for me to forget that when he wanted to he could easily turn and was more effective with a gun than I could ever wish to be.
I turned around myself, twisting as far as I could in the saddle without falling off. My gun rose and I began firing at the approaching men. Bullets whirled past me as I shot awkwardly backwards. All of my shots missed, bar one which knocked a hat clean off a head. I rolled my eyes and turned forward, riding Dash normally. Great, so you can shoot their hat off but not them. I narrowed my eyes and swiftly thought of a plan. I couldn't get a good enough shot aiming backwards... I blinked as an idea came to me.
Pulling Dash sharply to the side, we shot off the path and crashed through the Mexican brush. I pulled tightly on the reins and yanked them back, slowly Dash lost a little pace, slipping back slowly. I then pulled him back right, slipping level with the banditos. I grinned and aimed my gun, feeling more comfortable at the angle I was at. I pulled the trigger twice, hitting a man in his upper arm. He yelled and slipped from the saddle, hand snatching out and grabbing the reins desperately. The horse whinnied with shock as the heavy weight of its rider suddenly pulled its head down. The grey animal slowed immediately, the previous rider being dragged along and nearly trodden on as hooves dug into the dirt.
The rest of the bandits were being picked off one by one by Jack and I. I managed to shoot a further three, resulting in two falling from their horses and the third to sharply swerve their horse and gallop off into the plains, shoulder bleeding heavily. Jack finished off the other four and finally, we were free from the banditos.
I holstered my gun and released my heavy breaths, glancing back to make sure we weren't still being followed. The wagon was still running fast, a small settlement coming up in the horizon. "Is that Las Hermanas?" I asked. The wagon driver wailed back, still in a panic from the bandito attack.
"Si, senorita!" He snapped the reins again, horses whinnying with protest.
"I think you should slow down," I suggested, looking at the horses.
"No, no, no, no, tenemos que seguir adelante!" I blinked at the rapid stream of Spanish that tumbled from the man's mouth and knew I had to calm him – at this rate he was going to crash.
Las Hermanas was growing closer. "You need to slow down!" I tried again, putting force behind my words. The man ignored my words, and now Jack joined in, his words carrying an edge I couldn't put behind mine. "Slow down, now! We aint gonna get attacked! Just stop!" The Mexican flicked his gaze to Jack before looking ahead. We were approaching the front of Las Hermanas, the great walls enclosing the settlement. The driver pulled sharply on the reins, yanking the bits in the horses' mouths and pulling them almost to a stop. The animals swerved with the sudden pull and the wagon swayed sideways. The wood nearly hit Dash, making my stallion whinny with freight and jump sideways. I felt myself be thrown, almost loosing hold of the reins and feet slipping from the stirrups. "Whoa!" I squeaked, clinging to Dash's mane.
The wagon grumbled to a halt, Dash also sliding to a stop.
I felt my body be thrown forward, over Dash's head and tumbling face first into the dirt.