[Author's Note—Happy Passover and Easter, Everyone!]
Chapter 17 [Tucson—Town Jail]
Miles to the east, John, Manolito and Rafael stopped their horses in front of the town jail. The trio flanked their two prisoners in triangular fashion. After leaving Horsehead Canyon, the drive toward Chaparral had proven almost too easy.
Manolito frowned. With each passing mile, Chill slowed his heart a bit more. Mourning lagged at his mind. He remained numb. He dismounted quickly and without the typical glance toward the saloon or his usual haunts along the boardwalk. Frankly, he didn't care. Instead, Duty would demand its little service before leaving him in peace for a while.
"Señor Cannon, Manolito?" Pedro peered out of the jail. "You are here as well?"
"Pedro?" John eyed him curiously. "Why aren't you back at High Chaparral?"
"I ride with Señor Buck. We bring two Comancheros here. Glad to see you good, Manolito," Pedro explained.
Manolito managed a smile for his friend's concern. "Si. Gracias, Pedro. We have friends for those banditos." He drew his pistols and turned toward the two Comancheros in their midst. "Seáores, abajo." He motioned toward the boardwalk.
"Do it." John pointed his own pistol at Diego and Enrique.
The two Comancheros slowly climbed down from their horses. Indignation tensed at their former victim holding the guns on them. "One day, Puerco, you will pay. Sanchez will avenge us!"
"Let him try, Amigo. Vamanos." Manolito marched them into the jail. "We have two more, Buck."
Buck turned from where he and the Sheriff talked. "Manolito! This is great! We heard you got shot bad."
Manolito shrugged. "Si. I got shot. I fell off of Makadoo. My father tried to keep me prisoner at the rancho. I had to know. John let me ride with him and the others. We found these banditos at Horsehead Canyon."
"What are you doing here, Buck?" John shook his head at his brother.
"Long story, Brother John. Blue Boy and I went to Trail's End like you said…." Buck started.
"Buck, you can tell them more later." The sheriff got up from his desk. "These two can go with their friends over there. You check their weapons?"
"Right here, Sheriff." John slid the two gun belts off of his shoulder and onto the desk. He set two pistols beside them. "I trust you can take care of these two?"
The sheriff motioned toward the cells. "They'll be good until their trip to Yuma."
Manolito nodded. He wanted to deal with Sanchez himself. "Muy bien. I have had enough." He slumped onto the desk. He trembled.
"Hey, Mano…." Buck started.
"Buck, give him his space," John told him. "He's lost his fiancée."
"Lost?" Buck sighed. He took his hat off and rubbed his forehead. "Of all the….! Mano, she ain't lost." He rolled his eyes.
"Buck! I am not in the mood!" Manolito snapped. Rage and Impatience blazed in his eyes.
"Just let me explain…" Buck tried to start again.
"Buck, really. No." John interrupted again.
Buck ground his teeth. "You two better listen up! It's damn important!" He smacked his hand on the desk. "Mano, Mercedes is alive. She's back at Chaparral right now. I talked with her this morning."
Manolito stared at him. His eyes went wide. "You're serious?"
"Never straighter. She found Blue Boy and Penny in Trail's End. He got me out of the saloon. We let her rest. Then Penny got a wagon from the livery. We drove back here. Mercedes was on a mattress all the way back," Buck explained.
John rubbed his brother-in-law's shoulder. "Finally. We get some good news."
Manolito looked toward the ceiling. He exhaled deeply. Gracias, Señor. He smiled. "She's alive. SHE'S ALIVE!" He grinned and pumped his fists. Celebration washed away Mourning's burden from his heart.
"Yeah. She sure is. She's worried sick about you too," Buck added. He smirked.
Manolito rolled his eyes. "Buck, do not start…."
John chuckled. "Oh I'm not going to say a word. I'm sure Victoria would tell you a few things though."
Manolito rolled his eyes imagining his sister's haranguing and lecturing on that score. Still, his heart pulled him back toward the Chaparral. "I know she will. Gracias. I appreciate the reminders."
"That's what we do," Buck wise cracked. He hustled over to the cell door. "Hey, Sanchez! Look what we got. Your buddies want to see you!"
Sanchez turned over on the far bunk. He grimaced. "¡Ay! ¡Idiotas! Can you do anything right?" He sprang to his feet.
"We turned the tables on you. You ambush me. We do the same." Manolito glared into Sanchez's eyes. "It is finished. Let it go, Sanchez."
"I will get out. Just wait, Manolito! I will have my revenge!" Sanchez vowed through the bars. He watched as the sheriff shoved Enrique and Diego into the other cell and locked the door.
"No. It is finished. You will spend the term in Yuma if you are lucky, Sanchez. You are a horse thief, a murderer and abducted my fiancée. You will hang." Manolito countered. His fingers twitched in the air above the pistol's handle. "Are we done?"
"Oh, I think we are. Sheriff?" John supposed.
"We're set. If we need you for the trial, we'll let you know. Manolito, think your lady would testify?" the sheriff agreed.
"I will ask. Gracias. If you will excuse me?" Manolito agreed.
"Yeah, Romeo, let's get moving. John, you got the herd?" Buck added.
"The vaqueros herd them toward the High Chaparral, Amigo," Rafael noted.
"We are needed elsewhere. Adios, Sheriff." Manolito fixed his hat atop his head. Then he hustled out of the jail toward the waiting Makadoo.
"I think, Brother John, he's trying to tell us something," Buck observed.
"Oh I know he is. One day, you'll get it. I definitely do," John retorted/jabbed his younger brother. "Sheriff, thank you." With that, he led Buck from the jail. He got up on his horse.
"And, Mano? Next time you owe me a round. Not just one beer…a whole round!" Buck informed him.
Mano shook his head. He glanced at John.
"What are you looking at me for? This is between you two." John tried to keep a straight face. He rode off with Rafael and Pedro toward the waiting herd.
"For protecting my Mercedes, you deserve it. Just don't rub it in," Manolito relented.
"Who me?" Buck coughed.
"I do not speak of Bart, Amigo. Very well. We will share a round," Manolito conceded that as well.
Better save some for Blue Boy too. He and Penny helped her into the livery," Buck informed him.
Manolito nodded. He grinned at the thought of their nephew. "I am not surprised. Very well. We will include Blue as well. And it will not be sarsaparilla. I may just stick to a couple of drinks though." He glanced toward the saloon and frowned. For a split second, he could hear Anita de Santiago's challenge, "Your father may be the Lion of Sonora. You are the rooster. Things will be done my way!" "There are changes coming, I fear."
Buck suppressed the urge to tell him about Perlita. "Yeah. You're with Mercedes now. Come on." He started to ride off on Rebel.
Manolito sighed. Changes. I feel it. I did not want it before. Now I do. He urged Makadoo after the others.
Life, it seemed, was calling him forward….
