Chapter 5[A/N: Trouble dead ahead!]
Even as the trio rode onto the secondary forest trail, Lopez's premonition came to fruition. Much as the serpent slithered into Eden to wreck havoc on Paradise, so did the dream turn toward a nightmare.
[A quarter mile away]
Sanchez surveyed the backdrop from his horse. He'd spent the previous two days stewing over Humiliation's sting. His men continued to raid on both sides of the border. The more cattle he rustled, the more the bar rose. The more he took, the more he craved….
…he wanted the young woman. He thought of her with the soft doe eyes and silky brown hair. He'd possess her for his own. Then he'd deal with Manolito.
Indignation burned in his craw. Vengeance tugged at him. Much like the Siren's song, it pulled him back toward the rancho.
I will not forget, Manolito. You will see. He held up his pistol. "I will have the gun. Then I will give the orders." He heard someone riding rapidly toward him. He wheeled about to see his men, Javier and Francisco, pushing their horses up the trail.
"Jefe!" Javier called.
He observed them both. "I trust you have good reason for not watching the herd? We must take more of Montoya's cows!"
Francisco nodded. "Si. There is a bigger prize. The girl and Manolito Montoya. There are close by. Only the old woman rides with them."
Sanchez snorted. "¿Es verdad? I would've expected Don Sebastian to have them watched. Muy bien. Show me." He holstered his gun.
"This way, Jefe," Javier indicated. He spurred his horse back in the direction where he'd come and led his companions in that direction.
Soon, Chica, you will be mine! Sanchez followed his men. He saw them pull up about sixty yards down trail. He secreted his horse behind a hedge. Then he slipped by his men behind a stand of trees. "We'd best be sure." He pointed toward a white tree down the trail and to its right. "Francisco, you hide back there. Javier, stay with me. We'll surround them. Vamanos." He watched his men get in position. Then he drew his guns.
Barely five minutes later, Manolito and Mercedes rode into view through the trees. Four strides behind them, Lopez kept careful watch.
Sanchez stepped out into the path. He pointed the guns at the riders. "What a surprise! It seems I have the upper hand now! Amigos."
Javier and Francisco stepped out from different points so as to cover the riding party from different directions.
"¡Ay!" Lopez screamed.
Sanchez pointed the gun at Manolito. "Now we don't need this to get unpleasant, Manolito. Your gun." He clicked off his safety.
Manolito glanced at Mercedes. He cursed Overconfidence's blindness in these matters. His hand reached for the pistol.
Francisco grunted, "Watch out!" He fired his pistol twice at Manolito.
The shots caused the young lovers' horses to rear and to put them in harm's way. One bullet creased Manolito's scalp. The other hit Mercedes in the arm. Both hit the ground unconscious.
"Mercedes!" Lopez glowered at the attackers. "Animals! Leave us alone at once!"
"Be quiet, Old Woman!" Sanchez groused. He frowned. "We had him covered! Who shot them?"
"Jefe, it was me. He was going for his pistol," Francisco explained.
"He was giving it up! Idiot!" Sanchez backhanded the other man. "Now we have a wounded hostage." He checked Mercedes' pulse. "Fortunately for you, her pulse is still strong. Help me with her." He looked to Manolito. "How is he, Javier?"
"He bleeds. He'll be food for the vultures soon," Javier deduced.
"Either he's dead or he'll wish he was!" Sanchez declared. "Help me get the girl onto the horse." He looked around. "Where is the old woman?"
"She's gone!" Francisco realized.
Sanchez rolled his eyes. "We ride then. She can head north with us. They'll look for us here. They won't suspect us right under their noses. Come." He and Javier carried Mercedes over to the former's horse. They put her over the horse's back. Then Sanchez climbed up into his saddle. "Vamanos."
The trio rode away toward their camp. They determined to put as much distance between themselves and any rescuers.
Meantime Makadoo slipped out from the brush. He grunted at his human.
Manolito lay there unconscious.
The horse, despite how everything looked, determined to stand guard until help came.
Nightmare had found them….
