It had been five days. In all that time Diego had seen no openings, not the slightest opportunity to escape.
He knew his time was running out. The bandits had given them water and food each day, but never quite enough. Domingo knew his work well. The outlaws, thinking he was no one of consequence, hadn't been particularly gentle and it hadn't helped that Diego had often had to draw attention away from Esperanza's outraged impatience.
The lack of proper food and water left them all weakened and dizzy. The wound in his side had become a constant dull fire as they rode across the uneven landscape hour after hour, day after day. Combined with the fierce sun overhead and what Diego was sure was a rising fever, his strength was in little supply.
But as bad as he was, de Carraco was infinitely worse. The head injury he'd noticed on the first night had doubtless been accompanied by a concussion. De Carraco was an old man, older than his father and never as physically imposing. Today he had fallen into a stupor and lay, collapsed against Esperanza on the horse they shared.
Domingo had wanted to tie Diego on this horse as well, but Esperanza, giant and well muscled despite his age, was much too large for the horse to bear much other than his weight. De Carraco, slight and elderly, had been the limit. And so Diego was given his own horse, though it was tied to the other.
Diego tried to sit loosely in the saddle and grant his heavy limbs what rest they could find. The ropes binding his wrists had grown slack from neglect and he thought there was just the chance he might work his way free. His side heavily protested the attempt, but he forced it aside. This could very well be his only chance.
Domingo rode up. Diego stilled and tried to look defeated. Domingo had been careful to watch him the entire five days, though today he gave Diego no more than a second glance.
"The men have spotted a stream and we are going to refresh the water. You wait here and keep an eye on our guests."
Three of Domingo's men nodded and formed a loose circle around Diego and the others as Domingo's company rode away.
Diego tensed. He was not going to get a better chance than this.
If the ropes would just give a little more. He twisted a little, putting his strength into it. He could feel the skin scraping raw, but, there, yes, just a little bit more and he would be . . .
Free.
The men were bored and didn't look on them as much of a threat. That and surprise were all he had.
One of the men dismounted and went off into the brush to relieve himself.
While the other two men's backs were turned, Diego whipped his hands from behind his back and brought them down as hard as he could manage on the back of the first one's head.
The man slumped with a small cry. His friend turned as Diego kicked his horse forward. Its shoulder collided heavily with the other bandit's horse and the man lost his seat with a shout. He hit the ground heavily and was still.
Diego sent the three bandits' horses scattering and then reached over and grabbed the reigns of Esperanza's horse. He pressed his heels hard into his horse's side and they galloped down the trail in the opposite direction from where Domingo and his men had gone.
If he had been following their travels correctly, then they were on the ridge just a few miles west of town. So near, and yet the horse carrying the other two was clearly exhausted, not nearly capable of an all out race with the burden it carried.
Diego heard the shout of the third bandit behind him, but they were, for the moment at least, keeping a good pace. They should have a few minutes at least before the third man caught one of the horses and set after them.
Esperanza's horse stumbled and Diego swore silently. The horse was not going to make it. He had to think of something else.
He looked at de Carraco and came to a quick decision. A jerk of the reigns brought the horses to a quick, sliding stop and he threw himself from the saddle.
The rope tying the two horses together proved no trouble to free, but Esperanza's bonds were tighter than his own had been and his fingers were numb from lack of circulation.
_Oh please God, just grant a moment more. A moment is all I need._
"What are you _doing_?" Esperanza demanded. "We have to get away."
"Your horse will never make it," Diego said, pulling on the final knot. "You must help me move Don Hernan to the other horse.
Esperanza may have had many less than desirable qualities, but stupidity wasn't among them. Whatever he thought of Diego's plan, he wasted no time in getting off of the horse and moving his nearly unconscious friend to Diego's fresher mount.
De Carraco stirred. "Where are we?"
"We must hurry," Diego said, laying a comforting hand on de Carraco's leg. He looked at the horses again. Neither of them could possibly outrun Domingo's men, though Diego's looked at least to have the strength to make it into town. He was going to have to provide a distraction.
He looked to his right. The ground rose sharply, almost vertically to the right. It wasn't passable by horse, but he could climb it. Or at least a month ago he could have.
"You two must go," he said, making a quick decision. "I will try to go by foot. That way at least some of us will get to safety and can send men in return."
"A coward to the last, de la Vega. You know they will follow the horses and you will get to safety," Esperanza said. "I always felt sorry for your father, that such a man as he should--"
Diego grabbed his shirt and yanked him so they were face to face. "I do not have time for this. Now get on the horse."
Esperanza blinked, but did as he was told. De Carraco looked at Diego, the sharp embankment and then back up the trail.
"Diego, don't do this," de Carraco said, his drawn face tense with anxiety. "They won't forgive you for it."
Understanding dawned on Esperanza's face along with something like fear, though it wasn't for himself.
"I am only doing what I must. Tell my father I am sorry. Now, go!" Diego said, slapped the horse sharply to take the decision out of their hands. Esperanza looked back over his shoulder, but then took the reigns and kicked the horse into a faster pace. Diego fought the temptation to watch them and pulled himself painfully up the hill and onto a large rock that overhung the path.
Only seconds later the third bandit came racing down the path. Diego launched himself from the rock and hit the man solidly. They both fell from the saddle, but Diego rolled the bandit beneath him and tumbled on hitting the ground to diffuse the impact. Usually, it allowed him to roll to his feet, unharmed, but this time his side hit the ground hard and he felt a sharp debilitating pain stab through him. The bandit didn't move and Diego knew he should get away, already heard horses above on the trail, but his trembling arms wouldn't raise him any farther than to his knees.
He knew there was little point in running at this point, knew how much satisfaction it would give Domingo to watch him try and fail. But he also knew what was coming when they did catch up to him, and that thought gave him the strength at last to reach his feet and pull himself into the saddle of the bandit's horse.
A bullet whizzed over his head as he leaned over the horse's neck and kicked it into motion. The beast was in better condition than the one Esperanza and de Carraco had ridden, and jumped into a fast pace over the uneven trail.
A second bullet followed the first, and Diego had to thank the twists in the winding trail and the thick cover of the forest that screened him from a direct shot from behind. He leaned even closer into the sweaty neck of his horse and pressed his heels deeper, but the horse was already running full out.
The trail straightened out and the forest around them thinned as they began to reach open fields. It meant they were nearing town and safety, but also that he was about to lose his cover.
He heard a shout much too close behind and twisted in the saddle enough to spot the lead pursuer no more than a few dozen yards behind. Shots rang out again, ripping through the leaves with the sound of hard rain. One plucked forcefully at his sleeve and he flattened himself further.
He heard the distinctive sound of a bullet hitting flesh and then his horse screamed and reared. He reached with the hand that had been clutching his side to grab more firmly to the reigns, but the horse was out of control beneath him, and his clutch and the sweat soaked leather was too weak. The horse began to fall over backward, and he gathered his legs beneath him with the last of his strength and leapt clear before its killing weight fell on top of him. He tried to control the landing in a roll, but he'd been too unbalanced, too unprepared, and he came to a hard stop against a large tree.
Domingo's men rode up around him, their horses panting and wet with foam.
He spotted Domingo and lunged for a nearby rock in a last ditch effort at resistance. As his fingers closed around the impromptu weapon, the sharp crack of a whip broke through the air and he felt a hard, heavy pain in his upper arm.
"I would not try that again," Domingo said, holding up the heavy bull-whip.
Diego dropped his hand from where he'd instinctively clapped it on his shoulder. The fingers came away lightly smeared in blood, but he didn't think, looking at the hard faces of the men around him, that it was going to much matter.
Two men dismounted and hauled Diego roughly to his feet, though he showed no signs of resistance.
"I knew you were trouble the moment you showed up in my camp," Domingo said. "I should have killed you then. It isn't a mistake I'll repeat."
"Domingo, the others are getting away," one of the others called.
"The others have gotten away," Domingo said, not taking his eyes off Diego. "Our little hero has taken care of that. We are too close to town to afford to chase them with the kind of lead they must have and he knows it."
Relief hit him strong enough almost to make him forget his own situation. They were free. They were going to escape.
"I wouldn't look so happy if I were you, hero," Domingo said. "Their freedom has bought you your death."
He rode over and kicked Diego hard on the side of his head. Diego spun with the force of it and dropped to his knees. The two men grabbed his shoulders again and yanked him back to face Domingo.
"If I had the time, I would make this last, cow herder, but I am afraid we can't afford that."
Domingo opened his pistol and reloaded it with care. Watching this proceed, Diego was finally hit with the idea that this was going to happen. There was no Toronado nor Felipe waiting in the bushes, no last minute plan to leave an opening. His blood hammered with disorienting speed through his veins and the world spun a little. He forced himself to kneel straighter and to control his breathing, to face this end as his father might.
"A man of your type deserves a more imaginative end, but a bullet in the head like a common thief is all I can spare you." Domingo grinned, quick and feral. "Maybe I do like this death for you, after all."
As he raised the pistol and the black mouth of it swung around to face Diego, everything seemed like it was frozen. Even the motion of the gun was slowed, and the moment stretched out into near forever.
The sharp distinctive crack of a rifle broke the frozen silence of the moment, and Domingo swung the gun around down the trail.
"Drop your weapons," De Soto's voice came from somewhere deeper in the trees.
"I will shoot him," Domingo said, aiming at Diego once again.
"Go ahead," De Soto said. "It will give me all the excuse I need to shoot you and your men here as you stand."
"You traitor!" one of Domingo's men shouted. "We had a bar-"
The loud fire of Domingo's pistol cut off the man's words as the bandit leader swung around and shot him.
"A wise decision," De Soto said. "Certain things are too dangerous to be aired in public. Now, I have already asked you to drop your weapons. I will not ask again."
Domingo pointed his weapon at Diego again, his face transformed with hatred. The barrel lowered and then raised again and then Domingo threw it aside with an animalistic snarl. The tension snapped like a tightly drawn string, and his men threw down their weapons as well.
De Soto and a group of his soldiers rode out of the forest. Their horses looked as if they'd had a hard run, but were not overly stressed. Diego wondered just how long DeSoto had been waiting there, before he'd spoken, and just whose bullet had it been that had betrayed his presence.
"Well, Don Diego," the alcalde said, looking down at Diego with no small amount of annoyance, "found at last, it seems."
Author's Note: Well, I apologize for the delay in posting this. The story seemed to fall entirely off track for me somewhere along the way, and I fear any tension I may have built up has been entirely lost in these last few scenes. I meant to write more with Diego and the bandits, but I felt it was dragging too long and it was about time he got himself rescued. Originally there was to be more between Alejandro and De Soto leading up to this, but it just wasn't working even in my head, let alone actually written down. So, the story is going in yet another unplanned direction. However, I was able to write some on the story this weekend, so I hope to have more for you by next weekend.
He knew his time was running out. The bandits had given them water and food each day, but never quite enough. Domingo knew his work well. The outlaws, thinking he was no one of consequence, hadn't been particularly gentle and it hadn't helped that Diego had often had to draw attention away from Esperanza's outraged impatience.
The lack of proper food and water left them all weakened and dizzy. The wound in his side had become a constant dull fire as they rode across the uneven landscape hour after hour, day after day. Combined with the fierce sun overhead and what Diego was sure was a rising fever, his strength was in little supply.
But as bad as he was, de Carraco was infinitely worse. The head injury he'd noticed on the first night had doubtless been accompanied by a concussion. De Carraco was an old man, older than his father and never as physically imposing. Today he had fallen into a stupor and lay, collapsed against Esperanza on the horse they shared.
Domingo had wanted to tie Diego on this horse as well, but Esperanza, giant and well muscled despite his age, was much too large for the horse to bear much other than his weight. De Carraco, slight and elderly, had been the limit. And so Diego was given his own horse, though it was tied to the other.
Diego tried to sit loosely in the saddle and grant his heavy limbs what rest they could find. The ropes binding his wrists had grown slack from neglect and he thought there was just the chance he might work his way free. His side heavily protested the attempt, but he forced it aside. This could very well be his only chance.
Domingo rode up. Diego stilled and tried to look defeated. Domingo had been careful to watch him the entire five days, though today he gave Diego no more than a second glance.
"The men have spotted a stream and we are going to refresh the water. You wait here and keep an eye on our guests."
Three of Domingo's men nodded and formed a loose circle around Diego and the others as Domingo's company rode away.
Diego tensed. He was not going to get a better chance than this.
If the ropes would just give a little more. He twisted a little, putting his strength into it. He could feel the skin scraping raw, but, there, yes, just a little bit more and he would be . . .
Free.
The men were bored and didn't look on them as much of a threat. That and surprise were all he had.
One of the men dismounted and went off into the brush to relieve himself.
While the other two men's backs were turned, Diego whipped his hands from behind his back and brought them down as hard as he could manage on the back of the first one's head.
The man slumped with a small cry. His friend turned as Diego kicked his horse forward. Its shoulder collided heavily with the other bandit's horse and the man lost his seat with a shout. He hit the ground heavily and was still.
Diego sent the three bandits' horses scattering and then reached over and grabbed the reigns of Esperanza's horse. He pressed his heels hard into his horse's side and they galloped down the trail in the opposite direction from where Domingo and his men had gone.
If he had been following their travels correctly, then they were on the ridge just a few miles west of town. So near, and yet the horse carrying the other two was clearly exhausted, not nearly capable of an all out race with the burden it carried.
Diego heard the shout of the third bandit behind him, but they were, for the moment at least, keeping a good pace. They should have a few minutes at least before the third man caught one of the horses and set after them.
Esperanza's horse stumbled and Diego swore silently. The horse was not going to make it. He had to think of something else.
He looked at de Carraco and came to a quick decision. A jerk of the reigns brought the horses to a quick, sliding stop and he threw himself from the saddle.
The rope tying the two horses together proved no trouble to free, but Esperanza's bonds were tighter than his own had been and his fingers were numb from lack of circulation.
_Oh please God, just grant a moment more. A moment is all I need._
"What are you _doing_?" Esperanza demanded. "We have to get away."
"Your horse will never make it," Diego said, pulling on the final knot. "You must help me move Don Hernan to the other horse.
Esperanza may have had many less than desirable qualities, but stupidity wasn't among them. Whatever he thought of Diego's plan, he wasted no time in getting off of the horse and moving his nearly unconscious friend to Diego's fresher mount.
De Carraco stirred. "Where are we?"
"We must hurry," Diego said, laying a comforting hand on de Carraco's leg. He looked at the horses again. Neither of them could possibly outrun Domingo's men, though Diego's looked at least to have the strength to make it into town. He was going to have to provide a distraction.
He looked to his right. The ground rose sharply, almost vertically to the right. It wasn't passable by horse, but he could climb it. Or at least a month ago he could have.
"You two must go," he said, making a quick decision. "I will try to go by foot. That way at least some of us will get to safety and can send men in return."
"A coward to the last, de la Vega. You know they will follow the horses and you will get to safety," Esperanza said. "I always felt sorry for your father, that such a man as he should--"
Diego grabbed his shirt and yanked him so they were face to face. "I do not have time for this. Now get on the horse."
Esperanza blinked, but did as he was told. De Carraco looked at Diego, the sharp embankment and then back up the trail.
"Diego, don't do this," de Carraco said, his drawn face tense with anxiety. "They won't forgive you for it."
Understanding dawned on Esperanza's face along with something like fear, though it wasn't for himself.
"I am only doing what I must. Tell my father I am sorry. Now, go!" Diego said, slapped the horse sharply to take the decision out of their hands. Esperanza looked back over his shoulder, but then took the reigns and kicked the horse into a faster pace. Diego fought the temptation to watch them and pulled himself painfully up the hill and onto a large rock that overhung the path.
Only seconds later the third bandit came racing down the path. Diego launched himself from the rock and hit the man solidly. They both fell from the saddle, but Diego rolled the bandit beneath him and tumbled on hitting the ground to diffuse the impact. Usually, it allowed him to roll to his feet, unharmed, but this time his side hit the ground hard and he felt a sharp debilitating pain stab through him. The bandit didn't move and Diego knew he should get away, already heard horses above on the trail, but his trembling arms wouldn't raise him any farther than to his knees.
He knew there was little point in running at this point, knew how much satisfaction it would give Domingo to watch him try and fail. But he also knew what was coming when they did catch up to him, and that thought gave him the strength at last to reach his feet and pull himself into the saddle of the bandit's horse.
A bullet whizzed over his head as he leaned over the horse's neck and kicked it into motion. The beast was in better condition than the one Esperanza and de Carraco had ridden, and jumped into a fast pace over the uneven trail.
A second bullet followed the first, and Diego had to thank the twists in the winding trail and the thick cover of the forest that screened him from a direct shot from behind. He leaned even closer into the sweaty neck of his horse and pressed his heels deeper, but the horse was already running full out.
The trail straightened out and the forest around them thinned as they began to reach open fields. It meant they were nearing town and safety, but also that he was about to lose his cover.
He heard a shout much too close behind and twisted in the saddle enough to spot the lead pursuer no more than a few dozen yards behind. Shots rang out again, ripping through the leaves with the sound of hard rain. One plucked forcefully at his sleeve and he flattened himself further.
He heard the distinctive sound of a bullet hitting flesh and then his horse screamed and reared. He reached with the hand that had been clutching his side to grab more firmly to the reigns, but the horse was out of control beneath him, and his clutch and the sweat soaked leather was too weak. The horse began to fall over backward, and he gathered his legs beneath him with the last of his strength and leapt clear before its killing weight fell on top of him. He tried to control the landing in a roll, but he'd been too unbalanced, too unprepared, and he came to a hard stop against a large tree.
Domingo's men rode up around him, their horses panting and wet with foam.
He spotted Domingo and lunged for a nearby rock in a last ditch effort at resistance. As his fingers closed around the impromptu weapon, the sharp crack of a whip broke through the air and he felt a hard, heavy pain in his upper arm.
"I would not try that again," Domingo said, holding up the heavy bull-whip.
Diego dropped his hand from where he'd instinctively clapped it on his shoulder. The fingers came away lightly smeared in blood, but he didn't think, looking at the hard faces of the men around him, that it was going to much matter.
Two men dismounted and hauled Diego roughly to his feet, though he showed no signs of resistance.
"I knew you were trouble the moment you showed up in my camp," Domingo said. "I should have killed you then. It isn't a mistake I'll repeat."
"Domingo, the others are getting away," one of the others called.
"The others have gotten away," Domingo said, not taking his eyes off Diego. "Our little hero has taken care of that. We are too close to town to afford to chase them with the kind of lead they must have and he knows it."
Relief hit him strong enough almost to make him forget his own situation. They were free. They were going to escape.
"I wouldn't look so happy if I were you, hero," Domingo said. "Their freedom has bought you your death."
He rode over and kicked Diego hard on the side of his head. Diego spun with the force of it and dropped to his knees. The two men grabbed his shoulders again and yanked him back to face Domingo.
"If I had the time, I would make this last, cow herder, but I am afraid we can't afford that."
Domingo opened his pistol and reloaded it with care. Watching this proceed, Diego was finally hit with the idea that this was going to happen. There was no Toronado nor Felipe waiting in the bushes, no last minute plan to leave an opening. His blood hammered with disorienting speed through his veins and the world spun a little. He forced himself to kneel straighter and to control his breathing, to face this end as his father might.
"A man of your type deserves a more imaginative end, but a bullet in the head like a common thief is all I can spare you." Domingo grinned, quick and feral. "Maybe I do like this death for you, after all."
As he raised the pistol and the black mouth of it swung around to face Diego, everything seemed like it was frozen. Even the motion of the gun was slowed, and the moment stretched out into near forever.
The sharp distinctive crack of a rifle broke the frozen silence of the moment, and Domingo swung the gun around down the trail.
"Drop your weapons," De Soto's voice came from somewhere deeper in the trees.
"I will shoot him," Domingo said, aiming at Diego once again.
"Go ahead," De Soto said. "It will give me all the excuse I need to shoot you and your men here as you stand."
"You traitor!" one of Domingo's men shouted. "We had a bar-"
The loud fire of Domingo's pistol cut off the man's words as the bandit leader swung around and shot him.
"A wise decision," De Soto said. "Certain things are too dangerous to be aired in public. Now, I have already asked you to drop your weapons. I will not ask again."
Domingo pointed his weapon at Diego again, his face transformed with hatred. The barrel lowered and then raised again and then Domingo threw it aside with an animalistic snarl. The tension snapped like a tightly drawn string, and his men threw down their weapons as well.
De Soto and a group of his soldiers rode out of the forest. Their horses looked as if they'd had a hard run, but were not overly stressed. Diego wondered just how long DeSoto had been waiting there, before he'd spoken, and just whose bullet had it been that had betrayed his presence.
"Well, Don Diego," the alcalde said, looking down at Diego with no small amount of annoyance, "found at last, it seems."
Author's Note: Well, I apologize for the delay in posting this. The story seemed to fall entirely off track for me somewhere along the way, and I fear any tension I may have built up has been entirely lost in these last few scenes. I meant to write more with Diego and the bandits, but I felt it was dragging too long and it was about time he got himself rescued. Originally there was to be more between Alejandro and De Soto leading up to this, but it just wasn't working even in my head, let alone actually written down. So, the story is going in yet another unplanned direction. However, I was able to write some on the story this weekend, so I hope to have more for you by next weekend.
