Chapter 13

Mercedes grimaced. The doctor's sedative blunted Pain's assault on her shoulder. Still her heart pounded. She knew the Comancheros remained at large despite the explosion in their camp. She worried her presence endangered the girl and young man who brought her into that place.

The man…Blue Cannon? He knew Buck and Manolito.

Maybe he can tell me about Manolito? I hope he's all right. She stared up at the ceiling. Lord, please watch over him! She heard the door slowly open. Her eyes went wide. "¿Si? ¿Quien es?"

"It's okay, Señorita. You remember? I rode into Rancho Montoya with Manolito." Buck took off his hat. "Sure glad to see you alive. We'll get you healed up yet."

"Gracias, Señor Cannon. Mano, have you heard anything?" she pressed.

"No. Sorry, Ma 'am. I sure haven't. I was going to ask you the same thing. Last time I saw Manolito was when I left the rancho. He was supposed to be back at the High Chaparral tomorrow. Blue and the young lady out there said you mentioned Comancheros. What about them?" he noted. "By the way, you need some water or anything?"

She nodded slowly and with great effort. "Si. Gracias." She winced to turn her head toward him in the candlelight. She definitely remembered his conversation with her host and Manolo in the former's study.

"You take your time. Okay? I just want what you want. We both want Manolito safe," he assured her. He poured some water from the pitcher at her bedside into a wooden cup. "There you go. Sorry it isn't fancier."

She frowned. "Your friendship…makes it ricissima. Gracias." The cool liquid refreshed her throat. "Manolito and I rode together around the rancho. The Comancheros ambushed us. They shot Manolito and me. I remember waking up in the animals' camp. I had to escape before that savage could assault me." She shuddered. "I hope Manolito's all right!"

"You and me both. Do you know where that camp was?" he inquired.

"Not…far. Two or three miles south of here. Don't go after them…in dark," she informed him.

"Don't you go fretting now. Ol' Buck's got more sense than that," he declared. Even scattered, the Comancheros could lay a trap in the dark. As much as he'd like to take Blue and a few other townspeople down there to deal with the Comancheros, he didn't want a standoff or bloodbath. Dealing with El Tigre and his Comancheros a year earlier had taught him as much. "Besides Don Sebastian's not about to let anything happen to Manolito. He'll handle it. If he needs help, he'll send word to Victoria and Big John."

"Bueno. Sorry…Tired…need to sleep. Gracias, Señor." She closed her eyes.

He rubbed his forehead. Then he slapped his hat back on his head. Luck had definitely favored Mercedes in her escape from the Comancheros. Still he had to wonder if those thugs would try to come through Trail's End looking for her. It is the closest place. They ain't stupid. He crept softly from the room and back into the main area. He saw Blue and Penny waiting for him. "Those beans smell great after a long ride, Miss Penny. Thank you."

"No problem, Mr. Cannon. Sure glad to have the company," Penny assured him. "Did Miss Mercedes say anything?"

"Yeah." Buck rubbed the back of his neck. "We may have a problem tonight. Blue, you get first watch."

Blue nodded. "I'll keep a sharp eye out, Uncle Buck. You need your rest."

"I need my…?" Buck rolled his eyes. "I'm not old, Blue Boy. You ain't too old for me to whoop. Remember that, Romeo."

Blue shrugged at Penny.

She chuckled. "Best mind your Uncle, Blue. We don't want no trouble."

"Hey!" Blue protested.

"Even the little lady's showing sense, Blue Boy. Face it. You're outnumbered." Buck winked at the younger man.

"It's okay, Blue. I'll bring you coffee. We'll keep watch together," she volunteered.

"I take what I said back. Look. I'd rather you stay in here, Miss. Those boys are bad dudes," Buck disagreed.

"So was Johnny Keough. I helped then. I can help now," she insisted. "Let's eat. Then Blue can get on watch." She took the first spoonful from her plate.

Buck ate his beans without further comment. He just wanted a quiet night. Then he could buy those shotgun shells and maybe a few more rifles. Still he wasn't about to leave Mercedes nor could he send Blue or Penny alone across the desert to the Chaparral with the Comancheros.

They were stuck there whether they liked it or not….