A/N - Right, okay, first off, I haven't updated in so long as my laptop broke (even though it was brand new at Christmas) and apparently Curry's couldn't do it themselves so they had to send it off. That took ages and eventually it came back, with a completely new hard drive and NOTHING of what I previously had was on it. ): I've had to redo everything from scratch and that along with exams has been a lot. But I've managed to churn this chapter out. Hopefully it's not too rushed!
On a lighter note, thank you so much to all of the feedback! I've received lots recently and it's really made my smile! Thank you so much guys! It really helps! Keep it coming!

Chapter 23 - What have we got ourselves into?

The rain had lessened and now the sun was breaking through the dark clouds, its golden rays gracing the wet Mexican ground. The slight, skinny dog was still snuffling in the hay, wet nose pushing aside ears of corn, sniffing mice trails. Eduardo and I both looked to the sudden voice to see Jack standing there, arms crossed over his broad chest. A small, shining drop of water rolled over the brim of his hat before it fell, landing on his boots. Eduardo stepped back, taking his hands off my tiny shoulders. "And who might you be, gringo?" he asked, addressing Jack with an equally warm tone as what he had spoken to me with. Jack stared him down for a few seconds before glancing to me. "He causin' you any trouble?" I shook my head.

"No, he's nice," I reassured with a smile. Eduardo looked between Jack and I.

"You two Americans know each other?"

Jack answered briskly, "Yeah, we do. So whatever you're sayin' to her you can say to me." He advanced, spurs clinking, and stood beside me as Eduardo took a few steps back. A wide grin remained on his face; it never faltered even under Jack's stare. "Amigo, you look like a man who can handle a gun!" he began, tone as chipper as always. "How's about joining the Zapatistas? Eh?" His arms were open wide, as if he was waiting to embrace Jack at any moment. I stifled a laugh.

"The what?" Jack echoed, narrowing his eyes and sticking his thumbs through his jean loopholes.

"The Zapatistas!" Eduardo chuckled, as if it was the most obvious thing in the whole of Mexico. "We're the followers of Emiliano Zapata, a brave man who is going to free this country once and for all!"

Beside me, Jack muttered, "I wonder how many people have claimed they were gon' do the same." Eduardo chuckled and pointed his finger, almost waggled it like Jack was some kind'a naughty child. "Ahh, that's the beauty of it. Many have promised such things but they lacked conviction, bravery, passion. Mr Zapata has all of those things and more! Why, he could take over the whole of Mexico, not just this province!"

My eyebrows raised; those were big words. Eduardo was doin' well bigging this man up. "You make him sound like a prize bull," Jack chuckled, rolling his eyes. "He's probably jus' the same as every other damn fool; they promise you justice but it ain't no good. Better off doing it yourself."

I looked sideways at him, swallowing. I could hear the bitter undertone and it made me flush with worry. I knew there was still a lot to Jack that was hurtin' but he hadn't told anyone. Eduardo, however, just brushed the words off, laughing merrily. "But gringo, that's what Emiliano Zapata is doing. He's fed up of the justice system here, so he's doing it for himself - with a little help of course. And not only that, but he's uniting the country! Viva la Mexico!"

Eduardo stepped back, body being emersed into the light, powdery rain. He tilted his face upwards whilst inhaling deeply, chest expanding with the morning air. "Ahhh," he sighed. "Can't you smell it? The will of the people to fight for their beloved Mexico."

Jack and I stood in silence, watching this quirky man. He was a strange one alright. Never had I ever met a man so in love with his country. Jack was perhaps a little less amused than me, though I could see a smirk twitching his lips. Eduardo finally lowered his head, looking back at us. He opened his arms wide, like he was embracin' Mexico itself. "So, amigo, amiga, what do you say? Will you join the revolution and help free Mexico from an evil tyranny?"

A shot was fired.

It bounced off the ground by Eduardo's feet. I flinched, hand snapping to my side, ready for a gun fight. Jack also readied himself, a habit by now. Eduardo's shoulders stiffened but he seemed calm. A low chuckle emitted from him. "Ah, I should have known the dog would have come," he teased, voice low and heavy.

Looking to the right, at the entrance to the pens, I saw the sheriff from yesterday with his revolver pointed towards Edaurdo. His eyes were cold and steely. His moustache twitching as he clenched his jaw. "The dog has to come to flush out the rat," he retorted, accent still as thick. His cold eyes glanced in Jack and mine's direction. "Joined by the gringos, eh?"

Eduardo laughed, arms by his side with one hand moving slowly towards his gun. "Of course, these Americans are smarter than you, and they can see that the rebels are the ones trying to get their broken country back." I noticed Jack tense beside me.

"Then the American filth can be sentenced to death along with you, you traitorous pig!" The sheriff fired again, shot barely missin' Eduardo. He flinched and reacted swiftly, pulling out his own gun and firin' at the other Mexican. It missed and Eduardo took off, sprinting and swinging himself over the crooked pen fences. The sheriff cursed in Spanish before sprinting after him, yelling after the smaller man as they began to disappear into the distance.

The occasional pop and wisps of smoke was all that could be seen and heard. Once the figures completely merged into the hazy distance, I turned to Jack. "Well... that was intrestin'," I laughed. Jack's eyes were glued to the direction the two had disappeared. "Err... Jack?" I tried again, peering closely at his transfixed face. "Hello? Is anyone in there?" I waved my hand before his eyes.

He snapped out the trance, oak brown irises now meeting my hazel ones. "What? Sorry?" he spluttered, blinking quickly. I giggled and shook my head.

"I jus' said it was weird... what jus' happened. That's all." Jack nodded slowly, agreeing.

"I think we better take our leave," he began. "Keep on the move." My grin faltered as the ache in my belly worsened.

"B-but, what about breakfast?" I asked, wrapping my arms around my growling tummy. Jack laughed.

"Of course we can eat first. If not I think you'll pass out!" I flushed.

"I ain't gonna pass out. I'm tougher than that."

"If you say so."

We left the horses, minds half on food, half on the strange Eduardo. Behind me I heard a yip. I cast a look over my shoulder and noticed the dog trot after us. I smiled. I still owed him scraps.

With us, and the dog, fed we quickly gathered our things then prepared our mounts. Saddle bags were packed with supplies as were satchels with ammo and a few medical items. I worked happily with a full stomach, giving Dash a good scratch behind the ear as we led our horses into Chuparosa. "Where we headin' now?" I asked casually, giving my arms a quick stretch.

"Where ever ya like. I ain't too fussed."

"Neither am I. Looks like we'll never make our minds up!" I laughed.

"Fine, I'll make the decision since I'm the man," Jack teased, fake sighing but failing to hide the smirk on his face.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" I quipped. Jack laughed it off.

"Don't you worry," he teased more. I huffed and pulled out my map from my satchel, halting and looping my arm through Dash's reins to hold him. Unfolding the yellowed paper, I cast my eyes to it. They roved all over Mexico, drinking in every detail the map held. I found Chuparosa then looked around it, deciding where to go.

Jack stopped a little in front, looking back patiently. "How about we keep on heading up?" I asked, conferring with him. Jack shrugged, adjusting his satchel.

"Sure, don't see why not." I smiled.

"See? Quick, easy decision from me. A woman." Jack raised his eyebrows and laughed.

"Well, we'll just have to-"

"Hola, amigos!" Jack was cut off rudely by a cheery voice. We looked and saw none other than Eduardo approaching us, sat atop a grey mare.

"Oh. It's you again," Jack sighed. "What happened to you and the sheriff?" Eduardo chuckled, patting his horse on the neck solidly.

"Why I outsmarted the crooked dog!" he laughed. I looked at him incredulously.

"Wha- How?"

"It was simple. I got a distance between us before whistling for my trusty steed. She came running and then I could easily escape the dog!" I nodded slowly, impressed by how easy he made it seem. Though, I thought absently, he didn't really outsmart him... Perhaps I was expectin' too much in the ways of trickery and craftyness. Jack frowned suddenly, eyes moving from Eduardo to the floor then back again. "But wait, where is he now?"

In answer to his question, someone cleared their throat behind Eduardo. I shivered. We were being interrupted a lot recently. Groaning, Eduardo turned in the saddle. "You're persistent, aren't you?" The sheriff didn't reply, only grinning maliciously. Behind him were two other law officers. All had pistols pointed this way.

I gulped and felt my left hand twitch. Jack tensed, becoming a statue. He then slowly, at a snails pace, edged towards me. He spoke quickly and hushed. "Get on ya horse, Eva," he said. I shivered when he said my name, but did as he said. Something was going to happen. The air was electric. I got one boot in the stirrup before the sheriff snapped at me.

I froze.

"Don't move, gringo." He hissed the words like a snake spittin' venom.

"Now, sir, we don't want no trouble," Jack tried to reason, eyes holdin' a steady gaze with the moustached man.

He scoffed, "Don't take me for a fool. I know what you're up to. You Americans have picked the wrong side." He aimed his gun higher, barrel pointin' menacingly towards me. His tone was sharp and low, sending a cold wave through my body.

Jack glanced over his shoulder, eyes connecting with mine. With a slow nod, I knew what to do. I swung myself onto Dash as Jack fired on the sheriffs. They were caught unawares, but quickly fired back, moving for cover. Eduardo also fired on them, his own gun gleaming in the sunlight. A laugh rung over the pop of gunfire.

Jack was suddenly on his horse as I turned Dash. "Go, Eva!" he ordered, flinching as a bullet grazed his shoulder. I spurred Dash sharply, earning a whinny. He half reared before swinging forward and shooting out of the town. His ears pricked, I clung to my mount. Behind me I could hear the thud of more hooves as Jack and Eduardo followed. "Head right!" Eduardo called. I glanced back jus' for a moment, catching a glimpse of the fading town.

We turned right and followed the train rail. Eduardo and his grey mare took lead, turning off and heading over the ungulating wilderness. We charged through brush, caring not for staying on horse trails. Only when we had galloped for a good few minutes did we slow to a brisk canter. My knuckles were white as I clenched the reins. My heart was hammering in my chest. I looked around, a heavy feelin' on my shoulders like someone was watchinging us, or giving chase. "You okay?" I turned back around and nodded at Jack.

"What about you? You were actually firin'." Jack nodded but I noticed a small tear in his jacket where the bullet had grazed him. I could see a strip of raw red underneath. I grimaced slightly, knowing I'd fuss him about it later. At the moment, by the grim look on his face he didn't seem very pleased.

"What was that all about?" he called to Eduardo. The happy Mexican looked back, grey speckled mare whinnying as she plowed through a bush. We were pushin' on into the more hilly, vegetated part. Where was he leadin' us?

"What do you mean, amigo? The sheriff's shot at us, what's there not to get-"

"Not that, the leadin' them back to us!" Eduardo seemed to blink back at Jack before lookin' forward again, speaking over his shoulder.

"I didn't mean to amigo. It was just an accident-"

"One that could'a got us killed!"

"Jack..." I managed out, looking worriedly at him.

"Now we're branded rebels!" he continued. "Do you know how much trouble you've caused us?"

"If I remember rightly, amigo, you were the first to fire. Perhaps this would have ended differently if you had kept your cool." While Eduardo's tone wasn't quite as upbeat as before, he still spoke light-heartedly and calmly.

"Because if not he was gonna shoot Eva!" Jack snipped. I just stayed silent, gripping Dash's reins. "Where you takin' us anyways."

"I'm not taking you anywhere, amigos. You're following me," Eduardo joked, shrugging his shoulders with a chuckle.

"You got us into this mess, you get us out," Jack stated, leavin' no room for argument. Eduardo only sighed up a head.

"We're going to the camp were the other Zapatistas are. We shouldn't be found here, and if we are... well, there's enough of us to defend ourselves." So we were headin' to the Zapatistas' hideout? I felt my lips twitch. This could be interestin'.

They all wore white Stetsons.

We had arrived at the small hideout, hidden away by hardy trees that had gouged a life out of the dry landscape and outcrops of dusty, orange rock, to see many men, almost too many to count in the quick glances I made. Some were gathered around a campfire, some were stood in tents, talking or smoking, and others were sitting with cards or just sitting and staring. They didn't look like they were trying to take over a country.

And perhaps the most outrages feature was their white Stetsons. Every single man I glanced at had a white Stetson somewhere, whether it be beside him on the ground or on top of his slicked back coal hair. The stetsons were a nice touch, but wouldn't it just make them easier to identify by law enforcers?

Several pairs of eyes glanced our way, but only a few stayed glued to us. The men didn't seem too surprised we were here. Perhaps we weren't the first Americans. "Ah, comrades!" Eduardo cheered, opening his arms wide and slipping off his horse once we stopped outside a large, open tent. Inside were tables with paper strewn about them as well as guns.

We were at a what appeared on the outside to be a small, poor working farm, complete with a vegetable patch and workers going about their daily chores. But at the back, hidden away was the tents and the Zapaptistas. Even smoke trails left to billow in the hot sky were presumed to be from the small farmhouse that sat not too far away. It was all the perfect disguise. I couldn't stop the small smile of approval. While the men didn't look overly impressive upon first meeting, I could tell they had the tactics and the brain to take the country.

"Hola, amigo, como estas?" Looking back at Eduardo, a man had come to greet him, speaking in their native tongue. Eduardo answered back just as rapidly and the two embraced with loud, booming laughter. Jack and I slowly dismounted our horses, standing a little awkwardly, watching the two. I could feel more eyes on us as men turned and looked.

Finished with greeting his obvious good friend, Eduardo turned to us, almost showing us off to the other man. "Two Americans, ready to fight for the cause!" Eduardo announced, a cheek-splitting grin on his face. "Now wait just a minute," Jack began, hands on hips, eyebrows furrowing. Eduardo interrupted him before he could speak again. "These two helped me fight off the puto sheriff and his monkey friends," he laughed, earning cheers and chortles from nearby men. Arms crossed over his chest, Eduardo's friend nodded with an impressed look. "Impressive gringos. So you really believe in the cause?"

"No," Jack growled. "Look, we're jus' here for a vaccation, we don't want to get mixed up in no politics." The man before him laughed.

"Vaccation? Then you've come to the wrong country gringo." I blinked slowly, stepping forward beside Jack making sure I was known. The mans dark eyes flickered to me for a brief moment before looking back to Jack. "And from what Eduardo has told me you don't have much choice anymore."

I could feel Jack tense beside me. I was beginning to grow taunt as well. At first it had seen a good idea, a romantic notion almost, to join the rebels and help free their country from the constricting grasp of the tyrannical government. But now, standing and looking about, it didn't seem all that appealing. There was a dangerous air about these men. I subconsciously moved closer to Jack, who's eyes darted down to me for a second before he sighed. "I'm sure if we go and explain they'll-"

"They'll what?" Eduardo interrupted. "I hate to break it to you amigo, but these men don't take any prisoners. They'll just shoot you on the spot." He made a pistol shape with his fingers and aimed it towards us, pretending to shoot. I frowned and gritted my teeth.

"So what're we gonna do?" I spoke up, drawing attention to myself. "I would say we could just head off back to America but I gotta gut feelin' you have something for us." The man beside Eduardo laughed and elbowed his friend.

"Who's the chica, eh? She's smart." The two began laughing, like it was the funniest thing ever. I frowned more, confused and starting to get annoyed.

"I have a name..." I muttered.

"Hm? And what is it?" Eduardo's friend asked.

"Eva."

"Eva? Such a lovely name for a lovely girl," he purred, stepping forward. Eduardo chuckled behind him.

"Ahh, keep your hands to yourself Ramon," he chimed. "I think she with the American." I felt my cheeks grow hot and let my them puff out. I averted my gaze to the floor, not wanting to look them in the eye. Ramon chuckled. "Is that so? What a shame." He clucked his tongue before turning and strolling leisurely infront of us. My hazel eyes followed him.

"What you say is right though," he began. "Since you could get in to a lot of trouble, you're better off sticking with us." A sly grin stretched his thin lips. Jack let out a sigh and the Mexican decided to take this as a yes. "Okay, so how about you assist Eduardo here in spreading the world of the invincible Emiliano Zapata?" He caught our dubious looks and laughed. "Don't give me that.. c'mon amigos, you know you waaant to!"

That man was a slimey bastard. I was mounted on Dash again, cantering along behind Jack and Eduardo. Somehow, somehow, Ramon has managed to talk Jack and I into helpin' out. Now, I wasn't too fancy on my words, but I was also fairly well educated, so I wasn't blind enough to be ignorant to what he was doing. Ramon had sweet talked us into feel obliged. I know I had felt as if it was our only option. No wonder they gathered so many followers if they were all as smooth talkin' as him. Jack wasn't best pleased. Eduardo was his cheery self. And now, the three of us were cantering off to a nearby settlement, like merry men ready to spread the word of this 'amazing' Emiliano Zapata. I sighed, it was just our luck to get into this situation.