And the Devil Makes Five
Chapter 6 – Coffee and Banditos"It wasn't real, Beau. It was only a dream."
"It was a nightmare."
Bret nodded. He'd had a few of his own like that. "The point is it's not real."
"Yeah. I know you're right. I'll get saddled."
Bret watched his cousin stumble away and stagger over to his horse just as Bart approached. "What's with Beau?"
Bret gave his brother one of those 'I'm giving you an answer but please don't ask any more questions' looks. "Nightmare."
Bart nodded sagely. He knew all about those, too. "Ah."
Just then Doc meandered over. "Is this a private party or can anyone join?"
Bret and Bart both said "Private" at the same moment and laughed.
"Sorry, Doc, it was a family matter," Bart offered by way of apology. "You ready to go?"
Doc nodded. "When have I not been?"
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Doc's estimate of the banditos patience was wrong; it was almost five days before they saw any sign of the outlaws again. And even then they couldn't be sure if it was the same group or a different bunch that appeared one morning on the trip back to camp.
One minute there was nothing there; the next minute a line of riders watched them carefully from a hill-top to the west. "Our friends are back" Doc announced in case any of the Mavericks had missed seeing them.
Bret's head came up sharply and he scanned the group for any sign of movement or a leader. The line of riders remained still and steady; there were at least a dozen men watching their every move. The group of four men pulled their horses into a tight bunch as they continued southward.
The banditos wasted only a few minutes watching them before once again turning away and heading west, but this time they left a single man to trail the Maverick group. He stayed a respectable distance away but followed them down to camp and found himself a shaded spot to keep watch from.
"Well, we have a babysitter," Bart announced as they dismounted at camp.
"That's not the same bunch as before," Doc offered. "But it is nice to know we're popular."
"Popular or not, I'm goin' to make another pot of coffee." Bart headed towards the fire before Doc could stop him.
Doc turned back to Bret. "Somebody's gonna have to go to Santa Pietro, or your brother's gonna have a - " before he could finish his thought Bart let out a yelp like somebody had just hit him. He came running back over to Doc and his brother.
"There's no more coffee. How far to that dang town?"
Bret started laughing, even though Bart had a stricken look on his face. "Doc, you sure called that one." Doc just shrugged and walked away, so Bret answered his brother's question with one of his own. "I take it you want to make a trip to Santa Pietro?"
"Now," was Bart's answer. "You know I live on the stuff."
Bret looked at his brother and made his own assessment. "Maybe you shouldn't."
"I'm goin', Brother Bret. What else do we need?"
"I got a list. You willing to go right now?"
It took Bart about five seconds to grab his horse's reins and mount. "Is that right now enough for ya?"
Bret tightened the cinch on his saddle and swung up on his horse. "Yep, works for me. Beau, Doc, anything you want or need?"
Beau shook his head, Doc just looked up and smiled. "Alright, we'll be back." Bret headed his mount west at a reasonable canter while Bart's horse pranced and pawed it's way alongside. Not being whiskey drinkers had made them both coffee men since an early age, and it was a standing joke that Bart couldn't live without the stuff. Bret knew they were all drinking a lot of it and had intended to go after additional supplies two days ago but was just too tired to make the trip. His younger brother had given him no choice.
They rode in silence most of the way and saw nothing of the banditos they'd encountered earlier. Their babysitter had not followed them but stayed in his position of comfort to watch the two remaining men sleep. Esteban was again in the general store and was more than happy to see the Americanos. As before, he sent them to the cantina and, like every other day, Carmenita was there. Of course, she remembered the dark-haired gringo, but this time he brought a different man with him. She wondered if this was the 'Bart' that was spoken of on the first visit. It didn't take long to figure out that the answer to her question was 'si.'
She didn't ask, just served them both coffee. "Muchas gracias, Señorita" from Bart, who gave her the same knee-weakening smile she'd first seen from his – brother? Cousin? She had no doubt these two were related, the resemblance was too strong between them. This one was thinner, not quite as tall or as dark, but had eyes that danced and shined when he looked at her. He favored her with another smile. "¿Cuál es tu nombre, Señorita?" he asked her.
For the first time in her life she found herself answering shyly, "Carmenita. You are Señor Bart, Si?"
He laughed, delighted that she knew his name. "Si, Carmenita." He turned to Bret and asked "Is this what you found uninteresting in Santa Pietro?"
"Who, Carmenita? Why, we're old friends, aren't we Señorita?" Bret responded as he took Carmenita's hands in his. There was that earth-shattering smile again, and the resemblance was even stronger.
"¿Ustedes son hermanos?" she asked, and both responded "Si."
"And Beau?" She interspersed her Spanish with the little English she knew.
Again, the laugh, this time from the darker of the two. The sounds from the brothers were very different, yet very much alike. "Dejamos Beau en la casa."
Again Esteban appeared in the doorway and motioned to the men. Bart looked at Bret and indicated the store owner. "Go pay for it, I'll stay here until you're done." Then he turned his attention back to Carmenita. "Carmenita, estás aquí por la noche?"
"Si, Señor, hasta el ocaso. You come back?"
"Not tonight, Carmenita, but soon maybe." He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. Once again she was in love. Where had these men come from? Every gringo she'd met was course, and rude, and loud, and had no manners at all. But these men were charming, and polite, and soft-spoken. And hermoso.
Bret reappeared in the doorway to the cantina and waited while his brother kissed her hand again and stood, tipped his hat to her, and walked out. She looked down at the table. Again there was money for her. She picked it up and smiled to herself.
¿Cuál es tu nombre – What is your name
¿Ustedes son hermanos? – Are you brothers
Dejamos Beau en la casa - We left Beau at home
Carnenita, estás aquí por la noche – Carmenita, are you here after dark
Si, Señor, hasta el ocaso – Yes, mister, until the sunset
Hermoso - Handsome
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