they didn’t. They, the one, the leader I mean, forced me to mount up behind him and then he and the rest of them, we all rode up into the hills and … Oh God, dear God,’ she said covering her face with her hands, ‘you’re right, I mustn’t talk about this, I must try to forget it, to pretend that it never happened … but of course I can’t, I never will … never ever….’ She broke off, sobbing.
He held her in his arms all night. The rage he felt for the bandits, for what they had done to Ellen and Cerrildo, kept him warm long after the fire died.
It also made him realize what he had to do next.
And strangely, once he knew, saw it clearly and accepted it, realizing at the same time that fate had planned this outcome all along for him, his rage left him and he lost all fear of hanging.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The following dawn, while it was still cool and the heavens ablaze with color, they ate the last of the maize, took a few sips of water, and rode slowly toward San Dimas.
Knowing he was risking his neck if he ran into the Rurales , Gabriel considered skirting the sleepy pueblo and taking their chances with the desert: a sixty-mile stretch of burning desolation that had to be crossed in order to reach the American border. Like the desert south-west of San Dimas it too was known as Viaje del Muerto . Thinking about it Gabriel doubted if Ellen could make it all the way across. He doubted if Brandy could either, since even the indomitable Morgan was showing signs of tiring under its double load.
No, he thought resignedly, it had to be San Dimas.
They rode on, now able to see the familiar church bell tower above the whitewashed adobe buildings in the distance.
It was time, Gabriel realized, to tell Ellen about the potential trouble that lay ahead. Keeping his tone casual so as not to alarm her, he explained about his run-in with Captain Morales.
She fooled him; as if accustomed to confrontations withthe law, she calmly assured him that he hadn’t a thing to worry about. All she had to do was tell Captain Morales that it was bandits who killed Miguel and kidnapped her, and Gabriel would be exonerated.
He wasn’t so sure. He knew that he had sorely damaged the captain’s machismo by knocking him on his ass in front of his men, and guessed the arrogant officer would need to prove he had bigger cojones than a renegade gringo gunman.
‘Nonsense,’ Ellen said when Gabriel told her about his problem. ‘When I spoke to him he seemed like a most understanding gentleman. I was quite taken with him in fact. I’m sure when he hears the truth – especially after all I’ve been through – he’ll happily overlook your transgressions.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ Gabriel said. ‘ ’Cause I don’t intend to let that Mexican rooster lock me in the calabozo a second time.’
San Dimas was too small to keep a secret. Everyone had heard about Gabriel’s run-in with the Rurales and was surprised to see him ride into town; especially with the gringo woman, she of the strange hairless head, who they thought had been killed along with her driver.
‘We’re drawing quite a crowd,’ Ellen said to Gabriel as they were escorted through the streets by an ever- increasing number of curious townspeople.
He nodded grimly. ‘So much for slippin’ in an’ out of here without a fuss.’
Ellen smiled at the upturned brown faces trotting alongside them.
‘They probably heard I’d been killed and are surprised to see me alive. Either that or it’s my hair. I must look like a scalped monkey to them.’
Crossing the sun-baked plaza, Gabriel reined up in front of the livery stable. The same young hostler was already waiting for them in the doorway, anxious to be a part of this spectacle.
Gabriel dismounted and helped Ellen down. Then he told the hostler to feed and water the Morgan. ‘We also need a horse. Know any for sale?’
‘ Sí, señor . I know of a very fine horse. It belongs to my uncle.’
‘I
He held her in his arms all night. The rage he felt for the bandits, for what they had done to Ellen and Cerrildo, kept him warm long after the fire died.
It also made him realize what he had to do next.
And strangely, once he knew, saw it clearly and accepted it, realizing at the same time that fate had planned this outcome all along for him, his rage left him and he lost all fear of hanging.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The following dawn, while it was still cool and the heavens ablaze with color, they ate the last of the maize, took a few sips of water, and rode slowly toward San Dimas.
Knowing he was risking his neck if he ran into the Rurales , Gabriel considered skirting the sleepy pueblo and taking their chances with the desert: a sixty-mile stretch of burning desolation that had to be crossed in order to reach the American border. Like the desert south-west of San Dimas it too was known as Viaje del Muerto . Thinking about it Gabriel doubted if Ellen could make it all the way across. He doubted if Brandy could either, since even the indomitable Morgan was showing signs of tiring under its double load.
No, he thought resignedly, it had to be San Dimas.
They rode on, now able to see the familiar church bell tower above the whitewashed adobe buildings in the distance.
It was time, Gabriel realized, to tell Ellen about the potential trouble that lay ahead. Keeping his tone casual so as not to alarm her, he explained about his run-in with Captain Morales.
She fooled him; as if accustomed to confrontations withthe law, she calmly assured him that he hadn’t a thing to worry about. All she had to do was tell Captain Morales that it was bandits who killed Miguel and kidnapped her, and Gabriel would be exonerated.
He wasn’t so sure. He knew that he had sorely damaged the captain’s machismo by knocking him on his ass in front of his men, and guessed the arrogant officer would need to prove he had bigger cojones than a renegade gringo gunman.
‘Nonsense,’ Ellen said when Gabriel told her about his problem. ‘When I spoke to him he seemed like a most understanding gentleman. I was quite taken with him in fact. I’m sure when he hears the truth – especially after all I’ve been through – he’ll happily overlook your transgressions.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ Gabriel said. ‘ ’Cause I don’t intend to let that Mexican rooster lock me in the calabozo a second time.’
San Dimas was too small to keep a secret. Everyone had heard about Gabriel’s run-in with the Rurales and was surprised to see him ride into town; especially with the gringo woman, she of the strange hairless head, who they thought had been killed along with her driver.
‘We’re drawing quite a crowd,’ Ellen said to Gabriel as they were escorted through the streets by an ever- increasing number of curious townspeople.
He nodded grimly. ‘So much for slippin’ in an’ out of here without a fuss.’
Ellen smiled at the upturned brown faces trotting alongside them.
‘They probably heard I’d been killed and are surprised to see me alive. Either that or it’s my hair. I must look like a scalped monkey to them.’
Crossing the sun-baked plaza, Gabriel reined up in front of the livery stable. The same young hostler was already waiting for them in the doorway, anxious to be a part of this spectacle.
Gabriel dismounted and helped Ellen down. Then he told the hostler to feed and water the Morgan. ‘We also need a horse. Know any for sale?’
‘ Sí, señor . I know of a very fine horse. It belongs to my uncle.’
‘I
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