knowed what was in that telegram ’fore I even opened it.”
I said, “Careful. You are liable to break your arm patting yourself on the back so hard.”
I studied him. Yes, he could pass for Mex. And, God knows, he spoke it well enough. Plus he had that air of authority about him that would work well on the Mexican policemen.
He finished his drink and held out his glass. I poured it full and he said, “Well, what the hell is up?”
As best I could I explained what all had gone on since we’d reached Monterrey and how I didn’t figure it was going to get any better.
He said, “So they playin’ you for a milk cow, huh?”
“Appears so.”
He drank and said, “I ain’t surprised. Did you think of trying another lawyer?”
I shrugged. “I don’t think it would make much difference. Neither does Jack.”
They’d been introduced when Lew had come in and now Lew looked over at Jack. Jack just shrugged. “We were already in considerable money before it began to appear that Obregon was givin’ us a fast shuffle. I took him on what recommendations I could git. After him we’d of just been drawin’ blind.”
Lew came back to me. “So now you figure to bust Norris out.”
I nodded.
He rubbed his jaw. “What’s the jail look like?”
It was Ben that spoke. “Like a damn fort. Enough damn police around there to hold a convention.”
Lew raised his eyebrows at me. “Don’t sound too good.”
I said, “It ain’t all that bad. Plus we got some help. Seven other guns that Ben rates fair.”
“Well, what’s the plan and when do we do it?”
I said, “It’s not all thought out down to the last detail, but this is what I got so far.”
Then I told them what I had planned.
When I was through, nobody said anything for the longest minute. Finally Hays blew out a breath and said, “Wahl, boss, it’s bodacious if it ain’t nuthin’ else.”
Lew said, “I ain’t exactly sure where I come in.”
I said, “Your job will be to gather up that Capitán Davilla. We’re taking him with us the first fifty miles or so.”
Lew frowned. “You sure you wouldn’t rather have me at the actual jailbreak?”
Of course he was saying that I might could use his gun, but I shook my head. “I’m gonna get you a uniform. That way you’ll catch Davilla off guard. Besides, you can ride off with him and wait for us outside of town without anybody thinking anything about it. Plus he’s liable to be a handful.”
“How am I going to git to him?”
“We’re going to do it at siesta. He’ll be home.”
Jack said, “Sounds, Justa, like it will mainly be you inside that jail.”
“Me and Hays,” I said.
Hays made a slight moan, but Ben said, “Like hell! Norris is my brother too.”
I said, “I know that, fool. But the most dangerous part of this whole operation is going to be when we hit the street. Ben, I’ve got to have my best gun out there. And that’s you. You’re going to have to direct the fire of yourself and those pistoleros and get us across that street and to the horses.”
Lew lit a cigarillo. We both smoked the same kind. He said, “I can see it all except about the money. Don’t you reckon you be pushing things a bit on that?”
I said, firmly, “Nope. We didn’t start this fight. And I’m damn certain we ain’t going to be the loser by it. Now, Lew, I know I’m asking considerable of you. I’ve asked you to leave your post as a lawman back in Blessing and I’ve asked you to come down here and help us commit an illegal act. If you feel like you hadn’t ought to have any part of it, I’ll understand and they’ll be no hard feelings.”
He looked at me for a moment and then laughed. He said, “Just so long as you un’erstand this be the first illegal act I ever committed. What, you gone loco, Justa? I will be awhile getting the books balanced with you.”
I said, “Well, you don’t owe me nothing. But I’m still much obliged.”
Jack said, “What’s
I said, “Careful. You are liable to break your arm patting yourself on the back so hard.”
I studied him. Yes, he could pass for Mex. And, God knows, he spoke it well enough. Plus he had that air of authority about him that would work well on the Mexican policemen.
He finished his drink and held out his glass. I poured it full and he said, “Well, what the hell is up?”
As best I could I explained what all had gone on since we’d reached Monterrey and how I didn’t figure it was going to get any better.
He said, “So they playin’ you for a milk cow, huh?”
“Appears so.”
He drank and said, “I ain’t surprised. Did you think of trying another lawyer?”
I shrugged. “I don’t think it would make much difference. Neither does Jack.”
They’d been introduced when Lew had come in and now Lew looked over at Jack. Jack just shrugged. “We were already in considerable money before it began to appear that Obregon was givin’ us a fast shuffle. I took him on what recommendations I could git. After him we’d of just been drawin’ blind.”
Lew came back to me. “So now you figure to bust Norris out.”
I nodded.
He rubbed his jaw. “What’s the jail look like?”
It was Ben that spoke. “Like a damn fort. Enough damn police around there to hold a convention.”
Lew raised his eyebrows at me. “Don’t sound too good.”
I said, “It ain’t all that bad. Plus we got some help. Seven other guns that Ben rates fair.”
“Well, what’s the plan and when do we do it?”
I said, “It’s not all thought out down to the last detail, but this is what I got so far.”
Then I told them what I had planned.
When I was through, nobody said anything for the longest minute. Finally Hays blew out a breath and said, “Wahl, boss, it’s bodacious if it ain’t nuthin’ else.”
Lew said, “I ain’t exactly sure where I come in.”
I said, “Your job will be to gather up that Capitán Davilla. We’re taking him with us the first fifty miles or so.”
Lew frowned. “You sure you wouldn’t rather have me at the actual jailbreak?”
Of course he was saying that I might could use his gun, but I shook my head. “I’m gonna get you a uniform. That way you’ll catch Davilla off guard. Besides, you can ride off with him and wait for us outside of town without anybody thinking anything about it. Plus he’s liable to be a handful.”
“How am I going to git to him?”
“We’re going to do it at siesta. He’ll be home.”
Jack said, “Sounds, Justa, like it will mainly be you inside that jail.”
“Me and Hays,” I said.
Hays made a slight moan, but Ben said, “Like hell! Norris is my brother too.”
I said, “I know that, fool. But the most dangerous part of this whole operation is going to be when we hit the street. Ben, I’ve got to have my best gun out there. And that’s you. You’re going to have to direct the fire of yourself and those pistoleros and get us across that street and to the horses.”
Lew lit a cigarillo. We both smoked the same kind. He said, “I can see it all except about the money. Don’t you reckon you be pushing things a bit on that?”
I said, firmly, “Nope. We didn’t start this fight. And I’m damn certain we ain’t going to be the loser by it. Now, Lew, I know I’m asking considerable of you. I’ve asked you to leave your post as a lawman back in Blessing and I’ve asked you to come down here and help us commit an illegal act. If you feel like you hadn’t ought to have any part of it, I’ll understand and they’ll be no hard feelings.”
He looked at me for a moment and then laughed. He said, “Just so long as you un’erstand this be the first illegal act I ever committed. What, you gone loco, Justa? I will be awhile getting the books balanced with you.”
I said, “Well, you don’t owe me nothing. But I’m still much obliged.”
Jack said, “What’s
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