several miles further away from Bishopsburg.’
‘Where’s that?’
Alvarez shook his head. ‘It is better you do not know this. In the event you only pretend to trust us. Until such times as you can bring the famous cavalry and outgun us, eh?’ He showed a wry smile.
North growled: ‘So I have to trust you, but you’re not going to trust me?’
‘What have you got to lose, sheriff? We will follow events concerning the new trial of Jose Martinez. And we promise to deliver Isabella Gomez safely to Bishopsburg in time to give her evidence.’
The woman demanded defensively: ‘Am I allowed an opinion on this matter?’
67
‘Of course, senorita,’ Alvarez replied evenly. ‘But as I recall, shortly after we first met last night you said you preferred to be under the protection of more than two men. And better they be from your own country. Is that not so?’
‘ Si!’ She shrugged, jangling her silver jewellery. ‘But I am a woman. We are allowed to change our minds. And after so many hours spent with you and your rabble – not knowing my intended fate until I heard you tell the sheriff just now – I wish to change my mind.’
The bearded man shrugged. ‘You have stated your opinion.’
Isabella snarled a familiar Spanish oath, then launched into a violent outburst in her native tongue.
‘That is enough of that!’ Alvarez ordered.
Up on the roof the impatiently scowling Edge mouthed silently: ‘Damn right, feller.’
‘What did she say?’ North demanded.
‘That nobody has to take care of her,’ Alvarez translated in an indifferent tone. ‘That she is able to take care of herself. And if we let her walk out of the door, she promises she will be in Bishopsburg on the day of the new trial. That we can trust her.’
‘Like hell,’ North countered. ‘She’s scared and in my opinion she’s got damn good reason to be. Which means I’ve got as good reason not to take her word on anything, however many promises she makes!’
Isabella glared, worked saliva up into her mouth and for a stretched second seemed about to spit into North’s grimacing face. Then she read a tacit message in his narrowed, steel grey eyes that warned her to do this would be a bad mistake. She swallowed the bubbling fluid and almost gagged on it as she peered fearfully at the other men. Alvarez asked: ‘But I hope you will trust us, sheriff?’
North did not need to think about the request. ‘After everything that’s happened, I reckon I can use some reliable help. But I’d like to know how you’ll know when to – ‘
‘That is simple, sheriff. Rubio Rodriges has already been offered work in Bishopsburg. By Senor Whitman the town’s liveryman. And while he is there Rubio will always be ready to bring a message to us from you.’
North indulged in a brief period of deep thinking concerned with what he was about to agree to do while all eyes remained firmly fixed on him. And when at last he nodded there was a collective sigh of pent up breath released by the men. A groan came from the woman.
68
North asked wearily: ‘What have you got against it, senorita It’ll be the same as when you were up in Railton City. Make it a lot harder for Martinez’s hired guns to put a bullet in your head than if you were in Bishopsburg. You got to see that?’
Up on the roof, the embryo grin that had started to form on Edge’s face abruptly altered to a scowl as the end of the exchange was delayed even further. Isabella used both hands to gesture contemptuously at the Mexicans. ‘Just look at them! If you were a woman, do you think you’d want to remain in such company for God knows how long?’
Paco Diego directed at her the same degree of scorn she had shown for him and his partners. ‘It seems you have a high opinion of yourself, mujer. I think you should know there is not one among us who does not have a wife or a novia in our village who is worth a hundred of you!’
A chorus of agreement was closely followed by
‘Where’s that?’
Alvarez shook his head. ‘It is better you do not know this. In the event you only pretend to trust us. Until such times as you can bring the famous cavalry and outgun us, eh?’ He showed a wry smile.
North growled: ‘So I have to trust you, but you’re not going to trust me?’
‘What have you got to lose, sheriff? We will follow events concerning the new trial of Jose Martinez. And we promise to deliver Isabella Gomez safely to Bishopsburg in time to give her evidence.’
The woman demanded defensively: ‘Am I allowed an opinion on this matter?’
67
‘Of course, senorita,’ Alvarez replied evenly. ‘But as I recall, shortly after we first met last night you said you preferred to be under the protection of more than two men. And better they be from your own country. Is that not so?’
‘ Si!’ She shrugged, jangling her silver jewellery. ‘But I am a woman. We are allowed to change our minds. And after so many hours spent with you and your rabble – not knowing my intended fate until I heard you tell the sheriff just now – I wish to change my mind.’
The bearded man shrugged. ‘You have stated your opinion.’
Isabella snarled a familiar Spanish oath, then launched into a violent outburst in her native tongue.
‘That is enough of that!’ Alvarez ordered.
Up on the roof the impatiently scowling Edge mouthed silently: ‘Damn right, feller.’
‘What did she say?’ North demanded.
‘That nobody has to take care of her,’ Alvarez translated in an indifferent tone. ‘That she is able to take care of herself. And if we let her walk out of the door, she promises she will be in Bishopsburg on the day of the new trial. That we can trust her.’
‘Like hell,’ North countered. ‘She’s scared and in my opinion she’s got damn good reason to be. Which means I’ve got as good reason not to take her word on anything, however many promises she makes!’
Isabella glared, worked saliva up into her mouth and for a stretched second seemed about to spit into North’s grimacing face. Then she read a tacit message in his narrowed, steel grey eyes that warned her to do this would be a bad mistake. She swallowed the bubbling fluid and almost gagged on it as she peered fearfully at the other men. Alvarez asked: ‘But I hope you will trust us, sheriff?’
North did not need to think about the request. ‘After everything that’s happened, I reckon I can use some reliable help. But I’d like to know how you’ll know when to – ‘
‘That is simple, sheriff. Rubio Rodriges has already been offered work in Bishopsburg. By Senor Whitman the town’s liveryman. And while he is there Rubio will always be ready to bring a message to us from you.’
North indulged in a brief period of deep thinking concerned with what he was about to agree to do while all eyes remained firmly fixed on him. And when at last he nodded there was a collective sigh of pent up breath released by the men. A groan came from the woman.
68
North asked wearily: ‘What have you got against it, senorita It’ll be the same as when you were up in Railton City. Make it a lot harder for Martinez’s hired guns to put a bullet in your head than if you were in Bishopsburg. You got to see that?’
Up on the roof, the embryo grin that had started to form on Edge’s face abruptly altered to a scowl as the end of the exchange was delayed even further. Isabella used both hands to gesture contemptuously at the Mexicans. ‘Just look at them! If you were a woman, do you think you’d want to remain in such company for God knows how long?’
Paco Diego directed at her the same degree of scorn she had shown for him and his partners. ‘It seems you have a high opinion of yourself, mujer. I think you should know there is not one among us who does not have a wife or a novia in our village who is worth a hundred of you!’
A chorus of agreement was closely followed by
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