Slocum and the Long Ride (15 page)

Charlie had joined them. He nodded to Slocum, and they rode back to camp.

Silva came out to meet them.

“You all look so glum. What is wrong?”

“Nothing,” Slocum said. “I bought some canvas, large needles, and heavy thread to make coin sacks. Silva, show them how to make them.”

“Where is Pasco?” she asked.

“He's dead. The reign of Gomez is over.”

Dismounted, he stood by his horse. She handed the canvas and items to Gordon. “Hold these,” she said.

Then she ran around and hugged Slocum. “Why are you so sad? Those bastards you came for are all dead. You found every one of us lots of money. What is wrong?”

He kissed her cheek and whispered, “And now I must lose you.”

“Not till in the morning.”

“Good.”

•   •   •

They went off the next day, and she rode one of the spare horses.

When they arrived at the well in the village, Silva's sister was doing wash and ran over with her wet dress showing her boobs and navel through the wet material. The two women hugged and danced. Slocum dismounted.

“You met my sister,” Silva said. “Like I said, she's been taking care of things here. You kiss her good for me.”

Her sister was not as slender as Silva, but she had a nice body and they kissed long.

In a low voice, he asked Silva if her sister knew about the reward. She wrinkled her nose. “Kiss him again,” she said to her sister, “and I will tell you why later.”

So her sister did, and then Slocum mounted up and rode away on his pacing horse to catch the others headed home. In Nogales they sold their extra horses and he gave the money to the four men, who tried to give him some of it.

He refused it, and they went on to Dan's place and had a party.

Slocum learned that the Apache scare was over when he and Dan talked.

“What do I owe you and your men?” Dan asked.

“Me you owe two fifty, the men a hundred apiece, and that will square the three of us. Your men as well as mine have some money they recovered. But they earned that. Gomez is no more, and his gang are sprouting weeds.”

“Oh, I owe you more than two hundred fifty.”

“That's all I need.”

“I'll get the money out of the safe and pay you three. But my cook will expect you to entertain her.”

They both laughed.

“I can do that,” Slocum said. “I'm in no hurry. Though I think Gordon and Charlie want to go on home.”

“I'll get that money.”

Slocum gathered the crew. “Dan's gone for your money. He's paying you two a hundred apiece and I will get two fifty.”

“You should get a thousand,” the Kid said.

“No, all I need are some expenses. I want to tell you how much I appreciate all four of you. Silva is back home, and we know she is rich by her standards. She will be fine. All those bastards are dead. We can ride on and live our lives.”

“I ain't the speaker for everyone, but I won't ever forget it,” the Kid said. “You ever need me, I want to go with you.”

“The same here,” Ken said.

“I live in St. David,” Gordon told them all. “You are welcome at my house.”

Charlie Horse stood and shrugged. “I used to live in a wickiup, but we will have a jacal after this and a garden. Come stay with me.”

“And any of you need anything, come see me,” Dan said, handing out the money to them.

Slocum kissed Goldie good-bye and promised to return. She threatened him with her finger and said, “You better.”

Then he hopped on the pacing horse that Dan had given him and headed for Patagonia.

•   •   •

There was a note for him at the hotel desk.

Dear Slocum,

I have gone back to my schoolhouse. They sent a driver for me. I am somewhat lost without you, but I understand. Our affair has given me more backbone. After the school session I may go back to Kansas and live my life up there. I know now I can be a real woman, and you gave me the strength to see that.

God bless you.

Sandy

Slocum looked at the letter and nodded.

“Anything I can do for you, sir?” the desk clerk asked. “She was a very lovely lady.”

“She was that. You hit the nail on the head.”

•   •   •

Slocum turned and left the hotel. Sandy didn't need him anymore. She'd find her way all right without him meddling in her life. He felt stiff and numb from the Mexican expedition. What he needed was a place to put up his boots and get settled back.

A woman with her face full of tears came across the street to meet him. “Wait. Wait.”

“What can I do for you?”

She sniffed, and tears ran down her face. “They killed him. You knew Earl Reed my husband.”

“Yes. You have a ranch up in the Mule Shoe Mountains. I knew Earl. Who killed him?”

“I don't know. He's dead. They said they buried him. I am stuck here and I have two small children. I don't know what I can do. I saw you, and you are the first person that I even knew in days. I am about to collapse.”

He hugged her. “Why can't you go back?”

“One of my horses died of colic after we got here.” She turned up her hands. “I have no money. There was some money at the ranch. Earl said he had to stay there and protect it.”

“You had any food lately?”

“No.”

“Get those two kids and let's go eat.”

She looked taken back. “I am not begging.”

“I am. Let's go to lunch, I need some. Where are they?”

“I'll get them. I can repay you—”

“Quit worrying. You need to eat.”

She took him across the street to their wagon, and two small children there acted bashful.

“This is Harry, he's five. He's my big man.”

Slocum kneeled down and spoke to him. “Harry, you doing all right?”

He nodded, rather reserved. “You made Mother stop crying, didn't you?”

“I tried.” Harry ran over and hugged him.

His three-year-old sister, Lena, came behind him, not to be left out. One in each arm Slocum carried them across the street.

They had lunch in the café, and the kids were friendly to him.

Slocum said, “I have some friends at St. David who will care for them. Then we can go see about things at the ranch.”

“I don't want to be a burden to you. I'm just—”

“We're going to get it all straight. I'll find a horse to match your other one. Then we can park the kids, go up there, and straighten things out. I have nothing else I need to do right now, so I am your helper.”

“My savior. Thank you. I have been at a loss to do anything.”

“No, I'm just a friend. Your name is?”

“Jena. I am sorry. I was so upset I have considered some crazy things to get out of here.”

“Slocum is mine.”

She nodded. “I have lost some of my senses. I knew your name when I saw you.”

“Let's take the children up to my friends Gordon and Alma Morales at St. David. They have no children and will treat them well. Then we can go down and see about your ranch.”

“But I have no horse.”

“That is going to be cured in an hour. I'm going to hire some teenage boys to help you load it. By dark or tomorrow we will be up at St. David.”

He paid for their lunch and told Jena to go back to the wagon and start loading.

“I'll try,” she said, shaking her head.

“Work those boys I send you.”

She agreed, and he kissed Lena as he set her down. “Harry, you help her too. I'll be back.”

He found two boys loafing around at the livery. “There is a wagon up on Main Street needs two loaders. Mrs. Reed wants to go home. I'll pay you a dollar apiece to go help her do that. Her name is Jena Reed.”

After sending them to help her, he found a decent team and harness and bought them for a hundred dollars. He drove them down to Jena's wagon.

Her face was flushed, but she and the boys about had the wagon loaded. “We're near ready.”

He handed her a towel to wipe her wet face. “You were working too hard. Get up on the wagon. You must try this team and see if you can handle them. I'll hand you the kids.”

“Are you hooking them up?”

“No. The boys can hook them up.”

They were soon ready, with everyone on board, including the calico cat named Susie.

Slocum stood in the front of the covered wagon, and the boys brought him the lines. Quietly, he spoke to the horses. They danced a little, but he clucked to them and they went forward slow-like, feeling the load. Then he swung them around and they acted fine. He halted them and gave Jena the reins.

He climbed down. “Jena, drive them out. I'll ride my horse and lead your extra one.”

She agreed and took the reins. He quickly decided she could drive the team. There was lots of tomboy in her. That evening they made camp short of St. David because of the darkness. The tired children in a bedroll, the two adults sat cross-legged on the ground at the small fire and talked.

“I am in your debt, Slocum. I was so desperate without a horse and trapped there. I know he's dead, but how and why I may never know.”

“Did they say anything?”

“Yes. ‘Mrs. Reed, we buried your husband two days ago.' He was a polite cowboy, but I didn't get his name. I had seen him before, but I couldn't recall the name.”

“Nothing we can do about it now. Gordon and Alma can babysit the kids until we make some sense of this. They are fine people.”

“That might be best.”

“It will be.”

“Can I impose on you some more?”

“How so?”

“Could I sit on your lap?”

“Heavens yes.”

“I feel so shaky, my skin is crawling.”

He went and found a chair in the wagon and set it up. She used her hands to brush off any clinging grass or sticks on her rump. She was light on his legs and he hugged her tight. “We'll get it all straight.”

Her shoulders shook and he hugged her tight. She turned and he softly kissed her. That was a spark, and they soon were getting worked up.

He whispered, “I am not here to take advantage of you.”

“No. No. I need it. Can we go to your bedroll?”

“Only if you are sure.”

“I'm not sure of much, but I am spoiled. Earl and I had a great marriage. I know he is gone but—”

His mouth closed on hers and she hugged his neck. He carried her to the bedroll, and they undressed under the stars. He went easy, letting her lead, and by the time they were coupled she was on fire. A wiry, muscled, slender woman, she had a fiery spirit in sex, and in the end she near fainted.

They slept until before dawn, then had a short session before leaving the bedroll. When they finished, she swept the hair from her face and smiled. “I'm better.”

•   •   •

When they drove in, Alma met them in the yard and had to pick up both children when she learned their purpose. The children had Alma stop for Susie to follow them. In a few hours, Jena was satisfied Harry and Lena could stay there and be happy. After lunch, when Gordon came in and met everyone, he was as proud as Alma at having the children in their care.

Slocum and Jena left for her place. They passed through bustling Tombstone and by sundown reached her ranch. She found the front door of the house broken down. The inside was a mess of scattered flour and rampaging. With a candle lamp she surveyed the damage while Slocum put up the horses. He saw the grave they'd marked with a crude cross. There would be few answers for her questions about what happened. Would she stay there? There were not many choices for a woman with two children. Slocum left the four horses in a trap with water and went to the house.

“Oh, you must be hungry,” she said. “I don't see much that can't be cleaned up and fixed. They didn't burn the place down. I don't know if I am lucky or what.”

“Can I make a fire?”

“Yes, when the weather was like this, I cooked in that open building.”

“What do you think?”

“I have some oatmeal I can boil.”

“That sounds all right.”

“Slocum, should I sell this place or try to find a few hands and run it?”

He held her around the waist and swung her back and forth as the fire in the sheet-metal cooking range began to catch. “If you think you can stand it, I'd ranch. We can find a couple of cowboys, and you have cows and calves to sell. The beef market at Tombstone will help you. The army will have to settle the Apaches. But you have no trade like being a seamstress, and you don't want to cook for a café. This ranch should raise your children.”

“Let me put the water on for the oatmeal.”

They sat together on a bench by the range and talked more about her future. They kissed and she smiled. “I am getting myself back in gear. I miss him and will, but I need to get my life on too. You said I was not a seamstress. That is not an exaggeration. Don't rip your clothes, I can't fix them.”

They kissed as the sun went down. In a short while they ate her oatmeal and he went for his bedroll. “We can sleep in it.”

“Sounds lovely.”

He spread it out on the floor inside. They undressed and, naked, went under the first cover. They were soon in each other's arms, and she cried some.

“It's not you. I had such a serious life. A great husband, two children, and a growing ranch. My house was nice and not white with flour and turned upside down.” She sniffed. “Love me and maybe I can forget.”

They made soft, quiet love in his bedroll, and when they were through, she whispered, “You are a wonderful treatment for an insane woman.”

“You're great to treat.”

•   •   •

The next day he caught two horses and saddled one for her. They rode part of the range looking at her longhorn-shorthorn cross cows and their roan calves. They found a few of their shorthorn bulls that stood up and stretched their backs, while the spookier longhorn cross cows and calves left when they rode in.