Wild (4 page)

“I do believe
Señor
Vargas has a point,” Tom said.

“I was thinking the same thing,” Matt said. “Juan, you’ll head into Mesilla. Our horses shouldn’t have gone far. We’ll meet you in the center of town in about an hour.”

“
Si
,” I said, nodding. I walked off towards town, and Matt and Tom headed into the hills.

Part Three

1886, Mesilla, New Mexico

Matt and Tom found what they were looking for just over the crest of the first hill. The slope was marred with ten open, shallow graves and scattered loose earth.

“They really
were
dead,” Tom said. “I thought I was just talking out of my ass.”

“Well, whatever’s left after eliminating the impossible has to be the truth, right? That’s never failed me before. Men don’t get shot without dying, and dead men don’t walk on their own. We really are dealing with magic, here.”

“Well, where’s the magician, then?” Tom asked. “Someone had to be here. I refuse to believe that someone put a spell on these guys to make them sit up on our account, and then left them here.”

“I reckon you’re right, unless we find proof otherwise.” Matt pointed at a mass of footprints. “All of these tracks start at the graves and point in the direction of the attack. They belong to our attackers, of course. If you’re right, there should be at least one more set of tracks somewhere else.”

“The magician’s. Right. Take a gander at this,” Tom said. He stood at the foot of the next hill.

Matt rushed to his side and saw a set of small footprints starting at the base of the hill and leading up the side of it. Another nearby set led down the hill and ended back at the base.

“Follow me,” Matt said, drawing his guns. They crested the next hill and saw a small black patch on the other side. Several small brown spots spattered the area around the scorched ground.

“Another fire,” Matt said, feeling the blackened spot. “Recent too; it’s still warm. And this...” He picked up some of the brown-stained sand and rubbed it between his finger and thumb. “I think it’s blood. A sacrifice.”

“I don’t see any more tracks, though,” Tom said. “The ground is too hard. We can’t tell where he came from, or where he went.”

“Into town, then,” Matt said. “See if anyone knows about the local wizard.”

* * * *

They caught up with Juan just inside the Mesilla town limits. He was standing outside an inn. All three horses were tied to a nearby hitching rail, pawing at the dirt and dipping into a shallow, tin trough.

“Found them wandering around the town square, Matt,” Juan said. “I know you said to meet you there,
señor
, but honestly, there’s only two inns in Mesilla, and this one’s better. I paid a
niño
to help me with them; he just took the feed bags away.”

“Smart man. Now we need to rustle up a plate ourselves.”

“I already have that covered.” Juan smiled. “Innkeeper has a table set aside. I haven’t answered any questions, or asked any. Not that a few haven’t been asked,” he added.

“I don’t know about him,” Tom said, nodding his head towards Matt, “but I figure a low profile is best.”

“Of course you’d say that,” Matt laughed. “I’m with you though, this time. We already know someone’s got their eye on us, so stay alert.”

“Ain’t gotta tell me twice,” Tom said. Juan led the way into the inn. It was brightly lit inside and the tables were smooth and polished. Tom whistled as they sat down. “These boys must have a little money.”

“You should have seen the other place,
señor
.” A short man with a large belly wandered over with a tray of beer mugs and whiskey glasses, and Juan whispered briefly in his ear. “Trust me,” he said when the man left. “I had a chance to check out the menu.”

The innkeeper didn’t make a fool of him, either. Before their first mugs were empty, the chubby man had returned with a large pot of stew, three bowls, and a loaf of bread. The three men plowed in.

“So, let’s talk about what happened,” Matt said when they were finally finished. “Tom and I found graves up in the hills. Our unexpected guests came out of them.”

“Well, at least we know we aren’t
loco
,” Juan said. “And someone must have set them on us.”

“We found his tracks. We’re going to have to be a lot more careful from here on.”

“Did you find out where he came from, or went?”

“Not at all,” Matt said. “But honestly, there aren’t too many places to live around here. He could be sitting at the next table over, for all we know.”

“When we
do
find him, I’ve got a present for him,” Tom said, tugging at his holsters. “I hope he can do that resurrection magic on himself.”

“I wouldn’t dream of holding you back, but please don’t blow anyone away just yet,” Matt said. “Remember, the end result is to bring back the colonel and his boy in one piece.”

“Yeah, yeah; I got it.”

Juan shoved his seat back and knocked the crumbs from his lap as he stood up. “Pardon me,
caballeros
. I’m going to hit the outhouse.”

“Whatever you’re paying that boy,” Tom said when the Mexican was out of earshot, “it isn’t nearly enough.”

“You’re right. Before he comes back, though, you and I need to have an understanding.”

“Do we now?” Tom pushed away from the table a bit and brushed his coat aside, exposing his guns.

“Don’t get all crazy on me. I decided to wait until we were in public for a reason. I don’t think we need to solve this with a fight.” Matt leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. “See? I’m relaxed.”

“Alright, then,” Tom said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Speak your piece.”

“I know you didn’t have your boys trailing us on the off chance that the dead would crawl out of their graves and send Deputy Kearney to the surgeon.”

“You’re right. Can you honestly say you would have done any different?”

“No, I can’t. But I’m not a deadly outlaw, either. Don’t get me confused with a saint, though.” Matt knocked back the last of his beer without taking his eyes off Tom’s. “I’m not the deputy. I’m not any kind of law. Whatever sort of business you were preparing for, I don’t aim to start. If you cross me, however, I’m going to put one between your eyes, even if it costs me my life. Do you understand?”

“Yeah, I do,” Tom said, waving the innkeeper over. “This round’s on me.”

“I passed the manager on my way back from the outhouse,” Juan said when he returned. “He has a couple of rooms upstairs for rent at a reasonable rate. I didn’t want to assume anything.” He nodded towards Matt. “But we might want to consider staying the night. There’s a stable in the back for our horses, too.”

“You might be right,” Matt said. He pulled a wad of money from inside his jacket and passed it to Juan. “We need a room with two beds and a chair. I want to walk around a bit, ask some questions, and then we’ll rest in shifts. Tom, will you take the first guard?” He looked over at Tom. The outlaw’s seat was empty. He swore as he looked around. Tom had sidled up to the inn’s long bar, beside a garishly-painted blonde in a pink dress.

“Let’s go.” Matt grabbed his beer and headed for Tom.

“Oh, hey, guys,” Tom said, turning around when Matt’s shadow fell on him. “This is Janey. We know each other a little bit.” Tom and Janey looked at each other and guffawed. “Janey, these are my friends, James and Mark. They’re helping me look for Lee.”

“You’re friends of Lee’s, then?” Janey asked, furrowing her brow.

“Uh...not exactly,” Matt said. The outlaw was quick, he’d give him that. “I was heading this way and ran into Tom, here. We’re both looking for Lee and figured we could help each other. James is one of my ranch hands.”

“Nothing too serious, I hope,” she said before sipping at her glass of whiskey.

“Nothing you need to worry about, darlin’.” Matt smiled. “I don’t suppose you can help us out.”

“Well, I know most of the guys that ride with him,” she said. “That’s how I met Tom a few years back. I haven’t seen Lee in a while, but Fancy Jim Davis was in here last night, and he’s joined to Lee like one of them Chinese twins.” She giggled and grabbed onto Tom’s arm. “Don’t go nowhere without him. Not for more than a couple of hours, anyway.” She winked at Matt, and he looked away.

“You’re turning red, there, partner,” Tom said. “Janey just likes a little company sometimes, is all.” He turned his attention back to Janey and stroked her cheek. “Don’t suppose you can tell me where you two holed up for the night.”

“He came to my place. Said he’d be back around tonight, to say goodbye.”

“Did he, now? Well, maybe I’ll see him around before he shakes the dust from his heels. Thanks, honey.”

“Don’t mention it,” Janey said. “Don’t suppose you boys will be in town for long?”

“Not any longer than we need to be, ma’am,” Matt said. He tipped his hat and grasped Tom’s arm. “We ought to be going.”

“Right.”

“Let’s see about that room,” Matt said as they walked away. “We’re going to need to catch a couple hours rest.” Juan split off to look for the manager.

“If you’re thinking what I think you are, we have at least five hours coming to us,” Tom said. “Fancy Jim’s not likely to slink off to visit Janey until the sun goes down, and I already know where she stays. Been there a few times myself. You might even want to consider extending your stay a few hours, if you get my meaning.”

“You’ll have to forgive me, Tom, for saying that I find the idea of sharing a bedmate with you unappealing.”

“Suit yourself, pardner.”

* * * *

“Wake up,
señor
.”

Matt rolled out of his blanket and sprung quickly to his feet. As he pulled his gun from under his pillow he saw Juan climb out of the rickety wooden chair they’d set in front of the door. “Everything’s quiet, boss,” the Mexican said, walking over to Tom’s bunk and tapping the outlaw on the shoulder. “
Señor
, it’s time.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Tom clambered from his bunk and fetched his gun belt from the floor. In his other hand he grasped a large metal flask. He buckled the belt around his waist, checked the cylinders in his revolvers, then took a pull from the flask before holding it out to Juan.

“Now I’m awake,” he gasped, wiping his chin. “Want some?”

“No,
señor
,” Juan said.

“You?” He offered the flask to Matt.

“No, thanks. I hope you can save the rest of that for later. We need to stay alert.”

“Alright, alright,” Tom said, tucking the flask into his back pocket.

“How far is it to Janey’s?” Matt asked.

“Couple minutes walk.” Tom went to the window and flicked the curtain aside. “Sun’s just going down. We should hustle.”

The men left the inn through the back door and paused for a moment. The center of town was pretty much deserted. A cool breeze blew across the open courtyard. Tom cracked his neck, stepped out into the square, and looked around.

“It’s this way,” he said. “Stay close. I’ll bring us up across the street from her place. We can watch the front door from the side of a warehouse there.”

They reached the warehouse a few minutes later. Janey lived in a large boarding house outside the town square. All of the windows were dark, but one.

“That one is Janey’s,” Tom said, pressing himself against the side of the warehouse. “I’ll say one thing for her; she always leaves the light on for you.” He chuckled softly to himself.

“Fancy Jim should be coming around any moment then,” Matt said. “Juan, run across to the corner of the boarding house there and stay out of sight. Tom, I’m going around the other side of the warehouse. When you see Jim, give a whistle. We’ll count to ten and rush him before he makes the door.”

Juan looked down the street in both directions and dashed across to the boarding house.

“Done this a few times, have you?” Tom asked. Matt looked at him and said nothing. “Works for me,” the outlaw said.

Matt loosened his guns in their holsters and disappeared around the back corner of the building. No sooner than had he posted himself at the other end of the warehouse he heard the soft crunching of boots on pebbles. The dim moonlight showed a tall man walking down the gravel path toward the boarding house, slouched over a bit, with his hat low over his face.

A bird whistled in the night, and Matt counted silently to ten.

“Reach for the sky, Fancy Jim,” Matt said, running up behind the man. Fancy Jim put his hands up and turned around slowly. He had long blonde hair and his face was smooth and hairless. His clothes were neat and clean, and he wore one gun in a soft suede holster at his left hip.

“Who the Hell are you?” the dandy asked. “You’d better have fast hands, fast feet or both, I’ll tell you that right now.”

“I’m quick enough to have lasted this long, fella, but I’m not really worried. I don’t want a fight. Anyhow, my partner’s a few feet away with a gun pointed at your head.”