Chapter XVII
Rain was pouring as the cowboys topped the rise overlooking the Bochart ranch. Windows from the main house glowed with lamplight as evening darkness overcame the remaining sunlight through the heavy clouds. As the men rode toward the house, several cowboys crossed the courtyard from the bunkhouse. Reese Blanchart pointed a revolver in the general direction of the riders. Dawdrey, Tibbs and Bohanin held up their horses and waited for Blanchart to speak.
“What you want here, Lance?” Blanchart asked menacingly.
“I want to see Augustina,” Dawdrey answered.
“Ain't you caused her enough grief?” Blanchart asked.
“Did she say that she didn't want to see me?” Dawdrey asked.
“No, she didn't. I don't know that the subject came up,” Blanchart said.
“You gents seen Espironsa?” Joe Tibbs asked.
“We ain't seen him. He don't have much truck with rest of us,” Reese said.
“Well, what about it?” Dawdrey asked impatiently. “Do I see Augustina or not?”
“What if I said no?” Reese asked cocking his revolver.
“I guess we'd have some fireworks. I mean to see the woman,” Dawdrey said.
“You'd be first,” Reese said.
“You'd be second,” Bohanin said as he raised his revolver from under his coat.
Reese stared into the bore of the .45. He slowly lowered the revolver. “I guess it would be all right for one of you to talk to her. I don't like the idea of all three of you going in there.”
“You got any hot coffee in the bunk house?” Tibbs asked.
“Sure, you know that,” Reese said.
“Clean cups?” Tibbs asked.
“I suppose I could find one if you're finicky.” Reese smiled.
“Ain't no big Mexicans with big knives waiting behind the door, is there?” Tibbs asked.
“Mexicans with knives but no big Mexicans with big knives,” Reese answered.
Tibbs stepped down from his horse. “I figure I can handle that.”
“Could you use a hot cup of coffee, Captain?” Dawdrey asked.
Bohanin started his horse toward the bunkhouse. He wasn't about to walk any farther than he had to.
“Watch your backside, kid,” he advised softly.
Dawdrey nodded and turned his horse toward the house. A bold flash of lightning and intense thunderclap rocked the courtyard. The torrent increased after the strike. Dawdrey watched the front entrance of the house as a steady stream of water rolled off the brim of his hat. Tibbs helped Bohanin step down from his horse. Reese watched as the old man eased himself to the ground.
“Paying a heavy toll from the gunplay,” he said as Bohanin turned to face him.
Bohanin shook his head. “Was a time when I'd be running a foot race after such a wound. I guess I'm getting old.”
Reese nodded. “Join the club.”
Tibbs stepped by Reese. “That's for sure.”
“What the hell was that supposed to mean, Tibbs?” Reese asked.
“Just trying to be sociable,” Tibbs said as he drew his revolver and checked behind the door.
Reese followed Tibbs through the door and went for some tin cups near a pot-bellied stove in the center of the room.
“I told you Espironsa wasn't her, Tibbsy.”
Tibbs holstered his Colt. “It ain't that I don't trust you. I was just looking for a place to hang my hat.”
Reese poured coffee. “Yeah, with a revolver in your hand.”
Tibbs took a cup of coffee. Bohanin limped through the door looking for a chair.
Reese handed him a cup of coffee. “That was the slowest draw I believe I ever saw,” he said smiling.
“Don't remind me,” Bohanin said as he eased himself into a crude chair beside the stove.
“Any Mexicans ride out from the place, today?” Tibbs asked as he sipped his coffee.
“Naw, cowboys have been coming in right regular but no one that I know of left the place,” Reese said. “Geese, Tibbs, you sure are jumpy about Mexicans here of late.”
“Had a bunch jump us this afternoon. Had ourselves quite a shoot out,” Tibbs said.
“Were they riding Bochart horses?” Reese asked.
“No, the ponies weren't branded.”
Reese poured himself a cup of coffee and watched Bohanin roll a cigarette. “It took a lot of guts to face down a man like Bochart with a draw as slow as yours, old timer.”
Bohanin drew his tobacco pouch closed with his teeth. “I'm surprised you boys ain't more upset about the deal.”
Reese nodded. “Fair fight. Hell, it ain't like any of us was in love with the son-of-a-bitch. Besides, we heard what was said. A lot of us have ridden for Augustina Bochart long before that asshole came along. Some suspected what was going on. The way I see it, Bochart probably got what he deserved. If he didn't, I guess that's for Augustina to decide. You know if she had told us to smoke your asses, you'd be out there in the mud right now.”
Bohanin nodded. “I figured as much.”
“Funny thing about it. She seemed more relieved than broke up when I brought him in.”
“How you figure?” Tibbs asked.
“I don't figure too much,” Reese said. “It could get to be a bad habit.”
Bohanin nodded. “That's for sure.”
The same Mexican girl answered the door of the main house. She summoned Dawdrey in as if she had been told to do so. As Dawdrey stepped into the waiting room, he removed his soaked coat and placed it over the stair rail leading to the second floor. The girl waited at the sitting room door.
Augustina sat on a couch, wearing her evening gown, pouring coffee from a silver pot. She smiled as Dawdrey stepped into the room.
“You must be soaking wet,” she said as she offered him a cup.
“It's raining cats and dogs,” Dawdrey answered as he found a seat.
They were silent for several uncomfortable moments.
“Where are your friends?”
“Waiting in the bunk house.”
“They could have come in.”
“We thought it was best if I talked to you alone. I've got some questions that I need answered.”
Augustina nodded. “I'm sure that you do.”
Dawdrey hesitated as he tried to decide which question to ask first.
“Go on, Dawdrey. I'll be as candid as possible,” Augustina said.
“You knew he didn't try to have the woman killed,” Dawdrey said.
Augustina became grim. She fixed her eyes squarely into Dawdrey's.
“Perhaps I should say what I have to say and then you can ask any questions.”
“That would be fine.”
“When my dad left for the war, he told me that I was to find a good man to build this place. That was his only worry. No I love you, nothing. He just gave orders and left. I knew he didn't want me. He wanted a son or a healthy daughter to raise like a man. But with me he didn't have either. Just a crippled little girl who could serve him only one function, to find a good man and have some children. I showed him. I took this place and from the back of a wagon, turned it into the biggest ranch in southern Colorado. I made the great Ransom Tabor a place for others to envy. But that wasn't enough. I had to give him heirs. Someone to carry on in his place.
I met Logan when he came looking for a job. I thought he was the most handsome man I'd ever seen. So I took him. I brought him into the house and I seduced him. I seduced him and I made him my husband.
“Do you know what he did on our wedding night? He said he had to celebrate with the men. Said it was his duty. I waited in my bed for him. He never came back until morning. When he did, he was so drunk, he just went to sleep beside me without a touch, without even a kiss. I tried to understand. But it never changed. When I did see him, no matter how kind I tried to be, no matter what I said, there was always an excuse why he couldn't be with me. He was too tired. He was concerned about the stock. He had worries to deal with.
“Finally, I confronted him. I told him that I expected him to do his duty as a man. He just smiled. He said if he could find a woman, he'd do his duty. I could have killed him then, but I didn't.
“Then there were the others. I don't know how many whores he kept entertained. I hired some men to watch him and report what they saw. After a while they became my only link to the outside world. And you, Dawdrey. You don't know how much your visits meant to me. When you mentioned the ranch, I got it for you. I kept hoping that you would do something, say something. Anything to make me think that you might love me. If you had I would have divorced Logan in a minute.”
Dawdrey shook his head. “You were married. You had made your choice. I was your friend. I didn't know you wanted any more from me than that.”
She laughed. “Then you didn't pay much attention. How much of an invitation did you need? Do you think I dressed like that in front of everyone?”
Dawdrey shook his head and looked to the floor.
“And then there was that whore school teacher. First, you quit coming here so you could have dinners with her at Netty Johnson's. Then Logan started seeing her. And then I learned that she was pregnant. The one thing I wanted worse than anything from Logan or you and she had it. I told Starbuck to kill her. I hated her worse than anyone could hate anything. For three thousand dollars, Logan paid her off. I'd have paid ten times that amount for that child. I wanted her dead.
“But then I learned of Captain Bohanin acting as her escort. I sent Nobel to stop Starbuck but his horse went lame. I only learned what had happened when the three of you came to the house.”
“What about Tim Stevens?” Dawdrey asked.
“I didn't know about that. I'd ordered those men to stop whoever Reinholt had sent with the money and scare him off. I made the mistake of telling them about the money. I thought they had just scared him into going back. It was only after I heard the story from your friend, Tibbs, that I suspected anything. When I confronted Espironsa about it, he confessed everything. Starbuck had decided to kill the cowboy. They spent most of the money. The rest they divided up among themselves. I ordered Espironsa to get off the place. As far as I know he did.”
“You didn't send him to kill Millie Toland in Hasty?” Dawdrey asked.
“No. I had said my piece to you. Bohanin was more than willing to kill Logan. I had no reason for further revenge. She got what she deserved. She lost the child. That was all that really mattered.”
“She never was with child,” Dawdrey said.
Augustina allowed a faint smile. “Amusing. Did Logan know before he died?”
“I don't think so.”
“Too bad.”
Dawdrey sat quietly for several moments staring into her eyes. She never blinked nor looked away throughout their talk. Even now, though she trembled with anger and fear, she did not look away or hesitate.
“What about the men, today?” he asked.
“What men?”
“The five men that tried to kill us on the trail.”
Augustina shook her head, tears forming. “You must have thought I sent them.”
“What else could I think?”
“Then why are you here?”
Dawdrey tried to speak but ended up only shaking his head.
“Why are you here?” she asked, more firmly than before.
Dawdrey looked to the floor and shook his head. “Because I couldn't believe that you could do such a thing. I couldn't believe that you would have me killed.”
“Why?”
Dawdrey looked up into her eyes.
“Why couldn't you believe that I wouldn't do that? You had every reason to. Why couldn't you believe that, Dawdrey?” she asked.
“Because, I love you.”
Augustina Bochart stared into his eyes. Tears began streaming down her cheeks. She trembled slightly and gave a small smile.
“You don't know how much I've wanted to hear you say that,” she said.
“I guess I always have,” Dawdrey said. “Ever since I was just a kid working for your father. I remember you as the young woman who was always around the house. Always smiling, always kind to me. But you were so much older. You were a young woman and I was just a boy. And besides, I had nothing. How could I have known that you would have even considered me for a husband? When we became friends, I guess that was all I felt I deserved. More than I expected. You were my friend. You were married.”
“You were right at first,” she said. “At first that was all it was. But later, when you had grown to manhood. When you mentioned a ranch of your own. It was more.”
The door to the hallway opened slowly. Sergio Espironsa stepped into the room his revolver leveled at Dawdrey. Blood flowed from his left shoulder, down to his wrist and slowly dripped on the floor.
“I think I've heard enough. I was hoping for a struggle. Maybe you would kill the senora and then I could have killed you, in her defense, of course. Then no one would have known. But now, I think my plan is still good. The senora will die by your hand and I will shoot you for this evil thing. Then I will kill your companeros when they come to your rescue. After all, it is my job to protect the senora.”
Augustina began to call out but stopped as Espironsa turned his gun toward her.
“Do not call for Maricella, senora. I'm afraid that your friend strangled her and left her in the closet just before he attacked you. That is how I learned that something was wrong. When I found Maricella in the closet.”
Dawdrey started to reach for his revolver, but Espironsa turned his weapon toward him.
“I think you should give me your pistola, senor Lance.”
“Why should I?”
“Because, the senora can die two ways. She can die quick or slow. Muey despacio. Who knows what terrible things you did to her before I found Maricella.”
Chapter XVIII
Mack Stout bolted through the bunk house door, dripping water. After stomping his feet and removing his coat, he started toward the stove. He paused uneasily when he noticed Bohanin sitting by his bunk, then turned to Reese.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Stout asked.
“Waiting for Dawdrey Lance. He's up talking to Mrs. Bochart about some things,” Reese said as he handed his friend some coffee.
“Talking to Mrs. Bochart, huh? Seems kind a strange.”
“You got a problem with it?” Tibbs asked.
Stout eyed Tibbs and then Bohanin. “No, it ain't any of my business. It's just that after you gents sent Logan under, I figure she wouldn't want much to do with you.”
“Cookie has some beans and bacon on the stove for you fellows. Better help yourself,” Reese said.
“I could use some grub. I saw a toad strangling on the rain just before I rode into the pass. Fish was bailing water out of the creek. Why it's so wet out there, I saw a windmill pumping water back into the ground.”
“Was that the windmill just east of here on the road?” Tibbs asked.
Stout dished up a plate of beans and nodded. “Yes, sir, I believe it was.”
Tibbs nodded. “Yea, we swam our horses past that mill. I got my cinch caught in the blades as I went over.”
Stout looked at Tibbs matter-of-factly before resuming his supper. “Is that so? Water must a went down some, I reckon.”
Bohanin smiled at the bunkhouse windys. He painfully stepped to the window to look at the house. In spite of the lanterns casting light through the windows, he could barely make it out in the rain. Only the lightning briefly produced a tolerable image.
Stout finished his beans and rolled a smoke. He lit the cigarette on the stove and drew a puff. “I wonder what Mrs. Bochart wants with Espironsa this time of night?”
“What!” Bohanin yelled.
Stout looked up sheepishly.
“What do you mean about Espironsa?” Bohanin asked.
“Just saw him going through the back door when I rode past,” Stout said. “Wouldn't have seen him except for that damned lightning.”
“How long ago?” Bohanin asked.
“Just before I took my horse into the barn. I guess maybe half an hour.”
Bohanin started for the door. Tibbs drew his Colt cocking the hammer.
The cowboys reacted uneasily and moved to their guns.
“You gents just take it easy,” Tibbs said. “I don't want no trouble but the Captain and me got to check this out. That owl hoot is in bad need of killing.”
“I don't know that I like that much, Tibbs. Our agreement was for you two to stay here,” Reese said.
Bohanin lifted the door jam and looked toward the house through the crack in the doorway. “That was before we knew that Espironsa was here. He'll kill Dawdrey for sure.”
“Not with Mrs. Bochart in there,” Reese said.
“No, what makes you think so?” Tibbs asked as he joined Bohanin at the door.
“She wouldn't put up with it, that's why,” Reese said defensively.
“I tell you what,” Bohanin said. “You grab yourself a gun and come up there with us. Find out for yourself.”
Reese hesitated for a moment. “Damned if I won't!”
“How do you want this done?” Joe asked.
“You fellows go in the back door. Reese will help you find it. I'll go in the front. If Espironsa's in there we'll find him on the quiet.”
Tibbs and Reese looked to Stout for confirmation.
“I told you he was in there. What do you take me for? Some kind of liar?” Stout asked defensively.
Bohanin drew his Colt and made his best pace through the heavy mud and driving rain. All thought of the pain in his thigh vanished. Tibbs and Reese jogged around to the south side of the house and made their way toward the back door.
Bohanin tested the front door. It was unlocked. He warily turned the knob and eased through an opening just wide enough to gain entrance. As he stood by the door, he listened for any sounds of activity. Only a wall clock could be heard ticking in the hall.
The back door could be heard creaking as Reese and Tibbs tried to get through it as quietly as possible. Bohanin wondered why he couldn't hear Augustina and Dawdrey talking or the Mexican servant girl going about her chores. He made his way down the hall toward the kitchen at the back of the house. Tibbs and Reese were standing in the room, revolvers in hand.
“See any sign?” Bohanin asked.
Tibbs shook his head.
“There's a back stairs to the second floor here,” Reese whispered as he pointed toward the door.
“Check it out,” Tibbs said.
Reese developed a sick look on his face.
“Me?”
“Well, you don't want me to do it,” Tibbs said. “I might get jumped by the big bad Mexican.”
Tibbs opened a closet just off the kitchen very slowly. The form of the servant girl's body was crumpled on the floor. Tibbs placed his hand against the girl's face.
“Ain't been dead very long, but she's cold,” he said.
Bohanin shook his head. “Why would he kill a girl like that?”
Tibbs closed the door. “I'd say she saw or heard something she shouldn't. Seems to happen to a lot of folks around here.”
Tibbs turned to Reese. “You going up those back stairs or not?”
Reese shook his head.
“Shit, I guess I'll have to do it myself,” Tibbs whispered before turning to Bohanin. “You gonna be all right down here by yourself?”
“Take Reese with you. He knows the house better than we do. If I run across the Mexican or the woman, I'll make enough noise to let you know what's happening.”
Tibbs nodded. He opened the back stairs door and stared into the darkness.
“Get that lamp. I don't fancy going up those stairs in the dark.”
Reese brought a table lamp to Tibbs.
“You wouldn't care to go first?” Tibbs asked.
“No, I would not.”
Tibbs glared at Blanchart in disgust. “Figures.”
With Tibbs leading the way, his Colt in one hand and lamp in the other, the men made their way slowly up the stairway.
Bohanin waited until he was sure they had made it to the second story then went down the hall. He remembered the sitting room and decided to check it next. He stopped by the door and placed his ear to it for several seconds. He could hear nothing. He had to be certain and decided to check every room.
It was dark in the sitting room as Bohanin slipped through the door. He waited several moments, reluctant to enter the darkness, and listened again for any sign of activity. He could hear nothing other than the wind and rain pelting the windows. He took a step forward and felt the blade of a knife against his back as Espironsa stepped from behind the door.
“Drop the pistola, Capitan,” Espironsa said.
Bohanin complied.
“Step into the center of the room,” Espironsa ordered.
Bohanin took a couple of steps and stopped.
“A little further, por favor.”
A nearby lightning strike lit the room for an instant. Bohanin saw Dawdrey sprawled in the corner with the woman holding his head in her arms.
Espironsa spoke from the darkness. “Where is your amigo?”
“In the bunkhouse,” Bohanin said as he looked for a place to jump for cover. “He took a bad wound this afternoon in the gunfight and the other cowboys are looking after him.”
“You expect me to believe that? Why would you come here for help? For all you knew, the senora sent us to kill you.”
“The rain,” Bohanin said. “We didn't have much choice. Tibbs was hurt bad enough that we didn't think we could make it back to the ranch. We decided to take a chance.”
“You are a liar, senor. For that you will die.”
“You kill the kid?” Bohanin asked.
“I will. For now he is asleep from the butt of my pistola. I have to be very careful how the three of you will be found.”
“What you want to kill the woman for?” Bohanin asked.
“She has much dinero hidden in the house and she knows too much. Without her death, I do not have a good reason for killing you and your amigo.”
“Sounds logical. You have a good plan.”
“Light the lamp on the table in front of you, Capitan.”
Bohanin felt for the lamp on the table. Another flash of lightning made it easier. As he lit the wick, he tried to figure the exact location of the couple. He wanted to see if Dawdrey and Augustina would be in the line of fire when Tibbs came through the door. If he jumped to the left, he might draw the Mexican at a great enough angle that he would have trouble keeping track of both. The trouble was that Dawdrey was unconscious and the woman was crippled. None of them stood much of a chance if the Mexican decided to open fire. But the Mexican talked, giving Bohanin precious moments for Tibbs to hopefully hear the sound.
“For years I have led these men for the senora. I gave her my all and if I was able to steal a little for myself, so much the better. There was a time when the Espironsa family controlled this whole region, but the Yankees took it from my family and drove us into the montanas. We were forced to live like peons and I, a man who should have been Don of the whole region, became the hired lackey of the senora. I had hoped that you would kill her tonight but such is not the case. I will have to do it myself.”
“Then do it,” Bohanin yelled.
The big Mexican scowled as Bohanin's voice echoed through the room. “Very well, senor. Prepare to meet the saints.”
He thumbed back the hammer leveling the bore at Bohanin.
Tibbs kicked open the door, slamming it against the Espirona's shoulder. Espironsa yelled in pain and staggered to maintain his balance. Espironsa fired as Bohanin dove to the floor. The bullet tore a gash across the top of a couch.
Tibbs fanned two quick shots, then a third.
Espironsa groaned loudly as the bullets tore through his frame. He dropped his pistol but was able to draw his knife and lunge toward Tibbs.
Tibbs fanned three more shots that tore through the Mexican's chest, knocking him to the floor. Espironsa struggled to get to his feet again, his knife still in his hand.
“I'm out of bullets,” Tibbs said. “Where'd you drop yours?”
Bohanin growned holding his wrist as he struggled to a sitting position. “On the floor in front of you.”
Tibbs fetched the Colt and weighed it momentarily in his hand.
“Ain't very heavy, is it?”
“Shoot him,” Augustina screamed.
Espironsa rose to one knee.
Tibbs carefully aimed the short barreled revolver and thumbed back the hammer.
“Those other bullets were for Major Reinholt. This one's for Timmy,” Tibbs said before dropping the hammer, blowing the corner of Espironsa's skull apart.
Tibbs stiffly watched brain matter ooze onto Augustina's Persian carpet. He turned toward Reese who stood dumbfounded by the door.
“Thanks, Blanchart. You're a real terror in a tight spot.”
“Help me up, Joe,” Bohanin said as he struggled to his feet.
“Did he shoot you, Captain?” Tibbs asked.
“Naw, I sprung my bad wrist when I dove to the floor. Hurts like hell.”
“Did you break it?” Tibbs asked.
“If I didn't, I should have,” Bohanin said.
Augustina shook Dawdrey. She looked to Tibbs for help.
“Did he kill him?” Tibbs asked.
“No, but he hit him awfully hard.”
“On the head?”
“Yes,” she said as she stroked his hair.
“Good. Maybe it'll knock some sense into him. I swear, this is the dumbest, poorest shooting, sorry lot of do-gooders I ever rode with.”
“Good thing we drug you along,” Bohanin said as he limped toward the couple.
“Damned right.” Tibbs smiled. He paused as he watched Bohanin struggle to get across the room. “You know, Captain. You ought to consider giving up this line of work. I think you're getting too old for it.”
Bohanin glared over his shoulder.
Tibbs smiled broadly and twirled the little shopkeeper's Colt.
Bohanin chuckled softly. “Damned straight.”