Authors: Connie Mason
“I did not pull the trigger,” shrugged Elena carelessly.
“You might as well have,” shot back Julie angrily. “I heard you telling him that you and Rod were lovers. How could you be so cruel, Elena? You above all others should be aware of Don Diego’s pride. You could not be ignorant of what the knowledge of your infidelity would do to him. Why did you tell him when you knew he could not bear the shame?”
“How did I know the old fool would kill himself,” Elena replied with a toss of her ebony curls.
“What are you going to tell Rod when he returns and finds his father dead of his own hand?” Julie asked curiously. “Do you think him so smitten that he will hold you blameless in all this?”
“He is not to know the truth,” Elena warned, her obsidian eyes flashing dangerously. “Only three people know what really happened and Teresa will never dispute me. That leaves only you.” Her implied threat was not lost on Julie.
“How can you be certain Teresa will say nothing?” Julie asked suspiciously.
Elena smiled maliciously. “She is very fond of that niece of hers,” she hinted slyly. “It would be a shame if something should happen to her.”
“My God, Elena! Even you wouldn’t stoop so low!” Julie cried, outraged.
“You do not know me if you think that,
bruja
,” Elena contended haughtily. “I know you hold that little
mestiza
in high regard. If you want to keep her healthy, you would do well to follow Teresa’s example and hold your tongue. Better yet,” Elena advised, “leave the
rancho.
Do it before Rodrigo returns.”
“You would like that, wouldn’t you, Elena?” Julie was quivering with barely suppressed rage. “Forget it. I’m staying. At least until Rod returns. As for Felicia, make one move against that innocent child and you’ll live to regret it.”
After that disturbing conversation with Elena, Julie went out of her way to avoid the Spanish woman. Shortly after that she noticed Elena in the stables deep in conversation with Manuel, a handsome
vaquero
who did not join the cattle drive because he had injured his leg while breaking a fractuous horse. He remained behind doing odd jobs around the
rancho.
Julie could not help but wonder what Manuel could have to say that would be of interest to a woman of Elena’s background. But at the moment she had little time to wonder about the strange alliance for she had something of more importance on her mind. She had not seen Felicia for several days and she was worried about the child’s safety. She decided to question Teresa about Felicia’s absence.
Julie found Teresa in the kitchen and immediately asked her about her niece. Teresa’s answer did not please Julie. “Doña Elena has sent Felicia to the mission. She … she did not want her about the
rancho.
I … I thought you knew.”
“I was not consulted,” Julie said bitterly. “But on second thought, it is probably best she remain with
Padre
Juan. She is not safe here and the good
padre
will not let anything happen to her while she is under his care.”
Teresa understood perfectly. “
Muchas gracias,
Dona
Julie, for your concern. Felicia speaks of you often. She love’s you very much.”
“I love her, too, Teresa. That’s why I want her safe. In fact,” Julie said thoughtfully, “I will talk with the
padre
myself and see that she is watched closely until Rodrigo returns.”
Teresa smiled broadly, her teeth large and white in her handsome brown face. “Felicia does not like to be away from the
rancho
but she will remain with the
padre
until she is permitted to return.”
As the days passed Julie became increasingly aware that Rod and the
vaqueros
would be returning soon from San Antonio. How would she act when he came back, she wondered unhappily. Was she still bitter about his cruel treatment of her the night before he left? Would he continue his affair with Elena now that Don Diego no longer stood in their way? Could she ever forgive him for humiliating her, for treating her like a possession, while he freely gave his love to Elena? Her brain was awhirl with emotions and feelings that left her on the brink of despair.
Why couldn’t Rod love her, Julie asked herself bleakly? If only Elena wasn’t living in the same house perhaps she and Rod might have a chance at happiness. But of course, that was only conjecture. There was no guarantee that Rod would love her once Elena was no longer a contender for his affections. No guarantee at all. Julie’s mind was so confused that she had no idea how she would greet Rod until that moment arrived.
Several times during the past days Julie spied Elena talking with Manuel, but she was so incensed with the proud Spaniard for banishing Felicia that she wouldn’t have cared if Elena was conversing with the devil himself.
Julie was taken totally by surprise one day when Elena approached her and asked if she might join Julie on her morning ride. Julie’s blue eyes narrowed
suspiciously, certain that Elena was up to no good. By way of explanation, Elena said, “It is lonely here with both Rodrigo and Don Diego gone. We could at least try to be friends if we are to live here in harmony.”
Julie was openly skeptical, unwilling to trust a woman of Elena’s temperament. Her better judgment cautioned her to be wary of Elena’s innocent plea for friendship. At length, she said, “You may ride where you please, Elena.” Unfortunately Julie turned away before she saw the crafty smile curving Elena’s sensuous lips.
The day was perfect; the weather brisk, but not unpleasantly so. The ride in and around the surrounding hills was exhilarating, the scenery spectacular. Julie never tired of the sight of tumbleweeds bowling past, great balls of nothing; soapweeds, their straggly pink heads waving like banners; and spiny clumps of cactus called Spanish dagger.
With Elena leading the way, Julie rode farther than was her habit, unaware of how far they had strayed from the
rancho.
Thus, Julie was totally unprepared when a band of men came thundering out of the hills, swooping down on them like a horde of Mongols. It was useless to flee, and Julie realized with a sinking heart there was no escape. Within minutes she and Elena were completely surrounded by a dozen or so scruffy men brandishing every kind of weapon imaginable.
A silent scream rose in Julie’s breast the moment she recognized the man bearing a scar on his face that turned up his lips in a permanent snarl. “Pedro!” she cried out harshly, fear settling in her chest like a hard lump.
“
Si, señora,
it is I, Pedro,” replied the bandit. “Did you think I had forgotten you? How could I when we have unfinished business. His meaning did not escape Julie and she choked back a cry as sheer black panic swept through her.
With stricken eyes she searched frantically for a
friendly face among the brigands. Where was Murieta? Surely he would not allow Pedro to harm her, although Rod had warned her the bandit could be merciless and cruel when it suited his purposes. Glancing at Elena, Julie was shocked to see that her companion was outwardly calm, exhibiting no fright whatsoever.
Forcing her attention back to Pedro, Julie watched warily as he angled his mount to within inches of Elena, once again amazed at the Spanish woman’s courage in the face of adversity. Though she was literally quaking with fear Julie listened intently to Pedro’s words as he spoke to Elena.
“You have it with you, Doña Elena?” Julie heard Pedro ask.
“
Si,
” nodded Elena enthusiastically. “Did Manuel not assure you all would be as I said?”
“My cousin Manuel is a good man,” replied Pedro agreeably. “I took him at his word.” He paused, licking his thick lips as he slanted a glance in Julie’s direction. “Does she know?”
Elena smirked smugly and Julie’s heart jerked painfully. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. She learned soon enough what it was.
“The
puta
has no idea what lies in store for her,” Elena told Pedro. “Just take her and carry out your part of the bargain before someone comes along.”
Pedro held out his hand and Elena withdrew a weighted bag from the pocket of her riding skirt, placing it in his grimy paw. Frowning, Pedro hefted it carefully in his palm, as if judging its worth. “It is not so heavy as I would like, doña,” Pedro said sourly.
“Don Rodrigo feels it is sufficient payment for what is required of you,” Elena informed him haughtily.
Suddenly Julie came to life. Rod! she screamed silently. Rod was behind this! “What is this all about, Elena?” she demanded to know, mustering her courage. “What has Rod to do with all this?”
“What an innocent you are, Julie,” Elena mocked derisively. “Do you think your husband cares for you?” Before Julie could form an answer, Elena continued blithely. “Before Rodrigo left he asked me to find a way to get you out of his life. He left the method entirely to me but made it clear it mattered little to him if you were dead or alive.”
“I don’t believe you, Elena,” retorted Julie furiously. “Rod may not love me but I know him well enough to realize he would not stoop to murder to rid himself of an unwanted wife. You are a liar.”
“You’re wrong, Julie,” Elena contradicted. “Rod finally realized that we were meant to be together. He belongs to me and always has. He is too tender hearted to drive you away himself, that is why he left your disposal to me.”
“Surely he didn’t mean for you to hand me over to a band of cutthroats!” Julie cried out, overwhelmed by the extent of Elena’s cruelty. “Had Rod asked I would have gladly left the
rancho
peaceably.”
“Rodrigo did not specifically order your death,” Elena admitted grudgingly, “but he did leave everything in my hands. After Diego conveniently killed himself I decided you were best gotten rid of permanently.”
“No!” Julie screamed, panicstricken.
“
Si, señora,
” put in Pedro, growing impatient to be off with his prize. “You are mine, now. When I grow tired of you, and
mi amigos
have had their fill, you will be disposed of, providing you are still alive by then.” His crude laughter sent shards of fear lacing through her body.
“If she escapes alive I will send every
vaquero
on
Rancho
Delgado after you,” Elena warned ominously, eyes blazing at Pedro.
Elena’s words galvanized Julie into action as she frantically searched for some way to escape the cruel fate that surely awaited her at the hands of Pedro.
Digging her heels hard into the flanks of her horse, Julie made a wild dash for freedom even though she knew she was doomed to failure.
Uttering a loud curse, Pedro spurred his own mount, easily capturing his prey as he plucked her from the saddle and settled her before him on his own horse.
“So,
Señora,
” he said nastily, “you do not wish to accept my hospitality.”
“Let me go!” Julie demanded hotly, struggling against the two iron bands that held her in place. “Elena, don’t do this to me!” she pleaded. “I’m positive Rod never meant for you to harm me. Let me go and I’ll not bother either of you again.”
Elena did not bother to answer. Instead she turned her mount and calmly rode off in the direction of the hacienda.
“Elena! Noooo!”
Julie might well have been calling out to the wind for all the attention Elena paid her.
As luck would have it, no one noticed the small, worried face peering at them from behind an outcropping of rocks a short distance away.
“Where are you taking me?” queried Julie, risking a glance at the ugly bandit who confined her within his burly arms.
“You will find out soon enough,
señora
,” Pedro grimaced, the scar lifting his upper lip in a travesty of a grin.
“Where is Murieta?” Julie asked hopefully. “Does he know what you and Elena are up to?”
“
El jefe
is gone,” Pedro shrugged carelessly. “By the time he returns you will already be disposed of.”
“Oh, God, no!” Julie despaired. Murieta had been her last hope. Somehow she believed he would come forward and rescue her before Pedro could harm her.
“He left me in charge,” Pedro bragged, puffing out his barrel-like chest proudly. “I am
el jefe
until he returns from San Francisco where he had business.” Julie’s heart sank, and she deliberately turned her face away so that Pedro could not see her fear.
For the next hour Julie was so preoccupied with protecting herself from Pedro’s grimy hands as they roamed freely over her body that she had little time to give into her rising terror. But her gasps of outrage served only to amuse the bandit and he laughed cruelly at her futile attempts to protect her tender breasts and thighs from his crude fondling.
Escape uppermost in Julie’s fertile brain, she began to pay closer attention to the terrain, noting the position of
the sun in relation to the ridge of foothills they had been climbing steadily, memorizing the landscape for future use. She noted with interest that they traveled along an
arroyo,
a dried stream bed, and were entering a
cajon,
a box canyon, and she carefully stored all this within her brain. Once she escaped, and she was certain she would, she wanted to be able to find her way back.
But find her way back to where, Julie asked herself despondently? After what Elena had done to her she could never return to
Rancho
Delgado. And if Elena could be believed, Rod was as much to blame as his Spanish mistress for her predicament. How could he, Julie screamed silently. How could Rod betray her in such a vile manner?
Suddenly Julie noticed that the band of thieves were strung out single file and disappearing one by one into a crevice formed by two towering rocks. She watched curiously as Pedro approached the opening, urging his mount through the narrow passage. There was scarcely enough space for horse and man but somehow they scraped through and emerged into a small, narrow valley nestled snugly at the foot of the hill. Several dilapidated cabins seemed to sprout from the hillside and it was toward one of them that Pedro now headed, the rest of his motley band at his heels.
Pedro halted before a cabin much like the others, dismounted, and roughly pulled Julie to her feet beside him. Only when he shoved her rudely toward the door hanging loosely on one hinge did he notice that the other men were clustered about him, shuffling their feet nervously in the dust.
“What the hell do you want?” he asked crossly. “Go about your business.”
“What about the woman?” spoke up one man braver than the most. “When do we get her?”
“
Bastardo
!” spat Pedro contemptuously. “Who is
el jefe
here? You will all get your turn after I am finished.
Comprendo
?” Now
vamos
… go!”
Still the grumbling men seemed reluctant to leave. Each was aware of Pedro’s cruel nature and realized that the girl probably would not survive his violence, thus depriving them of their own sport.
While the men bickered among themselves for the privilege of raping her first, Julie searched frantically for some means of escape. But it seemed hopeless. Pedro’s brutal grip bruised Julie’s arm and she felt herself growing black and blue beneath his grasp. To struggle was futile, but the alternative was even more horrendous.
With consternation Julie suddenly realized that the bandits were slowly melting away, their differences obviously settled. “Now,
puta,
” Pedro grinned salaciously, “it is time to pay your debt.”
Julie uttered a long piercing wail as Pedro sent her sprawling across the cabin floor, her skirts twisting about her waist as she landed heavily. Pedro’s eyes gleamed wickedly and he licked his lips wetly at the sight of slim white legs and tender rounded buttocks. Reaching down he hauled her unceremoniously to her feet and flung her face down on the dingy blanket of the narrow cot that occupied one corner of the sparsely furnished room. Then he began tearing at her clothes.
Julie fought valiantly, kicking and screaming, but to no avail. Pedro’s superior strength kept her pinned to the hard surface of the cot. Muttering a vile oath he flipped her on her back, stripped off her shoes and stockings, using the stockings to bind both her hands to the iron bedposts, leaving both his own hands free to bare her breasts and rip her skirt aside while at the same time exposing himself before her horrified gaze.
Fear, stark and vivid, swept through Julie at the sight of Pedro’s swollen member, enormous and pulsing, standing straight out from his squat body. Just thinking
of his punishing tool ravaging her shattered her into a million pieces.
“There is no escape,
puta
,” Pedro sneered as Julie twisted away from his exploring hands and mouth. “Pedro knows how to please his women. It strikes me that you are one of those who like to be roughed up first. Pedro will be glad to oblige.
Si,
when I finish you will beg me for more.”
Then Julie felt his thick lips slobbering wetly over her face and breasts and she gagged at the foul odor of his garlic laden breath. When he cruelly bit down on a tender nipple the sudden burst of pain caused her to cry out, which only served to inflame him further. His ham-like hands pinched and prodded ruthlessly, and when Julie felt his huge erection pushing against her, seeking entrance, panic like she’d never known before welled within her.
Then a strange thing happened. Pedro uttered a muffled cry and went limp, his thick body nearly smothering her as he collapsed heavily atop her frail form. Because her arms were bound Julie could not shove him aside and she lay still, barely able to breath beneath Pedro’s considerable bulk.
Suddenly the unbearable burden was lifted and Julie breathed deeply, dragging in long, shuddering gulps of air. Turning her head she saw Pedro’s inert body lying on the floor, as still as death, a pool of blood forming beneath him.
Only then did Julie become aware of the bearded, scruffy man standing over Pedro, calmly wiping his knife on his striped
serape.
Though his wide brimmed
sombrero
shadowed his face, Julie knew she had seen him before. He was the same
bandito
who stared at her so intently that day when she and Rod encountered Joaquin Murieta on their way to the
rancho.
Julie was in a state of shock. First she had suffered near rape at the hands of the vile Pedro, and now it
looked as if one of Pedro’s companions meant to have her. Never would she forgive Rod for putting her through such pain and anguish, Julie vowed as she waited for the
bandito
to make his first move.
What happened next was something Julie would never forget if she lived to be one-hundred. “Did he hurt you, Julie?” the man asked in a voice completely devoid of any accent.
That voice! How many times had Julie heard that same voice speaking to her with love and tenderness? How many times had she hung onto every word, clinging to that gentle tone in her times of sorrow and need? Yet, it couldn’t be, not here! Not riding with Joaquin Murieta and his
bandoleros
!
“Papa?” Julie asked, her own voice quivering with emotion. “Is … is it really you?”
Carl Darcy moved swiftly to his daughter’s side, freed her hands with a quick slash of his knife and drew a blanket over her partially nude body. “Oh, Julie, my dear, dear, daughter,” he said, flinging his arms about the terrified girl. “Did … did that brute hurt you? This is the last place I would expect to find you.”
“No, Papa, you arrived before he … he … was able to … to … harm me,” Julie stuttered bravely. “But what are you doing here? With Murieta? Why didn’t you reveal yourself to me when I first saw you? I don’t understand.”
“It’s a long, sordid tale, my dear,” Carl said. “One that will have to wait. My main concern now is your safety and removing you from here before someone comes looking for Pedro.”
Julie glanced down at the bleeding body, suppressing a shudder of revulsion. “Is … is he dead?” Carl nodded after prodding a booted toe in Pedro’s midsection and getting no response.
“If he isn’t he soon will be,” he replied wryly.
“Oh, God, Papa, what will we do?”
“No one saw me come in here,” Carl explained in a low voice. “I made certain of that. But we have little time to dawdle. Put your shoes on, Julie, and fix your clothes as best you can. It’s imperative we leave this place as soon as possible.”
Julie did as she was told, arranging the tatters of her dress about her as best she could. “You weren’t with Pedro and his men when they took me,” Julie said as she fussed with her clothing.
“I remained in camp,” Carl informed her, “to keep watch. I’m older than most of Murieta’s henchmen and they often leave me behind to serve as guard. I wouldn’t have known you were with Pedro if I hadn’t chanced to overhear the men grumbling about the beautiful woman he had in his cabin and speculating on how long it would be before they had a turn with her. When someone mentioned Don Rodrigo, I knew it had to be you.”
“I’m ready, Papa,” Julie said, glancing at him expectantly. “What do we do now?” There were so many things she wanted to ask her father but they would all have to wait until they were safe.
Unerringly Carl moved to the only window in the drab cabin, pulling Julie along with him. “See that line of trees above the cabin? I make it out about one-hundred yards,” Carl pointed out. Julie nodded. “At this time of day most of the men who aren’t on guard are taking a
siesta.
It shouldn’t be difficult to slip out the window and reach those trees without being seen.”
“What then, Papa?” You said there are guards posted around the camp. How will we get out of this valley?”
“Trust me, daughter,” Carl smiled mysteriously. “I’ve done a lot of scouting around these hills. If we can reach those trees without being seen, the rest will be easy. Are you ready?” He gave her hand a squeeze for courage.
“Yes, Papa,” Julie said, breathing deeply to still her fears.
Carl climbed through the window first, thankful that his naturally spare frame had never turned to fat. Because of the way the cabin tended to cling to the side of the hill, the drop to the ground was virtually nonexistent. As Carl had hoped, no one was about and he motioned Julie through the narrow opening with a wave of his hand. She slipped out much easier than her father and within seconds was standing beside him.
“It’s a long climb; Julie,” Carl whispered, “do you think you are up to it?”
“I can do anything as long as you are with me, Papa,” Julie assured him, starting forward.
“Wait,” Carl cautioned, staying her with an outflung hand. “If we are discovered, keep going. Don’t stop for anything. I’ll hold them off for as long as I can.”
“No, Papa!” Julie gasped. “I won’t leave you!”
“Daughter,” Carl schooled sternly, “you’ll do as I say. You know what those lust crazed men will do to you if you are caught. I’ve ridden with them long enough to know that you’ll wish for death long before they are finished with you.”
Julie studied her father’s beloved features, seeing in her mind’s eye not the bearded bandit who stood before her begging her to abandon him, but the gentle man who loved and nurtured her for sixteen years, and she knew she would obey him. “I’ll do as you say, Papa.” The words caught painfully in her throat, threatening to choke her.
Satisfied, Carl took Julie’s hand and tugged her after him up the grassy incline. The going was rough but not extremely so. At any moment Julie expected to hear a warning cry, or worse yet, feel a bullet slam into her body. Halfway to their goal she was gasping for breath, more of a hindrance to her father than a help. But thankfully, there was no shot and no warning shout as they darted into the welcome cover of trees.
When at length Julie sank to the ground, her chest heaving with the effort, Carl, allowed her but a
heaving with the effort, Carl allowed her but a moment’s respite. “We can’t rest yet, Julie,” he warned, urging her to her feet. “There are guards about.”
“Where can we go, Papa?” Julie asked worriedly, glancing down at the camp just beginning to stir after a long
siesta.
“Follow me,” Carl ordered brusquely. “Try to make as little noise as possible. I know of a place where you’ll be safe.”
Julie needed no further urging as she staggered to her feet and struggled upward after her father toward the crest of the hill. Though she trusted him implicitly she could not help but think what a good target they made outlined as they were against the horizon.
Abruptly Carl stopped, causing Julie to stumble against him as he pointed toward a tangle of dense brush. “You’ll be safe inside,” he assured her. Though he spoke with knowledge, Julie thought he had lost his mind until he began attacking the mesquite with a vengeance, and then Julie was certain he had gone mad. But against all odds a small opening, heretofore completely obscured by brush and mesquite, yawned before her.
“Oh, Papa!” she breathed, excited. “A cave! How did you find it?”
“I’ve done a lot of exploring in these hills, darling. I know them like I know the back of my hand. When I found this cave I decided to tell no one, thinking there might come a time I would need such a hiding place. Hurry inside. You’ll have to crawl through.”
Obeying instantly, Julie dropped to her hands and knees and within seconds found herself inside a dark, damp area roughly the size of a small room but with much lower ceiling. Carl was close at her heels.
“We’ll rest here awhile and then I’ll sneak back into camp. I don’t want to be linked with Pedro’s death. Later, when it’s safe, I’ll come back for you,” Carl informed Julie when he noticed her blank look.