Gold Raven (32 page)

The next morning, he told Hope.

“
No! No! No! Send your family – we will stay and fight if it comes to that!” She declared in no uncertain terms.

“
Hope!”

“
I’m not going. I’m not going. I’m not going.” She covered her ears, turning this way and that.

“
Hope!”

“
I’m not listening to you – you’re wasting your breath because I’m not listening to you.”

“
Hope – damn it!”

“
Hope
damn it
– is not listening to you! I refuse to hear it – I refuse! Maria can go, she has the children – but I’m not leaving you – you can’t make me – I don’t want to hear it – it’s taken us too long – to find one another and I’m not leaving!!” She sang on, ignoring him as he stood before her becoming impatient and angry with her not letting him get a word in edge ways.

“
Little girl, you listen here-…”

“
I can’t hear you – I can’t hear you-…”

“…
-Hope for god’s sake! I’m at the end of my-…”

“…
-that’s too ba-a-ad, ‘cause I can’t he-e-ear you-…”

Angrily he grabbed her upper arms and began shaking her. “Damn it Hope – stop it, you’re acting-…”

“
N
o! Let me go! You can’t make me leave; you can’t make me leave-…” She yelled struggling against him, telling him repeatedly that she was not going to leave him, punching him in the chest and slapping his face in a desperate frenzy as if she could make him stop saying that she had to go. The thought of being separated from him now sent her into a panic. He was her brother, the only family that she had. He had become her father, her mother, her teacher, her friend, and she would stand and fight with him to her death. He had to understand that, and she would make him, even if she had to beat it into him.

The children began crying, to see their tia fighting their father. Maria’s eyes were pouring as she cried out to Mike and Hope – trying to get them to stop. Afraid for them both, that one might un-intentionally hurt the other. Hope was sobbing heavily, desperate for him to understand that she could not leave – and would not.

“
Hope stop it! Do you hear me – stop it before you get hurt! Damn it – Hope – I said stop it now!!” Mike yelled dodging her swinging fists.

“
Nooo…no I won’t!!” She sobbed hysterically.

Mike eventually caught both of her wrists and shook her as she pulled and yanked to free them from his strong grasp, screaming, “Nooo,” until he snatched her around with her back to him and forced her against his chest – bending to try to get her under control. Because of his firm hold on her, she could no longer swing out with her arms penned to her sides, holding her thus, her brother murmured gently in her ear, telling her to calm down.

She was tiring, breathing hard as wracking sobs shook her body, burning her chest. She couldn’t fight him any more. Her hair had come undone hanging around her, loosened from its pins in the struggle and covering her tear streaked face.

Breathing hard himself, Mike held her - his face was red with marks from where she’d struck him. He held her there, bent over a moment more, to make sure her struggles had subsided. Forcing her to endure his hold on her, he exhaled and stood straight, picking her up and backing towards his chair. He sat, placing her in his lap, brushing her wild tangled hair away from her face, as he gently placed her head on his shoulder; holding her as if she were one of his daughters needing to be comforted. Finally through the sobs, she said for the first time ever.

“
I … love … you.”

“
I know, I know…I love you too. You’re the little one I hoped for, and I got you. I placed so much hope on you… I prayed that with your birth, we would become the family I always dreamed we’d be.”

“
Just you, me, our mother and…father; it didn’t happen that way. We don’t have them anymore, but we have each other. I have to keep you safe, I have to.”

“
Please don’t make me – go! If we – separate, we may never – find each other again! Please, I will fight with – with you. I will! I’ll shoot straight! I’ll fence as you taught me! I will – be strong! Tough and – and brave – I will be brave - -…”

“
Of course – I know that, but Hope-…”

“
Nooo, nooo, nooo – they’ll take you away from me! I can’t stand it – pleeease don’t… please don’t – send me-…I’ll go mad if I lose you – ple-e-ease!”

“
Listen to me! Would a God who has performed the miracle of bringing us together – tear us apart again? After all we’ve been through? I’ll be there. We’ll be back together…just please do this for me. I need to know that you are safe.”

Her arms went around his neck and squeezed with all she had; clinging to him, softly sobbing. Mike held her and looked up at his children standing with sad eyes. His girls were quietly crying, faces red – eyes beseeching him. He gestured to them to come to him. They stood still as he reached across Hope, still in his arms and wiped his daughter’s tears away.

“
Don’t cry okay. Papah will be fine. I’ll be there at our new home in no time. Promise…okay?”

They both nodded vigorously, unable to do anything more. Papo and Felix were standing in the doorway, their eyes also wet, filled with fear for him, except for Esteban, who would not cry in front of the others. Mike looked and found him across the room. He sighed. He was another that would demand to stay with him.

With all the packing done; he loaded Hope and the youngest four into the wagon. He drew a deep breath noticing Esteban standing by his side as if he too would see the others off. After kissing the children, he went to Hope. She was sitting on the front bench of the wagon with Juan; he would escort them more than half way there.

He looked up at his little sister; who would not look down at him. As time drew close for them to leave, she returned to sulking; ignoring him now as he stood on the ground next to her. Mike tried to get her attention, gazing long and lovingly at her, hoping she would understand why he needed to send them away.

“
Will you hug me goodbye?” He asked softly.

She shook her head, refusing to meet his eyes. Her hands were resting motionless in her lap.

He grasped the hand nearest him, squeezing it in a silent gesture. She gave no obvious response. No tears fell from her eyes.
Giving up, he backed away searching for his wife. She was standing behind him, looking around as if she’d forgotten something. She was stalling, her chest burning with the effort of trying to suppress the tears.

He stood patiently by, waiting for her to face that it was time for them to go. “Did you pack everything you’ll need?” He asked walking up to her. She looked everywhere but at him, unable to trust herself to speak. His large hand gently took her by the arm to pull her around to face him.

“
No more crying… I hate seeing you this way.”

“
Then don’t make us-…’

“
Ah, ah, ah, come on now, we’ve been through all of this. Now up here and give me a kiss.” Her face rose as he went down to kiss her, pulling her up the length of his body as she wrapped her arms around him. He let his mouth transfer all the love he felt for her in one lingering kiss. When it finally broke, he held her to him a minute more, telling her.

“
I love you and I’m coming home. We’ll turn that place into the most splendid home you’ve ever seen.”

She nodded, unable to say anything. He lifted her to the back of the wagon. She climbed in settling in place to look down at him. “I love you.” She mouthed.

“
I’ll be home.”

She nodded and looked away.

Taking a deep breath, he turned facing his son; he must now deal with him. Esteban was standing in the doorway of the abode waiting for him. He entered the door with his son falling in beside him asking.

“
Now what Jefé?”

Mike walked across the room and took a seat on the bench against the far wall, patting the space next to him which Esteban took.

“
As you know, Juan will not be staying with your mother and Hope. He will return after he takes them so far.”

“
I will stay here with you Jefé, you can let him go all the way.”

“
Esteban, I want you with them. I’d feel a lot-…”

“
I can handle whatever problem comes our way. I can shoot, and I can fight. I will guard your back for you if it comes to us fighting.”

“
Son, I know you can shoot and fight, that is especially why I wish you to be with your mother. Me not being with them, I need to know that they are safe. They are not Juan’s responsibility; they are yours and mine. I can’t be there – and in that case, you must be there for them. You are man enough to see that all is well in my place.”

“
They are women and I expect them to moan and cry…but not you. I know you will boldly hold your head high and take on the heavy task of seeing about them while I take care of matters here, before I leave for good.”

Esteban stood with his eyes wide realizing he had to do what was required…he had to leave his father. Mike noticed the struggle he was in and added further.

“
Either you are still a boy, or you are a young man ready to take care of his family. Believe me son; there is more to being a man than just fighting, much more. So which way will you go?”

Esteban stared at his father. He did not want to leave him. He felt it was his place to watch his father’s back and no one elses, but then, if he did not go, who would take care of the women? Who would take care of his little brothers and sisters?

He maintained a strong front, knowing what was expected of him. He would not shame his father, nor shame himself with the actions of a woman or child. “If you think I am man enough to take care of the women – to protect our family – then I will do as you say. Will that make you proud of me Jefé?”

Mike smiled and shook his head.

“
No son, it would not. I am already proud of you, have been from the day you were born. It will only prove that my pride in you is well founded. They are waiting. You have a gun in the wagon as does your tia and mother. Your blade is at your side, with all the courage you need to do whatever you have to do to protect them. I trust you son, take good care of them for me until I get there.”

“
I will Jefé. I will protect them with my life, as you would.”

“
Well then, I know they will be safe.”

The wagon pulled out of the rear gate of the enclosure with Mike following a ways to see them off. He waved at his children, at Esteban as he rode tall in the saddle. Watching the distance grow between them, Mike felt his chest painfully constrict, his throat began aching and for the first time in a long time – he let his own tears pool within his eyes. He turned, heading back within the walls of the camp, relieved in the knowledge he had done the right thing in sending them off.

* * *

Two weeks Later:

“
Santiago, this had better not be a trap. How can we possibly find the hideaway you claim is there by going into this gorge?” Pryce stated uneasily, his instinct told him not to trust the bandit.

“
I
assure you Capíton, this is no trap. Follow the narrow trail down the side of the mountain into the deepest part of the canyon. Cross the stream to the other side and follow it for at least a mile, maybe more…” He shrugged and grinned. “…you have my word as your prisoner; you will see the narrow opening in the mountain wall. You must watch closely, for at first it will seem too narrow to enter, but it will allow the passage of a man and his horse – one at a time. So one will have to follow the other through until you reach another passage way. It will slope downward as you travel.”

“
In a few hours you will have passed through – only – pray once you enter – it does not begin to rain.”

“
Why should I fear the rain? Raining will only cool us.”

“
This is very true Capíton. However – if it does not stop soon enough, it can also drown you. Can you swim Capíton?” Santiago flexed his brows grinning to show tobacco stained teeth.

Pryce stared at him with growing trepidation. “You heathenish bastard - there has to be another way!”

Santiago smiled. “Sí, there is, as I told you. In order to get in from that direction, you must travel many miles around the mountain, which should only take you, ohhh two weeks at the most. That trail is much wider…leading you to a bayou that you must cross, then a dangerous climb over a rocky hill…but if you know what you are doing and you know the land – you can bring a wagon through it.” Again he shrugged. “The choice is yours.”

Pryce stood glaring into Santiago’s eyes, wondering why once again he allowed himself to be taken in by this known bandit. There was no trust between them for good reason; yet neither had a choice. Captain Pryce wanted the land deeds, guns and the infamous outlaw Miguel. Santiago wanted his freedom, the gold and Golden Hope Webster.

“
Are you afraid, Capíton? Perhaps I should escort you, if you do not think I am being truthful. Maybe hold your hand and lead you to the gate…whataya’ say – aye?” Santiago winked.

“
You grinning rot tooth, fowl breath bastard! I don’t want any of the prisoners to know that I conspired with a bandit – their traitor. My men and I are perfectly capable.”

Santiago shrugged at the name calling, which was of little consequence.

“
The gold Capíton?” That was Santiago’s first concern. Captain Pryce leered at him as he reached behind to his saddle bag, untying a sack hanging from it. Inside there were four bags of gold; what Santiago did not know was that the bags were of fools gold, each topped off with a layer of real gold. Again, mistrust reared its head.