Sagebrush

  “That’s a fascinating story,” Pat said. “Well, it’s getting late, so I’ll turn in, but before I do, let me show you your beds. I’ve cut boughs and made three piles, and then placed blankets on them. The boughs will keep you insulated from the cold ground, and the blanket will shield you from the boughs. A buffalo hide or a bearskin would be better, but we don’t have them, so these blankets will have to do. Good night. I’ll take the bed at this end. You can fight over the other two.”

  Pat removed his boots and his hat, placed his weapons where he could reach them, and then curled up and went to asleep almost immediately.

  “I’d like to go for a walk and listen to the sounds of the night,” Sage said. “This reminds me of my home on the prairie.”

  “May I go with you?” Juanita asked. “You can tell me what the sounds mean.”

  Sage said, “Let’s take a few blankets with us to keep us warm. When I was a child, I wanted someone to share the sounds with, but never in my wildest dreams, did I dare think that someday I might share the sounds with someone so beautiful.”

  “You also fill a dream for me,” Juanita smiled. “There’s a chill in the air . . . would you put your arms around me to keep me warm?”

  With a little laugh, Sage wrapped her in his arms. “You keep me warm just by being near me.”

  She cuddled closer saying, “I’m pleased.”

  He explained the source of every sound and told her what animal, or thing, was making the sound. Juanita was amazed by his perception. She realized that she was falling in love. Silently she thanked the Almighty Creator for bringing this wonderful young man to her. She was wishing she could remain in his arms after going to bed. She could feel his need for her and knew what he wanted to do. Sage will be my husband someday. I don’t know when, but my heart tells me that we will be together for the rest of our lives. Juanita wanted to affirm her love for him as she sensed his love for her. Sage lovingly looked at Juanita and knew what she was thinking. He took her in his arms and ran his fingers through her beautiful, soft hair. He kissed her, not with a forceful passion, but slow and ardent. As he ran his hand over her warm and supple body, he could feel her respond to his touch.

  “Don’t stop, my love. I want you so much,” Juanita said.

  Sage wanted her, too, but before they made love he helped Juanita to her feet and said, “We will ask the Creator to forever join us. Before the Almighty Creator I swear my love, my life and my heart now and forever.”

  Juanita looked at Sage, caressed his face with her fingers. With tears rolling down her face, she said, “My love, my heart, and my soul, are yours for the rest of my life. The Creator has blessed us and the land that we love will be our witness.”

  Now they were one. The night was cold, but their lovemaking kept them warm. They didn’t want to leave, and they wished they could stay where they were forever. But they had to go back. There was much for them to do. They slipped back into camp quietly so they wouldn’t wake Pat. They went to their separate beds, but neither could fall sleep. The stars moved to the center of the sky, telling Sage that the night was half gone. Juanita had at last gone to sleep, so he closed his eyes and he, too, was soon asleep.

  Before his companions awoke, Sage walked out into the hills and brought back three sage hens, and cooked them with the wild vegetables he gathered, and had breakfast ready when Pat and Juanita woke up.

  He mentioned to Juanita that he had seen a small stream nearby where she could refresh herself. Pat tended the horses making sure they had water and grass. He rubbed them down with dry grass before putting saddles on them. While having breakfast, they talked of what they should do to regain control of Juanita’s ranch.

  “Carlos is a staunch and steady ally,” Juanita said.

  “Yes,” Pat said. “I’ve known Carlos for many years, and I believe him to be a good man. Sage, I know you’ve just met him, but you need to have a good talk with him. He probably knows more about this than anyone.”

  “All right,” Sage replied. “Let’s go talk to him now. We met only briefly, and I’d like to get better acquainted with him.”

  * * *

  They arrived at the hacienda late in the afternoon and went directly to Carlos’s home, but he wasn’t there. They met his sons who worked with their father as vaqueros. The sons of Carlos had their own families and their own homes. Carlos’s wife greeted Juanita with the respect due the mistress of El Casa Grande; Juanita greeted her as the old and valued friend she was.

  Señora Viejo invited them in, but they didn’t want to compromise Carlos with his boss, so they declined the invitation and went in search of Carlos. To Carlos, Juanita’s father was like a son, but he had never been able to develop a close relationship with Jose. Carlos had known for many years that Jose wanted to own the ranch. When he didn’t inherit it, Carlos knew that he would stop at nothing to take it from Juanita. Carlos learned from Pat that Robert McBain, Sage’s father, had rescued Don Diego from the sea and tried to nurse him back to health.

  They found Carlos working at the hacienda. Juanita called for him to join them.

  Juanita explained, “Sage is the new owner of the Cordova Ranch, and he will be our neighbor.”

  “Buenas tardes, Señor,” he said. “I’ve heard much about you, and I’m pleased to have a chance to talk with you. The people of Santa Fe are telling stories of the golden-haired young gringo who is making a difference in the Rio Grande valley. Señora Cordova and her patroń, Manuel, speak highly of you.”

  “Carlos,” Juanita asked, “do you remember the messenger from my grandfather?”

  “Yes, but that was long ago.”

  “It was long ago, but the man mentioned in that message has come at last. He will tell you why it has taken so long.”

  “Buena, let us all ride down by the river where we can talk in private,” Carlos replied.

  Sage answered, “Si, Señor, it is better to speak in private.”

  Carlos was a distinguished Mexican man with hair the color of silver, whose age was hard to determine. He was still strong, his eyes were bright, and when he spoke to Juanita, his face showed his respect and love for her. Sage liked him right away.

  They reached the river and dismounted. Sage repeated the story Pat had told Carlos, of how his father had saved Don Diego from the sea. Don Diego didn’t tell Sage’s father who, or what, was threatening the ranch. Sage then told Carlos of how his parents were killed by Indians and of how he had managed to survive. Sage further explained that, as soon as he became a man, he came to fulfill his father’s vow. He mentioned the letter to Juanita, and the paper Señor Diego had signed. He explained that he didn’t come for the land. He had bought his own ranch with the money he had gotten from his father.

  “Gracias, Señor,” Carlos said. “I’m the one who sent the message to Señor Diego. I worked for the Don even before Juanita’s father was born. She is like a granddaughter to me. There’s nothing I would not do to prevent her from losing her land. I’ve been aware of her uncle’s intent to take the land for many years, but I couldn’t tell Juanita because I had no proof. Now that you have proof, and we all understand what is happening, we can take action. Tell me what you would like me to do.”

  “How many of your workers can you count on?” Sage asked.

  “All of them,” Carlos replied. “They do not like Señor Alvarez, and they hate Señor Vacca.”

  “How about the miners?” Sage asked.

  “The miners are not part of the ranch. They are hired from Santa Fe and other pueblos. Vacca brought men from Mexico to supervise the local miners. It is rumored he worked many men to death in Mexico. That is why the local miners hate Vacca and the men he brought with him. My vaqueros know many of the miners, and they will report to me which ones we can count on.”

  “We’ll have to chase Vacca and his men back to Mexico,” Sage said, “before we will be able to restore the mine to Juanita. We must recover the bullion they have stolen and return the cattle to their
pastures. Gracias, Señor Viejo, for your friendship and for your offer to help. Can you meet us tomorrow at the Cordova Ranch at noon? We will work out a plan.”

  “I’ll ride with you, Carlos,” Juanita spoke up.

  Sage could see that Carlos was concerned. “Carlos, there’s no need in trying to talk her out of it. Pat and I tried that yesterday; it didn’t work.”

  Carlos smiled. “She is a strong-minded young woman, all right.”

  “See, Carlos, I told you,” Pat said, “you would like this young man. Would you find out how many of the miners we can count on? Tell them they’ll be rid of the man they fear, and have a man to work with who will treat them with respect.”

  “Si, Señor Connors, I will find out who we can and cannot depend on. My sons and I will meet you tomorrow at the McBain Ranch.”

  “Gracias, Señor Viejo, vaya con dios,” Pat replied.

  Juanita saw the worry on Sage’s face and said, “I’ll be all right. Uncle Jose still doesn’t know that I know that he is trying to harm to me. My staff will protect me.”

  Sage nodded. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow at noon.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Attack on Juanita

  Joe, Bonnie, and her parents were already at Maggie’s when Sage and Pat arrived.

  “The señora will be leaving in a few days,” Joe announced. “She’s eager to be on the trail, so they can get through the desert before it gets too hot. Bonnie and I want to get married in two weeks. We’ll invite the people from the wagon train and anyone else who want to come.”

  Maggie said, “The musicians from my cantina will provide the music, and I’ll bring the dancing girls.”

  “We’ll barbecue two steers,” Sage suggested. “The other ranchers will be invited. It will give us a chance to meet them. It will be a grand party. Joe and Bonnie can spend their honeymoon at their new hacienda. Frank and Thelma can stay at the wagon camp until after the honeymoon, and then they, too, can move into the hacienda and help Joe and Bonnie run the ranch.”

  Maggie said, “I knew you’d be hungry, so I prepared two of the biggest steaks I could find. I have baked potatoes and beans to go with the steaks.”

  Maggie brought the food to the table sizzling hot.

  I wish Juanita were here to help us celebrate, thought Sage.

  Sage told Joe, “We’ll meet Carlos and Juanita at the new ranch tomorrow at noon to discuss plans for recovering the Diego Ranch.”

  “Maggie,” Pat asked, “do you know that group of men sitting over there in the corner?”

  “Yes, they’re only a few of the ruffians that Vacca brought in from Mexico to oversee the local miners. The local miners used to come in here after work to drink, but they’re afraid to now. They say these men make them take unnecessary chances, and a couple of local miners have been killed. I wish these men didn’t come here. They’re driving my regular customers away.”

  “They are heavily armed for miners,” Pat replied. “They are each carrying two guns and a knife. The guns are specially made, and those aren’t the kind of knives you would use to clean your fingernails.”

  “Perhaps I should get Bonnie and her folks back to the wagon,” Joe suggested.

  Sage agreed. “Pat and I will go with you. I have an uneasy feeling about that bunch.”

  “You see what I mean?” Maggie grumbled. “They’re driving my best customers away.”

  “Don’t worry, Maggie,” Pat laughed. “We’ll be back.”

  With Sage leading, they started for the wagon camp. The night was cold, and they were wearing heavy coats. When they got halfway to the wagon camp, Sage said in a low voice, “We’re being followed. I’ll drop back to see who is so concerned about us.”

  Suddenly a shot rang out, and Frank fell from his horse. Joe pulled Bonnie and her mother into the trees beside the trail, hoping the trees would provide cover.

  Frank got up. “It’s only a shoulder wound; I’ll be all right.”

  “Pat,” Joe asked, “would you take Bonnie and her folks to the camp and tend to Frank’s wound? I have some unfinished business here. Whoever shot at Bonnie will wish he hadn’t.”

  “Joe, let’s drop back,” Sage whispered. “You take that side of the trail, and I’ll take this side.”

  “Okay, ladies, let’s go home,” Pat said, as he gathered the reins of the horse Frank was riding. “Frank, can you stay on the horse?”

  Frank replied with pain, “Yeah, you lead him, and I’ll hang on.”

  Sage moved back along one side of the trail, and Joe did the same on the other. Sage heard the men who were following them. A shot rang out, then another. Two hired killers lay dead on the trail, and the other two, knowing Joe had only two pistols and would have to reload, were rushing in on the now unarmed Joe. Sage threw his knife, and then his ax. Thud, thud. The other two were down.

  “They won’t disturb Maggie’s customers anymore,” Joe commented. “Sage, that’s the damnedest thing I ever saw. You threw that ax and knife so fast I could hardly see you do it. You saved my hide again tonight.”

  “Yeah, I had to do something. They were about to spoil the wedding, and by the way, that was some fancy shooting you just did.”

  “Don’t tell anyone. It would just add to my reputation, and I’m trying to live it down.”

  “I don’t think you’ll do it that way.”

  “No, I guess not. What do we do with this carrion on the road?”

  “Let’s get word to Vacca. These are his men; let him clean up the mess.”

  “That’s a good idea. Let’s see how Frank is doing. I just talked him into helping us on the ranch, and I don’t want to lose him.”

  When they reached the camp, Grant was digging the bullet out of Frank’s shoulder.

  Frank said, “Ah, it’s only a flesh wound; I’ll be up and around in a few days. What happened to the men who were shooting at us?”

  “We spoiled their evening,” Joe replied.

  “I thought you might,” Pat commented.

  Bonnie, not completely understanding the conversation, said, “You mean they won’t be going back to Maggie’s tonight? Maggie will be happy about that.”

  Sage added, “They may not even go to work tomorrow.”

  Bonnie, beginning to get the idea, said, “Oh!”

  “Well, fellows,” Pat said, “I don’t know about you, but I’m about ready for some sleep.”

  * * *

  They all met at the McBain hacienda the following day, and again Señora Cordova had lunch ready. She and Manuel sat in on the meeting. The group consisted of Joe, Pat, Sage, Carlos, his three sons, and Juanita. Their voices were low and serious. Carlos’s sons were all stalwart young men with determined faces. Their lives and the lives of their families depended on the outcome of this meeting.

  Ramon, the oldest of the three, said, “I suggest we enlist the aid of the vaqueros of the other ranches. They all have a stake in this, and I know they’ll want to help. Two of their friends died in the mines last week. We’ve got to put a stop to this.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Juanita concurred. “Get word to the miners not to show up tomorrow morning. Then we can close in on the mine and send those vermin back to Mexico where they came from.”

  Joe smiled. “I hate to do that to the good people of old Mexico, but the people of Santa Fe will be glad to get rid of them.”

  “Carlos,” Sage asked, “can you and your sons get word to the local miners that we will be waiting for the men guarding the mine when they report for work.”

  “All right, boys,” Carlos said. “Let’s get the workers notified.”

  Pat and Joe rode back to Santa Fe.

  “Juanita, let’s ride down by the river,” Sage said.

  She was hoping for a chance to be alone with Sage and was pleased that he wanted to be alone with her. Maybe he wanted to ask her to marry him. She would say, “Yes,” without hesitation. They followed the river while returning to her ranch. She knew he didn’t want her
ranch. He had his own ranch, but she would be proud to share her ranch with him as her husband.

  They rode without saying a word. She could see that he was troubled. They came to a bend in the river, where the banks were lined with cottonwood and poplar. The river was deep and calm. Over on the far side was a cliff; the spot was beautiful and serene.

  Sage drew his horse to a halt and dismounted, and even though he knew she needed no help, he took Juanita’s hand and helped her from her horse. She was pleased by his attentiveness. When she slid down from her horse, she slid into his arms. He held her for a while and then slowly released her.

  Looking into her eyes, he said, “Juanita, I didn’t know what to expect when I committed myself to fulfill my father’s obligation. I have loved you since we rode together to see Seńora Cordova’s ranch, but I have another obligation to meet. I don’t know how long I will be gone. It might be a few months, or it might be a year.”

  Juanita waited for him to continue, but he didn’t explain, other than to tell her he thought they would be able to restore the ranch to her in a short time. When this was done and after Joe and Bonnie were married, he would be going away.

  Juanita drew his face to hers and kissed him. “I’ll wait for you, Michael Sage McBain, no matter how long it takes. I love you, and I will live for the time when we can be together. Do whatever you must do. I’ll be waiting.”

  Holding her closely he kissed her passionately. She could feel his strength and longed for the day when he would take her as his wife. They mounted their horses and were riding back to the hacienda when a shot rang out. A bullet ricocheted off the trunk of a tree near Juanita’s head! Sage slid from his saddle, pulled Juanita off her horse, and led her into a ravine where they would have cover. Two more shots rang out, both bullets struck near, but neither he nor Juanita was wounded. Sage had his pistol and powder in his belt, but his rifle was still in the saddle scabbard, and the horses were thirty paces away. The horses were frightened and unsure of what they should do.