Sage was certain that at least two gunmen were firing, but he wasn’t sure where the shots were coming from. It was obvious that Vacca and Jose had decided not to wait any longer. Juanita had told Sage that if they succeeded in killing her, they would blame him and the mountain men for the killing.
Sage saw a gully to their right. If he and Juanita could get into it, there would be only one way they could be seen by the gunmen. The gully would force the gunmen to approach from only one direction. He handed Juanita his pistol and told her to hide with her back to the cliff, forcing the gunman to approach from the open side of the gully. He quickly removed his boots, shirt, and hat, then took his knife from its scabbard and split his hat into two pieces, and then tied the pieces to his feet with strips he cut from his shirt. Without his shirt, his highly muscled back and arms were exposed. Juanita knew she was in the hands of the skilled fighter she had heard about, and she was no longer afraid.
Sage placed his hand to his mouth, indicating silence. His eyes had changed; now they had the look she had seen in the eyes of a mountain lion. He moved into the brush without making a sound and disappeared almost immediately. She knew he was stalking the snipers, and his only weapon was his knife.
A shot rang out, followed by another; the bullets struck the cliff behind Juanita but did no harm. They assassins were shooting at shadows. She scooted down tighter against the cliff and moved closer to the bushes.
The shots were what Sage was waiting for. Now he knew where they were—that was all he needed. He moved silently with the stealth of the highly trained predator he had become. He spotted a gunman standing against a tree, straining to spot Juanita. He could easily finish him off by throwing his knife, but if he threw the knife, he would be without a weapon. He moved in on the killer from the other side of the tree. The gunman became aware that he was now the hunted and whirled, bringing his rifle into position to fire, but he was too late. Sage pushed the rifle barrel aside, and in one swift movement with his knife, the gunman was a gunman no more. The only sound the gunman made was his body sliding down the trunk of the tree.
Sage wiped and re-holstered his knife, then took the gunman’s rifle and two pistols. Now he was armed with the three guns that had belonged to the killer, and he still had his knife. The pistols were different from any he had ever seen. He knew, by the decorations on the handles and by the quality of their weapons, that these gunmen were professional killers.
He moved swiftly in the direction of the other killer. The second gunman was trying to get into position for a shot at what he believed to be two waiting victims. The gunman knew Sage was armed, and he had heard of his fighting abilities, so he was moving cautiously.
Juanita knew that the killer was coming, but she didn’t know what had happened to Sage. She sat with the pistol ready. Unknown to her, Sage was moving in on the second killer.
The killer had the advantage—he knew where Juanita was, and all he had to do was get into position to fire the bullet that would successfully fulfill his task and earn him the reward he had been promised. That moment was near, and the gunman was closing in with complete confidence. He had only contempt for this wild boy. Why should he fear a boy? He had killed many men. He stepped into the open. He had Juanita in his sights and was raising his rifle to fire the fatal bullet when he felt a searing pain in his chest. He looked down at the silver-plated handle of the knife that had just ended his career as a killer. He then looked up into the blazing eyes of the wild young man he had held in such contempt. The gunman’s lifeless body slumped to the ground. Sage removed his knife and again wiped it clean on the gunman’s jacket, rolled the killer onto his face and walked to the trembling Juanita. His eyes were soft and gentle again.
Sage gathered the killers’ weapons to show them to Pat and Joe.
“Juanita,” Sage said, “There’s no way I’m going to allow you to stay at your place tonight. Your uncle and Vacca have reached the point of desperation. Now, do you realize that your life is in danger? I’m taking you to my ranch. Señora Cordova and her vaqueros will be glad to give you protection. Carlos and his sons will be there to protect you, also.”
“I have to go back to the hacienda to get some of my things,” Juanita said. “I’ll need clothes suitable for wearing in town.”
“All right. Get your clothes, but I’ll go with you, and I won’t let you out of my sight until I get you to my ranch.”
“Señora Cordova is a dear friend, and I know I’ll be welcome, but I would prefer to be in Santa Fe with you. That way, I’d know what is happening.”
“Of course. You can buy new clothes in Santa Fe. There’s no reason to expose you to the danger of going back to your place.”
When they got to Santa Fe, Sage took Juanita to the same hotel where he and his friends were staying.
When the owner saw Juanita, he bowed low, and said, “Señorita Diego, what a great honor to have you as a guest at our hotel. We’ll provide you with our finest rooms. I will personally escort you to your quarters. Please let us know of any service you require. There will be a table waiting for you in our dining room any time you need it.”
“I see why you wanted to come to the hotel,” Sage smiled. “How much time will you need to buy clothes? Would you do me the great honor of dining with me this evening, and may I bring my friends?”
“It will take me about two hours to get ready. I would be pleased to have dinner with you and your friends. That’s why I wanted to stay at the hotel, and perhaps Bonnie could join us.”
“I’ll pick you up at your room in two hours,” Sage said.
When Sage got to his room, Joe and Pat were waiting. He told them about the two men who tried to kill Juanita and showed them the rifles.
“I have their pistols with me,” Sage said as he tossed them on the bed. “It seemed wrong to waste such fine weapons. Those men were not miners; they were professional killers. That’s obvious by their weapons. These pistols have revolving chambers, and they’ll fire six times without reloading.”
“I’ve heard of these guns,” Joe said. “There’s a man named Samuel Colt who is manufacturing guns like that.”
“Yes, I’ve heard of them, also.” Pat mused.
“By the way, we have a date for dinner,” Sage said. “We are to meet Señorita Diego in the dining room in two hours. She asked if Bonnie would join us.”
“Sure, I’ll go get Bonnie,” Joe answered, “but first I want to see those guns. A date with the señorita is important, but those guns are more important. Do you realize what it will mean to us, to have weapons like that in our fight with Vacca?”
They examined the guns carefully.
“These are beautiful guns,” Joe exclaimed, “but where can we get cartridges?”
“I have their gun belts in my saddlebags; they contain extra cartridges,” Sage said.
“Perhaps we can buy more at the trading post.”
“That’s a good idea,” said Pat. “A friend of mine is leaving for the fort tomorrow. I’ll ask him to buy cartridges for us.”
“I’ll go get Bonnie. She’ll be excited about having dinner with Juanita. She’ll want to dress for the occasion, so don’t get impatient. I guess I’d better dress up a bit, too.”
When it was time for Sage to pick up Juanita, Joe and Bonnie hadn’t returned. Pat said, “Sage, you pick up the señorita, and I’ll meet you at the restaurant. I want to look around. I don’t want to get surprised again tonight like we did last night.”
“Thank you, Pat. That will make me feel better, also.”
Juanita was not quite ready when Sage called at her door. She called back through the door and said, “I’ll meet you in the dining room.”
While Sage was waiting in a chair just outside the restaurant door, Pat strolled by. Pat was taking a good look to see if there might be any of Vacca’s men lurking around. Joe and Bonnie walked in. Bonnie’s long, red hair curled around her face. Her bright green eyes sparkled with excitement. She wore a white and g
reen dress with ruffles at the shoulders and a low neckline showing off her full bosom. The dress was tight at the waist and hips with a long, flowing skirt.
Joe was smiling with pride. He was wearing a tan shirt open at the throat, a leather jacket, and medium-tight brown pants with a large brown leather belt. His Western boots were buffed to a shine, and two pistols hung low at his side. Sage couldn’t see a knife, but he knew that Joe always carried one. Joe walked smoothly, which was unusual for a big man. His body was strong, and his hands were quick. His dark brown hair was combed, and his face was finely chiseled with a high, thin nose and deep-blue eyes. He was an outgoing, friendly man, quick to laugh, and quick to anger. There was something about him that said, “I want to be your friend, but don’t mess with me.”
When Pat returned, he was wearing highly tailored buckskin with fringed shoulders and arms, loose-fitting pants, a heavy leather belt and suede leather boots. He had a gun and a large knife in a worn leather scabbard. His handsome face was weather-beaten. One look and you knew he was a mountain man.
As Juanita entered the room, everyone gasped. She was a stunning beauty. Her glistening black hair extended below her shoulders. Her skin was fair and smooth, with soft brown eyes. Her smile revealed teeth that were even and white, and her walk was regal. She held her head high, as would be expected of a woman of her aristocratic heritage. She wore a white blouse with a black bolero jacket, a black, tight-fitting skirt, and shiny high-top black boots. A white lace scarf caressed her hair. She was magnificent.
How can I be lucky enough to have a woman like that having dinner with me?
Sage was dressed completely in black. Nothing shiny. No buttons, no buckles. His boots were buffed black leather with soft leather soles. He wore a black shirt with black pants; his black leather jacket extended below his hips. Under the jacket, he carried a pistol and a knife, which were carried in black scabbards. Even the silver-inlaid knife was covered with black velvet. He always wore black at night, but in the daytime, he wore light brown.
Concealment was always a factor in the way he dressed. As a boy, his life had depended upon not being seen. The memory of that had carried over. His black clothes were in contrast to the color of his reddish-blond hair. His face was open and friendly, and he smiled a lot, showing strong, white teeth. He had wide-set blue-green eyes, which looked out from under heavy eyebrows. His arms strong, his shoulders wide, his waist and hips were small. He moved like a giant cat. In a quiet way, he was strikingly handsome.
Juanita and Bonnie were a study in contrast. Each was beautiful, and they both knew it. There was no jealousy or competition between them. Because of their respect for each other, they had become good friends.
Bonnie was bright and bubbly, always laughing and smiling. Juanita was quiet and reserved. She was in every way the grand lady of the great house. Her very presence demanded respect, and she got it.
The owner of the hotel led them to the best table in the dining room and regarded them as important guests. There would be no tequila tonight. Nothing but the best wines and liqueurs would be served. Pat figured this was a little too highfaluting for him, but he would suffer through it.
Joe had no training in social matters, but he saw nothing wrong with who or what he was, so he felt no need to apologize. Sage had had no training in etiquette after age twelve, but his mother had taught him well, and he felt at ease.
The meal was wonderful. They ate, drank, laughed, and talked. Anyone watching would think they didn’t have a care in the world.
After the meal, Joe said, “I’ve gotta get Bonnie back to the wagon camp. Frank and Thelma were reluctant to allow her to join us after the trouble last night. They are concerned for her safety.”
Looking at Pat and Sage, Juanita said, “Perhaps we should escort them to the wagon camp.”
“Juanita, I don’t want our evening to end,” Sage said, “but I’m concerned for your safety, also.”
“Yes, I see what you mean,” Juanita commented. “And I agree you should escort Bonnie back to the wagon camp. I’ll retire to my room and see you tomorrow morning. What time shall we meet for breakfast?”
“We should get to the mine early,” Pat replied, “before they realize that the regular workers won’t be coming. Let’s meet here at 6 o’clock.”
“Sage,” Joe said, “Can we get those revolvers? They’ll come in handy if we should need them while taking Bonnie back to the camp.”
“Yes,” Sage agreed. “You can take two of them, and Pat and I will use the other two.”
In the room, Joe tried on the cartridge belts.
“This fits just fine,” he said. “I’ll exchange my holsters for these. This way, I’ll have these extra cartridges with me.” He checked the revolving mechanism carefully. “They’re in good working order. I think I’m going to like these guns.”
Sage said, “Pat, these belts are too small for you, and the guns fit my holster just fine. We can use our own holsters and share the cartridges.”
“Okay,” said Pat. “But I think I’m going to take my muzzle-loading pistol, also. I know how it works, and I’m not sure about these new guns.”
The ride to the wagon camp was uneventful. Frank and Thelma were relieved to see Bonnie. Pat checked Frank’s wound and said, “This is healing nicely. You’ll be good as new in a few days.”
When they returned to the hotel, Sage said, “I want to check on Juanita. I’ll see you later.”
With a smile, Joe said, “Check on her you say?”
Sage knocked on Juanita’s door. There was no response, so he went to the lobby to talk to the man on duty. The man at the desk told Sage that after they left to escort Bonnie home, Señor Alvarez and his foreman came to the hotel and took Señorita Diego with them. Señor Alvarez didn’t say why he was taking her, or where they were going. Sage knew no one in the hotel would dare ask Jose Alvarez to explain himself.
The hotel employee said, “Before the señorita left, she handed this note to me and asked me to give it to you. She didn’t want her uncle to know that she was handing it to me. There’s only one word scribbled on the paper. It says, ‘mine.' I don’t know what it means.” He handed the note to Sage.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Mine
Sage read the word ‘mine' and then under his breath, he said, “They’ve taken her to the mine!” He dashed to the quarters he shared with the mountain men. They were still examining the new guns.
Sage exclaimed, “They’ve taken Juanita to the mine! We’d better hurry; they’ll kill her for sure!”
They grabbed their weapons as they dashed to their horses.
Alvarez and Vacca had taken Juanita at least a half-hour ago. Pat, Joe, and Sage rode at a full gallop, trying to make up time. There was no chance they could catch them before Alvarez and Vacca reached the mine with Juanita.
Sage called over his shoulder, “Juanita told me she didn’t want her uncle killed, but if he harms her, I will kill him. She said nothing about Vacca, so that leaves that rat to our discretion.”
“You’ll have to hurry,” Joe yelled back, “if you’re going to get that snake-eyed bastard before I do. Any man who will hire men to kill Bonnie and her family from ambush is not worth living, and I’ll rid the world of that plague.”
Pat said, “We’ll have our work cut out for us when we get to that mine. They’ll have us outnumbered by at least ten to one.”
Just before they got to the mine, they slowed down and moved quietly. They tied their horses back a ways and continued on foot, taking advantage of the cover that Sage and Joe had noted when they scouted the mine earlier. They walked to within a hundred paces of the entrance of the mine and saw a wagon with two guards stationed there.
Pat said, “That wagon is loaded with bullion, and they’re planning to haul it away. That means that they have Juanita in the mine.”
“I’ll go in after her alone,” Sage stated. “If we all go in, we’ll be trapped in the mine. You two create a dis
turbance and, while the guards are distracted, I’ll slip past them.”
“Do you mean you’re going in there alone?” Joe asked.
“Juanita is in there alone with those two killers. I can get in without being seen, and that’ll give me an advantage. You just keep these guards busy. I’ll handle the ones inside. Don’t worry about me.”
“Then don’t you worry about these scoundrels out here. We’ll keep them busy, all right,” Pat said.
Sage replied, “Let me get into position on the other side of that mine entrance; then you attract their attention.”
“I will permanently attract their attention with these revolvers,” Joe promised. “This will give us good practice.”
Pat and Joe got into position, Sage signaled, and they threw two stones in the bushes on the side of the mine away from where Sage was hiding. While the guards were looking for what had caused the noise, Sage slipped into the mine. The mine had torches lighting the tunnel. The torches gave enough light to show the way, but some areas of the tunnel were obscured by shadows where Sage could hide as he moved forward. He had to be sure there were no guards stationed as lookouts.
He heard three voices. One was Juanita’s.
He heard her say, “I’ll never sign that paper selling you the mine and blaming my problems on my friends. The community would hunt them down and kill them.”
Sage recognized one of the other voices as Alvarez.
“If you want us to spare your life, you’ll sign these papers. If you don’t sign, we’ll dump you down that mineshaft, and no one will ever know what happened to you. I’ll inherit the land, and we’ll still blame the mountain men and that wild animal they call Sage—the one you have been disgracing your family with when you are seen riding alone with him.”
“He is a better man and a more honorable man than either of you could ever hope to be,” Juanita retorted.
The uncle glared. “If you sign, I’ll send you to Spain where you can live with your grandfather’s people. They’ll be ashamed of you, but they’ll take you in. I am not a part of that family, and they won’t take me in. This ranch should have been left to me. I was the older son. It’s rightfully mine, and I intend to take it. Eliminating you will be easy.”