Over the Border: A Novel

  XXVI: A SETTLEMENT

  About the time Bull started, Lee and Gordon rose from thebreakfast-table under the Los Arboles _portales_.

  Perhaps with sympathetic intuition, for they exchanged an amiable grin,Sliver and Jake had already passed out. It is true that Maria andTeresa, the small brown _criadas_, were peeping from the crypt-likedepths of their kitchen. But even had she been aware of their vastinterest, Lee would not have withdrawn the hand which, as they rose, hadsomehow tangled with Gordon's. Reflected and thrown up from the yellowwall, the strong morning lights bathed the flesh of her arms, face, andneck with suffused amber, wove a soft glow in the mesh of her hair. Sodifferent from her usual boyish activity, her gentle quiet, combinedwith the warm air, suffused lights, to create a dreamy spell. Goodnessknows how long they would have stood if Maria had not come out to clearthe table.

  Then Lee spoke. "Such sloth! This will never do if I am to go to El Soland return to-day. While I dress will you please get my horse?"

  When Gordon reached the stable Sliver had already gone, but Jake hadlingered to say a word. It was very much to the point. "Say! Bull tippedme off as how the young greaser was likely to show up an' raise somehell to-day. Don't you allow I'd better hang around?"

  He nodded, however, when Gordon explained the situation. "Missy don'tknow he's coming, hey?--thinks she's going over there. Then they'll meeton the way. Mebbe I'd better tag along."

  But to this Gordon's pride would not consent. "Don't you think I cantake care of her?"

  "No one better," Jake hastened to appease. "But, say! If he doesn't showup, don't you let her go on over there--not if you have to rope an' dragher home."

  "Like we did before?" He smiled at the memory. "This time I'll not leaveher the saddle machete."

  "Little bit too smart for you that time," Jake grinned in sympathy."Take care she don't spring a new one. She ain't so very slow."

  Nevertheless, in the face of his apparent acquiescence, while apparentlyheading out on his usual beat, he whirled behind the first ridge and,proceeding at a fast lope, had covered five miles of the way to El Sol,the Icarzas' _hacienda_, by the time Lee came out. Slowing down, then,he rode more leisurely, had covered another mile when, over the crest ofa ridge, he sighted Ramon coming at a gallop down the opposite slope. Aclump of mesquite and _palo verde_ afforded convenient cover. Forcinghis beast in, Jake stooped low and watched Ramon go by, so close thathis stirrup whipped the bushes.

  It had never been Jake's habit to notice Mexicans. But now he noted withsurprise the change in the young man's face. The lines deeply ploweddown the nose under the cheeks, the hardening of the red, womanish lips,the vindictive black sparkle that had contracted his great dusky eyesinto burning black dots, added ten years to his age.

  "The Mex is souring in him," Jake inwardly commented. "That guinea'sliable to try an' hurt some one. Glad I came."

  Allowing Ramon to pass on, Jake then rode after, and so, progressingfrom ridge to ridge, keeping always the height of land between them, wasless than fifty yards behind when, peeping over the crest, he saw Leeand Gordon coming up the slope.

  Another bunch of chaparral afforded cover, and after tying his horse init, Jake crawled up to the ridge and looked over.

  It was not without argument that Gordon had obtained Lee's consent toaccompany her. When she found him standing with two horses at the gate,her brows rose in a troubled arch.

  He understood that she hesitated to accuse him of bad taste, and quotedBull's last orders to remove the impression. "He said that you werenever to ride alone."

  The responsibility being thus shifted, she felt able to speak. "It israther-- Really, I don't see how I can do anything else."

  "Why go at all? Why not write?"

  She shook her head. "I've known him since childhood--and have treatedhim badly. I owe him an apology and it will have to come from my ownlips."

  It was reasonable enough from her point of view, but not from his. IfRamon were an American he would have said, "Go, ahead; take yourmedicine!" Being Mexican, discretion bade him remain.

  "At least let me ride with you part of the way. I will turn before youreach El Sol."

  "Oh, that will be all right," she had conceded at once.

  He had felt certain, of course, that they would meet Ramon. But theusual witcheries, sweep of the tawny earth-waves under the bright sun,satisfying thud of hoofs on the trail, creak and smell of hot leather,had combined to blind him to all but her presence. Now, before he couldturn, Ramon reined in before them.

  Like Jake, they noticed at once the sardonic furrows, set mouth, frownabove the glittering eyes. With his youth had vanished that veneer ofrefinement which conceals natural Mexican grossness. Like veins in astratum revealed by a landslide, selfishness, conceit, violence,revenge, lay exposed. With the natural instinct of good breeding, Gordonhad half turned to withdraw. But even if one glance at the passion-tornface had not checked the impulse, it would have been killed when Leebacked toward him. Shocked and a little afraid, she gazed at Ramonbefore she spoke.

  "Are you ill? You look so--"

  "So it was true, what the senora told me yesterday!" He spoke in low,strained tones. "It was true, though I did not believe; refused tobelieve. But now I see. It is true that you used me as bait for yourfishing."

  "Ramon!" She raised her hand, but he switched suddenly from denunciationto appeal.

  "No! it is not true! It cannot be! She lied! I will not believe it eventhough you tell me yourself!"

  From this he ran on with an appeal, hysterical and disconnected, whichreflected as in a clear glass the nature of his love. In it was noappreciation of the feminine personality with its delicacies of feeling,refinements, inconsistencies, helplessness, all the illogicalities thatrender it charming, as much or more than its faith and love. In terms ofblind egotism, it expressed only his passion and jealousy, fatuousconceit. As in a clear glass, under a powerful light, he revealedhimself so that even a woman blinded by love could not have failed tosee. In the middle of it Gordon heard Lee take a long breath, and knewit for thankfulness. Yet her relief did not kill her poignant regret forthe part she had played.

  She spoke softly, pityingly, when he stopped. "Ramon, I'm sorry. It waswicked of me to draw you on. But to marry you would be far worse. Whatcan I do to make up?"

  He told, with anger and offense. She had promised to be his wife! It wasa betrothal! as binding in Mexican eyes as marriage! He had announced itto his father, mother, sister, friends! His conceit cropped out again ashe pictured himself, jilted, in their eyes. Angered by his ownimaginings, he was growing abusive when she cut him quietly off.

  "I was on my way when we met, to own and ask pardon for my fault. I hadcounted on our old friendship and your generosity to make it lessdifficult. But I see, now, my error. There is nothing left but to bidyou good-by."

  Now came the ultimate revelation, that passion of furious jealousy whichdrives the Mexican _peon_ to cut off the hands, slash the face andbreast, of his love. His eyes narrowed to shifting, insane sparks. Handraised, as though to strike, he spurred his beast forward.

  "You--you--"

  He got no further, for one hard dig of the spur shot Gordon's horse inbetween. From English to Spanish the argument had run, but from Lee'sanswers Gordon had gathered enough. Though slower, his beast was heavierthan Ramon's, and while forcing horse and rider sideways with a steadypressure he issued his orders:

  "That's about enough for you! Get!"

  Ramon's hand flew to his saddle _machete_, but he did not draw, forGordon's had gone to his gun. Leg pressed against leg, they manoeuveredtheir plunging beasts; without drawing a weapon fought the old fight ofthe brown man and the white; the struggle which began when Cortesimposed his will on the Aztec emperors; was continued by the Puritanforefathers against the American Indian; which has been fought to thesame conclusion all over the world. And from the two faces--Gordon'scold, hard-eyed, Ramon's distorted with black fury--the cause of thatinevitable ending might have been
read.

  So close they were Gordon could see the palpitation of light from theinsane waverings of the other's eyeballs steady under a doubt. He feltrather than saw the Mexican's sudden swift reach for his knife. Evenmore swiftly he snatched, and with a sudden wrench of the other's wristsent the knife flying and bore him back flat in the saddle. For a momenthe held him, then with a powerful shove his horse sent Ramon's beaststumbling sideways and broke the grip. Wheeling in a circle, Ramon facedthem again.

  So far Lee had looked on distressed. Now she spurred forward and caughtGordon's arm. "Let him go!--please!" Her anger gone now, sorrowquivering in her voice, she added, "You will, won't you, Ramon?"

  His fury, passion, wild jealousy had settled in dark calm. "Yes, I amgoing _now_. But the next time--." He wheeled and galloped off.

  Till the tip of his _sombrero_ vanished behind the ridge Lee watched himgo, distress and relief mingling in a wintry smile.

  "Don't give him too much of your pity," Gordon consoled. "Onedisappointment doesn't make much of a dent in such egotism as that.After a while he'll find some pretty senorita to take him at his ownvaluation."

  "I hope so." Her smile brightened. "Though I still feel guilty. But ifhe hadn't behaved so ridiculously I should feel much worse."

  Gordon nodded toward the ridge. "You heard his threat. Do you supposehe'll---"

  "Oh no!" Her hair flew in a cloud under her vigorous shake. "After he'shad time to cool off he'll forget and forgive. But just to think"--herglance displayed an even mixture of mischief and reproach--"just tothink that all this trouble was caused by you kissing that horrid girl!"

  "Why--" he gasped, under the sudden attack. "Well, I'll be-- Say! Whodrove me to it with her disgraceful flirting?"

  "Did it make you feel _awfully_ bad?"

  "Did it?" The thought of his miserable unhappiness was still powerfulenough to cloud his face, and she noted it with a little quiver ofsatisfaction. "Let's forget it." Snatching her hand, he worked his horsein against hers and tried to draw her to him. "There's a momentousquestion I wish to consult you about; one you refused to consideryesterday. Will you--"

  But she pulled away. "Not yet. First there's something I want settled.Was it really pique that--made you kiss her?"

  He wanted to laugh, but refrained, for under her smile he felt herearnestness. "Nothing else."

  "You're sure?"

  "Sure!"

  "Cross your heart to die?"

  He performed that solemn and ancient function, and if she stillentertained a doubt she stuffed it away down in consciousness.

  "Very well." With a little sigh of content she let her head fall back onhis shoulder and a whisper escape from her upturned lips, "Now--youmay."

  From his covert on the ridge Jake had observed the meeting, talk,struggle, Ramon's retreat, also something which was hidden from thelovers in the valley below--the fact that, after crossing the ridge,Ramon had dismounted, pulled his rifle from the saddle slings, andcrawled back on hands and knees to the edge of Jake's covert. By thattime the little tilt concerning Felicia was over, and as Lee's head wentto Gordon's shoulder Ramon raised the rifle.

  A shot at that short distance would have pierced them both, but asRamon's eye dropped to the sights a sharp order issued from the covert,"Throw up your hands! damn quick!"

  A quick, startled glance showed Ramon the lean, grim face through abreak in the chaparral. Not for nothing had the _peones_ named Jake "ThePython." In moments such as this his lean personality, deadly eye,conveyed that very impression--of a snake coiled to strike. As Ramon'shands went up, he stepped out and, crouching behind the ridge, took theother's rifle and drove him downhill to his horse.

  Having extracted the cartridge both from the rifle and from the revolverin Ramon's holster, he threw the weapon at his feet. "I reckon I orterplug you, an' I would for two cents. It'd be set down to raiders, whichfixes it very nice. Sure, I reckon I orter do it, but if you've got afew thinks to the contrary spit 'em out."

  It was no idle threat. The vicious gleam of the cold gray eye told that.But in place of fear Ramon's face showed almost relief. "Very good,senor. There is nothing you could do that would suit me better."

  The cold eye flickered. "Hell! you're too anxious. I couldn't make up mymind to do it that quick--an' there's a few things I wanter find out.For one, what's your idee in wanting to drill them young folks?"

  Ramon told--this time without the fireworks.

  Jake summed it briefly. "Promised you, then threw you down. That's hardluck. But there's one thing you Mexes can never get into your hotheads--the right of our little American queens to change their prettyminds as often as they damn please without any gent's consent. You wasdamn lucky that she ever give you a smile. If I conclude to change mymind on plugging you, have it writ up large in your family tree thatoncet an American girl let herself be engaged to you for nearly fiveminutes. Now supposing I refrain from my desire to make you into acorpse, d'you reckon you could keep a promise and not make any attempton their lives?"

  While he was talking Ramon's face had stiffened in defiance. He shookhis head. But instead of anger, a small gleam of admiration lit Jake'shard eyes. Raising his gun, he aimed full at the other's breast.

  "You have just two minutes to make up your mind."

  "One minute!"

  For a time it seemed as though he would have to shoot. But just beforethe time expired, Ramon spoke. "For myself, I do not care. But I have anold father and mother, whom my death would surely kill. I promise."

  "All right." Jake dropped the rifle in the hollow of his arm. "I allowthat I'm foolish for trusting a Mex, but the little Missy allus likedyou. On her account we'll take one chance. Here's your cartridge--onlydon't load till you're off this range. An' remember"--a cold flashemphasized the order--"after this our boundary is your dead-line. Crossit again--you'll be shot like a panther, coyote, or other varmint."

  Returning to his horse, he watched the other mount and ride away. Aglance in the opposite direction showed him Lee and Gordon, going handin hand up the opposite slope. Till they had gained across to the nextvalley he remained where he was. Then, riding in their rear, with asharp eye always behind, keeping the width of a valley between them, hefollowed home.