Subject: [Fanfic][Orig] Macho Caballo Chapter 11
From: jeeades@ix.netcom.com
Date: 9/25/1997, 11:23 PM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com

I meander along, trying to wrap up my tale of bravery,
exposure, and double entendre in the old west.  But it won't
wrap up yet.  There are a few thread left dangling.  Heck,
there's a whole skein of threads dangling. (sigh)  It will
take another chapter more than I planned (Boy, am I glad!).

Comments craved.  C&C entertained.


WHGB:  Ramon and troup had escaped from the Indians back 
to the rancho with an injured Dona Mercedes.  
We left Fray Fernando at an open door facing a porch 
full of wild Indians.


*********** LAS AVENTURAS DE MACHO CABALLO ************




                      MACHO CABALLO

                  PART I:  CHAPTER ONCE
                            
                     THE SHELL GAME
                            

VISITORS IN THE NIGHT:

Garrote.  Drowning.  Snakebite.  Trampled by cattle.
Burned at the stake during the Inquisition, two
centuries before.  Choking on a bite of fish.  Falling
from a great height.  Fray Fernando considered all of
the ways that he could have died, as he gazed wide-eyed
at the four Indians before him.  Now it was too late.

Now, a powerful warrior stood before him, with blazing
eyes and a streak of blue paint down his nose.  The
man's companions were ... a boy, an elderly man, and an
even more ancient woman.  Fray Fernando released his
breath.  Perhaps there was some explanation for this.

The elderly man in shaggy animal skins was saying
something to him, something he could not understand.
When he did not answer, the man pushed past him into the
darkness of the hallway.

"Where is the woman?" asked the warrior with the blue
nose.

"Andalejo!" cried Ramon, from behind Fray Fernando.

"<Hola>!" cried the boy as he ran around the older
people to greet his companion.  The bluenosed warrior
exhaled a sigh of long-suffering patience.

"I thought you guys had gone off and left us!" said
Ramon.

"We felt something watching us - that is, they felt
something watching us - so we went off to try to catch
it and..."  Andalejo saw his father's expression and
stopped abruptly.

"Show us the woman," repeated Bluenose.  "The old woman
with the wound."

"Dona de Muerte?" said Ramon, "I can take you to her,
but why?"

Bluenose introduced his companions, "Mud Wallow and the
crazy old woman who follows him.  They will look at the
Dona."

"Oh, no, you don't!" cried Fray Fernando, blocking their
way, "You may kill me, but you are not getting through
to the Dona!"

"They are friends!" said Ramon.

"They are Apache!" hissed the friar.

"What is going on, here?" rumbled Don Pedro from his
wheelchair.  Mari‚ was struggling to fasten his shirt in
place.

Ramon hesitated, then said, "Don Pedro, this is the man
who struck Dona de Muerte.  He wishes to help."
Bluenose stood ramrod still as the don rumbled up to him
in the wheelchair.

"Is this true?" he demanded.

Bluenose stared at the friar.  "Let them pass," he said
softly.

"Is this true?" Don Pedro said, more loudly.

Bluenose slowly faced him.  "Things happen," he said.

Don Pedro's knuckles were white on the armrests of the
chair.  "Why are you here?" he asked.  Behind him, doors
opened and armed vaqueros eased into the room.  He
released his grip and with his right hand motioned them
to hold back.

"Let them pass," repeated Bluenose, "They have the
knowledge of medicine."

Don Pedro regarded the shabby old man and the woman who
hovered near him.  He nodded his head.

"I will not permit it!" cried Fray Fernando, "This is
against all known civilized laws!"

"Let them go," said Don Pedro, with a weary voice, "She
is dying, anyway."

"I didn't say she was..." the friar gulped and subsided,
but he did not get out of the way.  He stood stiffly and
the shabby pair had to squeeze past him into the sick
room.

Mud Wallow gently pressed Estrella out of the way, to
closely examine Dona Mercedes's scalp.  The Dona was
pale and her skin was cold and damp.  From his pouch the
Apache medicine man  produced a hoop with feathers and
beads, and waved it over the bed.  As he swayed, he
crooned a tuneless song.  At last, he stood upright and
made a pronouncement.

"She is not ready to depart," interpreted Andalejo.  He
looked at his father for permission to continue, then
added, "But she is being pushed out.  We must make her
feel welcome so she will stay."

The friar snorted in derision.

Mud Wallow and his woman conferred, and the woman made
her own statement.

"She needs a medicine plant," Andalejo said, "It can be
found only in marshy ground near the head of a spring.
I know the plant, so I must go to look for it."

"I forbid it!" cried the friar, turning to Don Pedro,
"You are allowing this superstitious mumbo jumbo to go
on in your own house?"

"My own house," agreed Don Pedro, and seeing the
stricken look in the friar's eyes, he added, "My own
wife."




THE QUEST FOR THE PERFECT SCALLION:

"My father is a very powerful ghosthunter," said
Andalejo. He was running alongside the bay, effortlessly
keeping up with the horse.  "He says one day he went
hunting and came across a place that was being spoiled
by a bad spirit.  He did not know this and had a bad
hunt - when he killed a deer, the meat was too bad to
eat... it rained and he almost drowned.  So he asked the
spirits of the desert for a skill... he wanted to be
able to tell when a bad spirit was around.  They gave it
to him, and he has never had trouble with bad spirits
since.  When he feels a bad spirit, he tells everybody,
and they hunt somewhere else.  He says there is a bad
spirit here in this end of the valley."

"The spring is not far from here," said Ramon.  "Is that
all there was to it?  He just asked for the skill, and
he got it?"

"No.  Oh, he says that sometimes that is all you have to
do.  But sometimes, when you ask for something, you must
pay for it.  You may have to get the spirits a gift, or
go on a journey.  My father says his stomach trembles,
when there is a bad spirit around.  That is how he pays.
He has to be careful what he eats before he hunts."

"I wish that was all *I* had to do."

The stream they were following disappeared into a clump
of undergrowth and thorns at the base of a hill.  "There
is where the stream begins," said Ramon, "We must climb
the rocks to get to the spring."

The horse snorted nervously as they left him tied to a
willow.

They climbed.  In a depression partway up the hill grew
a profusion of reeds, wild scallions, and moss.  Here
the Apache lad thrust aside the plants and felt about in
the mud.  "I have learned something about herbs and
roots because everyone thinks my father should be a
medicine man. He would rather be a warrior and hunt, but
someday he may decide to stay home.  The old women at my
village try to teach me about medicine, because they say
I have the ability."

"Hmmpphh," snorted Ramon, "Is your name 'Walks Far', or
'Talks a Lot'?"

Andalejo smiled ruefully, his hands grimy with mud.  He
retrieved several scraggly roots and washed them
carefully.

"I am thinking I should..."  He looked about intently,
shading his eyes from the heat of the sun, and carefully
stored the roots in his pouch before he continued, "...
not talk so much.  We should go."

"What's the matter?"

"There is something out there."

Ramon searched the scattered trees and undergrowth for
signs of life, but he saw nothing.  "Yeah, maybe so," he
said.  "I see a clear path down, across the stream."  He
stepped into the cold water, wetting his boots, and
started up the other side of the bank.  His feet slipped
on the mossy surface and he splashed on his belly into a
shallow pool of sunwarmed water.

"Oh, no," Machita moaned.

"I wish you would not *do* that," said Andalejo.  He
backed away from Machita and went around her.

"No problem," said Machita, "I'll just splash with cold
water, and..."

Across the stream there had appeared a man. Machita
recalled Estrellita's description of the man in a bird
mask, and added her own interpretation.  It was a
warrior, a grim-faced killer, and there was no sympathy
in the cold black eyes.

"I think we'd better get outta here," she said.  The
warrior started toward her.  "And fast!" she added.

The bay was snorting and pulling at the reins tied to
the willow.  He had already snatched the knot halfway up
the bough and drawn it so tight that it would take
minutes to get it free.  Andalejo drew a flint knife,
severed the reins, and replaced the knife in the
scabbard as they both climbed aboard.  The bay did not
wait for command or instruction - he spun about and was
at a gallop before his two riders could get settled into
the saddle.

"Ow! Watch where you're grabbing!" cried Machita.

"This isn't right!" cried the Apache, "Let me in front!"

"Not now!  We're being chased, remember?"

"There's no one there, now!  We've lost him!"

The bay settled the dispute by dumping them both into
the stream.  Ramon stood up in the cold water and
glowered at the horse.

"You are no bolt of lightning," he said, "I am beginning
to think I ought to call you Coyote."

The bay innocently minced up to Ramon and shoved him in
the chest.

"Okay, okay," said Ramon as he rubbed the horse's nose,
"But one more trick like that and I *will* name you
Coyote."

>From flat on his bottom in the streambed, Andalejo
laughed.



TO THE POINT:

"We should have gone to get her before now," said Ramon.
Sandy nodded but remained silent as he and Francisco
guided their horses over the trail to the Azuma village,
following Ramon.

Red Cloud met them where the ground leveled before the
first lodge.  "The Dona is well?" she asked.  Seeing
Ramon's smile, she grinned.  "That is good," she said,
"Your sister is anxious to go home."

"I don't know what to tell her about Mama," said Ramon,
"But Don Pedro has begged me to let her stay at the
rancho while we try to get Mama back.  We think she is
being held at the old abandoned copper mine across the
river."

"Our hunters do not go there," Red Cloud said, "They say
something has killed off all the game.  There are not
even any rabbits left."

"When we go after her, there will be too many of us for
a wild animal to attack."

"Perhaps.  Your sister is not safe in the village. The
soldados have searched here," said Red Cloud, "Twice. The
sergeant is suspicious, he has tried to catch us by
surprise."

"Then it is better we hide her back at the rancho," said
Francisco, "There are many places where she would not be
found."

Lucita approached them tentatively, holding a cornshuck
doll.  "I want Machita," she said.

Ramon rebelled.  "We don't have time for this!" he
declared.

"Here now, chico!" said Francisco, "You cannot be
selfish. After all, Lucita is your sister."

"Why can't we talk about what *I* want?" asked Ramon
hotly, "Every time I turn around, *wham*!  I have to be
a girl! Besides, I don't want everyone in the world to
know about my curse!"

"You can change in my lodge," offered Red Cloud, "...
and I could loan you a dress."

"Thanks," said Ramon sourly, knowing he was outnumbered.
Later, in a dress that was too long for her, Machita
watched several little girls scampering about the field.
"I thought she was ready to go," she said.

"She wants to say goodbye to everyone," explained Red
Cloud's mother.

"Come on along," said Red Cloud, "I have to practice."
Sandy and Machita followed her out of the village to an
open field, where straw targets had been erected.  Red
Cloud strung her bow and chose an arrow, examining it
for trueness.

"I brought an extra bow," she said.  Machita frowned,
and Sandy declined.  Red Cloud smiled mischievously and
added, "I also brought an atlatl."

Machita grimaced darkly.  "I do not want it," she said.

"Mind if I try?" asked Sandy.

"It's a girl's weapon," said Machita.

"Oh?  Saw plenty of men using them, up in Arkansaw
Territory," said Sandy.  "Give's you better range than a
javelin.  Who says only girls can use it?"

"She did," Machita indicated Red Cloud.

Sandy looked doubtfully at the Indian girl, and said,
"And you believed her?"

Red Cloud grinned impishly and released the arrow, which
sped to its mark in the center of a straw bundle.

"Hit that target," said Red Cloud.

"Bet I could," said Sandy.

"You probably could," agreed Red Cloud, "But *she*
can't."

"I don't *want* to," insisted Machita.

"Can't," insisted Red Cloud.

"It's kinda far away," said Sandy, "Maybe you should
move it closer."

"Are you saying that I'm weak, or something?" Machita
snapped.

"No, only that it's awfully far.  And you have never
practiced, so you can't count on getting anywhere near
it."

"Give me that thing!" demanded Machita.  She grabbed the
handle, slapped a short spear into the nock, whirled and
swung and released the spear overhead in one smart fluid
motion.  The spear whistled through the air to smack
into the target a finger's width from the arrow.

The three youths stood regarding the target.

"That was an accident," suggested Sandy.

Red Cloud closed her mouth, then opened it again.  "I
don't think so," she said, "Let's see it once more."
She handed Machita another spear.  The second spear
slammed into the target close beside the first.  So did
a third.

Machita grinned.  "That felt *good*!" she said.

"How'd you learn that?" Sandy wondered.

"Some things you are just naturally good at," Machita
said smugly.

"Like running?" Red Cloud asked with a raised eyebrow.

Machita glowered, "At least there is *one* thing I can
do," she said.

After a final visit to the doll-maker, Lucita was ready
to go.  She rode on the saddle in front of Machita on
the way back to the rancho, clutching a little warrior
doll and chattering about the hundreds of things she
found to delight in along the trail.

Wearing the dress made Machita uncomfortable, for the
long skirt made it difficult to sit the saddle without
her bare legs showing.  When she pulled the skirt up
enough to allow her feet to reach the stirrups, Sandy
made a high keening sound and pointedly looked the other
way.

He was heard to mutter, "I will not look... I will not
look... She is a *guy*!"

Then Lucita plumped onto the saddle before her and the
hem of the dress rode higher, exposing bare thighs, and
Sandy cried, "A...a.a..a.!", heeled his horse and surged
ahead of the rest.

When they caught up with him later, he had beaten a dead
stump with a fallen tree limb until there was nothing
but splinters.  Machita tried to hide her knees, her
face hot with shame.  "When we get back, I'm staying
away from hot water forever!" she declared.

Lucita finally grew quiet and leaned against her.  "Will
you be with us forever and ever?" she asked.  Machita
swallowed at the lump which appeared in her throat.

"I don't know," she admitted.

"I like you for my big sister," Lucita smiled tiredly.
She rode quietly for a while, then turned again to look
up at Machita.  "When will we go to my home?" she asked.

"When we get Mama back," said Machita.

Lucita's eyes grew round and teary, "I want my Mama,"
she said.  It was a moment that Machita had been
dreading, but the little girl restrained her tears.  "I
miss my Daddy, but I want my Mama."

Machita hugged her.  "I hope we find her, too," she
said.



A TOUGH OLD BIRD:

The old woman's remedy worked, and the swelling went
down.  Shortly Estrellita announced that Dona Mercedes
was asking for company.  Ramon pushed Don Pedro into the
room.

The Dona's voice was weak but steady as she surveyed her
visitors. "Chico," she said, "your eyes are as big as a
bullfrog's.  What are you staring at?"

"Dona - I am so sorry..." Ramon began, but the bedridden
lady shushed him and addressed her husband.

"You told him, didn't you?" she whispered.

"I had to, my angel of mercy.  He was tearing his heart
out, blaming himself for your injury."

"You old fool.  You have a mouth as big as your heart.
Now he will feel sorry for me and I will have lost a
young friend."

"Oh, no!  I will remain your friend, Dona!  Only... only
now, I have a great respect for you, what a harsh life
you have endured..."

"See what I mean, my husband?  Weeping over imaginary
tribulations," she settled into the pillow and pulled
the comforter against her neck.  "My life has been full
and long, not harsh.  Now let me rest.  And get rid of
that long face, Machito.  You make me want to scream."

"Yes, Dona," said Ramon, and it was a little easier to
smile this time.

The Western sky was purple and red, as he ventured out
onto the porch.  An evening breeze carried away the
lingering warmth as the sun faded, and cicadas began
whirring in the sycamores.  It was quiet.  Too quiet.

At the stables, Ramon found Sandy and Andalejo,
regarding each other warily.  "What's wrong?" he asked.

"<They took off>," said Sandy, "<Just told us to stay
home and play with the kids and took off, like we were
babies er somethin'>!"

"Who?"  Ramon did not have to ask.  He knew that
Francisco and Pablo had saddled up and gone with the
Yanquis cowboys to rescue Mama.  "That was why Don Pedro
wanted me to push him in to see the Dona, to keep me
busy!"

Andalejo joined the discussion.  "My father has never
made me stay out of a fight," he declared, "But now he
says I am too young!"

"We should go after them," said Ramon, "They won't make
us go back if we catch them!"

"Maybe not you," said Sandy, "But Calpern meant business
when he told me not to go.  Besides, we don't know
exactly where they went."  he hung his head as he
started for the great house, "I hope they don't get
theirselves killed cause I wasn't there to help."

"They will not be hurt," stated Andalejo.

"Huh?  How do you know?" asked Ramon.

"My father's belly was not hurting.  That means that
there are no bad spirits waiting for him.  And Counts
His Ponies was worrying about his horse stumbling in the
dark."

"Yeah?  What is *that* supposed to mean?"

"When Counts His Ponies is ready to go into battle, we
know it is time to go home," said Andalejo, "If he is
worried,  everything is all right."

"Someone's at the house," said Ramon, "Hey, Gordito!
<Que tal, hombre>?"

"Ramon!  Hey, amigo!  Got a message for you!  Senor
Algrupa told me to deliver it to you after sunset."

"You running messages for Don Algrupa?  That is almost
the same as working for Sinestro!"

"Hey, it's dinero, man!"



Bertran Sinestro pocketed the key and entered the room.
Beyond the foyer was a door to the balcony, but it was
locked and the only other windows had cast iron bars
over them.  He walked to the walnut cabinet and poured
himself a snifter of fine brandy, inhaling the bouquet
before taking a tiny sip.  The occupant of the room
watched him quietly, remaining seated on the ottoman.

"We really should have gotten together and chatted about
old times, Dolores," Bertran said, "It seems we do have
a lot in common, from the old days."

"I have had nothing but misery from you," declared
Dolores.

"But you have my utmost respect!  Such a gallant lady,
to face your bitterest enemy without a qualm, to stare
him down, and to denounce him publicly.  My lady, I
salute you!"

"And for my bravery, you executed my husband," said
Dolores.

"Oh, I tried warn him, but he remained and got caught!  
Then I tried to stop the execution!  You do not know how
deeply I was hurt when my stay failed to reach the
soldiers in time.  It was a terrible tragedy!"

"You knew there was no stopping them, once they had been
given a taste of blood.  You wanted them to find him."

"Well, it is gone, now, those days.  It was the
revolution.  See what happiness it has brought us?"

"I see what it has cost me."

"Oh, yes.  You had a child.  What ever became of it?"

Dolores turned from him and went to the barred window,
watching the red and purple of the sunset.

Sinestro said, "It does not matter, now.  Come, you must
go with me to conclude a transaction."

"Where?"

"Why, your son is buying your freedom, of course.
Aren't you happy?"

Mama fixed him with a gaze of such contempt that a
normal man would have blanched.  Sinestro smiled and
finished the brandy before leading her to the door.



At the rancho, Don Pedro demanded to see the message.
"Why would he change his mind?" he wanted to know, "They
were supposed to meet at the mine!"

"I only carry the message, I am not responsible for it!"
said Gordo, "What is going on?"

"Sinestro is holding Mama hostage," said Ramon, "and he
wants us to give him Lucita in exchange."

"He wants a little kid?"  Gordo goggled, "That's low,
man!"

"He sent all the grown men off to the abandoned copper
mine, then he tells us to meet him at the puebla on the
cliff," said Ramon, "He knew our guys would try to jump
him!"

"So, what do we do?" said Sandy.  He had drawn his belt
knife and was honing it on a smooth white stone.

"We go after Mama," Ramon coiled his riata.

"Hey, I'm going too!" cried Gordo.

Andalejo said nothing, but walked into the garden.  He
had heard a noise, and knowing it to be his father's
signal, he went to investigate.  Beyond the fencerow, he
found huddled shadows.  "Father?" he asked softly, "Did
you not go with them?"

"The leader of the Mexicans, the man named Francisco,
said there was no need for us to go," said Bluenose, "I
am made to believe that he is correct.  Selnick could
see no enemy at the mine where they were going.  I have
told them this."

"Father, I will go with the one called Machito.  He is
seeking the man who holds his mother.  I believe it is a
good thing to do."

"Good.  You go with him,"  In the dying sunlight,
Andalejo could see him gazing longingly at the
undefended houses and sheds.  Bluenose mused, "There are
many horses, here."

"There are women here," Selnick reminded him.

"Don't forget the hounds," mourned Counts His Ponies.

Andalejo returned to the great house with a doubtful
glance at his father and friends.



James and the Bluejay
   jeeades@ix.netcom.com
   http://www2.netcom.com/~jeeades/bluejay.htm