19
Francisco Gómez
March, 1949
Sheriff Salvatore “Sally” Ortiz and I pulled up to a house of a man I desperately did not want to see me. I’d aged all of a few years since he’d seen me last. Besides, he thought I’d been dead since 1881. In short, this was not going to go well.
Sally turned his car off. “Now, he’s old, so you might have to speak up a bit for him to hear you, and sometimes he rambles...but what do you expect, he’s in his early nineties.”
“And he’s from Lincoln, you say?”
“Yeah, family stayed outta the war, but he knew Billy the Kid, the McSweens, and the rest of them. Come on, he’s a character.” Sally opened his door. “I’ll warn you though, he doesn’t speak a lick of English...but he understands it pretty well.”
I stepped out of the car and shut the door. “I speak fluent Spanish. Have since I was in my teens. I’ll be okay.”
Sally shut his door. “All right then.”
We both headed up to the house, and I had visions of shooting a man in his nineties, knocking out the sheriff, and hauling ass out of town. All of which would be a bad idea, but if this man recognized me, it would jeopardize more than just this mission.
Sally knocked, and an older woman came to the door. She was likely in her early sixties and spry for her age. Her smile lit up her face, and her blue eyes reminded me of someone I couldn’t place.
“Sally, what are you doin’? Shouldn’t you be keepin’ the county safe and all?”
He grinned. “Bess, I didn’t know you’d be here. You visitin’ with the group? Did Carrie come with you?”
Bess’s eyes flitted to me for a moment but returned to the sheriff. “No, she’s not here today. Too much goin’ on with that brood of hers.” Bess looked toward me to explain. “My sister has seven kids not countin’ spouses and grandchildren, so you can imagine.”
“That I can, ma’am,” I said, taking my hat off.
“Me, however, I couldn’t pass up on comin’ by to see Francisco. You know how much I love his stories.”
“That I do. And that’s why we are here. To speak to him. Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve not introduced you. Bess, this is Agent William Kidwell of the FBI. He’s my guest at the moment, here lookin’ for a fellow agent of his that went missin’ a month or so back. He’s gonna have to head down to Las Cruces to deal with law there, and I thought—”
“Blimey, that’s not where I’d want to be goin’, but if I was a handsome young man like you, I think I’d fare better than a woman at my age.”
“Oh, don’t you start with that age talk, Bessie,” Sally started to tell her.
“¿Quien esta en la puerta?” A man shouted a bit too loud for how far he was from us, asking who was at the door.
“And there he is, the wanted man,” she whispered to us. Raising her voice, she shouted, “It’s Sheriff Ortiz and the FBI here to see you, Francisco. What did you do this time?” Her tone was playful, and the old man who came around the corner using a cane for balance chuckled lightly, his head down.
“¿A mi edad, qué podría haber hecho?” he said.
“I’m sure you could still get in trouble at your age, you silly old man,” Bessie said, laying a hand on the man’s shoulder as he came to stand next to her.
Raising his head to look out the screen door, his smile at Sally turned to frozen terror when he saw me, and I knew this visit was a grave mistake.
March, 1878
Everything was dark for a moment. No sound, no smell, no nothing. I didn’t even breathe. Then I felt the vertebrae heal, and everything returned. With some difficulty, I stood, found my balance, and glared at her. She sipped a new glass of whiskey, looking as perfectly put-together as before I’d died.
“Sit,” was all she said, and I complied. “Now, where were we? Oh yes, my monsters are expendable, and I see this all as a great game. It is true. You see, Henry, I need a challenge. I’m bored, so I wormed my way into the hearts of a few men, and I’ve started a war. I find it all very excitin’.”
She drank again, and I fought everything in me that wanted to pull my silver six-shooter and blow a hole in her head. Instead, I pretended I was Dick. What would Brewer do? He’d let her talk herself into a corner. Hoping for that, I sat there, just breathing.
“What? You don’t even want to know which men?”
“Murphy? Catron? Dolan? Dudley?” I offered.
“Dolan? Please, he’s an angry, drunk Irishman with a serious temper and God complex...he is a fun pawn to set on his course, but no. Murphy? Maybe. Carton? Kinney? Definitely. Rynerson? Very much so.”
“The Santa Fe Ring...that’s your construct,” I said, realization hitting me.
“Do give the young man a free beer! He is correct!” She laughed, head thrown back, and for a moment, I saw the demon under the skin of the woman I’d loved like a mother. “You don’t think men thought up that on their own, do you? I can look like and be whoever I want. I can wriggle into men’s dreams and make them believe they’ve come up with the most marvelous plan...”
She drank again and glanced at me. “Oh, Henry, your rage is so heavy upon you that it’s almost a tangible thing. Shoot me if you wish, but you’ll kill this body, and I’ll find another host. Just think of all I could do if they were a willing one. Mary, well, let’s just say she’s been difficult.”
“Serves you right. Where does her family think she is?”
“Visiting family. Oh, I’ve not been in here all these years. Only long enough to curse you, as you put it, train you, and then once you ran from Silver City, I moved on as well. I only returned to borrow her for this event. I just wanted to see your face. Besides, the devil you know makes this so much more...fun.” A cackle escaped her before she drank more.
“Why not take the face of my mother?”
“I can only be physically present with a breathing human being, but I can exist outside of one and cause harm. However, not with my own two hands, and I do like to get my hands dirty.” She downed the rest of her whiskey. “But you can’t kill me, Henry. So...what will you do? Wait! don’t tell me, I love not knowin’!” She stood and leaned into my face. “We are gonna have such fun, you and I.”
She exited out the back of the bar, and I sat there stunned. Can’t kill her? I highly doubted that was true. Everything could die, even me, so there had to be something I could do to hurt her. But first, I needed her out of Mary’s body. To do that, I need to see a witch. Exiting the bar, I jumped onto Colonel’s back and hurried to meet up with Dick at the Salazar place, only to find him dozing under a tree.
“Glad to see you’re so concerned about my life,” I said. “Is Mattie good to go? We have a long ride ahead of us.”
Dick yawned. “Glad to see she didn’t kill you...and San Pat isn’t that far of a ride.”
“She killed me once, but we’ll talk about that later. We need to send a note to the boys in San Pat that we’ll see them in a few days. We need to go see a witch first...it’s time you met Zahara.”
March, 1949
Bessie steadied the old man when he wavered. “Francisco, are you all right?”
He swallowed and nodded, backing away from the door with his wide eyes still on me. Quietly, he muttered words the rest couldn’t hear, but I did. “El diablo ha venido por mi.”
“I can assure you, Mr....?” I said.
“Gómez,” Bessie told me.
I felt my stomach drop to my toes. This man did know me, and I knew him. He’d only been in his early twenties when we’d been acquainted. He’d helped George Peppin build the McSween house. I’d even gone on a hunt for some outlaws with him once.
Everything now depended on how I handled this and what he did with it.
“I can assure you, Mr. Gómez, I’m not here to hurt you or your family.” I pulled my badge and credentials, showing them to Bessie and Francisco. “I’m just here for some help findin’ a friend and fellow agent.”
Francisco stopped b
acking up, but his gaze bore into me, and I saw he truly had all his faculties. “¿Está aquí para matarme?”
Bessie guffawed. “Francisco, why would the FBI be here to kill you? Now stop that.” She looked at me. “I’m so sorry, Agent Kidwell. He’s not usually like this.” She opened the door. “Sally, do come in. Let me get him settled back down and see if he is of a state of mind to talk to you both.”
“Of course,” Sally said, and entered the house.
I followed him and quietly shut the door behind me.
“They’ll be in the kitchen at the table if they are playing cribbage,” Sally explained.
I only nodded and followed along. When we entered the kitchen, Bessie was giving Francisco a glass of water.
“Creo que necesito algo mas fuerte,” he said.
Another woman walked out from a back room and said, “No, you don’t need somethin’ stronger to drink, Francisco. It’s just the FBI, and you’ve done nothin’ wrong.” She looked to me. “He’s not done anythin’ wrong, right?”
I laughed. “I’m not here for anythin’ he’s done, though, I do have some questions for him if he’s able.”
This wasn’t a lie. The last time I’d seen Francisco, he’d been in his early twenties lyin’ on the stand to discredit Susan McSween. In truth, I just wanted to know why he’d done that. But more importantly, I needed to hear what he knew about the hold the Santa Fe Ring had on the sheriff of Doña Ana County.
“Quiero hablar con el solo,” he said.
Sally appeared perplexed. “You’re not goin’ to say anythin’ I don’t already know, Francisco. You’re not puttin’ me in any danger.”
“Quiero hablar con el solo,” he said again.
“Well then, let’s leave ‘em alone,” Bessie said, setting a glass of water on the table for me. “If you need anythin’ else, please let us know. We’ll just be in the livin’ room listenin’ to The Guiding Light...it’s about be on the radio. I’m sure it’ll drive Sally crazy.” She winked at me and turned her attention to Francisco. “You behave.”
He waved her off, and I sat down. Unsure if I should just be honest or if I should lie, I drank some water and let him take the lead.
“Billy,” was all he said, and I knew.
“Not here I’m not. It’s important you say nothin’ to them.”
“I heard rumor,” he said, struggling for the English. “You survive. You immortal. Evil. The devil owns you.”
“She’s not the devil, per se. But yes, until I earn my soul back, I hunt her and the monsters she makes. I did that in 1878, and I’m here to do it again. Will you help me?”
He paused, and I could tell he wasn’t sure what was best.
“If not for me, for Susan. You lied for the Murphes, Francisco. You let Dudley walk away clean. I don’t know why you did that, and that’s between you and God. But I need the truth of what you know.”
He looked out the window above the kitchen sink. “I probate judge for Lincoln. Four years. Did you know?”
“I did not.”
Tears filled the old man’s eyes, but he wouldn’t look at me. “Took dinero, I did. Lied. Every day I try. Earn absolución. But here you are...” His eyes found mine, and the tears fell.
My heart broke for him, and I reached out and took his hand. “I’m not here to avenge Susan for your lies. I’m not goin’ to harm you. I need your help. Can you to fill me in on the Santa Fe Ring’s hold on Las Cruces before that radio show is over?”
He nodded.
“And you can do so in Spanish, remember?” I tapped my chest with my free hand. “Lo hablo con fluidez.”
A hint of a smile touched his face, and he laid his other hand on top of mine. “Yes. I remember.”
“And most importantly...I ridded this land of the wolves that took men’s souls before, but if they are back, I must know.”
Francisco’s hand trembled. “The wolf inside has returned.”
I laid my second hand on top of his until it steadied. “Tell me everything you know.”
March, 1878
The sounds of evening filled the orchard with the song of Mother Nature as Colonel trotted in happy anticipation of apples and peppermints. He must’ve conveyed as much to Mattie, for she, too, appeared eager.
“She spoils you. No wonder you like it here,” I said.
Colonel whinnied, shaking his mane, and I couldn’t help but laugh as he picked up the pace, no longer in need of being led through the magical group of trees to that spot on the side of the mountain. Approaching the secret entrance, the vines peeled back gracefully, opening without me needing to shout for her.
“It appears someone already knows we’re here,” I said.
“You sure I’m welcome to enter?” Dick asked.
“If you weren’t, she’d have shown up out here instead of opening the pathway for us. This is her orchard; she knows who comes in and out of here the minute they step in.”
“Uh huh...”
“Trust me,” I said.
Dick only raised an eyebrow. “Nothin’ good happens when you say that.”
“Not true.”
“Want me to give examples?”
“No...just be quiet and follow me.”
Entering the enchanted garden of light, the vines quickly closed us in behind Mattie, causing her to swish her tail in agitation.
“Are those bahvah-lamp stones linin’ the path?”
“She is a witch,” I explained.
Unable to keep Colonel from moving swiftly through the forest of light, I whooped with enjoyment as we galloped along the path to the opening of her inner realm. There she stood, arms crossed, and a skeptical look on her face.
“I didn’t think you’d bring him so soon.”
“I needed to see you, and I thought you two should meet since you—”
“Saved his soul,” she said. “Richard Brewer, I presume.”
When Dick didn’t reply, I turned to see him in wolf form sitting there next to Mattie, his clothes tattered on the ground next to him. His blue eyes narrowed with agitation at something.
“Uh, why did you shift?” I muttered to him, and he huffed in recognizable indignation.
“The same reason you appear different when you step into the clearing,” she replied before walking away toward the fire.
I took a step and felt the weight of the leather and chainmail. “Damn it.” I began to peel the armor off, saying, “You said this was the inner me...a warrior.”
“Yes, and Richard has a wolf within him. Hence, he will be in wolf form when he’s in here.”
“I see Gaax got the news to you that I saved his soul.”
“If you’d not, he’d have died upon entrance.”
Dick huffed air out his nose, and if looks could kill, I’d be dead.
“I didn’t know that, and you’re fine, so stop lookin’ at me that way.”
With one more huff, Dick stood, sniffed the air, and padded on over to Zahara, who was holding something out toward him. Colonel, thinking this was an invite, also trotted over, Mattie right behind him.
Zahara laid a plate with something on it between herself and Brewer. He sniffed it, and then lay to eat it as Colonel nuzzled her hair. She laughed. “All right, all right, here you go...you and your lady.” She stood and directed them to some hay and gave them each an apple before coming back to the fire.
By now, I’d put the armor aside and headed toward the fire in time for Dick to finish eating whatever it was she’d given him and lay down in a happy stupor.
“I need your help,” I told her.
“That’s what I like about you, Henry. You always get to the point. Well, that and you bring me such interesting visitors.” She reached out and pet Dick’s face, scratching his ears as he closed his eyes in happiness. She looked up at me. “Tell me about her.”
“Her who?”
“Scáthach. You reek of her.”
“She has a scent?”
“Evil always has a smell t
o me. Especially old evil like hers. I’ll make you tea. It’ll cleanse you so you can be free of the taint she leaves in her wake. Then we can speak of your needs. Meanwhile, talk to me about this pattern on Richard’s fur.”
I knew not to argue with her, so I set my impatience on the back burner. We had tea as I spoke of how I’d saved Dick’s soul.
“My idea worked. By binding his soul to you instead of her he stayed himself.”
“Wait, what? That was your plan? Cause, he’s not bound to me. He has control of his own choices. I just sorta claimed him, I guess.”
“Then his soul is under your protection and care then. Fascinating. You, Mr. Brewer, are one of a kind. I hope you realize what he’s done for you. Only someone who truly loved you could have pulled this off.”
Hearing this, both Brewer and I backed away from one another as I sputtered something about not being in love with the son of a bitch.
Zahara laughed heartily. “Not that kind of love, you idiot. The love that ties true friends to one another. That, in my opinion, is more precious than the ‘in love’ variety. It also lasts longer...can stand the test of time and trials of fire.” She put her hand out to Brewer again, and he came to lay beside her, his head on her lap. “You are a beautiful wolf. I look forward to seeing your human form.”
I finished my tea and set the empty cup by the fire. “Am I clean enough yet?”
She leaned down toward Brewer. “I should make him bathe just to be mean, but I have a feeling you two do not have long to spend with me this time around.” Dick chuffed, and she gazed up at me. “Tell me what happened.”
20
Zahara
So...knowing all that, how do I get Scáthach out of Mary’s body?” I asked.
Zahara laughed. “Most men want to know how to get a woman out of her clothes...you want her out of the whole body?”
The Curse of Billy the Kid: Untold Legends Volume One Page 22