Chase The Wind

by Janelle Taylor

  The two agents shook hands and exchanged broad smiles. “Glad to see you, old friend. Looks like we both made good time.”

  “I kept a check at the telegraph office in Nogales. After the clerk handed me your message and I saw it was in code, I told him, ‘Is cain’t read, boss. Wills you tells me whut it says?’ in my best southern drawl.”

  “You’re good at hiding your wits and identity behind that clever ruse.”

  “Yowsiree, boss, sir.” Zack chuckled. “Where’s your partner?”

  Navarro sat in a chair and motioned for his friend to use the bed as one for himself. “Hiding in the hills close to our target.”

  Zack’s brown gaze widened. “You left her alone back there?”

  Navarro grinned, doffed his hat, and dropped it to the floor. “She’ll be fine. Dan didn’t paint her large enough. She’s as skilled and as smart as we are. Been more than a pleasant surprise to me. If anybody can take care of herself and trouble, it’s Beth Breed.”

  Zack caught the last name his close friend used for his partner. “Must be high caliber for you to leave her behind. Learned anything new?”

  “Just that they’re heading for the Gila Mountains soon and, for some reason I haven’t figured out, they’re camping for a while about thirty miles back. What about you and Dan? Any answers to my questions?”

  Zack propped his shoulder against the headboard. “Geronimo’s riding like the wind and being about as easy to spot and catch as a northern gust. He’s been raiding from Tucson to a few miles over the border since he escaped Crook in March. Killed two men outside Nogales last month. Ambushed a unit of soldiers, killed some, stole horses and supplies, and got away without a scratch on ‘im or his band. He did some attacking on ranches, even killed some kids, reports said. ‘Course we both know they can’t always be trusted to be fact, not with folks so riled up against ‘em. Might not have been Geronimo’s band; got other renegades on the loose.”

  The black man frowned before continuing his revelations. “General Miles is hot to get him. Army’s got springs and passes under guard trying to snare him, but that fox avoids them like a ‘dillo does the sun. Suspicion is Geronimo saw heliograph signals jumping mountain-tomountain from Arizona to Sonora, got spooked by those flashes, and took off out of their message range. You know Indians, Navarro, they’re real superstitious about what they think is magic. Doesn’t help any the newspapers are terrifying and stirring up folks; according to them, Geronimo is everywhere at once, making raids that’d require a band a hundred times the size of his and claiming he’s done all kinds of tortures and murders. When he’s finally trapped, he’s in for big trouble. Wouldn’t surprise me if he isn’t strung up on the site. Better not happen if they don’t want more renegade trouble.”

  “You’re right, Zack. If they hang him, tempers will flame, the reservation will empty, and blood will flow fast from both sides. He’s a beloved legend. If the Army really wants peace, the government should make the Apaches a fair offer. Geronimo’s smart; he’d accept. I wonder who his secret rival is.”

  “We don’t know. Dan’s going over the San Carlos list. Could be he was never captured or gave a fake name or was on another reservation.”

  “We’ll know soon. What about that man named Ben?”

  “He’s about as hard to unravel as that Indian mystery. There’s a Benjamin Murphy about fifty years of age who owns a copper mine near Morenci. Report said he isn’t a likely suspect. Good reputation and seems to be a nice man. Well liked and respected by the locals. What some call a true southern gentleman. There’s a Bennett Smith about the same age who owns a silver mine not too far away and lives in Morenci. Said to be cold, hard, greedy, and despises Indians. Miners hate him but he pays good so they endure him. Last, you got Benson Jeevers, fortyish. Owns a lotta businesses. Rich, arrogant, greedy, and hates Indians. All answer to the name Ben.”

  “Shu, three rich Bens in the area,” Navarro scoffed as he mussed his sable hair and frowned in disappointment.

  “We haven’t opened President Diaz’s eyes; we don’t want him sending troops after Cordell or making a try for the rest of those weapons. Might be best for his pride and for peace to keep him ignorant he’s being used.”

  “I agree. Anything else?”

  “There’s an Army captain in the hotel down the street you’re to see. Dan got ‘em to cooperate with us about the border pass and our mission. You’re supposed to set up signals and a schedule with him before we leave town. Make sure we get us a thick mirror and don’t break it.”

  “That won’t be a problem since we both know Morse code. As soon as Cordell begins to move again, we’ll flash them to clear a path for that snake to slither across the line. I’ll be sure to tell the captain to pass my signals the long way around to his contacts so Cordell doesn’t see ‘em and get spooked like Geromino did. Could be one or more of his men know Morse code, too, so we don’t want to tip our hand. I’ll go wire Dan and meet with the captain before I eat and grab a few winks.”

  Navarro retrieved his hat and stood. “I wanna head back to Beth by noon, so meet me outside town about that hour.”

  Zack exposed snowy teeth as he grinned. There was a twinkle of playful mischief in his chocolate eyes. “Miss her real bad, huh?” He saw his friend’s gaze soften; then, the white man furrowed his brow.

  “Sometimes too much for thinking straight; that’s dangerous for her and me. One thing’s for sure, she’s leading me on a long and hard chase. I got a lotta miles of tough terrain to cover if I’m gonna overtake her, if I can.”

  “I’ve never known Navarro Breed to give up on anything, so you will.”

  As they entered the canyon about six o’clock, Navarro reined up and halted Zack. “Something’s wrong. Her horse is missing. It’s too quiet.”

  “Maybe she’s tricking you again like you told me she did before.”

  Navarro’s senses heightened as he studied the abandoned location. “Not this time. My gut feeling is bad, old friend. Move slowly and easily.”

  At their campsite, Navarro found the dismaying message she’d left for him: a little rock, atop a medium one, atop a larger one—trail sign for Attention!—and another small, sharp-ended rock that pointed north and was placed on a big, flat one to reveal the direction she had taken. “She’s gone. Looks like on her own choice or she wouldn’t have had time to leave me this message.”

  “Why would she take off by herself and with you gone? You two have a quarrel before you left camp? You been…chasing her that hard?”

  Navarro caught his meaning. “Nope, I haven’t offended her with unwanted attentions; we get along fine; couldn’t be much better.”

  “Think she only went to spy on Cordell or take a ride?”

  “I hope not; he’s tricky and dangerous. Besides, there are no signs saying she was planning to come back. But she wouldn’t leave without telling me more than her direction.” He dismantled the three-tier stack and was relieved to find a note, until he read it to himself in silence, then aloud to Zack.

  “She spied on those snakes and took off to trail one? Lady has grit.”

  “Just wait until I get my hands on her for being so reckless! She should have stayed where she was safe. When I returned, I could have gone after Jim Tiller and gathered any clues he might drop. Shu, they’re almost a day ahead of me! She could be hurt or in danger this minute.”

  “Simmer down, old friend; she’s an undercover agent and she’s only doing her job like she says. You told me she’s as skilled as us. We woulda done the same thing if this chance was tossed in our laps.”

  Navarro crumpled the paper in a balled fist. “But she’s a woman, Zack, and those bastards are dangerous! Charles has a bad itch for her and I don’t want him getting the chance to scratch it if she’s caught.”

  “You’re letting worries cloud your thinking, if she’s as good as you say. She’s probably doing just fine.”

  “Even the best agents run into trouble and she’s got no backup
man.”

  “Didn’t you tell me she usually works alone?”

  “Yes, but…” Navarro paced around to release his tension.

  “Didn’t you tell me she’d worked the trail like an expert?”

  He stuffed the note into his pocket. “Yes, but…”

  “But what, old friend? You love her and you don’t want her killed?”

  Navarro halted his movements and looked at Zack. “That’s about the size of it. Never expected to get lassoed again, but I did, good and tight. Fact is, tighter than Jessie ever roped me. Hardest part about this mission has been keeping my mind on it with her around day and night.”

  “Beth tied up in that love knot, too?”

  “I’m not sure; she keeps those kinds of thoughts and feelings to herself. She got a bad knock-down like me and I don’t think she’s picked herself up yet. Hasn’t been the right time to help her do it. We got real close playing husband and wife, and I want her to stay Beth Breed.”

  “What about Jessica Cordell? Things go all right with her at the ranch?”

  Navarro smiled. “Couldn’t have been better, thanks to Beth. All it took was seeing Jessie and her new life to realize it was over, been over for both of us a long time. I just had been fooling myself. Jessie and Matt are happy, perfect for each other. Got a fine life together.”

  “That’s good news, Navarro, for you and Mrs. Cordell. I wanted to ask what happened but figured it was best to wait until you mentioned it. I like Beth; I’d be happy to see you two get together after this assignment.”

  “So would I, if she doesn’t get herself killed being a heroine and doing her duty. She doesn’t know where she’s headed or how big that renegade’s band is. If she tried to get close enough to overhear their talk, she can put herself into a trap. Grey Peak isn’t in the Gila Mountains, so something’s either changed in their plans or Charles lied to his men. Maybe he didn’t want his hirelings to know the real location in case one got captured or turned traitor. You stay here and watch Charles while I go after her, and don’t forget about those snares if you do any close spying. I’ll stop at Bowie to send Dan a wire; tell him about Eagle Eye, Grey Peak, and Ben. Maybe he can learn more from Charles’s Fronteras telegram if he can find a way to get its message; may give us an evidence tie between Cordell and Ben. I’ll remind him we can’t put agents on those clues and risk spooking any of our targets. If Charles doesn’t wait for Jim and starts moving northward, you send that mirror signal to our Army friends.”

  “You pulling out after her tonight?”

  “Still got hours of light left. Since I know where Grey Peak is, I’ll use roads and trails when possible to make better time and maybe catch up.”

  “Need any help preparing? Or want to borrow anything?”

  “She hid my stuff in those rocks. I’ll fetch what I need.”

  “How do you know?”

  “She used a brush to cover her back-and-forth tracks,” Navarro said, and pointed out his meaning. “Rocks and trash turned over from here to those scrubs. ‘Sides, she’d travel light and quiet.”

  “You got a keen eye. Looks fine to me. Who woulda noticed but you?”

  “An Apache or somebody trained by one. They taught me good, Zack.”

  The black man followed Navarro as he fetched supplies. “That’s why you’re the best; you can track a trail that isn’t there. If she leaves you signals like those rock piles, she could expose herself. Most of those Army units use Indian—Apache—scouts. If one comes across her signs, they’ll think they’re on to a renegade band and follow her. She’ll lead them straight to that secret meeting, spook ‘em, and bust our case.”

  Navarro noticed she took his fieldglasses, bandana, and two canteens. He was impressed by her precautions. He pushed the pendant into his pocket and was eager to replace it on her neck. “Beth will realize the same thing and drop that idea. She’ll also guess I know where Grey Peak is, so no trail markings are necessary.”

  “If she guesses you’ll come after her.”

  “She will, ‘cause she knows you’re here to watch our target.”

  “Unless I didn’t get your message to me in Nogales or got hurt. Or you got new orders from Dan in Fronteras.”

  “If she doubts I’ll pursue, I hope she doesn’t get into trouble and lose hope of a rescue or try something crazy to escape.”

  “I’m betting my best carving wood you’ll meet her on the way back here. Yesiree, Dan’s gonna be mighty surprised about his matchmaking.”

  “I doubt it. I have me a suspicion he chose us for each other.”

  “Did a darn good job at it. Watch your backside, old friend.”

  “You, too, Zack.” He mounted his horse. “See you in a week, either here or there. You know what to do.”

  With the borrowed fieldglasses, Beth observed Jim Tiller as he halted to make camp. For hours, the Chiricahua Mountains had loomed before them as an oasis between the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. Foothills drifted into forest-covered ridges and magnificent formations of spires, pinnacles, balanced boulders, and columns of rocks standing on end. The mingled scents of pine, juniper, and spruce wafted on a soothing breeze. Stream-fed glens and canyons wandered through the region and provided great beauty. They also offered homes for a variety of birds and animals.

  Beth was overjoyed by the location Jim selected for the night and was relieved to escape the arid and rugged demands of the surrounding terrain. The sun was setting, but daylight would linger for a while. A waxing quarter moon had been visible on the low horizon for the last few miles so she wouldn’t be cloaked in total darkness in the woods, where she rode a little deeper than her target to avoid being seen. She dismounted and let her palomino drink and graze while she replaced the clipped fringes from her buckskin garments, dangling them over her waistband in case they were needed to make a trail.

  Beth chewed on dried meat and Mexican bread Navarro had brought from Dublan on Tuesday. She sipped fresh and cool water from the stream and splashed her pinkened face. So far, she hadn’t encountered trouble or extreme hardship, and she hoped her task would continue in that vein.

  Saturday, she walked her horse near the edge of the forest and hid behind a gathering of boulders. It wasn’t long before Jim came into view, leaving near dawn as suspected. She shadowed him for hours as they skirted Fort Bowie, crossed the rail line from Lordsburg to Wilcox, and journeyed the San Simon Valley. She was thankful Jim clung to its side hills instead of riding the center grassland where several ranches and settlers lived. Gamma grass and bushes swayed in the wind and doves took flight with frequency. Antelope grazed alone or with stock. The Gila Mountains appeared in the distance. The landscape added an abundance of cacti, and chipmunks played amongst them. At the northern boundary of the valley, Jim made camp; so did Beth.

  As she watched several armadillos browse for food at dusk, the agent kept her tan hat on until darkness shielded her flaming locks from anyone’s attention. Again, she chewed on distasteful dried meat and appeased her mouth with bites of dried fruit and more pan de campo.

  She snuggled into a bedroll and leaned against a rock. She decided that was safer than lying down where she might sleep too soundly. Her mind filled with some of the countless things Navarro had told her about the Apaches during their trek across Mexico. Those revelations helped her to understand him and the Indians better. She concluded that if the government took action to correct the hardships, cheating and swindling, and harassment on the reservations, escapes would cease, hatred would lessen and peace could reign at last. So many frauds and deprivations were alleged by the Indians and their supporters among the whites and military, and few abuses—if any—were examined and halted.

  Perhaps, Beth thought before drifting off into a light sleep, she could ask for her next assignment to be an investigation of those allegations. As a matter close to Navarro’s heart, perhaps he would partner up with her.

  Sunday evening, Beth camped far downriver from Jim and southwest of Morenci. D
uring their ride, she had sighted many snakes, hawks, lizards, and even a roadrunner with its mate. She had weaved around and between bloom-laden mesquite that buzzed with activity, tall sotol, multi-fingered cholla, glorious yucca, odd-smelling creosote with greenish-yellow flowers, and countless prickly pear with exquisite sunny blossoms. All flourished in harsh soil and beneath a blazing sun that could blister through garments if the material was too thin.

  The swift and muddy Gila River was not water she cared to bathe in, or even drink until dirt settled and the top portion was cleared. Sunshine didn’t care and guzzled mouthfuls after the long and hot trip. The palomino enjoyed the shade of taller and thicker trees along the bank, as did Beth, who also found them helpful for concealment.

  The terrain above Morenci was more arduous than Beth had imagined when she watched Jim head toward the Coronado Trail. As the road went upward in elevation, the temperature lowered from the desert heat as the numbers of pine, aspen, piñon, and juniper increased. The abundance of prickly pear and mesquite continued and mingled with agave about to bloom. Bunch grass and sacahuista, which the Mexicans used for weaving baskets, was blown about in a stiff breeze.

  When she had climbed higher, Beth glanced down into huge copper mines for which the area was known. Seeking and removing the ore left chasmic locations barren, almost ugly. What reminded her of steps descended into deep pits where transport trails were as winding as the one she journeyed. Excavated dirt was piled as high as hills, also bleak and brown. Now she grasped what Navarro meant about the processing scarring the earth, maybe forever. She pulled her gaze from the depressing sight.

  The twisting road and dense vegetation made concealment from her target easy. Still, she was cautious. On occasion, columns of tall rocks nestled together to create lovely formations. In grassy areas with streams, she smiled in pleasure as she viewed elk, deer, turkey, and squirrel. However, a bear ambling through the woods made her nervous. Her tension mounted when a rocky section exposed a mountain lion sunning itself. The tawny cat glanced her way but didn’t appear interested in pursuing her as his next meal. She realized this picturesque area possessed more than human perils to avoid.