[Jennifer Cloud 01.0] The Shoes Come First

by Janet Leigh

  “Would you like some sweet tea?” I asked, batting my lashes.

  “Sure,” he responded with a sly smile, “I never turn down a pretty lady.”

  Gertie poured him a glass. He took a sip but didn’t down it like Johnny had previously.

  “Oohwee, that’s good,” he said. “Which one of you young ladies made this fine tea?”

  “I did,” I lied.

  I also noticed two of Pancho’s men were guarding the wagons. They had their rifles lying across their laps as they sat on the back of the wagon. Gertie walked around and held up the tea jug, indicating she would give them some. Since they didn’t speak English, they both nodded their heads, and she filled up a couple of mason jars for them. I looked around for Paco, and sure enough, there he was, standing in the shade next to the barn. At least the barn blocked his view of the wagon, so maybe if I created a diversion, Gertie could see what was in the wagons.

  “Gosh, it sure is hot out here,” I said and began to fan myself. I took a hankie out of my pocket and began to dab my face a little. “I’d better set these glasses down; I feel kinda faint.”

  I sat the jars down on the step of the wagon and proceeded to fan myself. The two Mexicans and Gertie had come around to see what all the commotion was about. Gertie took the hint and slowly stepped backward.

  “I think my top is cutting off my circulation; I need to loosen these ties. Do you mind helping me?” I turned around so the cowboy could loosen the ties on my top. I grabbed the neck of my dress and pulled it down, revealing the mounds of flesh pushed up by the corset. My breasts were about to pop right out of the dress, and I definitely had their attention.

  “Maybe you better sit down a spell,” the cowboy said, speaking directly to my bursting boobs.

  “I should probably have something cool to drink.”

  “Here, drink this,” he said giving me his tea.

  I took the glass of tea and put it to my forehead. “Oh, that feels good…It’s cool.”

  I slowly ran the glass down my throat and across my bosom.

  Just as I was about to bring the glass to my lips for the most sensuous drink, I heard a loud crack from the tree line on the other side of the wagons. The Mexicans sprang to attention from where they were observing me and ran around to see what caused the noise. I followed the cowboy around and caught Gertie still up in the wagon out of the corner of my eye. A man had fallen out of the tree and landed face up in leaves.

  Crap, it was Brodie. The Mexicans cocked their rifles and pointed them at Brodie. Paco came around and grabbed Brodie by the shirt, pulling him to his feet.

  “Easy now there, pardner,” Brodie said. “I am just lookin’ for work.”

  I saw Gertie sneak down from the wagon.

  “This is the Hawkinses’ farm,” I said, pretending not to know Brodie.

  Gertie stepped in behind Paco. “Yeah, you should ask Mr. Hawkins about a job.”

  Paco said something in Spanish to the other two men, and one of them took off toward the house. After a few minutes, Pancho Villa returned with Mr. Hawkins, Mahlia, and Mitchell.

  I saw Mahlia roll her eyes. Mitchell was looking on suspiciously. There was no sign of Mortas.

  “What have we here?” Pancho Villa asked, “Another gringo?”

  “Hey, mate, I’m just lookin’ for work,” Brodie replied, his accent kicked up a notch.

  Pancho Villa took the butt end of his rifle and hit Brodie across the jaw, knocking him to his knees.

  Gertie and I screamed in unison.

  “Fucking A, kick his ass!” Mitchell taunted. Mahlia put her hand on his shoulder and gave him a definite “shut up” squeeze.

  I knew I didn’t like that little prick. The men looked at Mitchell, who slunk back with a sneer.

  “Now, Mr. Villa,” Slim said. “The man was just looking for work; there’s no need to be cruel.”

  “He was up in the tree,” Villa responded. “A spy for the Mexican government.”

  “No, I am from Australia; I sleep in the trees, mate,” came Brodie’s reply as blood trickled down his face.

  “Tie him up in the barn. Tomorrow Hawkins can deal with you after we are gone,” Villa said, pushing Brodie to the ground.

  Villa’s men took Brodie to the barn. I grabbed the mason jar glasses and tried not to run to the house. Gertie followed behind me.

  When we were in the kitchen, Gertie told me about the guns she had seen in the wagon.

  “What are we gonna do?” she whispered. “Where is Caiyan?”

  “Shh,” I said as Mahlia entered the kitchen. She eyed me curiously.

  “Your accent doesn’t sound like Vermont—maybe a little more Southern,” she said.

  “Like I said, our parents were from Amarillo, Texas; that is why we came back,” I snipped.

  “I thought you were from Vermont,” she said.

  “We have only lived there a short time.”

  “Mmm,” was all she said as she left the kitchen.

  I grabbed a cloth and a basin of water and told Gertie I was going to see Brodie. Maybe they would let me clean his face.

  Two of Villa’s men were stationed at the barn door. I walked toward them, looking around for Paco. For the first time, I didn’t see the slimeball. I motioned to one of the men that I wanted to clean the prisoner’s face. He looked at the other Mexican, and he shrugged. I guess they didn’t think one woman with a water basin was a big threat.

  I opened the door and walked inside. The barn door swung closed behind me, and I heard the latch click. There were four empty horse stalls to my right. A straight ladder led up to a loft above the stalls. Hay bales were stacked to the left, and Brodie was tied to a chair in front of them.

  His head was hung down as if he was unconscious. How had this happened? Villa only hit him once. I ran over to him, laying the basin at his feet, and lifted his head. Blood was oozing out of the cuts on his face. It looked like he had been tied to the chair and then whipped across the face. He opened one swollen eye.

  “What happened?” I asked him.

  I heard a sneer behind me. I turned to see Paco. He smiled at me and was slapping a leather strap across his palm.

  “You?” I questioned. “You asshole!” I walked toward him. “What gives you the right to beat him like this?”

  Paco reached up to hit me with his strap. My arms flew up to protect my face. I saw a flash of metal, and a shiny blade came across his throat. His good eye bugged out in horror as Caiyan dropped from the loft above and cut his throat. Blood ran down his neck, and he collapsed on the ground.

  Caiyan grabbed me as I stifled a scream. “It’s OK; I’ve got you, lassie.” I let my weight lean into him as he led me away from Paco’s body. He sat me gently on the ground next to Brodie.

  Caiyan placed his finger under my chin and lifted it until my eyes met his. A wave of warmth spread from his fingers across my cheek. His deep green eyes held concern instead of the sharp irritation or the smoldering lust I had become accustomed to.

  “I’ve got to get rid of the body before his buddies come back. Can you help cut Brodie loose?” Caiyan asked, holding a pocketknife out for me.

  I nodded my head yes. Then with shaking hands I began to work the knots binding Brodie to the chair.

  “It’s not as bad as it looks, mate,” Brodie said as I cut away the rope. After he was free, I helped him wash his face with the water.

  Caiyan pulled Paco’s body to the back of the barn and covered it with hay and several sacks of feed. He took my rag and washed the blood from his hands. Grabbing the pitchfork from the wall next to the horse stalls, he began spreading fresh hay over the bloody area on the barn floor. Villa’s men would assume any blood was Brodie’s, at least for a short time until they found the body.

  We heard the latch on the barn pull up. Someone was coming, and there was nowhere to hide. Caiyan said, “Go back and pretend to be tied up. It is better to surprise them.” Brodie sat back down in the chair, and I pulled the rope
around him. As I knelt down to pick up the washrag, the barn door swung open, and Mahlia sauntered in.

  She stopped when she saw me with the washbasin.

  “I should have known she would be one of your women, Brodie. Where did you get her on the ride over? They tried to tell me they were from Vermont, of all places.”

  I started to respond, but Brodie grabbed my hand and held it. “Yep, Texas has such sweet young things, I couldn’t help myself.”

  “Where is Caiyan? I can’t believe he would miss all this fun.”

  “You’re right,” Caiyan said, swinging down from the loft.

  “So, the other one must be yours, although she’s really not your type.” Mahlia flipped her long brown hair over her shoulder and eyed Caiyan. “Who is transporting for you?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise,” Caiyan replied.

  “Remember our deal, Caiyan. No member of my family is to be hurt or arrested.” Mahlia spoke as if her words were above my level of knowledge, with no regard for spilling any secrets, the same way Caiyan spilled blood.

  “I remember, Mahlia. Now, you girls go start some trouble outside so we can get out of here.” I was dumbfounded. Not only was Caiyan sneaking away again, but now he was leaving behind a dead body.

  Brodie bent down like he was giving me a kiss on the cheek. “We will be back tonight for you,” he whispered. His rough stubble scraped against my face. I shook my head slightly and stood, cutting my eyes at Caiyan as I exited. An amused expression crossed his face, and I felt a hot flush of anger cover mine.

  Mahlia and I exited the barn. I turned to her and said, “I saw the cute Austrailian guy first, so you keep your hands off.” I reached out and gave her a good hard push. She stumbled sideways a little, giving me some much-needed satisfaction. But I didn’t expect her retaliation.

  She came back at me with, “I will have him for myself.” Then she gave me a harder shove to the shoulder.

  I lost my balance and fell to the ground. The water basin flew out of my hands. My bonnet fell off my head, exposing my Toni & Guy hair. She turned on her heel with a smirk and went into the house. The two Mexicans looked at each other and shook their heads. One went to pick up my water basin, and the other came over to help me up. I saw Brodie and Caiyan leave the barn behind them. I grabbed my backside and cried out in pain. Both of the men came closer to examine my rear end as the real pain in my ass snuck away into the trees.

  Chapter 14

  I limped a little on the way back to the house just for show. The smell of roasting chicken and smoked meat floated through the air. The harsh rays of the October sun had mellowed with the help of a few white, fluffy clouds. When I returned to the house, the Mexican women were in a frenzy trying to get things ready for the feast. I wove my way through the small kitchen and retrieved my brownie pans from the top of the fridge to cut them in squares. One of the pans had a generous piece missing.

  “I couldn’t resist.” I heard Mrs. Opal giggle. “Jen, those brownies are scrumdiddelyumptious!”

  Mrs. Opal was sitting at the kitchen table staring at the fading wallpaper. “I swear those flowers are dancing. Don’t you see them, Jen?” At least I knew the brownies would work when the time came.

  I found out Mortas had returned to the town. Good, I thought, at least he didn’t see Brodie. If he had seen Brodie, he probably wouldn’t have gone back to town so easily. Apparently Brodie had never met Mitchell, or the little weasel would have snitched. At least Mahlia was keeping her mouth shut.

  So Mahlia was giving information to Caiyan to protect her family from being arrested and taken to Gitmo. Caiyan might have promised, but I didn’t. She wouldn’t be too happy when she found out I was the transporter. I didn’t understand why Brodie and Caiyan wanted Mahlia to think I was Brodie’s girl. Unless Caiyan didn’t want Mahlia to know he had been kissing me in the hen house…that two-timing snake. As I contemplated the reason why men are so irritating, I walked out through the enclosed dining area and onto the back porch, letting the screen door bang closed behind me.

  The porch provided a beautiful view of the setting sun. Hues of orange and pink stroked the sky like a watercolor masterpiece. Texas sunsets were the best. I loved to sit on Jake’s roof in downtown Dallas and watch the sunset. Holy crap, I had forgotten about Jake again. What would I tell him when I returned? Hey, Jake, I can travel through time, and by the way, I know you are seeing other people; well, now so am I. Sort of. OK, that didn’t sound mature. It sounded ridiculous. And who was the two-timing reptile now?

  “Hello, earth to Jen.” Gertie was standing in front of me. “You were a thousand miles away.”

  “Try a century,” I replied. I explained to her what had gone down in the barn.

  “Do you think they have discovered Brodie is missing?”

  We stepped off the porch to get a better view of the layout of Villa’s men. Guards were stationed at all the exits to the front of the house and the road out of here. Pancho Villa was sitting in the shade under a tree, surrounded by several Mexican women.

  “I don’t think they care,” Gertie said. The moonshine was flowing, and everyone was dancing, eating, and carrying on. Gertie and I were starving, so we made our way to the food. We would need fuel if we were going to make a run for it later. I didn’t want to be lost in the woods and hungry, so we ate sitting on the porch steps away from the outlaw.

  After a bit Villa looked like he was getting restless. The women had become bored and were dancing with one another and any available male they could recruit. Most of Villa’s men were leaning against a fence and watching the women, occasionally giving a few catcalls. But they always looked ready. Ready for battle, their pistols strapped in their holsters and their shotguns within an arm’s reach.

  “You’d better get those brownies out there so we can get outta here,” Gertie said, stuffing the last bite of chicken in her mouth.

  “I can’t believe you can eat that chicken after you killed them.”

  “I’m hungry, and they were happy to help out.”

  Gertie grabbed a plate full of brownies, and I got the second one. “You go offer the guards a brownie, and I’ll get the men around Villa.” Gertie gave me a nod and headed off toward the nearest Dorado.

  The sun was turning in for the night. A small wedge of light reflected off the horizon, casting shadows as I walked out into the backyard. Metal lanterns hung on wires from the big shade tree and illuminated the area under it. A few of the Mexican men were playing guitars—a snappy tune I am sure I heard the mariachi band play at my favorite Mexican restaurant. The women were sashaying around in a circle. I knew it wouldn’t be long now. We had to make sure Villa gave Mitchell the key, and then we could grab him and get the heck out of here.

  Most of the Mexican people were sampling the brownies. Johnny and the cowboys were off getting the wagons ready. I took a plate over to Villa and offered him one.

  “No,” he said.

  “But I made them special,” I said, doing my best pouty-lip impression. I used it to sell Girl Scout cookies when I was ten, and it worked like a charm.

  The Mexican woman with very huge breasts sitting next to him helped herself to a large brownie. She took a bite and licked her lips, then said something to him in Spanish, which made him smile. I offered the plate to him again, and he cooperated and took a small one. He took a bite as he slid a hand up Ms. Boobs’s leg, and I backed away. Jeez, what about his wife in Mexico? I guess even his big deal with the Mafusos didn’t stop a man’s penis from being numero uno.

  Johnny returned to the fiesta looking a little downtrodden. I offered him a brownie, and he shook his head no. “Mr. Villa has requested I stay here instead of riding with the train.”

  “Isn’t that better, considering the, um, state of health of the mules?” I asked, remembering the Alka-Seltzer potion Gertie had referred to earlier.

  He shrugged. “I didn’t want to leave you and Miss Gertie without an escort.” This sweet boy
was going to risk his life to save us from the Villistas and sex slavery. More than I could say for Caiyan.

  A shrill train whistle sounded off in the distance, and Villa became excited. He jumped to his feet and motioned for Johnny to get the wagons down to the train.

  The Villistas began packing up, and Mrs. Opal was wringing her hands. “I don’t know why Mr. Villa has to take these nice girls with him,” she said to Mr. Hawkins. “It’s so dangerous in Mexico, with that crazy President Carranza and his band of Carranzistas after Mr. Villa.”

  “The Carranzistas won’t catch Mr. Villa. I’m sure he needs the girls to, um, help with the mules,” Mr. Hawkins replied hesitantly.

  Help with the mules, my ass. He knew exactly what Villa had in store for us but was too afraid to help us. I guess I could understand. Pancho Villa was a scary dude.

  I stood watching and waiting. Mitchell and Mahlia were getting their horses ready. There was no sign of Caiyan or Brodie. I thought it odd no one had noticed Paco was missing. I guess he wasn’t really liked all that much. Then it happened: one of the Mexican girls let out a scream, and they all went running to the barn. This would have been a great chance to get away, but I still didn’t have my key.

  Villa came out, gun in hand. The two Mexican men who had been guarding the barn spoke to Villa and pointed to me. My heart skipped a beat, and I thought now would be a great time for Caiyan to rescue me. Where was the knight in shining armor when I needed one?

  “The gringo has gone to report to the Carranzistas of our return. We leave now!” Villa yelled out to his men and women.

  He pointed the gun at me and Gertie. “Let’s go.” This would have been a fine plan, except most of the Mexicans were stumbling around and giggling.

  “What did you do to my people?” he said, aiming his gun at Mitchell. Mahlia stepped between them.

  “We did nothing. Why don’t you ask the whores?” she said, pointing to me.