Diego fired at them, but missed. Three riders broke from the trees and joined him. Diego yelled something to his friends. They had better cover behind an outcrop of boulders from a long ago landslide. But Micah and his companions were uphill and had the advantage.
Micah returned their fire. “What the hell are you doing going after him instead of staying with Hope?” Micah asked as he reloaded.
Eduardo aimed and fired. “I left her safe inside the hacienda. Ramona, she said she wanted a walk in the garden. My cousin, she became suspicious and asked me to follow her upstairs. There we saw Ramona and Diego embrace.”
Micah raised up enough to get off a round and heard a satisfying cry. “So what happened to Ramona?”
“This I do not know. To Hope, I say, lock yourself in the room of your husband.”
“Dammit. You left my wife alone?”
“Never. I tell Maria to get the other women and watch Hope. Then I rush to follow Diego. He is the key, of this I am sure.”
“Are those the men from the saloon?” asked Zach.
“Sí, and I am thinking these men, it is they who killed the woman called Daisy. But amigos, never have I known another like Diego. That one, he has no conscience.”
Galloping in, Joel leapt off his horse and zigzagged toward them. A bullet from Diego sprayed rock shards across them as Joel slid for cover.
“You still run faster than a rabbit,” Micah said as he reloaded. “Alejandro?”
“Damn fool’s dead. Not even as old as you are, little brother. A wasted life.”
“You saying I was wrong to shoot him?” Micah snapped.
“Simmer down. I’m saying he was a fool to throw in with a bad bunch when he had plenty of other choices.”
“If Diego and his lowlife friends make it across the river, we’ll lose them. Here’s what I think we should do--”
“You?” Joel said, “I’m the oldest.”
Micah sent his brother a glare. “Remember, Sergeant, as a Captain I outrank you.”
“Should have figured you’d pull rank, even though you were on the wrong side.”
“You forget, I was on the winning side. Now, Joel, can you still outrun a bullet?
“Outran plenty of Yankee bullets in my time.”
Ignoring his brother’s sarcasm, Micah used a pebble to draw in the dirt at their feet. “You take the left flank and dodge between those trees. I can slip between this rock and the cliff and come up on the right flank. I’ll wait until you’re in place to show myself. Zach, you duck down and attack the center.”
Brows furrowed, Eduardo asked, “And me? Am I not a part of this?”
“You keep them so busy they don’t have time to figure out what we’re doing. Change positions from here--” he drew X’s in the sand “to here and back so they think we’re still with you.” He removed his Stetson and changed it for Eduardo’s sombrero. He laid the large-brimmed Mexican hat on the sand. “They’d spot you moving back and forth and we want them to think you’re firing is all of us.”
“Sí, this I can do.” He placed a hand on Micah’s arm. “Do not make my cousin so soon a widow.”
“I don’t plan on dying for a long time.”
Zach looked like a runner waiting for the race’s starting gun. “Whew, I have a feeling someone else will cash in his chips before we’re finished today.”
“Let’s make sure it’s not one of us.” Micah slithered through an opening that liked to have scraped the buttons off of his shirt. Keeping low, he moved quickly to his position. Zach’s movement was hidden until the last boulder. Joel raced from tree to tree, Micah heard the thunks of bullets striking bark. He prayed none hit his brothers or Eduardo.
Or him.
Eduardo’s rapid return fire pinged into the boulders in front of Diego and his cohorts. Micah heard a yell of pain from the outlaws and gave his new cousin credit for being a good shot. Joel signaled his readiness with a shot.
Micah rushed into the open. “You’re surrounded. Throw down your weapons.”
Joel and Zach leveled their rifles at the ruffians.
“You heard me, drop them or die.”
The three outlaws dropped their guns and raised their hands. Diego fired and zigzagged to escape. A loud whistle brought a horse from cover and Diego hid behind the animal as they moved rapidly toward the Brazos River, the divider between Montoya land and his.
Micah left his brothers to capture the other three men while he raced after Diego. Had this man alone planned the assault on Hope and her parents? No time to puzzle that out.
Diego waded into the water, still using his horse for a shield. Suddenly, he halted. Flailing his arms, he dropped the reins. The horse struggled and let loose an eerie whinny. Free, the animal turned and trotted down the beach.
Diego stretched his arms toward the shore, but his feet appeared anchored. “Aii, arena movediza!”
Quicksand! Micah realized Diego had strayed off the limestone bridge.
A string of curses preceded another cry from the outlaw.
Micah reached the shore, but had no wish to join Diego in the engulfing quagmire. He retreated to find a branch. Extending it to the descending villain, Diego grabbed for it. Micah tugged, Diego held on.
With a loud snap, the branch broke near Diego’s hands. “Aii, I’m sinking.”
Glancing quickly around, Micah saw nothing that might help. He needed a rope. He kept one coiled on his saddle, but there wasn’t time to run for his horse.
Eduardo rode toward him. He tossed a lasso over his head.
Micah called, “Help’s on the way. Hold on, Gonzales.”
He saw the man’s face change from despair to resignation. “No. I went once to prison for her. I’ve no wish to return or to hang.”
Eduardo threw the loop over Diego’s outstretched arm. “Pull the lasso over your head and shoulder.”
When the man failed to grasp the rope, Micah said, “Hurry, man, before it’s too late. You might not hang. In prison you would be alive.”
A sad smile on his face, Diego’s gaze met Micah’s. “Never will I go back to prison, Señor. It is worse than death for one who needs to ride free.” Already he had sunk until only his head and one arm remained free. “Tell Hope, say I am sorry for my part in her suffering.” He tilted his head to say, “Ramona. All was for her. I love her still.”
Tears stung Micah’s eyes as Diego sank from view. A shudder shook Micah, for he’d never before seen quicksand steal a man’s life. The river issued forth several large bubbles and then ripples. Then, only the gentle current continued.
He swallowed hard, then realized what Diego had said. “Ramona’s with Hope!”
Eduardo said, “Take my horse. I’ll find yours and follow.”
Micah galloped toward the ranch house. He passed Wooster and four cowboys, but didn’t stop to explain. The foreman might know about Ramona, but Micah wasted no time talking. He refused to consider that Ramona had been successful in harming his wife.
Hope needed him.
He must reach her.
Help her.
At the house, he slid from the saddle and rushed inside and up the stairs. Shrieks alarmed him. Not Hope’s voice, he was certain. He sent up a prayer thanking God.
At the top of the steps, Hope hurried toward him. “I knew you would come.”
He embraced her, cradling her against his chest. “I feared I’d be too late.”
She raised her head to peer into his eyes. “Eduardo?”
“Safe. Diego wasn’t so fortunate. He was caught in the quicksand.”
“No-o-o-o!” Ramona screamed. “He must save me. Diego! Diego, why have you abandoned me?”
With his arm around Hope, Micah strode toward the sound. Ramona was trussed up like a calf at branding time. She sat in a chair, but ropes held her firmly captive.
Micah faced the woman responsible for Hope’s misery. “Diego Gonzales is dead. He preferred quicksand to a noose. Alejandro is dead also.”
Ramona threw her head back and let out a primal scream, then burst into tears. “Aiiee! I hate you! I hate all of you. You have stolen my love, my brother, my life.”
He gently tugged Hope with him. “Let’s get away from her.”
“Yes, seeing her brings me great sadness. I thought she was my closest friend, but she killed both my parents and tried to kill us.”
Micah noticed Hope’s arm bandage. “Your arm. You’re hurt. There’s blood on your dress.”
She offered a wry smile. “I am not as good with a razor as are you. It was the only weapon I could find in your room.” She recounted seeing Ramona and Diego, and then Ramona’s attack. “My vaqueros brought rope and helped us tie her to the chair. In her madness, she is very strong.”
“My brothers and Eduardo will have been reinforced by Wooster. They’ll bring the three men who helped Diego. Perhaps they will reveal more.” He related Diego’s confession.
“Ah, her poor abuela. She will now be alone. I hired someone to help her when Ramona moved back here, but that is not the same as family. She has no one left.”
Micah recalled the ferocious old cook. “Perhaps it was she who poisoned Ramona’s mind with tales of the past.”
“That could be, but I suspect Ramona’s parents. They were not very nice. Always they grasped for a way to acquire more for free instead of working. Her father always had a plan to make his fortune with the money of others. He was angry because Papa and Tio Jorge would not invest in his schemes.”
“Riders coming in. Let’s see if it’s our men or the sheriff.”
When they reached the first floor, Consuela had opened the door to admit the sheriff.
Ryan stepped inside and glared. “What have you done now, Stone?”
Hope faced the man, chin up. “Your job, Sheriff Ryan.”
Micah kept his arm around her. “My wife captured the woman who’s been poisoning her and who killed her parents. My brothers and Eduardo Montoya and I captured Diego Gonzales, Alejandro Chavez, and three others. Gonzales is beneath the Brazos River quicksand. My “bunch,” as you called us, are bringing in the others. Chavez’s body will be tied across his saddle.”
The sheriff staggered backward a step and looked poleaxed. “You say a woman was behind the poison?”
Hope faced the sheriff. “Ramona Chavez is tied to a chair upstairs. She confessed to killing my parents and trying to kill my husband and me. If not for the help of my husband’s...our aunts and servants, her attack on me today would have succeeded.”
Micah tightened his arm around Hope. He wanted to let keep her beside him forever. “Before he died, Diego Gonzales confessed that he acted for Ramona. He said he went to prison for her crime, but would rather die than go back. Montoya and I tried to rescue him, but he refused our help.” He looked at Hope. “He said he was sorry for his part in harming you.”
Hope gasped. Diego’s apology surprised her. Always he had terrorized her. “I am sorry he is dead, but happy I do not have to see him again. For Alejandro, I am sad. He was devoted to his sister and always did whatever Ramona told him.” She shuddered. “She confessed he planted the snake in my bed after she opened the doors and signaled to him.”
Pounding hooves announced the other’s arrival. Eduardo and Micah’s brothers strode in followed by Wooster.
Joel stopped in front of the sheriff. “Four of the killers are tied up outside, Sheriff. Three alive and one across his saddle.”
“I’ll take my deputies and get the Chavez woman. Never had a woman in jail, and don't like the idea.” He stepped to the door and called, “Dempsey, Martin, get in here.”
Hope cautioned, “She is very strong and will escape with any chance.”
“Then we won’t give her one.” The sheriff led his men up the stairs.
Chapter Twenty-nine
When the sheriff and his deputies had left and only Micah and his family remained with her, Hope asked for the chase details. Micah repeated the part he knew.
Joel said, “The big man of those three is called Miguel, and he talked. He said it was Pedro who killed Daisy. She refused to let him go to her room. He waited for her to go to the privy and choked her.”
“Glad it wasn’t because she agreed to help me.” Eduardo said.
Zach rubbed his jaw. “Whew, that Pedro has one mean mouth. Never heard some of those curses before. But when he started talking, we couldn’t shut him up.”
Hope shivered and moved nearer Micah.
A somber expression displaced Eduardo’s usual smile. “Most frightening for me was Ramona’s plan. Even though never would I have agreed, Ramona, she planned for us to wed. After we were married, she would have killed my parents so I would own both ranches. Then she would murder me and marry Diego.” Looking pleased, Eduardo strutted to the fireplace and turned. “The Stone brothers, they made like army men, and they said I was important.”
“That you were, cousin.” Micah kept his arm around her. “You saved our necks by firing at those outlaws to keep them busy.”
Hope relaxed against her husband. How wonderful to no longer have the terrible threat hanging over her. “I am proud of each of you. Without you, I would be dead. To help me, you put your lives at risk. Never can I thank you enough.”
Lizzie’s smile beamed at her nephews. “I never doubted you boys would succeed.”
“But that Ramona,” Maggie shook her head. “Who would have thought she was so evil?”
“Or so strong?” Lizzie’s mouth made an O and her curls bounced as she shook her head. “Like her grandmother, remember?”
Micah looked at her. “Say, I remember the promise of a fandango once I was on my feet. Now seems like a good time to celebrate.”
He had heard. She looked at the others. “Micah is correct. We must have a big fandango, a fiesta to celebrate. Perhaps John will announce it in his paper.”
Lizzie clapped her hands. “Wonderful. We love parties, don’t we, Sister?”
“Oh, yes. We’ll get started planning and, Hope, you just tell us if there’s anything special you want us to include.”
“Everything. Everyone.” She glanced at Micah and returned his grin. “This will be the grandest fandango in Texas. Let’s have it on Saturday so more people can attend.”
“Sounds good.” Micah looked at his brothers. “You can hang around that long, can’t you?”
Zach rubbed his hands together and winked. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
Frowning, Joel nodded and crossed his arms. He appeared annoyed at the delay. She knew he was eager to capture the men who had robbed his father.
Hope nodded back to him. “Your criminals will wait for five days, big brother.” What possessed her to call him that? Would he think she mocked him?
He laughed and relaxed his stance. “You’re right. Guess I can’t miss the big celebration.”
The aunts launched into plans. Each person in the room added suggestions. Hope recalled promising lanterns and mentioned where they were stored.
Eduardo stood. “I must go and tell my parents what has happened.” He convinced Micah, Joel, and Zach to ride home with him to relate the day’s events to his parents. “Never would they believe only me. Especially the part where Ramona planned to marry me, then kill all three of us.”
Micah clapped Eduardo on the back. “We’ll back you up. Let your father know how important you were in capturing the murderers.”
Chapter Thirty
Hope surveyed the crowd as Micah twirled her among the dancers. Her red silk skirts swirled around her. In her hair, she wore Mama’s ivory jeweled combs from Spain. “Your fandango goes well.”
“Thought this was our party.” How handsome he looked.
“Of course it is. But when I promised you, I meant a fiesta to celebrate your recovery from injuries.”
“Now we can rejoice because you’re safe.” He appeared ready to say more.
“May I dance with my niece?” Tio Jorge acted almost friendly toward Micah. Tio wore his best
black suit with silver trim and looked like a fine Spanish don tonight.
When Micah released her, Tio Jorge guided her stiffly around the terrace. “I have apologized to your husband, niñita.”
“Thank you, Tio, but surely you can see I am a little girl no longer.”
He smiled at her. “This is true. You are a beautiful young woman to make any uncle proud. But in my heart, you are still my niñita, my pretty sobrina, running instead of walking and laughing with my son. You have been a good daughter to my brother and a good niece to Sofia and me.” He shook his head, as if clearing his mind. “My brother should have realized his treasure.”
“Your praise warms my heart. But, Tio, Eduardo is no longer a child either. He is a good man. If you give him a chance, he will be an ally to make you proud.”
“Have no worries on that score. Your husband and his brothers made quite clear that I misjudged my son. I invited Eduardo to become a true partner in our ranch. He has danced each dance tonight, but he promises to rise early and work hard tomorrow.”
The music ended and Tio Jorge escorted her to where Micah spoke to Tia Sofia.
Her aunt hugged her. “We were shocked at the violent outcome of your troubles. Who could guess Ramona plotted to kill us all? But that Diego, always he caused trouble.” She took Hope’s hands in hers. “I was terribly hurt you sent us away, but now I understand you were only protecting us. Bless you, sobrina mia.” She leaned forward to kiss Hope’s cheek.
Hope almost burst into tears. Montoyas did not touch one another in public and hardly in private. Memories surfaced of her aunt kissing her cheek when she was a girl. How had she forgotten? Sofia had always loved her!
“You are shocked, are you not, that I have kissed you in public?”
“More is that I am pleasantly surprised.”
“We realize what a sad life you have led, Hope. Jorge and I have vowed to be...we want to be kinder now. He is a good man, my Jorge, but he has been too harsh with our son. Too long your uncle patterned himself after your papa.”
“And now?”
“He promises to be a new man. Almost losing you and seeing Eduardo arrested has changed him. He wants us to be a large part of your life, so he wishes to be friends with your husband and his family.” Her aunt’s eyes suddenly narrowed in disapproval as she gazed over Hope’s shoulder. Hope turned to see who received the censure.
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