Owl Dance

by David Lee Summers

  Larissa reached the bottom of a small canyon called La Cañada Alamosa. In flood times, it fed runoff from the nearby mountains into the Rio Grande. Fortunately it was dry and she crossed with no trouble, but from the swearing she heard in the coach, she guessed Morales had been jostled out of his seat. As she started up the other side of the canyon, a dozen horses crossed over the ridgeline ahead.

  Larissa soon found herself surrounded by army soldiers. Their leader wore the oak leaves of a major on his collar. “Are you the bounty hunter called Larissa Crimson?” he asked.

  “What if I am?” she retorted.

  “If you are, I’m willing to pay the bounty on the man you’ve taken into custody.”

  Larissa thought about that. On one hand, it would save her a hard two-day journey. On the other, she really didn’t like developing the reputation as the kind of bounty hunter who didn’t complete a job. “I’m supposed to take him to the sheriff in Socorro.”

  “He’s also wanted by the United States Army,” said the major. “There’s a wartime emergency in process and my jurisdiction trumps local authorities.”

  Larissa Crimson inclined her head. She hadn’t heard anything about a wartime emergency and didn’t believe the army ever took precedence over local jurisdiction where a civilian was concerned. Even so, she still harbored doubts about whether Morales really was justified in leaving his job or not. The major was conveniently providing her with a reasonable excuse to turn her prisoner over right then rather than take him all the way to Socorro.

  “I’ve been promised a bounty of one-thousand dollars,” said Larissa. “Can you match that?”

  The major’s mouth dropped open. A moment later, he swallowed and his stone-faced demeanor returned. “I can pay you twelve-hundred dollars for your prisoner,” he said. “But you’ll have to bring him back to the fort and I’ll pay you there.”

  Larissa Crimson nodded. “You’ve just persuaded me to turn my prisoner over to you.”

  “Very good,” said the major. “Let’s get riding.”

  He signaled for his men to form up while Larissa turned her wagon around. There was more swearing as they went back across the wash and then finally Morales called from inside, “What the hell’s going on out there?”

  Larissa opened a small hatch in the roof. “You found someone to pay your bounty. We’re on our way to Fort McRae.”

  << >>

  Fatemeh was pacing in front of Major Johnson’s office when she saw the major and his men ride through the gate followed by the bounty hunter and her hansom cab. The men who had been gathered for their march had been dismissed to get a little rest, but their gear still littered the ground. She started to walk toward the major and the coach, but Eduardo stood up from the chair he occupied on the major’s porch and put his hand on Fatemeh’s shoulder. “Let them take care of whatever business they’re doing.”

  One of the major’s men dismounted and ran to the paymaster’s office. He arrived a short time later and handed a roll of bills to the bounty hunter. She counted the bills carefully, then climbed down from the seat and unlocked the coach’s door. Ramon, looking sweaty and disheveled, clambered out of the coach.

  Fatemeh couldn’t restrain herself any longer. She ran to Ramon and grabbed him in a tight embrace.

  The bounty hunter flashed a slight grin as she closed the coach’s door. She climbed back on the hansom cab’s seat and rode away.

  Major Johnson climbed down from his horse and approached Ramon and Fatemeh. Ramon held out his hand, but the major kept his arms behind his back. “Mr. Morales, I’m grateful you came to New Mexico at some personal peril to help us deal with our difficult supply situation. However, I have now spent over a year’s salary on you with no proof we will receive further shipments. Furthermore, through no fault of your own admittedly, that proof is not likely to come for some time.”

  Ramon lowered his hand. “I am grateful for your help and I appreciate all the money you’ve spent, but I came back because you promised you would help clear my name. That hasn’t happened yet.”

  The major cleared his throat. “I know and I’m afraid circumstances will prevent it for a time. Nevertheless, it occurs to me I could use your advice in the difficult times we face. It also occurs to me I’d have an easier time clearing your name if you had a service record. Can I persuade you to join my regiment, at least for the duration of the current crisis?”

  Fatemeh stepped between the two men. “Ramon, you don’t have to do this.”

  The major shook his head. “No, you don’t have to do this, but you won’t have my protection if you stay and there are liable to be other bounty hunters.”

  Ramon nodded, but again Fatemeh was the one who spoke up. “Major, you didn’t prevent Ramon from being taken by the bounty hunter.”

  The major’s jaw tightened as though his patience was taxed nearly to the limit. “Ma’am, you two elected to stay at Palomas Hot Springs. That limited what I could do. Also, I just spent a very large sum of money keeping Mr. Morales out of the hands of the authorities in Socorro, thus putting my own career on the line. I will not stand here and be accused of asking for something while doing nothing in return.”

  Fatemeh opened her mouth to speak, but Ramon put his hand on her elbow. “He’s right, corazón. There’s no good answer here. Going with the major, maybe I can help. My father served the United States when New Mexico became a territory. Now it’s my turn.” He looked at the major. “Sign me up.”

  This time Major Johnson held out his hand and Ramon shook it. He inclined his head toward the quartermaster’s office. “Go check out a uniform and a weapon, Private Morales, then come out here and form up with the rest of the men. We’ll be marching within the hour.”

  Ramon stood straight and saluted. The major returned the salute, then spun on his heel and walked away with a captain who hovered nearby. Ramon turned and pulled Fatemeh into his arms.

  “I don’t want you to go,” she said into his shoulder.

  “I don’t really want to go either, but it feels like the right thing to do. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He turned his head and looked into her eyes. They kissed deeply for a time, then pulled apart.

  “Giant airships with the strength to take over a town like Seattle,” mused Fatemeh. “Do you really think the Army has the power to combat something like that?”

  “I really don’t know, but if not the army, then who?”

  A soldier blew on a bugle and men emerged from the fort’s barracks. Ramon swallowed and gave Fatemeh another quick kiss. “I’d better get going.”

  Fatemeh watched Ramon stride toward the quartermaster’s office. She sensed someone standing nearby. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Eduardo. He stepped close and put his arm around Fatemeh’s shoulder. “He’ll be back.”

  Fatemeh sighed and nodded. “I hope you’re right.”

  Together, they went back to their horses, climbed on, and rode through the gates of Fort McRae.

  As they rode, Fatemeh thought of soldiers and how vulnerable they would be to airships flying over them. The word airship evoked images of a wallowing behemoth floating among the clouds, able to destroy anything below it at will. It seemed to her, the only way to tackle such a problem would be if soldiers could fly through the air, especially if they could maneuver faster and better than the lumbering airships she pictured. Fatemeh remembered Professor Maravilla and his mechanical owl. What if there were several owls and what if there were people to fly them?

  As Fatemeh remembered the owl, she looked up and saw Larissa Crimson and her hansom cab in the road ahead. Several thoughts went through Fatemeh’s mind. After a moment, she looked over at Eduardo. “I’d like to talk to her.” With that, Fatemeh snapped her reins and the horse darted forward.

  “Fatemeh!” called Eduardo from behind her.

  Fatemeh soon found herself alongside Larissa Crimson. The bounty hunter looked over and tipped her hat. “You’re Ramon Morales’s girlfriend, aren’t you?”
<
br />   “I am,” said Fatemeh tightly. “Why did you do it? Why did you hunt down Ramon and sell him to the highest bidder?”

  Larissa inclined her head and then looked forward. “I’m a bounty hunter because I believe in justice.”

  “Then why not apply for a job as a peace officer?” asked Fatemeh.

  Larissa laughed loud and long. Finally, wiping a tear from her eye she looked over at Fatemeh. “You’re serious aren’t you?” The bounty hunter shook her head. “No one hires a woman to be a peace officer.”

  “Why do they hire you to be a bounty hunter, then?”

  “If I bring in my quarry, no one has a choice but to pay me.”

  Fatemeh sighed. Eduardo finally caught up. He looked at the two women, but remained silent. Finally Fatemeh looked at Larissa again. “Have you heard about the airships that invaded Seattle?”

  Larissa nodded. “The soldiers told me a little as we rode to the fort. Sounds like bad business.”

  Fatemeh looked from Larissa to Eduardo. “I don’t think the army stands a chance against them, no matter how many men they send against these things.”

  “But what else can be done?” asked Eduardo.

  “I have an idea, but I’m going to need help. I need to round up some men and some equipment, then I need to get to the Grand Canyon. We need to work fast so our force can meet up with those airships before it’s too late.”

  Eduardo shook his head. “I don’t know…”

  “Is there anything in it for me?” asked Larissa.

  “I’m looking to see justice done, Miss Crimson,” said Fatemeh. “And, you’ll get a glimpse of the future. In my mind, it’s a future where you can do whatever job you’re good at, whether you’re a man or a woman and no matter the color of your skin.”

  Larissa Crimson pursed her lips and nodded. “I like the sound of that. Count me in.”

  Fatemeh looked over at Eduardo. He shook his head. “I think you’re both loco, but I’ll do what I can to help my cousin. You can count me in as well.”

  They came up over the rise and saw Palomas Hot Springs below them. “Very good,” said Fatemeh. “Then it’s time to make some plans.”Chapter Thirteen

  Pirates, Gunslingers, and Clockwork Owls

  The next morning, Fatemeh, Eduardo, and Larissa readied their horses for the journey northward to Albuquerque. Once there, they would catch the train to Flagstaff. Larissa stored her hansom cab in Eduardo and Alicia’s stable. It would cost too much to store it in Albuquerque or take it to Flagstaff with them.

  Once Fatemeh was satisfied her horse, Husniyah, was ready to go, she stepped into the kitchen. There, she found Alicia preparing food for the journey. “How are you doing?” asked Fatemeh.

  Alicia’s smile was thin—not quite forced, but not altogether happy, either. “I’m well. Are you nearly ready to go?” She collected some beef jerky from a tin, placed it in a cloth satchel, and set it with the rest of the food.

  “We are.” Fatemeh stepped close to Alicia. “Do you wish you were going with us?”

  Alicia sighed and shook her head. Her smile became more genuine. “No, not really. I’m not a fighter and someone needs to tend to the animals.”

  “You’re worried about Eduardo, though, aren’t you?”

  Alicia’s smile faded and she nodded. “I’m worried about all of you. Isn’t it enough the army must fight this war against these airships? Why must you, Ramon, and Eduardo go as well? Eduardo’s no more a fighter than I am.”

  “Ramon felt he had no better choice. Me?” Fatemeh shrugged. “I’m a healer. This invasion feels wrong, like the invasion of a disease in the body. I’m going to help Ramon, but I’m also going to heal. If I’m right, maybe I can save more lives than are lost.”

  “What about Eduardo?”

  “You’ll have to ask him,” said Fatemeh.

  Eduardo stuck his head through the door. “We’d better get moving soon if we want to make the most of the day.”

  Fatemeh gathered up an armload of the supplies and walked past Eduardo. “I think your wife would like a few minutes before we go.”

  Eduardo blinked twice, then went into the kitchen, closing the door behind him. Fatemeh handed some of the food up to Larissa and packed the rest into her own saddlebags.

  “It just occurred to me,” said Fatemeh, climbing onto Husniyah, “you’re name is Crimson and yet I’ve never seen you wear any red.”

  Larissa climbed onto her horse. “I’m a bounty hunter. That would be like wearing a target. I’ll stick to dark colors, thank you very much.” She looked around. “Where’s Eduardo?”

  “He’ll be out in a moment.”

  A few minutes later, Eduardo and Alicia came out of the house. Both wore somber expressions. They packed the rest of the food into Eduardo’s saddlebags, then Eduardo turned and brought Alicia into a tight embrace. “We’ll be back. I promise,” he said.

  “You better be,” she said. “I love you, Eduardo Morales. Don’t ever forget that.”

  With a smile, he climbed onto his horse. Fatemeh snapped her reins and the three horses moved northward together. Eduardo turned around, holding his hand up until the homestead was out of sight.

  Half an hour into their journey they came to Fort McRae. The fort seemed strangely silent with the majority of the soldiers gone. Fatemeh rode up to the guard on duty. “Could we still send a telegram from here?”

  The guard tipped his hat. “By all means.”

  Fatemeh breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t want to stop in Socorro if they didn’t have to. If they waited until they reached Albuquerque, the telegrams might not reach the people she hoped to contact in time for them to help.

  The three rode through the gate. The fort wasn’t completely deserted. The general store was still open and there were still Indians out in front, displaying their wares. A few older soldiers milled about the grounds, attending to their duties.

  Fatemeh hitched her horse at the rail in front of the general store. Stepping in, she approached the man at the counter. “I would like to send three telegrams. The first is to Mr. Luther Duncan in Mesilla. The second is to Mr. Onofre Cisneros in Ensenada, Mexico.”

  “An international telegram will cost extra, ma’am,” said the man at the counter.

  Fatemeh nodded. “I’m aware of that and I’m prepared to pay.”

  “Very good,” said the man. “What about the third?”

  Fatemeh took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “To be honest, I’m not sure the best way to reach him. Perhaps you can advise me.”

  << >>

  Ramon found the ride northward with Major Johnson’s cavalry hot, dusty and slow. One hundred horses rode at a nice even pace behind the major. Ramon wondered if the major would still be in front once the fighting started, or if he was only there to avoid being choked by the dust.

  As they rode, Ramon’s new woolen, blue jacket and trousers began to itch. He longed for his comfortable gingham shirt and denim britches. He also longed for more water than he had in his canteen. He was relieved when they reached Fort Craig and he realized from the murmurings of the soldiers around him they were going to stop for the night.

  Once they reached the fort, sergeants barked orders about where to set up tents and what to do for dinner. Ramon watched as the soldiers around him tended their horses and then began setting up campsites. Ramon looked around, confused, not really sure where he should be. A sergeant whose name he didn’t know rode up. “Soldier, get with your squad and help them set up camp!”

  “My squad?” Ramon looked hurriedly around. After a moment, he caught sight of Sergeant Forrest and Corporal Lorenzo. “I see them, now.” He dismounted and led his horse over to the two familiar men.

  Sergeant Forrest’s eyebrows came together as Ramon approached. “I’d heard the major went out and rescued someone from a bounty hunter. Would that be you?”

  Ramon felt his cheeks grow hot, but nodded. “That would. I seem to find myself without a…what’s it calle
d? Without a squad.”

  Corporal Lorenzo clapped Ramon on the shoulder. “We’d be happy to have you join us.” The corporal showed Ramon where to take his horse and where to lay out his bed roll.

  Ramon took care of the horse. When he returned, Sergeant Forrest was gone. “Where’s the sergeant?” he asked.

  Lorenzo nodded toward a nearby group of men. “He’s checking on the other squad under his command. Two squads make a section and the sergeant is the section commander.”

  Ramon nodded, wondering if he would get the hang of all the military terminology. Once his bedroll was laid out, the corporal gathered the men together and they went inside the fort for food. After eating, Ramon returned to the campsite with his squad and fell into a deep sleep.

  He woke early, roused by a bugle call. They ate a quick breakfast, accompanied by tepid coffee, then gathered their gear and resumed the journey northward. The men from Fort McRae were joined by two hundred more mounted soldiers under the command of a Lieutenant Colonel named Smith.

  As they resumed the northward ride, Ramon occasionally caught sight of riders passing near the marching troops. He amused himself trying to decide where they were going or what they were doing. At one point on the third day out, Ramon saw three riders, maybe half a mile distant. He couldn’t make out faces from that distance, but the group appeared to be two women and one man. One of the women seemed to be wearing a flat-topped hat like the one the bounty hunter Larissa Crimson wore. If it was her, he wondered where her hansom cab had gone and who the others were. Could she be on his trail again? Despite his concern, he never saw those particular riders after the one brief sighting and dismissed the notion it was Crimson or anyone else he knew.

  << >>

  Five days after leaving Palomas Hot Springs, Fatemeh, Eduardo and Larissa found themselves on the rail platform at Flagstaff. While Eduardo and Larissa went to retrieve the horses, Fatemeh stopped into the station’s telegraph office.

  An elderly gentleman with a wooden leg manned the counter. She introduced herself and asked if there were any telegrams for her.