lla.thelonelymen-第4章

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ted。
　I'd　roped　and　hogtied　many　a　wild　longhorn　out　on　the　plains　of　Texas；　and　I'd　busted　some　mustangs　in　my　time；　and　quite　a　few　hard…to…get…along…with　men；　too。　When　it　came　to　shooting；　well；　me　and　Tyrel　could　never　figure　which　was　best。　We　had　both　been　shooting　since　we　were　big　enough　to　lift　a　cartridge。
　Sitting　there　in　that　quiet　room；　my　muscles　resting　easy　and　the　warmth　of　food　stealing　through　me；　I　listened　to　the　talk　around　and　wondered　if　ever　I　would　have　a　home　of　my　own。　Seemed　as　if　every　chance　left　me　with　less　than　before。
　My　home　was　wherever　I　hung　my　hat；　but　these　here　were　mostly　settled　folks　out　for　a　bite　to　eat　on　a　Sunday；　which　this　was。　Back　in　the　mountains；　e　Sunday　we　used　to　dress　in　our　go…to…meetin'　clothes　and　drive　down　to　church。
　It　was　a　fine　old　get…together　in　those　days。　We'd　listen　to　the　preacher　expounding　of　our　sins；　most　of　us　kind　of　prideful　we'd　managed　to　sin　so　much；　but　ashamed　before　his　tongue…lashing；　and　some　were　kind　of　amazed　that　they　were　so　sinful　after　all。　Seemed　like　with　farming　and　cussing　the　mules；　a　body　didn't　rightly　find　much　time　for　sinning。
　We'd　sing　the　hymns　in　fine；　rolling；　and　sometimes　out…of…tune　voices；　and　after　church　we'd　set　out　under　the　trees　with　our　picnic　lunches　and　some　of　the　womenfolks　would　swap　food　back　and　forth。　Emmy　Tatum；　she　made　the　best　watermelon　pickles　any　place　around；　and　old　Jeannie　Bland　from　up　at　the　forks　of　the　creek；　she　could　make　apple　cider　that　would　grow　bark　on　a　mushroom。
　That　was　long　ago　and　far　away；　but　sometimes　I　could　set　back　and　close　my　eyes　and　still　hear　those　folks　a…singing　〃On　Jordan's　Stormy　Banks〃　or　〃Rock　of　Ages；〃　or　maybe　the　one　about　the　church　in　the　wildwood。　Everything　was　homemade；　even　the　clothes　we　wore。　Why；　I'd　been　nigh　to　sixteen　before　I　ever　saw　a　pair　of　store…bought　pants；　or　shoes　we　hadn't　cobbled　ourselves　out　of　our　own　tanned　leather。
　One　of　the　Army　officers　was　standing　beside　my　table。　〃Mind　if　I　sit　down；　sir？〃　he　said。
　〃Wele；〃　I　said。　〃My　name　is　Sackett；　William　Tell　Sackett。〃
　He　extended　his　hand。　〃Captain　Lewiston；　sir。　You　mentioned　a　difficulty　with　the　Apaches。　Did　you　get　a　good　look　at　any　of　them？〃
　〃Well；　they　weren't　reservation　Indians；　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　that？〃
　Me；　I　just　looked　at　him。　〃By　the　smell　of　them。　They'd　e　out　of　the　desert　after　a　long　ride。　The　droppings　of　their　horses　showed　fibers　of　desert　plants　they'd　eat　only　if　there　was　nothing　else。〃
　〃Did　you　say　you　got　some　of　them？〃
　〃Three　。。。　and　one　I　hurt　but　didn't　kill。〃　He　looked　at　me；　and　so　I　told　him。　〃He　was　too　good　a　fighting　man　to　kill；　Captain。　I　got　two　of　them　with　my　rifle；　and　then　two　jumped　me　in　the　hollow。　One　I　killed；　but　the　other　was　a　tiger。　He　seemed　to　have　been　paralyzed　so　I　let　him　lay。〃
　〃You　weren't　alone？〃
　〃Three　men　along　with　me；　but　not　right　there。　I　think　they　might　have　killed　some；　too。〃
　〃You　lost　two　men？〃
　〃Taylor　and　Billy　Higgins。　I　never　knew　Taylor's　first　name。　We　didn't　get　a　chance　to　pick　up　their　bodies。　When　we　could　pull　out；　we　did。〃
　〃About　the　dead　ones；　now。　Did　one　of　them　have　a　scar　on　his　cheekbone？　That　would　be　just　too　much　to　expect；　I　suppose。〃
　〃No　。。。　not　the　dead　ones。　I　didn't　notice　any　scars　on　the　dead　one。　But　that　one　I　left　alive；　he　had　a　scar　on　his　cheekbone。〃
　
　Chapter　3
　
　Captain　Lewiston　sighed。　〃You　may　wish　you　had　killed　him；　Mr。　Sackett。　That　was　Kahtenny；　one　of　the　most　dangerous　and　elusive　Apaches　of　them　all。〃
　〃He　was　in　pretty　bad　shape；　Captain；　and　I'm　no　man　to　kill　a　fighter　like　that　when　he's　down　and　helpless。〃
　Lewiston　smiled。　〃I　feel　the　same；　but　I　am　afraid　there　are　some　who　do　not。　There　are　those　who　feel　they　all　should　be　killed。〃
　That　there　blonde　girl　across　the　room　was　sure　enough　listening；　although　she　was　making　quite　a　show　of　doing　nothing　but　sort　of　idling　over　her　food。
　〃Captain；　I　fought　those　Indians　because　they　attacked　me。　I　don't　blame　them　for　that。　The　Apache　has　made　fighting　his　way　of　living　for　as　long　as　his　oldest　people　can　recall。　Or　as　long　as　the　oldest　Pimas　and　Papagos　recall。
　〃The　way　I　figure　it；　they　fight　because　it's　their　way；　and　we　fight　back　because　it's　our　way。　Somebody　wins；　somebody　loses。　Nobody　in　this　country；　or　anywhere　that　I　know　of；　can　live　in　peace　unless　he's　got　somebody　somewhere；　protecting　him。〃
　Mrs。　Wallen　brought　the　Captain　some　coffee；　and　we　sat　there　a　few　minutes　more；　discussing　the　Apache　and　his　ways。
　〃You've　been　a　soldier；　Mr。　Sackett？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　I　served　four　years　during　the　War　Between　the　States。　I　was　at　Shiloh　and　the　Wilderness　。。。　and　a　few　other　places。〃
　〃We　could　use　you　here。　Ever　thought　of　joining　up　again？〃
　〃No。　I　did　what　I　had　to　do　when　the　time　came　to　do　it。　Now　I'll　fight　when　somebody　can't　be　persuaded　to　leave　me　alone。　Seems　to　me　I've　done　enough　Indian　fighting　without　joining　up　to　hunt　for　it。〃
　〃Are　you　related　to　Congressman　Sackett？〃
　〃Brother。　Fact　is；　I'm　here　to　talk　to　his　wife。〃　I　glanced　across　the　room　at　the　blonde　girl；　who　was　now　looking　right　at　me。　〃I　figure　to　get　their　son　back　from　the　Apaches。〃
　〃Their　son？〃　Lewiston　looked　puzzled；　but　before　he　could　say　more；　Laura　Sackett　interrupted。　'Tell？　I　am　Laura　Sackett。　Will　you　join　me？〃　So　I　got　up。　〃Excuse　me；　Captain；〃　I　said；　and　taking　my　coffee　I　walked　over　to　her　table。
　〃Howdy；　ma'am。　Seems　strange；　not　knowing　you；　but　when　you　and　Orrin　married　I　was　clean　across　the　country。　Never　heard　much　about　it。〃
　〃Sit　down；　Tell。　We　must　talk。〃　She　put　her　hand　on　mine　and　looked　at　me　with　those　wide　blue　eyes。　〃Let's　not　talk　about　trouble　now；　Tell。　I　want　to　know　about　you。　After　all；　we　must　get　to　know　each　other。〃
　Now；　there　isn't　much　that's　more　likely　to　make　a　man　talk　than　a　pretty　woman　who　is　ready　to　listen；　so　I　found　myself　a…talking　to　her；　mostly　about　Ange　and　how　I　found　her　high　up　in　those　far　Colorado　mountains　where　nobody　lived；　and　then　how　she　was　murdered　and　how　I　hunted　down　the　killer　and　got　myself　in　a　tight　spot。
　She　had　a　pretty　smile；　and　she　gave　me　a　lot　of　it。　There　were　a　couple　of　things　about　her　looks　that　I　didn't　really　shape　up　to　like；　but　nobody　is　perfect。　She　had　a　small　mouth；　and　it　was　kind　of　tight　and　hard　at　times；　but　she　was　a　pleasure　to　talk　to；　and　I　talked。
　Finally；　she　said　would　I　walk　her　home；　and　it　came　to　me　suddenly　that　we'd　talked　the　afternoon　away　and　those　Army　officers　were　gone。　Once　out　of　the　restaurant；　she　told　me　about　the　boy　Orry；　as　she　called　him。
　〃He　was　taken　with　the　Creed　boys；〃　she　explained；　〃and　the　Army　can　do　nothing。　I　know　if　Orrin　were　here　he　would　ride　right　down　into　Mexico　and　bring　him　back；　but　by　the　time　Orrin　could　get　here　it　might　be　too　late。　Then　I　heard　you　were　in　Yuma。　You　were　my　only　chance。〃
　〃How　old　is　the　boy？〃
　〃He's　five　。。。　going　on　six。〃　She　paused。　〃I　must　warn　you；　Tell；　whatever　you　decide　to　do；　you　must　not　mention　it　around　here。　The　Army　would　not　allow　you　to　cross　the　border　on　any　such　mission。　Right　now　they　are　trying　to　arrange　a　working　agreement　with　the　Mexicans　to　join　forces　in　stamping　out　the　Apaches。　They　want　to　attack　them　right　in　their　stronghold　in　the　Sierra　Madre　。。。　and　that's　another　reason　we　must　hurry。　I　have　heard　that　if　the　Apaches　are　attacked　they　will　kill　all　their　captives。〃
　Shortening　my　pace；　I　walked　beside　her。　There　was　small　chance　the　boy　was　alive；　but　I　could　not　tell　her　that。　Not　that　I　even　gave　thought　to　not　going　to　hunt　for　him。　We　Sacketts　stand　by　one　another；　e　hell　or　high　water。　The　boy　was　a　Sackett；　and　he　was　my　brother's　son。
　My　mind　went　down　that　trail　into　Mexico；　and　I　had　a　cold　feeling　along　my　spine。　Every　inch　of　that　trail　would　be　trouble；　and　not　only　from　the　Apaches。　Water　was　scarce；　and　whilst　the　folks　were　friendly；　the　Rurales　and　the　Army　were　not。　They'd　likely　shoot　a　man　out　of　hand。
　Somewhere　along　the　trail　I'd　heard　about　Dan　Creed's　two　boys　and　another　youngster　being　taken；　but　I　hadn't　any　details；　and　they　weren't　important　now。
　A　body　would　have　to　be　almighty　cautious。　If　the　Army　got　wind　of　anyone　going　into　Mexico　with　any　such　notion　that　would　be　the　end　of　it。　They'd　surely　stop　him。
　With　negotiations　going　on　between　the　two　governments　that　would　be　all　it　would　take　to　end　them　。。。　they'd　never　believe　he'd　e　into　Mexico　on　his　own。
　My　name　being　Sackett；　and　all；　they　might　be　suspicious。　I　mean　the　Army　might。
　And　Laura　made　me　uneasy。　I'd　no　knowledge　of　womenfolks；　and　never　had　been　able　to　talk　to　any　but　Ange。　Other　women　left　me　tongue…tied　and　restless；　and　Laura；　she　was　all　white　lace；　blonde　hair；　and　those　dainty　little　lacy　gloves　with　no　fingers　in　them。　And　that　parasol　she　carried　。。。　I　was　a　raw　country　boy　from　the　hills；　not　used　to　such　fixings。
　〃You　will　try；　then？〃　We　had　stopped　at　her　door；　and　she　rested　her　hand　on　my　arm。　〃Tell；　you're　my　only　hope。　There　is　no　one　else。〃
　〃I'll　do　what　I　can。〃　Standing　there　on　the　step；　with　her　a…looking　at　me　from　those　big　blue　eyes；　it　made　me　wish　I　was　three　men；　so　as　I　could　do　more。　〃Don't　you　forget；　ma'am；　there's　no　accounting　for　Apaches。　They're　mighty　notional　when　it　es　to　prisoners。　You　mustn't　be　hoping　for　muck。〃
　〃He's　such　a　little　boy。〃
　It　came　on　me　to　wonder　if　she'd　any　notion　what　she　was　letting　me　in　for；　but　I　pushed　the　thought　away。　I　had　no　call　to　be　thinking　of　myself。　How　could　she　know　what　that　trail　into　Sonora　was　like？　A　trail　like　a　walk　through　hell；　with　ugly　death　waiting　on　every　side；　at　every　moment。　You　had　to　travel　trails　like　that　to　know　them。　In　my　mind's　eye　I　could　see　the　faint　thread　of　it　winding　across　the　hot　desert　under　a　brassy　sky；　with　the　sand　underfoot　and　all　lands　of　cactus　and　thorny　bush　around；　with　rattlers　and　Gila　monsters　and　all　。。。　to　say　nothing　of　outlaws　and　Indians。
　A　thought　came　to　me　suddenly。　〃I　was　wondering　how　Orrin　ever　let　you　get　so　far　from　him？　You　and　the　boy？〃
　She　smiled　quickly；　sadly。　〃It　was　my　father；　Tell。　He　died　in　California　and　I　had　to　go　there　for　the　funeral。　There　was　no　one　else。　When　I　found　how　dangerous　it　was；　I　left　Orry　here　。。。　I　thought　he'd　be　safe　here。〃
　That　made　sense；　all　right。　Still；　there　was　a　lot　that　puzzled　me；　but　a　man　could　waste　any　amount　of　time　quibbling　and　fussing　over　details；　which　was　never　my　way。　If　anything　was　to　be　done　it　had　to　be　done　fast。　With　her　description　of　the　boy　and　his　clothing；　I　decided　I'd　best　get　together　an　outfit　and　pull　out。
　She　stood　there；　her　white　dress　like　a　light　against　the　adobe　walls。　I　looked　back　once　as　I　walked　away；　and　she　was　still　standing　there；　looking　after　me。
　It　worried　me　some　because　this　whole　thing　had　e　on　me　so　sudden　that　I'd　no　chance　to　sort　of　think　things　through。　Out　there　on　the　trail　with　those　Apaches　around　there'd　been　no　time；　and　now　it　seemed　there　was　no　time　either。　Nevertheless；　there　was　some　thinking　I　had　to　do。
　The　worst　of　it　was　I　was　almighty　short　of　money；　and　no　matter　what　a　man　sets　out　to　do；　it　seems　it　cos