Chapter Three
The Arizona Ranger quickly called for order in a stentorian voice.
"Alright, which one of you is the leader? Step forward and tell your story calmly."
A Mexican man came to the front and announced, "I am Manuel Castos. I am the Segundo of the Needles ranchero."
"Very good, now what is all this about having a run in with the devil last night?"
"Senor, I am known as a fearless man, one who is afraid of nada. But the sounds and sights I heard made my muscles turn to water. They were too terrible to describe."
"Give it a try," commanded the ranger. As he spoke he took a look around. In back of him Earp was in the far corner of the porch, where he had cover from three angles but was free to watch the edges of the ranch yard. Hagan was also trying to peer into the shadows, trying to see if any gunman were waiting to make a play. It wouldn't be the first time that a diversion was sent into a yard while the owners were mown down from the sidelines.
The foreman crossed himself with one hand while the other touched the butt of his old Colt dragoon. "It had an eerie moaning roar that varied greatly in pitch. It was like the wind blowing up from Hades. There were men on horseback as well, obviously doing the work of this evil creature. They drove off our herd while the creature of evil spooked our horses. They were terrified, Senor, of this noisy apparition and left us all on foot. It was four hours before we recovered them. By then the cattle had vanished.
"One more thing I must say, even in the face of doubt. I saw his indistinct form and it was constantly changing. It was like a kitten in a pillowcase, all bumps and hollows and no straight lines. It was a sight I do not wish to see again."
"You and your men are safe here, Manuel. Perhaps Senor Applebee will be kind enough to give you a place to sleep and something to eat, and Ill ride out with you in the morning to look over the tracks. It is too late to head back tonight."
The Segundo looked relieved at this statement. He probably did not want to back at all, but he and the others all would to prove their bravery. Bud knew the type. Their campfire conversations were steeped with superstition but when the time for action came they were men to ride the river with.
When the Needles crew had retired the ranger talked it over with the other two men.
"I wish I didn't have to be back in Tombstone for court tomorrow. I'd like to see just what happed out there. Remember what we said about coincidence? If I was a betting man, which I am, I would say that the two small attempted robberies were just side plays to mask the theft of the Needles herd."
"I'm thinking you are right," admitted Bud, but why go to all that work for such a small bunch of cattle? Why not wait for a trail drive and steal thousands?"
Leon Applebee thought he had that one figured out. "Think of the man power needed. A small herd doesn't need nearly as much effort. And besides, what about spreading fear? I think that's what happened here. Scare enough of these lonesome cowboys on both sides of the border and Southern Arizona could become easy pickings."
"Leon, you ought to sign up with the Rangers. We can always use more brains in the outfit, and I think you've got 'em. I think you are square on the target. Word of last night will spread from one ranch to the next in no time and everyone will not only know the story; they will all add something to make it bigger. By the time it gets back to Manuel he won't even recognize it. And why should they confine it to Arizona? Surely they will run it into Sonora - perhaps even California."
"Bud, you've got to get to the root of this pronto. I'll keep my ears open in Tombstone. When I get free I'll take a ride back down here, just for the entertainment value."
"You've got a funny idea of what constitutes entertainment."
"Hey, the shows in Tombstone have all been running for the past five years. It's time for a change."
Before turning in Hagan stopped by the kitchen to get another biscuit.
"Aha! Caught you!" Linda nearly made him jump out of his skin, but this he didn't let on.
"Haven't you got anything better to do than go around spying on people?" he asked.
"Not when it's a big brave Arizona Ranger who is supposed to be out solving crimes and saving lives. Instead I find you sneaking a bed time snack."
"I have to keep my strength up. I never know when I might need it."
She suddenly became serious. "Bud, you be careful, do you hear? I know these men, and while their story is kind of wild I know they are telling the truth. There is an explanation somewhere and it might be dangerous when you find it." She repeated her earlier message. "You be careful."
Hagan was surprised at the sincerity of her plea. "Don't worry, little one, I'm always careful. It comes with the job or you don't last long." He searched for something to say that wasn't too forward, yet would clarify the situation for him. "When this is over would you like me to return and tell you what I find for answers?"
"Yes, I would like that. I might even like to hear a question." With that she whisked from the room, leaving the ranger in confusion. What had she meant about hearing another question? Dare he hope?
Sleep was an illusive thing as he pondered this question. He had thought his age was prohibitive, but even her father paid this notion no mind. He had been alone for so long that he couldn't even visualize what a married life might be like.
Morning came all too soon, but the small of coffee and hotcakes made up for the discomfort. Linda was absent, and her mother mentioned that she was out doing chores, and had been since before daylight.
When he went out into the yard he found the Needles hands mounted and ready to ride. Just before he got on his roan and rode away Linda came out from the stable. Saying no word, she came up to him and lightly kissed him on the lips.
"Come back to me, my Ranger."
"Hasta manana, mi amor," he whispered to her.
It was late morning when the ranger and the men of the Needles spread approached the scene of the theft. The heat was becoming oppressive as it normally does in the midday desert areas. Far in the distance two buzzards circled, waiting for the life to depart some poor creature. Other than that the sky and land were barren of movement. The rattlers were in whatever hole they could find and the Gila monsters lay motionless in the shade of the rocks, only asking to be left alone.
Hagan spotted the area of the theft before he was told. The narrow draw with hillsides dotted with boulder nests and copses of scrub oak made it the natural spot.
"Here is where we were set upon. Senor. The devil sent his men down into our faces and the results you know."
The ranger scoured the ground diligently but individual tracks were impossible to make out. This draw was more of a sandy wash, and that dry sand would not allow any distinction of form. Generalizations were all he could gather - nothing more.
"On the top of this hillside is where I saw the apparition of evil. From here he sent his band of men into our faces to steal all the cattle. They have disappeared and Diablo must have eaten them by now."
"He must have quite an appetite," said Bud dryly.
`"Who is to say? Such things are beyond my comprehension. I am a simple man, and would like to go back to a simple life," spoke a very sincere Manuel.
"That sounds like a good idea, Manuel. In fact, why don't you and your crew ride back to Needles now? I have a better chance of picking up a clear trail by myself, for there won't be as many horses making new tracks. I'll be in touch as soon as I learn anything."
"You are very brave, you Arizona Rangers. It makes my blood run cold to think of facing that devil again, but yet you take that chance by yourself. I hope we shall meet again, Senor Hagan."
"We will, Manuel, you have my word on it."
When the ranch hands were gone Hagan got down to work. He did find some large tracks where the devil was supposed to have been. With the shifting sands they could have been left by anything. A couple of times his nose caught a hint of a noxious odor, but this he put down to the traveling of a polecat.
The ranger had an idea of how the hoax was perpetrated. He had once known a fellow who could make unbelievable noises with just his mouth. He could even throw his voice so that it seemed to be coming from somewhere else.
As for what Manuel had seen, Bud remembered as a boy going to the circus. There he had seen two men in a horse costume. Their uncoordinated movements inside the costume were ridiculous and very funny. That same costume would look like a moving blob to Manuel in the night.
Hagan followed the direction of the herd's travel and found it headed south, then circled back in the direction of Tombstone! Of course. The silver mines there had just increased production, which resulted in more workers to feed. A new slaughterhouse had opened to supply beef for the miners. Such a place would not be apt to scrutinize the brands of the critters it bought. Still, they might have some bills of sale. The ranger wished he had a way to get in touch with Wyatt Earp and have him check it out while he was in town.
`Of course, so far this was all guesswork. His hunches could be way off base. For all he knew Manuel really did have a run in with the devil. But somehow he doubted it.
Hagan decided to try the other direction and find out where the gang had come from. He was surprised to see that every track came from a different direction. This was a sign of good organization. This was no haphazard chance encounter.
Who might be behind it? The name John Ringo came to mind. Ringo was known to be a brave man that didn't understand the meaning of fear. This he had proved in more than one gunfight. But he was not one to look for trouble, either. He was an intelligent man with a bent for crime, and Wyatt had told him that he believed the man was behind a couple of big unsolved silver heists. This meant he would have the means to support a large operation, if it was required.
Could this be the start of that large operation? Applebee had thought so. If it was an attempt to control the routes of Southern Arizona Ringo was the man to try it. Come to think of it, if Hagan didn't stop him, Johnny Ringo was the man who could do it.
That was more guesswork. In his work with the Rangers his first impressions had often proved to be correct, so Hagan had faith in his assumptions.
One track seemed to head for Huachuca Peak. On a hunch he decided to follow this one. Perhaps the mastermind's headquarters was near the old fort. H was partially up a draw when a feeling of uneasiness came over him. Too late! A shot rang out that tugged at the brim of his hat. Bud swung his horse around to get out of there when another rifle opened up from below him!
The ranger was trapped!
©2003 StoriesByEmail.com
|
