It'll get talked about. The news'll travel to Casita
like sage balls before the wind."
"Shore we won't ride into Rio Forlorn in the daytime. Let's slip
the packs, Jim. We can hid them off in the cactus an' come back
after them. With the young man ridin' we--"
The whispering was interrupted by a loud ringing neigh that whistled
up from the arroyo. One of the horses had scented the travelers
on the ridge top. The indifference of the Mexicans changed to
attention.
Ladd and Lash turned back and led the horses into the first opening
on the south side of the road. There was nothing more said at the
moment, and manifestly the cowboys were in a hurry. Gale had to
run in the open places to keep up. When they did stop it was
welcome to Gale, for he had begun to fall behind.
The packs were slipped, securely tied and hidden in a mesquite
clump. Ladd strapped a blanket around one of the horses. His
next move was to take off his chaps.
"Gale, you're wearin' boots, an' by liftin' your feet you can beat
the cactus," he whispered. "But the--the--Miss Castaneda,
she'll be torn all to pieces unless she puts these on. Please
tell her--an' hurry."
Dick took the caps, and, going up to Mercedes, he explained the
situation. She laughed, evidently at his embarrassed earnestness,
and slipped out of the saddle.
"Senor, chapparejos and I are not strangers," she said.
Deftly and promptly she equipped herself, and then Gale helped
her into the saddle, called to her horse, and started off.
Pages:
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88