“I’m hunting for an outlaw named Hank Bass. I have reason to believe that he passed through here not long ago, probably on his way to Nogales.”
“Who are you, stranger?”
“I’m someone who has a score to settle,” Longarm answered. “And so does my lady friend.”
Willy glanced over at Victoria, who solemnly nodded in agreement.
“Hank Bass did you wrong, miss?”
“Yes.”
Willy shook his head. “I believe that. Hank Bass is a mean son of a bitch, if you’ll pardon my bad language. He’s beat up a few women in this town, but they weren’t ladies like you, miss.”
Victoria looked away quickly, but not before Longarm saw tears glisten in her eyes.
“Willy, how long ago was it that Hank Bass traveled through here going toward Old Mexico?”
“He only left about four, no, three days ago,” Willy said after a moment of reflection. “He caused quite a commotion ‘cause he was spending some real Spanish gold coins.”
“is that right?”
“For a fact. I expect the whores and the saloons all got their share for letting him raise hell.”
“Did he say he was on his way into Mexico?”
“Sure did! But he’ll probably never get across the border.”
Longarm was caught by surprise. “Why not?”
“Because every bandito in Mexico will be watching and waiting to get him in their gun sights. You can be sure that the word is out Hank Bass is carrying a fortune in gold coins. I expect someone will ambush the fool the very minute he crosses the border.”
Longarm frowned. “Bass is anything but a fool. Maybe he’ll stay on this side.”
“Either way, someone will come gunning for him,” Willy reasoned. “Hank always came through this town with a bunch of men to back him up in any trouble. But this time, he was alone. He’s a mean, tough son of a bitch, but he can’t survive down here by himself. I’m telling you, stranger, someone will bushwhack him, that’s for certain.”
Longarm figured that Willy was right, which meant that Hank Bass needed to be overtaken as quickly as possible.
“We should push on now, Victoria.”
She sighed. “I’m very tired. Couldn’t we just spend one night resting?”
“You can sleep on fresh straw here in my livery for only a dollar,” the old man offered. “Safer here than in one of the hotels. A whole lot quieter too.”
“The horses do need a rest,” Victoria argued.
“All right,” Longarm reluctantly agreed. “But we’ll leave very early. No need for anyone in Arivaca to even know that we were here.”
“Now you’re talking,” the old man said as his chin bobbed up and down in agreement.
“Willy, go find me that hundred dollars. That way, I won’t have to awaken you early tomorrow morning.”
“That could be fatal,” Willy drawled. “So I’ll go get the cash right now.”
The next morning, Longarm arose at first light and got his horses saddled and ready to ride. Victoria was sleeping like a baby and he felt sorry to awaken her but there was little choice. Down in this country, the outlaw trail could run cold in a hurry, and Longarm still wasn’t entirely convinced that Bass wouldn’t cross the border into Mexico.
It was a hard twenty-five-mile ride down to the border town of Nogales, and both Longarm as well as Victoria were badly worn down by the dust and oppressive heat by the time they had boarded their horses and found a suitable hotel room. After a meal of beans, tortillas, and warm beer, they went to bed and slept until after dark. Then Longarm got up and prepared to go out hunting for Bass.
“You’re going to have to stay here,” he said. “These streets are no place for a decent woman.”
“But …”
“If I took you around to the places I’m going to visit,” Longarm interrupted, “I’d be fighting off crowds of men. No, Victoria, I insist.”
“But what if you run into Bass and are shot?”
“If I don’t come back tonight, come looking for me in the morning. Pay a couple of tough-looking men well to protect you and make your first stop at the undertaker’s. But don’t worry, I’ll find Hank Bass and he’s the one that will be getting his ticket punched for Boot Hill.”
“You sound so confident.”
“I guess I do,” Longarm admitted. “The fact of the matter is that I don’t allow myself to think about getting shot and killed. If I did … well, I just don’t.”
Victoria kissed him good-bye, and when Longarm got to the door, he said, “Keep this door locked. Under no circumstances allow anyone in but me. Is that understood?”
“Yes, of course.”
“And keep your gun handy.”
