Kelly nodded in satisfaction. “Once we’re gone, it might be smart for us to steer clear of these parts for a while. I imagine the rest of the Apaches won’t be very friendly toward us once you’ve finished spreading the word about how we killed Salvatorio and his entire war party.”
“That would probably be wise,” Guzman agreed dryly.
“We’ll go back across the border for the time being. We’ll be back sometime, though, you can count on that. And we’ll have more scalps with us when we come.”
Guzman nodded. “I look forward to doing business with you.”
“Now, about those women ...”
“Of course. Luis!”
Guzman quickly issued the orders to his aide. Luis hurried out.
“There are rooms upstairs where you can spend the night, down the corridor the other way from my own quarters. Luis will show you when he returns.” Guzman glanced at Mateo, who still stood close to him, knife in hand. “The Yaqui does not wish to have one of the women for himself?”
“Mateo’s not interested in white women,” Kelly explained. “Killing our enemies appeals more to him.”
Expressionlessly, Mateo peered at Guzman and ran a thumb along the edge of the blade, just enough to slice the top layer of skin.
The Kid’s brain had been working furiously while he listened to the conversation. The women were being brought to him and the others, which was good because he wouldn’t have to hunt for them. On the other hand, he would have to smuggle them out of Guzman’s headquarters somehow, after first getting them out of the hands of Kelly and the other scalphunters. That wouldn’t be easy.
And if he succeeded in that, it was entirely possible Guzman would send the Rurales after him, and Kelly and his friends might join the pursuit, too. Kelly would want revenge for what he would consider a double cross.
The border was miles away across a burning desert. The odds against The Kid and the four women getting there alive were almost insurmountable.
But he wasn’t going to let that stop him from trying. His life no longer meant much to him, but maybe his death could accomplish something good.
The door was still open, so a few minutes later The Kid heard footsteps on the porch. His heart beat heavily in his chest as he looked in that direction.
Luis came into the building first, but right behind him, walking with her eyes downcast, came Jessica Ritter. Jess’s lank, fair hair hung in front of her face. One of the Rurales was beside her with his free hand clamped around her arm.
Jess’s clothes were in tatters, and the pale flesh that showed through the rents was mottled by bruises. Obviously, she had been through hell.
The same was true of the other women who were brought into the room behind her, each of them being hauled along by a Rurale. Violet Price bore little resemblance to the friendly, cheerful middle-aged woman who had provided several meals for The Kid. She was haggard and barely able to stumble along. Her daughter Elsie was in better shape but was still bruised and terrified. Leah Gabbert came last, her auburn hair a wild mass of tangles and a haunted look in her eyes as she jerked her head back and forth rapidly. The Kid wondered if the ordeal had driven her mad.
“You see,” Guzman said, “I keep my end of the bargain, Senor Kelly. You and your men may choose among these ... lovely ladies. They are yours for the night.”
Kelly grinned. “That sounds good to me. Since I’m the ramrod of this outfit, I’ll pick first, and I want the blonde.” He turned his head to glance at The Kid as he asked mockingly, “If that’s all right with you, Morgan?”
At the mention of The Kid’s name, Jess’s head suddenly jerked up, and an involuntary cry of “Kid!” came from her lips. She hadn’t noticed him before.
“So this is the one who’s special to you, eh, Kid?” Kelly asked, still grinning. “Well, that’s too bad, because she’s going upstairs with me.”
It took a lot of effort, but The Kid kept his face expressionless as he shrugged his shoulders. “Fine. It doesn’t really matter to me which one I get.”
The pain that flashed in Jess’s eyes at those callous words stabbed him to the core. He didn’t think it was wise for Kelly to know how much she meant to him.
“That’s good to know. Makes me trust you a little more, Kid.” Kelly reached out, took hold of Elsie Price’s arm, and thrust her toward The Kid. “Here, take this young one. She’s closer to your age, anyway.”
The Kid put a smile on his face. “Sounds good.” He slipped an arm around her shoulders. “You want to come upstairs with me, honey?”
He felt her trembling, but other than that, she didn’t respond.
“Answer the man,” Kelly snapped.
Biting her lips, Elsie lifted her head and gasped. “Y-yes. I want ... I want to go upstairs with you, mister.”
“Guess that leaves you with your pick of these other two, Chess,” Kelly said.
“I’ll take the older one,” Chess said. “That redheaded gal looks loco. Lupe can have her when he’s finished getting those scalps.”
“All right.” To Guzman, Kelly went on. “The redheaded girl will stay here with you and Mateo, Captain, until Lupe is done. The rest of us have things to do.”
Guzman nodded. “Of course. Luis, show them to their rooms.”
As they started up the curving staircase, The Kid tightened his arm around Elsie’s shoulders and tried to ignore the hate-filled glances Jess kept shooting back at him.
Sooner or later, she would understand, he told himself. When he got the prisoners out of there, she would realize he hadn’t meant what he said.
In the meantime, he could put up with knowing that she thought he was just about the lowest snake on the face of the earth.
When they reached the landing, Luis took them down the corridor in the opposite direction from Guzman’s quarters. As the captain had said, there were a number of empty rooms up there. The Kid supposed that important visitors—men who had come to San Remo to buy slaves from Guzman—used them from time to time. He wished there was some way to put a stop to that sordid operation, but the task was too big for him. He would have to settle for rescuing the four women, if he could even pull that off.
With several Rurales tagging along as guards, Luis showed the men to their rooms and lit lamps in each one. The chamber he took The Kid and Elsie into wasn’t fancy, but it was furnished comfortably with a bed, a wardrobe, a small table, and a couple of chairs. A rug was on the floor.
Luis lit the lamp on the table, then turned to The Kid. “Buenas noches, senor. Enjoy your stay.”
“I intend to,” The Kid said, keeping up the facade as he squeezed Elsie’s shoulders again. She shuddered. With a smile, the clerk went out and closed the door behind him, leaving the two of them alone.
The Kid had already noticed the room’s single window. Yellow curtains hung over it. He let go of Elsie and strode over to it, sweeping the curtains back and unfastening the latch so he could swing the casements open.
There was no balcony outside. But the ends of wooden beams called vigas protruded from the adobe wall under the tile roof. The Kid thought he might be able to swing from them and make his way to the window that opened into the next room, where Kelly and Jess were.
He nodded in satisfaction and turned back to face Elsie. It was time to explain to her the real reason he was there and what he intended to do.
He didn’t get the chance. Without warning, she charged at him, slamming both hands into his chest and knocking him back against the window. His knees hit the sill, and he toppled over it into empty air.
Chapter 26
Elsie’s actions took The Kid completely by surprise. She hadn’t looked or acted like she had any fight left in her at all. As he fell backward, his hands shot out and gripped the sides of the window, stopping his plunge.
She continued her attack, lunging at him, clawing at his eyes with her fingernails. He jerked his head from
