Blood Bond: Arizona Ambush

Juan Pablo shrugged.

“If you change your mind ...”

“I don’t reckon I will.”

The familiar sneer appeared on the warrior’s face.

“Now you sound like a white man,” he said. “Always convinced you are right.”

Sam shrugged and turned to head back to the hogan where he’d left Matt. That was where he’d been staying, too.

Sam gathered his gear, checked the place where the bullet crease was healing on the animal, and then saddled his horse, which was picketed on a grassy stretch beside the creek with the Navajo ponies. When he was ready to go, he returned to the hogan and found Matt sitting up, eating a bowl of stew.

Matt’s face was a little thinner from his ordeal and pale under his permanent tan. But he seemed to have a healthy appetite, and that was a good sign. He finished the stew, set the empty bowl aside, and said, “You look like you’re ready to ride.”

“I am,” Sam said with a nod.

“You’re really gonna leave me here?”

“Caballo Rojo has given me his word personally that you’ll be taken care of.”

Matt made a face.

“I don’t much cotton to being taken care of.” He glanced across the hogan, where Elizabeth Fleming sat with Juan Pablo’s wife, each of them weaving a blanket. Elizabeth wasn’t the only one doing the teaching during her stay with the Navajo. “Even when the surroundings are pleasant most of the time.”

A worried frown creased Sam’s forehead.

“I trust Caballo Rojo,” he said as he folded his arms across his chest and gave Matt a stern look. “Can I trust you?”

“Trust me to what?” Matt asked in apparent innocence.

“Behave yourself.”

“Me? Why, I always behave myself, Sam, you know that.”

Sam grunted.

“I’m not joking here, Matt,” he said. “You’d better take care of yourself and let those wounds heal up.”

“I have a strong constitution,” Matt said with a smile.

“You’ve got a strong something.” Sam held out his hand. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“You’d better be back in a week or less,” Matt said as he clasped Sam’s hand.

“Why’s that?”

“Because by then I’ll be strong enough to come after you, and that’s exactly what I plan to do if you haven’t shown up by then.”

So that was a new worry, Sam thought. But Matt had a point. In a week’s time, he probably would be strong enough to leave. Matt had always healed quickly and had a vast core of inner strength. He might joke on the outside, but on the inside he was steel and whang leather.

“Fine. If I’m not back in a week, you can come pick up my trail.”

Matt nodded.

“Darn right I will.”

“So long.”

Matt started to get up.

“I can come outside—”

Sam waved him back down onto the blankets.

“Just sit there and rest, blast it. The more you do that, the sooner you’ll get well.”

Sam started to duck out through the hogan’s door. Matt stopped him by saying, “I suppose it’d be too much to ask for you to save a couple varmints for me.”

“I reckon that’ll be up to them,” Sam said.

Chapter 9

Juan Pablo was waiting next to Sam’s horse.

“You are certain you do not want me to come with you?” he asked.

Sam thought quickly. He remembered the looks of dislike that Juan Pablo had given both of them. He didn’t think Matt would do anything to cause trouble while he was gone, but it might be better to have Juan Pablo where he could keep an eye on him.

Sam considered the situation, then said, “Juan Pablo, I’ve changed my mind. I appreciate your offer, and I accept.”

Juan Pablo’s expression was as flinty as ever, but Sam thought he saw a flash of satisfaction in the man’s eyes. Juan Pablo nodded and said, “I will tell my woman and get my pony.”

“I’ll be waiting right here,” Sam told him.