where the rope had burned them.
'Come down here, nirut,' Chavez ordered.
She was ready to defy him; Jeremiah was not. He dismounted quickly from
the horse and reached for Tess. He set her hastily on the ground, then
moved away from her as if she were a rattler.
'There she is, good as new, just as we promised. Now, where is the gold,
Chavez?'
Chavez motioned to one of the men behind him, a half- naked Indian
wearing a headband of eagle feathers, a breech clout twin leather strips
of rifle bullets and nothing more.
He carried a small leather satchel that he tossed to Jeremiah. Jeremiah
instantly opened the bag. He let out a joyous whoop and looked to David.
alpache Summer 'Gold. I mean gold!' He bit the coins, smiling wolfishly.
'See, David, it was all worth it!'
'Wait, my friend,' Chavez said. He took a step closer to Tess.
'These rat piss, they did not touch you?'
Tess narrowed her eyes, then thought of her own safety. 'No, they did
not touch me.'
Chavez nodded.
'Nalte, he does not like to be he- trayed.' He raised his voice,
shouting in Spanish. A Mexican rode up leading a small pinto pony.
'You,' he told Jeremiah and David.
'You are done. You go. That is all.
And you, woman, you will ride this horse.'
She did not move. Jeremiah mounted his horse once again, but Tess made
no move. Angry, Chavez urged his mount forward until his large buckskin
was nearly stepping upon her.
Still, she did not move.
'Ni~a' -- 'I'm not a girl, Chavez, and I have a name. It's Miss.
Stuart.'
Chavez started to laugh. He laughed so hard that he crunched down on his
cigarillo. He nearly swallowed part of it and started to choke.
When he caught his breath, he dismounted from his horse and thundered
furiously over to her. He was a short man, she thought. One who looked
much better on a horse than standing. She was almost as tall as he. She
would be taller.
She raised her chin and met his stare.
'Get on the horse,' he said. Still, she refused to move. 'Eh, nifta, I
am talking to you.' He reached out a hard, callused palm and set it
against her cheek. Tess slapped him with all the strength in her.
There was silence from every man there.
Then Chavez let loose with a spate of Spanish oaths. Tess thought he
would strike her, but he did not. He lifted her, setting her upon the
bare back of the pinto. She fought and clawed at him. His hat went
flying into the dirt.
Her nail imprinted a bright line upon his unshaven cheek. He swore
again, stooping to swoop up his hat.
'Hey, Chavez!' David snickered.
'We warned you she was dangerous.'
Chavez calmly pulled out his pistol and shot David through the heart.
