Featured short story
Written By:
Chip & Dave
JD and Iggy invade Mexico
Well, it was bound to happen. You take a couple of old "moss horned" cowhands, one of them a cheerful and spontaneous go gitter than runs completely on optimism, and the other is a taciturn, pessimistic loner, mix in a little whiskey, guns, and gold, and you've got the potential for some kind of adventure.
Similar circumstances bring J.D up from Texas and Iggy down from Wyoming to the Denver Stock show. An evening of swappin' yarns and a few drinks leads to these two old hands to partnerin' up and go off on a Great Adventure, South of the Border.
Chip & Dave
JD and Iggy invade Mexico
Well, it was bound to happen. You take a couple of old "moss horned" cowhands, one of them a cheerful and spontaneous go gitter than runs completely on optimism, and the other is a taciturn, pessimistic loner, mix in a little whiskey, guns, and gold, and you've got the potential for some kind of adventure.
Similar circumstances bring J.D up from Texas and Iggy down from Wyoming to the Denver Stock show. An evening of swappin' yarns and a few drinks leads to these two old hands to partnerin' up and go off on a Great Adventure, South of the Border.
The Invasion of Ol' Mexico
Denver Stock
Show
JD was a soakin' one in at the lounge of the Brown Palace, feelin' 'bout as low as a
gut shot panther. He'd drove two days to get here, hoping to visit with some old friends and kick up a lit'l sand. Hadn't been here in several years, things shore nuff had changed.
Seemed like all his old pards had either passed on or taken up the rockin' chair.
Loss their grit as he call'd it, no piss and vinegar left in 'em.
He’d drawn a blank in El Paso, crapped out in Ft. Worth. JD shur had some serious purcolatin' to do on this here plan of his. Lookin up from his contemplatin, he sees this here grizzled old hand sidelin' up to the bar. This feller look'd familiar, kinda favor'd an ol' rough stock hand from up north of here a piece.
"Howdy there Podner, pull ya self up a chair, kinda dead in here ain't it. Alls them youngin's musta be waterin' at some other hole these days. It's just as wells, most of 'em wouldn't know com' here from sic 'em, anyhows." JD added.
"Don't mind if I do, Thanks for the invite. Name's Iggy."
"Call me JD, pleased to meetcha. I's got into town a few days ago, thinkin' I might run into some of them fellers I knew when I's was goin' down the road. Never did win much...Jest enought to get to the next ropin. But in them days we's shur nuff was livin' free and easy."
"I rode saddle broncs back in the day, but I spent most of my winnin's git'n patched up from the lickin's I took. I kin tell you I've seen some of the best buckin' Stock
in the country. I've watched them buck away from me as I picked
myself up off the ground." Iggy replied.
"Yep, I would't take a millon dollars fer them times...But would't give ya nickel fer some more of it neither. It jest seem like nobody wants to have no fun no more." JD was a
thinkin out loud.
"Ya want another one...On me?" JD motioned to the barkeep. "Yeh, I reckon I will, Thanks. I'll take a Beam and water back there young feller..."
"I's got a little place down near Laredo, been fool around with a
few head of runnin' hosses now and agin', jest to trade around on. Nuthin too serious now in days." sez JD.
"I had a little place years back. It was my grand parent's homestead. I din't like bein'
ground tied, so I sold it to a big outfit that plumb surrounded us. I put the money in a Bank and that was the last I saw of it. The bank went belly up and that smooth talkin' banker sumbitch retired on a hell of bunch of other folks money," remembered Iggy.
Ol' JD's in kinda a tight here and thinkin' mebbe he's found a salty ol' fart jest
right for this here little raid he's got in mind....
Ya never know, this Mr. Iggy might just be the sort ta partner up with fer a spell.
JD turns over the first card in this here deck, jest to see..."Ya know week befer last, I's in this little joint down on the river, jest countin' a few longnecks fer 'em, when this hereyoung gal comes in and she shur nuff look'd familiar like. So's I says, Hey gal, you any kin to Felina Lucena...She tells me she's Felina's grand daughter. When I asked about her grandmother and grandfather Julio, she says her grandfather had died several
years ago, and that her grandmother was well and living on the family ranch, near Nuevo Laredo, in Mexico."
JD starts in tellin' Iggy about how he'd traded horses and a few guns with this
Felina gal's Pa. And that he'd soree down thata way in the old days. "The old man had some good guns, not no junk." And how he’d once got a extra nice old triple lock
Smith with carved ivory stocks from the old mexican. Ended up tradin it to some Ranger
over near Lampasas for a reining horse well passed his prime.
"I reckon we've all made trades like that." Iggy answers.
JD continues on with out missin a beat, "Did I every tell ya about the time we bought all them steers off'n Felina's Pa?" Iggy says, "No Sir, I don’t reckon you have…but I s'pect
you're gonna..."
Iggy nods at the barkeep to bring another round and...Wells, "You see her… Felina's Pa was an honest sort of feller, ya know, for a trader and all. He'd trade on most anything any good, livestock, guns and such. That's how I got acquainted with Felina. Me and her was about the same age back then. I’d bet fifty dollars in gold she's still pretty as a picture..."
JD takes himself a pull on that long neck and continues on,"The old man
would gather up a pot load of dandy corrientes . Three and four weights with good horn, not none of that old shelly stuff. We'd drive 'em about a half day or so north toward the river ands run 'em thru the dip after we crossed them at this little set of pens there.
Before ya knowed it, we had ‘em loaded up on that double deck and that
there ol' Mack was a blowin' black smoke north all the ways to the panhandle."
To the pain of ol' Iggy, JD doesn't let up, "We'd blow into that Amarill’r and fuel up. Pulled off the main road, at that eat joint where ya can get a good steak...Anyhows, I’s meets up with this feller there, I think his name was Shoulders or something big like that. He gives me and my pard an ol dinner sack full of cash and tells us he don’t wants to see our butt ugly carcasses ever again, never. Puts some run-down ol’ cowboy up behind the wheel of that Mack and they lit' out with the truck, trailer, cattle and all.
We hoof'd it down the road a half mile or so. Hot wire an old pickup we left there some time a week or two before... Hell, we’d done that little deal, two or three time a year with that ol’ boy. That was some purty good pocket money from them ol’ rodeo
contractors."
Shoulders, huh? So that's where ol Jim got those ropin' and doggin' critters he used at his rodeo school Iggy, thought to hisself. Well at least some of this ol hand's tale fits with what's real.
It was getting’ on down in the shank of the evening and JD wasn’t gonna let this
here salty ol’ hand get away. It might be his last…No, maybe only chance to see
Felina again and make good at the same time.
“You’ll have jest one more, won’t ya?” JD offered. Thank ya for the company, it’s
been pretty lonesome around here. Jest me and all these folks I ain't never seen befor's."
"Yeh, I come in here ever year a lookin' for some of the old hands I rode the ridges with
back when, but they either got old or went under I guess, ain't been none of
them here for a couple of years," said Iggy.
JD pulled out his makings…They's was dry and the papers all wrinkled, but before he could start a rollin’ one, he whispered, "Back before the war, her Pa buried a few old Colts and some Smith-Wessons too, about a dozen of 'em. Brand spankin’ new 357 Magnums. Along with several hundred twenty dollar double eagles, fer a ol' friend I use't
have."
"You remember how it was back then, when's the gumment said folks couldn’t own gold no more. Well, this here rancher hired a couple of us boys he could trust to help him carry this here gold and guns over into Mexico for safe keepin’ with his good friend, this here mexican farmer, Felina’s father. Billy Lee was the other boy that went with us, he’s dun crossed over now."
"I saw them guns and I saw the gold. I went back with the old man in the 50s and
we came back with part of the gold, maybe a quarter of them 20 dollar gold pieces. He gave me 10 of ‘em, told me to keep my mouth shut and hold on to ‘em. Said, they'd bring me a piece of luck some day."
The mention of them guns and gold had got ol Iggy to lean back in his chair and
tip his Stetson back a bit and listen a leetle bit longer to this moss horned ol galoot.
JD makes one last overture…"I’d bet one of those 20 dollar gold pieces that those guns and part of the gold, if not all of it...Is still there." I don’t believe Felina knows anything 'bouts this deal with her father. We both know that women folk weren’t privy to the men's business back in those days."
"Mr.Iggy, you sleep on it and mull it over, I could use a partner on this little soiree.
If’n your so a mind to. We could come back flush with riches and full from adventure."
As JD pushed himself up outta the chair, "The hotel has a dining room open early,
I’ll be there…Hope to see you there for breakfast."
The only agreement reached…Each would think about it.
For the unschooled this might have just sounded like a tall tale or a BSin’.
But no sirree, it was sizin’ up. Both of knew stock and they also knew men…They was
just readin’ one other. Of course, JD's trying to find a partner with enough sand and backbone to get into Mexico and out again with the loot…Without all of ‘em getting’ kilt. JD thinks he found it in Iggy. He don’t care nothing much about the guns…What hereally wants is this here Senorita Felina and about…maybe, half of the gold….
Iggy's just trying to figger out why him? And what’s the angle of all this? Lots of
questions,,,Could this be for real? How would someone store guns like that to keep this long? Mebbe, just mebbe this here deal might just lead a feller thats gittin' long in the tooth to enuff swag to cover his needs until he goes toes up. Hmmm?
Mexico, damn, that don't sound too good.. I spent a week down there and sed I'd never set foot down there agin, but... This feller don't come across as all hat and no cattle. Hmmm....?
It was a long restless nite for ol' JD. Thoughts raced as he tried to figgered every
which a way to slip in down theres, just for a look see. As many times as he'd
made that there little trip years ago...Most times all a feller had to do was jest mash down an ol' three strand wire fence and lead your horse across, and you was in ol'
Mexico. Things and times had shor' nuf' changed...
This cold weather was playin' the devil with JD's rheumatism, he wanted to get back
to South Texas and get on with this business at hand. Rummagin' thru his bag he
found a scribbled telephone number with the international prefix for Mexico, it
was Falina's. He'd planned on calling her in few days when he returned to Laredo.
Checking his pocket watch, 5:30am. Maybe the cooks would have coffee boiled and breakfast started by now. Arriving at the dining room he looked for a seat, one where he'd have his back to the wall and could see the entrances...Someone already had that
strategic spot taken.
"Howdy, this here other chair taken?" JD asked while’s takin a look around the room.
"Nope, you might as well set a spell, the coffee ain't quite ready." reported Iggy.
"This's sur nuf a high brow place they’s got right here, don't believe I ever slept on a bed quite that high off'n the ground. And a softin' too boot, bet I didn't roll out till nigh 3:30. Dun loaded my gear up in the pickup, it's a blue coldin' out there tis morn."
"Yeh, Casey, Jim and Benny used to stay here durin' the rodeo. I never did think much of them soft mattress's but them boys was a bit older'n me and favorin' a lot of bruises back then," recalled Iggy.
Conversation during breakfast was sparce, with a side of thick sliced bacon and settin' or
two of eggs with biscuits betwicts the two of 'em, the coffee was passable. But not as strong as either preferred. JD wiped the crumbs and coffee from his somewhat unkempt
handlebar mustache with a napkin whiter than any shirt he ever owned and with that, opened the ball."About last nite, I wouldn't blame ya one bit if'n you thought I was yarnin' ya, what with some crazy ol' man's tall tales 'bout some kinda wild goose chase.
I wouldn't believe it neither, if'n I'd jest he'rd of it from some stranger in some ol's bar
som'wher's."
"But, I saws it with my very own eyes. I help'd pack them pistols up in the grease and wrap 'em upin waxy papers, we puts 'em back in their own box and wrapped that up too." JD looked Iggy in the eye and sezs, "That rancher, me and ol' Billy Lee worked for two days get 'em ready to go. He'd got holt of two good size copper milk cans from a dairy som'wher's and we packed them guns in them cans, seat'd them tops down with a maul and sweat'd 'em lids on with lead. The coins were packed in canvas bags, a few had near on 50 or better in 'em, others maybe a 100 or so, they sur were heavy for their size. That seems like a lot now, but that ol' gentleman owned nigh near half the county, an third of another."
"How come this here Senyore feller cached that stuff insteada puttin' it in one of the safety deposit things in a bank?" quiried Iggy. "Ya know how it was, folks didn't like banks cause all 'em failin's, closin's and such." "I sure enuff know about them kind of doin's and that's a fact." Iggy agreed."They didn't trust the gu'mint ne'ther. The few that had anythin' left was a rat-holein' what theys had. Those of us that didn't have nuthin
was jest makin' do with nuthin," JD added.
"Falina's Pa's dead now and the man that hir'd us boys to go with him...Well, he got his ownself kilt down in Lousana'r at a little ol' airplane strip...There along with two other
fellers.Heard they over shot it and kicked a wreak in 'em piney woods and she caught a fire on 'em. I guess ya could say I'm the last of us. "Ya and me both knows it's tougher than iron wood knots to find a salty ol' hand with som' gu'pshin fer this kinda work." JD said, just lookin to Iggy for a sign.
"Wall, I got tell you, you ain't found nobody just yet and that's plumb center.
I got to know a bunch more about this here little caper afore I hitch up to anything to do with you.How long is this little sorreee gonna take? I ain't no fan of them taycoes and tamales for very durn long. My bung hole got 3 d'gree burns from that swill the last time I was down here." As Iggy sized JD up.
"I'd been packin' stock salt and windmill parts to them tanks usin' mules for a spell and lashin' them milk cans wern't no chore on a good size mule, we didn't use no little bur'os. Had another mule for the gold and our traps. When we got down to the rancho the ol' mexican was ready fer us. He's got this here grave dug about four foot deep and six foot long, maybe three feet wide. On one end of that there hole was this ol' iron pan that look like'n it come off'n a catapillar tractor or somethin', we put all but two of the sacks of gold in it and covered that up with a heavy iron plate," continued JD"Next we laid them milk cans in and covered the whole deal with the driest dang dirt ya ever did
see, I don't believe it'd seen any rain since Noah's time.Besides it was inside this ol' barn stall anyhows. Well, that there's jest about the co'rse details o' it...But, I'm not gonna show my hol' cards till I know if ya in or
foldin'..." allowed JD.
"So this swag is buried in a barn? Does that gal still live there? If she don't and a feller goes nosin' around some stranger's diggin's is askin' for a loada buckshot plumb quick.
If it ain't in a barn, I kin tell you certain that two old farts diggin' holes
is gonna draw two legged buzzards like a gut pile," advised Iggy.
JD countered, "Ya and I know what the stakes could be....Ah, hell we both know what they are...Neigh near all o' it. Gettin' ins the easy part. Findin' what we lookin fur, fixin' everthin' ready an in the notion to comin' back, tis another thin'."
"That's what I'm thinking too. Wanderin' around there like Bogart and them others with pack mules and heavy cargo, we'd stick out like a boil on yure backside.
We don't wanta to bump into any of 'em fed'ralies or baditits even by accident." mumbles Iggy.
"Yeah, some of 'em boys jes' plain ol' kill fer a livin' ya know." JD said with knowing glance.
Iggy sezs, "Use to be they was just amateur crooks and a feller could usual bluff or shoot his way out of a scrape, but from what I hear these fellers today ain't nuthin' to be messin' with. I'm a wantin' to know how do you an this here Falina hitch up in this mess? You got eyes for that gal? You figger'n to split some with her or just make tracks for Texas and drag her along? Looks to me that unless you got her pegged better'n it sounds, she could be the real turd in the churn here. I've run across some of them gals what keeps a mean little sticker tied to their laig and they ain't bashful 'bout usin' it if someone cross's them."
"If'n they'll fill this her' pot of coffee up, I'll tell ya..." As JD summons the waitress.
"I ain't draw'n no map if'n that's whatcha thinkin'. Ands 'bout the woman, she's the center pin to this her' whole deal, ya see. When I's hear she's back down there, I figg'r it's the only chance to gather that ol' cache up an' outta ther'.
That there spread was her Pa's and his Pa's before him, I don't know how fer back...
Some kinda land grant from one of 'em revalus'ons theys was ahavin'. Dang'd ol' place, ya couldn't raise an unbreller on it, but she runs clean north all the ways to the river."
"That's a point in our favor, course no matter what the lay of the land, a feller's still got to get acrost that river and they got stuff for spottin' wetbacks and druggers that you and I ain't never gonna understand. That gittin' home could be as sticky as cactus.
You and me is sure to be outgunned in anything we stumble into," stated Iggy in a
weathered tone.
"After that first little deal, that buryin' and all, I made my way down there a few time.
Traded horses and a ol' gun er two with Felina's Pa, but mos'ly to see her.I's here to tell ya, she sur a purty little thin', she was learn'n american and tried talkin' to me at ever' turn. After a spell, she could talk english bet'r I could.
One time a trail'd this lit' red roan hoss down there fer safe keep'n, ya sees, I's hold'n on to 'im for a bad debt...Didn't wanta chance him gett'n stole back or nuthin' like that. Never saw that horse 'gain...That purty gal, Felina took a shine to it, an' I jest giv' her that pony. Oh, I mighta stole me a kiss or two, if'n there wern't nobody lookin'," confessed JD with a sly grin.
"It mighta been a year er so 'for I got back thata way...Her Pa says she'd married ands moved off to Califoria with her new husban. Heard they wind'd up near riches.
Hear'd she got her american citersenship...Pro'ble kept her mexican papers too.
I guess after her husban died she got all homesick for the ol' place...Kinda like we all do at times. Anyhows, her memory can't be no wors'n mine." hoped JD as he said that
thought out loud.
Lookin up from his cup of coffee JD sez ta Iggy, "I's got her telephon numer, was gonna give her a call when I's get back to Laredo. Jest give it to her straigh' out, we'd left somethin' down there with her Pa and want to come and get it. If'n she ask what, well, I's jest tell her some ol' guns and some other traps."
"Well, I think for sure you don't want to tell her nuthin' bout them gold coins and
such. Least not til you git that stash and mebbe her back across the river. By then you should know which way her stick floats. If'n she sees them bags of gold there ain't no way a knowin' what she could come up with," Iggy counseled.
"Mr. Iggy, I didn't go too awful fer in school, oh I learn'd my three Rs, but it wer' life's lesson that learn't me to read 'tween the lines. What I hear on the other end of that ther' telephon will tell if'n she 'members it like me."
"I's kinda hopin' to slip in down ther' real quite like, o' nite ahorseback, no packstock ands maybes sweet talk the ol' gal in to helpin' us to get this here little load back as far as the river...Maybes get close to that ol' set of shippin' pens. I dout her want nut'in to do with a wor'out ol' saddle tramp after bein' married to a high step'er all 'em years. So, her a comin' back with me to Texas is jest an ol' man's foolish thou't," admitted JD.
"I sure don't blame you for admirin' that little filly. I got tangled up with one down
there years ago and that gal was as firey as one of them Japaleno peppers and that's a
fact. She could love you white hot one minute or be ready slit your throat in a heart beat if you got crosswise of her. She sure was sumthin'. I don't reckon this here Falina is any
differn't. You sure need to keep yure cards close to your chest til you know which way the wind is gonna blow."
"Back in Laredo, I's got a pair of hosses, runnin' bred, that a feller's a tendin' fer me...They's grainin' and workin' 'em to a right smart trim...Just in case a couple of
fellers need to make a fleet exit across some rough country that wheel'd vehicles can't hardly go's in."
"Besides I know this gal's kinda par'shal to a feller that rides a tall horse. Besides,
might just trip the trigger on an ol' memory 'er two."
With Iggy spurin' JD on, pullin’ his pocket watch out and givin’ the stem a a crank ‘er two, 8:30 am his time, it’d be the same in Nuevo Laredo …”I guess, I’s could try to give Felina call. Just to kinda see if ther’s any sign of this here thing gonna workin’ out atall.” JD reached in his chore coat pocket for the little, all most toy lookin’ phone his daughter had made him carry along. Just in case, that he might need one. Diggin’ around in his shirt pocket he retrieved the scribbled note with Felina’s telephone number. Holdin’ the phone the right distance from his reading spectacles he punched in the numbers…
JD
Makes The Call,
"Hope she’s there at the hacienda....…Hello, Mrs. Felina Lucena?
Wells, this there’s JD Tucker from Laredo, Texas ma'am,,no, JD
Tucker, Laredo,,,yes ma'am,,, Jimmy Dewayne Tucker,,,yes, I was hopin’,,,, yes,.. you'd remember me from the ol’ days, too,,,, yeah,,,,I used to do some tradin’ with your Father,,,"
Iggy watches the old man as he makes the call and sez to himself. "Well, here we go, am I gittin' myself in to an adventure here or an ol man's lost love story? Either way, I see I'm the third laig on a purty shaky stool. What the hell, gittin' old ain't that much fun anyway. Better to go out facin' into the wind than layin' in an ol' bed and pissin’ myself on some poor farm sumwher's."
"Yes ma'am,,,,I remember too,,,,,,uh,,,,, that’s kinda what I’m callin’ about,,,,,uh,,,, I don’t know if you'll recall or not, but,,,,,me and a Mr. Killam and another young feller came down with a couple of pack mule loads and left 'em for safe keepin’ with your father…..I know, I was sorry to hear 'bout your Father,,,,yes,,,,,well it looks like this un-finished business just falls to us now……Mrs, Lucena,,,,,Felina,,,,,I’d like to come down ther’ in a week or so and pick those items up and return back to Texas as soon as I could,,,,,,I'd like to come in the old road,,,,like we used back then,,,,,If that would be ok,,,,,,I see,,,,,Yes, ma'am,,,,Thank you,,,,,,Uh,,,,well,,,we's hid some ol' guns and some other loose items with them,,,,,I see,,,,,Thank You very much for your kindness,,,,,Yes, I will,,,, I look forward to seein’ you again too. Buen Dia, to you too.”
JD
carefully pushes the button to end the call and then pushed it once again turning the mobile phone off. Iggy listens to the one sided conversation and thinks to himself, "Well that warn't much of a reunion. Sounds like a purty skinny start to me. Looks to me like ol JD Puts more store in them two's past than she does." S'pect maybe JDis right and she won't want to throw in with some moss horned ol saddle tramp. She may be is just bein' polite to an old friend of her dad's and doin' what she has to git him out of her hair as quick as she can.
Them older folks is like that, honorin' their families promises and commitments.
I don't see much loyalty tween those two as it stands now but if I know anything about them folks, she'll honor any deal her Dad did with JD don't matter how long ago. It'll be a dang sight easier gittin' back to Texas if she'd just haul that swag back to the river.
How JD splits things with her ain't no never mind to me. I reckon there is more deadly things to deal with than some old gal down on some ranchero. We got's to git by bandits, druggers, Federales, and the Border Patrol, if we don't drown in that damn muddy crick. Iggy chuckled to himself and sed,"Other than them little things, this don't sound like much of a chore at all." JD look’d over his readin’ glasses at Iggy, “Don’t go spreading that Jimmy Dewayne stuff around will ya. Oh, I almost forgot…You can ride a broke horse can’t ya?” JD asked with a little sharp brier tied to it.
"I kin ride all right!" snorted Iggy. "Question is, you got any horses that won't insult a good hand's dignity to be seen on'em? I don't see my last ride into glory bein' made on some broomtail nag."
"Wells, we ain't gonna be mount’d on no burros if that's what's yer askin'.I's got one fer ya, a seven year old geld'n, 16 hand er a little better. Handcock bred outta a thro'bred mare. That gentleman’s shur nuf deep, a long under line and can cover the ground."
"That don't sound like too bad a ride. Got some good blood there and like you say orta cover some ground long and fast." Iggy agrees.
"Been workin' gettin' the horses and gear ready. Got two of them handmade trail saddles, half the weight of an ol' stock rig. Built four sets of alforjas, two larger ones that'll hold those boxed pistols behind the cantles, three to the side and not pinch the hoss's flank. The small ones to pack the bags of double eagles up on the forks. The
whole sh'bang won't weight no more than a average ropin' kak,"allowed JD.
Studying the situtuation, Iggy says, "Sounds like you done some thinkin' and plannin' on this for a while. Them rigs sound like they'll work. Good thinkin' to make them light.This ain't gonna be no picnic and we may have to do some fancy ridin' to stay outta the deep crap!"
"Drivin' down, if'n we hit that William. J. LePetomane th'r-a-fare,
we'll need a shit load of dimes...." chimed JD.
"I got what's left of my stash tucked away, we kin stop some'res and I'll trade it in on some rolls of dimes." Iggy offered. "I still ain't seen no reason of them dammed coin slot highways no how."
JD says, "I'd figger ya got som' kinda sidearm with ya, ain't ya?"
"Is a pig's ass pork?" Iggy retorts. "I ain't been without a side arm for over 50 years."
As an after thought JD throwed in, "I been praticin' with a little metal dectect'r and it's
workin' a right smart at findin' junk, old lost wrenches and the like."
"That there sounds like a purty good idea. Hadn't thought of that, but I guess I ain't quite square on where this here plunder is cached. As I git older, I'm gittin' that CRS disease worse ever year, but I reckon I could sure remember where I stashed somethin' like you're tellin' about clear as hell I'm thinkin'. You know where it is or don't you, JD?"
Actin like he didn't hear that sharp lit'l needle atall, JD sez, "Got this here friend that's a Deputy, he'll let us park the pickup and trailer at his place, about a mile from them ol' pens...That'll put us 'bout three miles from the crossin' spot. Jest gotta stick to the brush gettin' to the river. I still got a commission, I'm gonna carry a little handheld radio...Might want to use it a comin' back."
With a show of concern Iggy ask, "How much have you had to tell that Deputy 'bout this here sworee? Don't want to be bad mouthin' your friend. Hell, I carried a badge for a good number of years. I don't know any ol lawman whut ain't gonna be a wee bit curious what there is acrost that river worth two old farts bein' willin' to run the risks we are gonna be takin here."
"This here deputy and me, we's been over in mexico a time er two. Went over ther' and found this narco of a dope dealer that had kilt some folks on this side of the river...
He didn't ask why I needed a favor and I didn't say. Besides, he's a family man,
he don't need to be doin' this sort of things."JD said witha far off look.
With a understandin glance, Iggy follows up, "I know I'm a distrustful cuss, but I'm the kind of a feller that looks for the worst kinda outcome and am pleasantly surprised when it don't happen. That kind of thinkin' has kept me outta some mighty tight spots
over the years. I ain't afraid of nuthin' but I shore like to peel down the odds a bit ahead of time if I can."
JD counters, "Hell, who knows, we might come outta this richer than ol' Dobbs or mebbe not. Might even get skin't up a bit or even kilt a little...But, I's come 'bout as far on
nuthin' as I care too.That cache is there's all right, it's ours for the taken...If'n we ty on hard and can jerk the slack, we’ll have it or it'll have us, one t' other."
"Felina says the old road's washed out, it ain't been used in years...We couldn't get a four wheel drive over it if'n we want'd too. That's good news fer us. She'll have some good hay and feed as well. She's probably got the best remuda in all of northern mexico by nows anyway. Best I recall, there's lots of deep gulleys and washes, besides nobodys gonna be to interested in two old farts and no pack string."
"Yeh, well ther' JD that's a two edged sword I reckon. The rough ground and cover will be to our advantage in one way. There won't be much worry about the Federales bein' out there without vehicles. But it'll sure be damp powder for us if'n somebody gets wind of what we're doin.' Good country for an ambush and it takes away all the advantage of them fast horses you got...You got any kind of a map of the country we're goin' to so's a feller can get the general lay of the land in his head? I'm keen on knowin' land marks some so I got a feel for things if the crap hit's the fan and we git separated in some kind of a fracas. I ain't tryin' to git any advance on where this here cache is. I don't got no intentions of some kind of underhand doin's here. We find it or we don't. We's ain't got no maps. There's jest two directions, north or south. We slip in goin' south, get
what we's come after and beat it hell bent for leather back north outta there! That country changes every time the wind blows."
"Just be nice to have a bit of a feel for the country besides that old road down and back if we step off into sumthin'. I lerned a long time ago not to go down no snowy or muddy hill if you ain't already been up it before hand." Iggy sez, whil's thinkin this thing thru.
"The whole dang territory is ripe for a emboscada, the dark of nite is gonna be our best bet. The firstest with the mostest is gonna rule the day." JD’s tryin to set the stage.
"I don't know what half of that there gold will be worth...But, it's gotta be a dang sight more than I made guidin' deer hunters the last few years."
JD knows he ain't foolin' Iggy none nor himself about Felina...Ain't neither one of 'em ever seen a very many a mexican gal over the age of fifty that ever looked like much. Accordin' to nature, time probably ain't been no kind'r to her that it has to him, or even ol' Iggy here. Jimmy Dewayne is just have a fond memory of a dark eyed pretty girl in a cotton dress...Jest sittin' on the porch of that casa helpin' her mother a churnin' butter.
Back
at the Ranch…In Texas
After a pretty uneventful road trip our two wayward adventurers arrive at JD diggin's'...
Iggy unreels himself outta that pickup and creaks and groans himself vertical.
"Dang, I hope that's the worst part of this little adventure, my butt's
shaped like that miserable seat in that pickup."
Iggy ain't never saw so many 'stored assets' or plain ol' junk in one place...All of it right handy. "Well, this here place looks like lots of old homesteads I been to" Iggy thinks to
himself. Ol' JD knows sure as heck if you git rid of sumthin' that looks like junk, you'll
dang sure need it tomorrow. Iggy sez "Durned if it don't look like the old place back home. Looks like you've saved ever durned thing you ever owned just in case it might come in handy some day."
JD offers a overview, "Wells, she ain't much to look at, but it's hot in the summer and some cooler in the winter. Electricty and plumbin' works most times."
Iggy chuckles, "Yup sounds about like where I grew up. My folks built a new house back in 48. My Ma was sure pleased not to have to make the trip out to the two holer in the winter. But there was some troubles with the indoor plumbin' til my Dad got the bugs out."
"My Grandad was there one night for supper and Ma was grumblin' bout the sewer bein' plugged up." Well, ol Grandad sed, "Well that's what you git for crappin' in the house." Iggy recalled. "I spent lots of winter nights with one side scorched and the others side froze, so I reckon this will be just fine."
JD jerks his chin toward the front corner of the small room and says, "Ya can throw your gear over theres...That bunk ain't too awful tic'y. I'll get us some T-bones outta the de'p freez' and put some coffee on and 'taters a boilin' fer supper. Probably need to re-set the shoes on 'em ponies in the mornin' and square the gear up. What ya thinkin'?
"Well, it's been a few years since I did any shoein' but I reckon if them broomtails ain't just plain ornery, we can get'r did. Reckon when we top them old ponies off, we'll find
out just how good a hoss hand you are purty durned quick," Iggy grinned.
The next evenin' with the horses all sharp shod up, the rough rode off'n 'em and jest lettin' em cool in the sparce shade. Finishing off a meal of beans and ham hock that had simmer'd all day with somepan fried fritos. Cleaning his plate JD porclaims, "Now that right there'll stick to fellers ribs."
As Iggy finishin up he sezs, "It's been a long time since I had a good ol feed on ham hocks and beans. Don't find them in the cafes and Mickey Dee's around the country that's for sure.That was some dang fine doin's and that's certain sure. You'd make a
dang fine bunk house cook if'n you git to stove up to ride anymore," Iggy throw’d in as an after thought.
"I's ain't plannin' on gettin' that crippl'd up...I'd jest 'bout as soon give up the ghost as do that!" JD crow'd. Iggy kind got hisself ready to duck whatever ol JD grabbed to throw at him in case he had gigged him a little too hard with the off hand compliment, but JD din't seem to be put off by the good natured jab.
JD thump'd the can of Cope, "Ya want a pinch? I'd hate to think I'd have to take up slingin hash fer a bunch of waddys. Look over behind the cook stove, in that wood box...There's a jug in thar'.Now Sir, that is some of the bestest shine to ever come outta the hills of north Gawjaw right there. Have ya self a pull."
"Well, JD, after the last few days of lots of miles and shoein' and stuff, and a dang fine meal, this ol' coon is plumb ready for some shut eye. I reckon we better be purty rested before we tie into this little fandango tomorrow, so I reckon I'll say good night."
The next day, they hooked up the gooseneck pipe trailer and fixed the oversized
saddle bags in place. JD emirged from the house with a well worn scabbard for Iggy and fish'd out the blue worn old model 8 Remington he got off'n an ol' Ranger in a horse trade and a half dozen of the longer magazines out of the pickup, handin' it over to Iggy.
Iggy looked at the rig for a minute, and said, "If it's all the same to you, I got my own long gun here. It's one that's rode 'bout a million miles tucked under the head rests in my patrol cars over the years. The only black gun I ever owned. It's got me through some damned ugly scrapes and I'd feel better if'n it was hangin' on the saddle with me."
Iggy pulled a short squat leather scabbard out of his plunder and rigged it up on
top of them cantle bags JD had built. JD couldn't tell much about the rifle but he could see what looked like a butt stock folded along side the receiver of whatever that gun was and it had a pistol grip with a sling attached to it. There was pockets sewed in the side of that scabbard that held what looked for certain like 30 or 40 shot M-16 magazines. He also noticed that Iggy had strapped on a well worn heavy framed revolver and there was a was a bunch of big ol rounds in loops all the way around the belt he had on. It looked like ol Iggy wasn't goin' into this gig short of fire power
that's for sure.
"Suit yer self, I'll just put this'n 'er in the house behind the kindlin' box." Makin' one last trip inside, JD returns wearin a gunbelt with a double magazine pouch, a holster'd ol' gummint model and carryin a wooden box about 3 feet long, eight or ten inches wide and half as thick. He gingerly places it in the bed of the pickup.
Iggy watches as JD puts the box in the bed, but don't say nuthin. I reckon when it's time, we'll see what this ol wadee has squirreled away in that box. He sure handled it gentle. Must be somethin' special. They's ready to go. After a couple hours drive west over back country farm roads to avoid going through town, they arrive at the corrals
of JD's deputy amigo...The lawman is waitin' to help 'em unload the stock and
handed JD a good lookin' little radio.
There ain't much talkin as they unload. Iggy sez his Howdy's to the Deputy, but don't enter into any of the quiet conversation that takes place. This feller might just as straight up as can be, but as far as Iggy is concerned, the less he knows the better. What he don't know, he don't have to lie about some day.
The sun was settin pretty fast, after cinchin' up JD goes to the pickup, opens the wooden box and lifts out a '21 Colt Thompson and a fist full of stick magizines. Sidlin' up to his horse, JD loops the braid'd rawhide thong that's hitch'd to it's stock over the saddle horn, as Iggy and the deputy look on. The deputy breaks the silence, "Serious business
there JD. Well anyhows, there's new batt'tries in that radio." JD looks up at Iggy, who's already stepp'd up and mount'd....What,,,don't y'all carry saddle carbines up ther' in y'alls country?
"Don't you be worryin' bout what I'm packin'' grumbled Iggy. "If we git into a serious scuffle, them banditos and Federales, may not recognize the chug of that ol tommy gun, but they'll know that they ain't facin' no dammed 30-30 if they decides to rush us if they hear mine bark."
Old
Mexico
It was an just an old ford that folks used back in the days...Weren't hardly knee deep to the horses.JD point'd at the dark horizon..."Ten miles thata way. Jest a hop, skip and a jump!"
"Yup, that ain't much for a couple of ol' steppers, let's
git this shindig on the road." Iggy agreed.
Just a couple hours in and she's sur nuf pitch dark out,,, JD stepped down to lose the last of the pot of coffee and stretch his ol' bad knee. Pointin off into the nite JD sezs, "Up here's 'bout a mile er so ther's a main road we gotta cross,,,kinda open country around it."
Makin the highway crossing without a hitch, no traffic, no lights, no nothing. All good so far. A few more hours of feelin' their way along in the dark overcast night, JD allows they're pruty close to the rancho and the burial ground. "If'n we can make our way to the backside of this here little ridge and we'll be jest a piece east of the place. The sun 'll be comin' up from behind us, givin' a purty good look see. If'n this here's her outfit," recon'd JD.
In the false dawn, you know when it's just getting light enough to tell a cow from a cedar bush...JD got his old field glasses out takin' a look and says,"I don't know, this sur don't look nuntin' like I 'member it...Dang, that's some mansion right there, not the casa I recall." Iggy reached for the glass for a look see as well, "Look at that fancy abobe barn, all them corrals and horse fencin'. They's some lights on now."
"I guess we'll just ease right on down there and see if the lady of the house is receivin'
guests," JD said in a low voice. As Iggy and JD got closer, the house, barn and assorted outbuilding were larger and much nicer than most folks see in mexico or a lot of other places as well. Swingin' around toward the barn and corrals, Iggy and JD spot a couple of los hombres tending to some mares and colts.
Without stepping down JD in broken spanish asked about La Senora Felina, the young man answered with a nod and a Si, reaching for a cell phone he calls the main house.
"Si senor, the Senora will be here very soon."
"Wells, looks like we're here's Iggy ol' boy..."
As our two wayward adventurers pass the time of day with the two vaqueros about the horses they were breeding, the weather and such subjects men everywhere just casually visit about. Their converse was suddenly cut short as the hired hands turned their attention back to their work. Iggy turns in the saddle toward the house to see a tall, slender woman wearing riding pants, boots and a white blouse headed their way. Her shoulder length hair pulled back in a fashion of sorts, as she closed the distance to a few yards she smiled. "Well, maybe time hadn't been to awful rough on this gal after all," Iggy thought to himself.
Smiling, Senora Felina says, "I see you have made your journey as you promised,,,,
Jimmy DeWayne, it is good to see you,,,it's been a long time. Who is your compainon?"
Ol' JD couldn't step down quick enough...Peelin' his old hat off,,, "This here's
Mr. Iggy from up north,,,Yes Ma'am, it's been a while, a lot water’s run down
that ol' river since I've been down this way fur sur. It's sur good to see you too",,,,"Oh, Iggy this here is Senora Felina Lucena,,,,She and me goes way back, to the old days, 'fore everythang got so complicated.” Iggy tips his Stetson and nods, " Pleased to make your acquaintance Senora"
"Gentlemen, please come now to the house and I'll have some breakfast prepared for you. The two of you must be famished from your viaje." Felina said as she turned to
the stable boy, "Estaban, see that these gentlemen's horses are tended to properly."
Iggy and JD loosened the cinches, retrived their long guns and carried them with ‘em and followed their hostess toward the main house. Felina was quite the host...A breakfast of sugar cured ham, eggs, biscuits, fresh fruit and good coffee to boot. All
from the good ol' U.S.of A.
This gal seemed really glad to see ol' JD or so it appeared. She and JD visited about the old days and old friends, her father and other fond memories. "Jimmy, about these things that was left in my father's charge...You must know, before my father
died,,,He confided in me of his business. I know my father was paid well for this service and I have honored this family commitment. Knowing full well, some day you or another would come to settle this account." She stated in a business like manner.
"Felina, I'm sorry that this falls to you, I really am.
It's business that should've been tend'd to long before now, but it wern't.
After today you won't have to think no more 'bout it."
JD whispered, "It's sure changed a lot around these parts since I was last here, this big house, the new barn and all...I don't believe I recognize the place where we hid that cache."
"I do not see how you could Jimmy, we built this house fifteen or sixteen years ago.
The new barn was raised ten years ago... That's where the old stables stood; you do remember the joyful times we spent there don't you?" Felina asked with a smile in her eyes.
Now ol' JD's kinda stuck betwixt a fond memory and a sinkin' feelin' right now...
That old stable was just 'bout where that concrete wash pad is now at the corner of that fancy barn,,,,er dang near it...Or under it.
"Yes, I do remember those times and quite fondly ther' Senorita.If I 'member right, we,,, your father and us buried those items in the corner of the near stall.
Did your father tell you that?"
"Yes he did...When we started the new barn, the bulldozer had leveled that area.
But, first I had the two cans removed along with all the canvas bags. They are stored in that room off the veranda here. Where I have kept them safe, awaiting your return."
Our two boy jest look at one another...Ain't nothin’ this easy.With that JD inquired, "Those things were purty heavy if I 'member right...How'd you get 'em up to the house here?"
"Si, Senor Jimmy, my late husband Julio and my brother Raphael moved all of it,
just family for family business."
"How is your brother doin'? I ain't seen him since, I don't remember when.",ask JD
"Raphael is quite well, has a lovely family. He's a Captain now with the la policía estatal,
State Policia as you call it. He is a hard worker and an honest young man."
"Wells, we'll need to open them milk cans and unpack 'em...Didn't brin' no pack mules to carry 'em back. How many of the bags did you recover?" JD wonder'd aloud.
"I checked the day you called...There are eight bags and the two large containers.
Come now, I will show you both."
As Iggy and JD inspected the lids of the milk cans...Sealed as tight as a jug and the bags were tide tight with the same rawhide strangs from the decades before. They could feel the coins inside, each bag felt to weigh a shade over six pounds...A hundred Double Eagles times eight, more that ol' JD had recalled.
"Felina, have ya got any hand tools we might use to open these here cans? We hav' to
divide this up to carry on the two saddle horses."
"Yes, there are tools in the farrier's room in the horse barn. Please feel free to use what
ever you require. Are you planning upon returning to Texas soon?"
"Si, Senorita, 'bout dark this evenin'," JD replied.
JD asked the two hired hands as to the where's 'bouts of a heavy hammer and a chisel.
Returning to the house, Iggy and JD cut the bands that sealed the tops on the copper cans. Carefully withdrawin' one of the wax paper wrap'd boxes. Iggy and Felina watch as JD opens the long blue box. Folding back the grease soaked paper barrier from the blued revolver,it looked every bit as new as the day it shipped from the factory. With
both containers empty now and the goods layed out, six new revolvers from each
can, twelve in all. Some were a bright nickel finish and of different barrel lengths. The men divide them up according to weight, for each side of the saddle bags JD had made.
Of the six Colt SAA, JD and Iggy picked two apiece that suited their fancy...That left a matched pair of engraved silver plated, pearl stock 44-40s. Turning to Felina..."These fancy six shooter are a gift for you Senorita Felica, I think your father would approve."
"Oh, thank you...I will surely cherish these...Thank you Senor Jimmy and you as well
Senor Iggy."
Iggy says, "Senorita, I can't think a better place for them two guns than shinin' on that purty face of yours. They was just plain made with you in mind."
After the dime tour of the rancho compound and Felina's remuda of brood mares and colts...She was quite proud of her horse operation. It was getting on down in the shank of the afternoon, time to pack-up and get north,
"Wells, Iggy I guess we'd better be makin' tracks back the ways we come..."
"Yup, I reckon it's time," was Iggy's reply. Gatherin' their mounts and re-settin' their saddles,they load the handguns into the saddle bags. Three to the side and placin' the canvas sacks two on each side of the saddle fork on each horse. Retreivin' their
carabinas from the porch and tyin' 'em on, they were loaded.
"Well Felina, Senorita, I figger we troubled ya enough, thank you so much for yer kindness and hospitality. Thanks again for helpin' to finish this here business. If'n yer ever up Larado way give me a call, I know a little place that's got a good beef steak." JD offer'd.
"You are most welcome...And yes, I will call you when I'm in Laredo. Jimmy Dewayne
please come back for a visit, will you?And bring your friend Mr. Iggy of course, you both are always welcome in my home.Please do be careful on your return trip."
Iggy tipped his Stetson and said, "Thank you Ma'am, it's been a real honor to make your acquaintance."
With another thank you and an adios, the horsemen turned and rode off as the day's shadows was gettin' purty long. They hadn't gone a hundred yards, JD was diggin' in his
pocket and draw'd out an old pouch that look every bit like it was made from some ol' bull's bag. Takin' a peek inside it, at the gold coins that his friend had given him so many years before, JD turned his horse around...
"Now what?" Grumbled Iggy.
"I'll be right back", joggin' his mount back up the the casa's porch where Felina stood.
JD stepped down and handed her the little pouch and spoke something to her.
She nodded, replying softly in espanol and lightly kissed him on the jaw.
Jimmy Dewayne mounted up, Iggy watched as the Senorita held the the little purse close. JD never looked back...Guess he might of though'd be bad luck.
Catchin' up to Iggy, "That muchacho down at the livery was eyeballin us pretty hard back there...He's talkin' to somebody on that damned cell phone, he looked like a sheep killin' dog when I caught him at it. Them hijo de perras are gonna be trouble, just us watch and see."
"Kinda figgered all along this wasn't gonna be no cake walk.." said Iggy as he uncased the black rifle and slipped a magazine in, loaded a round in the chamber, and laid it across his legs as he rode along.
"We's might wanta look at fish hookin' back on our trail every mile or two and just
watch and listen fer a spell, whatcha think there Iggy?" "Yup," was his reply, "I reckon we'll need to watch our backs, but I'm thinkin' them settin' up an ambush more likely."
"If'n we can make that road crossin'...It'll be purt near straight shot right in, I's figger if'n we can spare the horses as much as we can, get as close as a couple or three mile, we'll
kick for the river and be home free...toda madre...wide open," sezs JD
"Yup, this here could sure be our last stand and that's plumb center. I don't cotton too well to goin' tits up down here in this miserable place," Iggy muttered grimly to himself as he checked the hammer strap on his sidearm.
Watchin' their back trail extra close was taken up a lot time, make the short nite ride a long one...Arriving at the road, all is quiet. Finding a good spot to make the dash across took a spell, but they made it unhindered.
A half mile north of the highway, with JD's horse pickin' his way up the over grown road and Iggy a few yards behind and to the left. First two shots, then half a dozen more....Both riders spur'd for the brush to the lower side of the trail. Justa tryin to peer deep into the darkness and strain'n their ears to listen. "Ya hear that? Sounds like a
motor runnin'...Comin' this a way. Ough, oug...Look there some lights comin'...Hell, them's looks like landin' lights, bright ain't they," grunted JD. "Iggy, if'n you want too, lead them hosses down this here gulley a piece,
I got a stick fix'd to this ol' 21 maybe I can turn 'em back fur a spell..."
“You’d best shoot the hoss and not the riders,” whispered Iggy, “We’s don’t want to be
facin’ no hangin charges down heres.”
“Yup, we’s don’t need Felina’s little brother huntin’ fer us, now do we!” JD agreed.
After a dozen and half rounds, JD hadn't much more than knocked a little bark and
couple or three lights off'n that contraption. Half tryin' to run and half way hobblin' up to were Iggy was holdin' the horses, J.D. tries to catch his breath..."I don't know,,, just what kinda blame storm chaser thing,,,that they's got there....But, she's a rough 'n. Must have some kinda boiler plate wrap'd around on it...Think maybe I knocked a light or two,,,,off'n the top of the dang thing."
Apparently JD's strafin' had done more damage than he thought or he put the fear in them and they didn't want to be around that thing if he decided to give them another dose. The outlaws started down the gully after JD and Iggy on foot. They moved slow but steadily towards the two old hands hunkered in the draw.
"I'll move the caballos on down a piece if'n you want have a go at 'em with that ther' un cuerno de chivo of your'ns there. Maybe them little rifle bullits will slow that ther' monkey down some...This here is a fixin' to get me hacer chis'd right here!
If'n you can keep 'em foot, maybe we'll jest slip right on outta this here little scrap here."
Iggy grunted, unfolded the stock on that black rifle and moved to a well hidden firing position."Well here's they come again, ol' pard. Listen...What's that? motocicletas 'er
something comin' around us?" Crack, crack, crack..."They's shootin' again!"
"Git them horses the hell outta here, I think they're homin' in on them with one of them star scopes or sumthin'," Iggy orders. "How the hell are they seein' us. It' blacker'n outer space out here's, I can't hardly see myself." JD mutters as he gathers up the horses.
"They must got one of them infernalred things that sees in the dark. I reckon they're readin the horses. You take the horses and git away from here. If they watch you go, maybe they won't notice I ain't with you. There's a cut bank here where they won't see me until they have passed me.If'n they come this far I'll give'm sumthin' to think about." Iggy promised.
"I'll be down here's 'bout hundr'd yards with the horses. When ya get finish'd with 'em there, they won't be chingando with us no more."
It became clear that the bandits did have some kind of night vision device, because as soon as JD moved off they followed down the gully. Iggy laid low and as they passed by him he stepped out behind them and coughed. As the two men turned around Iggy fired the big .41 magnum pistol twice right in their faces. The muzzle blast rattled their
skulls and lit up the night. They both were temporarily blinded and could not hear
anything but a painful ringing in their ears. The two banditos dropped their gear and staggered back toward their disabled vehicle. They were stalled for a minute or two at
least. In the meantime Iggy had flung the rifle with a star scope on it up over the rim of the gully and beat feet to where JD was waiting.
Squatin in the shallow gulley and just a rumanatin'.......Turning to Iggy, JD ask, "What you got in them pistol ca'tridges? Left over chinezee fireworks?"
"That Blue Dot does sparkle a bit don't it." Iggy grinned.
Sizin things up, JD says, "We're gonna have to wind this up right soon...Daylite's gonna catch us here in a bit...I's don't know 'bout how ya got it figger'd...But this hav'n 'em surounded from the inside...Well, it's a lookin like it might take a spell to convince 'em to surrender."
"Besides, I don't fancy squatin' here till daylite... This is kinda a esta cabron we's
in here, fer sur. Iggy, if'n ya got an idee, now'd be a good time to put 'er in gear!"
"JD, you head for the river, I got enuff Injun in me that I reckon I kin surround this crew and keep them entertained for a bit. If I can get them guys off them dirt bikes mebbe we can get them bumbled up and shootin' at each other." Checkin' the chamber and slippin' the full magazine back in his ol' guv'tment 1911, JD look'd toward Iggy, "Watch yer self...I'll be just a little piece down here, coverin' our escape. If'n we get any kinda break here, we's need to bust out for home."
"That tommy gun is a dead giveaway, but my little Armalite gun is shootin' the same stuff as them. If I kin get them confused, mebbe we can slip outta this little dust up and git across the river."
"Give it to 'em in spades, them narcos are playin fer keeps right here, I do believe," sez JD as he worked his way down the draw. Iggy changed magazines in that black gun and peeked up over the bank and could see the approaching bikes. He climbed up on the bank and dumped a 40 round magazine of tracers in front of them bikes. The ricocheting rounds put on a dazzling and terrifying display and he two bikers collided and wound up in a dusty pile.
JD can hear the gunfire and see them red tracers arcin' up everywhich'a way....Right plum errie lookin'. Reachin into his jacket pocket J.D. pulls out the little cell phone,
hittin the power button it comes to life...With just a little signal, he pushes
the redial...It's ringin,,, "Felina, we's got us a little jam up here, we's run upon
some fellers that's kinda takin exception to us cross the north end of your ranch...We're up here between the main road and the river, on the old wagon road...Could you see if'n your brother might send a few troopers up this away and corral these fuera de la leys
befor' sumthin bad happen to 'em…Gracias darlin’,,,I'll talk to ya real soon, gotta go now!" JD closes the phone up before Felina could hear any of the gun fire.
By now the original pair of bandits had recovered their senses and were moving towards Iggy's position. He fired a few rounds in their direction and beat it out of there. He
hoped that the two pairs of bruised and numbed outlaws would converge on his last position and get tangled up. It was a faint hope, but it was the last card in Iggy's hand.
In the meantime JD had returned and had Iggy's horse positioned close to the bank.
Ol Iggy hadn't moved that fast in 40 years and his jump off that bank and onto that horse would done ol Zorro himself proud.
First light of the day was creepin' over the horizon, it been a long and fast nite. The old timers headed down the draw as fast as they dared. As they got closer to the river, they heard a volley of gunfire behind them. It looked like maybe Iggy's plan had worked.
"Wells, I do believe ya smoked 'em off'n us right there...Whatcha say we kick these here ponies and stretch 'em out fer a piece!" JD wolf'd.
Back in
Texas
As
Iggy, with JD trailin close behind charge off'n the bank and into the shallow stream, turnin half around in the saddle JD lets loose a long burst from the ol' tommy gun
into the brush they just rode out of and yells, "Take that you un ojetes."
From atop the river bank on the Texas side Iggy spun his mount around with his
carbine at the ready, scannin’ the far bank to see what the shootin was all ‘bout.
J.D. gives Iggy a big ol' Copehagen grin, "Wells, I’ll declare…Don't ya like havin' fun no more?"
"I think they's passed sum kinda law 'bout havin that much fun." Iggy advised.
"Huh! Well I'll be…That's the first I hear'd tell of it," JD’s still a grinnin'.
"Ya hear them sireens back thata way, guess ol' Raphael's polica troops
caught up with our bandits." Iggy nods, "Yep, sounds like it from here, whatcha say we jest ease on outta here."
Slow joggin the horses down the shoulder of the farm to market road toward the
pickup,they didn't look back, don’t need no bad luck.Lookin outta the corner of
his eye at JD, Iggy sezs, "Ya goin back down there for that gal, ain't cha?"
"Nah, any woman that's been wearin the britches as long as she has, sur ain't gonna put up with my ways for very long and that's a fact. But, I did leave sumthin with 'er. Ya know, she whispered some thing to me when I give her that little pouch, my e-spam-yola ain't too good no more. I don't rightly know jest what she said, but I shor did liked the way she said it...Ya never knows."
Back at the deputy's corrals, Iggy and JD loosen'd the cinches and pull the saddle bags containing their plunder and laid it in the floorboard and on the seat of the pickup truck.
When the horses had cool'd for a spell, Iggy lead 'em over to an old galanized water
trough for a long drink and throw'd some of the cool water on himself.
After loading the stock, JD looked over at Iggy as he closed the trailer's tailgate,
"Well's now… Were we gonna bury all this here gold?
We can't just go haulin it all over the dang country with us now, can we?"
"Crap!!
I never give any thought as to how a feller is supposed to cash in them gold coins without
bringin' the G-men down on our necks." Iggy charged.
Lookin through the open pickup door at Iggy,
JD asked, "Ever been to that big ol' deal in Tulsa?
I hear's she's bigger than that world's fair...”
"No I ain't...Don't want to neth'r,
if'n it means gettin shot at sum more!" snort'd Iggy.
They's say thar's an ol' boy from Gawjaw,
that'll buy ever ol' Smith and Wesson made
befor's the war that comes down the pike.
Some say he kinda favors that fried chicken feller,
that thar Colonel sumthin or nuther."
Still a grinnin'...JD gets in one last gig, "Wells, it's sumthin' to do ain't it?"
Ol'
Iggy's thinkin'....Jaezus, Mary, and Joseph, here we go agin!!!!
Copyright
2011. Not to be reproduced or copied without written permission.
Show
JD was a soakin' one in at the lounge of the Brown Palace, feelin' 'bout as low as a
gut shot panther. He'd drove two days to get here, hoping to visit with some old friends and kick up a lit'l sand. Hadn't been here in several years, things shore nuff had changed.
Seemed like all his old pards had either passed on or taken up the rockin' chair.
Loss their grit as he call'd it, no piss and vinegar left in 'em.
He’d drawn a blank in El Paso, crapped out in Ft. Worth. JD shur had some serious purcolatin' to do on this here plan of his. Lookin up from his contemplatin, he sees this here grizzled old hand sidelin' up to the bar. This feller look'd familiar, kinda favor'd an ol' rough stock hand from up north of here a piece.
"Howdy there Podner, pull ya self up a chair, kinda dead in here ain't it. Alls them youngin's musta be waterin' at some other hole these days. It's just as wells, most of 'em wouldn't know com' here from sic 'em, anyhows." JD added.
"Don't mind if I do, Thanks for the invite. Name's Iggy."
"Call me JD, pleased to meetcha. I's got into town a few days ago, thinkin' I might run into some of them fellers I knew when I's was goin' down the road. Never did win much...Jest enought to get to the next ropin. But in them days we's shur nuff was livin' free and easy."
"I rode saddle broncs back in the day, but I spent most of my winnin's git'n patched up from the lickin's I took. I kin tell you I've seen some of the best buckin' Stock
in the country. I've watched them buck away from me as I picked
myself up off the ground." Iggy replied.
"Yep, I would't take a millon dollars fer them times...But would't give ya nickel fer some more of it neither. It jest seem like nobody wants to have no fun no more." JD was a
thinkin out loud.
"Ya want another one...On me?" JD motioned to the barkeep. "Yeh, I reckon I will, Thanks. I'll take a Beam and water back there young feller..."
"I's got a little place down near Laredo, been fool around with a
few head of runnin' hosses now and agin', jest to trade around on. Nuthin too serious now in days." sez JD.
"I had a little place years back. It was my grand parent's homestead. I din't like bein'
ground tied, so I sold it to a big outfit that plumb surrounded us. I put the money in a Bank and that was the last I saw of it. The bank went belly up and that smooth talkin' banker sumbitch retired on a hell of bunch of other folks money," remembered Iggy.
Ol' JD's in kinda a tight here and thinkin' mebbe he's found a salty ol' fart jest
right for this here little raid he's got in mind....
Ya never know, this Mr. Iggy might just be the sort ta partner up with fer a spell.
JD turns over the first card in this here deck, jest to see..."Ya know week befer last, I's in this little joint down on the river, jest countin' a few longnecks fer 'em, when this hereyoung gal comes in and she shur nuff look'd familiar like. So's I says, Hey gal, you any kin to Felina Lucena...She tells me she's Felina's grand daughter. When I asked about her grandmother and grandfather Julio, she says her grandfather had died several
years ago, and that her grandmother was well and living on the family ranch, near Nuevo Laredo, in Mexico."
JD starts in tellin' Iggy about how he'd traded horses and a few guns with this
Felina gal's Pa. And that he'd soree down thata way in the old days. "The old man had some good guns, not no junk." And how he’d once got a extra nice old triple lock
Smith with carved ivory stocks from the old mexican. Ended up tradin it to some Ranger
over near Lampasas for a reining horse well passed his prime.
"I reckon we've all made trades like that." Iggy answers.
JD continues on with out missin a beat, "Did I every tell ya about the time we bought all them steers off'n Felina's Pa?" Iggy says, "No Sir, I don’t reckon you have…but I s'pect
you're gonna..."
Iggy nods at the barkeep to bring another round and...Wells, "You see her… Felina's Pa was an honest sort of feller, ya know, for a trader and all. He'd trade on most anything any good, livestock, guns and such. That's how I got acquainted with Felina. Me and her was about the same age back then. I’d bet fifty dollars in gold she's still pretty as a picture..."
JD takes himself a pull on that long neck and continues on,"The old man
would gather up a pot load of dandy corrientes . Three and four weights with good horn, not none of that old shelly stuff. We'd drive 'em about a half day or so north toward the river ands run 'em thru the dip after we crossed them at this little set of pens there.
Before ya knowed it, we had ‘em loaded up on that double deck and that
there ol' Mack was a blowin' black smoke north all the ways to the panhandle."
To the pain of ol' Iggy, JD doesn't let up, "We'd blow into that Amarill’r and fuel up. Pulled off the main road, at that eat joint where ya can get a good steak...Anyhows, I’s meets up with this feller there, I think his name was Shoulders or something big like that. He gives me and my pard an ol dinner sack full of cash and tells us he don’t wants to see our butt ugly carcasses ever again, never. Puts some run-down ol’ cowboy up behind the wheel of that Mack and they lit' out with the truck, trailer, cattle and all.
We hoof'd it down the road a half mile or so. Hot wire an old pickup we left there some time a week or two before... Hell, we’d done that little deal, two or three time a year with that ol’ boy. That was some purty good pocket money from them ol’ rodeo
contractors."
Shoulders, huh? So that's where ol Jim got those ropin' and doggin' critters he used at his rodeo school Iggy, thought to hisself. Well at least some of this ol hand's tale fits with what's real.
It was getting’ on down in the shank of the evening and JD wasn’t gonna let this
here salty ol’ hand get away. It might be his last…No, maybe only chance to see
Felina again and make good at the same time.
“You’ll have jest one more, won’t ya?” JD offered. Thank ya for the company, it’s
been pretty lonesome around here. Jest me and all these folks I ain't never seen befor's."
"Yeh, I come in here ever year a lookin' for some of the old hands I rode the ridges with
back when, but they either got old or went under I guess, ain't been none of
them here for a couple of years," said Iggy.
JD pulled out his makings…They's was dry and the papers all wrinkled, but before he could start a rollin’ one, he whispered, "Back before the war, her Pa buried a few old Colts and some Smith-Wessons too, about a dozen of 'em. Brand spankin’ new 357 Magnums. Along with several hundred twenty dollar double eagles, fer a ol' friend I use't
have."
"You remember how it was back then, when's the gumment said folks couldn’t own gold no more. Well, this here rancher hired a couple of us boys he could trust to help him carry this here gold and guns over into Mexico for safe keepin’ with his good friend, this here mexican farmer, Felina’s father. Billy Lee was the other boy that went with us, he’s dun crossed over now."
"I saw them guns and I saw the gold. I went back with the old man in the 50s and
we came back with part of the gold, maybe a quarter of them 20 dollar gold pieces. He gave me 10 of ‘em, told me to keep my mouth shut and hold on to ‘em. Said, they'd bring me a piece of luck some day."
The mention of them guns and gold had got ol Iggy to lean back in his chair and
tip his Stetson back a bit and listen a leetle bit longer to this moss horned ol galoot.
JD makes one last overture…"I’d bet one of those 20 dollar gold pieces that those guns and part of the gold, if not all of it...Is still there." I don’t believe Felina knows anything 'bouts this deal with her father. We both know that women folk weren’t privy to the men's business back in those days."
"Mr.Iggy, you sleep on it and mull it over, I could use a partner on this little soiree.
If’n your so a mind to. We could come back flush with riches and full from adventure."
As JD pushed himself up outta the chair, "The hotel has a dining room open early,
I’ll be there…Hope to see you there for breakfast."
The only agreement reached…Each would think about it.
For the unschooled this might have just sounded like a tall tale or a BSin’.
But no sirree, it was sizin’ up. Both of knew stock and they also knew men…They was
just readin’ one other. Of course, JD's trying to find a partner with enough sand and backbone to get into Mexico and out again with the loot…Without all of ‘em getting’ kilt. JD thinks he found it in Iggy. He don’t care nothing much about the guns…What hereally wants is this here Senorita Felina and about…maybe, half of the gold….
Iggy's just trying to figger out why him? And what’s the angle of all this? Lots of
questions,,,Could this be for real? How would someone store guns like that to keep this long? Mebbe, just mebbe this here deal might just lead a feller thats gittin' long in the tooth to enuff swag to cover his needs until he goes toes up. Hmmm?
Mexico, damn, that don't sound too good.. I spent a week down there and sed I'd never set foot down there agin, but... This feller don't come across as all hat and no cattle. Hmmm....?
It was a long restless nite for ol' JD. Thoughts raced as he tried to figgered every
which a way to slip in down theres, just for a look see. As many times as he'd
made that there little trip years ago...Most times all a feller had to do was jest mash down an ol' three strand wire fence and lead your horse across, and you was in ol'
Mexico. Things and times had shor' nuf' changed...
This cold weather was playin' the devil with JD's rheumatism, he wanted to get back
to South Texas and get on with this business at hand. Rummagin' thru his bag he
found a scribbled telephone number with the international prefix for Mexico, it
was Falina's. He'd planned on calling her in few days when he returned to Laredo.
Checking his pocket watch, 5:30am. Maybe the cooks would have coffee boiled and breakfast started by now. Arriving at the dining room he looked for a seat, one where he'd have his back to the wall and could see the entrances...Someone already had that
strategic spot taken.
"Howdy, this here other chair taken?" JD asked while’s takin a look around the room.
"Nope, you might as well set a spell, the coffee ain't quite ready." reported Iggy.
"This's sur nuf a high brow place they’s got right here, don't believe I ever slept on a bed quite that high off'n the ground. And a softin' too boot, bet I didn't roll out till nigh 3:30. Dun loaded my gear up in the pickup, it's a blue coldin' out there tis morn."
"Yeh, Casey, Jim and Benny used to stay here durin' the rodeo. I never did think much of them soft mattress's but them boys was a bit older'n me and favorin' a lot of bruises back then," recalled Iggy.
Conversation during breakfast was sparce, with a side of thick sliced bacon and settin' or
two of eggs with biscuits betwicts the two of 'em, the coffee was passable. But not as strong as either preferred. JD wiped the crumbs and coffee from his somewhat unkempt
handlebar mustache with a napkin whiter than any shirt he ever owned and with that, opened the ball."About last nite, I wouldn't blame ya one bit if'n you thought I was yarnin' ya, what with some crazy ol' man's tall tales 'bout some kinda wild goose chase.
I wouldn't believe it neither, if'n I'd jest he'rd of it from some stranger in some ol's bar
som'wher's."
"But, I saws it with my very own eyes. I help'd pack them pistols up in the grease and wrap 'em upin waxy papers, we puts 'em back in their own box and wrapped that up too." JD looked Iggy in the eye and sezs, "That rancher, me and ol' Billy Lee worked for two days get 'em ready to go. He'd got holt of two good size copper milk cans from a dairy som'wher's and we packed them guns in them cans, seat'd them tops down with a maul and sweat'd 'em lids on with lead. The coins were packed in canvas bags, a few had near on 50 or better in 'em, others maybe a 100 or so, they sur were heavy for their size. That seems like a lot now, but that ol' gentleman owned nigh near half the county, an third of another."
"How come this here Senyore feller cached that stuff insteada puttin' it in one of the safety deposit things in a bank?" quiried Iggy. "Ya know how it was, folks didn't like banks cause all 'em failin's, closin's and such." "I sure enuff know about them kind of doin's and that's a fact." Iggy agreed."They didn't trust the gu'mint ne'ther. The few that had anythin' left was a rat-holein' what theys had. Those of us that didn't have nuthin
was jest makin' do with nuthin," JD added.
"Falina's Pa's dead now and the man that hir'd us boys to go with him...Well, he got his ownself kilt down in Lousana'r at a little ol' airplane strip...There along with two other
fellers.Heard they over shot it and kicked a wreak in 'em piney woods and she caught a fire on 'em. I guess ya could say I'm the last of us. "Ya and me both knows it's tougher than iron wood knots to find a salty ol' hand with som' gu'pshin fer this kinda work." JD said, just lookin to Iggy for a sign.
"Wall, I got tell you, you ain't found nobody just yet and that's plumb center.
I got to know a bunch more about this here little caper afore I hitch up to anything to do with you.How long is this little sorreee gonna take? I ain't no fan of them taycoes and tamales for very durn long. My bung hole got 3 d'gree burns from that swill the last time I was down here." As Iggy sized JD up.
"I'd been packin' stock salt and windmill parts to them tanks usin' mules for a spell and lashin' them milk cans wern't no chore on a good size mule, we didn't use no little bur'os. Had another mule for the gold and our traps. When we got down to the rancho the ol' mexican was ready fer us. He's got this here grave dug about four foot deep and six foot long, maybe three feet wide. On one end of that there hole was this ol' iron pan that look like'n it come off'n a catapillar tractor or somethin', we put all but two of the sacks of gold in it and covered that up with a heavy iron plate," continued JD"Next we laid them milk cans in and covered the whole deal with the driest dang dirt ya ever did
see, I don't believe it'd seen any rain since Noah's time.Besides it was inside this ol' barn stall anyhows. Well, that there's jest about the co'rse details o' it...But, I'm not gonna show my hol' cards till I know if ya in or
foldin'..." allowed JD.
"So this swag is buried in a barn? Does that gal still live there? If she don't and a feller goes nosin' around some stranger's diggin's is askin' for a loada buckshot plumb quick.
If it ain't in a barn, I kin tell you certain that two old farts diggin' holes
is gonna draw two legged buzzards like a gut pile," advised Iggy.
JD countered, "Ya and I know what the stakes could be....Ah, hell we both know what they are...Neigh near all o' it. Gettin' ins the easy part. Findin' what we lookin fur, fixin' everthin' ready an in the notion to comin' back, tis another thin'."
"That's what I'm thinking too. Wanderin' around there like Bogart and them others with pack mules and heavy cargo, we'd stick out like a boil on yure backside.
We don't wanta to bump into any of 'em fed'ralies or baditits even by accident." mumbles Iggy.
"Yeah, some of 'em boys jes' plain ol' kill fer a livin' ya know." JD said with knowing glance.
Iggy sezs, "Use to be they was just amateur crooks and a feller could usual bluff or shoot his way out of a scrape, but from what I hear these fellers today ain't nuthin' to be messin' with. I'm a wantin' to know how do you an this here Falina hitch up in this mess? You got eyes for that gal? You figger'n to split some with her or just make tracks for Texas and drag her along? Looks to me that unless you got her pegged better'n it sounds, she could be the real turd in the churn here. I've run across some of them gals what keeps a mean little sticker tied to their laig and they ain't bashful 'bout usin' it if someone cross's them."
"If'n they'll fill this her' pot of coffee up, I'll tell ya..." As JD summons the waitress.
"I ain't draw'n no map if'n that's whatcha thinkin'. Ands 'bout the woman, she's the center pin to this her' whole deal, ya see. When I's hear she's back down there, I figg'r it's the only chance to gather that ol' cache up an' outta ther'.
That there spread was her Pa's and his Pa's before him, I don't know how fer back...
Some kinda land grant from one of 'em revalus'ons theys was ahavin'. Dang'd ol' place, ya couldn't raise an unbreller on it, but she runs clean north all the ways to the river."
"That's a point in our favor, course no matter what the lay of the land, a feller's still got to get acrost that river and they got stuff for spottin' wetbacks and druggers that you and I ain't never gonna understand. That gittin' home could be as sticky as cactus.
You and me is sure to be outgunned in anything we stumble into," stated Iggy in a
weathered tone.
"After that first little deal, that buryin' and all, I made my way down there a few time.
Traded horses and a ol' gun er two with Felina's Pa, but mos'ly to see her.I's here to tell ya, she sur a purty little thin', she was learn'n american and tried talkin' to me at ever' turn. After a spell, she could talk english bet'r I could.
One time a trail'd this lit' red roan hoss down there fer safe keep'n, ya sees, I's hold'n on to 'im for a bad debt...Didn't wanta chance him gett'n stole back or nuthin' like that. Never saw that horse 'gain...That purty gal, Felina took a shine to it, an' I jest giv' her that pony. Oh, I mighta stole me a kiss or two, if'n there wern't nobody lookin'," confessed JD with a sly grin.
"It mighta been a year er so 'for I got back thata way...Her Pa says she'd married ands moved off to Califoria with her new husban. Heard they wind'd up near riches.
Hear'd she got her american citersenship...Pro'ble kept her mexican papers too.
I guess after her husban died she got all homesick for the ol' place...Kinda like we all do at times. Anyhows, her memory can't be no wors'n mine." hoped JD as he said that
thought out loud.
Lookin up from his cup of coffee JD sez ta Iggy, "I's got her telephon numer, was gonna give her a call when I's get back to Laredo. Jest give it to her straigh' out, we'd left somethin' down there with her Pa and want to come and get it. If'n she ask what, well, I's jest tell her some ol' guns and some other traps."
"Well, I think for sure you don't want to tell her nuthin' bout them gold coins and
such. Least not til you git that stash and mebbe her back across the river. By then you should know which way her stick floats. If'n she sees them bags of gold there ain't no way a knowin' what she could come up with," Iggy counseled.
"Mr. Iggy, I didn't go too awful fer in school, oh I learn'd my three Rs, but it wer' life's lesson that learn't me to read 'tween the lines. What I hear on the other end of that ther' telephon will tell if'n she 'members it like me."
"I's kinda hopin' to slip in down ther' real quite like, o' nite ahorseback, no packstock ands maybes sweet talk the ol' gal in to helpin' us to get this here little load back as far as the river...Maybes get close to that ol' set of shippin' pens. I dout her want nut'in to do with a wor'out ol' saddle tramp after bein' married to a high step'er all 'em years. So, her a comin' back with me to Texas is jest an ol' man's foolish thou't," admitted JD.
"I sure don't blame you for admirin' that little filly. I got tangled up with one down
there years ago and that gal was as firey as one of them Japaleno peppers and that's a
fact. She could love you white hot one minute or be ready slit your throat in a heart beat if you got crosswise of her. She sure was sumthin'. I don't reckon this here Falina is any
differn't. You sure need to keep yure cards close to your chest til you know which way the wind is gonna blow."
"Back in Laredo, I's got a pair of hosses, runnin' bred, that a feller's a tendin' fer me...They's grainin' and workin' 'em to a right smart trim...Just in case a couple of
fellers need to make a fleet exit across some rough country that wheel'd vehicles can't hardly go's in."
"Besides I know this gal's kinda par'shal to a feller that rides a tall horse. Besides,
might just trip the trigger on an ol' memory 'er two."
With Iggy spurin' JD on, pullin’ his pocket watch out and givin’ the stem a a crank ‘er two, 8:30 am his time, it’d be the same in Nuevo Laredo …”I guess, I’s could try to give Felina call. Just to kinda see if ther’s any sign of this here thing gonna workin’ out atall.” JD reached in his chore coat pocket for the little, all most toy lookin’ phone his daughter had made him carry along. Just in case, that he might need one. Diggin’ around in his shirt pocket he retrieved the scribbled note with Felina’s telephone number. Holdin’ the phone the right distance from his reading spectacles he punched in the numbers…
JD
Makes The Call,
"Hope she’s there at the hacienda....…Hello, Mrs. Felina Lucena?
Wells, this there’s JD Tucker from Laredo, Texas ma'am,,no, JD
Tucker, Laredo,,,yes ma'am,,, Jimmy Dewayne Tucker,,,yes, I was hopin’,,,, yes,.. you'd remember me from the ol’ days, too,,,, yeah,,,,I used to do some tradin’ with your Father,,,"
Iggy watches the old man as he makes the call and sez to himself. "Well, here we go, am I gittin' myself in to an adventure here or an ol man's lost love story? Either way, I see I'm the third laig on a purty shaky stool. What the hell, gittin' old ain't that much fun anyway. Better to go out facin' into the wind than layin' in an ol' bed and pissin’ myself on some poor farm sumwher's."
"Yes ma'am,,,,I remember too,,,,,,uh,,,,, that’s kinda what I’m callin’ about,,,,,uh,,,, I don’t know if you'll recall or not, but,,,,,me and a Mr. Killam and another young feller came down with a couple of pack mule loads and left 'em for safe keepin’ with your father…..I know, I was sorry to hear 'bout your Father,,,,yes,,,,,well it looks like this un-finished business just falls to us now……Mrs, Lucena,,,,,Felina,,,,,I’d like to come down ther’ in a week or so and pick those items up and return back to Texas as soon as I could,,,,,,I'd like to come in the old road,,,,like we used back then,,,,,If that would be ok,,,,,,I see,,,,,Yes, ma'am,,,,Thank you,,,,,,Uh,,,,well,,,we's hid some ol' guns and some other loose items with them,,,,,I see,,,,,Thank You very much for your kindness,,,,,Yes, I will,,,, I look forward to seein’ you again too. Buen Dia, to you too.”
JD
carefully pushes the button to end the call and then pushed it once again turning the mobile phone off. Iggy listens to the one sided conversation and thinks to himself, "Well that warn't much of a reunion. Sounds like a purty skinny start to me. Looks to me like ol JD Puts more store in them two's past than she does." S'pect maybe JDis right and she won't want to throw in with some moss horned ol saddle tramp. She may be is just bein' polite to an old friend of her dad's and doin' what she has to git him out of her hair as quick as she can.
Them older folks is like that, honorin' their families promises and commitments.
I don't see much loyalty tween those two as it stands now but if I know anything about them folks, she'll honor any deal her Dad did with JD don't matter how long ago. It'll be a dang sight easier gittin' back to Texas if she'd just haul that swag back to the river.
How JD splits things with her ain't no never mind to me. I reckon there is more deadly things to deal with than some old gal down on some ranchero. We got's to git by bandits, druggers, Federales, and the Border Patrol, if we don't drown in that damn muddy crick. Iggy chuckled to himself and sed,"Other than them little things, this don't sound like much of a chore at all." JD look’d over his readin’ glasses at Iggy, “Don’t go spreading that Jimmy Dewayne stuff around will ya. Oh, I almost forgot…You can ride a broke horse can’t ya?” JD asked with a little sharp brier tied to it.
"I kin ride all right!" snorted Iggy. "Question is, you got any horses that won't insult a good hand's dignity to be seen on'em? I don't see my last ride into glory bein' made on some broomtail nag."
"Wells, we ain't gonna be mount’d on no burros if that's what's yer askin'.I's got one fer ya, a seven year old geld'n, 16 hand er a little better. Handcock bred outta a thro'bred mare. That gentleman’s shur nuf deep, a long under line and can cover the ground."
"That don't sound like too bad a ride. Got some good blood there and like you say orta cover some ground long and fast." Iggy agrees.
"Been workin' gettin' the horses and gear ready. Got two of them handmade trail saddles, half the weight of an ol' stock rig. Built four sets of alforjas, two larger ones that'll hold those boxed pistols behind the cantles, three to the side and not pinch the hoss's flank. The small ones to pack the bags of double eagles up on the forks. The
whole sh'bang won't weight no more than a average ropin' kak,"allowed JD.
Studying the situtuation, Iggy says, "Sounds like you done some thinkin' and plannin' on this for a while. Them rigs sound like they'll work. Good thinkin' to make them light.This ain't gonna be no picnic and we may have to do some fancy ridin' to stay outta the deep crap!"
"Drivin' down, if'n we hit that William. J. LePetomane th'r-a-fare,
we'll need a shit load of dimes...." chimed JD.
"I got what's left of my stash tucked away, we kin stop some'res and I'll trade it in on some rolls of dimes." Iggy offered. "I still ain't seen no reason of them dammed coin slot highways no how."
JD says, "I'd figger ya got som' kinda sidearm with ya, ain't ya?"
"Is a pig's ass pork?" Iggy retorts. "I ain't been without a side arm for over 50 years."
As an after thought JD throwed in, "I been praticin' with a little metal dectect'r and it's
workin' a right smart at findin' junk, old lost wrenches and the like."
"That there sounds like a purty good idea. Hadn't thought of that, but I guess I ain't quite square on where this here plunder is cached. As I git older, I'm gittin' that CRS disease worse ever year, but I reckon I could sure remember where I stashed somethin' like you're tellin' about clear as hell I'm thinkin'. You know where it is or don't you, JD?"
Actin like he didn't hear that sharp lit'l needle atall, JD sez, "Got this here friend that's a Deputy, he'll let us park the pickup and trailer at his place, about a mile from them ol' pens...That'll put us 'bout three miles from the crossin' spot. Jest gotta stick to the brush gettin' to the river. I still got a commission, I'm gonna carry a little handheld radio...Might want to use it a comin' back."
With a show of concern Iggy ask, "How much have you had to tell that Deputy 'bout this here sworee? Don't want to be bad mouthin' your friend. Hell, I carried a badge for a good number of years. I don't know any ol lawman whut ain't gonna be a wee bit curious what there is acrost that river worth two old farts bein' willin' to run the risks we are gonna be takin here."
"This here deputy and me, we's been over in mexico a time er two. Went over ther' and found this narco of a dope dealer that had kilt some folks on this side of the river...
He didn't ask why I needed a favor and I didn't say. Besides, he's a family man,
he don't need to be doin' this sort of things."JD said witha far off look.
With a understandin glance, Iggy follows up, "I know I'm a distrustful cuss, but I'm the kind of a feller that looks for the worst kinda outcome and am pleasantly surprised when it don't happen. That kind of thinkin' has kept me outta some mighty tight spots
over the years. I ain't afraid of nuthin' but I shore like to peel down the odds a bit ahead of time if I can."
JD counters, "Hell, who knows, we might come outta this richer than ol' Dobbs or mebbe not. Might even get skin't up a bit or even kilt a little...But, I's come 'bout as far on
nuthin' as I care too.That cache is there's all right, it's ours for the taken...If'n we ty on hard and can jerk the slack, we’ll have it or it'll have us, one t' other."
"Felina says the old road's washed out, it ain't been used in years...We couldn't get a four wheel drive over it if'n we want'd too. That's good news fer us. She'll have some good hay and feed as well. She's probably got the best remuda in all of northern mexico by nows anyway. Best I recall, there's lots of deep gulleys and washes, besides nobodys gonna be to interested in two old farts and no pack string."
"Yeh, well ther' JD that's a two edged sword I reckon. The rough ground and cover will be to our advantage in one way. There won't be much worry about the Federales bein' out there without vehicles. But it'll sure be damp powder for us if'n somebody gets wind of what we're doin.' Good country for an ambush and it takes away all the advantage of them fast horses you got...You got any kind of a map of the country we're goin' to so's a feller can get the general lay of the land in his head? I'm keen on knowin' land marks some so I got a feel for things if the crap hit's the fan and we git separated in some kind of a fracas. I ain't tryin' to git any advance on where this here cache is. I don't got no intentions of some kind of underhand doin's here. We find it or we don't. We's ain't got no maps. There's jest two directions, north or south. We slip in goin' south, get
what we's come after and beat it hell bent for leather back north outta there! That country changes every time the wind blows."
"Just be nice to have a bit of a feel for the country besides that old road down and back if we step off into sumthin'. I lerned a long time ago not to go down no snowy or muddy hill if you ain't already been up it before hand." Iggy sez, whil's thinkin this thing thru.
"The whole dang territory is ripe for a emboscada, the dark of nite is gonna be our best bet. The firstest with the mostest is gonna rule the day." JD’s tryin to set the stage.
"I don't know what half of that there gold will be worth...But, it's gotta be a dang sight more than I made guidin' deer hunters the last few years."
JD knows he ain't foolin' Iggy none nor himself about Felina...Ain't neither one of 'em ever seen a very many a mexican gal over the age of fifty that ever looked like much. Accordin' to nature, time probably ain't been no kind'r to her that it has to him, or even ol' Iggy here. Jimmy Dewayne is just have a fond memory of a dark eyed pretty girl in a cotton dress...Jest sittin' on the porch of that casa helpin' her mother a churnin' butter.
Back
at the Ranch…In Texas
After a pretty uneventful road trip our two wayward adventurers arrive at JD diggin's'...
Iggy unreels himself outta that pickup and creaks and groans himself vertical.
"Dang, I hope that's the worst part of this little adventure, my butt's
shaped like that miserable seat in that pickup."
Iggy ain't never saw so many 'stored assets' or plain ol' junk in one place...All of it right handy. "Well, this here place looks like lots of old homesteads I been to" Iggy thinks to
himself. Ol' JD knows sure as heck if you git rid of sumthin' that looks like junk, you'll
dang sure need it tomorrow. Iggy sez "Durned if it don't look like the old place back home. Looks like you've saved ever durned thing you ever owned just in case it might come in handy some day."
JD offers a overview, "Wells, she ain't much to look at, but it's hot in the summer and some cooler in the winter. Electricty and plumbin' works most times."
Iggy chuckles, "Yup sounds about like where I grew up. My folks built a new house back in 48. My Ma was sure pleased not to have to make the trip out to the two holer in the winter. But there was some troubles with the indoor plumbin' til my Dad got the bugs out."
"My Grandad was there one night for supper and Ma was grumblin' bout the sewer bein' plugged up." Well, ol Grandad sed, "Well that's what you git for crappin' in the house." Iggy recalled. "I spent lots of winter nights with one side scorched and the others side froze, so I reckon this will be just fine."
JD jerks his chin toward the front corner of the small room and says, "Ya can throw your gear over theres...That bunk ain't too awful tic'y. I'll get us some T-bones outta the de'p freez' and put some coffee on and 'taters a boilin' fer supper. Probably need to re-set the shoes on 'em ponies in the mornin' and square the gear up. What ya thinkin'?
"Well, it's been a few years since I did any shoein' but I reckon if them broomtails ain't just plain ornery, we can get'r did. Reckon when we top them old ponies off, we'll find
out just how good a hoss hand you are purty durned quick," Iggy grinned.
The next evenin' with the horses all sharp shod up, the rough rode off'n 'em and jest lettin' em cool in the sparce shade. Finishing off a meal of beans and ham hock that had simmer'd all day with somepan fried fritos. Cleaning his plate JD porclaims, "Now that right there'll stick to fellers ribs."
As Iggy finishin up he sezs, "It's been a long time since I had a good ol feed on ham hocks and beans. Don't find them in the cafes and Mickey Dee's around the country that's for sure.That was some dang fine doin's and that's certain sure. You'd make a
dang fine bunk house cook if'n you git to stove up to ride anymore," Iggy throw’d in as an after thought.
"I's ain't plannin' on gettin' that crippl'd up...I'd jest 'bout as soon give up the ghost as do that!" JD crow'd. Iggy kind got hisself ready to duck whatever ol JD grabbed to throw at him in case he had gigged him a little too hard with the off hand compliment, but JD din't seem to be put off by the good natured jab.
JD thump'd the can of Cope, "Ya want a pinch? I'd hate to think I'd have to take up slingin hash fer a bunch of waddys. Look over behind the cook stove, in that wood box...There's a jug in thar'.Now Sir, that is some of the bestest shine to ever come outta the hills of north Gawjaw right there. Have ya self a pull."
"Well, JD, after the last few days of lots of miles and shoein' and stuff, and a dang fine meal, this ol' coon is plumb ready for some shut eye. I reckon we better be purty rested before we tie into this little fandango tomorrow, so I reckon I'll say good night."
The next day, they hooked up the gooseneck pipe trailer and fixed the oversized
saddle bags in place. JD emirged from the house with a well worn scabbard for Iggy and fish'd out the blue worn old model 8 Remington he got off'n an ol' Ranger in a horse trade and a half dozen of the longer magazines out of the pickup, handin' it over to Iggy.
Iggy looked at the rig for a minute, and said, "If it's all the same to you, I got my own long gun here. It's one that's rode 'bout a million miles tucked under the head rests in my patrol cars over the years. The only black gun I ever owned. It's got me through some damned ugly scrapes and I'd feel better if'n it was hangin' on the saddle with me."
Iggy pulled a short squat leather scabbard out of his plunder and rigged it up on
top of them cantle bags JD had built. JD couldn't tell much about the rifle but he could see what looked like a butt stock folded along side the receiver of whatever that gun was and it had a pistol grip with a sling attached to it. There was pockets sewed in the side of that scabbard that held what looked for certain like 30 or 40 shot M-16 magazines. He also noticed that Iggy had strapped on a well worn heavy framed revolver and there was a was a bunch of big ol rounds in loops all the way around the belt he had on. It looked like ol Iggy wasn't goin' into this gig short of fire power
that's for sure.
"Suit yer self, I'll just put this'n 'er in the house behind the kindlin' box." Makin' one last trip inside, JD returns wearin a gunbelt with a double magazine pouch, a holster'd ol' gummint model and carryin a wooden box about 3 feet long, eight or ten inches wide and half as thick. He gingerly places it in the bed of the pickup.
Iggy watches as JD puts the box in the bed, but don't say nuthin. I reckon when it's time, we'll see what this ol wadee has squirreled away in that box. He sure handled it gentle. Must be somethin' special. They's ready to go. After a couple hours drive west over back country farm roads to avoid going through town, they arrive at the corrals
of JD's deputy amigo...The lawman is waitin' to help 'em unload the stock and
handed JD a good lookin' little radio.
There ain't much talkin as they unload. Iggy sez his Howdy's to the Deputy, but don't enter into any of the quiet conversation that takes place. This feller might just as straight up as can be, but as far as Iggy is concerned, the less he knows the better. What he don't know, he don't have to lie about some day.
The sun was settin pretty fast, after cinchin' up JD goes to the pickup, opens the wooden box and lifts out a '21 Colt Thompson and a fist full of stick magizines. Sidlin' up to his horse, JD loops the braid'd rawhide thong that's hitch'd to it's stock over the saddle horn, as Iggy and the deputy look on. The deputy breaks the silence, "Serious business
there JD. Well anyhows, there's new batt'tries in that radio." JD looks up at Iggy, who's already stepp'd up and mount'd....What,,,don't y'all carry saddle carbines up ther' in y'alls country?
"Don't you be worryin' bout what I'm packin'' grumbled Iggy. "If we git into a serious scuffle, them banditos and Federales, may not recognize the chug of that ol tommy gun, but they'll know that they ain't facin' no dammed 30-30 if they decides to rush us if they hear mine bark."
Old
Mexico
It was an just an old ford that folks used back in the days...Weren't hardly knee deep to the horses.JD point'd at the dark horizon..."Ten miles thata way. Jest a hop, skip and a jump!"
"Yup, that ain't much for a couple of ol' steppers, let's
git this shindig on the road." Iggy agreed.
Just a couple hours in and she's sur nuf pitch dark out,,, JD stepped down to lose the last of the pot of coffee and stretch his ol' bad knee. Pointin off into the nite JD sezs, "Up here's 'bout a mile er so ther's a main road we gotta cross,,,kinda open country around it."
Makin the highway crossing without a hitch, no traffic, no lights, no nothing. All good so far. A few more hours of feelin' their way along in the dark overcast night, JD allows they're pruty close to the rancho and the burial ground. "If'n we can make our way to the backside of this here little ridge and we'll be jest a piece east of the place. The sun 'll be comin' up from behind us, givin' a purty good look see. If'n this here's her outfit," recon'd JD.
In the false dawn, you know when it's just getting light enough to tell a cow from a cedar bush...JD got his old field glasses out takin' a look and says,"I don't know, this sur don't look nuntin' like I 'member it...Dang, that's some mansion right there, not the casa I recall." Iggy reached for the glass for a look see as well, "Look at that fancy abobe barn, all them corrals and horse fencin'. They's some lights on now."
"I guess we'll just ease right on down there and see if the lady of the house is receivin'
guests," JD said in a low voice. As Iggy and JD got closer, the house, barn and assorted outbuilding were larger and much nicer than most folks see in mexico or a lot of other places as well. Swingin' around toward the barn and corrals, Iggy and JD spot a couple of los hombres tending to some mares and colts.
Without stepping down JD in broken spanish asked about La Senora Felina, the young man answered with a nod and a Si, reaching for a cell phone he calls the main house.
"Si senor, the Senora will be here very soon."
"Wells, looks like we're here's Iggy ol' boy..."
As our two wayward adventurers pass the time of day with the two vaqueros about the horses they were breeding, the weather and such subjects men everywhere just casually visit about. Their converse was suddenly cut short as the hired hands turned their attention back to their work. Iggy turns in the saddle toward the house to see a tall, slender woman wearing riding pants, boots and a white blouse headed their way. Her shoulder length hair pulled back in a fashion of sorts, as she closed the distance to a few yards she smiled. "Well, maybe time hadn't been to awful rough on this gal after all," Iggy thought to himself.
Smiling, Senora Felina says, "I see you have made your journey as you promised,,,,
Jimmy DeWayne, it is good to see you,,,it's been a long time. Who is your compainon?"
Ol' JD couldn't step down quick enough...Peelin' his old hat off,,, "This here's
Mr. Iggy from up north,,,Yes Ma'am, it's been a while, a lot water’s run down
that ol' river since I've been down this way fur sur. It's sur good to see you too",,,,"Oh, Iggy this here is Senora Felina Lucena,,,,She and me goes way back, to the old days, 'fore everythang got so complicated.” Iggy tips his Stetson and nods, " Pleased to make your acquaintance Senora"
"Gentlemen, please come now to the house and I'll have some breakfast prepared for you. The two of you must be famished from your viaje." Felina said as she turned to
the stable boy, "Estaban, see that these gentlemen's horses are tended to properly."
Iggy and JD loosened the cinches, retrived their long guns and carried them with ‘em and followed their hostess toward the main house. Felina was quite the host...A breakfast of sugar cured ham, eggs, biscuits, fresh fruit and good coffee to boot. All
from the good ol' U.S.of A.
This gal seemed really glad to see ol' JD or so it appeared. She and JD visited about the old days and old friends, her father and other fond memories. "Jimmy, about these things that was left in my father's charge...You must know, before my father
died,,,He confided in me of his business. I know my father was paid well for this service and I have honored this family commitment. Knowing full well, some day you or another would come to settle this account." She stated in a business like manner.
"Felina, I'm sorry that this falls to you, I really am.
It's business that should've been tend'd to long before now, but it wern't.
After today you won't have to think no more 'bout it."
JD whispered, "It's sure changed a lot around these parts since I was last here, this big house, the new barn and all...I don't believe I recognize the place where we hid that cache."
"I do not see how you could Jimmy, we built this house fifteen or sixteen years ago.
The new barn was raised ten years ago... That's where the old stables stood; you do remember the joyful times we spent there don't you?" Felina asked with a smile in her eyes.
Now ol' JD's kinda stuck betwixt a fond memory and a sinkin' feelin' right now...
That old stable was just 'bout where that concrete wash pad is now at the corner of that fancy barn,,,,er dang near it...Or under it.
"Yes, I do remember those times and quite fondly ther' Senorita.If I 'member right, we,,, your father and us buried those items in the corner of the near stall.
Did your father tell you that?"
"Yes he did...When we started the new barn, the bulldozer had leveled that area.
But, first I had the two cans removed along with all the canvas bags. They are stored in that room off the veranda here. Where I have kept them safe, awaiting your return."
Our two boy jest look at one another...Ain't nothin’ this easy.With that JD inquired, "Those things were purty heavy if I 'member right...How'd you get 'em up to the house here?"
"Si, Senor Jimmy, my late husband Julio and my brother Raphael moved all of it,
just family for family business."
"How is your brother doin'? I ain't seen him since, I don't remember when.",ask JD
"Raphael is quite well, has a lovely family. He's a Captain now with the la policía estatal,
State Policia as you call it. He is a hard worker and an honest young man."
"Wells, we'll need to open them milk cans and unpack 'em...Didn't brin' no pack mules to carry 'em back. How many of the bags did you recover?" JD wonder'd aloud.
"I checked the day you called...There are eight bags and the two large containers.
Come now, I will show you both."
As Iggy and JD inspected the lids of the milk cans...Sealed as tight as a jug and the bags were tide tight with the same rawhide strangs from the decades before. They could feel the coins inside, each bag felt to weigh a shade over six pounds...A hundred Double Eagles times eight, more that ol' JD had recalled.
"Felina, have ya got any hand tools we might use to open these here cans? We hav' to
divide this up to carry on the two saddle horses."
"Yes, there are tools in the farrier's room in the horse barn. Please feel free to use what
ever you require. Are you planning upon returning to Texas soon?"
"Si, Senorita, 'bout dark this evenin'," JD replied.
JD asked the two hired hands as to the where's 'bouts of a heavy hammer and a chisel.
Returning to the house, Iggy and JD cut the bands that sealed the tops on the copper cans. Carefully withdrawin' one of the wax paper wrap'd boxes. Iggy and Felina watch as JD opens the long blue box. Folding back the grease soaked paper barrier from the blued revolver,it looked every bit as new as the day it shipped from the factory. With
both containers empty now and the goods layed out, six new revolvers from each
can, twelve in all. Some were a bright nickel finish and of different barrel lengths. The men divide them up according to weight, for each side of the saddle bags JD had made.
Of the six Colt SAA, JD and Iggy picked two apiece that suited their fancy...That left a matched pair of engraved silver plated, pearl stock 44-40s. Turning to Felina..."These fancy six shooter are a gift for you Senorita Felica, I think your father would approve."
"Oh, thank you...I will surely cherish these...Thank you Senor Jimmy and you as well
Senor Iggy."
Iggy says, "Senorita, I can't think a better place for them two guns than shinin' on that purty face of yours. They was just plain made with you in mind."
After the dime tour of the rancho compound and Felina's remuda of brood mares and colts...She was quite proud of her horse operation. It was getting on down in the shank of the afternoon, time to pack-up and get north,
"Wells, Iggy I guess we'd better be makin' tracks back the ways we come..."
"Yup, I reckon it's time," was Iggy's reply. Gatherin' their mounts and re-settin' their saddles,they load the handguns into the saddle bags. Three to the side and placin' the canvas sacks two on each side of the saddle fork on each horse. Retreivin' their
carabinas from the porch and tyin' 'em on, they were loaded.
"Well Felina, Senorita, I figger we troubled ya enough, thank you so much for yer kindness and hospitality. Thanks again for helpin' to finish this here business. If'n yer ever up Larado way give me a call, I know a little place that's got a good beef steak." JD offer'd.
"You are most welcome...And yes, I will call you when I'm in Laredo. Jimmy Dewayne
please come back for a visit, will you?And bring your friend Mr. Iggy of course, you both are always welcome in my home.Please do be careful on your return trip."
Iggy tipped his Stetson and said, "Thank you Ma'am, it's been a real honor to make your acquaintance."
With another thank you and an adios, the horsemen turned and rode off as the day's shadows was gettin' purty long. They hadn't gone a hundred yards, JD was diggin' in his
pocket and draw'd out an old pouch that look every bit like it was made from some ol' bull's bag. Takin' a peek inside it, at the gold coins that his friend had given him so many years before, JD turned his horse around...
"Now what?" Grumbled Iggy.
"I'll be right back", joggin' his mount back up the the casa's porch where Felina stood.
JD stepped down and handed her the little pouch and spoke something to her.
She nodded, replying softly in espanol and lightly kissed him on the jaw.
Jimmy Dewayne mounted up, Iggy watched as the Senorita held the the little purse close. JD never looked back...Guess he might of though'd be bad luck.
Catchin' up to Iggy, "That muchacho down at the livery was eyeballin us pretty hard back there...He's talkin' to somebody on that damned cell phone, he looked like a sheep killin' dog when I caught him at it. Them hijo de perras are gonna be trouble, just us watch and see."
"Kinda figgered all along this wasn't gonna be no cake walk.." said Iggy as he uncased the black rifle and slipped a magazine in, loaded a round in the chamber, and laid it across his legs as he rode along.
"We's might wanta look at fish hookin' back on our trail every mile or two and just
watch and listen fer a spell, whatcha think there Iggy?" "Yup," was his reply, "I reckon we'll need to watch our backs, but I'm thinkin' them settin' up an ambush more likely."
"If'n we can make that road crossin'...It'll be purt near straight shot right in, I's figger if'n we can spare the horses as much as we can, get as close as a couple or three mile, we'll
kick for the river and be home free...toda madre...wide open," sezs JD
"Yup, this here could sure be our last stand and that's plumb center. I don't cotton too well to goin' tits up down here in this miserable place," Iggy muttered grimly to himself as he checked the hammer strap on his sidearm.
Watchin' their back trail extra close was taken up a lot time, make the short nite ride a long one...Arriving at the road, all is quiet. Finding a good spot to make the dash across took a spell, but they made it unhindered.
A half mile north of the highway, with JD's horse pickin' his way up the over grown road and Iggy a few yards behind and to the left. First two shots, then half a dozen more....Both riders spur'd for the brush to the lower side of the trail. Justa tryin to peer deep into the darkness and strain'n their ears to listen. "Ya hear that? Sounds like a
motor runnin'...Comin' this a way. Ough, oug...Look there some lights comin'...Hell, them's looks like landin' lights, bright ain't they," grunted JD. "Iggy, if'n you want too, lead them hosses down this here gulley a piece,
I got a stick fix'd to this ol' 21 maybe I can turn 'em back fur a spell..."
“You’d best shoot the hoss and not the riders,” whispered Iggy, “We’s don’t want to be
facin’ no hangin charges down heres.”
“Yup, we’s don’t need Felina’s little brother huntin’ fer us, now do we!” JD agreed.
After a dozen and half rounds, JD hadn't much more than knocked a little bark and
couple or three lights off'n that contraption. Half tryin' to run and half way hobblin' up to were Iggy was holdin' the horses, J.D. tries to catch his breath..."I don't know,,, just what kinda blame storm chaser thing,,,that they's got there....But, she's a rough 'n. Must have some kinda boiler plate wrap'd around on it...Think maybe I knocked a light or two,,,,off'n the top of the dang thing."
Apparently JD's strafin' had done more damage than he thought or he put the fear in them and they didn't want to be around that thing if he decided to give them another dose. The outlaws started down the gully after JD and Iggy on foot. They moved slow but steadily towards the two old hands hunkered in the draw.
"I'll move the caballos on down a piece if'n you want have a go at 'em with that ther' un cuerno de chivo of your'ns there. Maybe them little rifle bullits will slow that ther' monkey down some...This here is a fixin' to get me hacer chis'd right here!
If'n you can keep 'em foot, maybe we'll jest slip right on outta this here little scrap here."
Iggy grunted, unfolded the stock on that black rifle and moved to a well hidden firing position."Well here's they come again, ol' pard. Listen...What's that? motocicletas 'er
something comin' around us?" Crack, crack, crack..."They's shootin' again!"
"Git them horses the hell outta here, I think they're homin' in on them with one of them star scopes or sumthin'," Iggy orders. "How the hell are they seein' us. It' blacker'n outer space out here's, I can't hardly see myself." JD mutters as he gathers up the horses.
"They must got one of them infernalred things that sees in the dark. I reckon they're readin the horses. You take the horses and git away from here. If they watch you go, maybe they won't notice I ain't with you. There's a cut bank here where they won't see me until they have passed me.If'n they come this far I'll give'm sumthin' to think about." Iggy promised.
"I'll be down here's 'bout hundr'd yards with the horses. When ya get finish'd with 'em there, they won't be chingando with us no more."
It became clear that the bandits did have some kind of night vision device, because as soon as JD moved off they followed down the gully. Iggy laid low and as they passed by him he stepped out behind them and coughed. As the two men turned around Iggy fired the big .41 magnum pistol twice right in their faces. The muzzle blast rattled their
skulls and lit up the night. They both were temporarily blinded and could not hear
anything but a painful ringing in their ears. The two banditos dropped their gear and staggered back toward their disabled vehicle. They were stalled for a minute or two at
least. In the meantime Iggy had flung the rifle with a star scope on it up over the rim of the gully and beat feet to where JD was waiting.
Squatin in the shallow gulley and just a rumanatin'.......Turning to Iggy, JD ask, "What you got in them pistol ca'tridges? Left over chinezee fireworks?"
"That Blue Dot does sparkle a bit don't it." Iggy grinned.
Sizin things up, JD says, "We're gonna have to wind this up right soon...Daylite's gonna catch us here in a bit...I's don't know 'bout how ya got it figger'd...But this hav'n 'em surounded from the inside...Well, it's a lookin like it might take a spell to convince 'em to surrender."
"Besides, I don't fancy squatin' here till daylite... This is kinda a esta cabron we's
in here, fer sur. Iggy, if'n ya got an idee, now'd be a good time to put 'er in gear!"
"JD, you head for the river, I got enuff Injun in me that I reckon I kin surround this crew and keep them entertained for a bit. If I can get them guys off them dirt bikes mebbe we can get them bumbled up and shootin' at each other." Checkin' the chamber and slippin' the full magazine back in his ol' guv'tment 1911, JD look'd toward Iggy, "Watch yer self...I'll be just a little piece down here, coverin' our escape. If'n we get any kinda break here, we's need to bust out for home."
"That tommy gun is a dead giveaway, but my little Armalite gun is shootin' the same stuff as them. If I kin get them confused, mebbe we can slip outta this little dust up and git across the river."
"Give it to 'em in spades, them narcos are playin fer keeps right here, I do believe," sez JD as he worked his way down the draw. Iggy changed magazines in that black gun and peeked up over the bank and could see the approaching bikes. He climbed up on the bank and dumped a 40 round magazine of tracers in front of them bikes. The ricocheting rounds put on a dazzling and terrifying display and he two bikers collided and wound up in a dusty pile.
JD can hear the gunfire and see them red tracers arcin' up everywhich'a way....Right plum errie lookin'. Reachin into his jacket pocket J.D. pulls out the little cell phone,
hittin the power button it comes to life...With just a little signal, he pushes
the redial...It's ringin,,, "Felina, we's got us a little jam up here, we's run upon
some fellers that's kinda takin exception to us cross the north end of your ranch...We're up here between the main road and the river, on the old wagon road...Could you see if'n your brother might send a few troopers up this away and corral these fuera de la leys
befor' sumthin bad happen to 'em…Gracias darlin’,,,I'll talk to ya real soon, gotta go now!" JD closes the phone up before Felina could hear any of the gun fire.
By now the original pair of bandits had recovered their senses and were moving towards Iggy's position. He fired a few rounds in their direction and beat it out of there. He
hoped that the two pairs of bruised and numbed outlaws would converge on his last position and get tangled up. It was a faint hope, but it was the last card in Iggy's hand.
In the meantime JD had returned and had Iggy's horse positioned close to the bank.
Ol Iggy hadn't moved that fast in 40 years and his jump off that bank and onto that horse would done ol Zorro himself proud.
First light of the day was creepin' over the horizon, it been a long and fast nite. The old timers headed down the draw as fast as they dared. As they got closer to the river, they heard a volley of gunfire behind them. It looked like maybe Iggy's plan had worked.
"Wells, I do believe ya smoked 'em off'n us right there...Whatcha say we kick these here ponies and stretch 'em out fer a piece!" JD wolf'd.
Back in
Texas
As
Iggy, with JD trailin close behind charge off'n the bank and into the shallow stream, turnin half around in the saddle JD lets loose a long burst from the ol' tommy gun
into the brush they just rode out of and yells, "Take that you un ojetes."
From atop the river bank on the Texas side Iggy spun his mount around with his
carbine at the ready, scannin’ the far bank to see what the shootin was all ‘bout.
J.D. gives Iggy a big ol' Copehagen grin, "Wells, I’ll declare…Don't ya like havin' fun no more?"
"I think they's passed sum kinda law 'bout havin that much fun." Iggy advised.
"Huh! Well I'll be…That's the first I hear'd tell of it," JD’s still a grinnin'.
"Ya hear them sireens back thata way, guess ol' Raphael's polica troops
caught up with our bandits." Iggy nods, "Yep, sounds like it from here, whatcha say we jest ease on outta here."
Slow joggin the horses down the shoulder of the farm to market road toward the
pickup,they didn't look back, don’t need no bad luck.Lookin outta the corner of
his eye at JD, Iggy sezs, "Ya goin back down there for that gal, ain't cha?"
"Nah, any woman that's been wearin the britches as long as she has, sur ain't gonna put up with my ways for very long and that's a fact. But, I did leave sumthin with 'er. Ya know, she whispered some thing to me when I give her that little pouch, my e-spam-yola ain't too good no more. I don't rightly know jest what she said, but I shor did liked the way she said it...Ya never knows."
Back at the deputy's corrals, Iggy and JD loosen'd the cinches and pull the saddle bags containing their plunder and laid it in the floorboard and on the seat of the pickup truck.
When the horses had cool'd for a spell, Iggy lead 'em over to an old galanized water
trough for a long drink and throw'd some of the cool water on himself.
After loading the stock, JD looked over at Iggy as he closed the trailer's tailgate,
"Well's now… Were we gonna bury all this here gold?
We can't just go haulin it all over the dang country with us now, can we?"
"Crap!!
I never give any thought as to how a feller is supposed to cash in them gold coins without
bringin' the G-men down on our necks." Iggy charged.
Lookin through the open pickup door at Iggy,
JD asked, "Ever been to that big ol' deal in Tulsa?
I hear's she's bigger than that world's fair...”
"No I ain't...Don't want to neth'r,
if'n it means gettin shot at sum more!" snort'd Iggy.
They's say thar's an ol' boy from Gawjaw,
that'll buy ever ol' Smith and Wesson made
befor's the war that comes down the pike.
Some say he kinda favors that fried chicken feller,
that thar Colonel sumthin or nuther."
Still a grinnin'...JD gets in one last gig, "Wells, it's sumthin' to do ain't it?"
Ol'
Iggy's thinkin'....Jaezus, Mary, and Joseph, here we go agin!!!!
Copyright
2011. Not to be reproduced or copied without written permission.
