The cavalry had no time to spare and quickly launched into action with a jolt forward as soon as they knew what was going on. Lijuan and the others could see the Apaches galloping along the top trek of the canyon, they had reached a sloping draw that angled downward and they began swooping down the rock incline to try and reach the canyon floor.
Their faces were plastered in war-paint, feathers dangled from their headdresses. They wielded tomahawks, spears, and bows meant for war.
The turbulent ride was a danger zone around every twist as the Indians drew closer and closer with their arrows and spears. Lijuan was ready with her hammer, and Washburn's men loaded up their pistols, preparing to fire at the chasing invaders. A brave with a strong arm hurled the first spear towards the soldiers and Washburn bellowed for the group to open fire above their heads hoping the overwhelming firepower would cow them into giving up the chase. He wasn't optimistic, but he had to try but, in his heart, he knew these Apaches were out for blood.
CHAPTER 19
Spearing the last piece of her steak, Cassandra’s thoughts returned to earlier when she had bathed. The youthful Latina Lupe had returned, and Cassandra followed her into the bathroom. As she poured the final bucket of hot water she was carrying into the nearly filled tub, Cassandra inquired as to whose room they were in, though the feminine touches in the bedroom as they passed through it gave her a pretty good idea.
“The mistress of the mission.” The young woman had said quietly.
“Yes, but who is the mistress?”
“The sister of Rey Lobo of course. Daniella. Most call her The Countess.”
Cassandra had bit her lip and looked at Lupe, but the woman seemed to be doing her best to avoid eye contact with her. “The Countess? Why is that?”
“It is not my place to speak about the Countess.”
“I see … well, can you at least tell me where this Daniella is now?”
Lupe straightened at that moment and looked Cassandra in the eye for the first time, her face seemed devoid of emotion. “How you say … supply run … Carlos … I mean Rey Lobo expect her back soon. You must start your bath now before … before that happen.”
She bowed and hastened out of the room drawing the door behind her. Cassandra’s eyes had scanned around the small room. She had no reason to believe she was being watched but being alert had become second nature in her profession. Satisfied, she had peeled off her clothes and lowered herself into the tub.
This was definitely not what she had anticipated. Going into the old mission, she had expected to be held prisoner under less than ideal circumstances. Still, despite the genteel trappings, she was sure that she indeed still a captive only in a gilded cage or they would have sent her out immediately or tried to kill her. Rey Lobo clearly wanted her around be it for her looks or for some other reason. She would remain vigilant because she had been in plenty of situations before either alone or with her sisters at her side when things could turn on a dime, and she might find herself fighting for her life.
Not long after the relaxing soak, she had found herself where she was now. Sitting at the table enjoying an excellent T-bone steak with a baked potato with the scourge of the De La Santa Barbara Valley.
“It is to your liking, yes?” the dashing man across from the table asked her leaning forward, his eyes twinkling.
With a broad smile, Cassandra spoke the truth in this instance, “Very much so. Cooked rare just as I said when you asked how I wanted it prepared. Thank you very much.” Then she slipped back into the performance she was giving the Wolf King.
“I thought I was going to die out there. Coming across this mission was a blessing in the end.”
Rey Lobo brought his two steepled index fingers up to his lips, “You must have been quite lost to find yourself on this side of the Sweetbriar, across The Rift and the barrier of hills that all lay between the settlement and this mission.”
Cassandra smiled and gave him an innocent shrug of her shoulders as if to say, ‘I’m just a dumb woman what can I say?’ However, the way he had made his statement in an almost searching tone made her wonder if he was starting to become suspicious of her cover story. She searched his eyes for a moment but couldn’t read anything from them as he continued to smile back at her as he sipped his beverage, so she changed the subject.
“I am sure you can forgive me if I ask about that bear you have down there? A most unusual pet, if I may say so.”
“My dear, you shall get no argument from me. That creature belongs to my sister. She chanced upon its habitat while exploring on one of the mountains that ring this valley. Daniella insisted that my men capture it and bring it back for study.” He said with a laugh.
Wrinkling her nose, she asked, “For study
“My sister is a learned woman. Growing up she went to the finest schools in Mexico and Spain as well. Hers has always been a mind filled with an insatiable desire for knowledge of this world. Scientific and natural pursuits are a passion of hers. As a schoolteacher imparting knowledge I am sure you might feel a kinship with her, would you not?”
Again, she wondered if he had become suspicious of her cover. She couldn’t be sure, but she quickly spoke up.
“Of course! It’s just such a dangerous beast is all. If the bear is kept for study well … I saw what you had done to that man using the beast.”
He waved his hand glibly. “Such a barbaric exercise was not of my design. It was something my sister came up with to put the bear to use after she grew bored studying it. It is an effective way to keep the men in line as we prepare to assume control of the valley reclaiming our family’s birthright.”
Cassie popped a forkful of baked potato in her mouth, but she didn't really taste it. Her mind was focused on just what kind of woman this Daniella Villanueva was. Some type of criminal who was scholarly one hand and sadistic on the other. She longed to come face to face with this contradictory mistress of the mission. This desire was tempered by the fact she was said to be returning with even more men.
“Birthright … that reminds me. Do you come from royal blood? From what I understand Daniella is also known as The Countess.”
A dark look came over the man’s face. “It seems Lupe has been talking out of turn for you to know that.”
“Oh, don’t blame her! We were just making small talk when she was getting my delightful bath ready.”
He seemed to regain his jovial spirits, but perhaps he was putting on just as skillful an act as she was."
"As I said, my sister studied in Spain. She frequently visited the British Isles and became enamored of the imperial system that dominates the Empire. Daniella wished to be known as a countess upon her return and I certainly am not going to be the one to ridicule her decision. If she wants to call herself the Countess of this valley that is her choice." He laughed.
“And what shall you do when this valley is completely yours?”
“Why continue the cattle and sheep ranching the former residents were engaged in. Daniella and I expect to turn quite a profit!”
She already knew he was a liar, but this statement simply confirmed it. Before she had left with Lijuan, she remembered the Holmes' siblings saying how people in the valley for all practical purposes earned a living with their enterprises, but no one was getting rich here. No, the Villanuevas were after something else, and she was almost certain now she knew what it was.
"As for me, it seems I must find another school to teach in."
Rey Lobo clapped his hands. “I have never met a teacher outside of my days of learning from one. Would you be open to a walk, and you can regale me of your life as an educator, Senorita Kelly?”
“A walk?”
“Yes, well that combined with a hunt. The land behind the mission is home to numerous gophers, fox, prairie dogs, or groundhogs … I’m not sure what they are exactly. Daniela could tell you. Half the anger you saw from that beast was out of hunger. It has been a while since my sister’s pet was fed. I shall secure some fr
esh game, and you can accompany me if you wish.”
She rather liked the idea of getting Rey Lobo alone beyond the walls of the mission. It could present an ideal opportunity to get the upper hand. Still, she didn't want to appear too eager.
“Isn’t that something that you could have your men do?” she hedged.
“Of course! But I enjoy the thrill of the hunt. I fancy myself quite the marksman. Skill with a gun, Senorita, is not something that one comes by easily.”
Cassandra nodded, smirking inwardly. Maybe that was true of the great Rey Lobo, but not for her. Whip had given in to her request to learn to shoot weapons at a very early age. She was confident going along with such an outlandish request was one of the ways for him to try to make up for the years he had been absent from his children's lives, shipwrecked off China and having Lijuan.
To this day, she could remember being just seven that last summer before they moved west following the heartbreaking death of Honor’s mother and Whip showing her how to fire his one-shot derringer in a field out in Buck’s County, Pennsylvania. From that day forward, her skills with a gun continued to grow exponentially until there was little she felt she couldn’t do with one. Cattie liked to kid her if she ever gave up the law she could join a traveling circus as a trick shot.
“Very well then! I accept your offer … Carlos,” she said, batting her eyes as gilding on her flirtatious tone.
CHAPTER 20
As Washburn had feared, the warning shots had failed, and the Apaches had not given up but continued their pursuit. It seemed to him as if they would follow them all the way to the end of the canyon where it opened into the De La Santa Barbara if it meant seeing them dead. The warriors' screeches haunted all of them, and as some of the braves were blown from their horses, the war cries grew louder. Despite his worries about conserving ammunition, it was time to end this chase and turn and fight. It wasn't the option he preferred, but the Renegades weren't giving them any choice.
The sounds of their cries continued to echo with vibrancy as the Apaches whooped and hollered again, sending a ripple of fear through the hearts of Catalina, Washburn, and even Lijuan, as hardened as she was. He gave the order to slow up and prepare to strike.
As the troop slowed to take aim, the Apaches took advantage of this moment by firing everything they had. Tomahawks, arrows, spears, and rocks went flying. A few of Washburn’s men who had hung back a little received glancing blows from hurled spears and unleashed arrows.
“Everybody halt!” Washburn said, pulling back on the reins of his horse.
“Dismount!” he shouted.
His men and the Wildes followed suit as the trembling of the ground from the Apaches coming right at them was intensifying by the moment. The suspense of the moment could be felt in the deepest depths of them. They felt it in their souls.
“Ready … Aim … Fire!” Washburn yelled.
The sound of booming gunfire echoed off the orange canyon walls cutting through the warm late afternoon air as the detachment started firing in a straight line when the Apaches were close enough to target. The six-shooters and rifles transformed the canyon into a cacophony of noise and this second wave scored numerous direct hits.
Several braves went down, but those that remained caught up with the cavalry, and the two opposing forces merged in battle. The Apache hollered and twirled their tomahawks looking up at the sky like they were mad at the world before viciously attacking more of Washburn’s troops, and eventually the officer himself.
Just then, several more Apaches attacked from in front of them trying to block their escape route into the valley now visible at the end of the ravine. One arrow found its mark in the thigh of a man next to Catalina, who was a corporal under Lieutenant Washburn. She rushed over to him, and with one swift, hard yank pulled the arrow out. He yelled with the pain but thanked her while using his handkerchief for a tourniquet.
The soldiers and the Apache were engaged in hand to hand combat, a pitched battle on the canyon floor. With yelling and commotion all around her, Catalina edged closer to the fighting pair nearest her to see if she could get off a shot without killing the soldier. She raised her rifle at the Apache, waiting until she was sure she could hit the red man and not the white man.
When her chance came, she squeezed off one shot. The warrior was a moving target, so her bullet only hit him in the shoulder, rather than any vital organ, as she had hoped. Still, it discouraged him from further fighting, and he dashed away to the safety of a boulder a dozen yards away up the canyon. Behind her, someone else shot one Apache in the calf, and he hobbled away as fast as he could go in the same direction the other one had gone.
Catalina again saw movement on the canyon edge above her. She fired, scaring off the would-be attacker. There was another! She shot again, not sure if she hit the man or not. He disappeared, and that was the main thing. While the men and Lijuan were still in combat with the Apaches, she acted as a lookout, scanning the canyon in all four directions. No telling how many Indians were out there. She could see the three that were still fighting with the soldiers but sensed that many more were just out of sight. She was out of rifle shells, so she pulled her Colt .45 free from its holster.
The horses were snorting and stamping around nervously. Catalina’s mount was acting skittish, too, telling her that there were others still around.
One by one, the soldiers were overpowering the Apaches, inflicting death or injuries on them, or intimidating them to the point of fleeing. Catalina was still on the alert, watching all directions for danger. She fired once or twice more at shadows that moved, not knowing whether her bullets found their mark. She was mentally keeping track of her shots and looked down at her spare bullets on her gun belt.
Catalina had no wish to expend them all here because a potential conflict lay ahead with this Rey Lobo character Lijuan had reported about. If they could just scare off the Apaches, they could start moving up the canyon again. Quickly she reloaded then and was at ready for the next attack, whenever and wherever it came.
When it appeared as if the Apaches had all been scared off, the lieutenant walked around through the soldiers checking on each one to evaluate the injuries. Other than the corporal, two others had sustained flesh wounds, either from an arrow or knife during the fight. Not too bad, all things considered with no casualties on their side. And two of the dead Indians were thanks to Catalina, leaving him quite happy she had come along.
Just as he started approaching her, Catalina’s earlier instincts had been right about more of the enemy still being around as she saw an Apache warrior perched in the Palo Verde tree she was standing under. How she had missed seeing him before was beyond her. Although, the way the tree grew right up against the canyon wall where a narrow ledge ran for a couple hundred yards, he could have gotten into the tree from up there. She couldn’t see in all directions at once, no matter how much she tried.
Catalina didn’t have time to yell before he pounced as Lieutenant Washburn walked underneath the tree. Tomahawk in one hand, he grabbed the lieutenant around the neck with the other. He drew back the hand holding the weapon ready to split open the man’s head. Reacting reflexively, Catalina drew her side-arm and put a single bullet in the Apache’s brain. His eyes registered shock for a brief second before they glazed over, and he slumped to the ground.
“My word, woman, where did you learn to quick-draw like that?” Washburn asked in breathless amazement. “One more second, and that would be me in the dirt instead of him.” Her stories had indeed been true!
“Practice makes perfect,” she said, suddenly feeling weak in the knees. She would not have liked to see this handsome lover of hers with his skull stove in lying at her feet. Catalina laid her hand on his arm to steady herself.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m all right,” she answered sheepishly. “Funny, I was steady as a rock until I saw that devil raise his tomahawk over your head. Then I just kinda lost it.”
“But not before you fired that amazing shot and saved my life,” he reminded her.
“Yeah, fortunately,” she said with a crooked little grin. “Got to keep you breathin’ after all, in case we wanna pick up where we left off before.”
Lijuan pushed her way between the two of them as she put her hammer back on her belt loop. “The two of you can kiss and celebrate Washburn’s survival later. Right now, golden girl needs our help, so we have to get moving again!”
Lieutenant Washburn wished the fiery Asian would disappear along with the rest of his men for that matter. That smile of Catalina’s and her dancing black eyes did funny things to his insides. He really wanted to take her in his arms just then and make love to her again, much as they had earlier. But Catalina’s surly sister was right, duty demanded that he lead his men on toward the valley that Rey Lobo had under siege and save those there who needed saving, not least of whom was Catalina’s sister. He would just have to wait.
CHAPTER 21
Cassandra’s hopefulness of perhaps taking Rey Lobo hostage during the hunt had given away to disappointment. The would-be tyrant had ordered Dogget along to hold a sack for the game they were going to be bagging. It wasn’t lost on Cassandra that the man stiffened somewhat when he had received his orders. There was some unseen dynamic at play here, but she wasn’t sure what it was.
As the hunt progressed, Dogget trailed behind them dutifully stocking the bag with whatever Rey Lobo happened to shoot. Cassie had to give the criminal some credit, he was as good as advertised with his rifle as well as a few shots he took with the six-shooter strapped to his waist. He had yet to miss, and some shots were at a distance. They were hunting behind the mission now, and Cassandra had taken great interest when they had first rounded the structure to the back.
Into The Lair 0f Los Rey Lobo: Wildes 0f The West (Half Breed Haven Book 9) Page 13
