The Boot Hill Express: Special Edition HBH Version (Half Breed Haven Book 12)

by A. M. Van Dorn

  Come to Mexico

  Come South of the Border

  Where the moon sings

  Of love,

  Let your hearts be gay

  Keep the gloom at bay

  In the land of old Mexico

  “How romantic! In our country, the cowboys be singing of cows and steers,” Katie exclaimed in delight as she clapped her hands.

  “Livestock—how unromantic!” Manuel laughed.

  “Indeed.” Honor grinned as she saw Francisco lean in across form her.

  “Come, señorita. Let us stroll on the patio and enjoy the moonlight,” Francisco propositioned her with a gleam in his eye that Honor recognized from other men.

  “That sounds like a wonderful idea. You two can have your stroll while I show Señorita Dodge what she has purchased. Unless, of course, Señorita Wilde would like to see the coach,” Manuel asked. Francisco answered for her and, maybe because his physicality and machismo got her juice flowing, she decided to let that pass.

  “No, no, brother. Señorita Wilde can see the coach in the morning. In fact, I shall let her get used to driving it when I take Amaury to the doctor in town,” Francisco said. Honor considered things for a moment. He surely came across as a chauvinist. At the same time, there was an attractiveness about him that was undeniable to her. Though she still did not like him answering for her, she had to admit she found the idea of a stroll more interesting. She would see the coach in the morning in any case.

  “I accept,” she told him with a feeling of anticipation sweeping over her.

  CHAPTER 15

  As the two sets of men and women parted company, Francisco escorted Honor out onto the patio along the back of the house. It was decorated with wrought-iron benches and lovely flowers. In one corner of the terrace, three small steps were leading up to an elaborate gazebo. In the center of that gazebo was a terracotta fireplace which had been lit previously to keep the evening chill at bay. Residing near the fireplace was a well-cushioned bench with a table next to it. There were a champagne bottle and a pair of glasses in sight on the table.

  Honor Elizabeth smiled with an appreciation for such planning as Francisco displayed here. The Mexican coachmaker was obviously well versed in seduction. He had the fire pre-lit and the champagne ready before she even had agreed to stroll with him. She was still a little hesitant to go any further with him as she was usually attracted to strong-willed men. Take charge sort of fellows. She found Francisco's hesitation to take on his brother-in-law puzzling, and a small inhibitor to her sexual attraction.

  In the distance, a loud creaking noise caught her attention. She idly watched as a draw bridge was lowered over a swiftly flowing creek. That reminded her of her first visit years before with her father. On their tour, the now-late Riccardo Yberra had told them he had found it necessary to divert some of the waters from the Rio Vasquez into channels he had the workers dig around the coach factory. Ruefully, Yberra had told her father that they were subject to bandit raids on his factory. So, after the channels were dug, the factory sat on an oval piece of ground with what was essentially a moat around it for protection.

  The bridge could only be lowered on the factory side by an ever-present worker. At night, the draw bridge went up, and the thefts all but vanished. Only later, during even more prosperous years, had Yberra erected the wall around the entire property for even more security. Honor raised an eyebrow as she saw Katie walking with Manuel across the bridge and holding hands. Good for you, she thought for Katie.

  Turning her attention away from the couple on the bridge, she saw something on the edge of the patio that was more interesting by far. She recalled the mention earlier of a telescope that had revealed their presence up on the valley rim. He escorted her over to it when he saw her glance go towards it.

  "You like this I see, Señorita Wilde, I can tell. I purchased it on a weekend in London during the time my brother, and I went to school in Spain. I assure you it is of the finest kind," he said proudly. Honor beamed and ran her hand over its length, almost seductively.

  "Indeed, it is. If I had to guess, it was made by the MacDougal Brothers out of Edenborough, Scotland, yes?" she asked astounding him.

  “How did you know this?” he asked in his shock. She laughed softly.

  “They are only the finest telescopes manufactured in the world. My daddy is an old navy man, and a few years back he asked one of his friends, who is now an admiral, to pick one up for me while he was abroad. I got my field glasses from there as well. May I look?” she asked a little proudly herself. He spread his hands in a “by all means” gesture.

  “Certainly, dear lady,” he answered. She bent and looked through it.

  “I see you have it trained on Mars because …”

  “Because this time of year it passes closest to Earth,” he finished for her, and she looked up meeting his eyes as they laughed together.

  “If you don’t mind, may I move it to take a look at the moon? With tonight being the full phase there is never a better time to be looking,” she asked.

  He nodded agreement. She thought to herself wryly, appreciating the beauty of the heavens made astronomy, another one of your interests that you got passionate about, but at least this one she hadn’t moved on from—yet. Honor was about to pivot the telescope when something on the edge of the patio caught her attention. The strong moonlight was glinting off a knife a darkened figure held in his hand, ready to throw.

  "Look out!" she shouted and shoved Francisco back as the knife flew through the air and buried itself in a tree that was between them growing on the edge of the patio. Francisco was in shock, mouth open in surprise. Honor Elizabeth, however, was already moving. She snatched the knife from the tree and found a note on it, almost admiring the thrower's ability to hurl it with the paper stuck on it. She tore it off and tossed it toward Francisco as she deftly spun the knife in her hand and threw it back toward the fleeing assailant. He was too far away, but the blade did manage to hit one of the man's trapezius muscles, taking a chunk of flesh and causing a scream as the man fled.

  “Come on, let’s go after him!” she shouted to Francisco. She turned to run and was startled to find a hand clamping down on her shoulder, stopping her. She spun around.

  “No, señorita!” he said firmly as she angrily shook her head in disgust.

  "Someone tries to kill you, and you are going to stand there and let him escape? I do not know how things are done in Mexico, but in Arizona, if someone attacked us on our ranch, we surely would not let it go unchallenged and allow the perpetrator to escape into the night," she said letting her frustration over his seemingly timid behavior finally spill over.

  “The intent was not to kill. Look!” he said and thrust the note to her. She haughtily snatched it out of his hand to read it. She became flustered.

  “I can speak a little Spanish, but I cannot read it as well as I would wish.” She told him handing it back, feeling a bit humbled.

  "Yberra, you will return my son in the morning hours to the edge of Eduardo's swimming hole. Along with him, as the price for wounding him, I demand one of your new coaches. The price it will fetch in Mexico City will serve to settle the score," His eyes peered at her after he finished reading the don's demands.

  “More extortion,” Francisco finally said before staring down at the note again.

  “Hold up a moment. Surely you are not considering giving into such outrageous demands?” she questioned.

  “Failure to do so would indeed worsen the situation,” he answered.

  “I do not believe what I am hearing. That fat, repulsive character needs to be squashed like the insect that he is. My sisters and I would never have allowed him to get away with what he has done here,” she told him.

  “What do you speak of? Women attempting to take on banditos!” he blurted out in disbelief.

  “I shall have you know that on my way here we took out an entire gang plus a horrid woman who was abusing her step-daughter. Also, I was one of
the people who took down Esteban San Cristobel’s operation on my side of the border, thank you very much!” she told him fiercely.

  “I am to believe you defeated banditos and the criminal San Cristobel?” he asked in disbelief.

  “The bandits directly and San Cristobel indirectly when I helped to break up the Arizona end of his smuggling operation. Enough of this! I do not understand you, Francisco, why do you not endeavor to end him once and for all!” she asked straight out, again.

  “Because I made a promise! Forgive me for shouting, Señorita Wilde,” he said catching himself before holding out his upturned palms in front of him.

  “What you did not hear at dinner was that my Carmella did not die immediately from the trampling she received. She lingered for a day, in and out of consciousness. That noble woman, in a moment of lucidity, forgave her brother. He had been the only father figure she had ever known, and she begged me not to harm him, no matter whether she lived or died. I did not want to, but who was I to refuse my dying love's last wish. So, I have honored it, and that has allowed Don Diego to grow in his recklessness and misdeeds because he knows of my vow," Francisco said, still quaking in emotion from the admission.

  Honor was touched although she thought there would have been many ways to take care of the problem other than killing the Don but said nothing to that effect.

  “I am so sorry for your losses. What you have done for your love, and continue to do, it is a beautiful thing,” Honor told him honestly.

  "For a beautiful woman,” he said softly.

  "So, you are going to give in to his demands?" she asked hesitantly. Francisco straightened, and Honor was surprised by his answer and the steely firmness in his voice.

  "I am not. Carmella loved Dante very much as she loved her nephew, Amaury. That young man needs medical attention to recover, and that is not the care he will get from Don Diego and his gang. I shall not be returning him or giving him any coaches, come what may," he stated with a conviction that lit up Honor's face.

  “You are doing the right thing.”

  “The consequences of which are yet unknown,” he answered ominously.

  CHAPTER 16

  It was not long that they parted company for the evening. The threat from Don Diego had dampened the coachmaker’s mood towards seduction. The champagne remained unopened with unused glasses standing next to it in the gazebo. Honor knew that the whole incident had forced her host to dredge up old memories of his first love, and that was enough to put out any fire towards her he may have had, and she was not surprised. She walked into her room and found she had it to herself for the time being.

  A part of her was a little disappointed; she had to admit. When she learned the real reason, he had not confronted Don Diego; it had swept away her reservations towards the man. Had he made a pass at her, she would have been on board for sharing his bed. Until that night it had been some time since she had one of her romantic liaisons with a man she hardly knew. Who had been the last one, she wondered to herself. Perhaps it had been Cody Holmes over Nevada way when the sisters had gone up against the evil Los Rey Lobo and his sister. That had been a piece ago, and Honor was feeling a little overdue for some fun of that sort. It was a fantastic stress relief when she could get it. After all, what was good for Quillan was good for her too!

  Honor went through her saddlebags and got out her flannels while she thought it was probably a good thing she hadn't slept with Francisco. Katie would have found out, and she was sure that could have hurt the mending of their relationship. She knew that Katie believed that one of the reasons she and Quillan had broken up was the sister's trait of a freewheeling approach to their sexual adventures. Katie thought being tied to Quillan would have slowed Honor down. Katie learning, she had made time with Francisco would have added fuel to that particular fire. Katie was wrong, of course, and it was time to set her straight on what had indeed occurred with her brother. The Yberras had offered two rooms, but she had explicitly declined so she could have the time to talk to Katie in the quiet of the night. One thing was missing, and that was Katie.

  Honor Elizabeth had expected to find Katie back in the room after visiting the coach, perhaps even arriving before Honor. Yet she was nowhere to be seen. Honor crossed to the window and stared out toward the building that served as the construction shop for various wagons, buckboards, and coaches that the family made. The rectangular structure was dark, save for the light burning in one window. As Honor leaned forward on the window sill, a thought entered her head and a sly smile formed on her face.

  “Katie Dodge, what are you up to?” she said aloud with her smile growing to a grin. She thought she knew and thought further, really good for you, girl!

  ***

  This is crazy. This is insane! Katie thought to herself as she wriggled out of her dress and undergarments. Manuel’s shirt was off, and his pants were unhooked. This is the new coach! She told herself as they embraced, and their lips met in a fiery passion she had not known she possessed. They pushed their clothes aside to the teak hardwood floors, and she was laid back on the velvet seat cushions. Quillan was going to be furious if he ever found out, she thought in a brief moment of panic that faded as their bodies touched and his hands found her breasts.

  She arched her back with a moan, and he growled his appreciation for her body that thrilled her and enticed her sensations further. Katie had wanted this so badly, needed this release so badly. She had always wondered what it would be like to make love to a white man, or a Mexican, but the opportunity had not come around. Now she was in the midst of it, and when the man's lips touched her breasts, and one of his hands went between her legs she cried out in a raging lust that startled her and was embraced by him. They panted as they took their passions out on each other and by the time Manuel plunged his throbbing member deep inside of her she was more than ready for it. The resulting orgasm exploded within her, and she cried out again with Manuel this time in the waves of pleasure they shared. On their walk to the coaches, Manuel had spoken of himself as a conqueror of new ground in coach making. Well, she thought gasping as he lay on top of her, he had conquered her, and she had happily let him.

  “Manuel. Lord have mercy” She softly panted, and he groaned still catching his breath before slipping down off the seat. His strong hands moved to part her legs and Katie completely surrendered herself to unbridled pleasure.

  ***

  Later as Honor and Katie lay in the oversized bed, Honor realized with a smile that Katie had been going on for a half an hour about her tryst with Manuel. She was sparing no detail to the point Honor felt like she had been there and seen it. She was glad Katie had got a chance at some fun and decided if she got a chance with Francisco she would take it. If Quillan and Katie were getting their needs seen to, they couldn't complain if Honor did! Turning her head on the pillow Honor looked at her friend. There was a sparkle in her eyes. Honor was so happy to have her friend back she was scared that if she told her what happened with Quillan, she would lose her again, but she was a Wilde, and she had to plow forward.

  "Can we talk about Quillan?" she asked. Katie's smile started to fade, and then it returned.

  “Yes, ma’am, I be listening, Honor,” she responded.

  “I know you have your beliefs as to why your brother and I came to a parting of the ways. I want you to hear the gospel truth,” Honor said.

  “Go on,” Katie responded.

  "We both know things came to an end when he proposed marriage to me and I turned him down. Katie, his proposal was out of desperation to keep me when we were growing apart, and I was seeing less and less of him," Honor explained.

  “That, that’s because, and I don’t want to sound judgmental, well especially after what I done tonight, but you didn’t want to settle down with him because one man was never gonna be enough to satisfy you. Honor, you’re mighty beautiful, and your wealth and standing breaks down barriers. People like Quillan, Bessie, and I could never do that. You were never going to gi
ve that up, not even for one of the finest men who have ever lived, my brother,” Katie said, and Honor touched one of her friend’s pigtails.

  “No, Katie, no,” she said gently.

  “Yes! Quillan done told me you wouldn’t give up Cedar Ledge to go be the simple wife of a stagecoach driver. It ain’t the life you were born into. I understands that Honor, I really do, but it destroyed him, knowing he wasn’t good enough for you in matters of the bedroom and of being a man who could support you,” Katie told her.

  “No, no, no, baby, it wasn’t like that. He is a fine man. He’s made more of himself with that stage business than most men, white or black. Look at him landing the Jackson Peak run,” Honor said of her ex.

  “Yet it twern’t enough for you, to settle in as his humble wife,” Katie said. Honor felt tears welling in her hazel eyes.

  "I can't leave Cedar Ledge, Katie. You don't understand! Quillan gave me an impossible choice. My family is everything to me. My father, the girls, Dutch, Blue River, Bright Feather, they give me safety and security. They are all I have. The truth is, you were my only real friend. Growing up other families in Alamieda either outright refused to let their children be friends with me, or it was reluctantly allowed to remain in my father's good graces. I was never invited to anyone's homes. They would come to Cedar Ledge if I were ever to see them outside of the schoolhouse," Honor admitted, breathing heavily at the painful memories.

  “Honor …” Katie began haltingly.

  “Cedar Ledge, my family, is my buffer against a world that will never accept me,” Honor said.

  “Quillan accepted you, loved you like you were the sun, the stars, and the moon all rolled into one,” Katie pointed out, and Honor knew it was true.

  “Turning him down was the hardest thing I have ever done, but it was the way it had to be, Katie. I can never leave my family. Quillan once said we were on two different paths. His was to settle down with a loving wife and raise a family. Mine is to be a daughter of Half Breed Haven,” Honor said with a sigh and wiped at her tears.