The Devil's Staircase

by Randy D. Smith

  As they ate a big bellied dark-skinned handsome Hispanic with pure white hair and long mustachio made his way towards them. He was heavily armed and wore the traditional outfit of a vaquero. In spite of his advanced age he seemed to be in excellent physical condition. His earnest eyes squinted into his smile behind his large nose and broad mouth.

  He walked straight to the woman, removed his sombrero and spoke in a friendly fashion. "Excuse, por favor, a thousand pardons, but are you Dona Elaina Valverde?"

  Paco Torres answered. "Yes, she is."

  The Mexican turned his attention to Torres. "I am Juan Turrubiates. I was sent by Rafael to guide you to the rendezvous."

  Black Jack was surprised that Turrubiates seemed so friendly and innocent. He had expected a much more sinister encounter. "Do you know why we are here?" he asked.

  Turrubiates smiled and nodded. "You have come to ransom the freedom of the Senorita Valverde. I am to lead you from this point on."

  "How do we know that you are?"

  Turrubiates drew a locket from his purse and handed it to Dona Elaina. "Perhaps the senora recognizes this."

  She nodded recognition

  "I have been told to bring only Senora Valverde and one representative to the meeting place. The rest of you will have to wait in Santa Fe."

  "We expect you to bring the senorita here to Santa Fe."

  "Rafael will never agree to that condition. You must come to him in the mountains. Only the senora and one other will be allowed to come with me."

  "That will not be possible," Ransom said. "We are here to protect the senora and will only go forward as a group. I will not allow her to face such dangers."

  Turrubiates smiled apologetically. "Then the senorita will die."

  Dona Elaina started to speak but Ransom took hold of her hand and squeezed it. She remained calm.

  "Then the senorita will die…and you will be poor and we will have made the journey for nothing," Ransom said. "Go back to your master and tell him that is our condition. She will not meet with him in the mountains unless her men are with her."

  "And your name is?" Turrubiates asked.

  "I’m Jack Ransom."

  "The Texas Ranger."

  "Yes."

  Turrubiates was silent for a moment. He nodded. "I have heard much about you. Rafael will probably want you to come unarmed."

  "No, we’ll be fully armed or there will be no trade."

  "We did not expect you to be so difficult," Turrubiates said.

  "Senor, we have come a long distance and faced many dangers as a pledge of faith. We have the money and are willing to pay the ransom but it ends there. If you want the ransom, we must see the girl in good condition, she must be turned over to us immediately and we will pay for her. The senora needs her bodyguard to protect the money and her interests. We will entertain nothing less. We must meet in an open area where we can be certain of our safety. If these terms are unacceptable, tell your master that I will track him down and kill him. He will pay for the senorita’s death just as we are willing to pay for her life."

  Turrubiates nodded. "I will meet you in the Plaza at sunup. It is two days' journey. I will send a rider ahead tonight to tell Rafael of your conditions. What happens then is for Rafael to decide."

  Ransom nodded. "Until tomorrow."

  After he left, Dona Elaina said. "What if they do not accept your conditions? Sonia will die."

  "If they have her, they will accept the conditions. It is suicide to go into those mountains alone. We need to arm our men as heavily as possible. The most dangerous part of this journey lies ahead. The question is what you want to risk."

  "I will pay the ransom if she is alive."

  "And if she isn’t alive and they outnumber us."

  "Then we will fight." She looked around the table at each of the men. "All of you need to understand this. I will pay each of you very handsomely to take this risk but if Sonia is dead, I expect you to help me take vengeance upon these men. I expect you to fight, to the death if necessary."

  Ransom turned to Cole. "You don’t have to be a part of this, Tad. Your duty ended when we reached Santa Fe."

  "I appreciate that, Captain, but I lost a brother and a good friend getting here. I can use the extra money that the senora is offering and I want someone to answer for Kyle and Toby."

  "And the rest of you?" Dona Elaina asked.

  They all nodded and voiced support.

  "It is good. I thank each of you."

  Ransom turned toward Tad. "Just how good a rifleman are you?"

  "As good as any, I guess. With the right gun, I can knock out a squirrel’s eye at fifty yards."

  "And what would be the right gun?"

  "A good Kentucky Long Rifle. I like a .40 or .45 percussion the best."

  Ransom nodded. "Senora Valverde, if you will excuse us, Tad and me have some business to take care of."

  * * * *

  Turrubiates was waiting as eight riders entered the square at sunrise. "Yesterday, there were nine of you," Turrubiates said as he rode toward Ransom.

  Ransom nodded. "The American wanted no part of this. His contract ended at Santa Fe and he took his money and left."

  "I do not like this."

  "Well, he left and there was nothing I could do short of shooting him to make him stay. Either way there would have only been eight left."

  "You should have shot him."

  "No. If I did that then I would have to shoot you just for the fun of it to keep things even. Then where would I be?"

  Turrubiates nodded and smiled. "And where is the money?"

  "We have the money. When we see the girl, you’ll see it."

  Turrubiates nodded again and cut his eyes across the faces of the determined group. "Then we go."

  "Don’t ride out too far ahead or think about slipping out of sight," Jack said. "I want you to stick to me like glue. The first time you look like you’re going to disappear, you are a dead man. Get my drift?"

  "Do not worry, senor. Until we reach Rafael, I will be constantly at your side."

  Ransom nodded. "Fair enough. Lead the way."

  Chapter 15

  They followed the Taos Trail to the northwest and turned north at the Rio Grande River. The mountains slowly became higher and more rugged as they worked their way toward Taos Valley following the narrow road along the river. At the end of the second day, Turrubiates pointed to a scanty trail following a rapid and deep running spring into the mountains to the west.

  "We will camp here tonight and wait for word. Then we will follow that trail to a place where Rafael waits."

  Ransom scanned the area. It was low ground against the river, tall cottonwoods shading the area. "I want a close camp tonight. We need to build a small fort around us." He pointed to a deadfall near the water. "See what we can make using those logs. It doesn’t need to be too tall but if we’re going to be hit, I’d guess it will be tonight."

  Turrubiates smiled. "Still you do not trust me."

  Jack drew his revolver. "Let’s have your guns. You and I have a long night ahead of us."

  "Of course," Turrubiates said cockily as he handed his carbine and pistol to Ransom.

  "Hold out your hands."

  "You are going to bind me as well?"

  Ransom smiled. "Yeah, and I’m going to give your carbine and pistol to the boy. His only job tonight will be to blow your head off if even a hoot owl sounds off key."

  "A boy to do a man’s job?"

  Ransom waved Earnesto to him. "Earnesto, I want you to watch this fellow. If anything and I mean anything happens, I want you to blow his head off. Can you do that?"

  Earnesto nodded and smiled. "Si, patron. I will take great pleasure in killing this man."

  Ransom turned back to Turrubiates and grinned. "Blood thirsty, ain’t he?"

  Turrubiates nodded and for the first time seemed unsettled. "If I die, you will never see the senorita."

  "You know what I think? I think I could plug you r
ight now and it wouldn’t make the slightest difference in Rafael’s day. He ain’t about to give up the gold and kill the girl for the likes of you. He’ll just chalk it off as one less share to split."

  Turrubiates became pale.

  "So you better hope that nothing happens tonight, and you better damn sure be certain that there ain’t any extra activities scheduled this evening. Cause if there is and you haven’t warned me, before anything else happens, I’m going to make sure that you get separated from your head. What do you think?"

  Turrubiates’ smile was gone. "I know of nothing. If there is a double cross, it will be without my knowledge."

  Ransom studied him closely. "You know, I believe you. So, hope nothing happens cause if it does, you will be the first to die, no matter how truthful you are. Cause I just don’t give a damn."

  Turrubiates looked sick to his stomach and nodded.

  "Unsettling ain’t it. Knowing that your life depends upon a man with no moral code whatsoever. You need to run with a better class of people." Ransom smiled and turned his attention to the fortifications.

  Earnesto motioned for Turrubiates to have a seat and positioned himself cross-legged on the ground with the carbine leveled at his head. Dona Elaina waited in the shade at a distance, while they built the enclosure, the loyal Torres constantly at her side.

  By nightfall they had a small crude fort nestled against the river constructed with two-foot walls surrounding a campfire in the center. The horses and mules were secured for the night to a picket line between the trees rather than in hobbles to keep them from wondering off.

  Once night guards were deployed Ransom poured a cup of coffee and joined Dona Elaina by the fire. "I’m sorry we’re in such a damp spot but I wanted to be next to the river in case we got pinned down. There ain’t nothing worse than being in an all day standoff with no water."

  "I trust your judgment, Capitan. I can do very well. It is comforting to be next to the cool waters after our long journey."

  "You don’t have to go up there, you know. You can stay behind here and I’ll take care of getting the girl."

  She shook her head. "No, I will see this through. However, I am leaving Paco and Earnesto here."

  "Senora!" Torres protested.

  "No, I will not hear a word from you on this matter. You will wait here and guard my things. If I do not return, there is a letter sewn in the lining of my cloak that will introduce you to Don Jose Philemon in Ciudad Los Angeles in California. You are to go there. A comfortable life is waiting for you if you show him the letter."

  "But Senora, you will return."

  She smiled. "Probably my old companion. But if the worst should happen, you are to take the cloak and do as I say. I want you to have the rewards of a life of devotion and service. You served both my grandfather and father as well as myself. You are my family now. You will do as I say."

  Torres nodded. "As always, senora."

  "It is good. Do not fear my friend. Probably we will be sitting here tomorrow night with Sonia and making plans for our new life together in Albuquerque." She turned to Ransom. "And what about you, Capitan. If you end the life of Rafael, do you really intend to return to Texas?"

  "I don’t know what else I can do."

  "You could come with us. We will rebuild the rancho."

  He shook his head. "I don’t know. I ain’t much cut out to be a chili farmer."

  "I want to run beef and sheep, senor. The rancho is capable to carrying thousands of head. You have experience with the Indians and would be very valuable to me." She smiled. "I can make it very attractive for you, financially and in other ways."

  "We’ll see. Thanks for the offer. Right now all I care about is Rafael. After that I’ll give your offer some thought. I sure as hell won’t be able to go back to Texas without that gold."

  She looked disappointed. "You really are a little slow, are you not?"

  Ransom nodded and poured himself another cup of coffee. "Yes em, I guess I am. Never had no book learning."

  She nodded and drew her cloak closer against her shoulders.

  They were wary but the night passed without event.

  * * * *

  Shortly after dawn a rider could be seen coming down the trail. Turrubiates identified him as Manuel Garcia a rider for Rafael. They waited for him until he was within earshot of the enclosure.

  "Juan! Are you there?" Garcia called.

  "Yes, I am here. What are our instructions?"

  The rider came closer. "Rafael wants you to lead them to the open area above the raven rock. He says that you know the place."

  "Si, I know it."

  "Tell the senora to bring the money and her men. We will wait for you there."

  "Ask him how many men, " Ransom ordered.

  "How many men?" Turrubiates called.

  "Rafael says to bring them all if you like. There are not enough to concern him."

  "How soon?"

  "Bring them now." Garcia turned his horse and started up the trail.

  Ransom turned to Dona Elaina and the men. "This is it. I want every one of you to carry all your pistols and rifles. When we get there I want you to spread into an arch behind the senora and myself. Keep your eyes sharp. They may show themselves but my guess is that most of them will be hiding in the rocks. If gunplay starts, take the senora out as quickly as possible." He turned to her. "Do not dismount unless you have no alternative. Stay close to your horse and make tracks if the lead starts flying."

  She nodded. "And what of you?"

  "Don’t worry about my hide. If I know you’re safe, I can take care of myself. If you have to run, come back here, gather your people and go back to Santa Fe. If your girl isn’t dead, she will be by that time. Do not wait for me. I will not come out of those rocks unless Rafael or I am dead."

  He turned to Paco Torres. "Load your pack animals and listen carefully. If you hear shooting, be ready for us to come boiling down that trail. Do not come up that trail with those pack animals. They’ll get in the way and we may need all the supplies we have if it gets rough."

  "You can depend on me, Capitan."

  Ransom grabbed Turrubiates by the shoulder and pulled him toward his horse. "You done real good, son," he said to Earnesto. "You can keep his guns. Stay here with Torres and help him as much as you can."

  Earnesto nodded and smiled.

  She stepped to Paco and held both his hands. "Thank you. You have been a good and faithful servant. Do not forget about the cloak and the letter."

  He smiled but fought the tears. "This is the first time we have been apart for many months. I wish you would take me with you."

  "No. I will be fine."

  He nodded.

  They mounted and rode up the canyon trail, Turrubiates in the lead, Ransom and Segundo just behind, Dona Elaina following and the three vaqueros on either side and behind her.

  "Do you suppose Senor Cole can do it?" Segundo whispered.

  Ransom twisted himself in the saddle and gazed up the steep sides of the canyon before whispering a reply. "I sent him ahead last night. I hope he’s above us and can keep us in sight. So far, he’s done real good at staying out of sight and shadowing us. I don’t see no reason he can’t be in position for this."

  The climb up the trail was steep and slow. They were forced to ford the stream several times as it twisted and turned down the canyon. Ransom could see that Rafael had chosen his spot carefully. There would be no way to make a headlong retreat down the trail. If things went badly they would have to fight every inch of the way. The only advantage they had was that the canyon was almost bare of timber and any shooting would be at long range.

  After several hours, they came to an open area with the stream against the north wall and sheer cliffs to the south. A cluster of pinon pines stood on the far side. Turrubiates held up his mount. "We are here."

  "Get down from your horse," Ransom ordered. "We’ll let them make the next move."

  "I am to ride ahead."


  "No. You’ll stay right here with us and let them make the first move."

  "He will not come."

  "Then you’ll die."

  Turrubiates nodded and dismounted.

  After several minutes a dozen horsemen showed themselves from behind the pinons and rode slowly toward them.

  "Get down off’n them horses!" Ransom ordered. "You come the rest of the way on foot or not at all."

  "That would place us at great disadvantage!" a rider called.

  "You got enough men. Walk in or forget the whole thing."

  "You forget about the senorita. It is her life that is at risk."

  "Show her!"

  "Show the money."

  "Come closer on foot and I will."

  The riders hesitated for several moments and appeared to be talking it over. They dismounted and walked toward them in a broad arching front.

  "You see anyone in those rocks above?" Ransom asked Segundo.

  "No, I see nothing."

  As the men neared, Dona Elaina dismounted.

  "I told you to stay on that horse," Ransom ordered.

  "It does not matter," she said as she stepped beside him. "Sonia is not here."

  "How do you know?"

  "The tall man in the center is my husband, Don Francisco. He would not risk her life. This is the trap you expected."

  Chapter 16

  A rough group of men approached with a grim Francisco Valverde leading them. Valverde was in his fifties, dark featured with graying temples and short gray beard. He was dressed in the style of a caballero: short-waisted, tight-fitting coat, broad-brimmed, low-crowned sombrero, and vaquero style pants, all in a matching brown brocade. He was obviously a man of some wealth and stature. He held an expensive matching percussion pistol in each hand and wore a sword at his side.