now,â he said. âI can use a couple of men who arenât afraid to take what they want from this life, and not afraid to cross the border to get it.â
âYou know us,â Charlie said, implying friendship with a man he had only met twice before in his life and then merely in passing. âThe borderâs just a line in the sand to us.â
âYeah, I know it is,â Segert said, letting Charlieâs implication stand. âIâm putting the two of you with Jon Ho here.â He gestured a nod toward Ho. âHow does that sound to you, Ho?â
Ho gave an ever so slight nod. The Hooke brothers stood staring at him.
âHo here takes some getting used to, fellows,â Segert said as he leaned back and propped a well-shined boot on the desktop. âAny problem taking orders from a half-breed?â
The Hookes shook their heads no
.
âHo is not all that big, but heâs wiry, fast and deadly as a rattlesnake,â said Segert. âYou have never seen a man fight like he does. Knife, gun, fists, you name it.â He paused, then raised his cigar in his scissored fingers for emphasis. âDo not cross him. Heâll kill you quicker than the plague. Right, Ho?â he said.
âDamn right,â Ho said flatly. He stared coldly at the Hookes through black shiny eyes.
Looking back at the Hookes, Segert said, âWeâre getting ready to make a big run. So be ready to do some killing when the time comes. Meanwhile, if Ho tells you to jump, donât even ask
how high
, just jump as high as you can and figure thatâs what he meant.â As he spoke, he caught a glimpse of a peddlerâs wagon roll into sight along the trail past his sprawling hacienda. âAny questions?â he asked the Hookes. Before they could respond, he said, âGood. Now go with Ho. Heâll take you around, help you meet some of our men
.
â
âYes, sir,â the Hookes said as one.
But as they started to turn and walk away, Segert stopped them.
âBe advised, if I find out anything you or Kelso is telling is a lie, Ho here is going to kill all three of you,â he said matter-of-factly. He gave them a short, tight grin and a brush of his hand, dismissing them.
Chapter 7
At a trail fork along the final stretch of miles to Agua FrÃa, Sam stopped beside the peddlerâs wagon as Lilith reined the rig over to the side and sat staring ahead. Lilith appeared to be deciding something. Seeing the seriousness in her dark eyes, the Ranger sat quietly for a moment.
âIs everything all right, maâam?â he asked after her hesitant silence.
âWe are in
Colinas Torcidas
âthe Twisted Hills. I will be turning off here,â she said, still not facing him. âI live up this trail on the other side of the Agua FrÃa.â She nodded along the fork in the trail.
âIf youâre afraid of Apaches, I can accompany you on home,â he offered. âI donât have to be in Aqua Fria any particular time.â
âNo, please go, Joe,â she said, still staring away from him. âYou have been a great help to me, and I thank you for your kindness. But now you must go on to Agua FrÃa, and I must go home.â
âIf thatâs what you want,â Sam said, not about to impose himself. He had to admit, it would be easier showing up in Aqua Fria on his ownâjust a hill country drifter like any other gunman on the run.
âYes, it is what I want,â she said. Then her demeanor seemed to soften and she turned his eyes to him. âI know the kind of men who go to Agua FrÃa these days. I know that you are an outlaw, perhaps a man wanted by the lawââ
âWhoa, Lilith,â Sam said, cutting her off. âYou donât know anything about me. As far as me going to Agua FrÃa is concerned, itâs a business matter, nothing else.â He had to be careful. He didnât like her having a bad