Free Journey of the Heart by Marjorie Farrell

all the fires were banked, he’d snuck out and sat down for the first time that day. When he lifted his head, there they were winking down at him. The same stars his father had named for him. No matter where he was, the same familiar patterns would appear. He got back a little of himself that night. He was Jonathan Rush. From Boston. He didn’t remember much more than that and the names of the star patterns and his father’s voice. From then on, wherever he was, whomever he was working for, he would take those few minutes of freedom.
    * * * *
    In the morning he was up and out early. He went alone. He preferred being alone and he worked better that way. He didn’t need any riders to back him up. He was very good at conveying Mackie’s threats all by himself.
    Elizabeth was watering her flowers when she heard him ride in. She looked up, ready to smile and invite a neighbor in for a cup of tea. It was a warm morning, but she felt herself grow cold when she recognized Chavez. He was alone, thank God. Maybe he was just on his way somewhere and had stopped to water his horse? She put her bucket down and wiping her hands on her apron, walked up the porch steps and called to her husband.
    “Michael. We have a visitor.”
    Jake had gone for the mail yesterday, and Michael was engrossed in the newspaper. “Who is it, Elizabeth?”
    “I believe it is Mackie’s man, Chavez.”
    Michael took off his reading glasses and stood up. Chavez. He looked over at the wall where his cavalry pistol hung. He didn’t wear a gun regularly, although he always rode with a rifle. He’d worn a pistol long enough in the army, he told anyone who asked. Well, he was not putting it on today, he decided. Not and appear scared of scum like Chavez.
    He pushed open the screen door and stood next to his wife.
    Chavez had tied his horse and was watching Gabriel work one of the two-year-olds, just as if he were any neighbor here for a visit.
    “Wait here, a ghra ,” Michael told his wife.
    “ Buenos dias ,” he said quietly when he reached the corral fence.
    “ Buenos dias, Señor Burke . Parece que usted se consiguió un hombre que sabe de caballos .”
    “Yes, Gabe is very good with my horses. Are you interested in buying one, Señor Chavez?”
    Chavez laughed and turning to Michael, put out his hand. “I don’t think we have ever really met, Mr. Burke.”
    “No, I haven’t had the pleasure of a formal introduction, Chavez. But I feel like I know you,” Michael added. He kept his hand by his side and finally Chavez dropped his.
    “I am not here for the pleasure of watching your beautiful horses, Mr. Burke. I am here on business.”
    “And would that be your business or Mr. Mackie’s business?” Michael asked caustically.
    “Mr. Mackie’s business is my business.”
    “Yes, so I thought, Señor Chavez.”
    “Señor Mackie sent me to tell you that he has reconsidered his offer.”
    “Em, he has decided that he doesn’t want my ranch after all?” asked Michael with dry humor.
    “No, he has decided he wants it so much he is willing to give you twenty dollars more an acre.”
    “ ‘Tis a more than generous offer,” said Michael.
    “Yes. It would be to your advantage to take it, Señor Burke.”
    Michael was silent for a minute and Chavez turned back to watch Gabe.
    “Em…exactly why would you advise me to accept, Chavez?”
    “Because not only is it a more than generous offer, it is Señor Mackie’s last offer, Señor Burke.”
    “ ‘Tis indeed?” said Michael. “You mean he’ll be giving up on me after all this?”
    Chavez turned. “Mr. Mackie never gives up on anything he wants, señor . Let us just say it is the last time he will be so generous.” Chavez’s eyes were unreadable as he continued. “You have a nice place here, Mr. Burke. Beautiful horses. A lovely wife and daughter, I hear.”
    On the surface, Chavez’s words were only a polite litany, but the undertone had nothing of politeness in it.
    “Are ye