Free The Law and Dan Mesa by Dan Sears Page B

in the back of my head. I will wear a vest, and I will be very cautious. I plan to stay alive. I have a little fellow who needs me,” Mesa says. “I have to prepare for the funeral.”
    Dan leaves the room to prepare for the trip to El Paso.
     
    In the air aboard Southwest Airlines flight 3655, Ranger Dan Mesa is sitting with his eyes closed when the pilot announces, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are approaching El Paso airport, and the weather is mild and dry. The temperature is seventy-five degrees with a slight overcast sky. So sit back, and we will land shortly. I hope your trip to El Paso is an enjoyable one.”
    When Sergeant Mesa reaches the baggage claim area, he recognizes Sonia’s mother because she is a slightly older version of Sonia. Mrs. Cortez seems to recognize him immediately and walks toward him.
    “You must be Ranger Mesa,” she says. “Your appearance is exactly as Sonia described. She really liked you a lot. I miss her so much. We were more than mother and daughter; she was my friend also.”
    Dan immediately turns away to prevent her seeing the tears in his eyes. Mrs. Cortez pats him on the back, and they walk toward the baggage area to retrieve his luggage.
    In the car headed toward home, Mrs. Cortez looks at Dan and asks, “Ranger Mesa, what will you and the rangers do about Sonia’s murder?”
    “Mrs. Cortez, we know who did it, and we will get them one way or another. The main person responsible for her death is Carlos Meana, but he didn’t kidnap her. Antonio Blackbear, a crony of Carlos, kidnapped her. They have disappeared, but I will find them, and they will pay. Another associate of Carlos has put a contract out on me for five hundred thousand dollars. I will settle with each one of them. The law wants them, and the law will have them. That I promise.”
    Mrs. Cortez looks deep into his eyes and possibly into his soul and sees the torment the ranger is dealing with. She wonders how he is able to continue doing what he does. They arrive at the Cortez residence and are greeted by Mr. Cortez and Sonia’s two sisters.
    Mrs. Cortez says, “This is Sergeant Dan Mesa of the Arizona rangers, a friend of Sonia’s. Dan, these are my daughters, Mardi and Amelia, and my husband and Sonia’s father, Napal.”
    “Hello, everyone. It saddens me to meet you under these circumstances. Sonia wanted me to meet all of you under friendlier circumstances. She was very special to me, and I am so sorry about what has happened. My commander, Captain Johnson, sends his condolences, and so does the entire ranger detachment. She was well liked by them.”
    Napal Cortez thinks, I like this fellow. He reminds me of myself sometime back. He has character and he cares about people but there is something driving him . “Sergeant Mesa, I know you’ve had a long trip,” he says out loud, “so we’ll get you settled and then we’ll talk some.”
    The house is a large adobe structure with massive rooms and beautiful tapestries hanging on the wall. There are several old pictures on the wall that tells the story of an old family. Mesa spots a picture of a dark-skinned man almost his double and stops to stare for a moment. Napal walks back and smiles, saying, “I thought that would get your attention. That is a picture of you at a rodeo I participated in in Houston about thirty years ago. The horse you road that day was one of the toughest horses I have ever seen. Man, you should have gotten a higher score. Your ride was one of the best I have ever seen in my life.”
    Dan Mesa smiles a sad smile and says, “Thank you, sir. It was a tough ride. That horse almost made me give up rodeos.”
    After Dan unpacks his bags, he changes into jeans and a shirt. He takes off his gun and suddenly feels quite naked without it. He walks into the kitchen, and Mrs. Cortez hands him a cup of coffee and pours in brandy.
    “Dan,” she says, “this is my own prescription. I know you don’t drink much, but you need this. It will