Read The Shoes Come First: A Jennifer Cloud Novel Page 44

Chapter 16

  We rode close to the tree line in case we needed to hide from the outlaws. As we approached, we saw smoke. Brodie pulled Gypsy into the trees, and we crept in for a closer look. The saloon was on fire. The Villistas were riding up and down the street shooting out windows and raising hell.

  Pancho Villa stopped his horse in the center of town and yelled, “I know you are here, worthless gringo. If you do not show yourself, I will slaughter everyone in this town.” He paused. “Starting with the women and children.” People started to scamper inside the buildings, but I could see heads peering out windows. A person just couldn’t resist a good gunfight.

  “This is bad,” Brodie said.

  “What can we do?” I asked.

  Pancho Villa turned his horse in a circle. His Villistas lined the dust-covered road. “My men have told me of the dark-haired stranger who helps the Australian gringo.” He scouted the tops of the buildings. A few of his men were there shaking their heads to indicate there was no sign of either gringo.

  Caiyan appeared riding Dan at the end of the road opposite Brodie and me.

  “Villa,” he shouted. Pancho turned his horse in Caiyan’s direction but waved his hand in a downward motion, indicating to his Villistas to hold their fire.

  “Mortas double-crossed you,” Caiyan yelled, riding toward Pancho. “He works for President Carranza. The Carranzistas. They will be waiting to capture you when you return to Mexico.”

  “I don’t believe you. You work for the Carranzistas,” Villa replied as he tightened his hold on his horse’s reins. “Why would Mortas sell me guns if he was not on my side?”

  “He wanted the necklace. He knew the Carranzistas would be waiting when you return. I am after Mortas and his accomplices. The necklace belongs to me.”

  “Why does everyone want the necklace?” Villa asked. “It is not gold, and the stone is not diamond.”

  “It’s a family heirloom.”

  “All of this for a family bauble?” Villa shook his head in disbelief. “There is more to the story. That is why I got off the train.” He shifted in his saddle. “You may think I am a fool, but you would be wrong, gringo.”

  Caiyan no longer had to yell to be heard by Villa. He had ridden Dan right up, front and center to Villa. He was within arm’s length of the nearest Villista as they closed in around him.

  “What’s he doing?” I asked Brodie. “He’s riding right into the middle of it.”

  “Damn, he’s summoning me, he must have seen us ride into town.”

  I looked in Caiyan’s direction, and sure enough he had his hand up to his key. “What? Why would he do that? You will be in danger too.”

  “I think he’s going to do a magic trick,” Brodie said with a half smile.

  “Magic? What are you talking about? What should we do?”

  “I guess we make ourselves available.” And we slowly rode out from our hiding place in the bushes.