Paco Valdez
You sit back in your seat and kick your legs out a bit, the very picture of comfort. You attempt to appear to be just another patron in the saloon.
Annie snorts in disgust but plays along, getting loose and comfortable in her chair, in so far as appearances are concerned that is.
Gus grabs his mug and leans forward, "We're a family of farmers who are returnin' home after purchasin' a mule in Wicklow. I'm yer paw, and you two're siblin's. Got it?"
Both you and Annie nod in understanding, hoping that it won't come to having to supply the story, but it's good to have a plan.
Your eyes stay on the Vigilantes as they stand at the bar together, laughing and drinking. They seem very relaxed, you think, as though this is just another casual visit to the tavern. Maybe it is, you allow yourself to think without really believing it.
After a drink they begin scanning the bar. As their gaze passes over you, you wonder if you shouldn't have run when you had the opportunity.
The three outlaws approach each person in the bar, talking with them briefly before moving along and eventually making their way over to your table. You remain outwardly calm, but inside you are writhing around nervously, and all your insides seem to be boiling.
The Vigilantes appear to be under the command of the shortest person among them, a slender Mexican man wearing a fake smile.
"Hello," he says. "My name is Jorge. These," he gestures to his companions, "Are my friends Tex and Jose." Tex is a tall man with a thick black mustache, broad shoulders and a barrel chest. Jose is a little taller than Tex, and a bit more broad of shoulder and thick of arm. They both look about as friendly as a grizzly would be to find you in its cave.
"We are looking for someone, on official business of course. We are hoping that you can help." He says this all diplomatically. You ponder a moment at the contradiction of his extensive vocabulary and his accent. It's almost as though the man spent more time learning new words than he did learning how to say them.
"Well sure," Gus says. "We'd hate to innerfere with 'official business'. What can we do fer ya?"
"We have a few questions. Let's start with this one. Where are you going?"
"Home," Gus says. "We purchased an ass in Wicklow an' we're headed home."
"Ah," Jorge replies. "Is this your mule then?" He asks, pointing to Annie.
"That," Gus replies as calmly as he can, "is my daughter."
The Texan laughs.
"Somethin' funny?" Gus asks.
The Texan shakes his head. "Ugliest damn woman I ever seen."
Jorge laughs. Jose remains silent, you get the impression he doesn't speak much English.
"Let us go," Jorge says. "We should look elsewhere for our man. Be careful on the road, there are all sorts of dangerous people out there just waiting to prey on good people like yourselves."
You let out a sigh of relief as the Vigilantes leave your table to talk to another patron. It isn't long before they walk through the swinging doors and exit the saloon.
"Hot damn," Gus says. "Now let's get the hell outta here."
You and Annie stand as one. Gus drinks the rest of his mug before standing. He looks between the two of you, not saying anything, just staring.
"What in the hell is you waitin' on?" Annie asks.
"Are we goin' to just walk out the front door?" Gus asks.
"Why not?" Annie says, a hint of agitation riding the edge of her voice. "You got any better ideas."
"Jus' so happens that I do," Gus says. He points to the back of the saloon. "We take the back door."
"You been sippin' on one of them cure-all tonics again, Gus? What the hell makes you think they ain't gonna check out back?" Annie argues.
"Cause they's already been in here, Annie. What do you say we do then? Take the damn front door and walk down the main street?!"
"Yes. That's exactly what I think we should do."
There is a moment in which her words seem to be setting in. It only lasts a moment, and the moment ends with a belly laugh from Gus. "That's the stupidest damn thing I ever heard," he says. "You hear what she said, kid?" He taps your chest with the back of his hand.
She fixes Gus with a stern gaze that reads murder. "They just left out that damn door. There is no way they's coming back in. And I can't see them believin' that we aren't the people they is lookin' for if we is sneakin' around the back alleys."
"Ah hell," Gus says in frustration, "Even with your reasonin' it's a damn fool idea."
Annie shakes her head in anger and puts her hands on her hips, snorts a bit of fury out through her nose, and looks you square in the eye.
"What do you think?" She asks.
Well?