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Paco Valdez

EL

"Will the two of ya just hobble your lips and get to eatin' so's we can get the Hell on outta here!?" Gus yells to the two of you like an angry possum.

You shrug and toss the snake into your saddlebag. Hopefully you be able to stop long enough to skin it and cook up the meat properly sometime in the near future.

"How long you reckon it'll take us to get to the village from here?" you ask Gus as you lumber back over to the small campfire to devour your small breakfast.

"I figure it'll take us another day and a half, if all goes well," the old man tells you without hesitation. "I hope they still recognize me," he adds under his breath. "God dammit, Gus," Annie fumes. "They better. If you lead me into a hostile camp of injuns I swear to God I'll..."

Gus manages a smile and attempts to calm Annie down some. "Now don't you start worrying yerself, sweetheart," he tells her. "If I wasn't confident this village is a safe haven I wouldn't venture a visit. We'll be okay." Without too much further ado the three of you finish your meager meal and set off again, blazing a trail to the Kamani village.

The rest of the morning passes without incident, as you travel over an area of wide plains that stretch out uninterrupted for miles upon miles. To the north you can make out the faintest outline of the distant Sangre de Jesus hills. Those hills are a no-man's land where homesteaders and Indians regularly skirmish with each other. Once in a while you'll stumble across some antelope, but other than that the place seems to be inhabited by mostly just lizards and vultures and the occasional jack rabbit. By late afternoon storm clouds are gathering ahead of you. Streaks of purple lightening flash against the distant horizon, followed by the low ominous roll of thunder. Betty neighs in fear and tries to break away. You manage to contain her with some considerable force. That's odd, you muse. Usually Betty isn't easily spooked. The storm looks fairly localized, but unfortunately it seems to be heading straight for you. Luckily, Gus says knows of a nearby cave you can take shelter in. The only problem is that the cave is the home of a pack of coyotes. Usually they wouldn't be a problem, but if your horses are already on edge the sight of so many wild coyotes might send them into a fit of terror.

The only other choice would be to ride the storm out in the open. Less threat of fighting coyotes that way, but a greater risk of getting struck by lightening or catching pneumonia.