Iron Eyes, no. 1 by Rory Black Read Free Book Online

it ready for action. She sat on the wooden plank with her
foot resting on the brake as she studied the riders over her oxen
and the statuesque Iron Eyes.
    The large
sombreros gave the clue as to where these men were from, but not
who or what they were. It was known that bandits were commonplace
in the more remote regions of the prairie, but these might be
ranchers.
    The river
flowed to their left-hand side as both Iron Eyes and Jane sat
watching the riders.
    They had
travelled over ten miles along the edge of the wild river, trying
to find a suitable place to attempt a crossing.
    Iron Eyes sat
watching the three men as they grew ever closer, without changing
his expression.
    His grey pupils
were like two musket-balls as they focused upon the men. He had
heard the rifle being cocked for action behind him, and knew that
the strange female was ready to blow off a few more ears if not
worse.
    His fingers
stroked the pistol tucked over his left hip as they started to pull
their horses up. All three men were skilled riders by the way they
stopped their headstrong stallions. These were not the sort of
horses that just anyone could ride.
    These were
strong, rampant steeds that only masters of their trade could hope
to handle.
    Each man sat
below his vast sombrero, watching the ghostlike figure and the
female on top of the wagon. They were dressed in a fashion that was
almost artistic in its detail. All were clad in black, with
white-and-silver patterns. Their frilly white shirts and red
scarves seemed to highlight their obvious vanity.
    ‘ Well?’ Iron Eyes growled in a slow manner that seemed to
question the riders’ right to be before him.
    The one rider
who seemed to have an understanding of English removed his large
sombrero and made a flowing gesture with it as he smiled.
    His hair
gleamed in the sunshine from expensive oils as he replaced it on to
his head.
    ‘ I am Dwan José Valdez, senor he informed in a tone that seemed
to warrant applause. ‘Welcome to my humble rancho .’
    Iron Eyes gave
a backward glance at the female who sat with the Winchester across
her lap, before returning his attention to the trio of men.
    ‘ You own this strip of land?’ Iron Eyes asked.
    The man who had
given his name raised both shoulders and made a curious expression
that was partly masked by his long, waxed moustache.
    ‘ Not this exact spot but everything else over here.’ He waved
his left arm and pointed away from the wide, rolling
river.
    ‘ What do you want of us?’ Iron Eyes continued to thumb the Navy
Colt as he spoke to the riders.
    The man called
Valdez continued to smile at the dark, narrow-eyed bounty-hunter as
his two outriders sat nervously looking silently on. They too kept
their hands upon the hammers of their pistols.
    ‘ I am here to ask why you have entered our lands.’
    ‘ Just heading south,’ Iron Eyes muttered under his breath, as
he lowered his chin until it rested upon his chest. ‘Trying to find
a safe place to cross this angry river.’
    ‘ But south is no good.’ Valdez smiled in a manner that was
beginning to make the gaunt man angry.
    ‘ Why not?’
    ‘ l own all the land south from here,’ Valdez gestured. ‘I
cannot allow people to cross my land uninvited.’
    ‘ You own the river?’ Iron Eyes turned as he heard Jane ask her
simple, blunt question. He found yet another smile starting to
cross his lips.
    Valdez gazed up
at the woman in surprise. ‘No, dear lady. I do not own the river
but — ’ he admitted.
    ‘ Quit holding us up and get your fancy backsides out of our
way,’ Jane shouted in a way that made all three Mexican riders
uneasy .
    ‘ You misunderstand me, dear lady.’ Valdez regained his
composure and his smile as he aimed his conversation at the woman
with the rifle.
    ‘ How so?’ she asked.
    ‘ I wish you to be my guests at my rancho .’
    Valdez bowed as
he spoke to her. ‘It is our custom.’
    Jane was very
unimpressed. ‘You often invite strangers to your