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

home?’
    ‘ We seldom see strangers.’ Valdez was feeling uneasy at the way
the dark, long-haired Iron Eyes toyed with the handle of his
pistol. ‘We cannot allow you to continue your journey without
offering our simple home for you to rest and refresh
yourselves.’
    ‘ Why not?’ Iron Eyes grunted.
    ‘ You are not of these parts. It is our custom.’
    Dwan José
Valdez had imparted a tone into his explanation that seemed to
suggest that he would never accept any refusals.
    Iron Eyes
pulled hard on his reins and forced the pony to step backward until
it was level with the wagon. The thin man looked up at Jane. His
eyes were as glassy as ever, but he seemed to be urging her to
accept the invitation.
    ‘ We better take up the offer,’ he advised.
    ‘ Why?’ Jane seemed ready to blow holes in the bunch of smartly
dressed vaqueros. ‘I ain’t afraid of no dandies.’
    ‘ I am,’ Iron Eyes found himself honestly admitting. ‘I learned
a long time ago never to underestimate your opponents. It can be
costly.’
    ‘ You scared?’ She seemed shocked that he was unwilling to
engage in a shoot-out.
    ‘ Nope. I just do not want to get ventilated before I get to El
Paso and collect my reward money’ He spat at the sand as he studied
the Mexicans.
    ‘ Are you sure?’
    ‘ I reckon they might not take kindly to our refusing.’ Iron
Eyes pulled a cigar from inside his coat and pushed it between his
uneven teeth.
    ‘ You sure you ain’t scared, Iron Eyes?’ Jane kept watching the
three men as she spoke to her companion.
    Iron Eyes gave
a brief laugh before answering her. ‘I seen these sort of varmints
before. They get kinda upset if you refuse their hospitality.’
    ‘ How upset?’ She was curious.
    ‘ The Mexicans around here are part Indian. They got strange
ideas on manners.’ Iron Eyes struck a match and inhaled the welcome
smoke.
    Jane was still
confused, but decided to go along with Iron Eyes’ advice.
    ‘ You better be right,’ she snarled, grabbing the cigar from out
of Iron Eyes’ mouth and ramming it into her own.
    Iron Eyes sank
his spurs into the pinto’s flesh and rode forward to the three
strange men.
    ‘ Thanks,’ he said quietly. ‘We accept your most kind and
generous offer, Valdez.’
    The smile that
crossed the face of Dwan José Valdez was soon copied by his two
outriders.
    For some
strange reason these men wanted Iron Eyes and the woman as their
house guests.
    As the
bounty-hunter followed the trio of brightly decorated riders, he in
turn being followed by the oxen pulling the wagon, he began to get
worried.
    They were heading inland. Away from the Rio Grande. Away from
Texas. It was not where they wanted to go but for the time being
they had little choice but to follow. For some reason, Iron Eyes
felt that this might be his first big mistake, but knew killing
these men might bring more vaqueros down on them instantly.
    The sun was
high overhead and burning down on all five members of the strange
procession.
    Iron Eyes had been correct. As they made their way, more and
more vaqueros appeared from various points along their route. Soon more than
twenty men wearing large sombreros completely surrounded
them.

Chapter Eleven
    The beautiful hacienda was vast, with a wide, over-hanging roof of red
tiles. It stood away from the surrounding prairie yet seemed to
match the area. It had that Latin look which made it appear to have
always been there amongst the trees and cactus.
    As the wagon
rolled through the archway into the elegant courtyard a distant
rumble of thunder seemed to echo a warning to the dark rider Iron
Eyes. He kept looking at Jane as she effortlessly guided her team
of proud oxen toward the walled stables.
    The expression
on the cigar-smoking Jane suddenly altered as her eyes saw the
beautiful surroundings and absorbed every single feature of this
place. It was a typical Mexican set-up. It was as if they had
stumbled into a complete township in miniature, and Jane’s