Iron Eyes, no. 1 by Rory Black

instant,
before returning his attention to the men before him.
    ‘ What you reckon, Iron Eyes?’ You could cut Jane’s suspicions
with a knife.
    ‘ Go get yourself pampered,’ he advised, as he saw an entire
steer being prepared for placing upon a giant roasting spit near a
large wall.
    Without
hesitation she followed the servant along to the tiled steps that
led to the elevation and arched porch. With every step Jane took
she looked at a different face, as if searching for the one who was
going to kill her.
    ‘ Your woman will feel wonderful after Bonita fixes her a bath,’
Valdez said with a cheery smile.
    ‘ She ain’t my woman,’ Iron Eyes said, almost
regretfully.
    ‘ No?’ The older man tilted his head. ‘I think that you are
mistaken, my tall amigo .’
    ‘ What ya mean?’ Iron Eyes concentrated upon the man before
him.
    ‘ l see the way she looks at you and the way you look at
her.’
    ‘ So?’
    ‘ I forget you are not Mexican,’ Valdez shrugged. ‘We see things
that you gringos seem to miss.’
    Iron Eyes bit
his lip. ‘How long are we your guests?’
    ‘ Why are you so concerned, my tall friend?’
    ‘ It comes natural.’
    Iron Eyes
allowed himself to be led in the same direction that Jane had taken
a few minutes earlier. He knew that every eye was upon him, and
wondered how many rifle sights had him dead to rights as he
ascended the tiled steps.
    He found
himself in a large, cool, rooftop room with a massive bed and a
simple crucifix upon a bare white wall. The shorter Mexican clapped
his hands, and two servants brought in a large tin bath whilst
others followed with jugs of steaming water and towels.’
    Iron Eyes stood
speechless as he watched the men quickly preparing his bath. The
trouble was, he did not like baths or bathing or water for that
matter.
    The perfume
that they added seemed to lather up as they continued to arrive
with more and yet more jugs of steaming hot water.
    Valdez pointed
to the bed, where a black suit of clothes were laid complete with
frilly white shirt and red scarf. ‘For you to wear whilst your
clothes are washed and dried by my servants,’ Valdez beamed.
    Iron Eyes
gritted his teeth. ‘I don’t like baths.’
    ‘ But think about the lady.’ Valdez gestured with his
arms.
    ‘ What?’ Iron Eyes was confused.
    ‘ She bathes for you.’
    ‘ So?’ Iron Eyes tried to seem uninterested in what Jane was
doing, but failed to convince his host.
    ‘ Then would not a gentleman do likewise?’
    Iron Eyes
rubbed his neck and became suddenly aware of the filth on it. ‘I
ain’t exactly what you could call a gentleman, Valdez.’
    ‘ But you must not disappoint her.’
    ‘ Guess not,’ Iron Eyes found himself muttering.
    The tall man,
who was thinner than most of his deceased victims, started to
disrobe slowly Very slowly. The servants vanished, leaving only the
bounty-hunter and his host in the room. The long coat was dropped
to the floor, sending a cloud of trail-dust rising. Then he took
his Navy Colts out of his belt and placed them beside the
clothes.
    Dwan José
grinned at the pain his guest was suffering just removing the
garments which were almost like a second skin to him.
    ‘ That water better not be hot,’ Iron Eyes growled. ‘I ain’t
partial to hot water.’
    ‘ After you bathe, it will be you who will be hot,’ Valdez said
as he left the veranda door. ‘Hot for the lady.’
    Iron Eyes felt
very uneasy Yet the Latin might just be right about the effect a
good wash might have on Jane. Cautiously, he dipped his toe into
the tub. It was a sensation that was truly alien to the tall man.
But hell, he had started, so he figured he might as well
continue.

Chapter Twelve
    The Rio Grande
was no longer swollen as the two riders reached its bank. Tom Hardy
dropped from his horse and held on to the reins as he tried to make
out the tracks. The sun had set thirty minutes earlier, and it was
getting darker with every passing second.
    ‘ We better camp