The Legend of El Duque by J. R. Roberts Page B

in the air three times before hitting the ground.
    â€œJesucristo!”
Mano said.
    He hurried to the coin and picked it up. It had a chunk taken out by each bullet. He turned to see Clint walking away.

NINETEEN
    Clint and Mano finally had to stop for some supplies, so Mano recommended the town of Merced.
    â€œIt is small, and has a trading post,” he said. “And no sheriff.”
    â€œWhy is that important?”
    â€œAround here the law reports to the soldiers,” he said. “And we do not want to encounter the soldiers,
es verdad
?”
    â€œIt’s true.”
    â€œThen a town without law is better.”
    â€œFor now,” Clint said.
    They rode into Merced, reined in their horses in front of the trading post.
    â€œI’ll go inside,” Clint said. “You can keep an eye on the horses.”
    â€œBut I can order,” Mano said. “You cannot speak Spanish.”
    â€œI can point,” Clint told him. “You watch the horses.”
    â€œSí, señor.”
    Clint went inside.
    * * *
    Across the street, three men watched Clint and Mano ride into Merced.
    â€œKnow them?” Armando Masilla asked his two companions.
    â€œNo,” José Cruz said.
    â€œI do not,” José Reyes said.
    Because both of his men were named José, Armando referred to them by their last names.
    â€œA gringo will have money,” he said.
    â€œHow do you know that?” Cruz asked.
    â€œBecause all gringos have money when they come to Mexico,” Armando said. “It is why they come here, to hide, and to spend their money on whiskey and our women.”
    â€œSí,”
Reyes said, “our women.”
    â€œAnd the other man?” Cruz said.
    â€œHe is no one,” Armando said. “A sidekick.”
    â€œSidekick?” Reyes asked.
    â€œCompañero,”
Armando said.
    â€œAh.”
    â€œYou take care of him,” he told Cruz. “Reyes and I will take care of the gringo.”
    â€œWhen?” Cruz asked.
    â€œNow,” Armando said, “right now. When the gringo comes out.”
    â€œBueno,”
Cruz said. “We can use the money.”
    â€œSí,”
Armando said, taking his gun out and checking it, “we can use the money.”
    The two Josés also took their guns from their holsters and checked them.
    * * *
    Clint bought some coffee, beans, beef jerky, shells, and a couple of sticks of hard candy. He and the clerk had no trouble making the other understand. He paid with U.S. money, which the clerk did not mind at all.
    He stepped outside, carrying the supplies in a burlap sack, except for the two sticks of candy. He handed one to Mano.
    â€œDo you think I am a child?” Mano asked.
    â€œNo,” Clint said, “I thought maybe you liked candy.” He put the other stick in his mouth. “I do.”
    Mano thought about it, then said, “
Sí
, I do, too,” and put his stick in his mouth. It was peppermint, his favorite.
    â€œLet’s mount up,” Clint said.
    â€œWe might have some trouble,” Mano said.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œAcross the street,” the younger man said. “Three men, who have been very interested in me since we got here.”
    Clint looked.
    â€œAnd now they seem to be interested in me as well,” he said. “I see what you mean.”
    The three men wore sombreros and bandoliers across their chests.
    â€œBandits,” Mano said.
    â€œIt would seem.”
    â€œAnd you are a gringo,” Mano added. “To them, that means you have money.”
    â€œAnd I actually do have money.”
    â€œ
Sí
, but they do not know how much,” Mano said.
    â€œSo you’re saying this is a coincidence,” Clint said. “That they don’t know who I am or what I’m carrying, it’s just that I’m a gringo.”
    â€œSí,”
Mano said, “that is what I am