Paloma and the Horse Traders by Carla Kelly

Author:Carla Kelly
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: new mexico, 18th century, renegade, comanche, ute, spanish colony

Chapter Nineteen

In which Claudio makes stupid plans

“I know those horses,” Claudio said, as they approached the open gates of the Double Cross. “My friends have arrived. I hope they did not frighten Paloma.”

Marco rode slightly ahead. Claudio noticed that the nearer they came to the Double Cross, the faster he urged his horse.

Toshua, that Comanche he knew he would never trust, must have noticed the quizzical look on Claudio’s face. “He does that. His first wife and twins died while he was gone on a brand inspection trip. I don’t think he even realizes that he is nearly at a gallop. He worries.”

“Even now?”

Toshua looked around him elaborately. “Has your colony suddenly become safer?”

Trust a Comanche to make him feel like a fool without even breaking a sweat. Claudio ignored him, as much as a man could ignore a Comanche, and glanced at Joaquim Gasca, who seemed to be observing the Double Cross through an engineer’s eyes.

“Hard to find, eh? I did the same thing,” Claudio said, riding closer to the private or lieutenant, or whatever he was. “Quite a marvel, isn’t it? The gray stones make it nearly invisible.”

“Without a doubt,” Joaquim said, “although I can see one improvement that would make it even safer.”

“Don’t hesitate to tell Marco then, when he slows down,” Claudio joked, then flinched at the gallows look that Toshua threw his way. “Someday he has to realize that Paloma is safe inside, doesn’t he, Toshua?”

“You have never loved a woman, have you?” was all Toshua said, before he neatly put wings to his own horse.

Claudio watched him. As much as he hated Comanches, he could never ignore the elegant way that someone not so tall and with a bit of a paunch could turn into Pegasus, almost.

Claudio rode beside Joaquim, his eyes on the horses grazing outside the stone walls. “I wonder: do you think these traders would take this superannuated nag of mine in exchange for one of those beauties?”

“Highly unlikely,” Claudio told him. He edged his horse closer to Joaquim so he didn’t have to raise his voice. “I believe several of these horses sort of fell into Lorenzo Diaz’s hands in Isleta, where I was supposed to meet up with them, after I collected my money from Marco.”

Joaquim twisted in his saddle to regard Claudio. “You do realize that Señor Mondragón is a juez de campo?”

“Claro! If they have spoken to Paloma, they know, too. I have a feeling that my compadres will not want to linger overlong at the Double Cross.”

“What will you do?”

It was a good question, one that Claudio had not resolved in his mind. “I honestly do not know. Don’t tell my sister, please.”

“You would actually leave with these horse traders, when you have a better way before you here at the Double Cross?” Joaquim asked. “This is the finest land grant in Valle del Sol!”

“It doesn’t belong to me. Horse trading is what I have known for years,” Claudio said.

“You know the Mondragóns want you to stay,” Joaquim told him.

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