The House Of Crow Collection

14. Murder at the Rancho

It had been a few days since the shooting of the two vaqueros. Raul"s father looked like he would survive. Crow took it upon himself to check on the man often and had just arrived at the adobe hut where he was convalescing. Pepe, Raul"s father, smiled when the big Mountain Man entered the one-room cottage. “Buenos días mi amigo,” Pepe greeted Crow.

Crow in halting Spanish replied, “Good morning my friend. I see that you are looking better. Do you feel as good as you look?”

“Yes, thanks to you! I do not think I will be riding for a while, but I will try walking, maybe tomorrow.”

“Pepe, Raul said that you saw the bandit that shot you. Did you recognize him?” asked Crow.

“I do not know this man, but in the past, I have seen him and his men riding in the hills.”

“Have you any idea why he would want to kill you?”

“I do not. José and I had just seen el jefe on the next hill. We were curious as to why he had not stopped to see us. Even so, he just rode away. Soon after he left, we were emboscaron (ambushed).”

“Pepe, I want you to keep this information to yourself. If anyone should ask, do not mention that you saw tu jefe.”

Pepe studied Crow"s face, and said, “I will do this.”

“Gracias, amigo. I want you to know that Raul is not only brave, but he can also ride with the best of them. I would stand with him by my side any day.”

Pepe"s throat became tight. His eyes glistened with pride, but he could only nod his head in acknowledgment.

Crow left and headed across the yard to the hacienda. He did not see Hector slip into Pepe"s hut.

“Hey Crow, espere un momento.” It was LeRue. He had begun speaking to Crow in Spanish. The idea being that Crow would become more proficient in the language.

Crow waited for LeRue to catch up. Speaking in Spanish, Crow said, “I spoke with Pepe. He is much better. He told me that before they got shot, they saw Hector, but that Hector had not contacted them. You know the feeling you get when you know there is something wrong? Like when a grizzly or something is too close? I have that same feeling about Hector.”

LeRue, now walking alongside his friend said, “I have had that feeling since the first time we met him. I also had the feeling that one of us was going to have to kill him.”

Crow looked over at his friend. They had saved each other"s lives on numerous occasions and had fought side by side against Indians. Crow had never found the man to be wanting. He trusted LeRue in all things.

“Crow, LeRue!” It was Carlos. He had a big smile on his face as he approached the two men. “My father has decided to leave for San Diego today. In a few days, we will load the hides and tallow on the wagons, and go to meet him there. He goes early to get supplies for Francisca"s birthday and her Quinceañera. While we are there, it will also be a chance for you to register with the authorities for citizenship, if you wish to stay.”

LeRue looked expectantly at Crow. Crow said to Carlos, “I do want to stay. I will register while we are there. You say Francisca is having a birthday?”

“Ah, it is not just a birthday. It is Francisca"s Quinceañera! She will be a young woman and eligible for marriage. There will be muy grande celebrations for three days!”

LeRue noted the look on Crow"s face and thought, "Oh my friend you have it bad. I saw it as soon as he said “eligible for marriage.” I think whatever comes next will be fascinating."

There was a shout. It was Raul. “Señor Crow. My father! He needs help! Please come!” With that, Raul ran back into the hut.

The three men rushed to follow Raul inside. They found the boy standing next to the bed. Pepe lay on his back in a pool of blood, his dead eyes fixed on the ceiling. His throat had been cut.

Raul was beside himself with grief. Slowly, he felt his legs lose their strength and his knees buckled. Before Raul could fall, strong hard hands grabbed him. Crow picked the boy up as if he were a baby and held him in his arms. Raul burst into tears and wrapped his arms around the big man"s neck. Crow carried him outside where a crowd was beginning to gather. The wife of the wounded vaquero from the hot springs was there. “Señora, will you care for the boy?” Crow asked her. “I will come later to see about him.”

Crow eased Raul to his feet, and told him, “Go with her. I will see that your father is taken care of. I will come and get you as soon as I can.” Raul stood up straight. Knuckling the tears from his eyes, he turned and left with the woman. Crow watched them walk away for a moment, and then he reentered the hut.

Carlos and LeRue were standing by the bed when Crow entered the room. “He never put up a fight. He must have known whoever killed him, or he was asleep,” said LeRue.

Carlos was wrought with anger. “Pepe has been on the rancho since before I was born. He is known as a man to be trusted, and he raised his son when his wife died. “I will find who did this,” said Carlos. “I will find them, and they will pay dearly.”

“I don"t think we can do anything more here,” said Crow. “With your permission, I will take Raul and return to where they shot his father. I want to take a look around.”

“Yes, that is fine. I will see to Pepe and his burial. I would go with you, but there is much to do here. There is our trip to San Diego that I must prepare for.”

Crow turned to LeRue. “Will you get what we"ll need? We"ll stay overnight and return in the morning. While you do that, I will get Raul.”

“I"ll meet you by the corral.”