The House Of Crow Collection

20. Deadly Encounter

Diaz and two of his men sat behind a table in the back corner of the cantina. It was a busy place. Not only could you purchase something to drink, but one could also buy a meal or merchandise. The area for drinking had several tables surrounded by chairs. The bar, made of rough planking, worn smooth from years of wear, ran the length of one wall. Diaz had picked the table so he could watch the door, and protect his back.

Diaz felt a rush of adrenalin when Crow and Carlos Batista, followed by Hernando and LeRue, came through the door. His mind began racing. Here they were! All together! The very men he had come to kill! Diaz said to his man next to him, “Go and get the others. When you get back, stay on the other side of the room. Have our horses close by. We will want to leave quickly. The four men who just came in… we are going to kill them.”

The bandit looked at the four men who now stood in front of the bar. Two were in buckskins while the other two he recognized as the Batista"s. "The killing of the gringos should be easy work," he thought. "Five of us, four of them." The bandit got up from his chair and left the cantina.

At the bar, LeRue leaned over to Crow and in a quiet whisper said, “Have you noticed the men in the corner, dándonos el ojo (giving us the eye)?”

“Crow feigned a smile and said, “Yes, and it looks like his compadrés have just come in.”

LeRue looked over to the corner of the room to see the man who had left, had returned; with two more.

Crow, in a quiet voice, said, “Carlos, do not look up, but we are about to be attacked. I think LeRue and I can handle this. Take your father out of here and wait for us. We may need his help with the officials.”

Hernando was surprised when his son took him by the elbow and said, “Please do not question me father, but we must go, now!” The intensity of his son"s voice convinced the older man to go with him.

nowAs Carlos guided his father towards the door, the three bandits at the door moved to intercept them. Just then, LeRue placed himself between them and the Batista"s. In the opposite corner, Diaz saw what was happening and jumped up, his bulk knocking over the table.

Crow"s voice filled the room. Speaking in Spanish, he shouted at Diaz, “You"re the son of a dog who had Pepe and José killed!” When Diaz hesitated, Crow hit him with a fist made of stone, knocking the big man back, but not down. The man with Diaz pulled a knife. Crow backhanded him to the side of his head with his closed fist. The man crumpled to the ground, his weapon falling from his hand.

Diaz, having regained his senses, charged Crow; only to find open space where Crow had once been standing. Before he could recover, Crow swept the big man"s legs out from under him. Diaz hit the floor with his face.

Near the door, the three bandits had at first thought to attack LeRue. They changed their minds when LeRue drew his war-hawk and stood his ground.

Crow turned to LeRue, “It"s time to go amigo.”

Diaz stood up and wiped the blood from his face. “Next time I see you,” he said, “I will kill you.”

Crow turned and faced Diaz, “Why wait?” shouted Crow.

Before the disbelieving eyes of all but LeRue, Crow pulled his Bowie knife and plunged its twelve-inch blade into Diaz"s stomach. In one continuous motion, he forced the blade upward, the tip piercing Diaz"s heart. Diaz fell to the floor, trying to hold his stomach together. In the corner, the shocked bandits threw up their hands and headed for the door. LeRue allowed them to pass.

Crow wiped his blade on the shirt of the dead Diaz. Carlos and Hernando came back into the cantina followed by the mayor. The mayor was accompanied by two scruffy uniformed men, each carrying a musket.

Hernando and Carlos walked up to Crow. Hernando muttered “Madre de Dios, ¿qué ha sucedido (Mother of God, what has happened)?”

LeRue said, “He threatened to kill Crow.”

“This is one of the men who killed, or had ordered to kill your vaqueros,” said Crow. “They were intent on killing us all. LeRue stopped the three who were going to kill you when you were leaving.”

The mayor asked Hernando, “Who are these men who you say wanted to kill you?”

Hernando looked at Crow for a moment, then said, “These men are bandits. They have attacked our rancho many times this year. Some of my people have been killed or wounded by them.”

Carlos added, “Bandits attacked Señor Crow and Señor LeRue, just a few nights ago. Those bandits too lost their lives to these two men.”

The mayor looked to Hernando, “You have vouched for these men already. I think this is a clear case of self-defense and was justified.” Looking around the room at the gawking patrons, the mayor asked, “Does anyone disagree?” There was no response to his question. “Then that settles it. They all agree. Clearly, it was self-defense.”

Outside the Cantina, the sound of running horses announced the hasty retreat of the surviving bandits.