Gold Envy

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

The country was rugged. Deep canyons, narrow trails and a great deal of undergrowth made the going slow. By mid-day, sweat drenched the faces of the riders. Breaking through the trees, they rode down an incline ending at a rippling stream.

They dismounted and led their horses where they could drink while standing in the deep shade of old trees that lined the bank. Both Ropero and Jesus got their fill of the cold, clear water and munched on biscuits Ropero had pulled from the sack in his bedroll. Wiping his face on his coat sleeve, he pointed to a canyon opening fifty yards on the far side of the stream.

"If there is to be trouble, it will happen here. The canyon up ahead has walls so narrow that you can almost reach out and touch the sides as you ride through. It runs for about two miles. But once we break out on the far side, we'll come down onto the desert and the ride to the border should be easy."

"Maybe we can ride to Sahuaipa and rent a Jeep and drive to the border?"

Ropero laughed at the thought. They filled their canteens and made sure the saddles were cinched tight. No breeze moved the leaves and one had to strain to hear the soft murmur of the stream. It was as if the whole world were watching and waiting—waiting for something to happen.

Slowly, they mounted their horses and moved through the stream, stopping a few feet from the mouth of the canyon, whose towering walls seemed to reach to the sky.

"Here's the way we’ll handle this. We're going to ride like hell through this place. You go first and I'll follow. Just remember that if anything should happen, don't come back. Don't even look back. Just ride as hard and as fast as you can until you cross the border. Vaya con dios."