The other one didnt get up so quick, the segundo said.
Valdez was on his knees raising his body, and he was kicked hard from behind and slammed onto his face again.
This one dont get up either, the Mexican said.
Valdez heard Tanners voice say, Get him out of here, and this time they let him work his way to his knees and stand up. But as he straightened, the bottom of the vertical pole struck the ground and held him in a hunched position, a man with a weight on his back, his eyes on the ground, unable to raise his head. Someone put his hat on his head, too low and tight on his forehead.
That way, the segundo said, nodding across the square. The way you came.
My horse, Valdez said.
Dont worry about the horse, the segundo said. We take care of.
There was nothing more to say. Valdez turned and started off, hunched over, raising his eyes and able to see perhaps twenty feet in front of him, but not able to hold his gaze in this strained position.
The segundo called after him. Hey, dont fall on your back. Youll be like a turtle. He laughed, and some of the others laughed with him.
Frank Tanner watched the stooped figure circle the water pump and move down the street past the women who had come out of the adobes to look at him.
You fixed him, R. L. Davis said.
Tanners eyes shifted to Davis, sliding on him and away from him, as he had looked at him before. I dont remember asking you here, Tanner said.
Listen, R. L. Davis began to say.
Tanner stopped him. Watch your mouth, boy. I dont listen to you. I dont listen to anybody I dont want to listen to.
R. L. Davis squinted up at him. I didnt mean it that way. I come here to work for you.
Tanners gaze dropped slowly from the bent figure down the street to Davis. Why do you think Id hire you?
You need a gun, Im your man.
I didnt see you hit anything the other day.
Jesus Christ, I wasnt aiming at her. You said yourself just make her jump some.
Are you telling me what I said?
I thought thats what it was.
Dont think, Tanner said. Ride out.
Hell, you can always use another man, cant you?
Maybe a man, Tanner said. Ride out.
Try me out. Put me on for a month.
Well put some poles on your back, Tanner said, if you want to stay here.
I was just asking, R. L. Davis lifted his reins and flicked them against the neck of his sorrel, bringing the animal around and guiding it through the group of riders, trying to take his time.
Tanner watched Davis until he was beyond the pump and heading down the street. The small stooped figure was now at the far end of the adobes.
The woman, Gay Erin, who had been married to the sutler at Fort Huachuca and had been living with Frank Tanner since her husbands death, waited for Tanner to turn and notice her in the doorway behind him. But he didnt turn; he stood on the edge of the platform over his men.
She said, Frank? and waited again.
Now he looked around and came over to her, taking his time. I didnt know you were there, he said.
She kept her eyes on him, waiting for him to come close. I dont understand you, she said.
I dont need that boy. Why should I hire him?
The other one. He asks you a simple thing, to help someone.
We wont talk about it out here, Tanner said. They went into the dimness of the warehouse, past sacks of grain and stacked wooden cases, Tanner holding her arm and guiding her to the stairway. I let you talk to me the way you want, Tanner said, but not in front of my men.
Upstairs, in the office that had been made into a sitting room, Gay Erin looked out the window. She could see R. L. Davis at the end of the street; the hunched figure of Bob Valdez was no longer in sight.
You better keep up here from now on, Tanner said, unless I call you down.
She turned from the window. And how long is that?
I guess as long as I want. Tanner went into the bedroom. He came out wearing his coat, strapping on a gunbelt. Im going to Nogales; Ill be back in the morning. He looked down at his belt, buckling it. You can come if you want a twenty-mile ride.
Or sit here, the girl said.
He looked up at her. What else?
If you say sit Im supposed to sit. Her expression and the sound of her voice were mild, but her eyes held his and hung on. No one can be that sure, she said. Not even you.
Well, youre not going to leave, Tanner said. He moved toward her, settling the gunbelt on his hips. You dont have anything at Huachuca. You dont have anything left at Prescott. Whatever you have is here.
Whatever I have, the girl said, as your woman.
Arent I nice enough to you?
Sometimes.
Take what you get.
Sometimes you act like a human being.
When Im in my drawers, Tanner said. When Im in my boots thats a different time.
You had them on outside.
You bet I did, lady.
He was trying to help a woman whod lost her husband; thats all he was doing.
And Im helping one already, Tanner said. One poor widow womans enough. He was close to her, looking into her face, and he touched her cheek gently with his hand. He said, I guess I could stay a few more minutes if you like.