narrowing at the far end to a dark, climbing passage that would allow only one man at a time to enter.
The first tracker into the passage was shot from his saddle. They carried him back and dismounted in the meadow to look over the situation.
This was the reason the White Mountain band had made a run for it and had not bothered to cover their tracks. Once they made it through the defile they were safe. One of them could squat up there in the narrows and hold off every U. S. soldier on frontier station, as long as he had shells, giving his people time to run for Mexico. They studied the walls of the canyon and the possible trails around. Yes, a man could climb it maybe, if he had some goat blood in him. But getting up there didnt mean there was a way to get down the other side. On the other hand, to go all the way back down through the rocks and find a trail that led around and brought them out at the right place could take a week if they were lucky. So Valdez and his trackers sat in that meadow and smoked cigarettes and talked and let the White Mountain people run for the border. If they didnt get them this year theyd get them next year.
Valdez could see Tanners men dismounted in the meadow, looking up at the canyon walls, studying the shadowed crevices and the cliff rose that grew along the rim, way up there against the sky. Anyone want to try it? No thank you, not today. Tanner would send some men to scout a trail that led around. But before he ever heard from them again, after a day or two in the meadow, seeing the bats flicking and screeching around the canyons wall at night, hed come to the end of his patience and holler up through the narrow defile, All right, lets talk!
That was the way Bob Valdez had pictured it taking place: leading Tanner with plenty of time and setting it up to make the deal. Give me the money for the Lipan woman or you dont get your woman back.
He had almost forgotten the Lipan woman. He couldnt picture her face now. It wasnt a face to remember, but now the woman had no face at all. She was somewhere, sitting in a hut eating corn or atole , feeling the child inside her and not knowing this was happening outside in the night. He would say to Tanner, You see how it is? The woman doesnt have a man, so she needs money. You have money, but you dont have a woman. All right, you pay for the man and you get your woman.
It seemed simple because in the beginning it was simple, with the Lipan woman sitting at her husbands grave. But now there was more to it. The putting him against the wall and tying him to the cross had made it something else. Still, there was no reason to forget the Lipan woman. No matter if she didnt have a face and no matter what she looked like. And no matter if it was not happening the way it was supposed to happen. The trouble now was, Tanner could stop him before he reached the narrow place, before he reached the good position to talk and make a trade.
No, the trouble was more than that. The trouble was also the woman herself, this woman sitting without speaking anymore, the person he would have to trade. He said in his mind, St. Francis, you were a simple man. Make this goddam thing thats going on simple for me.
You say you know where youre going, R. L. Davis said. Tell us so well all know.
You dont need him, Valdez thought. He said, If we get there, you see it. If we dont get there, it doesnt matter, does it?
Listen, you know how many men hes got?
Not so much anymore.
Hes still got enough, R. L. Davis said. Theyre going to take you and string you up, if you arent shot dead before. But either way, its the end of old Bob Valdez.
Hows your head?
It still hurts.
Close your mouth or I make it hurt worse, all right?
I helped you, R. L. Davis said. You owe me something. I could have left you out there, but being a white man I went back and cut you loose.
What do you want? Valdez asked.
What do you think? I cut you loose, you cut me loose and let me go.
Valdez nodded slowly. All right. When we leave.
Davis looked at him hard. You mean it?
Valdez felt the Erin woman looking at him also. As you say, I owe it to you.
Its not some kind of trick?
How could it be a trick?
I dont know. I just dont trust you.
Valdez shrugged. If youre free, what difference does it make?
Youre cooking something up, R. L. Davis said.
No. Valdez shook his head. I only want you to do me a favor.
Whats that?
Give Mr. Tanner a message from me. Tell him he has to pay the Lipan, but now Im not sure I give him back his woman.
He felt her staring at him again, but he looked out into the darkness thinking about what he had said, realizing that it was
all much simpler in his mind now.
It was two oclock in the morning when Valdez and the Erin woman moved out leading Daviss bareback sorrel horse. They left Davis tied to his saddle with his own bandana knotted around his mouth. As Valdez tied it behind his head, Davis twisted his neck, pushing out his jaw.
You gag me I wont be able to yell for help!