Still, it was easier in his mind now. Much easier.
They found R. L. Davis a little after sunup, a hunched-over figure on the brush slope, dragging a saddle and a thin trail of dust. The two men who found him cut him loose. One of them took the saddle and the other pulled R. L. Davis up behind him and they rode double over to where Mr. Tanner had spent the night. He was alone; all the others were still out on scout.
He looked different. Mr. Tanner had not shaved for two or three days, and the collar of his shirt was dirty and curled up. His moustache looked bigger and his face thinner.
R. L. Davis noticed this, though God Almighty, his back ached from dragging the goddam saddle all over the countryside.
I wouldnt mind a drink of water from somebody.
The rider whod brought him in was about to hand him a canteen, but Tanner stopped him.
Waitll were through.
I havent had no water since last night.
You wont die, Tanner said. Less I see I should kill you.
Mr. Tanner, look at me. He drew down with that scattergun, like to took my head off.
Where are they?
He let me go about four hours ago and headed south.
Mrs. Erin was with him?
Yes sir.
How is she?
She looks fine to me. I mean I dont think hes mistreated her any.
God help him, Tanner said. Did you speak to her?
No, he was right there all the time. There wasnt nothing I could say he wouldntve heard.
Then she didnt say anything to you.
No sir. He said something he wanted me to tell you, though.
Tanner waited. Well, goddam it, go ahead.
He said, Tell him he still has to pay the Indin, but Im not sure now Im giving him his woman back.
Frank Tanner hit him. He clubbed Davis in the face with his right fist and the man sprawled on his back in the dust.
I didnt say it he said it! Them are his words.
Tell it again.
I swear its what he said.
Tell it!
He said youre to pay the Indin, but he wasnt so sure he was going to give you your woman back. Them words exactly.
Did she say anything?
No sir, not a word, the whole time I was there.
He keep her tied?
When she was in the draw, but not when hes around. I mean riding or when hes made camp.
Whyd he let you go? Davis hesitated and Tanner said, I asked you a question.
Well, I reckon to tell you what he said. Theres no other reason I know of.
God help you if there is, Tanner said.
He was mounting his bay horse, when two riders came in with a string of fresh horses. They had walked all night back to Mimbreno from the place where they had left their dead mounts on the slope.
Tanner looked at R. L. Davis. Put your saddle on one of them, he said. I want you present when we run him down.
During the early morning the segundo, whose name was Emilio Avilar but who had been called only segundo for the past six years, found three of his men in the mountain wilderness and signaled them, gathering them in. The men were tired and their horses were worn and needed water. They were ready to head back, and Frank Almighty Tanner could whistle out his ass if he didnt like it. They were paid to drive cattle and freight wagons and shoot rurales ; they had not signed on to chase a man whod run off with Tanners woman. That was his lookout if he couldnt keep her home. After all night in the saddle, it was time to unroll the blankets.
The segundo said, You think he doesnt want to sleep? Man, he has to stay awake, doesnt he? He got to watch the woman, he got to watch for us.
Man, ask him what its like to be tired.
Two of the riders were American and one Mexican, the Mexican a young man who had been hired only a few months before by the segundo.
One of the Americans said it was none of their business. And the segundo said maybe not, but look, the sooner they caught this crazy man the sooner they could ride to Mexico and have a good time.
You want some fresh water, uh? the segundo said. Dont you think he want some fresh water?
If he know where it was, one of the Americans said.
Listen, when are you going to understand what kind of man he is? the segundo said. Sure hes crazy, but he knows what hes doing. You think he come down this way if he dont know theres water? Where it is? Hes not that crazy.
Well, him knowing doesnt help us, the other American said.
The segundo took his hat off and wiped his forehead with his sleeve and set the Sonora hat over his eyes again. He shook his head and said to the man, Where do I get people like you? You think I work around here six years I dont know where the goddam water is? What kind of segundo doesnt know where the water is?
Well, lets go get it, the rider said.
Emilio Avilar, the segundo, smiled. Sure, I thought that was what you want.
A little later that morning, watering their horses at the pool, the cliffs and sloping canyon walls reflected in the still water, the three riders looked at the segundo and the segundo smiled again. God, there were fresh tracks all over the place close to the bank, two horses and two people: no doubt about it, a man and a woman. They filled their canteens and wiped down their horses and at this moment were willing to follow the segundo anyplace he wanted to go. Hell, lets get him!