I went up to saddle Star, then would head down to see Moses Vexler at the livery. He should know if Martin left town or not, at least if he took a horse from the livery. He was outside filling up the trough when I rode up.
“Figured you’d be by sooner or later,” he muttered standing up still holding the bucket.
He didn’t say anything more, so I jumped right in. “Amos Martin been by?”
“Yep.”
“Did he happen to say where he was goin’?”
“Nope”
“And you don’t know? Am I right?”
He smiled, spat a mouthful of tobacco juice on the ground. “Nope, I know.”
“Moses, don’t make me get off my horse and thump you. Tell me!” I exclaimed, getting a little exasperated.
Chuckling, he remarked, “He went off to get his daughter and bring her back.”
“How’d he know where she was?” I questioned to which I received a shrug.
“Get on down, I want to show yuh something anyway.” He then started walking toward the corral gate. I did as requested and followed after him. Opening the gate, he stooped down and motioned for me to join him. “See that?” he pointed to a hoof print. “That’s the horse Martin’s ridin’.”
I reached out to touch the print as if it would help seal it in my brain. Then I looked at Moses, smiled and nodded.
“Cost yuh a dollar for that information,” he said jokingly to which I completely ignored him and mounted Star again. Tipping my hat, I had another stop to make before starting out on the trail. Just before I turned Star, Moses hollered, “Oh, by the way, he headed south!”
I waved then headed down the street towards the diner. Loosely tying Star to the hitching rail, I walked in to see a commotion at my table. Molly, Charlie, Mateo, Father Cisneros and a woman were all there. The woman was sobbing, and speaking so fast I couldn’t catch a word. She kept repeating “apenado” over and over.
Mateo saw me enter and motioned for me to stand by him. He whispered as Molly and the Padre were trying to console the woman. “This is Camila Vasquez,” he informed me, with a frown on his face. “She told Martin where Agatha and Javier were living.”
Camila glanced to where I was standing, then started outright bawling. “Por favor, Senor, lo siento, por favor perdoname.” Father Cisneros stepped away from the hysterical woman to join me with Mateo. “Marshal Forrest,” he began and I could tell he was in distress. “Camila is part of my flock,” he paused to look at her, the crying now turning to heaving sobs. “She was afraid for my life,” he paused again. “You may recognize her as she was one of my nurses. She overheard us talking one time and sent a message to Mr. Martin.”
“She thinks you’re going to throw her in jail,” offered Mateo.
“Can either of you assure her that she’s not goin’ to jail, an’ that I understand why she did it?”
Father Cisneros went back to her and while he was talking with her I motioned to Molly to come see me. “I need some food for the trail. Make it a couple of days, if I’m out longer than that, I’ll get something somewhere.”
Mateo came over to join us. “It shouldn’t take me long to track him. Moses showed a shoe the horse was wearing. As long as there’s not any bad weather I can easily follow it.”
“Get yourself a cup of coffee while I throw you a lunch together and a bag of food to take along,” she ordered then headed for the kitchen.
A few seconds after entering the kitchen, Emelda emerged to come to Camila. It seemed she knew the woman and began to speak softly to her. After I poured a cup of coffee I saw Camila look my way. I gave her a smile and a nod to which she partially smiled. Father Cisneros was nodding his head in approval.
Thirty minutes later Star and I were on our way after Martin. Such a stubborn fool. What was it the Lord said in His Word, “Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”?