The thin, ghostlike figure of Iron Eyes sat upon his pinto, holding the reins tightly in his left hand, as he watched the three mounted riders approaching from the south.
The mysterious Jane had pulled her wagon to a standstill behind the bounty hunter, and looped the reins around the long brake-pole at her side.
She had automatically lifted her Winchester out of the box at her feet and cranked it ready for action. She sat on the wooden plank with her foot resting on the brake as she studied the riders over her oxen and the statuesque Iron Eyes.
The large sombreros gave the clue as to where these men were from, but not who or what they were. It was known that bandits were commonplace in the more remote regions of the prairie, but these might be ranchers.
The river flowed to their left-hand side as both Iron Eyes and Jane sat watching the riders.
They had travelled over ten miles along the edge of the wild river, trying to find a suitable place to attempt a crossing.
Iron Eyes sat watching the three men as they grew ever closer, without changing his expression.
His grey pupils were like two musket-balls as they focused upon the men. He had heard the rifle being cocked for action behind him, and knew that the strange female was ready to blow off a few more ears if not worse.
His fingers stroked the pistol tucked over his left hip as they started to pull their horses up. All three men were skilled riders by the way they stopped their headstrong stallions. These were not the sort of horses that just anyone could ride.
These were strong, rampant steeds that only masters of their trade could hope to handle.
Each man sat below his vast sombrero, watching the ghostlike figure and the female on top of the wagon. They were dressed in a fashion that was almost artistic in its detail. All were clad in black, with white-and-silver patterns. Their frilly white shirts and red scarves seemed to highlight their obvious vanity.
‘Well?’ Iron Eyes growled in a slow manner that seemed to question the riders’ right to be before him.
The one rider who seemed to have an understanding of English removed his large sombrero and made a flowing gesture with it as he smiled.
His hair gleamed in the sunshine from expensive oils as he replaced it on to his head.
‘I am Dwan José Valdez, senor he informed in a tone that seemed to warrant applause. ‘Welcome to my humble rancho.’
Iron Eyes gave a backward glance at the female who sat with the Winchester across her lap, before returning his attention to the trio of men.
‘You own this strip of land?’ Iron Eyes asked.
The man who had given his name raised both shoulders and made a curious expression that was partly masked by his long, waxed moustache.
‘Not this exact spot but everything else over here.’ He waved his left arm and pointed away from the wide, rolling river.
‘What do you want of us?’ Iron Eyes continued to thumb the Navy Colt as he spoke to the riders.
The man called Valdez continued to smile at the dark, narrow-eyed bounty-hunter as his two outriders sat nervously looking silently on. They too kept their hands upon the hammers of their pistols.
‘I am here to ask why you have entered our lands.’
‘Just heading south,’ Iron Eyes muttered under his breath, as he lowered his chin until it rested upon his chest. ‘Trying to find a safe place to cross this angry river.’
‘But south is no good.’ Valdez smiled in a manner that was beginning to make the gaunt man angry.
‘Why not?’
‘l own all the land south from here,’ Valdez gestured. ‘I cannot allow people to cross my land uninvited.’
‘You own the river?’ Iron Eyes turned as he heard Jane ask her simple, blunt question. He found yet another smile starting to cross his lips.
Valdez gazed up at the woman in surprise. ‘No, dear lady. I do not own the river but — ’ he admitted.
‘Quit holding us up and get your fancy backsides out of our way,’ Jane shouted in a way that made all three Mexican riders uneasy .
‘You misunderstand me, dear lady.’ Valdez regained his composure and his smile as he aimed his conversation at the woman with the rifle.
‘How so?’ she asked.
‘I wish you to be my guests at my rancho.’
Valdez bowed as he spoke to her. ‘It is our custom.’
Jane was very unimpressed. ‘You often invite strangers to your home?’
‘We seldom see strangers.’ Valdez was feeling uneasy at the way the dark, long-haired Iron Eyes toyed with the handle of his pistol. ‘We cannot allow you to continue your journey without offering our simple home for you to rest and refresh yourselves.’
‘Why not?’ Iron Eyes grunted.
‘You are not of these parts. It is our custom.’
Dwan José Valdez had imparted a tone into his explanation that seemed to suggest that he would never accept any refusals.
Iron Eyes pulled hard on his reins and forced the pony to step backward until it was level with the wagon. The thin man looked up at Jane. His eyes were as glassy as ever, but he seemed to be urging her to accept the invitation.
‘We better take up the offer,’ he advised.
‘Why?’ Jane seemed ready to blow holes in the bunch of smartly dressed vaqueros. ‘I ain’t afraid of no dandies.’
‘I am,’ Iron Eyes found himself honestly admitting. ‘I learned a long time ago never to underestimate your opponents. It can be costly.’
‘You scared?’ She seemed shocked that he was unwilling to engage in a shoot-out.
‘Nope. I just do not want to get ventilated before I get to El Paso and collect my reward money’ He spat at the sand as he studied the Mexicans.
‘Are you sure?’
‘I reckon they might not take kindly to our refusing.’ Iron Eyes pulled a cigar from inside his coat and pushed it between his uneven teeth.
‘You sure you ain’t scared, Iron Eyes?’ Jane kept watching the three men as she spoke to her companion.
Iron Eyes gave a brief laugh before answering her. ‘I seen these sort of varmints before. They get kinda upset if you refuse their hospitality.’
‘How upset?’ She was curious.
‘The Mexicans around here are part Indian. They got strange ideas on manners.’ Iron Eyes struck a match and inhaled the welcome smoke.
Jane was still confused, but decided to go along with Iron Eyes’ advice.
‘You better be right,’ she snarled, grabbing the cigar from out of Iron Eyes’ mouth and ramming it into her own.
Iron Eyes sank his spurs into the pinto’s flesh and rode forward to the three strange men.
‘Thanks,’ he said quietly. ‘We accept your most kind and generous offer, Valdez.’
The smile that crossed the face of Dwan José Valdez was soon copied by his two outriders.
For some strange reason these men wanted Iron Eyes and the woman as their house guests.
As the bounty-hunter followed the trio of brightly decorated riders, he in turn being followed by the oxen pulling the wagon, he began to get worried.
They were heading inland. Away from the Rio Grande. Away from Texas. It was not where they wanted to go but for the time being they had little choice but to follow. For some reason, Iron Eyes felt that this might be his first big mistake, but knew killing these men might bring more vaqueros down on them instantly.
The sun was high overhead and burning down on all five members of the strange procession.
Iron Eyes had been correct. As they made their way, more and more vaqueros appeared from various points along their route. Soon more than twenty men wearing large sombreros completely surrounded them.