Thomas and James gave Max, the bartender, all the money they had on them—which came to forty-three dollars—and promised much more from the rewards that would be due for the outlaws.
“And I can keep the hundred American dollars they gave me?” he asked.
“Yes,” Thomas said, “you can keep it.”
So now the brothers had to figure out how to take the six men who were in the cantina’s rooms, especially if some of them were with Elena’s sister, Isabella.
“Max, do you know if Isabella is alone in her room?” Thomas asked.
“I do not know this, señor,” Max admitted.
“Can you find out?”
Max shrugged. “I can knock on her door, but if she is not alone I will wake the man with her.”
Thomas looked at James. “Once he wakes up, he might want to come out for a drink or a piss.”
“That might not be a bad idea,” James pointed out. “Then we could take at least one of them without the others knowing.”
“Or two,” Max said.
Both brothers looked at him.
“If she is with two men,” Max added.
“We can still handle two,” Thomas said.
“One each,” James agreed.
“What about it?” Thomas asked Max. “Will you go back and see?”
“Since you’re not scared, and all,” James added.
“I will go,” Max said, “for you, señores.”
He poured himself a shot glass of tequila, downed it, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and came out from behind the bar.
“Now remember,” Thomas said, “just knock loud enough for them to hear you in the room—not loud enough for everyone to hear you.”
“And what if they are light sleepers, señor?” Max asked.
“We’ll just deal with that if it happens,” Thomas said.
Max went to the doorway, then started up the hall. Thomas and James remained in the cantina, just outside the hall, to watch. They were ready to draw their guns if the need arose.
“How’s your side?” James asked, in a low voice.
“What?”
“Your wound,” James said. “How is it?”
“You’re askin’ me that now?”
“I didn’t have time before,” James said. “I mean, we rode a long way. I’m just wonderin’—”
“My side it fine, James!” Thomas said. “Let’s concentrate on what we’re doin’ here.”
“Okay, okay,” James said.
Max had reached the door to Isabella’s room. He turned to indicate this to Thomas and James by pointing at it.
Thomas nodded and waved at him to go on and do what he was supposed to do.
The bartender listened at the door first, then proceeded to knock on it very lightly.
They all waited. Max was about to knock again when the door opened. Thomas and James couldn’t see who had opened it, but Max and that person talked very briefly, and then the bartender came back down the hall.
“Poor Isabella,” he said.
“Why poor Isabella?” James asked.
“They have been very abusive to her, señores.”
“Why her more than Elena?” James asked.
“I do not know,” Max said. “Perhaps because she is younger, and smaller.”
“She’s younger than Elena?” James asked.
“Okay, never mind that!” Thomas snapped, fighting to keep his voice low. “How many men are in there with her?”
“One.”
“Did he wake up when you knocked?”
“He perhaps stirred,” Max said, “but I do not know if he woke.”
“What did you say to Isabella?” Thomas asked.
“I said I was checking to see if she was all right,” Max said, “and I asked who was in the room with her.”
“Is it one of the Fleming brothers?” Thomas asked.
“No, señor, one of their men.”
Thomas looked at James.
“What do we do now?” James asked.
“Let’s give it a few minutes and see what happens,” Thomas said. “If he comes out, we’ll take him.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Then we have to figure out a way to take them all,” Thomas said.
They all moved quietly back to the bar, where Thomas and James still had mugs of beer waiting. Max poured himself another glass of tequila.
“What are the chances of someone else comin’ in tonight?” Thomas asked.
“I would say slim, señor, but . . .”
“But what?” James asked.
“I did not expect the two of you.” He shrugged helplessly.
“Okay,” Thomas said, “let’s assume nobody else comes in tonight.”
“And?” James asked.
“That gives us time to come up with a plan.”
“You know what Pa always says,” James said.
“What does he say, señor?” Max asked. “Your papa?”
“If you don’t have a plan goin’ in,” James replied, “you better have one comin’ out.”
They all thought about that, and then Max said, “He is a very wise man, your papa.”