Chapter VIII
Tres Amigos
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Chapter I, Chapter II, Chapter III, Chapter IV, Chapter V, Chapter VI, Chapter VII
CHAPTER VIII
Tres Amigos
I followed Asiago to the door and watched him jump on his horse and ride on. I don't know how he knew where to go; I don't know if he knew where to go. About three hours later he was back.
"Did you find him."
"No," he said, "but I talked to a couple of people that saw him heading out of town. I rode out in his general direction, but didn't see him."
"Well, how far could he get on foot? He's got no horse."
"I rode well beyond where he could have walked," said Asiago. "Cut a broad swath, but didn't see him. But I got to find him or let him find me."
"How do you know he isn't just out on a stroll, yakking with the Great Spirit, or just looking for some peace and quiet," I asked.
"Lilly he took the arrows; that means he going someplace important, and is not just out for a stroll. Those things are sacred. He wouldn't just carry them around. He is out for a purpose or destination."
"What's more," said Asiago, "he wanted us to know he was gone and for someone to come after him."
"How'd you know that? I know you are close, but he is a pretty quiet fellow, and you aren't no mind reader."
"He left the board loose so we could see what he had done. It's his way of asking us to help him."
"Why didn't he just ask?" blurted Heinz from the kitchen.
"Not how he would approach the subject. Asking us face to face would risk us feeling under some obligation, or him being embarrassed. The way Old Injun thinks about it, if we come, if its of our volition. Nothing owed."
"Not very damn considerate. And he didn't leave no directions."
"I figure he goin' North. There is nothin' east for him. West, the mountains would be too much for him to try by himself. The creeks, and valleys mostly run north and south in this part of the country. He was seen goin' north. That's where the Northern Cheyenne are, and that is where I am going to go looking for him."
"North is a big place," muttered Heinz.
"That it is," said Asiago, "and if I had to find him, I might not have much of a chance. But I am betting he will be looking for me."
Asiago's huffing and puffing left me with more questions than they answered. I had some notion of the importance of the arrows, but I couldn't figure out what Old Injun was doing with them, or why Asiago felt he had to go after him. They were kin, but blood ties just didn't seem like the whole story.
My head started whirling. I was not close to Asiago or Old Injun. They were acquaintances. I enjoyed their company. In fact, Old Injun wasn't even that--he was help. He was mildly useful, didn't bother much, but didn't do anything me or Heniz couldn't do ourselves.
Yet the excitement of the past night had changed things. We had all been threatened by Monterey Jack, shared a victory at his leavin', and listened to Old Injun's deepest secret. A different person could remain indifferent. I couldn't.
"When do we leave," I asked, with as much calm as I could muster.
"I am leaving in about an hour," said Asiago, with the "I" spoken with effect.
"I think this is going to take more than you."
"Lilly," sighed Asiago, "I never really needed anyone before, except for manicures. I can handle this without your help."
"Handle what. Just what is it you are doing."
"Findin' Injun."
"And when you find him what you plan to do. You have only the vaguest of ideas where he is going. Hell, he may not know where he is going. This could turn into more than horse ride in the country."
Asiago looked at his nails, then scratched his head; more nail checking and headscratching, but no answer. I decided to sweeten the bargain.
"Look," I said, I got a pack mule, and plenty of supplies. You don't got none. I will stake this little adventure but in exchange I go with you. If you find Old Injun in a few days, we come back, and you can do whatever you want. But if this turns out to need some time and miles, you'll have the goods to make a go, and some conversation as a bonus."
"What about me," yelled Heinz from the kitchen.
Asiago and I ignored him. "Lilly, why you so fired up about going?"
"My dear Mr. Cheese, you may find this hard to believe but at some point in my life I had higher aspirations than serving drinks to whorehouse customers. Besides, I trust you. I got opportunity and someone to depend on. That combination don't come along too often. If I don't take this chance, I may not get another."
"What about me," whined Heinz again.
"What about you, Heinz," I said. "I was counting on you running the Rusty Nail."
"I got some of them aspirations, too."
"Do you even know what 'aspirations' are, Heinz."
"Lilly, if aspirations is an itch to move on, then I got 'em. Besides a man and woman traveling alone, unwed, ain't proper."
"And two men and a woman traveling together is more proper?"
At this point Asiago stopped scratching. "Lilly, what you say about a long journey may be right. If so we could use an extra gun. You can shoot, can't you Heinz?"
"Yeah, I can shoot. Kinda."
"Kinda is better than nothing, as long as you aim at the enemy. How long will it take you to square up the Rusty Nail, and get supplies packed up."
"Hmmm. I can be ready by first light tomorrow."
"And you, Heinz."
"Yep."
Asiago declared the end of the discussion: "We meet here tomorrow morning. Whoever isn't here gets left behind."
To be continued.