lla.thelonelymen-第18节
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the finest meat the country offered； but we weren't about to shoot a rifle。
When we reached the ranch we found that it was a big one； and it lay right out in the open country； with a small stream winding past。 There was a dam across the stream and a fair…sized pond had backed up behind it。 Cottonwoods and other trees grew around； and a big Spanish…style ranch house was set amongst them。 And it was occupied。
We drew up on the crest of a low ridge among some ocotillo and other growth and studied the layout。 We weren't going to ride up to any place without giving thought to what lay before us。
Slow smoke was rising from the chimney； and we could hear the squeak of a windlass as somebody pulled water at a welL We could see a couple of vaqueros riding out of the back gate； heading for the hills to the southeast of us。 They were riding relaxed and easy； sitting lazy in the saddle as if neither of them had ever known a care or the name of trouble。
We came down off the slope； riding scattered out a little until we were channeled by a lane through wide fields of planting。
〃Somebody watches us。〃 Rocca indicated a low tower； and we could see sunlight gleam on a fieldglass or telescope。
Whoever it was must have seen the children and decided we could be trusted； because the big wooden gates opened； although nobody was in sight。 But as we drew closer we could see the black muzzles of the rifles that covered our approach。
We rode in through the gates and they closed behind us。 At least six vaqueros were now in sight； and standing on the wide veranda； a thin Cuban cigar in his teeth； was a tall old man with white hair and an erect； proud figure。
He came down two steps to greet us； his sharp eyes taking us in with quick intelligence。 I think he knew our story before I spoke； for the hard…ridden horses； and the children； one of them dressed like an Apache boy； told it。
〃Buenos dias； se？ores；〃 he said； and then added in English； 〃My house is yours。〃
〃You may not wish us to stay； se？or；〃 I said。 〃We have taken these children from the Apaches； and they will be looking for us。〃
〃They have visited us before； and with less reason。 You are my guests； gentlemen。 I am Don Louis Cis…neros。〃
〃I am Tell Sackett；〃 I said； and introduced the others。
He greeted them and then turned his eyes to me。 〃Yours is a familiar name；〃 he said。 〃There was a Sackett who married the granddaughter of an old friend。〃
〃That would be my younger brother； Tyrel。 He married into the Alvarado family。〃
〃e in；〃 he said； and as we walked into the dim coolness of the interior； he added； 〃We are old friends； my family and the Alvarados。 I have heard much of your family； amigo。 Your brother stood between Alvarado and his enemies。〃
Hours later； when we had bathed and eaten a good dinner at his table； we sat about smoking the Don's Cuban cigars。 I was never much of a hand to smoke； but did from time to time； and this was one time I joined in。
Dorset and the children had gone off with the Don's daughters； and the boys and me we stayed with our host。
〃You have a dangerous road before you。 I can let you have a dozen riders；〃 he said。
〃No。 You may need them。 We've e this far； and we'll ride on。〃 Sitting back in the big cowhide chair； I told him the whole story； and he listened without ment。 At the end he said nothing for several minutes。 〃I have news of your family。 I wish you could have known it sooner。 The woman you speak of was married to your brother Orrin； but they have separated。 She was the daughter of Jonathan Pritts； the man who led the men who tried to seize the Alvarado Grant。 It was your brother Tyrel who led the fight that defeated him； and when Orrin found his wife was involved； he left her。 She has hatred for all who bear the name of Sackett。 You were to be killed； amigo。〃
It seemed unreasonable that a woman would go to such lengths to get a man killed； a man who had done her no harm； but it all tied up into a neat package。 And there wasn't much I could do about it。 Maybe the best way to get even would be just to get back alive； so all her plotting would e to nothing。
In the quiet of the lovely old hacienda； all that lay outside seemed far away； not something that lurked just beyond the adobe walls。 But deep in our hearts not one of us thought himself free of what was to e。
The miles of the desert that lay between us and the relative safety of Tucson could be nightmare miles。 They were ever…present in our minds； but they were a fact of our lives to be taken in stride。
Old Don Luis talked quietly and easily of the problems of living among the Apaches。 As Pete Kitchen had survived north of the border； so had he survived south of it。 He had his own small army of tough； seasoned vaqueros； fighters every one of them。
As he talked he glanced over at Rocca。 〃If you ever want a job； se？or；〃he said； 〃e to me here。 There is a place for you。 I have two vaqueros here who grew up with the Apaches。〃
〃It is a good place；〃 Rocca said。 〃It may be that one day I shall e riding here。〃
Long after the others had turned in； I sat in the quiet of the old Don's study and talked with him。 The walls of the room were lined with shelves of leather…bound books； more than I had ever seen； and he talked of them and of what they had told him； and of what they meant to him。
〃These are my world；〃 he said。 〃Had I been born in another time or to another way of life I should have been a scholar。 My father had this place and he needed sons to carry on； so I came back from Spain to this place。 It has been good to me。 I have seen my crops grow and my herds increase； and if I have not written words upon paper as I should like to have done； I have written large upon the page of life that was left open for me。
〃There is tonic in this。〃 He gestured toward the out…of…doors。 〃I have used the plow and the Winchester instead of the pen and the inkstand。 There is tonic in the riding； in the living dangerously； in the building of something。
〃I know how the Apache feels。 He loves his land as I do； and now he sees another way of life supplanting his。 The wise ones know they can neither win nor last； but it is not we who destroy them； but the times。
〃All things change。 One species gives way to another better equipped to survive。 Their world is going； but they brought destruction to another when they came； and just so will we one day be forced out by others who will e。 It is the way of the world； the one thing we know is that all things change。
〃Each of us in his own way wars against change。 Even those who fancy themselves the most progressive will fight against other kinds of progress； for each of us is convinced that our way is the best way。
〃I have lived well here。 I should like to see this last because I have built it strong and made it good； but I know it will not。 Even my books may not last； but the ideas will endure。 It is easy to destroy a book； but an idea once implanted has roots no man can utterly destroy。〃
He paused and looked at me。 〃You are bored with an old man talking。〃
〃No； sir。 I am learning。 We are a people who have hungered after learning； Don Luis； and who have had too little of it。 I mean we Sacketts。 Our mountain lands had thin soil； and they gave us nothing more than just a living until we came west。〃
I looked at him and felt ashamed。 〃I can barely read； sir。 It is a struggle to make out the words； and what they mean。 Some I hunt down like a coyote after a rabbit。 I look at those books with longing； sir； and think of all the things they might say to me。〃
I got up； for of a sudden there was a heavy weariness upon me。 〃My books have been the mountains；〃 I said。 〃The desert； the forest； and the wide places where the grass grows。 I must learn what I can from the reading I can do。〃
Don Luis got up also； holding out his hand。 〃Each of us must find wisdom in his own way。 Mine is one way； yours another。 Perhaps we each need more of what the other knows。。。。 Good night； se？or。〃
When I went outside I walked through the gate to smell the wind； to test the night。 By the wall near me a cigarette glowed； cupped in a hand。 〃How goes the watch？〃 I asked in Spanish。
〃Well； se？or。〃He held the cigarette behind the wall in the darkness。 He bowed his head and drew deep； the small red fire glowed and faded again。 〃We are not alone； se？or。 Your friends and ours； they are out there 。。。 waiting。〃
So they had caught up with us。 Now there would be hell to pay in Sonora。
Turning on my heel； I went back into the house。 The old Don was just leaving his study。
〃You have many horses？〃 I asked。
〃All you need；〃 he assured me。
〃Can you give us three apiece？ I can't pay you now； but … 〃
〃Do not speak of pay；〃 he interrupted。 〃Your brother is the husband of my old friend's granddaughter。 You may have the horses。〃 He looked closely at me。 〃What will you do？〃
〃Your vaquero says they are waiting out there now。 I think he is right。 And so I think we will take our chances and run for it。 We'll switch horses without stopping 。。。 maybe we can outdistance them。〃
Don Luis Gsneros shrugged。 〃You might；〃 he said。 〃I will have the horses ready at daybreak。〃
〃An hour before；〃 I said。 〃And gracias。〃
Chapter 12
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