Brothers in Blood Read Free

have a life. Of course, she didn’t have eight snotty-nosed ones, either.”
    â€œYou’re telling me I may have to give up a lot to get a real man.”
    â€œNo, I just told you my story.”
    â€œThank you. You have been most kind. I hope you get your nephew released from prison.”
    â€œOh, I’ll do that.”
    She nodded as if in deep thought. “I know you will succeed. You are a forceful man. It has been nice to share my misfortunes with you.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    They made it to Mesilla and took the stage north the next day. The country they passed through looked dry and desolate.
    â€œA cow could starve to death out there,” Cole said.
    â€œOr die of thirst.”
    â€œYeah, Chet. That would be easy, save for the water in the Rio Grande over there in those cottonwood trees.”
    â€œI have no idea what we’ll run into up here. We’ll play it by ear. The first thing is, don’t go for your gun unless it’s life or death. In a new land, we need to learn all we can and be unseen.”
    â€œWhat do you figure they’re like?” Cole asked.
    â€œNew Mexico Territory is mostly Spanish. They’ve been here for centuries, and they do things their way.”
    Jesus agreed. “I’d say you are right. I will listen. Here, you will need the Spanish side of things.”
    â€œThey must fear something. Not letting him mail letters, so that he had to smuggle them out.”
    â€œThat is strange.” Cole shook his head. “I hope it isn’t long. I like northern Arizona, pines and grass for cows. What else did you learn from the widow who left us back there?”
    â€œHardest thing in her story was that her husband died in a whorehouse. She’s a real nice-looking woman. I ain’t seen many women in that business that good looking.”
    â€œAll you saw in her was the package. Contents are another thing,” Cole said.
    Chet shook his head. “Aw, I saw more. I wonder if she was cold toward him? I don’t know, but when you open up a package, sometimes the contents can shock you. We all thought JD’s wife Kay was so ignored by him. I even danced and talked to her. I believed her story, but whatever she did to him spun him around so I can’t figure it out for the life of me.”
    â€œWomen can do that to you.”
    Cole didn’t say any more, but Chet knew his man had been burned, too.
    They found Socorro in a full-fledged dust storm. Heads bent down, they went inside the stage office to escape nature’s force. The stage agent agreed to keep their gear.
    â€œThe Pearl Hotel is two blocks south. Best place in town to stay.”
    After thanking him, the three set out for the hotel. They made it into the lobby, grateful to escape the face-stinging diamond bits. Once inside, Chet stopped to brush off some dust.
    â€œThis happen often?” he asked the clerk.
    â€œNot every day.”
    â€œGood. That might make us glad when we see an open day. I need two rooms for a week.”
    â€œPay by the day or all?”
    â€œHow much is all of it?”
    â€œFourteen dollars.”
    He paid the man and he gave them rooms beside each other on the second floor.
    â€œWhere’s a good place to eat?”
    â€œThe cantina next door. They’re the cleanest and best place in town.”
    â€œThanks,” Chet said.
    â€œAre you here on business?”
    â€œExactly. Where’s the courthouse?”
    â€œTwo blocks west.”
    â€œThanks.”
    The clerk at the hotel was right about the cantina—the food was good. The waitress told them they also did breakfast and supper.
    After supper, Chet and Cole walked to the courthouse. They entered the sheriff’s office and asked the man at the desk for him.
    â€œOh, señor , he won’t be in for a week. What can we do for you?”
    â€œI am here to speak to a prisoner he has.”
    â€œWho is that, señor