SINGLE TREE 8

the frieght wagon was loaded the day before single had hung around town watching and listening. the scrawny paint horse had been gone the next morning, still ramundo hadnt showen up. now the wagon was loaded, and he was hitching his team. when he hooked the last trace chain and stood up he could see the mules standing behing the wagon with ramundos cart hitched. single walked back to the end of the wagon. he found ramundo leaning against his cart. he had been beaten to a pulp. single went to him and held him up as they walked to a bench on the walk way in front of the store. ramundos face was swollen and his lips puffy blood oozed from the corner of his mouth. when he was seated single asked what happened. " the bandito jefe. he found me with my novia. he wanted to know when we would bring the gold. i told him i didnt know. then he started beating me." ramundo blibbered spitting blood as he talked. " ime going to make you a bed in my wagon. then we will start back."single got up and climbed into the wagon and started moveing things around and made a pallett there. then he helped ramundo up in the wagon. he put the end gate up on the wagon then tied ramundos mules to the back of the wagon. climbing into the wagon seat he clucked to his team and they started back to ajo. singles rifle lay next to him on the wagon seat. when they went into camp that night single took care of the mules like he did his team them cooked a small supper with the supplys he found in the cart. at least ramundo had taken care of that before he got beat up. after ramundo had eaten he seemed a bit better. he was sitting with his back to a wagon wheel when he explaine what had happened. "rosalia was my novia, my woman. but i think when we talked she then passed it on to the bandito. she cooked in the cantina. while i was there with her the bandido came. i couldnt tell him anything because i didnt know. all i knew was soon there would be gold shipped but that was all.while he beat me rosalia laughed. i think she is his puta." single listened and didnt say a word. it was the same old story, a bad woman passing on information. single didnt think they would be bothered going back to the mine, but hanford better give some thought the next trip out. single didnt consider himself a gun fighter, but he wouldnt back water from any crook either. the return trip took a day longer because of them stopping early and starting later. ramundo wasnt any help. single thought he may have had some broken ribs on top of every thing else. a day out of the mine a mass of horse tracks crossed the wagon road. single didnt slow the pace but made sure the rifle was close. a little ways farther the bandidos rode out of the brushand spread out in front of the team. " hey amigo, where is the mexican who uses the cart?"rider on the little paint horse asked. single saw no sense in telling this crook anything more" he died from the beating you gave him. now get out of my way." " your not very nice amigo, maybe you need some of what h got." a grin was showing on the bandits face. " you wont find me as easy." single lifted the rifle and layed accross his lap" now like i said get out of my way, and dont ever try to stop me again. savy?" single levered a round into the fireing chamber to make his point. the mexiccans spread out and made room for him to pass. when the team started forward single kept the rifle trained on the bandit leader.as he passed him the leader simply said " there will be another time amigo."