HIDDEN SPRINGS 12

all the way to the house latigos head was crowded with questions he had no answer too. he had come here to live and get away from the many troubles the world presented, and now he was hip deep in them . at first he thought nothing of the coyotes packing the contraband being killed. they were enemys of the country. that had been drilled into his being while in the army. but now he wasnt sure if they were enemys or just un knowing employees who wee being eliminated for a hidden purpose. irene may have a good argument on that point. in any case he was ready to listen to her. as he rode into his yard he saw a blue pickup leaveing in a cloud of dust. he unsaddled his mount and fed and cared for him. then walked to the house. a plume of smoke was comming from the stove pipe. seeing that he knew irene was prepareing something to eat. but when he stepped into the house he was met with something altogether different than what he expected. irene sat at the table, her head bosed and her hair cascadeing down each side of her face. as he stepped up to the table she slowley raised her head to reveal a cut cheek, and bruised lips. her shirt was torn at the coller and buttons ripped from the fron revealing hr bare breast. that she had been beaten was eveident, but not a tear ran. before him latigo saw a woman with steel in her soul. " what the hell happened here?" latigo demanded. " the jefe of the coyotes was here. he wanted the back packs taken from the last caravan that were killed. when they saw you comming they left. they fear you i think." irene explained. " they better fear me! what can i do for you?" latigo was boiling. " just let me be for a while. can you fix your own meal?" irene asked. latigo went past her and got down on his knees at his bunk. he reached under and pulled out a foot locker. rummaging around under the clothes in it he came up with a .45 caliber military issue pistol. then he found a clip of ammunition and loaded the pistol. comming back to the table he laid the pistol in front of irene." dont take another beating like that. shoot before they get close enough to grab you. dont argue dont talk , just shoot! yes , ill fix us something to eat." irene sat there stareing at the pistol " i never used one of these. before. " was all she could say. " tomorrow ill teach you. " was all latigo said as he started putting a meal together. the next day irenes eyes were almost swoll shut, her face puffy. latigo had her come out in the yard. he showed her how to load the pistol. then cock it and make ready to fire he was surprised at the speed she picked up the familararity of the weapon. after a few trys of dry fire she loaded the pistol. latigo pointed out a cholla at the edge of the yard. " dont try to aim, just point and fire. these old pistol wernt the most for accuracy any way. just point and pull the trigger."latigo pointed at the cholla. when the old pistol went off irene was forced to take a step back to keep her footing. the cholla exploded. latigo looked at her and nodded. " you are a natural. take a few more practice shots. until you feel comfortable with it." irene rubbed her wrist, obviously not used to the recoil. she tried to hand the gun to latigo who simply said for her to keep it handy. again he said" dont talk, SHOOT!" then he turned and walked to the barn to catch a horse.