Chapter 10:  Consequences

After sitting in that cell for several hours, desperately racking her brain for some sort of escape plan, Tessa felt the presence of another immortal.  Moments later, Montoya entered the room with Duncan right behind him.  She quickly looked away from the pair, ashamed that MacLeod had seen her this way.

"So, Senor MacLeod, is this your wayward apprentice?"

"I think so, but I can't quite see his face."

"I'll fix that.  Torres!"  Tessa ignored the Colonel, still not ready to face her mentor.  "Look at me when I'm speaking to you, boy!  Don't make me come in there..."  If only you would, you son of a bitch.  Just give me five minutes...I'll fix you...  In spite of her thoughts, however, Tessa managed to remain outwardly calm and reluctantly did as Montoya had ordered.  Anger and disappointment were painfully clear in MacLeod's expression as they locked eyes.  But the impact was lessened when Tessa caught sight of his clothes, and she had to force herself not to laugh.  Duncan was wearing the same outfit that she'd passed on, and the Scot looked absolutely ridiculous.  Just add one of those funny hats, and he could be a matador.  A soft giggle escaped, and the would-be matador fixed her with a look that could've stopped a raging bull right in its tracks.  She quickly shut her mouthand looked at the floor, not wanting to anger her teacher further.

"That's him, all right.  Now, why is he in chains?"

"Merely a precaution, I assure you.  I believe the boy to be quite dangerous."

"Dangerous?  Him?  You can't be serious."

"Oh, but I am, Senor MacLeod.  See, not only did the boy try to do me harm, but he assaulted and injured several of my best men for no reason whatsoever."

Tessa stood up to protest, her movements hampered by the irons still hanging from her limbs.  "That's not true--"

"Silence!  You've caused more than enough trouble for one day.  I strongly suggest that you sit back down and keep your mouth shut until your master and I have finished discussing the situation."

Tessa slunk back a bit as she glanced over at Duncan, who gave a slight nod.

"Do as he says."

"Si, Senor MacLeod."  Once again, Tessa found herself following Montoya's dictates.  She dropped her head back into her hands and tried her best to follow the rest of the conversation without actually looking at the participants.

"Now, as I was trying to say before I was so rudely interrupted, that boy may very well have cost me two of my best soldiers.  One had his arm broken at the elbow, and the other one suffers from a broken jaw.  And, since this pueblo no longer has a real doctor, neither man will be able to resume their duties for some time, if ever."  She cringed a bit at Montoya's description of the injuries.  Okay, maybe I was a little rough on them, but they deserved it.  Maybe now they'll think twice before bullying someone.  Watching an insect run across the floor, she tuned back in just in time to hear MacLeod's response.

"I sincerely apologize, Colonel, and I will personally make restitution for the damages."

"Oh yes, you most assuredly will."

"Of course.  Now, why don't you release the boy, and then we can go to your office to discuss payment."

"I'm afraid I can't do that.  Young Seņor Torres still has to be punished for his crimes."

"Punished how, exactly?"

"Death.  He will be hanged at noon tomorrow."  Tessa shuddered.  Perez saying it was one thing, but to hear those words pass Montoya's own lips...it just gave her chills.  And the way he said it--so matter-of-factly--makes me wonder if the man has any feeling within him at all.

"Don't you think that's rather harsh?"

"No, I don't.  As military commander of this presidio, it is my duty to maintain law and order.  And if I have to hang a few miscreants to do it, then I will do so with a song in my heart.  But if I release the boy just because you are offering me money--which, by the way, you will still be paying me--then that will only send the message that Montoya can be bought.  And that is a message that I simply cannot afford to send."

"You're going to kill him and you still expect me to give you money?"

"Of course I do.  After all, you did already agree to it.  And if you try to go back on your word...well, I just might have to add another rope to the gallows, if you catch my meaning."

"I see..."

"Good.  Now, why don't we continue this discussion up in my office?"

"Yes, lets.  But first, could I have a moment alone with my apprentice?  You know...to say goodbye?"

"Absolutely.  I am, after all, not without a heart."  Tessa snorted.  Yeah, right.  You have a heart and Grisham's gonna be the next Pope.  "You have five minutes."

A moment later, Tessa heard the faint click of a key being turned in a lock.  She looked up to see Duncan enter the cell, the guard shutting the door behind him.

"Just what the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"  Duncan had switched to English, probably to keep anyone from eavesdropping.  Taking her cue from him, she quickly did the same.

"I just wanted to prove to you that I could take care of myself...to convince you to start trusting me more and stop treating me like a child."

"So you get yourself arrested?"

"That wasn't part of the plan--"

"And what was?  Stealing from me?  Running off in the middle of the night?  God, you're already picking up Amanda's bad habits and the two of you have never even met."  Now Duncan was standing over her, arms folded, his face turning red with rage.  I've screwed up before, but have never seen him this angry...  Tessa looked back down at her feet, her hands unconsciously fiddling with the chains that still bound her.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?  This probably wasn't the brightest idea I've ever had, especially the stealing and running away part, but I swear I never meant for things to go this far.  I was just going to slip into town, see how well I could blend into the crowd, and slip back out with no one the wiser..."

"But you just couldn't resist, could you?  You just had to get in a little revenge on those soldiers."

She shot to her feet, her face now only inches from his.  "No!  That's not what happened at all!"

Some of the red left his face, and Duncan backed off to lean against the bars.  "I'm listening."

She sat back down, but this time her eyes remained focused on her mentor.  "Those soldiers were harassing an innocent young woman.  I was going to let it go, but then one of them dared to put his hands on her.  When that happened...well, I just couldn't stand idly by and let those goons hurt her.  You can't honestly tell me that you wouldn't have done the same thing if you'd seen what I had."

It was Duncan's turn to look down at the floor.  "I...well...okay.  You're right.  I probably would've done the same thing."  He stayed quiet for a moment, and then quickly looked back up at her.  "But what about Montoya?  He claims you went after him, and from what I gathered, he wasn't actually there when you attacked those soldiers."

"Oh...that."  She started fiddling with the chains again, trying to formulate an excuse.  But none came.  Damn.  And I really don't think the truth will be setting me free in this case.  Oh well.  Here goes...  "That part was probably a mistake, now that I think about it."

"Really?  And why would you make such a...mistake?"

"Montoya made a pretty crass remark about the woman I rescued and I just reacted.  I know...I know...I can't let my temper get the better of me.  I'm sorry.  But when it comes to Montoya, I...I just can't seem to think clearly.  That smug, arrogant bastard just makes me so mad...you're not really gonna let that son of a bitch hang me, are you?"

There was a moment of awkward silence, and then Duncan turned away from her.  "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?  Oh...no...come on, Duncan.   You can't just leave me here!  I'll come home quietly...I swear I won't even think of leaving holy ground again until you say I'm ready.  Just don't let them kill me.   Please...I can't go through this again...not in this town..."  There was a loud rap on the bars, and they both turned to see the guard standing there.

"Time's up, Seņor MacLeod."  He opened the door to the cell and Duncan started to step through.

"I really wish I could trust your word on that." Duncan did not even look back at her.  "But I can't...not after all this.  Perhaps this execution will finally put some sense into that thick head of yours.  I'll be back tomorrow to dig you up.  After that, you're on your own...that is what you wanted, isn't it?"  He stepped the rest of the way through the door, letting the guard lock it once again.  Without even another glance at her, Duncan walked out of the jail.

"Duncan...no...wait!" she called to his retreating back.  Tessa tried rushing over to the bars, but in her haste wound up tripping over the chains and dropping to her knees.  When she looked up again, he was gone.  "No..."  Slowly, she pulled herself back to her feet, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.  Tears not for her impending "death", but because the one person she thought she could count on had abandoned her.  Not that I blame him.  I'd probably do the same thing in his shoes.  But did he have to be so...so cruel about it?  She made her way back over to the cot and, with some difficulty, managed to curl up on it with her back to the bars.  Her face safely hidden from leering guards, Tessa let the tears come, silently crying herself to a dreamless sleep.

**********************

Tessa was aware of something warm and bright bathing her face.  After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes to see sunlight streaming in through the barred window.  God...how long have I been asleep?  Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she sat up and looked outside.  The sun was nearly at its zenith, and a sizable crowd had gathered around the scaffold.  Almost noon.  Shit.  How the hell am I gonna get out of this --

"Torres!"  She turned her head towards the front of the cell and saw Perez standing in the hallway with two other men.  He unlocked the door and strode inside unaccompanied.  "Best start praying to your heathen gods, gypsy," he sneered, "because you're about to meet them."

"Heathen gods?  Really?  That's funny...I seem to recall being raised Catholic.  And last I checked, the Roman Catholic Church was the only one NOT considered heathen...or has that changed in the short time I've been locked up?"  Leaning back against the wall, she stretched out on the cot as far as the chains would allow, gleefully watching Perez squirm as his cohorts tried ineffectually to disguise their amusement.  Score one for the "gypsy."  He silenced them with a scathing glare before stalking the rest of the way over to her.

"You think that's funny, boy?"  He shoved Tessa's feet off the cot, forcing her to sit up straight.  "We'll see how funny you are when you're dangling from that rope out there."  Perez reached into his pocked and produced a set of keys.  "I'm going to take the chains off now.  Try anything, and they won't be needing the noose."  He indicated the other two soldiers, who now had guns trained on her.  "Understand?"

"Perfectly."  She breathed a sigh of relief as the heavy irons were removed, glad to finally be free of that extra weight.  When he'd finished, Perez handed the chains off to one of his cohorts, who quickly took them into another room.  Tessa's relief was short-lived, however, as the sergeant latched onto her collar and roughly hauled her to her feet.  In what seemed like one swift motion, Perez  yanked off the coat and tie she'd been wearing.  Before she could react, he called the other two soldiers into the cell and each one grabbed an arm.

"A common gypsy like you doesn't deserve to die in such nice clothes.  Hell, I'd bet these are stolen anyway.  Wait here while I get something more...appropriate."  Coat and tie in hand, Perez walked out of the cell, leaving the door slightly ajar.  A quick glance behind her showed some other soldiers testing out the gallows.  Okay.  Looks like it's now or never.  Tessa stomped on one soldier's foot and, once he?d released his grip, elbowed him hard in the face before using her free hand to punch the other one in the gut. That one let go as well, and she was out the cell door like a shot.  She'd only gone a few steps down the hallway when suddenly, she found herself being slammed against the wall.  "You just made my day, gypsy," Perez snarled in her ear, keeping her pinned in place with his slightly larger frame.  A pair of manacles was dangled in front of her face.  "I was going to put you in these for the big moment...let you have some small measure of dignity before meeting your maker.  But now..."  The manacles were tossed aside and the pressure on her neck and back lessened just a little, but not nearly enough for her to slip away.  "Get me some rope!" he called out, probably to the guards who were supposed to have been holding her.  There was some scuffling, followed by what sounded like someone running.  Moments later, Tessa's hands were pulled behind her and bound very tightly, not even the slightest bit of play in the ropes as she quickly discovered.  Perez pulled her away from the wall and shoved her forward, causing her to stumble a bit.  The other two quickly grabbed hold of her arms and she was roughly escorted outside.

"Ah, there you are Sergeant," Montoya called out from his throne the second they emerged.  "What kept you?"

"Sorry for the delay, sir.  The prisoner insisted on making things difficult."

"Well, you seem to have the matter well in hand now, so I suggest we get this over with.  I have far more important duties to attend."

"Of course sir."  A path was cleared through the crowd, and Perez's goons dragged Tessa over to the scaffold steps before releasing their grips on her arms.  She turned to bolt, only to find herself staring down the barrel of the sergeant's gun.  "Don't even think about it."  Keeping the pistol leveled at her head, Perez grabbed her arm and forcefully turned her back towards the steps.  "Move," he growled, insistently shoving the barrel into her back.  Taking the hint, Tessa grudgingly began the long climb to the top.  Having her hands tied behind her made the process extremely awkward and difficult, but by some miracle she managed to make it with little more than the occasional shove from the sergeant when she wasn't moving fast enough.  Upon reaching the top, Perez suddenly grabbed both of her arms, holding her in place just to the right of the trapdoor.  Montoya stood up and started reciting a list of charges, but Tessa paid no attention to him.  Why does he even bother?  It doesn't take a genius to realize that most of them are made up.  I suppose it's all part of the show.  Has to convince everyone that he's the pillar of justice so they don't realize what an ass he really is.  Oops, too late.  As the colonel went through his shtick, her eyes wandered over the crowd that had gathered.  There was the usual assortment of Dons and peasants, with a few faces among the former that she didn't recognize.  Probably came to town sometime after my...the Queen's execution.  I wonder if anyone's moved into the Alvarado hacienda...  Her train of thought was interrupted when Perez loudly barked an order to the executioner, another soldier whose identity was hidden under an ominous black hood.  Obviously, Montoya had finally finished talking and it was time for the grand finale.  The executioner pulled the lever, releasing the trapdoor and affording her an excellent view of what was underneath.

"All clear!" he announced.  Tessa gulped.  That drop has to be at least six feet.  I just hope these guys know what they're doing.  I've heard horror stories of people having their throats cut--or worse--being decapitated because the hangmen were amateurs.  Last thing I want is to meet my final death at the hands of some idiot mortals.  The trapdoor was reset and she was pushed to the center of it.  Perez pulled the noose over her head and tightened it, placing the knot right behind her left ear.  He nodded to the hooded soldier, who grasped the lever once more and started to pull.

"Wait!" called a voice from within the crowd.  Moments later, a heavyset priest toddled up the scaffold steps.  After taking a few seconds to catch his breath, the priest approached the executioner and gently removed his hand from the lever.  "Not yet."

"What do you want, old man?" Perez sneered.

"The boy should have one last chance to confess before you send him to eternity."  All eyes turned to Montoya, who waved his hand uninterestedly.

"Make it quick."  Nodding, the priest approached Tessa, making the sign of the cross and muttering something in Latin.  He recited the standard confessional speech, and then leaned in really close to hear her reply.  But she didn't get the chance to make one.

"Everything will be alright, child," he whispered.  "You have friends here."  His eyes darted in the direction of the church and, following his gaze, Tessa caught sight of some movement on the roof.  She couldn't make out any features, as the person was wearing a monk's robe with the hood up.  But the mystery person was holding what she, even at that distance, could positively identify as a crossbow.  "Now," the priest continued, a little louder than before, "Are you sure there isn"t anything you would like to confess?"  She nodded.  "Suit yourself, Diego Torres.  May God have mercy on your soul."  He made the sign of the cross once more and started to leave when, suddenly, he stumbled, his bulk slamming into the executioner.  Something whizzed over her head and, after a moment, she realized that the rope had been severed.  Unfortunately, Perez realized this at the same time and drew his gun.  Tessa kicked him hard between the legs before his finger could even touch the trigger.  He dropped to his knees, moaning, and that's when the rest of the men seemed to wake up and move in on her position.  She glanced around, searching for a means of escape, when her eyes fell on a horse that was conveniently waiting next to the scaffold.  And not just any horse.  Someone had actually taken the time to find her mare and place it in an easily reachable position.  Well, as the Americans would say, never look a gift horse in the mouth...  She quickly leapt from the gallows, landing right in the saddle.  The mare reared slightly, parting the crowd, and the second her forelegs touched back down Tessa urged her into a gallop.  Controlling the horse was difficult with her hands still tied, but not impossible.  She steered it into the alley next to the church, where the mystery archer was waiting on horseback.  As she closed in on his position, Tessa was hit with the buzz.

"MacLeod?"  Remaining silent, the cloaked rider took off, using what Tessa knew to be the fastest path out of town.  She hesitated for a moment, and a shot ricocheted off the church's adobe wall, just inches from her head.  That's my cue.  She kneed her mount into action, urging it onto the path her rescuer had taken.  The shots soon faded into the background, and she could see the mystery immortal just ahead of her, already outside Santa Elena.  She was just inches from the edge of town when--

BANG!!

Something slammed into her right shoulder from behind, and the all-too-familiar burning sensation told Tessa she'd been shot.  Up ahead, the other immortal suddenly turned around and headed back her way.

"No...keep going...don...t worry about me...I'll be fine..."  Her half-hearted pleas went unheeded, the immortal grabbing the mare's reins instead and urging both horses out into the California desert.  Tessa could feel herself getting weak from blood loss, but somehow managed to keep from falling out of the saddle.  The sounds of hoofbeats weren't far behind them, which meant that the garrison had yet to give up the pursuit.  Soon, they entered a canyon that was, from the looks of things, a dead end.  Damn.  So much for the great escape.  The hoofbeats grew closer, and she thought for sure that they were caught.  Just when she was about to give up hope, her rescuer led them into a cave that, somehow, had escaped her notice.  Once they'd gone about as far back as the cave would allow, she was gently drawn off the saddle and pulled tightly against the wall, a gloved hand covering her mouth to muffle her breathing, which had become quite heavy due to being wounded.  Outside, the hoofbeats stopped and several voices could be heard.

"Check the caves!"

"I...I'm sorry sir.  I can't."

"And why the hell not?"

"These caves are haunted by Indio ghosts."

"Haunted caves...of all the...fine, I'll check them myself."

"Don't do it, sir.  If you disturb the spirits, you'll become one yourself."

"Cowards...all right.  We'll keep searching.  But if we don't find them by morning, then we're coming back here and going through every one of these caves with a fine-toothed comb.  Is that clear?"

"Yes sir!"  There was some scuffling, and then the hoofbeats started again, quickly receding into the distance.  Behind her, Tessa heard the faint snap of a switchblade being opened, and a moment later the ropes fell away from her wrists.  The hand came away from her mouth, and her rescuer backed off.  She slumped down against the cave wall, rubbing her wrists and trying not to think about the burning ache in her shoulder or the dark spots slowly encroaching on her field of vision.

"You really had me going, MacLeod...thought you were actually gonna let me swing.  I don't know what changed your mind, but whatever it was, I am really, truly grateful.  I'll make it up to you somehow, I swear it."  The cloaked figure chuckled softly.

"I appreciate your gratitude, child," came the soft, yet decidedly masculine voice, "but I'm not Duncan MacLeod."

"Then who--?"  She stopped rubbing her wrists for a moment, squinting into the darkness in an attempt to see past the man's hood.  He quickly pushed it back, and Tessa found herself face to face with the last person she ever expected to be an immortal, only to have her vision fade to nothing as she slipped mercifully into unconsciousness.

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