Dia del Lobos

Disclaimers: The characters from the Queen of Swords are copyright to Fireworks Productions and Paramount. No copyright infringement is intended or revenue expected from their use. The story plot and other characters are copyright to the author, James Guy.

My thanks to Jorge for weaponry suggestions and Shirley for e second pair of eyes.

The barrel of a Baker rifle with a scope poked out of the underbrush aiming at the opening of a Chumash Ap. The rifleman had watched the entrances of the five Aps and the Ap Yik for half an hour. The man behind the rifle looked through the scope and watched as a man exited the round top reed structure and moved into the open where he stopped and stared out over the landscape. He moved to his right and knelt down. Even though he was too far to hear, the watcher knew the man was speaking out loud. As the watcher moved closer, the man stood up and looked around. The man walked to the Ap and reached inside, pulling out a carbine. The watcher made a bird call that he had learned years ago as a Rifleman in the 95^th Rifles.

Robert Helm walked out of his Ap at El Pueblocito del Curador, the Village of the Healer and looked out upon the wide-open spaces, his eyes searching. It had been three months since he and Tessa had shared the night in the AP Yik, or sweat lodge. When he awoke he was alone. Tessa had left sometime during the night and he had not seen her since.

A movement at the edge of his peripheral vision caused him to look to his right. A lone wolf sat looking at him. "Well old boy, it looks likes it's back to square one." He walked to the wolf and crouched down, stroking the wolf behind the animal's ears. "Women are fickle." The wolf let out a soft whimper. "I know. We both ended up alone. I came back because of her and she left me without even a by your leave." The wolf's ears perked up and Helm was instantly alert. Casually he stood up and walked to the Ap, the wolf by his side. He reached into the Ap and pulled out his carbine. He heard a bird call, a call unknown in Alta California.

"Easy with the carbine, amigo. It's me, Shamus Lennane"

Helm turned to see the former Rifleman walk up with a rifle in his hand and a grin on his face.

"Shamus, you gave me a start. What are you doing here?"

The grin disappeared. "Bad trouble amigo. I was nosing around in San Diego and found some disturbing information that you should know about."

Helm put the carbine away. "Oh? What is it?"

Lennane put the butt of his rifle on the ground and leaned on the barrel. "Someone is recruiting the scum of the Earth."

Helm frowned. "What for?"

Shamus took off his Tam O Shanter and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. "My source said that a distinguished looking man is gathering men to raid Santa Elena."

Helm laughed. "Santa Elena is a poor town. Why would anyone want to raid it?"

"There are three things important to this man; Colonel Montoya, Señorita Alvarado and you. Montoya killed his brother and he has a blood vengeance against him."

"Well Montoya has caused many men to die. Why Tessa and me?"

"You and Tessa were responsible for killing a few of his men three months ago."

"Oh Lord, here we go again. I have to warn Tessa."

"Already done. I have been at Tessa's for a month, waiting for reinforcements to arrive. They arrived yesterday."

"Reinforcements? Can they be trusted?"

"They are former American Marines."

Helm looked at Shamus. "The Swains? I thought they would be long gone."

Shamus grinned. "They were. I sent a caballero up north to bring them back. I have had a hell of a time keeping Tessa inside and away from her daily rides. I swear she was ready to run me through with her father's sword."

Helm looked at the wolf by his side. The animal's ears perked up again. Helm turned to look behind him. "Churi, you are going to give me heart failure."

The Chumash grinned. "I saw your friend here sneaking up on you and came. I heard what you said and our sister needs our help."

Helm nodded. "And here I was just telling the wolf that we were alone."

Shamus looked around. "What wolf?"

Helm glanced at Churi to see the Indian make a motion with his hand. "Shamus, do you have a horse?"

"I left him at Tessa's. We Riflemen have always traveled on two feet. I'll go get my kit."

Churi laughed. "We Chumash also travel by foot."

Helm shook his head. "Well, I am riding. I spent enough time walking in the Army."

Churi put his hand on Helm's shoulder. "Brother something else is troubling you."

Helm reached down and scratched the wolf's head. "Shamus asked what wolf. Hell he is right here. You can see him can't you?"

"No brother I can't. He is your Spirit Guide not mine. You can only see your own."

"Oh? Then how come I can see Tessa's and she can see mine?"

"It is unusual, but it has happened when two people are entwined, are soul mates. You and Tessa are as one. You just haven't realized it."

"I told her how I feel. I showed her how I feel and she responded by leaving. I haven't seen her for three months. How does that make us one?"

Shamus returned. "Doctor, there is something else I must tell you. The reason why Tessa has not come to see you."

Helm frowned. "She hates me?"

"No. When she returned home from your adventure, she fell ill. Doctor Pirenne discovered that she had an infection from her wound. She ran a fever and was bed ridden for a month. He had to reopen the wound to fight the infection. Her friend Marta had to keep her inside after she was allowed up. Then I came along and she was not allowed to leave the hacienda."

"She could have sent word."

"True but no one knew where you were nor where the village is located, except Tessa. She finally told me the general direction and it still took me four days to find you. You aren't exactly on the map."

"Tessa was ill? I should have been there."

"Amigo, she was too ill to tell anyone. She is worried about you though and knew what you would think. She asked me to tell you that her guide has been with her the entire time although I saw no one."

Helm nodded as he mounted his horse. Shamus and Churi set out at a run with the unseen wolf running between them.

Tessa was irritated as she rode Lindo toward the beach. The two vaquero escorts who rode on either side of her were armed. Rob had insisted that she was never to ride alone. Lindo startled and started to buck as two rifle shots rang out. As she fought for control she saw that she was surrounded and her escorts lay on the ground, blood oozing from the from the wounds in their backs.

A toothless man rode up. "Señorita Alvarado, you are our prisoner. Our patron said that you were not to be harmed or molested."

Tessa looked at the ten unsavory characters and shivered. "Who is your patron and why does he want me? You have just murdered my vaqueros and I am to believe you?"

"You have no choice. You can come along peacefully or be tied over the saddle of your horse like a side of beef."

Tessa looked at the vaqueros and noticed the finger of one of them move ever so slightly. She nodded to her captor as he took Lindo's reins and led her away.

A few minutes later a rider dismounted and checked the vaqueros. One was still alive. He rolled him over. "Pablo, can you hear me?"

The vaquero coughed. "Señor Jeff, we failed. Ten men took the Señorita. We never had a chance." As he coughed, blood spurt from his mouth and his body shuddered. "They rode north, leading the Señorita. Get help." He coughed again and lay still.

Jeff eased him to the ground. He looked up and found the vaquero's horses. He caught the horses and loaded the bodies on the mounts before he turned toward the hacienda.

Rob and Merrill ran out of the hacienda when they saw Jeff. There was no need to ask what happened. The men ran for their horses as Jo and Marta ran back into the house and emerged with extra canteens. Jeff turned to Rob. "Dad, we have company."

Rob looked to the east to see a rider and two running men. He rode out to them. "Tessa has been captured. We are going out after them."

Helm reigned in. "How could you let her be captured? Why was she alone?"

Rob shook his head. "She wasn't alone. Her vaqueros were shot in the back. One lived long enough to give us information."

Jeff rode over. "I was fifteen minutes behind them when I heard the shots. Ten men took her." He looked at the Rifleman. "Shamus, you want a horse?"

Shamus looked at Churi. "No, I will run with Churi."

Churi nodded as he looked up to Helm. "Our sister will need help. Shamus and I will go north from here. I will contact some of my people." He and Shamus jogged away from the hacienda and within minutes were lost from sight. Rob, Merrill, Helm and Jeff rode out heading in a direction to cut across the land to head off the raiders.

Tessa felt sorrow for her vaqueros who had been murdered as took note of the direction of their travel but she also knew that there was nothing she could do. She was not sure that she would do if she were be able to get to safety. They had been traveling for four hours with no let up in the pace. The terrain had turned slight mountainous and covered with trees. Tessa pulled Lindo's mane and brought the horse to a sudden stop, pulling the leader backwards.

"My horse is tired and will not be able to continue. You may have no concern for a horse, but I do."

He frowned at her but called his men to a halt. "We will take a fifteen minute rest. Get the horses some water. You Señorita, may look after your mount."

Tessa dismounted and took the canteen from her saddle. As she removed her scarf and wet it, she noticed the raiders drank and ignored their own mounts. Lindo greedily sucked on the wet scarf. To her right she saw her wolf, sitting on her haunches.

On a hillside two miles north of the raiders, Churi and Shamus lay underneath a tree. Churi looked behind him to see forty Chumash warriors spread out. Each warrior carried a spear. Churi motioned to them and they moved towards the ocean to cut the enemy off.

The toothless man ordered everyone back into the saddle and headed north. A mile down the trail, she saw her wolf on a hill to the east. She heard a bird call out. She listened carefully. It was a bird that she had never heard before in Alta California.

A mile to the south of the raiders, Rob, Jeff, Merrill and Robert Helm halted their horses. Each man retrieved his weapon, checked it and held it ready. Helm looked at each man and the weapon he carried. To his left, Rob Swain charged his 1808 .65 caliber English Paget Carbine.

Next to Rob, Merrill held his round lock Baker Carbine that was similar to Helm's own Flat Lock Baker Carbine that Jeff had given him when they had first met. The Englishman looked at Jeff and shuddered. The big former Marine was loading the seven barrels of his Nock Volley gun. The thirty-seven inch long .50 caliber weapon with seven twenty inch barrels had the habit of smashing men's shoulders when fired and only a strong man could use it. Jeff saw Helm's look and smiled.

"Jeff, just be sure that neither Tessa or I are in your sights when you fire that thing. Where in the hell did you get it?"

"The Royal Navy used them on ships but the damn things kept catching the rigging and sails on fire so they got rid of them. I heard about it from a guy by the name of Diarmuid Healy who was in Gibraltar in 1782. Good for close in. For long range I use a Paget like Dad's."

Rob made a motion with his hand. "We will come up quietly from the rear. Shamus and your Indian friend are ahead of them."

Helm looked around and saw his wolf running ahead of him to be greeted by a smaller animal. They both faded into nothingness.

Tessa grew tense when she saw two wolves crouched on the trail ahead. The birdcall sounded again. Her captors had grown lax and no longer rode beside her. She had even been allowed to hold Lindo's reins. As Tessa came to a wide flat opening in the trees, she heard two sharp birdcalls and turned Lindo as she used to heels to spur the horse into a gallop.

The raiders yelled and started to chase her when several spears flew towards them, striking three from their mounts. Fighting their spooked horses, the raiders turned south and away from the unseen spear throwers. They raced down the hill and straight into four armed riders who let loose with three shots. Three raiders went down. The remaining raiders continued their charge as Jeff dismounted and hip shot his Volley gun into the kidnappers. Horses and men went down under the fusillade of seven .50 caliber lead bullets. One man remained upright with only a minor wound and surrounded by spear carrying Indians and five angry white men. He was pulled from his horse as Tessa rode up. She dismounted and raced towards Helm who had already climbed down from his mount. She flung herself into Robert's arms and kissed him.

Rob coughed. "All right you two, it's over."

Tessa looked at her rescuers. "No it is not over. They were taking me to their leader who plan on attacking Santa Elena tomorrow morning. They bragged that they had one hundred men. I think the Queen will ride tonight."

Colonel Luis Montoya had spent the last four hours trying to fall asleep. He had tossed and turned and finally fell into a blissful rest. He awoke with the point of a sword in his neck.

"Easy Colonel, I mean you no harm."

"I am supposed to believe that when you are holding a sword to my neck?"

The Queen removed the sword. "Don't cry out and forget the sword and pistol, I have already removed them."

"Can't you visit during the day time and let a man sleep?"

"You have way too many visitors and it is easier to blend into the shadows at night. I need to talk to you so please listen."

"Do I have a choice?"

"No."

Luis nodded as he thought about how to capture her. An unseen wolf stood by the bed, it's eyes fixed on the soldier.

"Colonel, there are one hundred men who will be storming Santa Elena in the morning and they are led by the brother of the Ambassador you killed by accident."

"Is he the one behind the attack on Señorita Alvarado and Doctor Helm? What did they do to the Ambassador?"

"He is one and the same and as to why he went after them, I do not know. What I do know is that he sent ten men to capture Señorita Alvarado and was successful after killing her two escorts."

"Let me guess, you conveniently rescued her?"

"No, her friends did. By the way, there was a survivor who is now locked in your jail."

Montoya laughed. "The Queen of Swords putting people in jail? What is this world coming to?"

"I am serious, Colonel. You have one chance to save the town."

"And what is you professional suggestion?"

"Quietly call out the soldiers and place them around the town, but don't make it look like anything out of the ordinary. There will be people helping you."

"More bandits?"

"No, they are friends of Señorita Alvarado's and Doctor Helm's. Many are Chumash."

"Why would Indians help us?"

"I asked them to."

Montoya motioned with his hand. "May I get dressed?" As he swung his legs out of the covers, the wolf jumped onto the foot of the bed.

"You may get dressed, but after I leave."

Montoya chuckled. "What price do I have to pay you for helping?"

"Your promise not to try and capture or kill me during this situation."

"That's it?"

"Well, I could ask you to give up this quest for world domination but I doubt you would agree."

Montoya put his hand over his heart. "Reina, you wound me. I don't want to rule the world, just a little piece of it. What do you want?"

The Queen was silent a moment. "Peace, honesty, justice and a normal life without fear."

Montoya stroked his goatee with his left hand while he placed the right hand under the cover. The wolf growled. "That sounds like a fools dream."

"A dream maybe but how would you like to go through life without a right hand? No? Then I suggest you keep your hands where I can see them."

Montoya froze.

"Colonel are you looking for this?" She pulled a pistol from her waistband at her back.

"You don't trust me Reina?"

"Trust is something you earn. I would rather kiss a Xshap. At least with a rattlesnake I would know what to expect."

Montoya smiled. "Someday you may change your mind. Now get out of here so I can get dressed and make preparations. Thank you for the warning."

The Queen walked over and kissed him on the cheek. "Good luck Colonel." She turned, smiled and walked to the balcony.

Montoya felt his cheek, then bolted to the balcony, but his visitor was gone. He walked back inside. "Guard!"

Dawn was breaking as the raiders surrounded the village. The leader watched through a telescope but saw nothing unusual, just a handful of village women baking at the small adobe ovens that sat outside the houses. A couple of soldiers meandered through the alleys, as was normal.

Unseen by the raiders, soldiers had moved into positions on top of the roofs and were crouched down, muskets ready. Vaqueros from two haciendas were lying prone along a small berm that surrounded the pueblo. Tessa's uncle Juan Elizandro had been more than happy to send eighty men to join with Tessa's forty. Rob and his sons, along with Shamus had each taken one point on the compass to lead the defense. Rob was on the south, Jeff on the east with Merrill covering the north. The west was given to Shamus. Doctor Helm and a slender vaquero in a brown duster, black leather pants and a floppy hat sat on the veranda at the Cantina, carbines on the floor by their feet.

Colonel Montoya relaxed in a chair on his balcony, sipping a cup of coffee, as he did every morning. At his feet was a musket and sword. He wondered where the Queen was and when she would show up. He glanced at the cantina. 'Well, well, well, what do we have here?" He saw vaquero with Helm, the black hair flowing out from under the wide brimmed hat and wearing black leather pants. "Hiding in plain sight Reina?" He smiled as he caught sight of Señorita Alvarado coming out of the church and proceeded to the cantina.

Former Colonel Eduardo Ramierez, brother of the deceased Ambassador sat watching. He spotted the man who had "accidentally" killed his brother. He missed his foppish younger sibling and would make his killer pay. He spied the woman who had spurned the Ambassador and her lover at the cantina. 'Perfect. All three of my enemies are in one place. Perhaps I underestimated those two. When I sent my men after them they had managed to elude and then destroy them, not once but twice. Now if only the Queen of Swords would appear, I could have my revenge and be a hero in Spain.' He scanned the pueblo again and stopped when he saw the vaquero with flowing black hair sitting at the table with the Doctor. The black leather pants made him smile. Pulling out a small mirror, he signaled his men to begin the attack.

Montoya saw the flashes in the distance and whistled to a guard below the balcony. "Clear the streets." The guard ran to the front of each street and signaled. The civilians ran to their homes.

The raiders started as one from all four sides. They waited until they were within one hundred yards before they started firing. Ramirez heard the striking of the church bell over the gunfire. He looked up and saw the muskets that appeared on the rooftops and swore.

The soldiers placed their muskets on the walls and fired. First volley was from every third man. As the firing continued, one man fired, one reloaded and another was cocking the hammer back to give a steady flow of lead. When the attackers were twenty-five yards away, the vaqueros raised up and as the soldiers before them fired into the mass of riders.

Seeing his men cut down by the withering fire, he turned east to try and penetrate the pueblo's defenses when a large man stood up and fired a barrage from a volley gun. Rider and mount withered from the onslaught of seven .50 caliber bullets.

The few remaining raiders tried to retreat and ran right into a flight of spears, flung by the hidden Chumash warriors. No raiders escaped. As soldiers left the pueblo, the vaqueros retreated inside and formed a square. Within minutes, soldiers began to drag in fifteen raiders who were alive but wounded. Doctor Pirenne worked on the wounded as Colonel Montoya walked up to the captives and stopped in front of a man wearing the uniform blouse of a Spanish Colonel.

"Colonel Ramierez, I know you. The last time I saw you, you were being decorated for heroism. How the mighty have fallen."

Eduardo, barely conscious and badly bleeding, spit blood at Montoya. "You bastard, I will kill you."

"Ah Eduardo, I don't think so." He pulled out his sword and swung. "See you in Hell." The crowd gasped in horror as Eduardo's head rolled away, blood splattering everyone around. Montoya wiped his sword on the dead man's jacket. Sheathing the weapon, he pushed his way through the vaqueros and stopped in front of Helm. He pulled the hat off the shorter vaquero in leather pants. "Guards, arrest this woman. She is the Queen of Swords." He froze as he heard the unmistakable click of many musket hammers being cocked.

Rob lowered his rifle. "Colonel, this is my cousin, Jo Giovannoni. She is not the Queen of Swords. The one you seek is on the church."

Montoya looked at the woman, who waved. "Colonel, I told you I would rather kiss an Xshap. You see me in every woman."

Helm tapped Montoya on the shoulder. I think you owe this lady an apology."

Montoya nodded. "I humbly apologize, Señorita. I would think that maybe Señorita Alvarado might be the Queen since she is not here."

"You called, Colonel?" Tessa pushed her way through the armed men. "Are you accusing me again?"

Montoya look chagrined. "Just a thought."

Rob turned to Montoya. "Knowing your suspicions, Colonel, how do you know the woman on the church really was the Queen?"

"She used a word that she used when we last met."

Tessa laughed. "She would rather kiss a rattlesnake than you?"

Montoya whirled on her. "How do you know that the Xshap is a rattlesnake?"

"Colonel, I was born here. My friends as a child where Chumash and must I remind you that I am a blood sister to the Chumash?"

"I forgot."

Helm had checked the wounded. "What are you going to do with the prisoners?"

"'They will be sent to Monterrey for trial, providing they live that long. In the meantime they will be in the jail. Doctor Helm, why aren't you treating them?"

"First those men tried to kill us and I put bullets in them. Wouldn't it by hypocritical for me to now treat them?"

Montoya nodded. "Yes I can see where you would be in a quandary. I too am in a quandary. Should I let the doctor treat them just so they could go to Monterrey to hang? It does seem like a waste of time."

Tessa took Helm's arm in hers and looked at the wounded. "It is the humane thing to do Colonel."

Montoya closed his eyes and shook his head. "Ah Señorita the compassionate."

Helm looked around the pueblo and saw two wolves sitting on their haunches. He looked at Tessa and motioned with his head. "Colonel, I think I will take Señorita Alvarado home, it has been a trying day."

"Of course, Doctor, Señorita. I am sure you will be safe now."

Helm laughed. He pointed around him. "With a hundred and twenty vaqueros, three Marines, a Rifleman and an entire Indian tribe, I would think so." He turned to Tessa. "Come, Señorita, let's go home."

"You lead, Doctor and I will follow you anywhere." She looked down to see the wolves looking back up at her, smiling.

Helm was quiet the entire was to the lodge. As they entered the Ap Yik he turned to Tessa. "You know I love you very much, but the only thing I own is basically on my back. Estoy tranado. (I am broke)."

Tessa hugged him "Querido, son mas que el oro, mas que diamontes o plata." (Beloved, you are than gold, more than diamonds or silver.)

Helm sighed. "Tu, Tessa son el placer de mi corazon. (You, Tessa are my heart's delight.) What would I do without you?"

Tessa laughed. "Probably be miserable and spend your time alone in an Ap. This place will be our retreat, although I wish it were closer. You will have to set up a schedule for your visits and then we will both come. I will be your nurse."

Three weeks had passed since the battle of Santa Elena during which time Tessa and her fiancé had spent many days traveling back and forth from the hacienda to the village. They had just spent the last two days and nights in the sweat lodge. The simultaneous whine of the wolves alerted the lovers that they a visitor. "Stay here Tessa." Helm stepped out side with his carbine in hand. He set it back inside as he stuck his head into the Ap Yik. "Tessa, it is Roman." Tessa came outside and stood with Helm.

Helm took the reins as Roman dismounted. "Roman, is something wrong with Marta or the baby? You never come out here."

"No Marta and el niño are fine, but there is trouble. The prisoners overpowered the guards on the way to Monterrey and captured Colonel Montoya. The Governor is sending someone to take over."

Tessa frowned. "Are they looking for Montoya?"

"It doesn't appear that the Governor is interested in rescuing Montoya."

Tessa looked at Robert. "Querido, I must go. Someone has to rescue the Colonel."

"Why?"

"If they kill him, what makes you so sure they won't come after us next."

Helm nodded. "The always logical Tessa. We will both go." He looked at the big man. "Roman, take care of Marta."

"Always my friends. Oh and your friends were heading north when we heard about the Colonel. You may run into them."

Helm smiled. "I think they will eventually run away when they see us coming. There always seems to be trouble when we meet."

It had taken a day and a half for Helm and the Queen to locate the tracks of the marauders who had taken Montoya. It appeared that Montoya was conscious as periodically there were small signs left along the trail. They found a piece of torn uniform, a mark in the dirt and even the medal that the Queen once had removed with a whip. Helm pulled up and dismounted. "These tracks are only a couple of hours old."

"How can you tell? I didn't know your were a tracker."

Helm pointed. "Fairly fresh horse droppings. In this weather they dry out pretty quickly. We had better stay alert or we hunters will be the hunted. Have you ever been in this area?"

Tessa looked around. "No. We are several miles east of El Camino Real."

"I recognize the area from when we took that heard north to Juan and Elena's. There are some arroyos and canyons on this side of the hills. If they went into there, there are many places to set up an ambush."

"Then we had better go carefully."

Helm nodded and started to mount when he stopped. "Don't look around, we are being watched. When I mount, head back the way we came."

"Any idea who it is?"

"No, just a feeling of being watched." Helm mounted and followed as Tessa led the way back. "Keep going and do not look back."

Tessa tensed but kept going without looking back. She heard the steady clip clop of Helms horse, Equus. As she went around a curve she heard a noise and looked back. Helm was no where to be seen. Looking to the sound she saw two figures rolling down the slope, coming to rest just in front of her.

"Hold on Doc."

Helm halted the downward travel of his fist. He stepped back. "Shamus? What are you doing here?"

"Tracking your Colonel. When I saw you, I decided to head you off, but you turned back otherwise I would not have moved. What were you some sort of a spy?"

"Something like that. Are you alone?"

The Irishman smiled. "Doc, you maybe good and you spotted me, but you missed my three friends."

Tessa looked around. "Who?"

"Us." Rob Swain moved into sight. Jeff and Merrill are up ahead. "Doctor Helm, I was four feet from you and heard your estimate. You were correct about the signs being a couple of hours old. We counted ten men and the Colonel, but there were fifteen that escaped. Tessa, your toothless friend was not among them although they may have split up." Rob motioned for them to follow him into an arroyo. "Something else you might be interested in. We checked out where the prisoners escaped. They had help from as many as five people. We will need to be careful."

Darkness settled as the searchers crested a low hill and smelled camp smoke. They dismounted and hobbled the horses. They crept up the hill and dropped as they reached the top. Below was a small hut with two guards. They counted thirteen men setting up camp. There was no sign of Montoya, but the consensus was that he was inside. Crawling back down, Rob quietly gave the men their orders. "Tessa, you stay here."

"No. I am going down there and sneak in. You men have the guns and can cover me."

Rob shook his head. "It is too dangerous."

Helm snorted. "Rob, you forget who you are talking to. She has single handed fought all of Montoya soldiers."

Jeff looked at Rob. "Dad, the Doctor is right. Tessa can sneak in while we cover her. We have surprise on our side. They will either expect an army or no one."

Rob frowned. "Why do you say no one?"

"There was no alarm and no movement of troops. That can mean only one thing. Someone is orchestrating Montoya's capture."

Rob nodded. "You may be right. All right. Tessa you go in but please be careful. Shamus, Robert, you cover her close in. Jeff, Merrill and I will be on the hills above. If shooting starts, hit the ground."

Tessa, Robert and Shamus moved out into the darkness; while Jeff, Merrill and Rob circled the area trying to surround the camp. Helm swore under his breath as he moved down the hill. Although the sky was filled with scattered clouds, the moon was full and bright making cover next to impossible, just a few boulders. Fortunately the marauders never looked in their direction. Thankful that the enemy was lax, Tessa and Helm reached the back of the building. He glanced up and saw that Shamus had found a position where he could give covering fire if needed.

The wail of a wolf made everyone freeze. The criminals laughed nervously and made jokes about the wolf baying at the moon. A second wolf bayed and then a third, but these two were different. Helm peered around the building to see two wolves standing ten feet away, ears alert. He leaned backed to whisper in Tessa's ear, "We have Company."

The escaped men stood up and looked down the arroyo as six men rode up, one wearing the uniform of a Spanish Colonel. Helm chanced a glance around the corner and ducked back. "Now we know why Montoya will not be rescued."

Tessa frowned. "Why not?"

"I just saw Colonel Santa Cruz, the second highest officer in Monterrey. He and Montoya have a history together."

"A history?"

"I didn't know Montoya then, but I knew of Santa Cruz. He makes Montoya look like a school boy." He glanced around again. "Oh, shit. I just remembered something. Santa Cruz had two half brothers. Colonel Ramirez and the Ambassador."

Santa Cruz dismounted and walked into the shack. Tessa and Helm moved to the lone window. They ducked down when someone opened the window.

They heard the sounds of boot heels on the wooden floor. "Luis Montoya. How good of you to come to my party."

Inside, Montoya tried to focus through puffy eyes, the result of some exuberant beatings from his captors. "Santa Cruz, you cabron."

"Stick and stones, Luis. You have murdered my two brothers and you will pay. Don't worry about being rescued." He laughed maliciously. "I made sure that no one was looking for you, in fact the Governor has appointed me as the new Commandante of Santa Elena. Surprised? Maybe you were not aware that the he is my cousin. Before I forget, he sent something for you."

Looking through the window, Helm and Tessa saw and heard Montoya grunt as Santa Cruz smashed his fist into his captive's face. "Don't worry Montoya, you won't die, yet. I have a special punishment for you and I want you alive and awake."

Luis glared at his tormentor. "And this surprise is?" He watched as Santa Cruz walked to a small table and picked up a surgical knife.

Santa Cruz held the blade up. "First you will be flogged, then I will peel your skin from your body, one strip at a time. Lastly you will be drawn and quartered and the pieces scattered for the wolves to devour. He turned to the toothless man. "Diego, make sure our guest is made comfortable and allowed to rest. I want him wide awake in the morning."

"Sí, Colonel."

"Have your men set up my pavilion. It will be more comfortable than this pig sty."

"Sí, Colonel, at once."

Santa Cruz walked to the door and turned around. "I am really going to enjoy this. I hate to say it, but you did me a favor."

Montoya looked confused.

"You see, Luis, I am the sole survivor of my family and I have just inherited a substantial fortune with the death of my brothers, since they had no off spring. I will be more famous than Coronado and more powerful." He laughed as he closed the door behind him.

Tessa whispered to Helm, "Now what? There are too many of them."

"When has being outnumbered ever stopped you?"

"I have a sword, you have a carbine and they have sixteen men."

"But we, my love, have four riflemen and the element of surprise."

Diego and two men returned, untied the prisoner and drug him to the bed where be was spread-eagled and tied to the bed. Diego blew out the lone candle. "Wouldn't want you to burn the place down. Pleasant dreams, Colonel." The men left laughing.

A wolf barked in the distance. Two barked back. A blessing of clouds moved in, blotting out the moonlight while the kidnappers slept. Three hours later two figures crept through the open window. A gloved hand covering his mouth woke Montoya. The husky whisper of a woman calmed him. "Not a sound, Colonel, we are here to get you out of here."

Montoya nodded as he felt the binding being cut. Two pairs of hands helped him up and the figures led him to the window. A dark figure went out of the window and helped him through it. The other figure followed. The three ran as fast as and as quietly as possible up the hill.

Santa Cruz walked out of his pavilion. "Diego, go wake up Montoya and then do it every hour."

Diego looked at his leader. "I thought you wanted him well rested."

Santa Cruz sneered. "I lied."

Diego laughed and turned towards the shack. He saw the guard at the door. "Pedro, go wake him up."

Pedro took a lantern and opened the door. He ran to the open window and looked out. Clouds had blocked out the moonlight. Shouldering his musket, he fired off a shot at the backs of the escapees in the dark. Helm pushed Tessa and Montoya down as the bullet struck a boulder and shattered, sending rock and lead into the Doctor. "Get him out of here." The Queen grabbed Montoya by the arm as they ran.

The shot roused the entire camp and well as the snipers. Pedro ran out of the shack. "Montoya is escaping with two others." He stared reloading his weapon as men in the camp grabbed their own muskets. A shot rang out and a marauder dropped. Another shot from a different direction and another man dropped.

Santa Cruz pulled out his sword. "Put out the fires."

As men scrambled to put out the fires, more shots rang out. Other marauders took cover and fired back, but since the shots came from several spots, they were unable to see where the attackers were. No two shots came from the same location. Five men ran for their horses and raced down the arroyo only to find their way blocked by a lone Rifleman with his weapon held by his hip. The man fired and the five riders and horses went down from the blast. Jeff faded into the dark as soon as he fired.

Grabbing the musket out of Pedro's hands, Santa Cruz ran into the shack, and out the window. He followed the three escapees up the hill and tripped over Doctor Helm was prone on the ground. Santa Cruz caught himself with the musket as the barrel was buried in the ground. In the filtered moonlight, he saw his quarry. The former Colonel shouldered the musket aimed and fired. A loud explosion and a scream of pain caused the Queen to turn around. She was startled to see Helm on the ground and although his face was bleeding Santa Cruz took out his sword and ran towards her. She pulled her rapier. "Colonel Montoya, go up the hill."

"No this is for me to end." He started toward Santa Cruz.

"Colonel, you are unarmed." She tossed him her rapier as he turned back.

Montoya deftly caught the sword and saluted her before running back down the hill. The Queen maneuvered around the two men and down the hill to Helm. The moon was shining bright as the clouds had moved off. She gasped as she saw that Helm's back was bloody. Using her main gauche, she slit his shirt up the back. A man slid next to her.

"We have to go. Grab him and get him up the hill."

"Shamus, he is wounded."

"If we stay here, he may end up dead." Shamus picked up Helm's carbine. He fired at a marauder who came around the corner. Slinging the carbine and his own weapon over his shoulder, he grabbed Helm under the armpit and with himself on the left and the Queen on the right, they climbed the hill. The ringing or swords covered their footsteps. They turned as they reached the top and saw Montoya ram the borrowed rapier through Santa Cruz. Withdrawing the weapon, Luis slashed his nemesis across the throat as two musket shots rang out. Montoya ran up the hill as lead splattered on the rocky ground.

Jeff, Merrill and Rob joined Shamus, Helm, the Queen and Montoya as Shamus ran back down the hill as rear guard. Helping Helm down the hill, they mounted the six horses. The Queen looked at Rob. "Shamus will need a horse. We can't leave him."

Rob shook his head. "Shamus is a soldier and he is giving us time to get away. Let's go." He led the party away from the camp as gunfire broke out. The Queen looked back as they rode away. Ten miles down the trail Rob called a halt. Daylight was breaking as they helped Helm down and checked his wounds.

Rob looked at the wounds. "He will be all right. He has a some small wounds on his back but the one on his head is minor."

The Queen gasped. "Minor? Look at the blood."

"Minor head wounds bleed a lot. He must have been hit by a piece of bullet or rock. We will bandage him now and start back to Santa Elena."

The Queen nodded. "You still have a days travel ahead of you."

"What do you mean you? Where are you going?"

"I am going back for Shamus. I will leave no comrade behind."

Jeff walked up to her. "Here, take this you may need it." He handed her a pouch and his Paget.

She took the weapn and slung it over her shoulder by the strap. "Gracias Amigo."

"Vaya con Dios, Reina."

The Queen nodded as she mounted and rode back to Shamus. Sporadic musket shots could be heard as she rode toward the sounds. Spotting a saddeled horse, reins trailing in the dirt, she rode over and grabbed the reins, noticing blood stains on the saddle. She dismounted just below the ridgeline and unslung the Paget. Creeping up to a boulder, she glanced over to see that Shamus was pinned down and five mauraders trying to circle him. Around the camp she saw the bodies of eight men, including the Colonel. Her heart almost broke when she saw two horses dead also.

Shouldering the Paget, she aimed and fired at a man coming up on Shamus' blind side. The bullet slammed into the bandit and flipped him back to roll down the incline. Shamus glanced back to see who had fired and waved. Bullets slamed into the boulder as the Queen ducked down.

Shamus spotted an attacker and let fly a round that scattered pieces of rock at the shooter causing him to fall back. He reloaded and noticed that the Queen had changed positions before firing again, making it appear that there was more than one person on the ridge. Shamus kept an eye on her movements and as she started to fire again, he raised up and fired simultaneously. As soon as the hammer fell and the bullet left the barrell, he ran up the hill and ducked behind a boulder. Reloading, he fired again and ran as the Queen let loose with another shot, keeping the enemies heads down. As he crested the ridge, the Queen fired a parting shot and raced up to him.

"The horses are over here."

"We can't both ride your horse."

The Queen laughed as she ran. "Of course not, that's why I borrowed one."

Shamus saw the two horses and mounted as the Queen caught up Chico. "He's not what I would have picked, Reina."

"I know, but beggers can't be choosers. Let's go before they come after us."

"They will be on foot. Why do you think there was a loose horse? I ran them all off." He ducked as a bullet whistled overhead. He kicked his caballo into full gallop, Chico racing ahead of him.

Evening had fallen as the party entered Santa Elena. Several soldiers ran forward as Montoya dismounted. "Get the soldiers mounted, we are going after the Queen."

The sergeant pointed. "Sir, a rider is coming."

The soldiers raised their muskets then lowered them as Shamus rode into town. Montoya approached the Rifleman's horse. "Where did you get a horse?"

Shamus grinned. "There were many horses when the battle was done. I just took one and let the others go."

Rob dismounted. "Colonel, the Queen and Doctor Helm saved your life and risked their own. Is this how you would repay her?"

Montoya sighed. "You are right. I guess I should be thankful that she was there, even though she is an enemy."

"There is an old saying, Colonel. The enemy of my enemy is a friend. Or at least an ally."

"You are correct. I should be thankful for all of you. You saved my life and I am grateful. For today at least, I will not try to capture her." He walked away smiling. 'Tomorrow is another day.'

Two days later Helm walked out of his office. His head was still bandaged but his back did not ache as much. Tessa had not been to town nor had the Queen paid a visit. Montoya was in a surprisingly good mood as he had met a representative of the Govenor who had come to announce the replacement for the presumed deceased Colonel Montoya. The envoy's face went white when he was ushered into the Colnel's office and left in a hurry.

As Helm walked to the cantina, we noticed two wolves in the square underneath a wagon parked by the fountain. He turned in surprise when he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Were you coming to take me to breakfast, Doctor?"

Helm smiled. "If I knew you were coming, I would have baked a cake."

"Trying to show me up? I will have you know that Marta gave me lessons before she married Roman."

Helm nodded. "I must thank her someday. Think you could cook something up in a certain Ap I know?

"Quite possibly, why?"

Helm nodded to the wagon where the two wovles sat patiently. "Doctor's order. We need some meditation time at the village."

"Who am I to argue with my Doctor? Come let's eat, I am starving."

"Sí, Señorita." He offered him his arm as the two walked to the cantina. Two wolves sat by an empty table. "Our table awaits."

Fini