Payback

By Jim jimguy46@hotmail.com

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.

1812

The horse drawn buggy drove along the Camino de Santiago on the way to Madrid. The two women inside reflected on their recent visit to Santiago de Compostela in Galacia. On the boot, the driver looked around cautiously as this was a dangerous time to be traveling, but the women had insisted. The future Lord Wellington had led us troops against the French and had pushed them out of Portugal. Now the fight was in Spain.

The carriage wound it’s way along the curved road at a fast pace. As they came around one curve, the driver hauled back on the reins, bring the carriage to halt. The shot from a French soldier pierced the driver’s heart as the gunfire echoed across the valley. The five Frenchmen opened the carriage door and pulled the two women out of the carriage as they fought back. The Frogs smiled through blackened and broken teeth as they tried to rip the clothing from the younger of the two ladies.

A shot sounded and a bullet ripped into the head of one of the French soldiers while the rest turned to defend themselves. Five green-jacketed men fired their Baker rifles, reloaded and fired again as the Frogs fired back with their muskets. One Green Jacket went down with a bullet in his shoulder and one in his leg. Four Frogs were down as the remaining two reloaded. The Green Jackets rapidly loaded and terminated the remaining French.

The two women ran to the Green Jackets and immediately went to help the wounded man. A Green Jacketed Sergeant came up to the women. “Señoritas, you really shouldn’t be doing that. We will help our man.”

The younger woman whirled on him. “Sergeant, I am Señorita Maria Teresa Alvarado and this is my friend Marta. We owe you a debt of gratitude. Please let us repay you. Who are you?”

The Sergeant nodded. “I am Sean O’Malley of the 95^th Rifles. The youngster you are treating is Private Shamus Lennane.”

Marta turned to O’Malley. “Sergeant, I have stopped the bleeding, but he needs a doctor.”

O’Malley shook his head. “We are a long way from our camp and he will be dead before we reach them.”

Señorita Alvarado looked at Lennane and then O’Malley. “We can put him in our carriage and we can take him with us.”

O’Malley wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. “Gracias, Señorita. I will have Corporal Sullivan drive while the rest of us continue our mission.”

1820

The Queen of Swords stood in a defensive stance facing five of Colonel Montoya’s finest in a canyon. The wagon that had been used by the soldiers to transport the tax money to Monterrey lay crushed against a boulder, the front axle snapped in two.

Two soldiers charged the Queen and were met with a slash and parry of her rapier, sending one to join his ancestors and another nursing a slashed arm. The remaining soldiers came at her, forcing her back. One soldier managed to separate from the others and snuck up behind the bandita and raised his rapier above his head as he prepared to decapitate her.

Above the canyon the thirty-two inch barrel of a Baker rifle was aimed at the combatants below. The rifleman peered into the sniper scope and moved his aim from one target to the next before settling on the head of the Queen of Swords. He made a minor adjustment and fired. The sound of the shot echoed through the canyon as the bullet slammed into the soldier’s upraised rapier and destroyed the weapon at the hilt.

The rifle fire startled the combatants. As the soldiers looked to find the sniper, the Queen turned and slashed at the awestruck soldier behind her. Her rapier cut across the man’s belt and she whistled as she ran while the soldier grabbed for his pants as they dropped to his knees. She caught the reins and jumped into the saddle as her mount sped towards the soldiers. She leaned down from her saddle and clutched up the bag of gold than had been discarded during the fight. She glanced up to the top of the cliff but was unable to spot her rescuer. /Was he my rescuer or was he a bad shot and hit the soldier behind me? Then again breaking the sword at the hilt is the sign of a marksman. Doctor Helm could do that, but he is in Monterrey./

Marta wandered through the pueblo with her companion and friend. “Tessa, are you sure you aren’t being followed? I mean, the soldiers are poor shots and no one else has the training in the pueblo.”

Tessa nodded as she kept her voice low. “It could mean that Colonel Montoya has hired another assassin to kill the Queen. But why would he deliberately shoot the sword out of a soldier’s hands to save me?”

Marta smirked. “Professional courtesy?”

Tessa’s looked sharply at the older woman. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Tessa, I am just saying that maybe the shooter wants to kill you himself without Montoya’s soldier’s around.”

Tessa nodded and turned her attention to a figure sitting on the ground against a building. A large wide brimmed sombrero covered his head and a serape covered all but the lower part of his boots showing holes in the soles. Tessa caught a glimpse the frayed cuff of a sleeve of a jacket peeking out from under the cover as his hands were crossed over his chest. She reached into her purse and pulled out two reales, took one of the man’s hands and placed the coins in the hand before closing it. “Señor, you seem to have walked a long way in those botas. Perhaps you can get them repaired.”

The man did not make a move. “Gracias, Señorita.”

Marta pulled Tessa away from the figure. “Maria Teresa Alvarado, what are you doing? You don’t know who he is and you were going to buy some material for a new dress.”

“Marta, I have many dresses and that poor man has no decent shoes. Someday someone might write a poem like, I worried about not having a new pair of shoes until I met a man with no legs.”

“Tessa, your heart is good but sometimes I wonder about your head.”

Tessa laughed. “If I thought with my head, I wouldn’t ride as the Queen, now would I? Besides, Marta did you see the color of his jacket?”

“No, why?”

“Marta do you remember the men that saved us from the French on the Camino de Santiago? They wore Green Jackets.”

“You mean the Riflemen?”

“Yes. The sleeve of that man’s jacket reminded me of that young soldier. What was his name, oh yes Shamus Lennane.”

“You mean the boy who was the only one injured?”

“Marta, the Sergeant told me that it was Shamus who killed the man who was intent on attacking me. I wonder what happened to him? He was only a year older than me and a soldier who had been fighting the French was not a boy but a man."

“If he survived the war, he probably went back to Ireland.”

Tessa and Marta turned back to look at the figure but found only a sombrero in the dirt.

The man sat in a small cave near the beach sharpening his bayonet. He looked down at the discarded boots with holes in the soles then at the new ones on his feet and smiled. He started whistling a low tune then switched to singing a song from his past.

Hark! now the Drums beat up again,
For all true Soldiers Gentlemen,
Then let us list, and march I say,
Over the Hills and far away;
Over the Hills and o'er the Main,

There's forty shillings on the drum
To those who volunteer to come,
To 'list and fight the foe today
Over the Hills and far away;
Over the Hills and o'er the Main,

O'er the hills and o'er the main
Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain.
King George commands and we obey
Over the Hills and far away;
Over the Hills and o'er the Main,

He took his bayonet and checked the edge.

When duty calls me I must go
To stand and face another foe.
But part of me will always stray
Over the hills and far away.

Over the Hills and o'er the Main,

Mid smoke and fire and shot and shell,
And to the very walls of hell,
But we shall stand and we shall stay

Over the hills and far away

Over the Hills and o'er the Main,”

Though I may travel far from Spain
A part of me shall still remain,
And you are with me night and day
Over the hills and far away.
Over the Hills and o'er the Main,

Placing the bayonet back in its sheath, he picked up the Baker Rifle and field stripped it, placing each part on the serape spread out in front of him.

Then fall in lads behind the drum
With colours blazing like the sun.
Along the road to come what may
Over the hills and far away.
Over the Hills and o'er the Main

When Evil stalks upon the land
I'll neither hold nor stay me hand
But fight to win a better day,
Over the hills and far away.
Over the Hills and o'er the Main,

He picked up each piece and wiped it clean with a red white and blue cloth, a souvenir from other times.

If I should fall to rise no more,
As many comrades did before,
Ask the pipes and drums to play
Over the Hills and far away;
Over the Hills and o'er the Main

He took the scope and looked through it and smiled. Placing the scope on the serape, he reassembled the rifle locking in the scope last.

Over the Hills and far away;
Over the Hills and o'er the Main

Getting up, he picked up his jacket and put it on. He slung his rucksack onto his back and picked up his rifle and a canteen. He started running along the beach and up a slope until he overlooked the sea. Turning inland, he set an unusual pace. Trotting then walking trotting then walking, a Rifleman’s quickstep. Two hours later he was perched in the shadows of a boulder, overlooking El Camino Real between Monterrey and Santa Elena. Twenty minutes later he glanced up from the wanted poster in his hands and saw his quarry appear.

He picked up his rifle and sighted through the scope and focused on the face of the Queen riding casually but alert. He could clearly see her eyes surrounded by the black lace and he looked up. He looked through the scope again and surveyed the area. Three hundred yards in front of her, around a curve and hidden behind boulders were four soldiers. Moving the scope a bit he saw a fifth soldier slip from behind a boulder just after the woman had past. The soldier raised his rifle to shoot the Queen in the back

The sniper pulled back on the hammer of the Baker and sighted in. He squeezed off a shot and stood up. As the sound of the shot, the soldiers looked around. They looked up and saw the sniper and fired short. The sniper took a ball and put it in his mouth as he reached for a cartridge. He bit off the end of the cartridge, poured a little in the frizzen and the rest into the barrel. Spitting the ball into the barrel, he reached for the ramrod and rammed it down. He aimed and fired. Immediately he repeated his action but instead of using the ramrod, he tapped the rifle butt on the ground raised the weapon and fired. He repeated his action as two soldiers fired at him. After his third shot while standing, only one soldier remained standing.

The Queen turned her mount as started to ride away when the remaining soldier aimed and fired at her. The sniper fired and the soldier dropped as the woman slumped over her horse’s neck. Before the sound of gunfire had faded, the sniper was racing across the hills trying to cut off the wounded woman. He crested a hill and ran down the slope, stumbling in the loose shale. Reaching the bottom he watched as a riderless horse raced away. Turning he saw a lump of black sprawled in the dirt. He ran to her and knelt down. A splotch of red spread down her side. The bullet had passed though her body. He turned her over and felt her neck for a pulse. Slinging his rifle over his shoulder, he gently picked the woman up and carried her away.

He spied the side canyon that he had found when he had scouted it previously, and carried his charge to a small cave that was hidden by a large boulder. If one did not know of its existence, the cave would not be found. He gently placed the Queen on the ground and then removed his jacket. He spread the jacket out and rolled the woman on her stomach. He removed his bayonet from its sheath and cut the corset and the back of the silk blouse up the middle. Gathering some dried grass and twigs, he took out his striker and started a small fire and heated up the blade. Wrinkling his nose at burning flesh, he cauterized the wound. He pulled our some bandages out of his rucksack and wrapped the cloth around her body. He walked to the fire, reheated the blade and cleaned it.

The man turned as he heard the sound of a moan coming from the Queen. Sweat beaded on her face as she tossed her head back and forth. The man removed the lace mask and wet it with the water from his canteen. She calmed down as he wiped her face. Her eyes fluttered open and he stared into her eyes. He put his hand behind her back and lifted her up while he used his other hand to hold the canteen so she could drink.

The Queen looked at her savior. Her mind flashed back to Spain and the five English soldiers who saved her and Marta. This was the same man, but somehow different. This man was more filled out, had a scar across his left cheek and what looked like a bullet wound on the right side of his neck. Mi Dios, he is the same man. Even with that scar and the wound, his eyes are the same but colder.

The Queen raised her hands to her face and realized her mask was gone. She gasped. “You unmasked me.” Rage showed on her face, then calm. “I know you.”

The man smiled. “Sí, Señorita. Yo estoy Shamus Lennane.”

“My name is Tessa. You were the Green Jacket who saved us in Spain.”

“Sí, and you saved my life at that time.”

“So you replay me by shooting me?”

“If I had shot you, you would be dead. No, one of the soldiers shot you, just before he died.”

Anger again showed in Tessa’s face. “You have been tracking me for at least two weeks.”

“Actually a month and a half. I was the one who shot the sword out of the soldier’s hand.”

Tessa’s face still showed anger, as did the tone of her voice. “So Montoya is going to give you a lot of money for me. This is how you repay me for saving your life?”

Shamus held up his finger. “I killed a Frog to save you and you saved my life. We were even. When I saw the poster, I did not know it was you until a little while ago when I saw your eyes in my scope. No, I did not even know you were here until the day you handed some reales to a man with holes in his boots.” He looked down at his boots. “They fit nicely. Thank you.”

Calm came over Tessa. “You are welcome. I thought I recognized that jacket. So what are you going to do with me?”

He walked over and sat down next to her. “I am going to get you home and make sure you are safe. Then I am heading for Monterrey.”

“What will Montoya say to you?”

“I have never met the Colonel, as a matter of fact, he doesn’t know what I am doing. I made sure I was just a nameless face in a serape and a sombrero.”

Tessa started to stand, but Shamus put his hand on her shoulder. “I wouldn’t get up just yet. The bullet went clean through your side, but I had to cauterize it to stop the bleeding. You still need to see a doctor.” He dug a shirt out of his rucksack and handed it to her. “You might want to put this on. I am afraid I had to cut your blouse and it already had a hole in it.”

Tessa took the shirt and nodded. “How am I going to get to a doctor?”

Shamus grinned. “Your horse ran off and I don’t have one. Guess we will have to walk.”

“Walk? Are you nuts? I am wounded, in case you forgot and it is a good five miles to my hacienda.”

“I will carry you.”

“Dios Mios. Tu es muy loco en la cabeza. No one walks.”

The former Rifleman chuckled. "I probably am crazy."

“Señor Lennane, I remember you and the other men who rescued us. You didn’t have the scar then.”

Shamus laughed. “I got the scar from a sabre cut, courtesy of a Frog when we crossed into France.” He pointed to his neck. “I got this at Waterloo along with another bullet in the shoulder.”

Tessa looked sad. “You had a hard life after we met. How are the rest of the men?”

Shamus turned away. A tear slipped from his eye. “Dead. All Dead. O’Malley took a bullet for me after I had been hit at Waterloo. We were all proud to serve under Wellsley, I mean Lord Wellington as he is called now. We were the only two who had survived the battle but a damn Frog decided he wanted to kill more Englishmen. What he did was kill the best damn Irishman I ever served with.”

Tessa smiled at him as he turned around. “I am glad you survived Shamus.”

He stiffened and looked towards the cave opening. "Stay here." Picking up his rifle he cautiously moved toward the daylight. A few minutes later he spied a buckboard meandering through the canyon. He aimed the rifle at the driver.

"Señora, this is a lonely place for a woman to be riding alone."

The woman pulled back on the reins and stared at the man. Recognition came to her. "I am looking for someone and since you are here, I am not alone. Now please lower your rifle."

Shamus grinned as he lowered his rifle. "Just as feisty as I remembered."

"You are the rifleman I met in Spain."

"I be that man. I am in need of your wagon. The Señorita has been injured."

Marta leapt from the wagon and ran past Shamus. She stopped when she saw Tessa putting on Shamus’ shirt and not wearing her mask. “Tessa are you alright? Chico came home with blood on the saddle.”

“I am fine but I need to see the Doctor. It seems that our young Rifleman came all this way to save me again.”

Shamus leaned against the cave wall. “Can you trust him?”

Marta turned to the ex-rifleman. “Yes. He too is English.”

Shamus stood up straight. “I am not English. I am Irish.”

Marta smiled. “All English and Irish look alike.”

Shamus went into the cave and picked up his rucksack. “You had better be going. I will cover your tracks so the soldiers can’t follow you. I will meet you at your hacienda later.” He helped Tessa stand and picked up his jacket. Ignoring the blood, he put it on. “How are you going to get the Doctor to your place?”

Tessa slapped her head with her hand. “I forgot. Marta, he was coming to dinner tonight.”

Marta took Tessa arm and led her to the wagon. “Come we best go and get dinner ready. He can look at your wound when he gets there.”

Shamus watched the wagon leave as he tore out some sagebrush and started wiping out the wagon tracks.

The red and yellow of the setting sun cast eerie shadows as Shamus arrived at the Alvarado hacienda. He knocked on the back door that was ajar. When he did not get an answer, he cocked his rifle and cautious entered. Creeping through the kitchen he made his way to the hallway. He checked the study and then followed the sounds of angry voices coming from down the hall. He proceeded down the hall after determining the first bedroom was empty.

Candlelight lit the hallway by the open door as Shamus approached. From his angle he could see Tessa on the bed, Marta to the left and a man who was familiar, pacing the room and yelling.

“How could you be so stupid, riding into a trap like that and getting shot? I’m surprised that you even got away. The pueblo is a buzz about five soldiers being shot. Montoya is in a fit and doesn’t listen to anyone telling him that the Queen doesn’t shoot people, especially five of them. I want to know how you did it.”

Tessa face turned red as a beet. “Who said I shot them?”

Helm stopped and stared at her. He stiffened when the feeling of being watched washed over him. His face turned pale when he found himself staring down the barrel of a Baker rifle and heard the cold voice of a man.

“Leftenant Helm, is this the appropriate time for me to put a bullet in you?”

Helm squinted to see the face of the man to no avail.

Tessa lunged from the bed while holding her side. “There will be no gunfire in my room. How do you two know each other?”

“Your Doctor saved my life after I took a hit in the neck. This Englishman kept me from bleeding to death. I heard he had become a doctor after the war.”

Helm coughed. “What he didn’t say is that I am the one who shot him.”

Tessa looked at Helm in shock. “You shot him?”

Helm lowered his head and nodded. “It was an accident. A Frog had just killed one soldier and was about ready to kill our young Rifleman there, so I fired. Unfortunately, the Frog fell from a bayonet in the stomach and the bullet hit Shamus. I saw him bleeding from the neck and ran over to help him. Shortly after I saved his life I left the Army and went to medical school. The war was over so they didn’t need me.”

Marta walked over and stood between the two men. “So I take it you are not enemies.”

Shamus frowned. “That depends. If he tries to harm Tessa, I will kill him.”

Tessa stood up and put her hand on the barrel of the rifle. “There will be no shooting in my room. Besides the headache it would give me and the stench of gunpowder, Marta would have to clean up the blood.”

Marta snorted. “Oh I would, would I?”

Shamus laughed. “Not to worry, I would take him outside first.”

Helm shook his head. “Tessa how do you three know each other?”

Tessa took Shamus’ arm in hers. “Marta and I were traveling and were accosted by some French soldiers. Shamus and his friends showed up and saved us.” She smiled at the Rifleman.

“What she isn’t telling you, Leftenant, is that I was the only one wounded in the fight. She and Marta saved my life, loaded me in their coach and took me to the hospital.”

Helm walked over to the window and looked out. “Why are you here, Sergeant? Were you looking for me?”

Shamus leaned his rifle against the door jam. “No. I was traveling from San Diego to Monterrey when I saw a wanted poster. I came here to kill the Queen of Swords.”

Silence permeated the room.

Shamus looked into Tessa’s eyes. She nodded to him. “Doctor Helm knows who I am.”

Shamus looked over at Helm. “I had been tracking the Queen for several days. One day I was in the pueblo, sitting against a wall, buried under a sombrero and a serape. I watched as Tessa and Marta walked by a stranger with holes in his boots. When she gave me two reales for a pair of boots, I knew she had a good heart. Today when I caught up to the Queen, I saw her eyes through my scope and knew the truth. I saw the ambush and was not about to let her to get killed. Unfortunately one soldier got off a lucky shot and she was wounded.

Helm looked at Tessa and at Shamus. “You did a great job in stopping the bleeding. How did you know to do that?”

“Fighting the French. We Riflemen often operated behind enemy lines and we had to take care of ourselves. Sergeant O’Malley taught me that.”

“You could have earned a lot of money taking her in. Why didn’t you?”

“Call it payback. She saved me all those years ago and I owe her. I always will.”

“Aren’t you even?”

Shamus shook his head. “We will never be even. I will owe her till the day I die.”

“Well Sergeant, if Colonel Montoya discovers that he has a trained sniper in his Pueblo you will be a dead man.”

Tessa looked at the two men. “Doctor Helm is right. We must hide you.”

“Well, I was heading for Monterrey.”

Helm turned to Marta. “Where is the Sergeant’s horse?”

Shamus laughed. “I don’t have one. Why do you think I had holes in my boots?”

Tessa laughed. “Shamus, you are the only man I know who is comfortable walking.” She looked at Marta and Helm. “He was even going to carry me home if Marta hadn’t arrived with the wagon. Shamus, you will have a horse.”

“Tessa I don’t know what to say. Thank you isn’t enough.”

“Shamus Lennane, you saved my life in Spain. You shot a sword out of a soldier’s hand. You broke up an ambush and you kept me from bleeding to death. I would say a horse is just a small way for me to show my appreciation. A horse and this.” She placed her hands on either side of his head closed her eyes and pressed her lips onto his. She opened her eyes as Shamus responded to her kiss and wrapped his arms around her, oblivious to the other two people in the room.

Two coughs from Marta and Helm broke Tessa and Shamus from their embrace. Tessa and Shamus looked at each other and blushed.

Marta took Shamus by the arm. “Come, we must get your jacket cleaned and Tessa needs to rest. Doctor Helm are you finished here?”

Helm grumbled under his breath as he picked up his medical bag.

Tessa looked at the Doctor. “What was that?”

“I should have let him bleed, but then he wouldn’t have been here to save you.”

“Robert have you forgotten what happened after you killed The Serpent?”

Helm shook his head. “Nope.”

Tessa walked over to him and took his head in her hands. “Here is a reminder in case you have forgotten.” She pulled his head down and kissed him. “Now, Doctor, I need my rest.”

Helm smiled at her as he turned and left. “Buenos Noches, mi Reina.”

He walked into the kitchen to find Marta and Shamus at the table. Shamus grinned at him. “It wasn’t my idea, but if the opportunity arose again, I would do the same thing. Do you have a problem with that?”

“My only concern is Tessa. What is your concern?”

Shamus sighed. “You are correct Leftenant. Tessa is also my concern. It has been a long time since a woman like her kissed me. Come to think of it, a woman like her never has kissed me.”

“Well, just remember, she is a lady.”

“You will get no argument from me on that.”

“Good. Now what are we going to do with you? You can’t stay here for long before Montoya sniffs you out.”

“What, now you want me to take a bath?”

Marta snorted. “May I remind you gentleman that Tessa is not a bone for two dogs two fight over. She is a woman who can take care of herself.”

Helm laughed. “Is this the woman resting in the other room from a gunshot?”

“No, this is the woman holding a sword.”

Helm and Shamus turned to look at Tessa who stood leaning on her rapier as Marta moved to her side.

Shamus chuckled. “Leftenant, I think maybe I was too hasty in Spain. I wonder what would have happened if we Riflemen hadn’t arrived when we did?”

Helm laughed. “The Frogs would probably have run for the hills.”

Tessa walked in and held her sword at Helm’s crotch and then at Shamus’. “Tell you what, you gentlemen may wonder who I favor, but I am going to bed. I will expect breakfast in bed around eight o’clock.” She turned and walked away seductively. “Buenos noches muchahcos.”

Promptly at eight o’clock, two men knocked on Tessa’s bedroom door. Tessa sat up and wiped her eyes with her hands as she reached for her robe. “Entrar.”

Doctor Helm and Sergeant Lennane entered the room, each carrying a tray. Lennane carried a dish of Huevos Rancheros and two large tortillas. Helm’s tray held a glass of orange juice and a carafe of coffee and an empty cup.

Tessa grinned. “Ah gentlemen, you are right on time. Maybe I should keep you on as my servants.”

Helm grumbled. “Your breakfast, Señorita.”

“Gracias, Señors. You may leave now. I will call you if I need you.”

Tessa snickered as the men left and closed the door. “Ah, breakfast in bed. I could get use to this.”

A half-hour later Tessa, dressed in her riding clothes, walked into the kitchen with the trays. Marta and the men were at the table eating their own breakfasts. Shamus stood up immediately and took the trays from Tessa. Marta retrieved a clean cup and poured some coffee for her mistress, before sitting back down.

Shamus looked at Tessa. “Are you going riding this morning?”

“Yes, I usually ride every morning. Today would be a good day for you to get acquainted with your horse.”

“Sounds good. Are you coming with us Leftenant?”

“No, I will be going back to the pueblo.” Helm stopped. “We have riders coming. Tessa, unless I miss my guess, you will be having visitors.”

Tessa got up and headed for the main door. She opened it as Captain Marcus Grisham and five men rode up. “Why Captain Grisham, what brings you here this early?”

Grisham looked around arrogantly. “Buenos Dias Señorita. We are on patrol looking for the persons who shot five of my men. Have you seen any strangers around?”

“Why no, Captain, there have been no strangers that I know of. Do you want to come in and have some lemonade?”

Grisham tipped his hat. “No thank you, Señorita, we still have to visit all the haciendas. You let me know if you see any strangers around.”

Tessa fluttered her eyelids. “Why of course, Captain. I will send word if I see any strangers.” She watched the patrol ride out of sight. “Ok Shamus, you can come out now.”

“I think the Captain is smitten with you.”

“Shamus, how can you say that? He was just doing his job.”

“I saw the way he looked over the hacienda and you.”

Tessa snorted. “Well I am not interested in him. He makes my skin crawl. Let’s get the horses.”

Twenty minutes later Tessa and her guest crested a hill overlooking the ocean. Tessa stared at the sea. “I have always loved coming here. It is so calming.”

“It reminds me of Slyne Head in Ireland. My village was on the coast and I would go up on the hills above and watch the sea when I was a boy. I last saw it the day before I joined the Army.”

Tessa looked at Shamus then the sea. “Do you miss it?”

Shamus closed his eyes as he remembered the sea crashing into the rocky shoreline. “Sometimes. Me Ma died when I was a lad of ten and me Da was never the same. He died when I was sixteen. I lived with me Uncle Jeremiah for a year. A British Army recruiter came to our village looking for men who could shoot and run. I used to run every day from the village to the farm and me Da taught me to hunt when I was a wee lad. Thai’s how I ended up in the Rifles. I was sent to Portugal and we fought our way into Spain where I met you.” He looked at Tessa.

Tessa saw him watching her. “What? Do I have dirt on my nose or something?”

Shamus laughed. “No, I was just remembering how we met, the anger in your face when that Frog attacked you and the kindness afterwards. I saw that same look the day that I saw you in the pueblo.”

Tessa looked back towards the sea. “You haven’t asked.”

Shamus cocked his head. “Asked what?”

“Why I became the Queen.”

“I figured that you would tell me when and if you wanted me to know.”

“Oh Shamus, you are a joy. I was actually taking fencing lessons before we met and I had bested most of the class. I stupidly left my sword at home.”

“I wondered why you took that Frog’s sword.”

“You saw me? I was trying to be so careful not to be seen by your friends.”

Shamus laughed. “We all saw you. A Rifleman must see everything. We even saw Marta pick up a pistol.”

Tessa grinned. “Please don’t tell Marta, She is Romy and was so proud she got away with it.”

They mounted the horses and rode for another hour before heading back to the hacienda. As they rode through an arroyo, Shamus stopped. They both searched the ground ahead and above. “Tessa, something is wrong.”

Tessa started to respond when two soldiers rode up from behind. Soldiers appeared on the banks of the arroyo and Grisham and another soldier came forward. Grisham rode towards the two with a cocky smile. Señorita, you lied to me about there not being a stranger at your hacienda.” He turned to his men. “Arrest him.”

Shamus struggled with his captives until he was struck in the head with the butt of a musket and knocked unconscious.

Anger flared in Tessa’s face. I protest this attack. I did not lie. Shamus is not a stranger, in fact I have know him for several years.”

‘I asked you about a stranger in the pueblo.”

“No Captain, you did not. You asked if I had seen any strangers. Period. He is not a stranger anymore than I would call any number of friends from Spain who might come to visit, strangers. Just because you do not know him doesn’t make him a stranger.”

“Who cares, Señorita. Montoya will hang him anyway.”

“Since when is it a crime to visit someone?”

“When they shoot my men.”

Tessa stared at Grisham. “Have you seen him shoot anyone? He isn’t even armed.”

“Enough. We will let Montoya settle this. Take him away. Señorita go home.”

“I will not. I will accompany you to Santa Elena to make sure there are no accidents.”

“You don’t trust me?”

“As much as I would trust a rattlesnake.” She turned her horse and rode along Shamus who was now tied to his horse, blood dripped down the back of his head.

As Grisham led the patrol and his prisoners into Santa Elena, he saw Montoya standing on the balcony. He smiled at the Colonel. “Sir I have captured the shooter.”

“Excellent, Captain. We will hang him at dawn tomorrow.”

Tessa urged her horse in front of Grisham’s mount. “Colonel Montoya, since when do you hang a man without a trial?”

Montoya looked annoyed. “Is there anyone who can vouch for this man? Good. No one. Trial is over.”

“Not so fast Colonel. I vouch for him.”

“Señorita, finding a stray is not justification for you to vouch for him.”

“Colonel, he is not a stray. I met him in Spain several years ago. In fact he saved my life from some French soldiers.”

Montoya looked at Shamus and then at Tessa. He remembered what French soldiers did to attractive Spanish women, especially ladies. “That is a nice story Señorita but one would expect it from a woman, even one as lovely as yourself. Everyone knows of your generosity.”

“Would you accept the word of a man?” The crowd moved aside as the man who spoke walked forward. “I have known Shamus Lennane for several years also. We met in France at Waterloo.”

Montoya frowned. “Let me guess, he saved your life?”

“No, Actually I saved his after I shot him.”

Montoya laughed. “Oh this is good Doctor. Do you have a habit of shooting people to make them your patients? I have to hear this.”

“I was not a Doctor then. I was aiming at a target, but just as I fired, the target decided to fall down dead and Shamus was in the line of fire.”

“So he came looking for you to kill you? That hardly is a reason to vouch for him.”

“Colonel, I saved his life on the battle field. It was one of the reason I became a Doctor.” Helm moved closer to Shamus. “Colonel, the man is unarmed. What proof do you have that he is your culprit?”

“Captain, the Doctor has a point. Where is the rifle?”

Grisham squirmed in his saddle. “We haven’t found it yet.”

“Have you looked?”

“No.”

“Well, Captain, by all means, ride out to the Alvarado hacienda and find that rifle.”

Tessa looked up at Montoya. “I protest, Colonel. The last time your men searched my hacienda, they stole my clothing and you ended up buying me new furniture.”

Montoya swallowed hard. “Señorita, I will personally supervise the search. Will that satisfy you?”

Tessa nodded.

“Good. Guard, get my horse. Captain Grisham, you will go with us, but I will personally supervise the inspection.”

Marta was in the kitchen folding the laundry when Jose rushed in. “Señora, the Señorita and her guest have been arrested. Colonel Montoya said he was going to search the hacienda.”

Marta looked at José. “Thank you José, there is nothing to worry about, go on about your duties.”

“Sí, Señora.”

As soon as she saw José leave, Marta raced to Shamus’ room and picked up the rife, ammo pouch, old boots and then went to Tessa’s room. Opening the armoire, she took out the rapier and headed to the Queen’s room as she called the secret basement. She went back to the kitchen and saw the Green Jacket. On impulse, she folded it up and placed it between Tessa’s petticoat and underwear. She smiled. “I doubt the soldiers will search my laundry.” She heard the horses arrive and went to the front door as Tessa, Colonel Montoya and several soldiers came in.

Tessa walked to Marta. “Colonel Montoya seems to think that we have a rifle in our hacienda.”

Marta looked at Tessa. “Sí, we do. Your Papa’s old musket is in the library.”

Montoya nodded and followed Marta to the study and examined the musket. He frowned. “Señorita, if you are going to keep a weapon here, I would suggest you clean it occasionally. It looks like it has not been cleaned in months.”

“Maybe I should bring it to the pueblo and have you show me how to clean it properly. Papa wouldn’t let me touch it.”

Montoya looked up to find that two of the soldiers were missing. He heard some noise and walked down the hallway to find the soldiers searching Tessa underwear drawer. “Do you think you will find a rifle in a drawer?”

“No Sir.”

“Then I would suggest that you sear somewhere that a rifle might fit.” He turned to Tessa. “My pardons Señorita, it seems you were right.” He saw Grisham standing behind Tessa. “Grisham have all the rooms been checked?”

“Yes Sir. This was the last room. The stables have also been checked. We found nothing.”

Montoya looked at Grisham and frowned. Smiling, he turned his attention to Tessa. “It seems that we have made a mistake, Señorita, my apologies.”

“I am not the one who was knocked unconscious and arrested. You owe Shamus the apology.” She turned and stormed out of the room.

Montoya sighed as he turned to the two soldiers. “Get out.” He watched them leave and followed. He walked out of the hacienda and turned to the guards. “Release him.” He turned to Tessa. “I am sure you understand that we must be cautious in such matters. My men have been shot by someone who is well trained.” He turned as Shamus dismounted and staggered to the door. “Señor, I apologize for any misunderstandings.”

Tessa took Shamus’s arm. “Colonel, the next time it might be best to ask questions before you arrest an innocent man.”

As Montoya mounted, Tessa turned to Shamus. “You didn’t say a word through this whole ordeal. Why not?”

“Tessa, I have found that sometimes the more you protest, the deeper you get into trouble.” He smiled. “Besides, you and the Leftenant were doing all the talking. What could I ad?”

Tessa winked at him. “Why do you insist calling Doctor Helm, Leftenant?”

“That was what he was when I met him. He hasn’t told you a lot about the war, has he?”

“Only enough to know that it greatly disturbs him. What do you know about him?”

“It is not my place to tell you. Besides, you wouldn’t understand.”

Tessa’s mouth opened in shock. “Why because I am a woman?”

“No. Because you were not there. How could you understand the killing and suffering?” He stopped for a moment. “On the other hand, maybe the Queen would understand.” He looked out at the patrol. “It seems we have a guard dog. One soldier broke off from the rest.”

Marta came up and took Shamus’ other arm. Tessa looked at her. “How did they miss my sword?”

“Jose told me what happened and I quickly got everything into the Queen’s room just before they arrived.”

Tessa smiled. Marta you are a dear.”

Marta flipped her hair back with the wave of her free hand. “Don’t you forget it.”

An early March storm rolled into Alta California. Wind blew the rain in torrents, soaking the parched earth. The inhabitants of Santa Elena welcomed the moisture that promised to defeat the two year near drought like conditions. On the hill above the Alvarado hacienda, a lone wet guard shivered in the evening rain. He was unable to light a fire and he had been on guard for four hours of his eight-hour shift. He jumped and clutched his heart as a hand reached out and touched his shoulder. He whirled around and stared into the face of Shamus Lennane.

“Private, Señorita Alvarado asked me to see if you wanted to stay in the stables and out of the rain.”

The soldier’s face showed confusion. “Colonel Montoya told me to stay here and watch the hacienda.”

“Did he tell you to catch pneumonia? You are turning blue and you are shaking. I am sure that you will be more comfortable inside.” Shamus took the horse’s reigns and led the animal to the stables. The soldier followed. As Shamus removed the saddle and started currying the animal, he turned to the young man. “Grab a feedbag and take care of your horse.”

A few minutes later the two men walked into the hacienda. Tessa heard them come in and walked out of the kitchen. “Shamus, this man is drenched and freezing. Come into the kitchen and warm up.” She took the soldier’s hand and led him to the kitchen. “Marta, get something warm for this drowned rat.”

Marta got a cup and a pot of coffee as Tessa led him to the fire and forced him to remove his jacket. Hanging it on the back of a nearby chair, she nodded to Shamus. Shamus took the soldier’s rifle and leaned it up against the wall.

Tessa smiled at the young man. “What is your name? I haven’t seen you before.”

“I am Joaquin. I was one of the soldiers that passed through here a few days ago on the way to Monterey. I only joined the army a few months ago in San Blas. Colonel Montoya needed some replacements and five of us were chosen.”

Marta watched the young soldier still shivering and took Tessa aside. “He is soaked through to the skin. Perhaps there are some clothes he can wear while his dry.”

Tessa frowned. “The only clothes are Papa’s. You want me to give his clothes to a killer?”

“Look at him Tessa. He can’t be more than seventeen years old. He is hardly a killer and just because he is a soldier doesn’t mean he will be the kind you are used to. Doctor Helm and Shamus were soldiers. Are they killers? Are you?”

Tessa looked at Joaquin sitting at the table, drinking coffee and talking to Shamus. “All right Marta, find him something to wear.” She walked back into the kitchen where she could hear the two men talking.

Shamus got up and picked up the musket and brought it to the table. “Joaquin, why are you a soldier?”

The young man looked at Shamus. “My family was poor in San Blas. There were five children and I was the oldest. Joining the Army brought me a place to live, food to eat and money in my pocket. They gave my parents five reales when I enlisted. That will help put food on the table for my parents and four sisters.”

“Did they teach you anything?”

Joaquin nodded. “Yes. We were taught to march and how to shoot. Unfortunately, I had never fired a musket before and I still can’t hit a target. They gave us a sword but no training. Why?”

Shamus ran his hands over the musket and started to field strip it. “There is more to being a soldier than marching and shooting, although that is the primary objective, kill your enemy. I too was a soldier many years ago when I was about your age. The one thing they instilled in us was to take care of our equipment as it could save our lives.”

Joaquin watched as Shamus dismantled the musket and cleaned each piece with a soft cloth that he pulled out of his pocket. “You have done this before. No one ever showed us how to take a musket completely apart.”

“My father insisted that I clean our musket each time we fired it. I will show you how.” Shamus looked at Joaquin and then at Tessa. “A weapon is no an evil thing, it just depends on what the wielder does with it. Do you know why you were told to watch the house?”

Only that Colonel Montoya thinks you are the person who shot his men and helped the diabolical Queen of Swords.”

Tessa stared at Joaquin. “What do you know of her?”

Joaquin shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing really. I never heard of her until a few days ago. Captain Grisham told us that she is a bandita and a murderess.”

Shamus coughed. “The Queen is neither of those things. She stands for justice for the people. She takes the tax money and gives it back to the people. That is the amount that Montoya tells the Viceroy that he collected. It is actually probably half of what he collects. By taking it, Montoya has to make up the difference out of his own pocket. She only kills in self defense and tries not to do even that.”

Joaquin shook his head. “Taxing people so much is what our own village complained about. I wish we had had a Queen of Swords.” He looked at Shamus and Tessa. “I swear to you that if I have to shoot at the Queen, I will be sure to miss.” He laughed. “I couldn’t hit this hacienda now if I tried.”

Marta came over. “Joaquin, you have a good heart, I can see. You can stay here until you are relieved.” She noticed that the soldier was sweating.

“You have all been so gracious. If I had some one spying on me, I don’t think I would be so pleasant.”

Marta placed her hand on Joaquin’s head. “Dios, your head is warm. I think you have a fever. You are going to bed. Tessa, Shamus, make up a bed for him in the parlour. He can sleep on the divan.”

Shamus nodded as Tessa led him to the closet for bedclothes. “If you teach him to shoot, we will have a problem.”

“If I win him over to our side, he will be an asset. I feel he is already thinking about what he ahs been told.”

Tessa put her hand on Shamus’ arm. “I hope you are right. He may have sympathy for me, but not the Queen.”

“You worry to much.”

“It keeps me alive.”

Shamus nodded. “Good point.”

The sun hung low over a soggy Santa Elena, and slowly chased away the low tule fog when Captain Grisham pounded on thedoor of the Alvarado hacienda. Tessa and Marta opened the door and glared at the Captain.

“Last night one of my soldiers disappeared. I want to talk to you’re your buddy Shamus.”

“Are you the one that sent a man to watch my home? You should be ashamed of yourself. That poor boy was shivering and running a fever when we found him. His fever broke about an hour ago.”

Grisham put on his arrogant face. “So he deserted his post. For that he will be shot.”

Marta pulled Tessa back. “Captain, he told us his orders were to watch the hacienda. You put him on that hill during the worst storm we have had for a long time. He was brought inside, sick and freezing. What better place to watch the hacienda than from within. He did not dessert, he almost died out there. You should be happy that we took him in.”

“He is a soldier. He left his post.”

Tessa pulled away from Marta. “Do you know anything about him? Did you know that he is from San Blas, which is warmer than Santa Elena? He should never have been made to spend all night in the rain like that. Now send for Doctor Helm and we will turn Joaquin over to him so he can recover. I will be speaking to Colonel Montoya as well as the other Dons.”

Grisham’s arrogant look turned to one of apology. “I am sorry Señorita. I found our man missing, his horse in your barn and assumed the worse. I knew you wouldn’t have hurt a soldier, but I was not sure about Lennane. I will have Doctor Helm come out. Good day Señorita.” He tipped his has and turned around as Tessa slammed the door.

Two weeks later Joaquin was riding patrol alone at dusk along the coast when he saw Shamus sitting on the dune above the beach. He stopped and watched the Irishman get up, mount his horse and ride inland. Joaquin noticed the bedroll tied to the back of the saddle and a rifle hanging from the side. He urged his horse to follow.

Shamus was a ware of the lone soldier following him, but he ignored the man. It was his time to move on. He had said goodbye to Tessa and Doctor Helm mounted his horse, Payback and had ridden away. He remembered how over the last few weeks, Shamus had been followed everywhere he went and he had grown tired of the cat and mouse game. He had lost his shadows easily and had scouted the area north of Santa Elena where he formulated a plan. Coming out of his thoughts, Shamus looked to his right and saw a dust cloud in the fading light. Turning Payback towards the sea, he rode quickly never losing sight of his shadow or the patrol.

Captain Grisham halted the patrol and pulled out his telescope and sighted in on his quarry. He stopped when he saw the rifle on the saddle, complete with a telescopic sight. “I have you now you Irish scum.” He turned to his men. “Don’t let him get away.

Corporal Dominquez rode up next to Grisham. “Joaquin is behind him, Captain, we will catch him or force him into the sea.” He looked at the grim smile on his Captain’s face as the American urged his horse into a gallop.

Shamus rode hard to the coast and then turned north, paralleling the sea. He saw the patrol fall in five hundred yards behind his shadow. The distance was narrowing and Shamus would soon be caught.

Joaquin had also studied the terrain as he had followed Shamus on numerous occasions, even after the Irishman had lost the appointed spy. Ahead of Shamus was a cliff over looking the sea and if a rider did not know the land curved inland, he would end up plunging one hundred feet into the water. Joaquin was now only fifty yards behind when he pulled up shortly and drew his musket. He cocked the hammer and raised the weapon to his shoulder. He had a clear shot of the man and over the front sight saw Shamus look back and smile. Joaquin pulled the trigger.

The discharge of the musket and the disappearance of both horse and rider brought Grisham up short. He rode slowly to where Joaquin stood looking down. “Where did he go?”

Joaquin looked at the American. “Into the sea, Captain. He went off the cliff and dropped one hundred feet. There is no sign of either him or his horse.”

In the quickly diminishing light, Grisham looked hard trying to find a trace. He signaled to his men and rode to Santa Elena. “Joaquin, you stay here and wait. When dawn comes, surely there will be some sign.”

On the beach, hidden under the cliff a man curried his horse. “Nice jump Payback. All the practice paid off.” He rubbed the horse’s forehead. “I promise we won’t do that again. Now we can go north.” He looked over at the woman in black sitting on a rock. “Tessa that was an excellent plan, but not one I want to do again anytime shortly.”

“I heard a gunshot and was worried when you fell.”

Shamus smiled. Joaquin is a good shot. Glad he remembered not to put a musket ball in the barrel when he loaded it.”

“You planned that?”

Shamus nodded. “I think it made things even more believable. I have convinced him that the Queen is not an enemy.” He walked over and hugged Tessa. “Now I must go.” He looked at her.

“May the roads rise to meet you.
May the wind be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rain fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

Tessa kissed him. “Vaya con Dios, Amigo. Here is a letter to my friend Elena and her husband in Vallejo. They know who I am.”

“Thank you Tessa. I will look them up before I head for Fort Ross. Montoya’s arm doesn’t reach into Russian territory.” He mounted Payback and rode along the hidden beach until he found the old deer trail leading to the top of the cliff. He turned and saw Tessa and waved to her as she waved and turned south to Santa Elena.

Tessa rode down the coast until she reached an incline. As she reached the top on a trail that curved around a boulder she became alert and stopped. She saw the shadow of a soldier and drew her rapier.

“Shamus was a friend, Reina and he is your friend. I consider you a friend also and will not harm you.”

Tessa turned to face the young man. She smiled. “Joaquin you are a friend, just remember what he taught you.”

“I will Reina. Buenos noches y Vaya con Dios.”

“Hasta luego, Joaquin.” She urged Chico up the remaining incline. She stopped at the top and turned back towards the soldier and smiled. ‘One friend moves on and I meet a new one. Gracias El Señor.”