Read Online For Honor’s Sake by Connie Mason - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Connie Mason
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deserted alley and thrown into the bed of a horse-drawn wagon waiting nearby. Before she knew what was happening her hands and feet were tightly bound and a smelly canvas thrown over her body. The suffocating gag drastically cut off her air supply and the stifling canvas added the final insult. Great waves of dizziness surged around her and she sank into a deep void as blackness engulfed her. But not before she recognized the ugly face and leering grin of Brute Kelly!”
4
Don Rodrigo Delgado felt nothing but disgust with himself as he reined his horse before Mae Parker’s boarding house. There was absolutely no reason for him to be back in San Francisco now that his mission was completed to his satisfaction. He had spent two grueling weeks in Monterey presenting documents and paying bribes until the courts were finally convinced of the legality of the Delgado claim. He had thought everything was settled before but when he reached Monterey he was told there was still some question concerning a section of land containing water rights.
Of course it was all a ruse to enable the courts to gain control of a valuable section of land so it could be deeded to a high ranking Anglo. But fortunately, Don Ricardo Delgado, the first Delgado who had been deeded the land by Spain two-hundred years ago, managed to hang onto the original papers defining borders and bounderies, which was more than many
rancheros
along El Camino Real were able to do.
It was a well known fact that many proud Castilian land owners died of starvation when they were forced from their lands.
Hidalgos
sometimes were forced to hire out as
vaqueros,
sometimes on the very land stolen from them. Rod’s father, Don Diego, was one of the lucky ones inasmuch as his original grant was intact.
Elena’s father was not so lucky. Gilberto Rodriguez y Montoya was in Spain right now trying to obtain proofof his ancient land grant. Don Diego had offered his home and his protection to Elena in Don Gilberto’s absence and Elena had come to live at
Rancho
Delgado these past six months.
But now, as Rod stood before Mae’s house, Elena was the furthest thing from his mind. His wayward thoughts were possessed by a honey-haired vixen with eyes as blue as the sky over California and a lithe, supple body with skin like pale satin. Rod had worried incessantly about Julie during his absence; he knew Julie was stubborn enough to remain in San Francisco in spite of his dire warning. He felt obligated to return to San Francisco and try to talk some sense into her one last time. If necessary, Rod was prepared to put her bodily aboard the first ship sailing east. Duty was the only reason he returned, he told himself, ignoring the tug at his heart whenever he allowed himself the luxury of dwelling on those few glorious minutes when Julie was on the verge of surrendering to him.
Shaking his head to clear it of such dangerous thoughts Rod entered the house, calling out loudly for Mae Parker. “Land sakes, Don Rodrigo,” Mae chided, wiping her hands on her apron, “must you bellow so?” If she was surprised to see Rod she gave no hint of it.
“Where’s my wife, Mae?” Rod asked, his eyes darting impatiently toward the stairs.
Mae raised a shapely eyebrow, missing none of Rod’s proprietory tone regarding Julie or his impatience in finding her. “She’s not here yet, Rod. I’m expecting her any minute.”
“Not here!” stormed Rod. “Don’t tell me she’s out roaming the streets at this time of night. How could you allow such a thing when you know it’s not safe?”
“Simmer down, son. Julie is in no danger.”
“How do you know that?”
“Julie is working for Marty Sloan,” Mae informed Rod. “Marty’s man, Wong Li, escorts her home eachnight. And if you know Marty you know she won’t let anything happen to that girl. Sit down,” she invited, “Julie shouldn’t be long.”
Disdaining Mae’s invitation, Rod said, “I had hoped Julie would be on her way
4
Don Rodrigo Delgado felt nothing but disgust with himself as he reined his horse before Mae Parker’s boarding house. There was absolutely no reason for him to be back in San Francisco now that his mission was completed to his satisfaction. He had spent two grueling weeks in Monterey presenting documents and paying bribes until the courts were finally convinced of the legality of the Delgado claim. He had thought everything was settled before but when he reached Monterey he was told there was still some question concerning a section of land containing water rights.
Of course it was all a ruse to enable the courts to gain control of a valuable section of land so it could be deeded to a high ranking Anglo. But fortunately, Don Ricardo Delgado, the first Delgado who had been deeded the land by Spain two-hundred years ago, managed to hang onto the original papers defining borders and bounderies, which was more than many
rancheros
along El Camino Real were able to do.
It was a well known fact that many proud Castilian land owners died of starvation when they were forced from their lands.
Hidalgos
sometimes were forced to hire out as
vaqueros,
sometimes on the very land stolen from them. Rod’s father, Don Diego, was one of the lucky ones inasmuch as his original grant was intact.
Elena’s father was not so lucky. Gilberto Rodriguez y Montoya was in Spain right now trying to obtain proofof his ancient land grant. Don Diego had offered his home and his protection to Elena in Don Gilberto’s absence and Elena had come to live at
Rancho
Delgado these past six months.
But now, as Rod stood before Mae’s house, Elena was the furthest thing from his mind. His wayward thoughts were possessed by a honey-haired vixen with eyes as blue as the sky over California and a lithe, supple body with skin like pale satin. Rod had worried incessantly about Julie during his absence; he knew Julie was stubborn enough to remain in San Francisco in spite of his dire warning. He felt obligated to return to San Francisco and try to talk some sense into her one last time. If necessary, Rod was prepared to put her bodily aboard the first ship sailing east. Duty was the only reason he returned, he told himself, ignoring the tug at his heart whenever he allowed himself the luxury of dwelling on those few glorious minutes when Julie was on the verge of surrendering to him.
Shaking his head to clear it of such dangerous thoughts Rod entered the house, calling out loudly for Mae Parker. “Land sakes, Don Rodrigo,” Mae chided, wiping her hands on her apron, “must you bellow so?” If she was surprised to see Rod she gave no hint of it.
“Where’s my wife, Mae?” Rod asked, his eyes darting impatiently toward the stairs.
Mae raised a shapely eyebrow, missing none of Rod’s proprietory tone regarding Julie or his impatience in finding her. “She’s not here yet, Rod. I’m expecting her any minute.”
“Not here!” stormed Rod. “Don’t tell me she’s out roaming the streets at this time of night. How could you allow such a thing when you know it’s not safe?”
“Simmer down, son. Julie is in no danger.”
“How do you know that?”
“Julie is working for Marty Sloan,” Mae informed Rod. “Marty’s man, Wong Li, escorts her home eachnight. And if you know Marty you know she won’t let anything happen to that girl. Sit down,” she invited, “Julie shouldn’t be long.”
Disdaining Mae’s invitation, Rod said, “I had hoped Julie would be on her way
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