Read Online The Gila Wars by Larry D. Sweazy - Free Book Online Page A

uncertain if it was proper to be in the company of a strange woman barely covered, even though he was injured and obviously under her care.
    The door creaked open, and Francesca peeked inside the room before walking inside.
    Josiah’s hands tingled, and he was surprised that he was anxious to see the girl. He felt boyishly bashful, then, exposed in a way he was unfamiliar, and uncomfortable, with.
    Francesca was dressed similarly to the night before, but in a clean, long burgundy skirt and a loose-fitting white blouse, untucked at the waist. She carried a pail of steaming water and a handful of small white linens. “I am here to change your bandages, señor. Papa is cooking
huevos rancheros
, some breakfast. You like, um, eggs, I hope?”
    â€œYes, sure, thank you.” Josiah shifted uncomfortably on the edge of the bed. “I don’t want to be any trouble.”
    â€œYou are no trouble, señor, I promise you.”
    â€œPlease, call me Josiah.”
    â€œI am sorry, I forgot. It is just habit to be respectful.”
    â€œI appreciate that, but I feel like I shouldn’t be here, that you’re going out of your way unnecessarily. I wasn’t expecting to walk into the cantina and get shot right away. I wasn’t expecting to get shot at all.”
    â€œYou do not understand . . .” Francesca hesitated and looked up to the ceiling as she stopped at the end of the bed. “Those men were not nice men.” Her eyes were suddenly wet, glazed over with tears threatening to roll down her cheeks, but she fought off the urge to cry with a bite of her bottom lip. Shame replaced the pain on her face, and she hung her head, refusing to show Josiah any more emotion than she already had.
    Josiah flexed his fingers and rolled them into a tight fist without thinking about it. “Did they hurt you?”
    â€œNo, no. They did not touch me.” Francesca’s voice was sharp, abrupt, as she looked up, directly into Josiah’s eyes. “But it was only a matter of time. Papa is an old man. They were growing tired of waiting for their
amigo
, bored with just looking at me. I am sorry, I should not be telling you this. But please know that not all of us in Arroyo are in agreement with Juan Cortina’s desires. We have no quarrel with the Anglos, or the Kings who own the ranch, or with those who rule all of
Tejas
. There are more
banditos
than those two that have visited the cantina in the last few years.”
    â€œIt has been difficult for you here?”
    Francesca nodded. “It is just Papa and I. We do the best we can, but there is nowhere else for us to go. This is all we know to do. So we get up every day and just do what needs to be done, the best we can. Sometimes, we are happy.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    Silence fell between them as Francesca looked away and walked to the table next to the bed. She set the bowl and linens down, then pulled open the heavy curtain.
    Josiah watched her every move, unable to take his eyes off her. Harsh, bright light cut into the small room, blinding him for a moment.
    It was like being inside the dream of the night before, caught in a fire, but feeling no threat, just the warmth and comfort from the light, and the presence of another human being offering nothing but comfort and sustenance.
    â€œHow did you sleep?” she asked.
    â€œI dreamed about tamales.” It was a lie, but the truth seemed obvious. Josiah didn’t want Francesca to think that her care for him was lacking in any way. He did not feel rested at all.
    Francesca smiled, then chuckled. “I am not the greatest
cocinero
in the land. No one has ever dreamed of my food before.”
    â€œThen I am glad to be the first.”
    The smile stayed on Francesca’s face as she moved to Josiah’s side. “I need to remove the
vendajes
, the bandages.”
    â€œI understand.”
    Francesca touched Josiah gently on the shoulder.