Unshaken

Las Alegrías de la Civilización Méxicana

Liam heard the creak of the bed once again. Arthur sat up on the side and rubbed his eyes. Liam stood up and stretched. John was still passed out. "Sleep alright?" Arthur asked him. "Just fine." Liam assured him. He looked out the window to see that it was predawn. He checked his pocket watch, it was almost six in the morning. Arthur walked outside of the door of the room and started a small fire to make a pot of coffee. Liam started to put his clothes on for the day as Arthur prepared the pot. He grabbed the trinket and buttoned his shirt and looked at the poncho he'd received the night before. He slid it over his head and looked in the mirror. He kind of liked it. Arthur walked back in and looked at Liam for a moment, his eyebrows raised.

"You know what, it don't look half bad." Arthur admitted. "I knew you'd give in." Liam joked. Arthur put his clothes on and slid his blue-accented poncho over himself. The two walked outside and poured themselves a cup of coffee. The sun started to rise over the Mexican Peninsula. The orange glow radiated the desert land. "Real pretty when banditos ain't trying to rob you." Liam said. "You're absolutely right." Arthur said as they watched the sunrise.

They walked back into the room to find John still asleep. "Wake up, you lazy sod." Arthur nagged. "I'm up, I'm up." John groaned as he slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes. "We ain't got all day, John." Arthur griped. John didn't respond and climbed out of the bed, slowly walking to put his clothes on. Liam put his gun belt on and finished his coffee. John got dressed, putting his red poncho on as well and went and made him a cup as the three went and sat at the end of the bed.

"Where we headed again?" Liam asked. "Las Hermanas. A village of nuns west of here." Arthur said. "And we're looking for his sister?" Liam asked. "Camila Vargas, yes." Arthur reminded. "Alright then." Liam said as he stood up and gathered his belongings and walked out of the door. The citizens of the village greeted the three with a smile as they went to their horses. They climbed on and followed Arthur west. "Still can't believe we rode with Landon Ricketts." Liam said. "I know. He was a legend when we was kids, am I right?" Arthur asked, looking to John. "Hell yeah. Heard about him all the time." John said.

Liam came to appreciate the still of the morning. It calmed him. "Y'all ever think you'd be in Mexico a few months back?" Liam asked. "I thought I'd be dead." Arthur admitted. "I don't know how in the hell we got so lucky. All the wrong we done and we still got out pretty okay." John said. "Except poor Lenny and Hosea." Arthur said solemnly. They rode in silence for a moment. "Do you ever think about the gang, how things were after all that mess in Blackwater? Did things seem to get better?" Liam
asked. "When we finally got off that goddamn mountain the first time, it seemed that things were on the up. Dutch was starting to think clearly once more. We were making money again. Everything seemed alright. Slowly but surely, things started going wrong. But, in those times between Horseshoe and Shady Belle, things were kinda alright." Arthur said. "Things are on the up again. But this time, we ain't making the same mistakes." John said. "That we ain't." Arthur said as they made their way into the Mexican desert. Liam admired the plateaus and rocks of the land. He could have stared at them all day.

Liam saw a village up ahead. It seemed every town in Mexico had a wall around it. "This should be it." Arthur told them, checking his map. They rode past the station to the front wooden doors of the village. Liam looked at the unfamiliar trees surrounding the area. "Seen those in Guarma." Arthur said as they walked up. Arthur knocked and an older Mexican Nun opened the doors. "Can I help you men?" She asked warily. "Yes ma'am, we're sorry to disturb you but we're looking for a Camila Vargas, we were told she'd be here." Arthur said politely. The woman thought for a second. "You'll have to speak with Mother Superior, come, I'll bring you to her." The woman said as she led them through the corridor into the village. Liam saw many nuns walking around, conversing and praying with each other.

The nun led them into a the main church. They saw a nun bent over reading the Bible. "Mother Superior, visitors for you." The nun told her. The woman looked up. Liam saw Arthur softly smile. The nun's face lit up. "Mr. Morgan, Mr. Morgan! It is so great to see you again. Oh, your ponchos are beautiful! How are you?" She asked. Liam looked at John in astonishment. "I'm great, sister." He responded. "I am no longer sister, but Mother Superior. I am so excited to let you know." She said. "My apologies, mother." Arthur corrected. "What are you doing down here in Mexico? And I see you've brought a few friends with you." She said, smiling looking at John and Liam. Liam smiled back. "Definitely not the Lord's work. I actually need to speak to a woman named Camila Vargas, if that's alright with you." Arthur told her. "Oh, Camila. I'm surprised. She never has visitors." Mother Superior said. "Her brother told us we'd need to speak with her about a man she used to know." Arthur explained. "Oh, alright then. Yes, Camila should be over on the south eastern side of the village up on the veranda." Mother Superior told them. "Thanks, Mother. You've always been so kind. We appreciate the help. You be good now." Arthur told her. She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. "You as well Mr. Morgan, you as well." She said as three walked out.

"Where'd you know her from?" John asked. "She was in Saint Denis at the time we was. I helped her out and she helped me, kinda strange, ain't it?" Arthur asked. "Ironic." John said with a smirk. They walked up the stairs on the veranda to see a woman looking over the Mexican Frontier. "Miss, are you Camila Vargas?" Arthur asked. She jumped at the question. "Yes, that is me. Can I help you?" She asked politely. "Yes, if you don't mind. Your brother over in Chuparosa told us to see you about a man named Francisco Martinez, said you'd know something." Arthur told her. She crossed her arms and looked down in disappointment. "That man. He did me wrong for many a year. Part of the reason I joined these senoritas. What do you need to know?" She asked. "You know where we might can find him?" Arthur asked. "He sends me letters sometimes, I never respond. But the last time he did, it was sent from El Presidio, northwest of here. You will probably find him there." She said in broken English.

"Thank you, miss. We best be on our way." Arthur said as they followed him down the steps and out the doors of Las Hermanas. "El Presidio then?" Liam asked. "Yep. We're catching that son of a bitch." Arthur said as they climbed on their horses and rode west. As they rode through the countryside which Liam noticed starting to get more mountainous, they heard a woman yelling on the side of the road. "Ayudame! Ayudame! Por favor! My horse ride off without me! Please help me!" She said, running out into the middle of the road. The three reared their horses as they stopped. "Are you alright, miss?" Liam asked. "Please help. My horse run off and I have no ride, I'm stuck." She said.

Liam was about to climb off of his horse when Arthur stopped him. "Hold up. This don't feel right." He said warily. Liam paused and got back on his horse. The woman started to shift. "Over there, behind those bushes, banditos!" John yelled. The men ran out from behind the brush and started shouting at them. "Sons of bitches!" Arthur yelled as the three shot back. Liam whipped out his revolver and shot at the five men. The last one fell and Liam looked back to his companions, they were fine. They caught their breath for a moment before seeing the woman cowering in the brush. "They made me do it, I swear! They said they would kill me if I didn't!" She said, sobbing. Liam didn't know whether to believe her or not. John cocked the hammer on his revolver and pointed it at her. Arthur grabbed his arm and pushed it back down. "Go. Get far away from here. Don't wanna see your face no more." He told her. "Gracias, senor." She said, wiping her tears, climbing on a horse and riding off. "I seen it before. It happened to Tilly before we ran into her." Arthur said. "I guess you're right." John agreed. They holstered their guns and rode towards El Presidio again.

"Gotta be careful around here. These people are everywhere." Arthur warned. "Ain't much different than America if you ask me." Liam said. "I am inclined to agree." John said.