Unshaken

Viejos Amigos, Nuevos Problemas

They rode up a steep ridge and came onto flat land again. Liam looked to his left to see the entire Mexican Frontier before his eyes. "Now, how are we gonna go in there and get him out?" John asked. "I don't know. We'll have to see what this place is like and how these bastards are. No telling who's there or guarding it." Arthur said. They rode for a while longer until seeing a fort. "This must be the place." Arthur said. Liam sighed. "You think it's heavily guarded?" He asked as they rode up. "Not sure. I do see two men up at the gates, let's go have a word with them." Arthur said. They rode up and the men looked cautiously at them. They were holding rifles.

"Hello, sirs. We're travelers looking around this fine country. We were wondering what this place is, for the books, ya know?" Arthur lied. The men laughed. "Idiotas. This is not a place for gringo travelers like you. Go along before you get yourselves into something you can't get out of." The man threatened. "We are severely sorry, we will be on our way, good day, fellers." Arthur said, climbing on his horse and riding behind a rock in the desert land around the building.

They came to a stop where they wouldn't be seen. "How the hell are we getting in? Must be Del Lobos holed up here." John asked. Arthur hummed for a second. "I say we sneak in. Gotta see how many men are in there." Arthur said. Liam looked at the walls around the building. The sweltering heat made waves from the ground. John and Arthur started talking and contemplating what they'd do. Liam then noticed a crack in the wall on the north side. The top of the wall had fallen out. "Hey, look over there. I think we can climb over that." Liam inquired. "Shit, good eye, kid. Let's get over there." Arthur said.

They climbed off their horses and made their way across the field to the wall. They warily looked around to see no one. "Liam, we'll hoist you up there to get a look inside to see if anyone's around." Arthur said. "Alright then." Liam said. John and Arthur got on each side holding their hands out for Liam to step on. He did and was pushed up. He grabbed the top of the wall and looked in. He saw around eight men talking and walking around. He looked for Francisco, remembering his bounty picture. The man had a scar on his right cheek that was easily distinguishable. He couldn't see him. He then looked around for a place to get to. He saw a room with a door open not far from him, it was empty. "Alright." He whispered. They hoisted him down.

"There's quite a few men in there. There's a room to the right we can get into." Liam informed them. "Okay. I'll go in first then pull y'all two in." Arthur said. Liam and John got on each side, Arthur stepping into their hands. Liam grunted as he lifted Arthur up. Arthur grabbed the wall and climbed over it quietly. Liam held his hands out for John to step into since he knew he'd be able to jump up and grab their hands. John obliged and stepped his foot into Liam's hands. Liam pushed with all he had until Arthur grabbed John and pulled him over. Liam looked around for anyone. He backed up and sprinted towards the wall, using it to jump and grab the other two man's hands waiting for him. They grabbed him and pulled him over quietly. The Mexican men were not paying attention.

They snuck into the room beside them and closed the door. Arthur peered out the window into the stronghold. "See that bastard?" John asked quietly. "No." Arthur said, disappointed. Liam sighed. "Wait. Over there. I see you, now, Martinez." Arthur whispered. Liam moved to where he could look outside. He saw Francisco leaning over a railing, bottle in hand. "Maybe that bastard's drunk." John said. "Let's hope so." Arthur whispered. "How are we getting over there?" Liam whispered. "We're gonna try and make our way across here without being spotted. I say we split up and each go a different way so if he tries to run, we'll get him. I'll go left, John you go to the ground and Liam, you take the right side." Arthur instructed.

At that, the three split up quietly and Liam went out the door with John following. John went down the ladder to the ground. Liam saw a man looking the opposite way not far from him. He quietly snuck up and stabbed the man in the neck, letting him down slowly and quietly. He moved on across the veranda fast and stealthily, hiding the body behind a stack of dynamite. He heard men laughing coming from the room in front of him. Liam jumped behind a crate and listened. "Que no que? Si, if we get any drunker amigo, we're done for!" The man laughed. Liam smirked to himself. He knew this was gonna be easier than expected. He crept around the crate as they walked by into the next room. He moved on.