Land of the Unknown

Meeting

Thunder echoed throughout the skies, waking Luke from his slumber. He stretched as she noticed the fire burned out; Emiliano was still asleep, snoring. He chuckled as he got up and gently shook the young man. "Wake up, chap; it's morning."

Emiliano woke up and slowly sat up from his handmade cot. "Morning already? Oh no, I need to report to Tunstall." He packed his things with haste. Once his belongings were loaded and secured onto the horse's saddle, he immediately got on his horse. "Thanks for showing off your talent. Do you still want to meet tonight?"

"I told you last night, chap. Now go on; we don't want your boss to worry." 

He thanked Luke again and rode off the road, heading to Tunstall's ranch. When he arrived, he commanded his horse to stop before the house. "Richard! John!"

"Hello Richard, I have something important to tell you and Tunstall!" he announced. 

The door to the house opened; Tunstall walked out. "You're late again, Emiliano. The information ya have must be important. Let's go inside." They went inside, where Richard sat by the living room table, looking at the paperwork.

Richard looked up. "Golly, Emiliano. We heard you like a madman. What happened?"

"After spying on Luke Bixby, I heard some unsettling things. It would seem that Dolan and Murphey hired some outlaw gangs. One of them is led by Jesse Evans!"

The men were stunned when they heard Jesse Evans' name. Jesse was known throughout New Mexico for stealing and killing other people. They would have never imagined that they would be working with the enemy. The group was so deep in thought that they didn't realize that Billy was standing by the entrance as he heard everything. "So, what do ya want us to do now, John?"

Everyone cringed as they finally noticed the young cowboy. "Billy, ya heard everythin'?"

"Every word. So that's what ya had him doin'. Why didn't ya ask me to keep an eye out for Bixby? Didn't ya trust me, John?"

"It's not that, Billy. We know how faithful ya are, but ya have a temper. I wanted ya here because I trust that ya can protect me. Yer one of the many men I trust." Tunstall motioned Emiliano to leave, and he did so. The two young men eyed one another until Emiliano left.

Billy walked forward with his arms crossed. "Do ya think we can trust Emiliano's information about Luke Bixby?"

"I trust Emiliano. He is good at what he does and smart. We have more things to worry about since we have more dangerous enemies. We need to be more careful and on guard than ever." Richard suddenly noticed something moving outside one of the windows and walked towards it.

"What ya doin'?" asked Tunstall.

I thought I heard something outside." The window was opened; Richard looked both ways, but nothing was seen. When the window was shut, someone emerged from hiding on the other side of the house and quietly walked away. 

Meanwhile, Annmarie woke up from her slumber after working all night. Her last customer left before midnight, and she had the day off. Annmarie decided to meet with Emiliano since she hadn't seen him in a while. Unfortunately, she didn't have much information regarding the ranch owners, but seeing how he was going would have been nice. The young woman bathed to get the stench of sex off her and then dressed appropriately in the county's terms. Once finished, Annmarie padded out of the bedhouse and into town. Anticipation and excitement were felt in her heart as she couldn't wait to see the man that plagued her thoughts. 

The cold air hit her, and she shivered. As she was going to walk to Tunstall's ranch, her stomach growled. "Might as well buy some bread." The young woman went to a food store and bought a loaf of bread. Many occupants, especially the women, eyed her with disgust.

The young prostitute knew that the women hated her since many of their husbands were customers at the bedhouse. She got her lost of bread and paid. Before leaving, a young Native woman entered. She went to many occupants, asking them if they were so kind as to lend her some food. The Native woman was ignored or threatened to have the sheriffs called. Annmarie felt pity for her since she knew how it felt to be viewed as an outcast; she went to her. "Follow me; we shall eat outside." The Native woman was surprised but noticed the loaf of bread; she followed. They walked out of the store and sat on the pair of stairs. Annmarie broke the bread and gave half to the unknown woman.

"Thank you, Miss. I will never forget your kindness. "  The two women ate. 

"Yer not from here."

"No, I'm from a tribe far from here."

"The name is Annmarie."

"I am Gouyen."

The two women shook hands. "What brings you all the way here to Lincoln County?"

Gouyen swallowed a piece. "I heard news about a friend who came here. I'm looking for him."

"Who's your friend?"

"His name is Emiliano Quinteras." Annmarie almost choked on the piece of bread she was eating. Gouyen looked at her with concern. "Are you well?"

Annmarie nodded quickly. "Yer friends with Emiliano!?"

"Y-Yes, do you know of him?"

"He's workin' for Tunstall."

Gouyen's eyes became wide. "Thank Mother Earth that he is here! Is he well!?!" The young Native woman swallowed the rest of the bread. "Could you please take me to him? I need to speak to him."

Deep down, Annmarie didn't want to take her to see Emiliano. However, Emiliano would find out about Gouyen and know that she didn't tell him about her arrival, making him not trust her. She didn't want him to hate her. "Alright, I will take you to him. Follow me."