“We go to the spring for water.”
“What about the men? You told them you were staying here until nightfall,” Maria said.
“I’m going for water. I think they’ll stay for a little while before trying again.”
“And what if they try again right now?”
“Would you?” Anda was tired of talking to Maria, tired of carrying the cocaine, tired all over. She walked away through the yellow grass, heading up the valley, and the two women followed.
***
They felt the coolness before they heard the water. It was up a small side canyon that ended in an upthrust rent of rock with a dozen huge Ponderosa Pines growing out of the cracks. Halfway up the wall and cascading down to a bed-sized pool of clear water was the spring. The two women hurried past Anda and dropped to bury their faces in the ice-cold water. Anda walked up and cupped her hands where the water fell and steadily sipped until her hands were empty. She ran her damp palms over her face and cheeks, then filled her hands again and drank some more.
Alicia suddenly raised her head from the pool and turned to the side. She threw up most of the water, and then retched a few more times.
Anda said, “Drink slower, you won’t get sick.”
Maria said, “Why didn’t you tell her before? Do you enjoy watching her emptying her stomach?”
Anda said, “Should I leave you here? You talk so much, maybe you can talk your way out of these mountains and away from those two back there.”
“You would like that, for me to say yes to that, uh? You could take my savings, my future with you then and have a clear conscience, couldn’t you? And how did you know of this spring? How did you know of the trail? You say you are from the Sierras,
but you know this place, know these mountains. How is that, little thief?”
Anda thought about not explaining, but Alicia was looking at her, wondering, too. Anda said, “My grandfather told me about them, about the trail and this spring, these mountains.”
“What do you mean, your grandfather?”
“His father chased Apaches. His father was a scout with the Mexican army, and pursued the Apache, Victorio, and his people through these mountains. They had a big fight here at this spring. He told my grandfather about tracking them along the trail to this place, and of fighting them, and my grandfather told me the story many times.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Anda pointed up the rocks, “They buried eleven of their soldiers above the spring. Go look.”
Maria didn’t go look, but stopped talking.
Anda sat near the water with her back to the rocks. She leaned her head on her arms to rest. She was so tired, and so alone. These two women were not friends, not anything. Anda let her thoughts drift to the woman Agent, Hunter Kincaid. She had good eyes, that one, a good face. Hunter had looked at her like a person, not like a peon, or a child. Yes, she liked this Agent Kincaid. Thinking of her made Anda feel less lonely.
***
Jesse stuck his head into the crevice a dozen times and jerked it back, expecting a rock or an avalanche to come each time. His jaws ached from the tension. Johnny finally said, “If you’re going to go, then go! You’re drivin’ me crazy!”
“I’m just about ready! Don’t push me, Johnny!”
“Then go! Christ, they ain’t up there, they’re long gone. And I damn sure don’t want to be on this ledge after dark, do you?”
“I’m goin’, I’m goin’.” Jesse took a breath and stepped into the crevice. He waited a long beat, then started up. Sweat ran down his back and face, and he stopped several times to wipe his forehead. When he reached the top, he pushed the rocks away from the lip and pulled himself up. He turned and called for Johnny to come up, then scanned the valley for signs of the women.
There was a pushed-down trail through the tall grass that indicated the women went up the valley. When Johnny topped out, they followed it, as focused as wolves on a fresh scent.
***
Anda knew it was time to go. She stood and motioned for the others to rise. The two women groaned, but got to their feet. Anda said, “A little further and we will be off the mountain.”
“Why not spend the night here and rest?” Alicia asked.
“We have some light left, and it would be best to get off the mountain before dark.”