“But Marto––” began Padre Andreas, when Rotil faced about, staring him into silence.
“Marto will return here to Soledad today,” he said, and the face of the priest went pale. It was as if he had said that the task of Marto on the east trail would be ended.
“Yes, Marto Cavayso has been at Hermosillo,” assented Doña Jocasta. “He will know all the ways to arrive quickly.”
“That will be attended to. Will you, señor, see to it that horse and provision are made ready for the trail? And you, señora? Soledad in the wilderness is no good place for a lady. When this matter of the slaves is arranged, will it please you to ride south, or north? Troops of the south will be coming this way;––it will be a land of soldiers and foraging.”
“How shall I answer that?” murmured Doña Jocasta miserably. “In the south José Perez may make life a not possible thing for me,––and in the north I would be a stranger.”
“José Perez will not make trouble; yet trouble might be made,––at first,” said Rotil avoiding her eyes, and turning again to Kit. “Señor, by the time Marto gets back from the south, the pack mules will be here again. Until they are gone from Soledad I trust you in charge of Señora Perez. She must have a manager, and there is none so near as you.”
“At her service,” said Kit promptly, “but this place–––”
“Ai, that is it,” agreed Rotil. “North is the safer place for women alone, and you––did you not say that on Granados there were friends?”
“Why, yes, General,” replied Kit. “My friend, Captain Pike, is somewhere near, and the owner of Granados is a lady, and among us we’ll do our best. But it’s a hard trip, and I’ve only one gun.”
“You will take your choice of guns, horses, or men,” decided Rotil. “That is your work. Also you will take with you the evidence of Señora Perez on that matter of the murder. The padre can also come in on that,––so it will be service all around.”