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“I haven’t heard any plan yet,” Bowen said.
“That’ll come.”
“It’ll come right now, or I don’t.”
“I’ll tell you part of it,” Manring paused. Then, his voice was lower as he said, “You know what happens at the end of the canyon.”
“We climb,” Bowen said.
“That’s right. Have you figured how we’re going to cut a road up through the rocks?”
“It isn’t my problem.”
“It wasn’t mine either,” Manring said, “till I was taken on Renda’s survey party. That was over a month ago…when we pla
“So he’s going to use it?” Bowen prompted.
“It’s already ordered,” Manring said. “Should be here by next week.”
“Earl, are you going to tell me you talked him into using dynamite?”
“I put the idea in his head. You can call it whatever you want.”
“You think,” Bowen said, “he would’ve plotted down that canyon without pla
“Renda don’t know anything about road building!”
Bowen paused. “Let me ask you something else, Earl. Do you know how to use dynamite?”
“I saw enough of it at Yuma.”
“That’s right, you saw it…but there’s only one man here you’re sure ever worked with it. That’s where I figure in. You’ve got the plan, but you need me to set it off.”
“You’re taking on a lot of credit all of a sudden,” Manring muttered. “Next you’ll tell me you were pla
“No,” Bowen admitted. “I never thought of breaking out of here as being worth blowing somebody up.”
“Well, think about it now,” Manring said quietly. “Think about this afternoon, the way that gunhand busted Chick Miller…think about them watching you, looking for the littlest excuse to bust you…and let me know what you come to.”
That same evening, Liza
She considered asking Renda directly, but almost immediately decided against it. Her interest in Bowen could arouse Renda’s suspicion and she could not risk any word or action which might do that. Not now. Not with the plan that would enable her to leave here already in her mind. She had thought it out carefully and deliberately. It was the simplest way, as far as Liza
The next morning Liza
The opportunity came the next Sunday. It came unexpectedly and Liza
Willis had left for Fuegos by midmorning. For almost an hour after that Liza
He could be sent to the stable again, Liza
Be patient, she thought. But even while thinking this she decided to take her horse out.
Frank Renda closed his door behind him as Liza
“Going for a ride?” Renda asked.
How do you answer a question like that? Liza
“You’re not very sociable today.”
“Is today different from any other?”
“It’s Sunday. The day of rest…Rest for most.” Renda was looking toward the convicts. His eyes found Bowen and Pryde and he called out to them. As they came toward him Renda said, “But no rest for these two.”
“The stable?” Pryde asked.
“What’d you think?” Renda said. “That’s your permanent Sunday job.”
Inside the stable, Liza
As he moved to Renda’s stall, Liza
Renda glanced at her. “You like to be waited on, don’t you?”
“No more than you do,” Liza
Renda shrugged, looking at Bowen then. “Do what she says.”
Now-Liza
“Frank,” she said, turning to leave the stable. “Have him bring it over to me…I’ve forgotten something.”
She walked out, not waiting to hear Renda’s answer, then took her time crossing the yard, glancing indifferently from the convicts to the guard at the main gate. She entered her adobe, leaving the door open, then hurried into the bedroom. From the top drawer of the dresser, she took the.25-caliber Colt revolver and returned with it to the front room. As she did, looking out through the open door and across the wide expanse of yard, she saw Renda ride out of the stable toward the gate. A few minutes later Bowen came out leading her sorrel.
Liza
She remained back out of the doorway, now holding the revolver at her side, hidden in the folds of her full riding skirt. Bowen approached the ramada, then halted at the edge of the shade. He could not yet see her, but he called out, “Here’s your horse.”
Liza
Bowen hesitated. He glanced toward the barracks, then let the reins fall and entered the adobe. He nodded, seeing Liza
“Thank you.” Liza
“He didn’t say.”
“He made it very easy for us.”
“I can still get caught in here. Brazil’s about.”
Liza
“If it was,” Bowen said, “you’d have to break in a new man.”
Liza
“It’s true, isn’t it?”
She moved closer to him and put her hand on his arm. “I was thinking of you, Corey. Not just a man who’s willing to help me.”
Bowen said nothing.
Liza
“It’s as beautiful as it ever was.”
“Do you still want to help me?”
“If it means helping myself.”
Liza
“I haven’t been picturing you as one.”
She dropped her eyes. “I was, once. Before I was brought here.”
Come on, Bowen thought. Get to the point.
“It isn’t just Renda and having to live here like a prisoner-which is more than any woman should be asked to bear. It’s also my husband.”
“We’ve been over your husband before.”
“I thought you were more understanding.”
“I’m trying to understand one thing-why you brought me in here.”