: Somewhere south in Sonora by Comfort Will Levington -

@FreeBooksThu 08 Jun, 2023

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SOMEWHERE SOUTH IN SONORA

OLD LIGHTS OF THE RIO BRAVA

BOB LEADLEY moved toward the sound of guitars. The strumming came from over the stream where the Mexicans had their own little cantina and their dobe huts. Back from the 'Damask Cheek,' which was the palpitating core of the white settlement, voices of the miners reached him, not loud to-night, not uproarious. Things were seldom duller than now on the Rio Brava, shrunken to a trickle at this time of year. The eke of gold had been at its lowest for days on the placers. A hot, still August night in Bismo, Arizona--the night that changed one white man all around.

Mexican figures bowed to him. A woman laughingly called from a darkened doorway: 'Buenas noches, se?or!' Another laughed from behind her, adding somewhat wistfully: 'Hace un calor sofocante.'

He walked on past the dobe huts and on to the mesa. He heard the coyotes--different from any time before. There was no moon and the stars were indistinct, run together in the heat haze. Bob Leadley took off his hat; drops of sweat held by the tight hatband, dropped down on his face. He had to laugh at himself--the feelings that rolled and tumbled over each other within. Nobody would have believed it of him--feelings to keep a secret of. It was as if some one he had always been waiting for, had come to town--not yet seen, a friend or enemy, he couldn't tell, but a life-or-death meaning to the arrival. Running steps reached him from behind; a panting voice calling:

'Bob! Bob!'

'Hello, Mort,' he answered as the other came up, the tone so quiet and cool, it was almost whimsical.

'What you doing away off here?'

'She didn't want me there.'

'It's a boy, Bob, only--'

'I thought as much.'

'It's a boy all right, only she--they say she ain't going to live.'

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