Chapter 8 #2
Hunter and Jeff took a while to write their report. They were just adding the finishing touches when Robert and Andrew arrived at the station.
“How did the patrol go?” Robert asked.
He meant the search for El Aguila’s hideout but didn’t want the prisoners to hear anything that might be of use to them should they escape and go back to their boss.
“It was fine; nothing to report,” Jeff said.
Robert rolled his eyes and shook his head. He clearly expected better.
“It’s all in the report,” Hunter said, handing it to Robert.
Andrew sighed. He looked terrible. In the last few months, he had lost a lot of weight, going from a robust, healthy man to a gaunt shadow of himself.
He was worried all the time. Hunter wondered if it had something to do with his wife Julie being pregnant, not to mention the bandits still being at large.
It was hard enough worrying about Grace’s safety.
If she were pregnant, Hunter could only imagine how his worry would multiply.
After all, how was a man supposed to protect his family from a terrible threat when he couldn’t find the source?
“We really should have our afternoon talk with—” Andrew began.
Hunter raised a finger to stop him and gestured that he and Robert should come closer. Speaking in a whisper, he told them how he and Jeff had overheard what the prisoners were talking about when they thought they were alone.
Andrew’s eyes lit up and he nodded. “That was almost useful.”
“Don’t you think it’s concerning that they believe so strongly that El Aguila will come for them?” Hunter asked. “What if they’re right? And we can’t even get that barricade built.”
“Yes, that isn’t working out how I thought it would,” Andrew said.
“And every month that blackguard robs us of our copper, our income, and makes things harder and harder for us. Did you know that almost all the farmers that we rely on for food have finally been scared into refusing to deal with us?”
“When did that happen?” Jeff asked, looking as surprised as Hunter felt.
“We’ve been out there all week. We’ve talked to some of the farmers, and they were really friendly.
No one said anything about there being a problem.
I thought it was all over. I thought El Aguila had given up that particular attempt. ”
“Well, he hasn’t,” Andrew said. “I just came from a meeting with the farmers at the market, and they are adamant that they won’t deal with us. They want their families to be safe, and since we can’t even protect ourselves, they don’t think we can protect them.” He sighed. “They’re not wrong.”
“So, what do we do?” Hunter asked. “We won’t survive without food.”
“No, we won’t,” Andrew said. “That’s why we’re going to have to resort to some tactics I’m not happy with, but I can’t see any other way to get answers. We need to find El Aguila and cut this snake’s head off so the rest of the body will fall apart.”
“He’s hiding really well,” Jeff said.
“So, we’ll lure him out,” Hunter said. “Wouldn’t that work? We’ll tell them no more copper unless El Aguila comes and negotiates himself.”
“And how do we get the message to the man himself?” Robert asked. “We don’t know if the last message got to him.”
“Yes, we do. Why else was he so determined to stop the farmers from dealing with us?” Hunter asked. “Let’s let one of the prisoners take the message. Then El Aguila can come and negotiate, and we can arrest him.”
Andrew shook his head. “I love that you think arresting the man is even a remote possibility. I think we might have to resort to more drastic measures.”
“You don’t mean that,” Jeff said, looking as horrified as Hunter felt.
“Actually, I do,” Andrew said. “I’m tired of playing nice, and our investors are starting to get twitchy. The mine can’t founder, or this town is doomed. We have to take the kid gloves off.”
“Just give it a try,” Hunter said. “It’s only been a week. We can get them to talk. I’m sure we can.”
“He might have a point,” Robert said, looking frankly at Andrew. “Once you open that door, there’s no closing it again.”
Andrew nodded. “I don’t want to, but my hands are tied.”
“So then step out of this equation,” Hunter said. “Let us deal with it. We’ll let you know what we have when we have it. If things start getting difficult around here, especially food-wise, I’m sure these fellows will start talking. Hunger can be a great motivator.”
“What are you suggesting?” Robert asked.
They were all speaking softly, and Hunter hoped that his voice wouldn’t carry.
“Grace is supplying their food, right? So maybe I can ask her to give them less. To start rationing it. Because we will have to do that until we can sort all of this out, right?” Hunter asked.
“You’re right,” Jeff muttered. “If the farmers won’t sell to us, then the whole town will have to tighten their belts, and those two in there will be in the same boat.
Maybe if we just make it happen a little quicker for them, so that it seems we’ve run out of food, then they will start to talk.
It’s amazing what a man will do for a slice of bread when he’s starving. ”
Robert nodded. “Let’s do that. But remember, we have to tighten our own belts too. We can’t be walking around looking happy and well-fed and pull this off. It’s better than your idea.” He said that to Andrew.
Andrew nodded. “Okay. Tell your wife.”
Hunter nodded.
He left a short while after that and spent an industrious half hour in an open patch of land picking wildflowers for Grace. What else could he do but show up at home a little early for a change and bearing a gift?
As it was, this was going to be an interesting conversation.