¾ÅζÊéÎÝ > ÎÄѧ¾­¹Üµç×ÓÊé > lla.theburninghills >

µÚ6²¿·Ö

lla.theburninghills-µÚ6²¿·Ö

С˵£º lla.theburninghills ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



¡¡and¡¡gambling¡¡broke¡¡him¡¡and¡¡he¡¡died¡¡in¡¡a¡¡gun¡¡battle¡¡while¡¡drunk¡£¡¡Maria¡¡Cristina¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡her¡¡family¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fine¡¡pride¡¡of¡¡her¡¡Mexican¡¡heritage¡¡and¡¡the¡¡memories¡¡of¡¡brief¡¡days¡¡of¡¡glory¡¡in¡¡Virginia¡¡City¡¡and¡¡San¡¡Francisco¡£
¡¡When¡¡she¡¡came¡¡the¡¡second¡¡time¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡shelf¡¡it¡¡was¡¡sudden¡£¡¡A¡¡rustle¡¡of¡¡petticoats¡¡and¡¡a¡¡brush¡¡of¡¡moccasin¡¡on¡¡a¡¡stone¡¡and¡¡she¡¡was¡¡there¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡e¡¡up¡¡some¡¡trail¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡ruin¡£¡¡She¡¡knelt¡¡beside¡¡him¡¡in¡¡one¡¡swift¡¡graceful¡¡motion£»¡¡placing¡¡a¡¡pot¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡stew£»¡¡still¡¡hot¡£
¡¡¡¨Eat¡£¡£¡£¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡time¡¡for¡¡talk¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡ate¡¡hungrily¡¡while¡¡she¡¡removed¡¡the¡¡bandage¡¡and¡¡examined¡¡the¡¡wound¡£¡¡It¡¡looked¡¡little¡¡better¡£¡¡She¡¡bathed¡¡it¡¡and¡¡replaced¡¡the¡¡bandage¡¡with¡¡a¡¡clean¡¡cloth¡£
¡¡When¡¡he¡¡had¡¡finished¡¡the¡¡stew¡¡she¡¡took¡¡the¡¡pot¡¡to¡¡the¡¡spring¡¡and¡¡washed¡¡it£»¡¡then¡¡returned¡¡with¡¡a¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡cotton¡¡cloth¡¡wrapped¡¡around¡¡some¡¡tortillas¡¡and¡¡some¡¡strips¡¡of¡¡jerked¡¡beef¡£¡¡¡¨No¡¡fire£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡warned£»¡¡¡¨they¡¡look¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡She¡¡started¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡but¡¡he¡¡caught¡¡at¡¡her¡¡skirt¡£¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡her¡¡face¡¡sullen£»¡¡revealing¡¡nothing¡£
¡¡¡¨Who¡¡are¡¡you£¿¡¡Where¡¡do¡¡you¡¡e¡¡from£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¨Do¡¡I¡¡ask¡¡this¡¡of¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡know¡¡whom¡¡to¡¡thank¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Tornado¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨At¡¡least¡¡your¡¡name¡£¡¨
¡¡She¡¡said¡¡nothing£»¡¡standing¡¡patiently¡¡until¡¡he¡¡released¡¡her¡¡skirt¡£¡¡She¡¡arose¡¡with¡¡a¡¡lithe¡¡movement¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡but¡¡he¡¡craned¡¡his¡¡neck¡¡to¡¡look¡¡after¡¡her¡¡and¡¡said¡¡suddenly£»¡¡without¡¡conscious¡¡thought£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡you're¡¡beautiful£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡think¡¡you¡¡talk¡¡too¡¡much¡£¡£¡£¡¡you¡¡sleep¡£¡¨¡¡Yet¡¡when¡¡she¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡ruined¡¡wall¡¡she¡¡stopped¡£¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡turn¡¡her¡¡head¡¡but¡¡when¡¡she¡¡had¡¡stepped¡¡over¡¡the¡¡fallen¡¡stones¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Maria¡¡Cristina£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡was¡¡gone¡£
¡¡He¡¡listened¡¡for¡¡some¡¡further¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡her¡¡going¡¡but¡¡heard¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡the¡¡trickling¡¡of¡¡the¡¡water¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡risking¡¡her¡¡life¡¡to¡¡e¡¡here¡£¡¡To¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sutton¡­Bayless¡¡crowd¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡would¡¡mean¡¡nothing¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡an¡¡enemy¡£
¡¡Jacob¡¡Lantz¡¡was¡¡the¡¡man¡¡he¡¡feared¡£¡¡Lantz¡¡was¡¡a¡¡man¡¡with¡¡a¡¡reputation¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡men£»¡¡had¡¡scouted¡¡for¡¡the¡¡army¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Indians£»¡¡had¡¡hunted¡¡and¡¡trapped¡¡where¡¡his¡¡will¡¡took¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡lived¡¡much¡¡with¡¡Indians£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡the¡¡Utes¡¡who¡¡were¡¡his¡¡mother's¡¡people¡¡but¡¡with¡¡Navajo¡¡and¡¡Apache¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡watch¡¡the¡¡girl£»¡¡knowing¡¡she¡¡lived¡¡nearby¡¡and¡¡knowing¡¡she¡¡was¡¡an¡¡enemy¡£¡¡The¡¡wounded¡¡man¡¡would¡¡need¡¡food¡¡and¡¡care¡¡and¡¡if¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡get¡¡it¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡from¡¡this¡¡family¡£¡¡And¡¡Jacob¡¡Lantz¡¡was¡¡not¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡man¡¡to¡¡outguess¡£
¡¡¡¨Maria¡¡Cristina¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡whispered¡¡the¡¡name£»¡¡liking¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡it¡¡in¡¡his¡¡ears¡£¡¡Spanish£»¡¡certainly¡£¡¡Yet¡¡she¡¡moved¡¡like¡¡an¡¡Indian¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡about¡¡her¡¡an¡¡innate¡¡dignity¡¡as¡¡typical¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Spanish¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡that¡¡dignity¡¡and¡¡a¡¡pride¡¡of¡¡person¡¡out¡¡of¡¡keeping¡¡with¡¡her¡¡surroundings¡£¡¡These¡¡things¡¡impressed¡¡him¡£
¡¡He¡¡checked¡¡his¡¡guns¡¡again¡£¡¡There¡¡could¡¡be¡¡no¡¡certainty¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡Every¡¡moment¡¡was¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡danger¡£¡¡Each¡¡hour¡¡might¡¡be¡¡his¡¡last¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡leaving¡¡no¡¡tracks£»¡¡yet¡¡the¡¡ing¡¡and¡¡going¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡could¡¡not¡¡long¡¡remain¡¡unnoticed¡£
¡¡The¡¡food¡¡he¡¡now¡¡had¡¡was¡¡sufficient¡¡for¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡days¡¡if¡¡he¡¡ate¡¡sparingly¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡he¡¡must¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡telling¡¡when¡¡she¡¡could¡¡return¡£¡¡Or¡¡if¡¡she¡¡would¡£
¡¡Whatever¡¡path¡¡she¡¡used¡¡must¡¡be¡¡well¡¡concealed£»¡¡yet¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡his¡¡hiding¡¡place¡¡was¡¡known¡¡at¡¡all¡¡worried¡¡him¡£¡¡If¡¡found£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡no¡¡chance¡¡at¡¡escape¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡simply¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡killing¡¡until¡¡he¡¡was¡¡himself¡¡killed¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡only¡¡hope¡¡they¡¡would¡¡e¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡awake¡£
¡¡He¡¡lay¡¡back£»¡¡staring¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡rocks¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡very¡¡weak¡¡and¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡movement¡¡tired¡¡him¡£¡¡It¡¡must¡¡be¡¡days£»¡¡even¡¡weeks¡¡before¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡fit¡¡to¡¡travel¡£¡¡And¡¡that¡¡was¡¡long£»¡¡much¡¡too¡¡long¡£¡¡Again¡¡and¡¡again¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡¡reverted¡¡to¡¡Maria¡¡Cristina¡£¡¡A¡¡long¡¡time¡¡ago£»¡¡in¡¡another¡¡life£»¡¡he¡¡remembered¡¡women¡¡who¡¡had¡¡such¡¡poise¡¡and¡¡bearing¡£¡¡But¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Tidewater¡¡region¡¡of¡¡Virginia¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡boy¡£
¡¡What¡¡could¡¡her¡¡blood¡¡line¡¡be£¿¡¡The¡¡Conquistadores£¿¡¡Or¡¡that¡¡even¡¡older¡¡lineage£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Toltec¡¡kings£¿
¡¡At¡¡times¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡riders¡¡in¡¡the¡¡canyon¡¡or¡¡on¡¡the¡¡mesa¡¡above£»¡¡so¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡search¡¡continued¡£¡¡And¡¡again¡¡he¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡e£»¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡grow¡¡long¡¡and¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡that¡¡lone¡¡star¡¡above¡¡the¡¡canyon's¡¡rim¡£
¡¡Only¡¡tonight¡¡there¡¡were¡¡two¡£¡¡One¡¡hung¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sky£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡was¡¡lower¡¡down£»¡¡somewhere¡¡on¡¡the¡¡mesa¡¡across¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fire£»¡¡the¡¡campfire¡¡of¡¡watching¡¡men¡£
¡¡
¡¡Chapter¡¡Two
¡¡Jacob¡¡Lantz¡¡was¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡seven¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ledge¡¡on¡¡which¡¡Trace¡¡Jordan¡¡lay¡¡wounded¡£¡¡Jack¡¡Sutton¡¡was¡¡there¡¡with¡¡him¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half¡­dozen¡¡others¡£¡¡All¡¡were¡¡tired¡¡and¡¡the¡¡older¡¡men¡¡disgusted¡£¡¡The¡¡younger¡¡ones¡¡found¡¡it¡¡a¡¡wele¡¡relief¡¡from¡¡range¡¡work¡¡but¡¡all¡¡were¡¡determined¡£¡¡Only¡¡Jacob¡¡Lantz¡¡was¡¡tasting¡¡the¡¡bread¡¡of¡¡bitterness¡£
¡¡For¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡in¡¡years¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡a¡¡trail¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡again¡¡find¡£¡¡Jordan¡¡had¡¡eluded¡¡him£»¡¡either¡¡escaping¡¡clear¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡or¡¡hiding¡¡himself¡¡securely¡£
¡¡The¡¡trail¡¡had¡¡simply¡¡vanished¡£¡¡Nor¡¡was¡¡it¡¡possible¡¡to¡¡say¡¡exactly¡¡where¡¡it¡¡had¡¡vanished¡£¡¡Sutton¡¡did¡¡not¡¡believe¡¡Jordan¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡mounted¡¡the¡¡mesa¡¡and¡¡Hindeman¡¡was¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡agree¡£¡¡Lantz¡¡was¡¡positive¡¡Jordan¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡mesa¡¡but¡¡could¡¡not¡¡explain¡¡why¡¡he¡¡believed¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡only¡¡two¡¡fresh¡¡tracks¡¡atop¡¡the¡¡mesa¡¡and¡¡neither¡¡could¡¡be¡¡identified¡¡as¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hunted¡¡man¡£
¡¡Jordan¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡blood£»¡¡much¡¡blood¡£¡¡Yet¡¡he¡¡had¡¡kept¡¡moving¡¡and¡¡at¡¡no¡¡time¡¡had¡¡he¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡use¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡Such¡¡a¡¡man¡¡was¡¡dangerous¡£
¡¡Lantz¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡Jordan¡¡but¡¡he¡¡could¡¡read¡¡a¡¡trail¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡Jordan¡¡knew¡¡wild¡¡country¡¡and¡¡how¡¡to¡¡cover¡¡a¡¡trail¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡used¡¡none¡¡of¡¡the¡¡obvious¡¡methods¡£¡¡Nor¡¡had¡¡he¡¡done¡¡the¡¡same¡¡thing¡¡twice¡£
¡¡The¡¡country¡¡through¡¡which¡¡they¡¡moved¡¡was¡¡wild¡¡and¡¡broken¡£¡¡It¡¡lay¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡border¡¡between¡¡New¡¡Mexico¡¡and¡¡Arizona¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡¡and¡¡Sonora¡¡and¡¡Chihuahua¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south¡£¡¡Water¡¡holes¡¡were¡¡few¡¡and¡¡the¡¡country¡¡south¡¡of¡¡the¡¡border¡¡was¡¡without¡¡population¡¡for¡¡more¡¡than¡¡fifty¡¡miles¡¡into¡¡Mexico¡£
¡¡In¡¡the¡¡past¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡bitter¡¡fighting¡¡along¡¡the¡¡border¡¡but¡¡only¡¡Pablo¡¡Chavero¡¡had¡¡lasted¡¡against¡¡the¡¡hard¡­fighting¡¡Sutton¡­Bayless¡¡outfit¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡too¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡down¡£¡¡Yet¡¡if¡¡the¡¡hunted¡¡man¡¡were¡¡to¡¡get¡¡aid¡¡from¡¡any¡¡source¡¡it¡¡could¡¡only¡¡be¡¡that¡¡one¡¡family¡£
¡¡¡¨Vicente's¡¡yellow£»¡¨¡¡Mort¡¡Bayless¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¨That¡¡girl¡¡isn't£»¡¨¡¡Hindeman¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¨We'd¡¡see¡¡it¡¡if¡¡she¡¡helped¡¡him£»¡¨¡¡Joe¡¡Sutton¡¡argued¡£¡¡¡¨This¡¡country's¡¡all¡¡wide¡¡open¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Then¡¡why¡¡don't¡¡we¡¡see¡¡him£¿¡¨
¡¡Lantz¡¡ignored¡¡the¡¡conversation£»¡¡considering¡¡the¡¡girl¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡no¡¡love¡¡for¡¡any¡¡gringo£»¡¡that¡¡much¡¡he¡¡knew¡£¡¡But¡¡most¡¡of¡¡all¡¡she¡¡had¡¡no¡¡love¡¡for¡¡any¡¡Sutton¡¡or¡¡Bayless¡£¡¡The¡¡question¡¡was£º¡¡would¡¡she¡¡risk¡¡all¡¡they¡¡had¡¡by¡¡incurring¡¡the¡¡Sutton¡¡anger£¿
¡¡She¡¡might¡£¡£¡£
¡¡He¡¡set¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡the¡¡girl¡£¡¡Vicente£»¡¡he¡¡soon¡¡realized£»¡¡was¡¡worried¡£¡¡It¡¡showed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡young¡¡Mexican's¡¡restlessness¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡kept¡¡searching¡¡the¡¡hills¡£¡¡A¡¡man¡¡of¡¡lesser¡¡perception¡¡might¡¡believe¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡something¡¡but¡¡Lantz¡¡surmised¡¡the¡¡truth¡£¡¡Vicente¡¡wanted¡¡no¡¡trouble¡¡and¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Sutton¡¡riders¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hills¡¡trouble¡¡could¡¡e¡¡at¡¡any¡¡moment
¡¡Lantz¡¡settled¡¡himself¡¡among¡¡the¡¡sparse¡¡growth¡¡above¡¡the¡¡canyon¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡his¡¡glasses¡¡with¡¡him¡¡and¡¡he¡¡could¡¡watch¡¡the¡¡movement¡¡around¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡His¡¡was¡¡an¡¡infinite¡¡patience¡£¡¡Neither¡¡hours¡¡nor¡¡days¡¡had¡¡any¡¡meaning¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hunt¡¡and¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡missed¡¡nothing¡£
¡¡At¡¡dusk¡¡he¡¡watched¡¡Maria¡¡Cristina¡¡and¡¡Juanito¡¡bring¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sheep¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡penned¡¡near¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡the¡¡big¡¡dogs¡¡were¡¡fed¡¡and¡¡smoke¡¡lifted¡¡lazily¡¡from¡¡the¡¡chimney¡£
¡¡Vicente¡¡came¡¡out¡¡and¡¡chopped¡¡wood¡£¡¡Lantz¡¡would¡¡see¡¡the¡¡axe¡¡rise£»¡¡then¡¡fall¡¡and¡¡some¡¡time¡¡later¡¡he¡¡would¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡sound£»¡¡mellowed¡¡by¡¡distance¡£¡¡The¡¡setting¡¡sun¡¡edged¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡with¡¡somber¡¡orange¡¡as¡¡of¡¡distant¡¡fires¡¡blazing¡£¡¡Jacob¡¡Lantz¡¡lit¡¡his¡¡pipe¡¡and¡¡waited¡£¡¡Now¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡time¡¡¡£¡£¡£
¡¡Yet¡¡nothing¡¡happened¡£¡¡The¡¡fingered¡¡pinnacles¡¡grew¡¡tall£»¡¡the¡¡deeper¡¡canyons¡¡swallowed¡¡darkness¡£¡¡Maria¡¡Cristina¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡house¡¡and¡¡he¡¡poised¡¡like¡¡a¡¡hound¡¡at¡¡a¡¡vagrant¡¡scent¡¡but¡¡she¡¡merely¡¡checked¡¡the¡¡corral¡¡bars¡¡and¡¡returned¡¡inside¡£¡¡And¡¡then¡¡that¡¡canyon¡¡too¡¡was¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡darkness¡£¡¡Only¡¡the¡¡two¡¡visible¡¡windows¡¡glowed¡£¡¡The¡¡night¡¡grew¡¡cool¡£
¡¡Perhaps¡¡he¡¡was¡¡mistaken¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡£¡¡Yet¡¡he¡¡could¡¡go¡¡closer¡¡at¡¡night¡£
¡¡At¡¡dusk¡¡Trace¡¡Jordan¡¡rolled¡¡from¡¡his¡¡blankets¡¡and£»¡¡taking¡¡his¡¡time£»¡¡crawled¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cliff¡£¡¡From¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡screen¡¡of¡¡brush¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡into¡¡the¡¡canyon¡£
¡¡For¡¡the¡¡firs

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ