Believing that Panfilo would turn up at La Feria in due
time, she gave little heed to Jose's dark threats of vengeance for
any injury to his relative.
The horse-breaker's concern increased as the days passed, and to
the lieutenant and members of the guard he repeated his threats.
Truly, he declared, if any evil had fallen upon his beloved cousin
Panfilo, he, Jose, would exact a terrible reckoning, a revenge
befitting a man of his character and a friend of Luis Longorio.
These soldiers, by the way, were something of a trial to Alaire,
for they were ever in her way. She could not ride a mile over her
own pastures without the whole martial squad following at her
heels. Protest was unavailing; the lieutenant was mulishly
stubborn. He had been ordered to keep the senora in sight at all
times, so he said, and that ended the matter as far as he was
concerned. His life and the lives of his six followers depended
entirely upon her safety and happiness, for General Longorio was a
man of his word.
Of course the lieutenant would not offend for the world--the
object of his solicitude was at liberty to tread upon his
worthless old carcass--but orders were orders, especially when
they came from a certain source.
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