"How shall I answer that?" murmured Doña Jocasta miserably. "In the south José Perez may make life a not possible thing for me,--and in the north I would be a stranger."
"José Perez will not make trouble; yet trouble might be made,--at first," said Rotil avoiding her eyes, and turning again to Kit. "Señor, by the time Marto gets back from the south, the pack mules will be here again. Until they are gone from Soledad I trust you in charge of Señora Perez. She must have a manager, and there is none so near as you."
"At her service," said Kit promptly, "but this place----"
"Ai, that is it," agreed Rotil. "North is the safer place for women alone, and you--did you not say that on Granados there were friends?"
"Why, yes, General," replied Kit. "My friend, Captain Pike, is somewhere near, and the owner of Granados is a lady, and among us we'll do our best. But it's a hard trip, and I've only one gun."
"You will take your choice of guns, horses, or men," decided Rotil. "That is your work. Also you will take with you the evidence of Señora Perez on that matter of the murder. The padre can also come in on that,--so it will be service all around."
Chappo came to the door to report that all was ready for the trail, and Rotil stood up, and handed to Doña Jocasta the marriage contract.
"Consider the best way of protecting this until you reach an alcalde and have a copy made and witnessed," he said warningly. "It protects your future. The fortunes of war may take all the rest of us, but the wife of Perez needs the record of our names; see to it!"
She looked up at him as if to speak, but no words came. He gazed curiously at her bent head, and the slender hands over the papers. In his life of turmoil and bloodshed he had halted to secure for her the right to a principality. In setting his face to the east, and the battle line, he knew the chance was faint that he would ever see her again, and his smile had in it a touch of self-derision at the thought,--for after all he was nothing to her!
"So--that is all," he said, turning away. "You come with me a little ways, señor, and to you, señora, _adios_!"
"Go with God, Ramon Rotil," she murmured, "and if ever a friend is of need to you, remember the woman to whom you gave justice and a name!"