Pietro and Valencia Part thirteen

The old woman, Valencia's neighbor, who had watched the Coyote burn Valencia's families home, and heard the screams of Valencia's Grandmother, asked her grandson to drive her to Estrella's cabin.  The young man did not want to do it, it sounded boring, but his Grandmother insisted and gave him money to buy gas.  They filled the tank of the small car and drove west.  The old woman had gotten directions from the man who owned the gas station, he knew Estrella and would do anything to help her and make life difficult for the Coyote.  The directions were very clear and by mid afternoon the old woman and the young man were turning off of the main road and on to the long rugged drive to the cabin.  The car stopped as soon as the old woman saw the cabin.  She told her grandson so stay in the car and she walked through the dirt towards the home of Estrella.
Before she had walked 100 feet, Estrella came out of the cabin holding a rifle.  "Who comes here?"  She asked sternly.
"I am the neighbor of Valencia.  I have come to warn you about the Coyote."  The old woman stopped talking and waited.  She could see her words had deeply effected Estrella.  Estrella had momentarily slumped, her face cringing with hatred and fear.  Quickly she straightened up, her chin jutting out defiantly.
"Who is in the car?"  She asked.
"It is only my grandson, Estrella, he is a good boy, lazy, but he will not tell anyone we have been here."  The old woman knew how dangerous this visit was.  If the Coyote found out about it he would not hesitate to kill her or her grandson, or worse, torture them until they talked.
Estrella motioned the woman to come to the cabin and invited her inside.  Once they were seated at the table the old Woman began to talk.
"The coyote has burned the house that Valencia's family lived in.  The Grandmother was inside.  She is dead."  Estrella was horrified.  "Mother of God!"  She said.  "How can a man do that?  Did the Policia arrest him?"
The old woman laughed without smiling.  "They do nothing.  It is as if they do not exist when it comes to the Coyote.  And he is not a man, he is a beast sent by the devil himself to torment us.
That is not all, he burned Fredrico Rodriquez's Garage and beat up Jesus Montoya, the brother of  Juan, the man who owns the gun shop.  He has threatened or hurt almost everyone in the village trying to find out where you live.  The Coyote has the whole place terrorized.  And worse, he succeeded.  He could be here any time, but I think you may have a day or two, he will have to get supplies before he comes searching for Pietro and Valencia and he has made the villagers so angry they will try to sabotage his plans and delay him as much as they can.  But, who knows if they will succeed?"  The woman stopped speaking, feeling almost out of breath.  She had held in so much fear and anger that now she felt drained.
Estrella had listened, knowing that this was meant to be.  she knew the Coyote would be coming, but now she knew when, or approximately when.  She was ready she thought.  Her preparations had been carefully planned and executed.  She might not be able to stop the Coyote from searching for Pietro and Valencia, but she would do her best to give them the head start they needed.  Estrella thanked the woman and asked her to go quickly, but not so fast that she would make a lot of dust on the road.  She wasn't going to take any chances.  The two stood and Estrella put her hands out to take the woman's hands.  "I know you took a big chance coming here and I thank you.  I promise your efforts will not be wasted."
"You know, Estrella, the whole town is on your side.  They want Pietro and Valencia to have a chance at life.  Of course, Valencia's father is very upset and angry with Pietro, but he will get over that.  Mostly he just wants his daughter home, safe."  The old woman turned and began to walk to the door. Just as she reached it, she turned and looked at Estrella.  "You should move to town.  But not until the Coyote is gone, dead hopefully."
The woman turned back and Estrella watched her walk to the little car and waited as the car turned and slowly made its way down to the main road.  They drove slowly and made little dust.  Estrella was pleased that they had come, not knowing when the Coyote would find her had been stressful.  Now, she knew it would be very soon, and she knew it would be an unpleasant meeting.
She had driven Pietro's truck several miles away from her cabin and parked it behind some large scrub brush.  She had gathered more brush and packed it around the vehicle until the truck was well hidden.  It had taken her a long time and when she was finished and had walked the long walk back home she was filthy, sweaty and bone tired.  She had removed all traces of any visitors from the cabin.
Now, although her plans were not quite finished, she wanted to make a few more changes to the area around her house.  She would put hazards in the Coyotes path, anything to slow him down, and give Pietro and Valencia more time.  She worked all day and late into the evening.  When she finally did go to bed she was satisfied.  She was almost excited for the Coyote to come.  If he didn't kill her, his visit might provide quite a bit of fun.  For her.  Estrella prayed until she fell asleep.