"Howdy Pardner" Part 2- for the What if? Challenge 3/9/17

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Once dismissed, Napoleon and Illya headed out and retrieved their horses from the stable; Kuryakin riding a feisty black stallion, Solo sat atop a gorgeous palomino with a flowing white mane and tail.

Solo’s saddle was ornamented with silver, while the Russian’s was plain black leather, but well cared for.

They spurred their horses to a gallop, heading out of Laredo with a plan to meet with Sir Reginald at his ranch.

As they travelled Kuryakin pulled a bandana from his pocket, knocking back his hat momentarily while he wiped his perspiring brow.

“Feeling the heat pardner?” Napoleon asked.

“I am not accustomed to this. Where I come from we do not have such extreme temperatures, and there is plenty of snow. I doubt this place has ever seen snow...have you?”

“Snow? Of course I have. I’m from New York City and we get plenty of it, especially up state.”

“Oh I have heard that. It is nothing compared to what falls in Moskva. Winters are so harsh that Tsar of all the Russias has winter palace in St. Petersburg. It is where our monarchs have lived for over one hundred years, though there are other royal palaces dating back to the 1500’s. Your American history is a mere grain of sand compared to the history of my country...and your weather too,”Illya snickered.

Napoleon sighed, wondering if this guy ever stopped bragging about mother Russia? He found it interesting that the old country was pretty quick to give him up to the likes of U.N.C.L.E. though that topic was another can of worms that didn’t need to be opened at the moment.

His new partner seemed to be a pretty smart cowpoke, but there were times he just didn’t know when to quit. If it was a topic he was keen on you just couldn’t get him to stop his yammering, otherwise you were lucky to get two words out of him. He was a strange one all right, but the man was a dead shot with a six shooter and handy with a knife, so he was handy to have round in a fight.

Still, Napoleon found himself liking the man, and the Russian apparently liked him as well.

When they arrived at Sir Reginald’s, the house was not what they expected, but given the proximity to the Mexican border the architecture had heavy Spanish influences.

It was a sprawling whitewashed hacienda with a roof of red clay tiles.  There was a swath of blue paint that ran along the base of the walls, making it look like the house sat in a pool of cool water.  Surrounding it was surprising lush greenery planted everywhere and there was even lovely English roses that managed to survive in this arid climate.

After being welcomed into the Royce hacienda it was decided that Sir Reginald would hold a soiree and invite the military officers in question so the agents could observe them.

Other guests would be the local Dons with whom Sir Reginald was friendly. The interaction between them and the American officers might be a little revealing.

Napoleon had an appropriate dress suit for the occasion but Illya was another question. It was decided that he would wear the uniform of one of the houseboys tending to the guests at the party. That would allow him to mingle amongst them and eavesdrop.

Kuryakin’s last words to his partner were,”Remember we are not to interact, we are here to merely gather information, and that goes for any of the señoritas present as well.”

“Look, you do what you do best and I’ll do what I do,” Napoleon flicked an eyebrow.

“That is what I am afraid of.”  Kuryakin gathered his serving tray and headed to the kitchen. There he’d get the glasses of champagne and wine to serve to the gathering guests.

Neither of them could wear their gun belts but both had derringers hidden in their sleeves and the Russian had a throwing knife tucked into his right boot.

One by one the army officers were introduced to ‘Lee’ Solo who was in turn introduced as a dealer in firearms from back East. It wasn’t long before he was able to engage the military men in a conversation regarding relations with Mexico. As soon as the topic was broached, the soldier’s demeanor changed, and their eyes glazed over.

It seemed to Napoleon that they’d been hypnotized and were spouting the same derogatory diatribe regarding the Don’s and the local Mexicans who lived in Escobar. Calling them thieving trash, and nothing but pistoleros.

Solo backed off, following after Illya while retrieving a glass of champagne.

“What did you hear?”

Illya whispered his findings.” There is a man who seems to be gathering people to his way of thinking, and that is a war with Mexico. He has been buying up land in this area both in Texas and Mexico. It is as though he wishes to take over it all, creating his own country perhaps?”

“Who is it Kay?” Napoleon whispered.

“That one, dressed in the white jacket covered in military medals, though upon closer examination the medals are from time periods in which he could not have earned them. His name is Emory Charles Partridge, and he is originally from a place called East Snout in England. There are others with him wearing an odd patch on their left breasts, it is of a bird. I have heard they call themselves ‘Tordo’ which I believe is the Spanish word for ‘thrush’.”

“I think the American officers have been hypnotized,”Napoleon said.”They spoke about going to war with Mexico as if they were reciting lines from a play. My gut instinct tells me these bird fellows may have had a hand trying to stir up a bit of a revolution here pardner.”

The Russian agreed.” I do not think Mexican President Díaz will be happy about that, nor President Hayes. We have enough evidence to report back to Mr. Waverly.”

“Let’s keep listening in a bit more,” Napoleon smiled. “in the meantime I’m going to enjoy a dance with that lovely bit of femininity in the pink gown.” He winked to his partner, who merely rolled his eyes.

This American would never listen when it came to the ladies…they would probably be the death of him someday.

As Solo waltzed with the dazzling beauty, he discovered she was the daughter of Colonel Henry Pickering, the head of the outpost here.

“Mr. Solo would you care to accompany me for a walk in the lovely rose garden here? It’s such a refreshing splash of color and aroma in the midst of dull Escobar. Life at a military fort is so boring at times.”

“It would be my honor Miss Pickering,” Napoleon offered the lady his arm. He loved the sound of her crinoline petticoat as she moved; they seemed to make women wearing them look as if they were floating on air, and to Solo it added to their allure.

As they walked under the moonlight sky, the heady fragrance of the many yellow rosebushes filled the air.

“Tell me Miss Pickering, have you noticed anything odd about your father as of late?”

“Why Mr. Solo, that’s such an odd question to ask a girl on a stroll in a garden on a beautiful moonlit evening.”

“Oh your beauty far outshines the moon and the roses Miss Pickering,” he stopped, while smiling at her.

“Call me Sally,” the girl blushed.

“And you can call me Na..Lee, call me Lee.” He gently raised her chin with his hand, bringing her lips close to his and gently kissed her. Napoleon could see it in her eyes, that was what she wanted.

There was a warm breeze and the sound of a coyote howling in the distance. The serene moment was interrupted when someone shouted.

“And just what do you think you’re doing Yankee?” It was one of the officers from the fort. “You come here nosing around our business and now I find you taking liberties with the Colonel’s daughter!”

He aimed his Colt revolver at Solo, cocking the hammer as he prepared to fire but before he could do so the Russian crept up behind him and hit him on the back of the head, knocking him out cold.

“Oh good Lord, what is going on here,” Sally blurted out.”I can’t believe Captain Jensen was going to shoot you because of an innocent kiss. I swear, everyone here is going mad; they’re talking about killing all the Dons and going to war with the Mexicans. I blame that man Partridge, it seems as though all this insanity began after he arrived.”

“And your father, is he not acting like himself?” Illya asked.

She looked at him, thinking he was merely the help.

“It’s all right Sally, he’s with me. We’re here to find out what’s going on. Our...umm, UNCLE sent us at the behest of President Hayes.”

Sally opened up, and gave them even more information and that was when they decided it was time to leave. They suggested Miss Pickering remain here at the hacienda with Sir Reginald until everything was made right again.

Two weeks later Federal troops arrived and were able to capture all of the Todos people with the exception of Partridge; he managed to escape.

The soldiers from Fort Escobar would be treated by military physicians, though this hypnosis thing was new to them.

It was decided that Solo and Kuryakin would leave the search for Emory Charles Partridge to be continued by James West and Artemus Gordon as President Hayes was sending them to Escobar.

Back in Laredo, Napoleon was off visiting Miss Wanda, one of the ladies at Del Flores' Saloon, and Kuryakin was immersing himself in some books from a new Public Lending Library that had just opened up in town.

Life was as it should be on the streets of Laredo and for these new men from U.N.C.L.E. it was as well... for now.

Comments

[pfrye.livejournal.com]

Loved the WWW reference - I have always thought that WWW was a western version of MFU.....nice to see I'm not the only one! Well done!

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I think we're not the only ones to think that about WWW & MFU. It was just to tempting to briefly tie it in with MFU....if just for the names. Really glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!