Entry for storytellers-saloon contest - Let the Music Move You

https://youtu.be/C0ufIlbrpBI

"Miguel! Miguel! Come, we have driven the soldiers back into the palace square. Victory is yours, Miguel."

The man looked up from the cot he was sitting on offering a smile, tinted with a sadness, that didn't reach his eyes.

"It is the people's victory, Cito. They are making the victory for all."

"But you led them, you gave them courage and a reason to stand up against-"

"My friend, I just want to stay here with Maria." He looked down at the peaceful face of the woman in the cot and brushed some hair away from her forehead. "You go and see them to the finish, Cito."

A loud volley of gunfire made the little man jump, his nervous hands worked at the brim of his sombero.

"They need you. You are our leader."

"Go, my friend. Go and enjoy what has taken us all so long to achieve." Miguel raised a hand, his eyes closed. "Go."

The firing continued and he could hear the explosions and the bugles from the palace. The cheering roar from the peasant army lifted his heart for a moment then he bent down and pressed his cheek against the face of his wife.

"Aah, Maria, you should not have come today. You should have stayed with the children and kept them safe." He sat back and stroked her cheek. The smooth, skin felt cool and soft. A tear found its way down the craggy features of his face and dropped onto her blouse. He glanced down as it absorbed the red tone of the blood from her wound and spread in a small blot.

Another explosion, this one nearer and a mist of dust from the tile roof filled the room. Miguel coughed and turned his face away, holding part of his serape over Maria. The cheering had stopped but there was more sporadic gunfire and yelling. He waved his hand at the dust and coughed again and froze as the figure that suddenly filled the doorway was not one of his people's army. He was army alright . . . the palace army.

"So this is where the mighty leader, Miguel Sanchez hides while his 'people's army' is annihilated in the palace square."

"You lie, Cruz, I was just informed they overran the palace soldiers. And I am not hiding, I am spending my wife's last minutes with her."

Cruz gave a nasty laugh and leaned on the door frame.

"Do I look like I was overrun? It was a trap, you fool. Listen, do you hear any cheering now? Any gunfire, explosions?"

He snorted with derision.

"What is left of your pitiful army is being executed as we speak . . . silently."

Miguel looked at his wife. There was no sign of life, no indication that the woman he loved, mother of his children was with him anymore. He kissed her gently, drew the thin sheet over her head and stood on wobbly legs.

"I presume I am to surrender now and join my people?"

The laugh started a snicker, grew to a shaking of the body and both men fell together in a paroxysm of laughter. Coughing and uttering short gasps of breath, they staggered together from the posada, and from the hill overlooking the palace, they saw the resulting carnage of the battle.

"I have to hand it to you, Miguel, you had them eating out of your hand. And Maria, what a masterful touch. Not only have you ended this revolt but you have removed your biggest obstacle to enjoying your new title with Rosetta." And here she comes now to claim her lover."

Miguel smiled and nodded. "Yes, she will wallow in her own new position in the palace." He slapped Cruz on the back. "Presidente, Miguel Ortez has a nice ring don't you think?"

"It did." Miguel turned, surprised as he felt the blade enter his chest from beneath his arm.

"Cruz . . .?"

Rosetta stopped beside Cruz, her arms immediately thrown about his neck as she showered his face with kisses.

"It worked, my love, just as i said it would." She glanced at the sagging body of Miguel and sneered.

He sank to the ground, the truth of the deception and betrayal swirling and fading in his vision like water down a drain.

"And now, my Presidente, take me to our palace." Rosetta cooed, with eager glee.

"Soon enough, my pet. First I must deal with the Ortez children."