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111 Tamale Ridge by: Chuck Cusimano

The two men were just sitting there, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. The other man

had his knife out and was tumbling it from his fingers and sticking it into the soft sand. Miguel

was just sitting there. There were five horses and three of them were saddled. There must be

three men instead of just two. The thought hit him just about the same time the rifle butt did.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

It snowed for a full two days and three nights. I woke up to the sounds and smells of

someone adding wood to the stove. Juan was putting the coffee water on as I got dressed. It was

still dark out and he was setting in the kitchen looking out the window.

“Good morning”. I said, as I came into the kitchen.

“Buenos Días,” he answered.

“How long is this snow going to last?” I asked him in Spanish.

“Me, I don’ know,” he said as he continued to look into the darkness.

“How come you don’t light the lamp?” I asked him.

“Ju can see in the darkness better from the darkness.” He answered.

He was right of course. Looking out there didn’t mater much right now anyway. There had been

nothing but snow to look at for the last two days.

“I wonder when it’s going to quit?” I said again.

Juan had already put our coffee cups out on the table.

“We wait,” he said, “We drink some café. We stay warm, in the campo. We find out what it

look like pur’ soon.”

Gilberto and Claudia would be coming to the cabin anytime.

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