Page 130 - Tamale Ridge_113017

128 Tamale Ridge by: Chuck Cusimano

and called for the Guerra boy into the darkness. At noon the next day, he rode into the cattle

camp and dismounted.

“Raul!” Carlos exclaimed, as he stood knocking his food plate out of his lap. When he said it,

the whole camp came alive.

“How is Francisco?” Raul wanted to know.

“He is still living but he has a very hard time breathing,” Vincente said.

The men talked and reached the decision that they must get Francisco Guerra to the rancho and

see if he could be helped. Raul told the men about killing the one known as Miguel and another

man, who shot at them, but he couldn’t find a trace of Ramon.

“Ramon is young and he could be tougher than we think.” Said Vincente.

“I will come back and look some more after we take Francisco to the rancho,” said Raul.

After a moment, he told the other men,

“Let us leave some food here, in case Ramon finds this place and he is hungry.”

The other men agreed and left a cache of dried meat and bread in a wooden bucket turned up side

down, with a rock on top of it.

Rosemarie awoke early, as usual and after seeing to her father, went to the corral. The men

that were still waiting at Rancho Seco stood when she approached. Carlos was the older one,

and he took off his sombrero to pay the proper respect to her. The others followed suit.

“Buenos Días, Señorita.” He said. “How is your Father?” He asked in Spanish.

“He is better, Carlos. Have you heard anything from Raul and the others? Is there any word

of my brother?” She wanted to know.

“No Señorita, We have heard nothing,” said Carlos.

“My father speaks in his sleep and sometimes he calls out for my mother,” she said.

128