Page 139 - Tamale Ridge_113017

137 Tamale Ridge by: Chuck Cusimano

“I’m sorry you had to miss your train, Gid. Sorry you got mixed up in all this business,” said

Joe.

“I sure didn’t expect to get involved, or I’d have stayed on the train,” I said.

The man setting nearby was trying to hear the conversation and not doing a very good job at

pretending he wasn’t.

“It could have been avoided, if everyone would have been sober,” I said.

“Well, youth will always tend to overdo things like that,” Joe said.

I agreed with him and we finished our breakfast, then I talked the sheriff into driving me out to

the ranch where Antonio worked. I might as well try to visit with him since I have the chance

and the time.

The boss at the ranch put me to work, letting me help them brand and I enjoyed getting busy

again. I didn’t like setting around. I drug calves and worked whichever position they asked me

to work and enjoyed working alongside Antonio. He knew as much as anyone I’d ever been

around. He liked his job and it showed. The boss sure liked the colts we’d sent him last fall and

they looked good. I told him the new crop would be just as good. The boss drove me back to

town after supper and I spent the night in the hotel.

Next morning, I woke up and headed for the hotel. I sat down, ordered coffee and breakfast.

The “eavesdropper” sat at the table next to me, so I invited him to join me.

“I know you have an interest in the goings on with this shooting, so, we might as well talk

about it and clear the air,” I continued.

“I don’t like worrying about what is on someone’s mind that is hanging around and it makes

me wonder what he’s up to.”

He introduced himself as Mike Sloan from Kenton, Oklahoma.

137