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147 Tamale Ridge by: Chuck Cusimano

Things were better between her and her brother. She was happy and relieved when Raul and the

men brought Ramon home. After a much needed bath and some food, he healed from his ordeal

and she noticed a change in her brother. They walked together out to the grave of their father.

“I wish I could have told Papa all the things I am sorry for.” said Ramon.

“I loved him more than I ever showed. I fought his ways and pretended to be smarter than

he.” He continued,

“The day I rode out for the stolen horses, I thought myself a real man for the first time and an

important man.”

Rosemarie remained silent and let her brother say what was on his mind.

“My father died trying to find his son and to save me from harm.” He sobbed.

The boy’s tears came once again and she wanted to hold Ramon and soothe his grief but maybe

he was too old to be held like a child that had skinned his knee.

Ramon turned to his sister and they embraced for the first time in years.

They were both crying and shaking when Ramon told her how he loved her also.

He told her, he was sorry for all the trouble he had caused in the past year or so.

Ramon had changed quite a lot in so many ways. He was quieter around the men, he had

stopped giving useless orders to the “peones”, as he once liked to call the ones who performed

the meanial tasks around the ranch. He actually complimented Contesa for a meal that she

prepared. He was more respectful of men and horses. He rode with the men and worked side by

side with them everyday.

Rosemarie’s thoughts turned to another man that stayed on her mind. He was a man who

lived far away in another country but, also a man who ignited a burning passion that no other

ever could. She remembered the fire that she felt at the Alamocitas when the Americano brought

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