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150 Tamale Ridge by: Chuck Cusimano

“It has been hard to realize he is gone,” she said.

“I ran into a man out in the desert, who told me what has happened and all the difficulty your

family has faced these past few months,” said Gid.

Now, was not the time for him to ask for her hand, so he commented on the good-looking colts

in the corral. One by one they looked over each colt and compared notes as to which one was

the fastest, strongest, or the toughest.

After Rosemarie rode the bay she was working with as Gideon arrived, she unsaddled him

and turned him out with the rest. Then the two of them rode to the rancho. Raul greeted them

with a grin in the yard and Gid let his horses drink while he talked to Raul about the weather.

The weather was always one topic ranch folk thought about mutually.

“I don’t think I would like to live where the nieve gets deep enough your horse cannot walk

through.” Raul said, referring to deep winter snow.

“Sometimes it gets pretty deep,” said Gid.

“Si.” said Raul, “Juan has told of deep snow in Nuevo Mexico and also much cold,” He

paused, looked at Gideion, knowing that he looked at a very capable and truly a good man.

“What does a true Vaquero do on such a day?” asked Raul.

“Anyone who has nearly froze to death soon learns to read a book in front of the fire and

drink coffee, after he has tended to the livestock,” said Gid.

“There are some that cannot read the printed word, Señor,” said Raul. “I am such a man but

often wish I had learned.”

“It is not too late, Señor, there are ways to learn,” Gideon continued, “Gilberto, the young

Caballero that came with me, has learned to read, write, in both Spanish and English.”

A sober look came into Raul’s eyes and he said.

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