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163 Tamale Ridge by: Chuck Cusimano

The next day Rosemarie, Olivia, Antonio and I had a meal together and spent the rest of the day

visiting and taking in the town, such as it was. The following morning, we boarded the train for

Raton where we would spend the night and early the next morning we would ride for home,

Tamale Ridge.

We arrived in Raton about midnight. I noticed the sheriff was waiting for the train. At first I

didn’t know what he was up to but he was waiting for me to get off the train. I could tell he

wanted to see me. I asked the ladies to stand over by the station and rest a while. I had a lot to do

to get the herd of horses unloaded and situated till morning. The sheriff followed me around like

a puppy until I finished my task. Then he said.

“Gideon Thacker?”

“That’s me,” I said.

“Gideon. ..Mr. Thacker? There is a man over at the doctor’s office that wants to see you.”

“Wants to see me?” “Who is he?”

“He says he is your uncle.”

You couldn’t have gotten my attention any better if you had hit me with an axe handle!

“I don’t see how he could be my uncle,” I told him. Then I said.

“Let me get these ladies situated in the hotel and I’ll have you take me over there. If you

don’t mind.”

Who could be claiming to be my uncle? I didn’t know anybody on my father’s side of the family

so it must be one of them. After getting the women comfortable I went with the Sheriff.

We rode in that durn contraption that was still around. That Automobile! Actually, it wasn’t a

bad experience, just noisy.

“I didn’t think these noisy outfits would catch on,” I told him.

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