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21 Tamale Ridge by: Chuck Cusimano

“I have señor. I think my father has not. He does not read, whereas I read anything with

horses in it.” She stated.

“La Señorita, is the one who know the horses,” the old man said.

“Señor, this old man is, Juan Torres,” the young girl said, “he knows something of this horse

named Tamale, you see…”

“Juan Torres!” I exclamed, “I’m sorry to interupt Señorita but if this is the same Juan Torres

that used to work for my Uncle Trent Williams…..”

“I am the same Juan Torres and I tell the Señorita that I weesh to speak weeth you when I see

ju horses,” he said. Then he asked, “Who are ju?”

“I am Gideon Thacker. When my Uncle Trent died, he left me his place along with his cattle

and horse herd and the responsibility to keep it going,” I said.

The old man bowed slightly and said,

“Ju are the sovrino Señor Trent talk all the time, “Geel”.

“He did not died seor. He got keel….I tink. ..He paused only for a moment and then said, “I

tink I know the man who do thees but he no see me. I tink so he was eat sapper weeth ju tio and

he poot samthink in the water but only in Trent tasa. Everbody tink ju ancle he die by hees self

but I tink he gots help,” he continued, “I was bring wood for the fire and no see thees think

happen, but .…dos días passa, y su Tio estan muerto.” Meaning, “Two days later, your uncle

was dead.”

“Who do you think killed him?” I asked.

“I no sure, but I tink ju figger out, but ju need go back to Tamale Ridge, as queek as ju can go.

Cam back in one year and I maybe talk Señor Guerra to sell mares. Ju look for coyote bait.”

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