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22 Tamale Ridge by: Chuck Cusimano

They were gone into the trees and did not respond when I called to them. “Coyote Bait”!??

Why did he call Guerras’ mares coyote bait? That question bothered me all the way back to

Tamale Ridge. By the time I rode to El Paso, I had decided to load my horses and me on the

train.

I needed to waste no time getting back to Tamale Ridge. The train ride back saved me a lot of

time and I slept quite a bit. That long horseback ride had played me out. The train pretty much

went the same route as I had riden. When the train stopped in Las Vegas I unloaded my horses

and let them stretch their legs. The train almost pulled without me. I didn’t know how long the

train would be stopped. I watched some of the other passengers go to the small café. I also

wanted to eat but I always tended to my livestock first. I led my horses around so they could get

the kinks out and before I knew it, the train blew it’s whistle. Once back aboard the train, I laid

my head back and slept almost all the way back to Raton. The train slowed to a stop and I

unloaded my horses in Raton. After finding something to eat, I immediately started for the home

place.

I rode into the ranch about two in the afternoon and looked around the place. Everything

appeared to be ok but at the same time, something just felt different. I was bothered by what

Juan said. I was bothered by everything he said, to be honest.

I thought about a lot of things on the long ride to the ranch and above all else, I thought about the

Señorita. She was the prettiest woman I had ever seen. It was obvious that she had a beautiful

complexion of olive skin, a finely shaped jaw line and perfect dark eyes. She also couldn’t

conceal the slender waist, ample bust and perfect long legs, even dressed as un assuming as she

was, there was no hiding her natural beauty. I also liked the way she carried herself and the way

her long skirt swished as she walked.

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