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76 Tamale Ridge by: Chuck Cusimano

“We will shoot him outside the cave and leave him for the four legged coyotes!”

“I would like to hear the reason he wanted to kill ME, if I were you!” I stated.

“It will make no difference now. He has tried to harm a member of my family and he must

die!” Guerra said.

“Rosemarie has told of his intentions. A few Months ago this same man tried to do a very

bad thing to her! It was the same with Pancho Villa before he changed his name from “Doroteo

Arango.”

“That was why he became hunted the first time. A man raped his Hermana and he found the

man and killed him! That is the way of it. One must protect his family.”

The man said nothing in his own defense.

“Please, Señor Guerra.” I pleaded.

“Let him have his say. What he has done is wrong but you must hear him out!”

All this time the other men had drug the man outside and were tying his feet and hands together.

I rushed past Rosemarie and stood in front of the man and said,

“Do not kill him in this manner.”

“We should take him to the law and hear his side of the story.”

Rosemarie was still trembling when she came to my side and said,

“Please Father! Listen to Señor Thacker! After all it was he who saved my life.”

I put my arm around the shaking girl, as a reassuring hug, without even realizing I had done so..

“Very well!” said Guerra,

“Let the coyote speak. Then we will kill him!” Francisco noticed that I held his daughter and

the look he gave me was enough for me to take my arm from her shoulder. When I did, Guerra

gave me a look of appreciation. I wasn’t even thinking like a man in love at that moment and I

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