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87 Tamale Ridge by: Chuck Cusimano

saved back enough of the money to pay them infernal taxes on the place and I took the rest of the

money to the Trinidad bank, to start an account. I checked with some boys that I knew and they

said they were interested in coming up to the ranch to look at some colts.

Juan was as sad as I was when I got home without Tamale.

He said he knew I had to sell him but it wouldn’t be the same with him gone. I still had one of

his best sons for a stallion but it wasn’t the same thing. Juan has been to Newberry and got the

mail and there was a letter from Sis. She said Gideon was in the Marines, somewhere fighting

the war. I'd shore like to see that boy. He's about eighteen, or close to that. She said my

Brother Robert is still a cranky ole bugger but he always has been. I'm’ thankful that he let them

stay with him and he’s been helping teach that kid how to work and have manners. Juan said

that Seth was over and wanted me to go with him to La Jara to gather some wild cattle. They are

going to pay ten dollars a head for any and all un-branded strays that a feller can katch. I’m

glad that Seth came over and I'm sorry I missed him. He got a little sore at me for courtin’

“Lucinda”. I explained to him that she was someone that I liked to be around but he insisted

that she likes him. He ain’t touched his wife without thinking of Lucinda since we first laid eyes

on her. I had to whip Sanchez off to get a clean shot at her and now my closest friend was

jealous over her! And he’s married! They got that kid, Billy. Seth don’t act like he cares nothin’

for him. I’m going down to Mexico again and see about some more mares. I got some dandies

year before last. Them colts and fillies from them and Tamale are sure something to see.

There’s a French feller that wants to take me way down to Vera Cruz. It’s close to the ocean

and the last ocean I saw was froze. Lucinda comes over about once a month and I know it’s a

long ways fer a gal to ride but I try to go see her about twice a month. She wants to move over

here with me and have kids but I feel I already got one when it comes to Gideon. I have waited

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