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Margarita 55
Contributed by
ramfire
on
Tuesday, 10th April 2007 @ 04:53:56 AM in AEST
Topic:
Lifepoems
|
. “Mister, a come with me.”
“Con much gusto, senor. How far do we go?”
“Don’t care about that. Just do what I tell ya.”
Arraco nodded his head agreeably. “As you wish.”
They rode through the mesquite for a distance. The Arroyo Secco’s ranch house was half hidden by a copse of live oak. A well dressed man came out to stand on the porch to see who his visitor was. Recognizing Huerra, he gave some surprised words to him. “What the deuce! Mister Huerra? What can I do for you? This a social visit?”
Before Arracho could answer, the yanqui cowboy spoke. “ He’s not alone, Mister Copeland. A couple of other greasers are up at the bunk house. They came with him. I had Concho take ‘em there”.
Copeland waved the information away. “It’s all right, Jerret. I know Mister Huerra. The others are okay too.”
“ Whatever a say”.
Copeland spoke. “ Get down off that caballo and come on in.” He smiled as the Mexican dismounted. They shook hands and went inside. “ I believe this is the first time you’ve been to
Arroyo Secco.”
“Yes, it’s the first time, Senor Copeland. Things have changed since Miguel grazed goats here.”
“ Jerret knows what he’d doing.”
“You have a good man on that castano.”
“Jerret knows land and cattle. I couldn’t make this place pay without him.”
“Where’s he from?”
“Argentina.”
A gringo from Argentina?”
“ His family lives there. Mother’s Argentine, father’s American. He ramrods some large outfit there. Jerret was brought up on that rancho. Have a seat. You still drink aguardiente?”
Don Huerra was surprised. “ You have that here?”
“ A little. It lasts. I don’t often get a visitor of your stripe. Things are different here than in Santa Peralta.” He took out a dusty bottle of red drink from the cupboard. Pouring some in a peon cup, he handed it over to Huerra. With his first sip, Arracho’s eyes lit up. He gave Copeland a big smile. “Excellent, agente. Each man has his own poison, eh?”
“I’m no longer an agent but a ranchero. More money’s to be made in owning cattle than arranging their purchase and sale for others. “
” Being agente, money was more certain for you.”
“I’m not doing too badly. Sold five hundred hides this year. They’re being shipped aboard the La Paloma.”
Huerra changed the subject. “Margarita is home now. She is more beautiful than ever. Jose, Theresa, and I arrived yesterday morning. The vaqueros gave her a great early morning welcome with a fandango.”
“The vaqueros are nice people.”
Father Cheliso also came with us.”
Copeland asked the Mexican a direct question that had been on his mind. “Why do come see me?”
“Miguel mentioned your fence. It’s hurting his cattle. I thought I might help resolve this problem with an offer.”
“What offer is that?”
“Miguel dislikes the hard feelings between the yanquis and Californios. He remembers when both respected and liked each other. He remembers his past friendship with you. This fence of sharp points hurts his cattle and makes him very sad. He is willing to reopen the cantina in the pueblo if you string different wire.”
“I’ve no other wire.”
“Must there be wire at all?”
‘It stops Miguel’s herd from mixing with mine.”
“What does it matter, senor? If the cattle are branded, there is no problem. At slaughter time they can be separated. Why should there be trouble between you and him?”
“I never wanted trouble. Miguel can move his herd to the south and west. Why does he have to butt against the arroyo?”
“Look at the land, amigo. Is there better land for grazing cattle to the south and west? No, there is not. The arroyo as always been a natural boundary on the east. Does it need a fence now.”
“ When goats grazed here it needed no fence. Now the land’s been restored, the cattle will find a way to cross. Maybe as Miguel has suggested, the fence can be removed after branding. Let him reopen the canina in good faith and I will think about removing the fence.”
“ The men must not fight. Miguel worries about the women land children living in the pueblo. He worries they might be caught in the middle of a fight. Do not such things happen?”
“Show me the canina open and I’ll remove the fence.”
“Miguel will be happy with what you say.”
No mention was made of Miguel wanting to buy back Copeland’s land.
Copyright ©
ramfire
... [
2007-04-10 04:53:56]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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Re: Margarita 55
(User Rating: 1 )
by emystar on
Tuesday, 10th April 2007 @ 12:07:53 PM AEST
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a Message)
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Very interesing and well written.
huggs,
emy |
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