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Margarita XLV
Contributed by
ramfire
on
Saturday, 13th November 2004 @ 06:05:23 PM in AEST
Topic:
StoryPoetry
|
Alcalde spoke across to Huerra.
" Americans are aggressive people, Don Huerra.Soon they'll think all California belongs to them
and we should get out."
" It's as you say, Don Hernandez. Americans are aggressive people. I've heard they also want El Rio Grande as southern border.They wish to take our land making it their state of Texas."
" General Santa Ana won't allow that, senor. First he'll punish them at Rio Grande
then chastise their insolence in California."
" Without doubt Alcalde, without doubt."
Dona Thresa moved in discomfort next to husband. After riding so long she needed to move.
" How much farther, Jose," she asked with arm stretch and yawn.
" Another four hours, dear. We'll reach Mission San Stephanos when sun dips into the ocean. We
didn't get an early start."
" I need everything we've brought, Jose. You know that. We can't travel like paupers, can we?"
" No, you're right. Late start doesn't matter too much. It's just that horses have to be rested more often."
" We've nice day for traveling, senora. Yesterday's rain's helps keep dust down."
" For that I'm most appreciative, Don Huerra. Margarita, would you care to exchange places with
me? I'm so tired of riding backwards."
Exchange was made; Margarita was happy to sit away from the middle-age bald man. With forced
smile, Huerra made room for Alcalde's wife. He squeezed against left side of coach. Don Hernandez
could relax with more room.
" I see Diego Silva on road ahead of us, Jose. He rides so well. Look now! He's making a cart
get out of the way."
Don Hernandez uncomfortably twisted body around leaning out window to look backwards. He
didn't like to make effort but thought he should; neck hurt.
" I can't see him, Thresa. He's on your side."
" Doesn't he look forceful."
Margarita leaned out window to see. " Yes auntie," she agreed. " He looks fierce."
Diego Silva, hurling insults and profanity at cart driver, was giving added incentive to donkey
with quirt. Animal struggled to pull cart along, one wheel in ditch. As coach-and-six passed,
humble "pobre" removed sombrero bowing head in respect; he gave silly smile. Dona Thresa
continued to busy self with landscape and Diego Silva.
Huerra picked up lost thread of conversation with Margarita. Affecting pained expression, he
spoke across to her. " Of course Senor Copeland still ranches land your father sold him. I'm afraid, senorita, your
father's sorry about selling the land now. At the time he thought it was a good idea because he
needed money but the American has hired all the gingos and they're putting up fences with wire
strands of sharp little points. Your father's angry about this fence. Animals are hurt butting
in to it."
" My father will pull it down."
"If he did senorita, there'd be big trouble. Vaqueros as well as gringos would be
shot. Someone must arbitrate problem."
" Who can do such a thing?"
" His Excellency or I could try but I doubt
if gringos would listen to a Californio."
" He's right Margarita," Don Hernandez spoke up. " Unless both sides agree, neither of us could
arbitrate."
" Jose, why don't you just ask General Santa Ana to pull down the fence. That would settle matter once
and for all."
Both men exchanged glances at puerile suggestion.
" Dear, General Santa Ana's busy with things in Mexico and can't come three thousand miles just
to pull a fence down for my brother."
" Use Diego Silva then."
" Diego Silva could surely do the job, dear, but again men would be killed. It would be much
better to find an equitable solution agreeable to
both sides."
" Must they use sharp pointed wire, Jose? Why can't they use regular wire?"
" Senora, regular wire won't stop moving cattle. They push it down with collective bodies.
Senor Copeland's made that point."
Margarita asked bald, wrinkled caballero a question. " Why does he need fences at all, Senor Huerra? My father never needed them. Why are they so
important now?"
" Senor Copeland doesn't want other stock feeding on his range; he doesn't want job of cutting out different brands when slaughter time comes. He's Yanqui wanting to put us in our place."
" You jest, Senor Huerra. My father and Senor Copeland have always been friends. I can't believe American is so changed."
" There's another reason, senorita, I hesitate to mention."
" So, mention it. Why do you hesitate?"
Huerra looked at both Don Hernandez and wife wishing to cause no offense. Alcalde indicated not to speak. Margarita guessed reason, became angry. " Senor Copeland and I have only been
friends. If anyone thinks differently, they're badly mistaken!"
There was strained silence in the carriage. Huerra decided he should ride sorrel after next stop.
Copyright ©
ramfire
... [
2004-11-13 18:05:23]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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