Re: Murder on the Rio Puerco, cc,mat, pg5,ch10, 6/10/12
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 10:20 am
begonia9508: Sometimes the lines between love and convenience are blurred.
L-J-L 76: Kyle has a problem. He has to be a cop, but he is also a friend and the one who can investigate UFOs.
keepsmiling7
Chapter 11
It was close to noon when they finally turned off the interstate onto a dirt road. They had spent the morning renting a different vehicle. This time, Max wanted a four-wheel drive SUV. He chose a Ford Explorer. It had enough room for equipment and luggage, along with the ability to carry several people through relatively rough country. Max and Liz had each brought a suitcase of clothes. There was no telling what might happen back behind the ‘Puerco. Max, also, had a small camping kit with a small supply of food. They expected to be back shortly, but you never knew.
Across the highway, Max could see the new casino. This was becoming the new industry for much of New Mexico. Many of the Native American reservations were putting their share of the gambling money to good use. Better housing, this time the Native Americans having a choice in the construction, better schools and more jobs. The housing was a joke because when the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) had built housing for many of the Native Americans. They used the new houses as barns to house feed and livestock. The BIA, not realizing what the reservation needed in terms of usable housing, the light frame houses did not stand up to the cold winds and hot sun of the reservation, which made them unlivable.
At first, the dirt road showed recent travel. There were many people using the dirt road to get where they wished. Eventually as they got closer to the giant volcano plug called Cabazone, meaning the head, the ranch roads were more for just the people who lived in this region. It fell to Liz to tend the many gates. As they traveled, Liz kept up a dialog of what she learned from Frank about the geology of the country. This was interspersed with Liz pointing to various hill tops. There might not be many people living in this area, but the stories about this land were many. At one time, Max saw that this area had been a major habitation area.
------------------------
Ta had sired many children; some had even lived to adult hood. He had two sons who were very close to him. He had given much of his knowledge to them. Along with the teaching of their mother’s brother, they were growing to be strong young men. They would take up leadership in the family of their woman. Maybe, they would start families of their own. The shaman was still affecting the man who was joined to Ta’s sister-in-law. This man knew he couldn’t turn Ta. Ta was too strong to fear the shaman. Ta had shaman of his own who he sometimes listened to. Ta still was known as being his own man. He might listen, but Ta still made up his own mind. The shaman began to attempt to influence Ta’s two sons. The people were usually very peaceful. There were too many other misfortunes to fight for them to allow dissension within their own family. Ta’s oldest son wanted to club the man, even if he was associated to a member of his mother’s clan. He did not argue with his father, but he did suggest that for the harmony of the family, the influence of the shaman must go. Killing a member of another clan was a serious thing. It could lead to open warfare. None of the people could afford to be involved in a war. Hunting and gathering did not leave luxury time to carry out warfare. Ta also realized that the threat was not even the shaman. It was the strangers who appeared in the light. To Ta, the shaman was weak. The man who joined himself to the woman in Ta’s family was weak, also. Ta was not yet ready to declare weakness as a reason for war.
-----------------------------
As they drove between two hills, suddenly, three man on horseback rode out to stop them. They were dressed similar to Eloy as working cowboys. One man was carrying a Winchester lever action. He fit best to what Max thought of as a cowboy. He was wearing a serape pulled over his head and loosely flapping about his waist. The third man was also a cowboy, but the rifle he was carrying was a scoped deer rifle. Max didn’t know enough about rifles to know the make. It did have a sling, but the young man carrying it kept it at ready. Max slowed and keeping his hands where they could be seen, he waited until Eloy Ortiz approached. Eloy looked in the SUV and seeing Liz he said, “Glad to see you Doctor Liz. We are sorry for your loss. Sammy Martinez will be glad to see you up and around.”
Good to see you also, Eloy,” Liz returned. “I am heading to the Martinez’s to thank Sammy for helping me. I understand he was the one who scared off, whatever it was that killed Frank.”
“Yes, Sammy Martinez did his papa proud. These two men are my sons, they live in California but they are spending some time here to help the old man watch for strange things.” As he said their names, “Emilio, Vicente,” each son nodded with a slight salute with his rifle. Eloy continued, “Tell Kyle that I do not know how well I can keep the promise I made about shooting at aircraft. Something flew over very low last night. The boys wanted to break out the deer rifles and give it a go. The cows were making a hell of a racket. You would have thought rustlers were out and about. There was no sound of machines. No motors or rotor sounds. I do not think it was a Cessna.”
Max turned to Eloy. “Mr. Ortiz, just be careful. These things are very dangerous,”
Ortiz looked Max in the eye. “I guess you would know, Mr. Spaceman,” he stated.
Max looked back and he saw the two boys shift in their saddles. He assumed that they were getting into a better position in case Max did anything. Doctor Liz was known or they thought they knew her. Max was an outsider and he believed that Ortiz was guessing, but Kyle said not to be devious with these people in any way. “Mr. Ortiz, I have dealt, fought and tried to hide from these people all my life. Some of them might even be relatives. When Liz and I were young it was a toss-up as too whether they would destroy us or those who mistrusted me in our own government would beat them to it. No matter what race or species, those who deal in drugs are bad. What they buy and sell hurts people on earth and elsewhere.” Max carefully watched Eloy Ortiz to see how he accepted what had just been said.
Eloy Ortiz leaned back in his saddle. Max could see his sons relax. “Kyle said we could trust you. Doctor Liz has been our friend for several years. For the moment, we shall call you friend, also. Amigo, don’t disappoint us,” with this Ortiz and his sons rode off.
Max kept following the road marked on the map that Kyle had given him. Several times as they traveled, they both saw a rider watching them on a hilltop. Max was sure that the watchers were friendly else they wouldn’t have shown themselves against the skyline. They arrived at a gate which had a sign attached to the poles which held it up. The sign said, “Bar-M” and had a brand burned into the plank it was written on. A young man was waiting on horse back as they approached. Liz leaned out and yelled, “Buenos tardes, Sammy.”
The young man smiled and shouted back, “Hi, ya Doc.” He then opened the gate without getting off his horse. Max could see the resemblance he remembered in Joe Martinez. Sammy was dark complected, as much from working in the sun as from his genes. His horse danced as the gate opened and Sammy showed his ability in controlling the animal. After Max drove through, Sammy and the horse repeated the same dance closing the gate. Max remembered once, reading one of Michael’s western books that a cowboy will do anything that he possibly can from horseback. Sammy was proving this. “Mama is waiting at the house, Doc. Meet you there,” Sammy shouted as he started his horse across country. Max had to stick to the lane. The lane leading to the Martinez home was carved out of the sage bush flat by a tractor blade of some kind. Sammy or one of the other men would probably run the blade after any of the infrequent storms, which would hit this region. It was a good quarter of a mile to the house proper. In the field beside the lane, Max saw several horses and a milk cow. At one end of the field, there were mangers, which contained alfalfa and a watering tank. As they approached the house, Max saw several sheep grazing in another field. Soon, the road was dotted with chickens that squawked noisily as Max carefully navigated through them. By the time they arrived, Sammy had unsaddled his horse and was returning from the barn. Angie Martinez was waiting for them at the door.
Normally, Angie would have dressed like the men folk. She did much the same activities as they did. Kyle’s call had alerted her and she was wearing a dress complete with apron. When they were in town, Angie could dress like the other women in her neighborhood. Out here guest were scarce. Angie wanted to make an impression when she had a chance.
Liz embraced Angie and shook hands with Sammy. She introduced Max as her first husband who had returned to help her settle Frank’s things. Baked bread could be smelled as they entered the house. Wrapped in warm towels and sitting on the sideboard were fresh flour tortillias. As soon as Joe and the boys came in, they would all sit down to a feast. Twin girls, miniatures of Angie herself, shyly came out to greet Doctor Liz. Sammy had disappeared, but he soon returned dressed in clean levies and western shirt. He was even wearing his Sunday-go-to-meeting python skin boots. When they were back in town, Max imagined the boots traveled to more movies, restaurants and dances, than Sunday schools. Sammy was a senior in high school and a good-looking boy. There probably were several girls who thought the young cowboy would be a good catch.
They were seated on a couch covered with Navajo blankets. Liz could have told Max that several of the blankets were just double saddle blankets, but a few of them were blankets of quality. She imagined that Joe or Angie or both had bought them at the monthly auctions at Crownpoint. The auction of Navajo weaving was known world over. There were shelves around the fireplace and they were full of trophies and certificates. It was seen that the Martinez children had been active in 4-H, which is an organization for farm and ranch children to show off their agricultural skills. There were also several trophy belt buckles, attesting to the fact that the children were also active in rodeo. Even Max recognized one or two buckles with the bucking bull for winning bullriding contests. Max, looking around, saw that this was a typical middle class ranch home. There would be another house in some town where the children could attend school, but Max was sure that their hearts always remained here.
They were sitting in the living room. Max guessed that the ranchers might have called it the parlor. Liz and Sammy were deep in discussions about the early people who lived here. They were discussing as to whether they were related to today’s Native Americans or to another group altogether. Max smiled because Sammy wanted to call these people his ancestors. Liz was pointing that there were several migrations of people throughout the multiple ice ages.
Sammy’s mother came in, “Sammy I don’t care if our ancestors were cavemen or not, we are eating at the table like proper ranch folk. Show our guests where to wash up. Your Father and brother will be in shortly. I saw them ride up to the barn a minute ago.
Max and Liz were taken upstairs. Sammy pointed to two bathrooms, which clearly were the children’s. Liz entered one room, which was full of shampoos and other feminine things. The twins appeared and handed her a fresh towel. Max was taken further down the hall and from the boot polish on the shelves and the electric razors charging near the sink, he was sure this room was reserved for the two Martinez boys.
By the time they were washed up and down stairs, Max heard the back door slam and the clump of booted feet. Soon Joe entered, wearing a fresh shirt and clean boots. Rafel, his oldest son, came down the stairs. Likewise, he had changed his shirt and work boots. Max was introduced to Rafel, but his father Joe had eyes only for Doctor Liz. As Joe hugged Liz, Max heard him say, “We were so worried about you. We have watched your campground, but no one or no thing has approached it. That state policeman and this man, pointing to Max, are the only ones who have been around.”
Liz stated, “Max said everything was destroyed. I am not sure that I want to go back there, at least for a while.”
Joe nodded and Angie ushered them all to the table. Seated, Max noted that everyone bowed their heads. Then with an “Amen,” the Martinez family all made the sign of the cross. Max noticed that Liz did likewise. Except for a few discussions they had one Christmas back in high school, Max and Liz had never talked much about religions. Max had informed Liz that he really didn’t understand where he fit into Earth’s theology. He remembered that he had, finally, told Liz that he believed in her. He would place his faith in his Liz to guide him through any religious paths.
The blessing out of the way, conversations about the ranch, strange happenings, the joy of seeing Liz again, occurred as the bowls and plates of food were passed around. Max was treated to steaks, fried potatoes, tamales and stacks of hot white flour tortillas. The tamales were made with bits of meat. Max wasn’t sure what the meat was. Then, they were covered in a cornmeal dough and, finally, they were wrapped in corn husks and steamed until done. These were very different from what Max had tasted in restaurants. There were several bowls of different salsas, which were mostly salads of chopped tomato, chili and onion with plenty of spices. Tortillas, salsas, steaks and conversation flew around the table.
Max found it hard to keep up with everything around him, but he did learn what it was like to be in a strong Hispanic, ranch family. After dinner they were ushered to a large room. Joe offered Max a cigar, but Max pled off. Nicotine would wreck havoc with his alien system. Joe was studying Max carefully. “You are the first husband of Doctor Liz?” he asked.
“Yes, Liz and I were married right out of high school. Pressures forced us apart and it wasn’t until Kyle called me that Liz was in trouble that I returned to assist her,” Max explained.
Joe Martinez sat nodding his head. “Eloy says that you are not from around here,” Joe made it as a statement.
“No, we are all from Roswell,” Max began.
“No, no, that is not what I mean. Eloy says that you may be related to what ever we see in the sky,” Joe said.
Max remembered what Kyle said. “Do not be untruthful to these people.”
“Yes, we do not know much about ourselves, but we believe we were connected to the Roswell crash of 1947. That is a lot of what broke Liz and me up. There were a lot of people looking for us, who meant us no good. We were facing death at every turn. I just couldn’t keep bringing Liz into that. We annulled our marriage and went our separate ways. I had heard that Liz remarried and I hoped that she would be safe. That just wasn’t to be,” Max told them sadly.
Joe again nodded, “Yeah, some people won’t leave you alone unless you dress, think and act just like them. I keep telling the kids, we are Hispanics, we are ranchers and we don’t make apology to anyone for this.” Then, Joe had a little laugh. “I have a hard time looking at gringos back in the city dressed in boots which never tasted cow shit. I guess we all just like our own.”
They all laughed at Joe’s admission.
L-J-L 76: Kyle has a problem. He has to be a cop, but he is also a friend and the one who can investigate UFOs.
keepsmiling7
Chapter 11
It was close to noon when they finally turned off the interstate onto a dirt road. They had spent the morning renting a different vehicle. This time, Max wanted a four-wheel drive SUV. He chose a Ford Explorer. It had enough room for equipment and luggage, along with the ability to carry several people through relatively rough country. Max and Liz had each brought a suitcase of clothes. There was no telling what might happen back behind the ‘Puerco. Max, also, had a small camping kit with a small supply of food. They expected to be back shortly, but you never knew.
Across the highway, Max could see the new casino. This was becoming the new industry for much of New Mexico. Many of the Native American reservations were putting their share of the gambling money to good use. Better housing, this time the Native Americans having a choice in the construction, better schools and more jobs. The housing was a joke because when the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) had built housing for many of the Native Americans. They used the new houses as barns to house feed and livestock. The BIA, not realizing what the reservation needed in terms of usable housing, the light frame houses did not stand up to the cold winds and hot sun of the reservation, which made them unlivable.
At first, the dirt road showed recent travel. There were many people using the dirt road to get where they wished. Eventually as they got closer to the giant volcano plug called Cabazone, meaning the head, the ranch roads were more for just the people who lived in this region. It fell to Liz to tend the many gates. As they traveled, Liz kept up a dialog of what she learned from Frank about the geology of the country. This was interspersed with Liz pointing to various hill tops. There might not be many people living in this area, but the stories about this land were many. At one time, Max saw that this area had been a major habitation area.
------------------------
Ta had sired many children; some had even lived to adult hood. He had two sons who were very close to him. He had given much of his knowledge to them. Along with the teaching of their mother’s brother, they were growing to be strong young men. They would take up leadership in the family of their woman. Maybe, they would start families of their own. The shaman was still affecting the man who was joined to Ta’s sister-in-law. This man knew he couldn’t turn Ta. Ta was too strong to fear the shaman. Ta had shaman of his own who he sometimes listened to. Ta still was known as being his own man. He might listen, but Ta still made up his own mind. The shaman began to attempt to influence Ta’s two sons. The people were usually very peaceful. There were too many other misfortunes to fight for them to allow dissension within their own family. Ta’s oldest son wanted to club the man, even if he was associated to a member of his mother’s clan. He did not argue with his father, but he did suggest that for the harmony of the family, the influence of the shaman must go. Killing a member of another clan was a serious thing. It could lead to open warfare. None of the people could afford to be involved in a war. Hunting and gathering did not leave luxury time to carry out warfare. Ta also realized that the threat was not even the shaman. It was the strangers who appeared in the light. To Ta, the shaman was weak. The man who joined himself to the woman in Ta’s family was weak, also. Ta was not yet ready to declare weakness as a reason for war.
-----------------------------
As they drove between two hills, suddenly, three man on horseback rode out to stop them. They were dressed similar to Eloy as working cowboys. One man was carrying a Winchester lever action. He fit best to what Max thought of as a cowboy. He was wearing a serape pulled over his head and loosely flapping about his waist. The third man was also a cowboy, but the rifle he was carrying was a scoped deer rifle. Max didn’t know enough about rifles to know the make. It did have a sling, but the young man carrying it kept it at ready. Max slowed and keeping his hands where they could be seen, he waited until Eloy Ortiz approached. Eloy looked in the SUV and seeing Liz he said, “Glad to see you Doctor Liz. We are sorry for your loss. Sammy Martinez will be glad to see you up and around.”
Good to see you also, Eloy,” Liz returned. “I am heading to the Martinez’s to thank Sammy for helping me. I understand he was the one who scared off, whatever it was that killed Frank.”
“Yes, Sammy Martinez did his papa proud. These two men are my sons, they live in California but they are spending some time here to help the old man watch for strange things.” As he said their names, “Emilio, Vicente,” each son nodded with a slight salute with his rifle. Eloy continued, “Tell Kyle that I do not know how well I can keep the promise I made about shooting at aircraft. Something flew over very low last night. The boys wanted to break out the deer rifles and give it a go. The cows were making a hell of a racket. You would have thought rustlers were out and about. There was no sound of machines. No motors or rotor sounds. I do not think it was a Cessna.”
Max turned to Eloy. “Mr. Ortiz, just be careful. These things are very dangerous,”
Ortiz looked Max in the eye. “I guess you would know, Mr. Spaceman,” he stated.
Max looked back and he saw the two boys shift in their saddles. He assumed that they were getting into a better position in case Max did anything. Doctor Liz was known or they thought they knew her. Max was an outsider and he believed that Ortiz was guessing, but Kyle said not to be devious with these people in any way. “Mr. Ortiz, I have dealt, fought and tried to hide from these people all my life. Some of them might even be relatives. When Liz and I were young it was a toss-up as too whether they would destroy us or those who mistrusted me in our own government would beat them to it. No matter what race or species, those who deal in drugs are bad. What they buy and sell hurts people on earth and elsewhere.” Max carefully watched Eloy Ortiz to see how he accepted what had just been said.
Eloy Ortiz leaned back in his saddle. Max could see his sons relax. “Kyle said we could trust you. Doctor Liz has been our friend for several years. For the moment, we shall call you friend, also. Amigo, don’t disappoint us,” with this Ortiz and his sons rode off.
Max kept following the road marked on the map that Kyle had given him. Several times as they traveled, they both saw a rider watching them on a hilltop. Max was sure that the watchers were friendly else they wouldn’t have shown themselves against the skyline. They arrived at a gate which had a sign attached to the poles which held it up. The sign said, “Bar-M” and had a brand burned into the plank it was written on. A young man was waiting on horse back as they approached. Liz leaned out and yelled, “Buenos tardes, Sammy.”
The young man smiled and shouted back, “Hi, ya Doc.” He then opened the gate without getting off his horse. Max could see the resemblance he remembered in Joe Martinez. Sammy was dark complected, as much from working in the sun as from his genes. His horse danced as the gate opened and Sammy showed his ability in controlling the animal. After Max drove through, Sammy and the horse repeated the same dance closing the gate. Max remembered once, reading one of Michael’s western books that a cowboy will do anything that he possibly can from horseback. Sammy was proving this. “Mama is waiting at the house, Doc. Meet you there,” Sammy shouted as he started his horse across country. Max had to stick to the lane. The lane leading to the Martinez home was carved out of the sage bush flat by a tractor blade of some kind. Sammy or one of the other men would probably run the blade after any of the infrequent storms, which would hit this region. It was a good quarter of a mile to the house proper. In the field beside the lane, Max saw several horses and a milk cow. At one end of the field, there were mangers, which contained alfalfa and a watering tank. As they approached the house, Max saw several sheep grazing in another field. Soon, the road was dotted with chickens that squawked noisily as Max carefully navigated through them. By the time they arrived, Sammy had unsaddled his horse and was returning from the barn. Angie Martinez was waiting for them at the door.
Normally, Angie would have dressed like the men folk. She did much the same activities as they did. Kyle’s call had alerted her and she was wearing a dress complete with apron. When they were in town, Angie could dress like the other women in her neighborhood. Out here guest were scarce. Angie wanted to make an impression when she had a chance.
Liz embraced Angie and shook hands with Sammy. She introduced Max as her first husband who had returned to help her settle Frank’s things. Baked bread could be smelled as they entered the house. Wrapped in warm towels and sitting on the sideboard were fresh flour tortillias. As soon as Joe and the boys came in, they would all sit down to a feast. Twin girls, miniatures of Angie herself, shyly came out to greet Doctor Liz. Sammy had disappeared, but he soon returned dressed in clean levies and western shirt. He was even wearing his Sunday-go-to-meeting python skin boots. When they were back in town, Max imagined the boots traveled to more movies, restaurants and dances, than Sunday schools. Sammy was a senior in high school and a good-looking boy. There probably were several girls who thought the young cowboy would be a good catch.
They were seated on a couch covered with Navajo blankets. Liz could have told Max that several of the blankets were just double saddle blankets, but a few of them were blankets of quality. She imagined that Joe or Angie or both had bought them at the monthly auctions at Crownpoint. The auction of Navajo weaving was known world over. There were shelves around the fireplace and they were full of trophies and certificates. It was seen that the Martinez children had been active in 4-H, which is an organization for farm and ranch children to show off their agricultural skills. There were also several trophy belt buckles, attesting to the fact that the children were also active in rodeo. Even Max recognized one or two buckles with the bucking bull for winning bullriding contests. Max, looking around, saw that this was a typical middle class ranch home. There would be another house in some town where the children could attend school, but Max was sure that their hearts always remained here.
They were sitting in the living room. Max guessed that the ranchers might have called it the parlor. Liz and Sammy were deep in discussions about the early people who lived here. They were discussing as to whether they were related to today’s Native Americans or to another group altogether. Max smiled because Sammy wanted to call these people his ancestors. Liz was pointing that there were several migrations of people throughout the multiple ice ages.
Sammy’s mother came in, “Sammy I don’t care if our ancestors were cavemen or not, we are eating at the table like proper ranch folk. Show our guests where to wash up. Your Father and brother will be in shortly. I saw them ride up to the barn a minute ago.
Max and Liz were taken upstairs. Sammy pointed to two bathrooms, which clearly were the children’s. Liz entered one room, which was full of shampoos and other feminine things. The twins appeared and handed her a fresh towel. Max was taken further down the hall and from the boot polish on the shelves and the electric razors charging near the sink, he was sure this room was reserved for the two Martinez boys.
By the time they were washed up and down stairs, Max heard the back door slam and the clump of booted feet. Soon Joe entered, wearing a fresh shirt and clean boots. Rafel, his oldest son, came down the stairs. Likewise, he had changed his shirt and work boots. Max was introduced to Rafel, but his father Joe had eyes only for Doctor Liz. As Joe hugged Liz, Max heard him say, “We were so worried about you. We have watched your campground, but no one or no thing has approached it. That state policeman and this man, pointing to Max, are the only ones who have been around.”
Liz stated, “Max said everything was destroyed. I am not sure that I want to go back there, at least for a while.”
Joe nodded and Angie ushered them all to the table. Seated, Max noted that everyone bowed their heads. Then with an “Amen,” the Martinez family all made the sign of the cross. Max noticed that Liz did likewise. Except for a few discussions they had one Christmas back in high school, Max and Liz had never talked much about religions. Max had informed Liz that he really didn’t understand where he fit into Earth’s theology. He remembered that he had, finally, told Liz that he believed in her. He would place his faith in his Liz to guide him through any religious paths.
The blessing out of the way, conversations about the ranch, strange happenings, the joy of seeing Liz again, occurred as the bowls and plates of food were passed around. Max was treated to steaks, fried potatoes, tamales and stacks of hot white flour tortillas. The tamales were made with bits of meat. Max wasn’t sure what the meat was. Then, they were covered in a cornmeal dough and, finally, they were wrapped in corn husks and steamed until done. These were very different from what Max had tasted in restaurants. There were several bowls of different salsas, which were mostly salads of chopped tomato, chili and onion with plenty of spices. Tortillas, salsas, steaks and conversation flew around the table.
Max found it hard to keep up with everything around him, but he did learn what it was like to be in a strong Hispanic, ranch family. After dinner they were ushered to a large room. Joe offered Max a cigar, but Max pled off. Nicotine would wreck havoc with his alien system. Joe was studying Max carefully. “You are the first husband of Doctor Liz?” he asked.
“Yes, Liz and I were married right out of high school. Pressures forced us apart and it wasn’t until Kyle called me that Liz was in trouble that I returned to assist her,” Max explained.
Joe Martinez sat nodding his head. “Eloy says that you are not from around here,” Joe made it as a statement.
“No, we are all from Roswell,” Max began.
“No, no, that is not what I mean. Eloy says that you may be related to what ever we see in the sky,” Joe said.
Max remembered what Kyle said. “Do not be untruthful to these people.”
“Yes, we do not know much about ourselves, but we believe we were connected to the Roswell crash of 1947. That is a lot of what broke Liz and me up. There were a lot of people looking for us, who meant us no good. We were facing death at every turn. I just couldn’t keep bringing Liz into that. We annulled our marriage and went our separate ways. I had heard that Liz remarried and I hoped that she would be safe. That just wasn’t to be,” Max told them sadly.
Joe again nodded, “Yeah, some people won’t leave you alone unless you dress, think and act just like them. I keep telling the kids, we are Hispanics, we are ranchers and we don’t make apology to anyone for this.” Then, Joe had a little laugh. “I have a hard time looking at gringos back in the city dressed in boots which never tasted cow shit. I guess we all just like our own.”
They all laughed at Joe’s admission.