Good Man - Bad Enemy by Gary Church

Author:Gary Church [Church, Gary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dusty Saddle Publishing
Published: 2019-04-14T22:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-EIGHT

Two days later, Johnny, Rosalinda, and Margarita rode the buggy to Lupe and Margarita’s horse ranch. Johnny drove the buggy so slowly, terribly afraid something might happen to the baby, that both Rosalinda and Margarita laughed at him.

Over supper, Johnny told Lupe about the trip and handed him his share of the money for the cattle he had purchased and sent on the drive. He explained that there were deductions for expenses, and that the lost cattle were charged on a percentage basis to everyone. Johnny noticed that Lupe didn’t seem to be listening.

“Everything seem right to you?” asked Johnny, concerned.

“What?” responded Lupe.

“I was explaining the payment,” said Johnny.

“Es maravilloso!” said Lupe, reverting to Spanish. Then he nodded to his wife, and she went to a drawer and returned with a wooden box. Lupe presented it to Johnny. “A small thing, for you,” he said.

Opening the box, Johnny was surprised and thrilled to find a brand new revolver. It was a Remington-Rider, a double-action, produced from 1863-1865, and this one had a fluted cylinder.

Smiling, Lupe said, “A man wanted to trade it for a horse. I thought of you, and it seemed perfect. His father purchased it in ’65 and never fired it.”

Holding it and looking it over, Johnny said, “I saw many of these during the war, but as I recall, only a few had fluted cylinders. It’s handsome—muchas gracias.”

Lupe studied Johnny a moment, then he asked, “Can you still shoot with both hands?”

Johnny smiled, “Sí. I’ve always been that way. I wear a right-hand rig, but my left works just as well.”

Later, on the porch, smoking and sipping whiskies, Lupe said quietly, “Johnny, I know, better than the women, how hard, dangerous, and risky was your trip.” He paused. “I began to fret like an old woman after you left, wondering should something happen to you, what would happen to my daughter.” He sipped his whiskey and continued, “Muchas gracias.”

“You’re welcome, Lupe,” said Johnny. “Rosalinda and I discussed it before I accepted. Sometimes in life, as you know, you must take chances.”

Lupe held up his glass, and Johnny touched his to it. They drank.

At breakfast, Johnny asked Lupe about mares. Rosalinda and Johnny had made no plans for the future, other than to prepare for the baby, but it was mating season, and Loco was a fine stallion.

“I have four or five,” said Lupe. “Are you going to be my competition in the horse business? If so, I don’t know if I want to sell you any mares.”

“Lupe!” said Margarita.

“I was only making a joke,” said Lupe, looking hurt.

Johnny laughed.

Johnny made a deal for three fine mares, and he and Rosalinda said their goodbyes. On the way home, Johnny mentioned that he was thinking to plant some winter wheat this year, and he wanted to expand the cornfield.

Rosalinda said, “Well, the Browns will do anything for you, but I think we’ve been using their boys a little more than they can really spare them. They would never say anything, but the boys mentioned the family is planning to work some additional acreage this year.

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