HIDDEN SPRING 6

as he neared his yard latigo could see a person sitting on his porch. they weree bowed over with long black hair hanging down each side of their face. as he rode closer the aroma of roses hit him. when twenty feet away he cleared his throat. a woman jumped to her feet, a long bladed knife in her hand and a scowel on her face. latigo shook his head. then drew the snub nose from his chap pocket.the woman seeing that slipped the blade under her belt and showed her hands. she said one word." agua " latigo pointed to a hydrant at the corner of the house. he sat and watched as she fell to her kneesa and began slurping the water as fast as it ran from the faucet. she was dressed as most of the illegals who crossed into the arizona desert. denim pants a tee shirt with some logo screen dyed on it. tennis shoes and a back pack which lay at the foot of the steps. latigo turned and rode to his saddle room. he felt no agresion here. when he had tended to his horse he walked back to the house. the woman had pulled her hair back into a pony tail and tied it with a string. he was shocked to see a long nasty scar along one side of her face. she was probably in her mid to late 30 s and had a hard look about her. the scar didnt help things any.in spanish latigo asked if she was hungry. she nodded, surprised he spoke mexican.. in the house latigo started fixeing a meal.out side the woman had set back down on the porch steps. he realised she had gone to sleep. he eased up close and got a hold of the back pack. he didnt want aany surprises. when he peered inside the pack all he found was a wad of clothes. nothing threatning. he set the pack down and returned to his stove. when the meal was ready he once again cleared his throat. the woman almost jumped to her feet. she looked back at his standing in the kitchen door. " comida listo" was all he said. he turned and walked back into the dark kitchen she could se him lighting a kerosen lamp. latigo looked up from the lamp to see the woman standing at the door. she was looking inside as if it might be a trap. latigo pointed to a chair then went to the stove and dished up a plate of the food. with a fork he set it on the table and motioned to it. the woman took a tenative step into the room. then moved to the table and pulled the chair out and sat downlatigo saw her bow her head for a moment then cross herself. a good sighn he thought to himsrlf. he brought his plate to the table and sat down across from her. she was picking through the food with her fork. looking for something. it dawned to latigo she was afraid he might have tried to poison her. he reached over and switched plates with her. then took a big bite from the plate she had. when he did that she smiled and ducked her head and began eating. when done eating latigo pointed to a bunk along one wall and told her to sleep there. he took a blanket and went out on the porch and wrapped up in it and went to sleep on the porch. he was hopeing the next day he could possibly get some information from her.