HIDDEN SPRINGS 8

for three days latigo rode day light to dark. on the way to the south boundry he would check his cattle as much as possible nothing seemed to be moveing down through the bombing range. he thought maybe the word getting back to mexico about the the bombers hitting the one caravan had forced them to change the route thy sent coyotes north. on the morning of the 4 yth day irene picked up his dirty breakfast plate and filled his coffee cup. then bringing her cup sat down across from him. all dureing the previous days she had only spoke when spoken to, never initiating a conversation. now she seemed ready to talk. " are you going to town today?" she asked. " if you want to go ill take you." latigo responded. over the past few days irene had stayed busy, cooking and cleaning. she had found latigo s bed roll and opened up and aired it out then washed and cleaned the blankets. she had re rolled it and made a bed for latigo on the porch. she was a good cook. but latigo didnt know what to thik about her. she was almost hostile. " i dont want to go into town. i have nothing to start with. the caborca cartel has people there in casa grande who would know me. if you will allow it i wwould stay here." irene stated. " you can stay here but i cant pay you for a while. when i sell some cattle then i can pay you." latigo answered. irene took a folded sheet of paper from her shirt pocket and slid it across the table." we need these things. there wasnt a lot here and with two of us eating there isnt much left., just so you under stand, i wennt to mexico to get married. his name was ramundo. but after we narried he would beat me for any reason. once he threw me into a wire fence and i got this" she ran her hand down the scar on her jaw." he wont beat any one again , ever. i think his brothers search for me. but i walked away with nothing for them to follow me with. ramundo sold my american identification , in america ime a illegal in mexico ime a non person. these things i want you to know." irene was looking down into her coffee cup almost whispering. " did you kill ramundo?" latigo asked. irene got up from the table and took both cups to the sink. she was through talking. later as latigo was driveing to the hiway he was running everything through his mind. the fact he was a little sorry for her circumstances. but would her being at his ranch bring trouble from the cartel? he was going to have to think this through a time or two. as he neared the hiway he saw the army pickup comming to meet him. he stopped to wait for them they surely didnt need to know about irene yet. when the truck pulled up next to him latigo saw it was louis.." good morning capitan" "good morning, i came to see how you were. we havent heard from you in a few days. is everything alright?" " except for being out of grocerys everything is good. been no activity down below. ive even had time to ride through my cows a little. ime on the way to town to the store. i need some horse shoes and other items also. you got anything for me?" latigo asked. louis shook his head" nope, but some body at luke leaked about the bomb run the other day. the press has been snooping around trying to get a story. anyone been here asking any questions?" " no one, and i wouldnt tell them anything anyway. i dont like those rumor spreaders. you think that run might have scared the coyotes into moveing to another area?"latigo voiced what he had been thinking. " i dont think so, we got a informant in caborca. he thinks they are putting together a big deal maybe going to make a night run. which is stupid . walking across that bombing range in the dark is asking for a explosion. trip on one of those unexploded bombs.....whoosh" louis hands went up over his head. " ill try to split up my watch so i get some after dark time in. but ime like you. one mis step could be lethal. ime headed into town can i buy you lunch?" laatigo wanted to be rolling. " ime needed back at luke. ill pass, but keep a sharp eye out for the reporters. they could cause a lot of problems." louis started his truck. latigo let louis get turned around then followed him back to the asphalt. now he had a lot to think about. . it was going to be a long day.