by Darrel Bird
to that, it is better to die with dignity, than to live in the woods like dogs, is it not?”
“That is true. Is it true also that you used to be one of us?”
“I still am one of you; we are the children of God, are we not?”
“That is true; I will see what the others have to say, if they say to go from here, then we will be there in the morning, if not, we will not.”
“That is all I can ask. We will wait and see if you come. Good day to you, and may God be with you.” She remounted the horse.
“And with you.” He called as she walked the horse back to the gate. A young boy was there, and had it open for her. She nodded as she rode the horse through the gate, and turned the horse for home.
She was relieved when she exited the county road, and turned up the road that led to their farm house. Gabe was there to meet her when she rode the horse into the yard, and he helped her down.
“Girl, every time I see you on a horse I get all hot and bothered.” He said, admiring her still shapely figure.
“You’d better keep those thoughts to yourself old man; I am a decent woman.” Her black eyes belied the fake scolding as she looked at the man she had married with a loving glance.
“Are they coming?”
“They will come; they have their pride, and they have to talk as men. The camp is in pretty bad shape, and they will see that they do not have much choice.”
“Well, I’ll get over there and begin fixing the cabins as soon as we eat a bite of lunch.”
The next morning the migrants were standing outside in the yard when Gabe woke up. He walked out the door to greet them.
“Good morning, you all can go down and decide among yourselves about the cabins, then we will get them fixed up more permanent.”
“We are here to stay senor?” One of the men asked.
“Looks that way, you are a part of this family and this ranch as long as you like.”
“Thank you senor.”
They may not thank me when the fireworks start. The thought was there; it was unwanted, but there nonetheless.
He walked down in front if the little row of cabins, and one of the men came out to the road to meet him.
“What do you want us to start doing Senor boss?”
“What is your name?”
“My name is Adolfo.”
“That means noble wolf doesn’t it?”
“Si, that is so.”
“Well Adolfo, will these people listen to you?”
“Yes, they will listen.”
“Then I want you to make sure they are settled in, get some food, take what you need to renovate these cabin’s, and don’t call me boss any more, my name is Gabe, and I am your neighbor, nothing more, nothing less.”
“Si senor Gabe.”
“Things have changed Adolfo, and you and your people may have to fight to keep this place.”
“Will you fight senor Gabe?”
“I will fight.”
”Then we will fight.”
“Then let's get started, these people need a leader, and you and me are it.”
The immigrant stared at him for a few seconds, “Si senor Gabe; I will do it.” He turned and walk back toward the cabin.
Gabe walked on toward the orchards, and he didn’t stop until he was at the county road, he looked down the road, and he longed for peace.
Coffee grounds
Austin and Gabe walked out onto the porch with their daily allowance of one cup of coffee. Soon what little coffee they had would be gone, and they both dreaded the day since they both liked their coffee. Josh was with the immigrants' digging fighting berms with the tractor. Gas too would be running out soon, and then it would be picks and shovels.
“We haven’t heard a thing from this Henry Boyd of yours; do you think he has given up on getting the farm Gabe?” Austin gazed out over the orchards that reached along the county road. Small apples were growing heavy in the trees. The gardens were producing food to can before winter, and except for the size of the gardens, it looked like a normal Yakima valley farm.
“No, he’s getting ready to try to take it; bet on it.”
No more than he got the last word out, they heard a car turn down the lane that led to the house. Two pickups with men on the back followed the black car. There was a pole with a white flag attached to the front of the car.
“Speaking of the devil, and here he comes. Grab your rifle Austin, and be sure your pistol has the safety off; I don’t think they will try anything, but we have to be ready.”
The car eased up the lane and stopped near the edge of the yard, “What do you want Boyd? Don’t bother getting out of the car.”
Boyd saw Austin, and he had observed the occupied cabins as he passed them, “It ain’t picking time Gabe, who is in the cabins?”
“None of your damn business Boyd, I asked you what you wanted!”
“Now Gabe, you don’t have to be so unfriendly!”
“State your business, then get the hell off my property Boyd.”
“I wanted to give you one last chance to obey the law Gabe; the growers association has to have this ranch so that the people can survive.”
“Law? The law you made up to gobble up the farms around. You’re nothing but a thug coward, and you always have been Boyd; You had my answer the last time you were here, and that load of thugs you have on those pickups won’t change my mind, is that clear?”
Austin tensed, and his hand went to the trigger on his rifle. He could have shot the man through the door of the car. His face burned with anger at what he saw.
“If that is the way you are going to play it Gabe, I had hoped to avoid anyone getting hurt.”
“More especially yourself you little weasel, you thought I would just turn tail and move into town with the rest of the farmers. Iverson in back of me ain’t moving either.”
“Who’s your friend there?”
“A friend who knows how to fight, now get on out of here before one of your cronies gets brave and starts something you can’t finish, because you will be the first one who gets shot.”
Austin could see the fear in Boyd's eyes, “Drive on.” Boyd said to the driver. After the cars left the yard, Austin remarked, “I guess that answers my question.”