Ganado: a novel

by Manolo Mario

  ‘But wait, that’s a working Quarter Horse. It’s not a class horse!’ Galo thought and he spurred Maximo to move in quickly. He got there in time to bump the horse away from the mare. The Quarter Horse neighed and rose up. Galo shifted his weight and moved enough to miss the kick. The mare didn’t stay around. She galloped back toward El Sereno. Galo and Maximo kept playing keep away with an irate Quarter Horse. He eventually tired, and Galo grabbed its reins and continued on to El Sereno.

  At the entrance to the ranch, Galo found a disheveled Rodriguez breathing heavy holding the rein of his mare as several people helped to keep her steady. She had lathered up on her run. Galo barely held the rein enough as the Quarter Horse rose again and whinnied at the scent of the mare. Other ranch hands ran over to take control of him and walk him away. Galo padded Maximo, “Sometimes it’s ok not have balls, you know.”

  Out of breath and almost crying Rodriguez looked up to Galo. “Bartolo, I don’t know where you came from, but I am in a panic. My mare ran out and the horse tore after her. I’m afraid he may have ruined her.”

  “No Rodriguez, he didn’t. I ran him off right before he could mount the mare. Your mare is clean.”

  His eyes widened. “You mean that? Are you sure? How can you be so sure?” A still panting Rodriguez barely could be understood.

  “Forgive me, Pedro, but I’ve never seen a horse go for seconds even if the mare was a beauty!”

  Rodriguez froze, then broke into a hysterical laugh that bent him over. He couldn’t stop laughing. He handed the rein to a worker and waved Galo over to the house. He laughed the whole time he walked and kept wiping his eyes. He laughed and cried at the same time.

  In the house after a shot of whisky and a glass of water, Rodriguez regained composure and ran his fingers through his hair. It was the nearest thing to a hairbrush. “I can’t thank you enough, Galo. That mare won the competition yesterday. Her papers are impeccable and if she had been impregnated, she would have been thoroughly ruined. I don’t know how it happened, but thank God you were there.”

  Galo’s thoughts were more in line with thanking God for the mare’s escape, but he figured Pedro was not up for too much humor at this hour. “I got lucky. I was coming to see you when I ran across the scene on the road. I recognized your mare and noticed the horse wasn’t of the same class.”

  “I’m the lucky one. Again, I can’t thank you enough. I lost my wife a few years ago to an accident and this would have been devastating to me. Beatriz isn’t even here. She stayed behind in the city with friends.”

  He took the time to tuck in his shirt and straighten out some more. It was uncomfortable to be anything less than proper. Galo paid no attention. He felt calm and took a seat.

  “Pedro, there is something you can help me with. It is the reason I am here. I know you don’t like to get too involved with the cattle operation.”

  The men settled into their seats in the living room and Rodriguez lit up a cigarette and flipped the box to Galo. He lit up and nodded his thanks.

  “I don’t like it. You, Felipe, and Eriberto are the guys with any sense that I can talk to. The rest of the lot is mostly nasty.”

  “I know that and I also know you make good money on the cattle so you can enjoy your horses, right?”

  Rodriguez nodded his affirmation and took a deep drag from his smoke.

  “Yesterday, Felipe agreed to a deal with me. He sold me a quarter of his herd and agreed not to sell the rest. This will put me in a good position to negotiate a great price from the buyers. If we could work the same deal, I can most certainly assure we will succeed. What can I do to convince you? Will your foreman be a cause for concern?”

  “Perhaps he may have an objection, but I pay him, so he will have to do as I say.”

  “I am more worried that the buyers push him into selling something without your knowledge or mine.”

  “That would be a cause for his dismissal. I sign the papers!”

  Galo sat up for the first time to the edge of the seat and tugged at his ear. “I can speak with him directly and make sure that there is no misunderstanding. So, Pedro, does this mean you will sign over the novillos?”

  Another long drag and Pedro stuffed out his cigarette in the ashtray on the coffee table. He stood up and walked a few steps to the window overlooking his horses. He seemed lost in thought and as accustomed, Galo sat quietly allowing the man to think.

  “Yes, it does. I don’t want to see those people ever again. Let’s hope you succeed. If so, I’ll be able to get more thoroughbreds.”

  “With your novillos in the deal, you will be able to do so, Pedro. Count on it!” Galo stood and shook hands with Pedro.

  The conversation with the foreman was more tenuous than Galo had anticipated. He complained and challenged like the Quarter Horse had done a couple of hours before, but Galo kept moving and repeating and repeating. Rodriguez held back until he couldn’t any longer and finally told the foreman to do ‘what this man tells you to do,’ pointing at Galo.

  The ride back to town was a ride full of triumph and accomplishment. In a brief period of time, Galo controlled of the majority of the novillos in the province of Camagüey! He owned two hundred and eight thousand heads, on credit, and had taken another hundred and thirty five thousand off the market. That left Luna’s eighty four thousand heads and a scattering throughout the province. At this stage, Luna would run out quickly at a cheap rate and the buyers would have to turn to him. If they didn’t bite this week, they would have to bite by the holidays. At worse, they’ll be talking in January. There was much to celebrate when he got home, but perhaps he would stop at one of the churches and light a candle. Somebody, some saint let the mare out and whichever saint did it, he or she needed to be thanked.

  ***

  The train made its scheduled stop in Santa Clara and the usual chaos of passengers boarded and exited. In the dining car, Alberto Matos gathered the other ten men including Camilo Ortiz. Camilo had worked a side deal with Elio at Matadero El Sol, a deal that didn’t look as good today as the day he made it.

  The group of cattle buyers crowded around the table and Matos began to address them. “Most of you are not new to this, but I am compelled to repeat myself. We are supposed to be independent, representing several buying houses, but we need to act together. As all of you know, prices are rising due to the war. We cannot let the guajiros dig into our profits. The profits are ours. There are commitments. Our prices cannot go over four seventy-five per hundred pounds on the best novillo. If the steer is over three years, keep the price less than four. The rest is up to your relationships. Understood?”

  The men nodded their understanding and chatted among themselves. Alvaro Perez, one of the younger, less experienced buyers wanted some clarification. “What about if one of the cattlemen holds out and balks at the price?”

  “Simple, don’t waste your time with him. Move on to the next ranch on your respective list. Leave a note at the hotel for the next guy and let him go at the rancher a second time. I’m sure when the rancher watches you leave, he’ll be more compelled to buy from the next guy. Men, we need to settle these buys early for the holidays before there is any disruption in the market.”

  Ortiz generally did not have a thought of his own, he tended to repeat and suck up to Matos when he could. And it happened every time. He had more experience than the others and therefore established a basis. Matos liked the adoration and let Ortiz go about his commentary. “That’s right, gentlemen; this is an easy run. We should be done by Wednesday evening in time to get on the return train and be back to get paid!”

  Some smiled and some shook hands. Ortiz looked at Matos to make sure he didn’t disapproved of his comments. For his take, Matos lifted a hand and continued. “So, everyone go back to your seats and make sure you exit separately. We are all booked at three separate hotels. Check in and get going on your purchases. Let’s get this right.”

  The train was four hours away from reaching Camagüey
with three stops in between at Placetas, Ciego de Avila, and Florida.

  ***

  In Camagüey, Galo sat back at Ofelia’s having his café con leche Monday morning with Frank and Quino. He picked up the contracts from Albergue and scheduled meetings with several of the cattlemen this morning to sign the papers. Frank sat amazed at what Galo accomplished. He secured more material and understood Galo wanted the earring tags to be distributed as quickly as possible. Galo made sure Quino and Mulo delivered the tags to the respective foremen at La Vaquita, El Sereno, Cruz Azul and Dos Pasos, so they could get the identification handled faster. Again, if Quintero was correct, the buyers would arrive soon and they would all learn if Galo’s plan would work.

  The door to the café swung hard and crashed against the doorstop loudly, causing everyone to look up. Roberto Luna entered with a pointed look and a direct line to Galo. He looked a bit ragged. One of his shirttails doubled and the tip stuck out from his pants. One pant leg was tucked in his boot and the other wasn’t.

  “Good morning, Roberto. It’s good to see you. Is something wrong? You look a little ragged.”

  “I need to talk to you right away.” He said tersely. Luna looked critically at Frank, with contempt at Quino, and with disdain to others in the room. Direly he added, “in private!”

  Galo excused himself and pointed out the door where Luna entered. Quino stood a moment later and kept an ear from inside next to the door. Once outside and away from casual earshot, Luna began his admonition. “I don’t know who you are or who you think you are, but if for one moment you think you can get away with screwing Roberto Luna, you have something else coming to you!”

  At this opening, Galo felt at a complete loss. It was the first time he was concerned about the man’s mental state. “Luna, you have me at a disadvantage. What in the hell are you talking about? I haven’t done anything to screw you.”

  “You must take me for an imbecile. Don’t you think I know what you’ve done with the other big houses? Well, I know! I, I know! Very few things get by me, and if you think you can cut me out of this deal, you are certifiably crazy!”

  Luna frothed at the mouth and his eyes bulged further even than Quino’s. Galo couldn’t believe his ears. If there was anyone certifiable, it was Luna. Remembering Arturo’s warning, he reached to the small of his back and played on with the mad rancher. “Luna, you told me to shove my idea and my deal up my ass, in not so many words. Coño, you told me I would have to leave town. Why in the hell do you think I would want to do business with you after all that?”

  “Because you need me and if I am not in I can make your life miserable; and don’t think for one minute I can’t. I still have a load of novillos and I can influence quite a few people to undo your scam.”

  Galo thought ‘all right, I can beat the piss out of this guy, cut his tongue out or both, or let him in the deal. For anyone of those choices, I am going to be a complete ass and hate myself later. Any one of these options I choose is going to hurt, but since it’s going to hurt, let’s make some money anyway.’

  “Luna, what did you have in mind?” Galo asked in a lower tone, but with eyes rolling. He brought his arms forward.

  “I want a deal. I will give you a third of my novillos under the same arrangements you made with Quintero and Sanchez.”

  “Will you stand fast and not sell your other two thirds?”

  “I will not.”

  “You mean you will not sell them under any condition. You will sign an agreement to that effect?”

  “In my father’s day, he would have struck you for doubting his word. Anyway, I’ll sign it.”

  “Great, you have a deal, Luna.”

  Luna began breathing easily for a change, as if the burden of life had been lifted from the man. They shook hands and agreed to meet and execute the documents the next day. Galo walked back into Ofelia’s, he nodded at Quino, and returned to find Frank with a questioning look on his face. Galo looked at him, shrugged and said, “Chupa cabron!”

  Chapter 45

  Altogether Galo collected thirty signed contracts from the guajiro cattlemen who had shaken hands, at least ten of them used an ‘X’ for their signature. Yet, there was nothing to worry about. Though ignorant, their names were worth more than all the cattle they would raise the rest of their lives. It meant their children would have a fair shot at a life, whatever that may be. Conversely, those offspring would be forever tied to the no-good such and such, whatever that might have been. With the contracts safely in his satchel and the day past noon, Galo took a last swig from his guanabana45 shake and paid the tab.

  The train whistle blew fifteen minutes ago and he needed to head off to Albergue to get the contracts filed. Finalizing the one for Luna took priority and getting the more complex ones for the other Big Five houses followed slightly. He hoped to get them ready for signatures the next morning. Galo went for the door and quickly jumped back as it swung open. He caught the door before it banged. A familiar face he had not seen for many months walked in without excusing himself and headed back to the counter. As with many items, Galo would not forget the face of the mustached man from behind the curtain at the Crystal Restaurant. Galo didn’t look back, but slipped out the door grabbing the handle to close it behind him. He turned to the left with his hat a little further down on his brow towards where he had tied Maximo.

  ***

  With a long whistle and stewards walking through the halls of the train calling out ‘Camagüey,’ passengers gathered their valises and bags and headed for the exits from the train. Matos left his cabin and as planned, loitered around to get a view of all the representatives heading towards their assignments. All vacated the train on schedule except for Ortiz, who ran about five minutes late.

  He liked his crew and felt at ease. The job was never as easy as it sounded. Guajiros were not educated and haggling was a necessary part of the process or else they didn’t feel they had a square deal. More importantly, you had to look the part. You had the power. They needed to know that. As his thoughts waned, the passengers who would be traveling east to Santiago were starting to board. Matos took the opportunity and got off the train.

  He understood everyone was going about his assignment and he had the rest of the afternoon to kill. A certain young lady he had ventured in the past would be a great treat. But first, he was hungry and remembered a café across the street from the station. Matos crossed the street, avoiding the passing buggies toward the door of Ofelia’s. This was the first chance to show these guajiros who was in charge. He turned the knob and pushed the door hard so it would bang against the stop. The door didn’t bang. Some little guy caught it. He took noticed out of the corner of his eye. As erect as possible, he ambled through and went to the bar. He felt the door close behind him as he ordered a Cuba Libre and a beef sandwich.

  ***

  After turning the corner onto Republica, Galo untied and mounted Maximo and galloped rapidly to Albergue’s office. He climbed two steps at a time and pushed right through the door. Galo startled him awake from his siesta on his couch. “Get up, counsel and come to your senses. We have to hurry!”

  “Why, what, when, what is going on? What is the hurry? What’s happened? A disoriented attorney rattled off trying to shake off his sleep.

  “Quintero was right. The bull cock-sucking pricks are here. They came on the train that got in this afternoon.”

  “Oh, you mean the buying agents?”

  “Yes, which means we will see the results and the resolve of some of our new partners as they get tested. More important though, I need to get the contracts to the other four big guys before they change their minds. You never know what can happen. How about it? Can you finish them?”

  “Yes, of course. They are almost done. We need to adjust a few lines,” Albergue went quickly to his desk and fussed through a bunch of papers, finding the appropriate ones. He sat and turned towards his typewriter. Upon feeding the first legal page with carbon in, he pecked at the keys
developing the rest of the clauses required.

  “We also need one more agreement for Luna. Believe it or not, the old sack full of putrid cow farts accosted me this morning demanding to be let into the deal. This was the same guy that told me to take my deal to hell a few days earlier. I think his name was cut off. It is short for lunatic!”

  Albergue fed the next sheet onto the typewriter. He cracked his knuckles and stretched his arms before continuing. “He is a tricky fellow. I would think that not all is there upstairs.”

  “Yeah, but I couldn’t kill him and he would be a real pesky pain in my scrotum if I didn’t let him in. So, you’ll have one more agreement to put together. It has to carry real hard penalties for violating the non-sale of his remaining herd.”

  “I see. Yes, we can do that as well, but I wouldn’t bet my next meal that he would live up to any agreement, no matter how many times you get him to sign it.”

  “Look Ricardo, I could have cut his tongue out or told him to shove a horn up his ass or let him in the deal. No matter what I chose, it would be bad. I figured I might as well get a claim on him and at least keep him close.”

  Albergue took another hour finalizing the various contracts. Galo gave him the executed ones he gathered and placed the ones to be signed in the satchel.

  “There’s enough light for me to get to Dos Pasos and El Sereno. I’ll leave La Vaquita and Luna for tomorrow morning. Thanks, counselor. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Galo bolted out the door.

  ***

  Checked in and refreshed, Alvaro Perez left the hotel with plenty of time to call on three of the ranches on his list and secure his buys. The hotel furnished a coach for his activities like they did for other buying representatives. The driver knew his way around the province and the horses were in good order. In thirty minutes he reached the outskirts of the city calling on his first target, Emilio Sastre.