Drug Lords Gift

In the next door county's much larger county seat, I finally found a true jeweler, one being more than just a pawn shop with a Jeweler sign hung over the door. From his salvage box, he sold me an old ring with enough gold and a small diamond about the size of the one from Grandma's ring I had remodeled and given to my bride-to-be. By him remodeling this second old ring, I had something to give to Maria. The rings were near twins, but I could tell them apart and so could my ladies—which was what really mattered.

Maria really needed something to shoo away the flies she attracted at the Community Hall's Saturday evening dances in Golden Canyon. I convinced both girls it was okay that Maria's diamond was ever so slightly bigger than Anna's, because she had to wait longer.

In three weeks I spread around at least four dozen resumes as we sight-saw everything within a hundred miles of Golden Canyon. I did get one call about a place looking for a used car salesman, one looking for someone to drive truck and operate construction heavy equipment, and another about a position leading to promotion to second-in-command managing a ready-mix concrete company. But nothing interesting enough to threaten my return home at the end of our five weeks.

Anna and Maria quickly learned the necessity of taking the dance floor passably well at the Golden Canyon Community Hall. My problem was they looked so damned good, and there was only one of me to accommodate two of them, so the one I wasn't dancing with had far more than enough other attention. I had to assert myself occasionally to get a dance, but so?

I heard Maria answer the question, who was she married to, when she held out her hand with her new ring on her finger.

"A man just like my sister's husband" (or fiancé—whichever the case was at the time). It's amazing how you can twist the English language! Usually after that, the single-men's confab in one corner or the other of the Community Center spread their attention more evenly among the other young lovelies available, so I wasn't forced to exert my husbandly influence all that much.

As it's said, 'They always saved the last dance for me.' I didn't mind having a pair of beautiful Latino women in my arms as the band played it's last gasp and we headed back to Mrs. Spencer's boardinghouse.

So, we set up our big day for Friday afternoon, our fourth weekend in Golden Canyon, then that evening for our reception. I tried to pay Mrs Spencer something extra for the cake and other preparations she made, but she was having none of that. "I never had a wedding here before. May be good for business." From the age of her normal clientele, though, I doubted she'd receive much additional business as a result, but you never can tell in a small town.

In our wanderings, Anna and Maria and I stumbled across the Golden Canyon County Museum, a couple small buildings that had once been a pioneer family's farmstead along the creek running past the east edge of town. The house was a cozy (meaning small) 1880's frame-inside-brick building that served as the museum's office, domestics display area, and provided a small gizmo display and hand tool area on the back porch as well. The barn and corrals, all the same vintage as the house, filled out a setting that hadn't yet been corrupted by late model, corrugated metal buildings. The well-thought-out part was they rented stall space to several town residents—one of whom lived at Mrs. Spencers—who kept horses there, so in the evenings you'd likely catch an owner out there caring for his horse. If you showed any interest, they'd likely talk your leg off and maybe even give you a ride. And during the day, if kids came to the museum with Mommy and Daddy, they found something much more interesting than rusty old stuff collected from fifty miles around Golden in all directions.

"Ooh, I so scared," Anna said after our first evening out there.

"Why, Honey?" All I'd been mostly concerned about was finding a place to marry Anna and take a few marriage-like pictures to commemorate our few moments spent saying I do.

"I never touched horse before. And that man, he so ..."

"Insistent?"

"Is word I want? I so scared. He seem nice, but I still scared."

"Insistent. He'd probably never before met a woman who'd never touched a horse." I chuckled, because it might have been true.

"Ooh, I so scared," Anna mumbled as she continued shaking her head.

"Well, you did fine. You petted his horse."

"Still scared. Horse look at me. Scare me more."

"He was probably just looking to see what touched him."

"He see Anna scared, that what he see."

"You scared, too, Maria?"

"Some, yes. But I ride horse before—once."

"You do? You ... did?" Anna said.

"Long time ago, when I only maybe ten anos. Remember, Anna? Man come one evening. Take me far out to country. I scared, but he put me on horse, then he sit on saddle behind me."

"You thought that was fun?" I said. Maybe I could borrow Mr. Mason's horse and take Anna riding some night—maybe a bride and groom midnight ride? Or maybe a sister-in-law ride? I always did wonder where the man behind was supposed to put his hands while the woman sat in the saddle ahead of him.

"Oh, it okay. He pay good," Maria said with a shrug. "He gentle. I not mind." Her voice softened as she said these last three words. I figured that was my cue.

"Maybe some honeymoon evening we go out here and see if Mr. Mason will let us ride his horse. Would you like that Maria?"

"You ride behind Maria?"

"If you wish."

"Maria wish, you bet."

"And what about you, Anna. You'll either be my wife or soon will be. Would you mind?"

"Only mind if you not help me ride, too. If Maria like, Anna sure want like ... even if scared."

"Only two people to a horse. Don't want to break his poor back. So it will be only you and me, or Maria and me, or Maria and you."

"How about only me or only Maria, or only you?"

"You ladies decide, then we ride," I said with a comic twist sounding in my voice.

"We see. I be too scared, probably," Anna said.

"No, you won't. I'll be there all the time. I'll make sure that horse never even thinks a bad thought."

"You help Anna, then, yes?"

"I'll help Anna, yes."

"What you do? Oh, I scared already!"

When she said that, I astutely figured I better begin at the beginning. My theory was: Things you didn't understand were the most likely to scare you. And if just having a horse look at her was scary, then I had my work cut out.

"You ever think about why Mr. Mason has a horse?"

"He like ride?"

"He could ride in his car instead."

"He like ride horse?"

"Yes. And why you think he likes riding a horse instead of his car?"

"Maybe he likes horse?"

"I think so. Otherwise, why does he go to the museum every night to feed and care for that animal?"

"He like to do."

"And the horse repays him by minding him so his ride is pleasant. And I know he gives the horse an apple every night."

"Horse eat apple? Horse like apple?"

"I think you can count on it."

"Oh."

"And did you notice Mr. Mason brushed the horse down before he left?"

"Si."

"You think the horse might like that, too?"

She nodded.

"And you noticed he's always nice to his horse, pats him and rubs him while he's putting the saddle on or taking it off?"

She nodded again.

"I'll bet that horse even whinnies to him when he first arrives, just to tell Mr. Mason he's glad he came to see him. Being a horse must be kind of boring, I think. Wouldn't you be glad to see your owner if you stayed penned up in a small pasture all day with only other horses to talk to? And earning an apple each evening? Wouldn't you like that better than just hay?"

A light went on in her expression.

"Anna? Why you think I come home to you and Maria every night?"

"You tired of work? Or you want to fuck."

"Yes, I am and I do. But there are lots of other places I could go rather than home to you."

"You like us?"

"Bingo!" I said, pointing at her. "The girl understands. I like you both, and I hope you both like me. I hope us liking each other keeps us happy for the rest of our lives. Simple.

"Now ... liking a horse is way different than liking a woman like either of you, yes. But deep down, much is the same, too, just like you liking me is much the same as me liking that dog I had when I was a kid."

"You miss him, don't you?"

"Yeah, like missing either of you. He was a good dog, but you're better all around."

"We not going away. We like home with you. We stay always, and do what you like."

God, I hoped so!

"So, Mr. Mason's horse likes him because he gets happiness from him, and Mr. Mason likes his horse because he get happiness in return. Sort of like you and Maria and me. We like each other both ways, back and forth."

Understanding shown in Anna's eyes; similar shown in Maria's

"So," Anna said. "I gotta love our man Matt, and this horse, too."

"That's the idea.."

"Anna buy apples, yes?"

I nodded. She had the idea.

***

After supper that night, I cornered Mr. Mason and asked if there was any chance he'd let my girls get acquainted with his horse and maybe ride him. That's akin to asking a grandmother about her grandkids.

He had something already planned but the following evening was a definite go. We met him there in front of the museum barn's huge main door.

Now, I've never been much of a horseman, so I learned plenty from Mr. Mason's beginner's training of Anna and Maria. I already knew you always mounted from the left side and only laid the reins against the animal's neck to turn him, not pull the reins like you do those when steering a draft horse. But I needed help when it came to saddling and bridling.

He put neither girl on the horse right off that first evening, only helped them brush the horse, then lead it around the corral and get used to being near an animal that big. Before Mr. Mason had to go, they'd seen him saddle and unsaddle the horse, both brushed a lot of that fearsome animal, led him several laps of the corral, and to top it off, cut up an apple each and felt the animal's soft lips pick the fruit sections from their hands.

"Oooh!" Anna exclaimed as Brownie nuzzled her forgotten hand, trying to find more apple. She pulled her hand back in near panic.

"Either he likes you, or he likes more apples!"

"He know Anna scared."

Maria came to her rescue with a section of her second apple held to the horse in her open hand. Brownie knew a good thing when he saw it, and with his tactile lips picked it up.

"Oooh!" Maria said, but held her ground in spite of the new sensation. The horse downed that in a moment, before turning to search for the apple's remainder that had to be in her other hand.

"You got a friend, there, Maria," Mr. Mason said, "just as long as you have more apples."

We all got a kick out of that.

"Well, Anna?" Maria said. "Your turn."

I took the half apple Anna still held, cut it again, and handed half back to her. She looked into my eyes. I'd have done anything to make her next move easier for her, but she looked down, then up again and held her hand out to the horse. Right on cue, Brownie emptied her hand without scaring her. When he'd downed that tidbit, he rubbed his soft nose gently against her hand.

"Here," I said. "Give him this last part."

Anna's confidence held up well to this last. Then we both held our open palms toward the horse signaling treat time was over.

***

The following evening Mr. Mason saddled Brownie for us, but then had to leave for some sort of meeting. That left me to continue my girls' cowgirl training; he said he'd come back later, put everything away, and feed Brownie, but I'd seen where he kept the bridle, saddle, and brushes, so I felt qualified to contribute that effort. By the time I got the horse brushed down, Anna and Maria had pitched in.

But before that, the girls had accustomed themselves to leading the horse around the corral, Maria had consented to ride while I led, which quickly evolved to Anna riding while I led, both girls riding while I led, and after that with one of them riding while the other led.

"Well," Maria said when this had run it's course. "Don't you know how to ride, Mattie, Sir?"

Yes, I did—a little—but it had been years, and not much even then. She handed me the reins and stepped back. I tossed the RH rein over the horse's neck, found the other, the stirrup and the horn, and none too certainly, launched myself into the saddle. Even I'd have admitted lack of expertise, but I made it.

But the look on my ladies' faces was that of hero worship. If only they knew!

I eased the horse several times around the corral, then into a trot. Yeah, what little I knew returned, including my lack of getting that posting motion right, the one that experienced riders use so the horse's trot doesn't pound their backside.

But, enough of that. I stopped in front of the girls and slid off. No flashy dismount for me today!

"Okay. Who's going to ride with me?"

Both women stepped back.

"Maria? You've done this before. You in front and me behind. How about it?"

She didn't exactly step forward with eagerness.

I stepped over to her, bent and whispered in her ear, "I'll fuck you extra good tonight if you do."

She pulled away from me, toward Anna.

"What he say?"

"He fuck me extra good tonight if I ride with him."

"Not fair! Tonight my turn first!" Anna said.

"Then get over there and get up in that saddle with me."

"But I too scared."

"Anna, you beautiful hunk of womanhood, you already rode this horse with Maria leading him. Now you're going to do the same with me behind you guiding the horse and holding you safe."

"Oh."

"So?"

"I do? And you fuck me extra good tonight, too?"

"Extra good every night, right?"

With that she threw her arms around me and nearly strangled me with a kiss. I'd better make this good!

By the time Mr. Mason returned, both Anna and Maria had ridden double with me, and we'd accomplished more than a walk. You know, both those women let it be known they liked guiding the horse while being coached by her man behind her. What we needed now was a second horse so we could take a short ride outside the corral. Brownie's owner had a solution to that: borrow another horse, either the mare or the gelding stalled at the other end of the barn.

***

Of course a real man lives up to his promises, no?

As we returned to Mrs. Jenson's that night, the ladies still socializing in the lobby all needed reports on our third evening spent with Mr. Mason's horse. Several were ranch-raised, so coaching my girls came naturally, as did fashion tips on how to look even better on a horse than afoot.

And I suspect more than one had, in her younger days, enjoyed having her beau ride behind her while she steered the horse.

That first evening's riding a horse information quickly waned to include progress toward the big reception coming two weekends from then. Us men, as usual, quickly became superfluous; but Anna and Maria held up the male end for my family very well. The rest of the men, all but one being older than me, shuttled us into the front room away from the chatter about everything having to do with getting married, the reception, and all the rest. I'll bet there was considerable discussion about the wedding night, too. I just hoped Anna and Maria didn't let on just how much they already knew and how much the three of us had done together during our nearly two years living together.

Several evenings later before Mr. Mason entrusted his horse to us for the evening, he brought out a saddle, the like of which I'd never seen before. As Anna and Maria readied Brownie for a ride, he took me to one side where they couldn't see or hear and said, "I always wondered about saddles like this. I think they use them for jumping, but an old guy like me, raised around cattle as a kid, wonders how you ever get any work done without a horn and swell."

I sure couldn't shed any light on that.

"This came to me from my family's estate, but I never used it. Want to try it out on Jamison's horse tonight? I'll help you get it saddled if you do. Maybe after you and your ladies try it out, you can explain it to me." The tone of his tone of voice made me wonder, "Mr. Mason! What are you thinking?" But, he'd been a young man once. Perhaps he only wanted something to refresh his memory? Or encourage his phantasies.

Chapter 5

The Immigration bureaucracy caught up with us much quicker than I expected. Good thing I had our ducks pretty well lined up before our trip to southern Montana. The paperwork that arrived by registered mail was typical of the US Federal Government: You have 15 days to prove you haven't violated a single word of the 33 billion words in the Federal Register (as of 2017, probably far more by now) or we haul you away in chains and throw you in jail for the rest of your life.

I'd already discussed Anna and Maria's situation with my Mustang car-club, attorney friend, Jason, so I knew what I was taking on—yes, and although getting a cut hourly rate from him and his law firm, he told me I still should expect a $7500 hole in my wallet just for getting green cards for both girls .

And that didn't include the possibility the INS might look at me as a criminal in this matter, and haul me in for assisting illegal aliens to stay in the USA.

For documentation, we had:

Six copies of the of the Golden Times-Sentinel showing our marriage announcement,

Numerous pictures of my wife and our marriage reception at the boarding house,

Scads of photos at the park and museum of me, Anna, Maria, saying I Do, my new wife wearing a white veil and looking very bridal, and Maria looking very Maid-of- Honorish

5 weeks of receipts covering our stay at Mrs. Jension's boarding house, (To substantiate our claim to be residents),

A list of 40 some places in and around Golden Canyon where I'd submitted my professional resume',

Several copies of the newspaper article about Senior Espino's death,

Documentation from St. Georges Catholic School showing Anna and Maria as volunteer 'student coaches,'

A letter of appreciation from the St. John's Catholic School for Anna and Maria's help at the schools, and testimonials from several Latino mothers regarding value of their help with their children's multi-lingual needs at the schools,

Photographs showing Anna and Maria walking, uncoerced across Montana and Idaho borders (to head off questions of the Mann Act applying to me),

Five weeks of receipts for purchases made in Golden Canyon during our stay, which included jeans, work shirts, boots, and that sort of thing,

A written history of Anna and Maria's stay in the US, their kidnaping, underage, etc. as well as could be remembered by two scared little girls of age of ten or eleven,

And of course we certified-mailed copies of all this to the INS, attempting to demonstrate our position.

As Jason and I anticipated, INS tried to say Anna and I weren't really married, and therefore Anna had no priority over the 2 Million other Mexicans trying to get US green cards, that she was a prostitute and all other sorts of nasty criminality to boot which showed up as a whole list of black marks against her. If they made that stick, that put Maria on the same shaky ground. In spite of Montana's Common Law Marriage statute, we weren't married, and we weren't residents of Montana because I had no job in the state, and the fact we had moved back to my old home when I couldn't find work in Golden Canyon, only proved our lack of residency.