“When does your pretty lady come to clean?” Tito asked the next morning, popping his head in and winking at Manny.
Manny lifted just his head and looked at his friend. He’d been lying on the bed for an entire day now and was beginning to feel the strain of it all.
“She should be here in about an hour,” Manny said. “That is if she really comes. I hope that I did not come off as too friendly to her yesterday.”
“She wouldn’t have agreed to come back to clean if you had,” Tito said. “Especially not her. As long as you keep yourself in check, you should enjoy having her work for you instead of it being the other way around.”
Manny had listened to his friend’s voice and understood the words but that comment “especially not her” had stuck in his brain. “What do you mean?” he asked. “Especially not her. What does that mean?”
Tito had come into the room and sat next to the cot on a short backless chair nearby. It was his usual perch when he came to visit, and now it was needed even more because Manny stayed mostly on the bed.
“Uno, why are you still sitting on that bed? It is not your spine that is hurting. You should at least move around some.”
“The doctor said to keep it immobile,” Manny said, having to pause to remember the word the doctor had used. “That means no moving. No moving until the bandage will not rip off.”
Tito nodded, shifting to get comfortable on the stool. He leaned forward and gave Manny an excited look. “My friend, you must be careful. I know you. We have been friends for a long time, have we not?”
Manny nodded. “Sí, we have.” He wondered where this was going and sat up, swinging his legs around so he could face his friend.
“I do not want to see anything happen to you.” He poked Manny gently in the chest. “That would hurt me to my core, my friend.” He pulled the same hand back and flattened it against his chest, a look of sorrow on his face. “This girl you have chosen, this Imogen Brown, she is the daughter of a man you do not want to make trouble with. He is a hard-nosed man, and he does not like our kind. He, along with other fathers in Bryantsville, were determined to keep Tent City from existing. They are still trying to get rid of us. Her father, Jacob Brown, spearheaded their mission and has been our enemy for some time. I know you do not like politics and don’t want to get involved. In this instance, my friend, I must tell you what you need to know.”
Manny rested one flat hand on his thigh while he rested his other forearm on his other thigh. He stared out in front of him, his eyes low, fingers splayed over his lips. “I do not know what to do then, Tito,” he said, keeping his voice low. “I want to get to know her. I’ve never met a woman like her.”
“Oh no.” Tito’s eyes opened wide. “No, no, my friend. You haven’t already … oh no …”
He shook his head vehemently.
“I am not in love with her, Tito. You are being unreasonably dramatic.”
Tito continued to shake his head and spoke in a pleading voice. “Manny, this man is the Devil. He is not a friend to Mexicans or Chinese. He thinks we are all liars and criminals. No matter how nice this girl is, and I’m sure she is a nice girl, her father is the one in control.”
“So you know who she is? Very well? You know about her father, but do you know about her?”
“I can only tell you what I’ve heard. Her father, Jacob, discovered that gold mine down on the lower east end of Montgomery Mountain. That’s where their family wealth comes from.”
Chills covered Manny’s arms. Were they the family that owned the portion of land he wanted? It couldn’t be.
Could it?
Manny allowed himself a few moments to fantasize about making a deal with Imogen where he could work off the payment for that portion of land and reaching the goal he’d set for himself so long ago.
Then he was reminded by the skeptical look on Tito’s face that his reality was much different from his fantasies.
“I think she is a beautiful and interesting woman,” he said in an insistent voice. “I want to get to know her better. She may be completely different from her father. Even rebellious against his nature. I’m sure she knows he’s not a nice man.”
“He is supposed to be firm but kind.” Manny could tell by the way Tito spoke he didn’t believe a word of it. “The problem is that he is kind to some and not to others. He doesn’t distribute that kindness in an equal manner. He doesn’t treat us like we’re human beings. He thinks of us as animals to be driven and controlled like the cattle on his ranch.”
Manny pictured a large white man herding Mexicans like himself into a corral. He shook his head, getting rid of the image. “Don’t talk like that, Tito. It brings me unpleasant thoughts.”
“There is a lot to be uncomfortable about, my friend,” Tito said in an alarmed tone. “And if you decide you want more from your cleaning lady, I suggest you be careful. Her father will string you up by your toes and slice you to bits.”
Could Jacob Brown really be that bad? Manny didn’t want to believe it.
It was true Manny didn’t care for dealing in politics or trying to understand them in any way. He listened if there was an election for sheriff or another board member in the community to all the candidates for the position and voted for the one he thought the most alike.
He couldn’t remember ever having voted Mr. Brown into any position of authority.
That left him merely a rancher. What power did he have?
Manny tried to deny that the man had any power at all, but he knew that the darkness in the hearts of some men could easily be risen by other men with a stronger, more outgoing nature.
In other words, there were plenty of followers, and the leaders were establishing themselves with their riches. If Jacob Brown wanted to, he could convince an entire town that Tent City was merely a bunch of tents housing murderers and thieves. Or at least enough of a portion that he and his neighbors might be driven out.
Manny didn’t want to be forced from his home. Ever.
“Manny,” Tito’s voice was quiet. “He’s the man who cast the last vote to make sure Tent City couldn’t be anywhere inside town limits. That’s why we have to walk so far or ride so far to do everyday activities. The man cannot be trusted and bringing him into our midst is going to do nothing but cause trouble. You mark my words.”
Manny shook his head. “I hope you’re wrong. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the days I have getting to know Imogen Brown.”
He could tell Tito wasn’t very happy with his decision. Somehow, it just didn’t matter. He’d seen something in her eyes, something that made him want to spend more time with her. He imagined she was a beautiful and fascinating woman with a sharp mind and lots to talk about. He wanted that conversation.