It’s my fault, Sam told himself for the twentieth time as he rode along in the late afternoon toward Sacramento. I haven’t been spending enough time with him, like a lover should.
Sam had decided to go to town to surprise Ramón. After finishing the tasks Señor dela Vega had assigned to him, he washed, changed clothes and left for Sacramento. He now reined up in front of the cantina where Ramón and his friends often could be found.
He entered the building and looked around. There, at their usual table, he saw Rafael and Manuel, but Ramón was not with them. Sam walked over to the men.
“Well, well, Manuel,” Rafael said in a mock serious voice, “look who has decided he has time for his friends today?”
“Ah,” responded Manuel, “what brings you to Sacramento, an errand for old man dela Vega?”
