CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The sun had begun its slow descent in the west when the rope was thrown over a large branch of the cottonwood. Everyone in the village had gathered around the tree as an agente de la ley walked in, leading a horse. He halted under the sturdy branch where a hangman's noose waited.
The crowd murmured angrily as three agentes de la ley were seen dragging a wild-eyed Jesus from the great house; his hands were tied behind his back. He screamed when he saw the rope and fell to his knees. The crowd moved forward as he was half-carried to the side of the waiting horse.
"Holy Mary, Mother of God, don't let this happen. Save me. It was an accident, please."
An agente de la ley silenced him with a jolting slap to the face.
A small boy perched on a tree limb above the one wh
