Viva La Chuparosa

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"What's the plan today?" John asked, watching Ricketts ride off. "We check this place out. Talk to some locals, see if they know anything." Arthur said. "Alright then, I'll go to the the post office. See if they've gotten any mail or something for him." John said, walking off to the bank. "Wrong building." Liam said, pointing to the post office. Arthur laughed. "Shut up. Y'all know I can't read Spanish." John said, kicking dirt at them and walking off. "I'll go to the jail, they gotta know something or not. You go talk to them people at the market." Arthur told him. "Alright." Liam said walking over to them.

"Uh, Qualcuno di voi conosce un Francisco Martinez?" Liam asked in Italian, hoping they'd understand. They looked at him, perplexed as to what he was saying. He sighed until one lady pushed through the others and approached him. "Some of us speak English too. Nice Italian, though." She replied, with a smirk. She was petite and looked to be in her early thirties. Liam stuttered in embarrassment for a moment. "Uh- I'm sorry ma'am." He replied, his face turning red. "Don't bother apologizing. If you want to know more about Senor Martinez, you should talk to Senor Mario Vargas, just over there at the side of the banco." She told him. "Thank you, miss." He said. "No problemo, guapo." She said, walking off. He wanted to find out what that meant. He then turned and went to gather Arthur and John.

They were standing by the broken fountain in the middle of the village. "Find anything?" He asked them. "Lady at the post office didn't want to talk. Or maybe she didn't know English." John said. Liam chuckled and looked to Arthur. "Jail seems like they don't wanna give up information." Arthur said. "Well lucky for us I found someone who did speak English. And she told me to meet a feller named Mario Vargas by the bank." Liam told them. "Alright then, let's see what this fella knows." Arthur said, leading the way to the bank. They walked around the side and saw a man sharpening a knife, leaning on the wall. He wore a big round-billed hat like the ones the peasants John shot wore. He also wore a piece of fabric over his torso that Liam had never seen anyone besides Javier wear.

"Mister Mario Vargas?" Arthur asked. "Who's asking?" The man said, still sharpening his knife. "Me. I'm asking." Arthur said sternly. The man looked up. He had a long scar going down his eyebrow down through his cheek. "Well, senor, what do you need?" He said, holstering his knife. "You know a Francisco Martinez?" Arthur asked. "Why?" Mario asked. "We need to speak with him." Arthur said. "You're sicarios, bounty hunters. I'm not stupid, gringos. But yes, I do know that pendejo." He said. Arthur took his hat off. Liam clenched his jaw. Ricketts was right.

"You know where we can find him?" Arthur asked. "I know someone who does. My sister over in Las Hermanas, a village of nuns. I use to ride with that puto de madré. Killed my father. I would be after him, but one more slip up and I'm in prisión forever. My sister, Camila Vargas, is over in Las Hermanas. Ask for her. She'll know where that pedazo de mierda is." The man said. "Alright then, thank you." Arthur said, walking off.

The sun had started to go down and the citizens of Chuparosa had started to gather in the town. "Guess we'll make ourselves at home then?" John asked. Arthur nodded in agreement. A fire had started and women started dancing. They held paddle-like instruments that made a rattling noise which Liam liked. Soon the whole village was at the square. "Mister Morgan, Marston and Parker. Nice to see you boys again." Landon Ricketts said from behind them. "You as well." Liam said. As Liam got those words out, he heard Ramon yelling from the center of the crowd. "These are the men who helped Senor Ricketts get our wagon back! Let us thank them, and celebrate their protection of the people of the wonderful Chuparosa!" He yelled.

Landon stood back as Arthur, John and Liam were pushed to the center of the crowd. Liam noticed Arthur and John standing awkwardly as the people waved and singed around them. Liam wasn't comfortable either but was better at hiding it. He smiled as genuinely as he could at the celebration. Suddenly, the crowd parted ways for three young girls who lined up in front of the three men holding what looked to be blankets. They held the fabrics out to them as a gift. Liam reached for his first with Arthur and John following. He picked it up to realize it was what Mario Vargas was wearing. "It's a poncho!" One of the girls said to them.

Liam unraveled his poncho to reveal a dark green, black and white woven poncho with horizontal stitch designs across it. John had a similar design except it was red instead of green. Arthur's was a darker blue design following the same patterns as Liam and John's. Liam placed his over his head and noticed that it felt like a light blanket over his torso. Arthur and John followed and out their's on. Liam felt silly at first but noticed a lot of the Mexican people were wearing ponchos too. The look on their faces at them wearing their native culture's clothes was with pride and joy. Liam smiled and thanked the girls and proudly wore the poncho. Arthur and John did the same.

The citizens then brought out traditional foods which they called tamales and pozoles. They sat Liam, Arthur and John down at a table and sat plates of beans in front of them along with the main course. Liam didn't realize how hungry he was until he smelt the food. He hadn't eaten in a day and a half. An older Mexican lady watched as they started to eat, waiting for their reaction. It was nothing like Liam had tasted before. He had eaten some exotic and cultural foods in the Italian and French cultures, but this was different. The three made sure to tell her how delicious it was. The flavors exploded in his mouth. "This is an upgrade from Pearson's stew." John joked making Arthur and Liam bust out laughing.

They ate until they couldn't pick up the fork. Ricketts stood in the back, softly smiling at his friends enjoying themselves. "Alright, senors. We have a room for you three just around the building here." Ramon said, leading them around the building and showing them to the room. It was a bigger sized bed, a small chair and a chest of drawers. The three thanked them and went into the room. It smelt of cinnamon.

Liam checked his watch. It was almost twelve in the morning. "John, where you sleeping at?" Arthur asked. "Shit, that bed looks pretty comfortable right now." John joked. "Well we ain't all gonna fit in it, so what do y'all wanna do?" Arthur asked. He could tell Arthur and John were going to start bickering about the situation. "I'll sleep on the floor. They left us some extra blankets and a pillow. I'll make a pallet down here and you and John can take the bed." Liam told Arthur. "Are you sure?" Arthur asked. "Of course. Y'all are older. Been around a lot longer than I have. I don't think your old bones could take it anyway." Liam joked. John started to laugh. "And you still got that attitude I see a lot in young folk." Arthur told him.

Liam grabbed the blankets and pillow and laid them out on the floor beside the bed. He undressed into his union suit as they did the same. Arthur and John climbed in the bed while Liam got into his pallet. "Alright, we got ground to cover tomorrow, boys. Get some rest." Arthur said as he put the oil lamp out.

Liam fell asleep not long after his head hit the pillow. He was exhausted.

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