This time he rode beside a packhorse.
Across the animal’s back lay a ladder.
A tool bag hung from one side.
A stack of clay roof tiles had been tied carefully to the other.
Rosa stared.
Gabriel stopped.
Dismounted.
Untied the horse.
She walked toward the fence.
“What are you doing?”
“Fixing a roof.”
“I did not ask you.”
“No.”
“And I cannot pay you.”
“No, you can’t.”
Her expression hardened.
Gabriel immediately saw what his words sounded like.
He exhaled.
“That came out badly.”
“Yes.”
He placed both hands loosely at his sides.
“What I meant is that I’m not asking for payment.”
“I don’t take charity.”
“Good.”
That annoyed her.
“What does that mean?”
“It means neither do I.”
“You own Estrella Ranch.”
“Yes.”
“You think that means you never accepted help?”
Gabriel looked toward the mountain.
“My first winter running it alone, a neighbor dug three hundred feet of drainage ditch because I had fever.”
Rosa said nothing.
“I offered money. He refused.”
“And now you believe the debt passes to me?”
“No.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“I believe sometimes a roof is just a roof.”
Rosa folded her arms.
“Men rarely ride two hours with ladders because a roof is just a roof.”
“One hour and fifteen minutes.”
“That improves nothing.”
“No.”
He almost smiled.
Rosa did not.
Gabriel became serious.
“I saw the clouds.”
“So did I.”
“I knew I had spare tiles.”
“I can find my own.”
“Before the rain?”
That irritated her because the answer was no.
She said nothing.
Gabriel continued.
“If I leave, will you refuse help from the next person?”
“That depends who it is.”
“Good.”
“Stop saying good.”
“All right.”
A tiny cry came from behind her.
Both turned.
Tomás had awakened.
Rosa moved immediately.
The baby’s face was red with outrage.
She lifted him.
Lucía slept through her brother’s betrayal.
Gabriel remained beside the fence.
Did not follow.
Again, Rosa noticed.
She settled Tomás against her shoulder.
His crying softened.
Gabriel looked at the baby.
Something moved behind his eyes.
Rosa remembered the story of his wife.
His child.
She regretted some of her sharpness.
Not enough to invite him in.
But some.
“If you fix the roof,” she said, “I feed you supper.”
Gabriel looked surprised.
“That sounds like payment.”
“It is.”
He considered.