Andrew Valencia: Lord of California

I’ve just come from the Russert Growers Company, he said. Mr. Russert’s reconsidered his position and is willing to offer you all a new deal separate from the one that was originally proposed. He’s upped his price and devised a contract that divides everything up equally between the five original Temple women. That includes Jennifer. But, of course, it leaves out Junior, and it leaves out me. No one gets anything from this deal except those that had a stake in it to begin with. All he ever wanted was the land, and he doesn’t much care who serves as intermediary. Take a look. It’s all official.

I took the stack of papers off the table and read through it as best I could, deciphering the legal jargon in my own limited way until I more or less understood. Ramirez was telling the truth, so it seemed. Russert was offering us a plum package for control of the co-op lease, enough so that each family could start over, if we wanted to, on some better stake of land, or go in together again and come out richer than we’d ever imagined. That was the gist I got from it, at least, though it wasn’t enough to reassure me. A private investigator was little better than a lawyer in my book, and so he might know all manner of ways to cheat the little guy when it came down to brass taxes.

Suppose we don’t care whether the deal is fair or not, I said. Suppose we still don’t want to sell regardless of whatever Mr. Russert’s offering us. What would you say to that?

Ramirez shrugged. I’d say this farm is nothing but a millstone, he said. Elliot’s been wrong about a lot of things, but that doesn’t make him wrong about the way the wind’s blowing. Once Vandeman gets his bill passed in Congress, there won’t be a parcel farmer in the country who can afford to hold onto his land. Russert’s offering you all a chance to escape before the market opens up and the big boys come in to pick the bones of this valley clean. And he’s offering you a fair shake this time, with no middlemen to siphon money off the top. One lump sum divided five ways between the remaining co-op wives and Jennifer. You’ll all finally have enough money to make your own stand in this world without relying on your father or the government to look out for you. And you won’t have to watch your back for Jennifer anymore. She’s agreed to take an equal share of the deal, no more no less. All she wants now is to be able to support her kids and look after her parents.

He held his open palm in front of his chest, like everything was on the table now, laid out plain to see. The whole time he was speaking I’d been sitting with my head turned down and to the side, staring at the dark soles of his boots, mulling it over.

You make a strong case, Mr. Ramirez, I said. I wish I could believe it’s as good as it sounds. But I like to think I’ve dealt with enough horseshit in my life to know when somebody’s trying to con me. A professional man like you, going out of his way to do this for us, and not asking for a cent in return? It makes about as much sense as a Hubbard bible, which is to say it doesn’t make any sense at all. So either Mr. Russert is trying to fool us both, or you’re trying to take advantage of a household run by folks a whole lot younger and less experienced than yourself. Either way, it’s a shameful business you’re involved in. Shameful and see-through.

Ramirez gave me a solemn nod and emptied his lip once again into the cup, which had begun to wilt and turn brown around the edges. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel shame for some of the work I’ve done, he said. Truth is, shame is part of what brought me here.

How’s that?

Well, son. Little over a month ago, I was parked outside the tree line of this property with a high-powered listening device zeroed in on your house. Little while before that I was in the state record’s office digging up everything I could find about your mother and your sister’s mother and everything else about your family that was available. I did it because your brother Elliot was paying me to do it. That’s how I first got involved with this debacle, cause he wanted me to scope out the place and find out as much as I could about you all.

That’s a bold thing to admit in this house, Mr. Ramirez, I said. We’ve been to hell and back the past month on account of what that man tried to pull. And you helped him bring that evil down on us. You need to realize that. You need to realize what you put us through.

I do, son. I really do.

Ramirez took his hat up from off the table and fanned himself with it, which seemed an odd thing to do considering it was a mild day and not particularly warm inside the house at all. Then he set the hat back down and uncrossed his legs and leaned forward with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on me like all the worth of heaven and creation depended on the words he had to say next.

I’m here to barter for that young man’s life, he said. That’s the only reason I’m here. Time came when I knew he was headed for trouble, but by the time I worked it out to do something about it, he was already a missing person. I’m trying to make up for that now. Been trying to this whole past month. That’s what led me here. That’s why I went to see Russert and hammered out a better deal for you all. Because I’m wrapped up in this mess in a way I’m not proud of, and if that boy dies on account of it, there’s no way I’d be able to escape feeling responsible. Do you get me? Am I making sense to you?

I shook my head. It didn’t make sense to me, any of it. There was either something he wasn’t telling me, or he had worked himself up over nothing. Does he owe you money? I asked. Is that the real reason you’re chasing him down?

He let out a tired sigh. No, sir, he said. He already paid me what was owed for the work. This doesn’t have anything to do with that.

Are you in love with him?

He looked at me puzzled and laughed softly without breaking the seal of his lips. I am not, he said. I don’t go in for that way myself.

Is he in love you, then?

I doubt it. Last time we spoke he pretty much said he wanted nothing more to do with me.

Then why? Why go through the trouble? You’re not related to him.

No, sir. I figure I’m just about the only person on this farm who isn’t related to someone else here by blood or marriage.

Then I’ll ask again. Why put yourself out like this? Why bother over the likes of him?

Ramirez leaned back in his chair. He wasn’t a fat man, but his chest rose high with each breath, like he couldn’t get enough air to satisfy him. He stood and walked to the window and looked out through the blinds at the sun-swept land he was trying to convince us to sell. He was still squinting when he turned back around.

I don’t have to talk to you, he said. Your name isn’t on the lease. The only reason I’m pleading with you right now is because your sister sent you in here, and so I figure that means you’re the one who decides what happens to Elliot. Am I right in thinking that?

You’re free to think whatever you want. Doesn’t matter to me.

Right. Well, let me tell you something, warden. I’m an old man. I’ve been all around this country from one border to another since before it was a country at all. I’ve killed men and had men try to kill me, and through it all I’ve managed to avoid messy entanglements. That was the closest thing I had to a code for a long time. Don’t get attached. Trust nobody. That sort of philosophy might suit a man well in a time of war, but it doesn’t lead to a very rewarding life afterwards. If you can even call it a life at all.

He took his seat back up at the table. His stomach rested high over his belt, making his whole upper half appear stiff and compressed. If he was uncomfortable, he didn’t show it.