Borders of the Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

would reach the roof.
    The woman smiled and rubbed her wrist.
    “Alto aquí,” he said.
    She nodded.
    J. D. returned the key to Win. The man took a look at the lone handcuff and the mangled chain that hung from it. “Somebody beat the stuffing out of that thing.”
    “I imagine they did. Thank you for your help.”
    “J. D., enlighten me. Who’s in your truck?”
    “I got a situation. I’m not sure anybody can help. I don’t want to drag you into it.”
    “You’ve already dragged me.” He handed the cuff back. “If you’re wondering if I can keep a secret, I can.”
    “I better not.”
    Win took a step forward. “It won’t do any good to carry a load alone. Especially if it’s heavy lifting.”
    J. D. pawed at the ground with a boot. “I found somebody on my rounds. Near dead. Cactus sticking out of her legs.”
    “Her?”
    He nodded. “I need to get her looked at before she gets an infection.”
    “An illegal?”
    “I don’t know. She’s not from this side of the border, that’s for sure.”
    “Let me take a look,” Win said.
    J. D. stopped him. “She’s flighty. I think you might scare her.”
    “At least I’ll be able to talk with her.”
    “True. But I don’t want to get anybody in trouble. Slocum would kick me off the ranch if he knew. Might even be illegal to give her a ride to urgent care.”
    “Not illegal to give people water. Perhaps removing a handcuff is a gray area.”
    J. D. hooked his thumbs into his belt and stood his ground.
    Win leaned against the bench. “You know, my great-uncle was killed out there near the Slocum ranch. Back then it wasn’t drugs; it was liquor. During Prohibition there was a steady stream flowing back and forth over those mountains. He got the drop on one, shot him off his horse. Then the one behind him shot him in the back. He turned and put a bullet through the man’s head. Right here.” He pointed above one eye. “Butmy uncle bled out before he could find help. Me and my little brother found him still sitting in the saddle. He was a tough old bird.”
    “That’s supposed to convince me to let you meet my friend? You must hate Mexicans like everybody else around here.”
    “I don’t hate nobody. Those people coming across the border are just looking for something better than what they’ve known. I don’t begrudge them. The ones I’d like to get ahold of are the drug runners. You’ve heard about what’s going on down in Hermosillo and some other little towns? How our church and others are getting involved? People need to know the love of God no matter what side of the border they’re on. Now let me take a look.”
    They walked out to the truck and J. D. opened the door. Win nodded toward the girl and spoke, checking her leg wounds and wincing. She was skittish at first, then seemed put at ease by the man’s fluent Spanish. She smiled and J. D. thought there couldn’t be a better sight in the world than a pretty woman smiling.
    “I know a doctor down in Benson where you can take Maria,” Win said with a nod. “I’ll call him.”
    “Benson’s a long way,” J. D. said.
    “Yeah, but you take her to the urgent care in La Pena and everybody in town will ask Slocum about his new maid. And why he’s hiring illegals.”
    “What should I do? I mean, after he fixes her up?”
    “What do you want to do?”
    J. D. looked away. “Help her, I guess.”
    “Why you, J. D.? Why don’t you let somebody else take care of her?”
    He took off his hat and wiped his brow. “I don’t know. I kind of feel responsible.”
    “Have you asked her what she wants to do?”
    J. D. shook his head. “My Spanish isn’t that good.”
    Win spoke to the girl, but J. D. could only pick up a few words, they were flying by so fast from both of them.
    Win turned. “She says she doesn’t know many in Tucson. Just needs to heal up a couple of days and she’ll be on her way.”
    J. D. nodded.
    “Can you keep her out of Slocum’s sight that