Thirteen Senses Read Online Free PDF Page A

Salvador with power. “A bootlegger! Everything that Lupe had been raised to hate, but once she saw that we were married and going to have a baby, I saw this young angel of mine rise up with the power of a shooting star to protect her nest!
    â€œThis is a woman to live for with all your heart! How do you think men have been getting good women to marry them since the beginning of time. All men lie, mi hijita. ’’
    â€œSee!” shouted Carlota from the other room. “I told you so! He even admits it! He lied! He’s a liar! And he’s no good!”
    â€œOh, shut your damn stupid mouth!” bellowed Salvador, leaping out of his grand chair and the cords of his old, wrinkled-up neck coming up like ropes. “At least I’m honest about my lies! But you, you lie to yourself so much that you couldn’t see the truth if it hit you! Admit it, you’ve always been jealous of your sister since the day she was born, and still are!
    â€œIt takes guts for any woman to marry, have children, and make a home! You’re nothing but a loudmouth, coward pendeja! Men are good! Nothing wrong with a real macho a lo cabrón! Let’s not play the constipated fool! You show me a man, Carlota, who’s all nice and wonderful like you women pretend that you want ’em, and I’ll show you a man who you women don’t wet your pants for when he touches you!”
    â€œSalvador!” said Lupe, having come rushing into the room behind her sister once she’d heard Carlota’s voice, yelling at Salvador. “Have respect! These are your daughters and granddaughters who are listening to you! Isn’t it enough that you ruined my life?”
    â€œRUINED YOUR LIFE, HELL!” bellowed Salvador. “Admit it, Lupe, you’ve loved your life with me, and still do! It’s just all this caca de toro that’s put into women’s heads by stupid, romantic books and movies that has ruined everything!” And saying this, he smashed his cigar into his ashtray and came across the room. Everyone moved aside. “Lupe,” he said, “come, let’s make the kiss!”
    â€œNo, you’re drunk! And you stink of cigar!” she added.
    â€œSo, what’s new?” he said. “Men drink and smell like goats; this is the real perfume of life, those juices BETWEEN OUR LEGS!”
    And he reached out for her . . . softly, gently, tenderly, gazing into her eyes the whole time. And she didn’t move away. No, she held still as a hummingbird, fluttering in midair. He touched her cheek with his fingertips, ever so gently, but didn’t move in any closer. You could hear a pin drop, the whole room had become so quiet.
    â€œLupe,” he said, gliding his fingers across her cheek and neck, “come, let’s make that kiss, mi amor?”
    â€œNo, Salvador!” she snapped.
    â€œLupe, Lupe,” he said softly, never taking his eyes off her eyes as he continued to stroke her oh, so gently, “come on, just one little kiss.”
    She shook her head, then moved her weight from one foot to the other, but still she didn’t move away. No, she held close to him, behaving just like a mare in heat by shifting her weight, and keeping in close.
    And Gorjenna, having bred many mares, caught it first, then so did Linda and Victor. This was so basic, so natural, if people just knew anything about their animal husbandry.
    â€œCome on, Lupe,” Salvador now said, “let’s see that little smile of yours, that little, cute, twisted smile.” He grinned.
    â€œNo,” she snapped, being annoyed and stomping her foot, “I will not smile! I am not your toy!”
    Gorjenna had to cover her mouth to not shriek. This stomping of the foot was right on schedule in the mating game between a stud and a mare. She glanced at Linda and Victor—who were also into horses—and she saw that they had seen it, too.
    â€œNot even one