BIG SOUTHERN CHAPTER 55

1970

JUAN

Ruperto and his first son Juan head into town from their home at the west edge of Rising River. It's a step up from boxcar life, Ruperto reconditioning his boss's abandoned farmhouse whose new home is just up the road. Juan, fourteen now, has his arm out the car window, his father's sole companion—not one of his seven siblings rides along.

Just two miles from the state highway into Blackfoot, an oncoming pickup stops in the middle of the road, the driver with his arm out and wildly waving. Ruperto stops, recognizing Howard, the son-in-law of the New York family that came to Idaho fifteen years before. That family branch lost the coin toss to expand the produce shipping business so is responsible for this end of the national operation. Ruperto knows Howard from his frequent Rising River appearances—the family bought the original, four thousand acre Rising River Ranch and is raising their own spuds for packing. They feed a couple thousand cattle on the side, utilizing the byproduct of imperfect potatoes as a feed source. Howard manages the operation from the company pickup, is one of the county's first 'windshield farmers'—derogatorily called such by hands-on old timers. His non-blood lineage limits his ability to act, but with good humor he puts out fires and does the family's dirty work.

"How old is the boy?" Howard says when the two vehicles have shut off their engines. He points to the passenger. Ruperto turns to Juan, indicating he should speak.

"Fourteen," Juan says, his demeanor respectful, his eyes not meeting Howard's.

"You want to work?"

Juan has no time to think. "Yes, sir," he says. His face betrays a sudden alertness, despite his effort to mute it.

"Can he go with me?" Howard turns his attention to Ruperto. "You don't mind me taking your boy, do you? I'll feed him lunch today, take him home after work on my way back out."

Ruperto grins proudly. He trusts Howard. "You take. I got two more, you want 'em, I go get 'em."

Howard smiles, as if he's been one-upped. "One will do. You train the other two well enough, I'll take them later on. To take all your kids, we'll have to expand the operation. Double it." He throws some clothing lying on the passenger seat into the space behind it. "Get in, Juan. It is Juan, isn't it? I remember. You got stuck in the rocks trying to get honey out of a wild bee hive."

Ruperto laughs but Juan sets his eyes downward. He's a little ashamed of being that fat kid stuck in the rocks. His companions teased him for weeks and still bring the occurrence up at inopportune times.

Howard sees he's roughed up the boy. "Nothing wrong with honey," he says. "Look at me—" he spreads his significant girth for display "—I've had my share."

© 2025 Ralph Thurston