“Fuck no, we don’t need any more mouths to feed, thank you very much.” States Ruth.

Alex gives a stern look, then turns his attention towards Barbara. “We would be happy to have someone with your skills join us. I understand the circumstances in which we met aren’t the best, regardless, we pride ourselves in not turning our back on those that need help.”

“This coming from street hustlers?” Sneers Barbara.

“We do what we can to get by. You won’t be forced to do anything you’re not okay with, if taking advantage of naive tourists isn’t your thing, that’s perfectly fine by us.” Alex stands up, taking the clay pot Lupe had filled. “This is as awkward for us as it must be for you. Sleep on it, tomorrow, Pepito or I will stop by to show you the way to where we live.”

His two companions get up with him, Lupe hands Pepito a cloth with warm tortillas wrapped inside to take along.

“Thank you again, ma’am. We are beyond indebted to you.” Says Alex, walking out the door. He turns back at Barbara. “I really do hope you can give us another shot, we’re not so bad.”

The three kids make their way back to town, leaving Lupe and Barbara at the door.

“Why did you just do that?” She confronts Lupe.

“Do what?”

“That! I don’t want to stay with them.”

“Do you want to come back with us?” Asks Lupe, closing the door.

“N-no, a mercenary company might pass by.” Barbara rubs the back of her neck, looking away from Lupe.

“Got money to pay for an inn, or rent a room? Don’t think you’d be willing to sell your sword for a few coins.” Lupe makes her way back to the kitchen.

Barbara huffs, following Lupe. “No, but I don’t want to stay with them. That girl seems like the type to slit my throat while I sleep.”

Lupe lets out a laugh, busying herself with the dishes. “You’re so melodramatic, you didn’t seem to mind making friends with Celso and Dimitrio, even after they tried killing you.”

“That was different!”

“Sure it was. You’re welcome by the way.”

“For what?”

“Finding you a place to stay. Seems all I do is solve your problems for you.”

Barbara lets out a groan, stomping towards her room, she slams the door shut. She sits on the bed, arms wrapped around her knees, a throbbing headache settling in. Looking out the window, she sees Celso and Dimitrio spread feed for the cows. Feeling her gaze, they both turn and wave at her.

Barbara spends a few hours locked in her room before walking out to join Lupe in the living room as she knits on a rocking chair.

“Sorry for my outburst earlier.” She murmurs, taking a seat on a sofa next to her.

Lupe chuckles without a hint of condescension. “Apology accepted. I don’t mean to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong, I just saw a door open wide for you, and I knew you wouldn’t go through without a little nudge.” She pauses. “Or an outright shove.” She laughs.

They spend the day together in a comfortable silence. The afternoon sun burns through the window shade. Nothing at all going on in her head, she loses herself in the sound of the metal sewing needles colliding. At one point, Barbara snaps out of her trance, she takes a look around her, at Lupe, the scorched earth outside the window, she smiles and closes her eyes.

“That’s what I like about you, kid.” Lupe’s eyes fixed on her handiwork.

“What?” Opening one eye.

“You know when to stay quiet.” She shifts in her chair, comfortably sinking into her seat as they enjoy their silence.

Not long after the sun sets, Celso and Dimitrio return to the lodge, they bring bags of fried potato chips, and salted peanuts. They make a big fuss about guessing what else they brought, revealing after annoyed guesses a bottle of sotol liquor.

Stolen novel; please report.

“You ever drank before, kid?” Asks Celso.

“Yeah.” Lies Barbara.

Dimitrio brings cups from the kitchen, Celso serves drinks. Barbara hesitates, but not wanting to seem like a little kid, she chugs down the whole cup. Everybody has a laugh.

“Slow down.” Advises Lupe.

Drinking the night away, filled with games and banter, Barbara enjoys the last night she might ever spend with her new friends. She’s the first to vomit. Lupe hands her a clay pot with water, she chugs that down, too. Feeling revived, she walks back in and serves herself another cup.

“Hey, kid, how long were you in that desert?” Asks Celso.

“A few hours, couldn’t tell.”

“Damn, I thought you were some type of spirit,” Dimitrio gulps. “Or demon.”

Barbara kakles hard.

“You and that girl were fighting like demons last night.” Adds Celso. “You’ll be alright with them kids. You seem to make friends with those you start off on the wrong foot.”

Barbara smiles, drool at the tip of her mouth.

“Sorry for shooting at you.” Celso bows his head.

“Me too.” Mutters Dimitrio.

The twins wait for a response, Barbara attempts to hide tears, Dimitrio and Celso envelop her in a hug, Lupe joins in.

“If it wasn't for that desert sun I probably would have killed you guys.”

Lupe drunkenly slobbers a scolding but isn’t heard under the booming echoes of the twins' laughter.

Dimitrio fills everyone’s cups, lifting his own to the sky. “To the Desert Sun.”

Everyone cheers and chugs down their drinks. Festive songs and banter are carried through the night. The moon and stars observe from above, Barbara soon joins them, staring up, losing herself as she sways one side to another, the earth before her rotating.

“Woah, look at that.” Lupe joins her side. “Easy to lose yourself in the infinite.”

Barbara chuckles. “Master used to say stuff like that.” She lets out a burp, refocusing her crossed eyes.

“Why’d you leave?”

“Master doesn’t think I can become the greatest swordsman alive.” Blurts out Barbara.

Lupe drops to the floor, laughing, holding on to her stomach. Celso and Dimitrio come out to see what all the fuss is about.

“Maybe.” Responds Celso after being let in on the joke.

“Thanks.” Barbara doesn’t know who she’s referring to.

“You dumbass kids have no idea how life works, do you?” Huffs Lupe.

The morning brings with it a dry mouth and a hammering headache, throbbing down to her eyeballs. Lupe readies breakfast as her three companions sleep in, not waking until the sun nearly reaches its peak in the sky. Breakfast is eaten without a word from anyone, only the clatter of the utensils striking plates and the crackling of fire is heard in that humid kitchen. After everyone finishes their meal, they sit in silence for an unknown amount of time.

“It’s getting late.” Lupe finally breaks the silence. “They’ll be asking for the lodge back by midday.”

A lump in her throat, Barbara gets up. The twins set the wagon, Lupe readies the herd for departure, hesitation looms in the air.

“So, uh,” Dimitrio struggles to come with something to say. “Gonna have to watch our backs more carefully now that you won’t be around.”

Barbara smiles. “Maybe don’t pick fights when you can talk things out.”

Celso scoffs. “I’ll take my chances.” He punches Barbara’s shoulder.

“Yeah, you’re one to talk.” Mocks Dimitrio.

“I don’t start fights, I finish them.” She gives them a cocky smirk, they laugh.

“You’ll be alright kid. We’ll be back for the festival in a month, no cattle, just us.” Celso fiddles with a strap on his horse’s saddle.

“It would be great to see you then, if you’re still around.” Adds Dimitrio.

“Yeah, we can meet at that place we went to eat yesterday.”

“The best burritos in town.” Proclaims Dimitrio.

“The one we went to south of the river was great too.”

“I’m not going down there.”

Celso and Dimitrio argue over the best place to get burritos in town. Wondering where Lupe went, Barbara turns her head behind her, finding her peacefully looking at the three interacting. They exchange warm smiles, the lump in Barbara’s throat getting tighter, she walks up to the woman.

“I know I’ve thanked you guys a million times already, but I just don’t know how to repay all the kindness you’ve shown me.”

Lupe pinches Barbara’s cheek. “I’m not one to preach about destiny, but I think we were meant to cross paths, all of us. I don’t know what the future will bring for you, but don’t forget about the talk we had when we prayed for that lost soul in the desert.”

Barbara’s eyes begin to water.

“You may be a talented killer, but there’s a lot more to you than just sword swinging techniques.” She puts her hand over Barbara’s heart. “Let this be your guide, and you’ll go further than even you could have imagined.”

Barbara lets the moment linger for as long as possible. A yell is heard from across the field, Pepito, walking over the scorched field, he waves, greeting them loudly.

"We should take off." Suggests Celso.

Dimitrio and his brother mount their horses, they give their goodbye with a nod and a warm smile. Lupe hugs Barbara tightly.

"Take care of yourself, kid." With that she gets up on the wagon, giving her a teary smile, and the trio lead their flock back into the desert.