She Had No Choice Read Free Page A

his friend if he knew anyone who could give him information about sneaking across the border. Señor Vega said he did know someone, his cousin, Pablo, in the neighboring village of Altar.
    “ Yeah, Pablo knows a man,” Señor Vega told him in a low, quiet voice, leaning on the bar. He looked around to make sure no one else heard him. “He knows a guy who regularly helps people cross the border, but,” he paused, with eyes as dark as night, he looked Emilio straight in the eye, “money will have to be paid.”
    “ I understand,” Emilio replied. “I’ll do whatever I have to.”
    Señor Vega sensed the desperation in Emilio’s voice; he looked haggard, like he hadn’t been sleeping well, dark circles forming around his warm brown eyes. So, he proceeded to tell Emilio where he could find Pablo.
    Then, he placed a firm hand on Emilio’s wrist, making sure he had his attention. “I warn you, keep what I just told you to yourself or there will be consequences.”
    “ Yes, I promise.” He knew the old man meant it. “Thank you so much for your help, Señor.”
    “ Good luck, amigo,” he said, as Emilio left the cantina.
    Raking his wrinkled fingers through his thick, graying hair, the old man poured himself a shot of tequila. He knew what it was like to watch your loved ones die from this deadly disease. His pain was still raw. For a fleeting moment, he thought of going with Emilio and his family. But, since he didn’t have anyone left to save, he decided he would stay in the village and take his chances.
    Emilio went directly to see Pablo in Altar, about an hour’s ride on horseback. He found him where his friend said he would be, working at the general store, waiting on customers. When Emilio walked in, Pablo was on an old rickety ladder, stretching to reach for some spices on the top shelf.
    Not wanting to draw attention to himself, Emilio browsed around, waiting for the right time to talk to him. Pretending to look at goods on the shelves, he tried to act natural. But, he couldn’t focus on the labels. His mind was consumed with something else.
    When the store was finally empty, he approached Pablo and told him his cousin, Señor Vega, had sent him. Emilio rushed to explain why he was there, the words spilling out quickly.
    “ Hold on, hold on,” Pablo told Emilio, keeping an eye out for anyone entering the store. “It can be done, but it’s going to cost you, and it’s not gonna be cheap. The going rate is $200 for a family.”
    “ $200? Oh, man!” Emilio said, rubbing his forehead with his hand, then running his fingers through his wavy black hair. “I don’t have $200.”
    “ Keep your voice down,” Pablo warned.
    “ $200.”  Emilio repeated quietly, dazed at the enormity of such a figure.
    “ If you want to get to the United States, that’s the price. El Jefe won’t do it for less.” 
    El Jefe, the Boss, was the name of the man who organized the escapes. Money was always paid in cash and his real name was never known.
    “ Do you still want to do it?”
    “ Yes, yes, I’ll find a way.” Visions of burying his remaining niños vividly flashed in his mind. “Tell El Jefe we want to be in the next group to go.”
    “ It won’t be for two or three weeks. Maybe that’ll give you time to raise the money. I’ll be in touch with you.”
    Emilio left the store and rode back to his village. The warm sun was starting to set behind him. He pondered their escape and how he would raise the money. His mind was racing. Where would he get that kind of money? And so quickly! How could he gather it without tipping his hand to his neighbors? It would be hard to keep it quiet.
    The children had been especially fussy that day, and Juanita had been unable to complete her chores for the day because of her own restlessness. She was anxious to hear what Emilio had learned, questions burning like fire in her belly.
    That evening, after the children were asleep, Juanita began blowing out the candles in