"I wonder whether you can do that?"
"What do you mean?"
"He works for your father."
"Pedro's been a killer long enough. I'll get him out of here!"
"Remember, change things slowly," she warned, huskily.
"I'll do the right things," he protested. "Pedro will be the first man to go. I can't work with him here. I see no reason for delaying his dismissal. With all there is to do, I want no complications."
"Pedro has friends. Talk with Gabriel. Maybe he'll be helpful. Your father will know of your decision by tonight, because someone will tell him. Manuel and Salvador will talk, and the news will travel fast." Angelina's voice had taken on a harsh quality. She stared at the sky, dreading responsibilities. "There are so many of us here at the hacienda," she said.
The boy went on spinning his top by the fountain.
From the corrals came the noise of a horse being shod: the crack of hammer against nail sounded as if it had all the time in the world behind it.
Raul decided to talk with Gabriel. Perhaps Gabriel, who had the hacienda problems at heart, could judge things reasonably.