Fred Valdez

The Return of the Horseman Fred Valdez

The Return of the Horseman continues the saga of Francisco Cordova, known to his friends as Cisco. Army buddies gave him this nickname because his prowess with firearms was reminiscent of the legendary Mexican cowboy of the old west-the Cisco Kid, made famous in the writings of O'Henry. It is not my intention to bore the reader with a lengthy introduction as found in some books. I do feel it necessary for the reader to know about this extraordinary young man. He is not arrogant, proud, or egotistical. He has characteristics that set him apart from most men. He inherited the abilities of a horse whisperer from both sides of his family. His mother was Esperansa Garcia Cordova. His uncle was Felix Garcia. Felix is the head horse trainer on the large Judge John Trully horse ranch, just as his father and grandfather were before him. Francisco's father died when he was five years old from the effects of mustard gas in the Great War of 1918. The Garcia and Cordova families have worked on the Trully family ranch and large farm for three generations. In nineteenth and twentieth century Texas, Mexican Americans were considered second-class citizens. They were referred to as Tejanos (Texas-born Mexicans). However, this was not true with Judge John Trully. He was a devout Christian who accepted the two families as beloved employees. He considered them members of his household. Esperansa was known as Mamacita by her son, Francisco, and by Rose, who was Judge Trully's daughter. She raised Rose from infancy. Rose's mother had died in childbirth with her stillborn second child. Because he was two years older than Rose, it was Francisco's job to look after and be responsible for her.