Shame

The next morning, Ruiz awoke to a pounding on his door. He scrambled to his hooves and threw on his poncho and belt, dashing out only for Jed to stop him. "Whoa, hold on! There's not an emergency, I just need to talk to you in private, and it's easier to do that here than it is in the dining room. May I come in?"

Ruiz nodded and pulled the door back. He was about to ask what the subject of their conversation was to be, but decided not to. Given their conversation last night, he was either about to be given a sum of money, asked to leave, or both. It was best to just wait for him to come to it, in case he was still thinking about what he wanted.

"I'm told you pulled me out of a bottle last night."

Ruiz tilted his head to the side. "Do you not remember, señor?"

"I'm a bit of a lightweight when it comes to liquor. Normally, that wouldn't matter, because I stay away from it, but I was in a pretty bad way yesterday. Did I say anything notable?"

"Well..." Ruiz scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably. How much could he reveal without driving him back into a bottle? "What sticks out the most, señor, is that you kept calling me a dumbarse."

Jed ran his hooves through his mane. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean that, at all."

"Actually, señor, you did. You gave me multiple reasons why you thought I was dumb, and some of them were very valid points."

"But I didn't really mean it."

"You believe it, but you have made the choice to hide away your belief in order to keep your wife and daughter happy. Much like our agreement, señor, the details are to be kept between you and I."

"Thank you. Was there anything else?"

"You said you wanted me gone from here, señor. When your family is involved in your decisions, you seem to be more tolerant of me, but last night, you were looking out for yourself. I had thought we were growing closer in understanding, but I suppose that's reserved for when you make an effort."

"I have been making an effort," admitted Jed. "I suppose there's no use in hiding it right now; no, I don't like you. I just make a show of it. I only tolerate you. That said, for what this is worth, I do trust you. I hope this doesn't undo all of the mutual rapport we've gained over our time together."

"Of course not, señor," nodded Ruiz. "I don't expect you to have me around forever. Just until your son comes back, at most."

Jed rubbed his hooves against his face, hard enough to leave red marks. "Ruiz, this is very important: Did I say anything about my son last night?"

"Not a thing, señor."

"Are you sure?" Jed looked right into Ruiz' eyes, as if searching for something.

Ruiz took a deep breath. "If you did, señor, I did not pick up on it. That, or I do not recall."

Jed narrowed his eyes. For a minute, nothing happened. Finally, Jed was satisfied. "Okay. Just, don't mention him again for the rest of the workday, would you? Even if you're lying to me, keep it under your hat, okay?"

After breakfast, the day resumed as normal, albeit with Sadie and Jed acting differently. Jed was distant and quiet, and Sadie was upset about something. When Maria asked Ruiz about it while preparing dinner, he did as Jed asked, telling her that he had no idea what had upset them. He might have guessed, but if it was important, they would tell them.

His assertion was correct. After a particularly quiet dinner and cleanup, Jed called everypony into the living room. "Ruiz, you can head upstairs if you want, but girls, you need to stay here. There's something you need to hear."

"Should he stay?" asked Maria. "I'd hate for Ruiz to be the only one that doesn't know."

Sadie shook her head. "That's up to him. This doesn't have anything to do with him directly, but he may benefit from hearing this, as well."

Maria grabbed Ruiz loosely by the wrist. He could leave if he wished, but she wanted him to stay. At any rate, it was better to know what had been eating them all day. He couldn't help them if he didn't understand what was wrong. He sat down next to Maria and listened to what Jed had to say.

"Alright," nodded Jed, picking up an envelope. "I received this notice yesterday from the Fairweather iron mine out west."

"Where Cole works?" asked Mint.

"Yeah. They normally have to fend off attacks from wild boars, but they do so without incident. They have mercenaries out there, and even with the worst attacks, their injuries per strike usually don't make it to double digits, much less deaths."

Ruiz' stomach turned suddenly. He could already infer what had happened.

"One week ago, there was one such boar attack," Jed continued. "The company informs me that, while a few buildings were smashed, nopony was injured in the ensuing fight. All of the miners, including Cole, were successfully filtered into the mines where they would be safe from the wild boars, and the mercenaries were successful in driving the boars off. But one of the miners, we're not sure who, knocked out one of the tunnel supports. Nine injured, five dead."

Maria's grip tightened around Ruiz' hoof. "What happened to Cole?" she demanded. "What happened to my brother?"

"He was among those who had been buried under the rocks."

Slowly, Maria stood up, let go of Ruiz, and walked upstairs to be on her own. Mint seemed to be too stunned to move or speak, and just sat on the floor, a look of terror frozen on her face. Jed, having finished his speech, turned to his desk and held his head in his hooves.

Sadie walked toward the kitchen, waving for Ruiz to follow her. As the door closed, she fell to a whisper. "I suppose you might not be too hurt by this, considering you never met him, but can you do me the favour of understanding that this is a hefty loss for the rest of us? Especially Maria; she really looked up to him. I want you to please understand that, if we're a bit more pushy on you in the near future, it's just because we're hurting."

Ruiz nodded. "I understand, señora. I know how it feels to lose a family member."

"Oh, I didn't mean--"

"I know what you meant, señora. Don't worry. I don't mind. Take whatever time you need."

Sadie pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry. Thank you for understanding."