For weeks, there had been no rain on the Ortiz family’s ranch near San Angelo. The grass had turned brown and crunchy, and the pond where the cows drank was almost dry. Every evening, Papá looked at the sky and shook his head.

Then one afternoon, dark clouds rolled in from the west. Fat drops began to fall, slowly at first and then in a downpour. The rain drummed on the metal roof so loudly that Luisa had to shout to be heard.

Luisa and her little sister ran out onto the porch. Papá was already there, standing at the edge with his hat off and his face turned up to the sky. He was smiling.