Don't own don't sue

the name Igatia is pronounced "e"-gah-"T"-ah. If the letters are in quotation marks it means you pronounce it like you would say the letter, the 't' is capitalized because that is the syllable that is stressed.

This is my first fanfic so be nice and R&R : )

The Igatías

It was a beautiful day. The sun's rays were warm and bright and there was a cool breeze that was pushing the small cotton-like clouds slowly across the bright blue sky. Ben was enjoying the day's beauty as he stood out on the front porch waiting for the arrival of the Igatías and their fine horses.

The Igatías were a prominent family who lived several miles south of the Ponderosa. The Cartwrights often bought horses from the Igatías but rarely in person. Ben had done business with Enrique Fernando Igatia on a few occasions and remembered him as a tall dark Spaniard with happy bright blue eyes, a ready smile, and a sharp mind. His intelligence and ambition had gotten him far in life.

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Enrique Fernando Igatia was born Enrique Fernando Igatia de Estiarte y Valois the fourth son of a Spanish count and a French countess. Being born the son of a count is a good place to start life, but being the fourth son also meant that he couldn't depend on inheriting very much from his father. So at eighteen Enrique left his family's vineyards and horses in Spain and set out for Oxford.

While in England Enrique stayed with his mother's relatives who had emigrated to England from France because of the revolution. His charm and wit quickly made him their favorite nephew and they showed the young man off to all their acquaintances. He was not only popular among his family but at school as well where he excelled as a student.

While at school he met a young viscount by the name of William Andrew Pierce Sinclair. Like everyone else William admired the handsome young Spaniard and they soon became very close friends. On one occasion William invited Enrique to the family estate Braydon in Scotland to meet his family.

That visit changed Enrique's life forever. In that great stone castle in Scotland Enrique met Lydia Sinclair. She was a vision of beauty, with hair that looked as if it were threads of gold, eyes that glowed like molten emeralds, and a face that looked as delicate as the finest porcelain. Enrique soon discovered that his friend's younger sister was not only beautiful but a talented musician as well.

Lydia was equally enchanted by the young man. Not only was he tall and handsome he was also intelligent, witty, cultured, well-mannered and to Lydia's delight, well-versed in poetry.

Lydia's father was uneasy about the romance brewing in his home. It wasn't that he didn't like the young man; in fact he liked him very much. He didn't even mind that the boy was Spanish and French, two nations that had been long time enemies of the English crown, after all the Earl was a Scot first and foremost. What the Earl didn't like was that Enrique was the fourth son of a count and not the first. Lord Braydon knew he could find a much better match for his daughter. But the earl had one great weakness, he adored his daughter. He hated to see her unhappy and he knew that Enrique Igatia was the man she was meant to marry, it was undeniable, they were perfect for each other.

To Lydia's delight Enrique proposed to her with her father's consent at the end of his two-week visit. William was thrilled to have his best-friend become his brother and Lady Katherine was overjoyed to have the charming young man as her son-in-law.

William and Enrique returned to Oxford to finish the term and as soon as it was over the young lovers were reunited at Braydon where they held the wedding a few days later.

Lord Braydon quickly realized that he couldn't have had a better son-in-law. He may not have a title but he was a shrewd businessman, and there was no shame in this. Like most of the nobility Lord Braydon inherited his money but he kept his fortune growing by investing and other forms of business, not that any of the nobility would admit it. Enrique had brought with him some horses from the finest bloodlines in Spain which his family had the privilege of owning. With his knowledge of horses and his abilities as a businessman he was able to make quite a substantial amount of money by breeding and selling horses to those wealthy enough to afford the fine animals. The young man had also made money in several other business ventures, enough to impress his new father-in-law.

A year later Lydia gave birth to twin boys. The eldest they named Henry, the English form of the name Enrique and the youngest they named Francis Xavier after Enrique's eldest brother, Francisco Javier who had died at the age of twenty-two nine years previous.

Two years after the twins' birth Enrique returned to Spain with his small family. His parents were delighted to have Enrique back and with a beautiful wife and two strong sons in tow. After remaining in Spain for only a year Enrique decided to move the family to America.

For an ambitious young businessman America was the perfect place. America was a growing nation with growing needs and Enrique Igatia was well aware of this. The Igatias spent two years in Boston investing their money wisely. At the end of those two years they had another son, named James after his grandfather. After James was born Enrique had decided that it was time to move the family west, that was where the countries future lay and that was where he would put his talents to work.

So, what had finally put this meeting of two of the most prominent families in the Nevada territory into play? Hoss and Little Joe of course.

The Cartwrights were all seated at the dinner table for their meal and of course Hoss brought up the fact that they could "sure use some more horses 'round here" work horses and a few for breeding purposes because the foals were "turnin' out a bit scrawny" according to Hoss. This was when Little Joe entered the conversation with "Everything is scrawny compared to you brother" and as soon as Hoss gave him a stormy look Joe changed the subject and addressed his father. Joe reminded his father about the party the McClains were having in a week's time and asked if they would be going. When Ben, who had still been thinking about the horses and had been thinking of contacting Don Igatia, had his train of thought abruptly interrupted with talk of a party he put the two thoughts together.

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Ben paused for a moment, "Boys I was thinking, maybe we could get those horses and still go to the party."

"How do you figure that Pa?" asked Little Joe, worried that the trip to buy the horses would interfere with his plans.

"Well why don't I have Don Igatia come here with the horses and invite him and his family to stay at the Ponderosa and go to the party with us as well?"

"Doesn't Don Igatia have a daughter Pa?" Adam asked his father then smiled at Little Joe.

"I believe he does."

"Well Pa I think it's an excellent idea!" said Joe enthusiastically.

Ben and his boys all laughed at Joe's words.

"You better warn that gal Pa." warned Hoss

"I'm sure she'll enjoy her stay" said Adam sarcastically while glaring at Joe.

"Of course she will." Little Joe said indignantly, and then he smiled and said "She'll be with the best lookin' guy in the whole territory!"

"Why I'd be honored to be with her but I thought you wanted her all to yourself" Adam said.

"Ah come on Adam everyone knows I'm the best lookin' Cartwright" Hoss said with a wink.

"Now boys I expect you to be on your best behavior" Ben said as he stood from the table. "Oh and by the way you have me to thank for your good-looks."

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The Igatias

Enrique Fernando Igatia de Estiarte y Valois 1816

Lydia Gwyneth Sinclair 1818

Francis Xavier Igatia 1838 (Twins) Henry Arthur Igatia 1838

James Ferdinand Igatia 1843

Katherine Marie Igatia 1846

Igatia de Estiarte (Enrique Igatia's family)

Juan Carlos Igatia de Estiarte y Acevedo 1785

Marie Antoinette Josefine Valois 1790

Francisco Javier 1807

Ricardo Manuel 1809

Jose Antonio 1810

Maria Antonia 1812

Enrique Fernando 1816

Sinclairs (Lydia Igatia's family)

Lord James Malcolm Godfrey Sinclair, Earl of Braydon 1798

Lady Katherine Lydia Pierce 1799

Viscount William Andrew Pierce Sinclair 1817

Lydia Gwyneth Pierce Sinclair 1818

The Cartwrights

Benjamin Ben Cartwright 1811-1902

Elizabeth Stoddard Cartwright 1818-1837

Inger Cartwright 1817-1843

Marie Cartwright 1821-1851

Adam Stoddard Cartwright 1837

Eric "Hoss" Cartwright 1843

Joseph "Little Joe" Cartwright 1848

Since these are not my characters the dates of birth and death are guesses that I've made up : )