Hettie – A stranger until you become a friend.

Johnny is 19 and Scott is 25. They have been at Lancer three months.

Part one

Johnny leant down and patted Barrancas neck, "Sure is a pretty day ain't it"

Barranca nodded his agreement, an early summer day plenty of good grazing and his compardre in a rare good mood.

They plodded along, the fencing had been finished without any problems and they should be back at the hacienda in plenty of time for the evening meal deadline, so no reason for Murdoch to get in a pucker about time keeping.

Barrancas ears pricked forward and Johnny sat up his right hand automatically dropped to his colt.

Raised voices from over the rise on the left where the Green River road ran.

Down below two boys not much younger than him on horses circling round a Mexican boy leading a mule on which sat a younger girl and another girl on foot.

Johnny could hear the insults and they took him back to his childhood before his reputation made the bigots back off.

He rode down and waited until he had the groups attention, "Seems a cowardly thing you two are doing, maybe I should ask the why of it?" Johnny's deep blue eyes pinned the two boys. Both wore guns but it was obvious they weren't gun hawks.

It was the Anglo girl who spoke up and she stepped up to one of the boys and pointed, "estos tontos no son sino baja por intolerantes y matones" "these fools are nothing but low down bigots and bullies"

Johnny raised an eyebrow at her use of Spanish and her bravery, she could have been in danger but was on a mission facing down these two.

Johnny stayed on his horse a quick look at the Mexican boy probably 14 or so showed he had been pushed around some, the Mexican girl was only a little thing maybe 7 or 8 and looking fearful. The two young cowboys weren't saddle tramps, in fact looked all smarted up. "Well I'd better introduce myself names Lancer, Johnny Lancer" he gave one of his cold smiles to the boys but inside laughed 'boy, can make it sound almost as dangerous'.

He kept on his smile as he saw the reaction.

There was a silence until the brave Anglo girl with the mass of honey coloured curly hair spoke, "Hola Johnny, I'm Hettie Baxter and this here is Carmella and her brother Julio DeSalvidora. And these" and she pointed at the two on horseback, "are the Mortimer boys Harvey and Norman".

Johnny studied them "From the Mortimer spread?" The Mortimer ranch was on the other side of Green River, Murdoch had told him and Scott all about the local ranches and businesses, but although he had come across some of the Mortimer ranch hands hadn't met the owner Neville Mortimer.

The older of the two probably about a year younger than Johnny settled his horse, "Yep I'm Harv Mortimer an' this is my brother Norm."

Johnny guessed Norm was about 15.

"So what you doing over this side of Green River giving these here kids a hard time?" Johnny asked.

"Ain't none of your business what we are doing with our staff" said the younger Mortimer.

Johnny stiffened and as he moved the saddle creaked and Barranca pawed the ground, "Staff uh" and looked at the two Mexican kids, the girl her eyes wide, the boy his fists clenched at his side.

Hettie stepped towards the little girl on the mule and took her hand, "Julio and Carmella are coming to visit at my house, and are doing some extra school work. Norm here who can hardly write his own name thinks he can order them around so has got his brother along to stop the extra lessons. The Mortimer's seem to think Mexicans don't need an education."

"Well they don't and everyone knows you're a crazy kid whose brain got fried in the sun. These two live on our ranch and should be there working they don't need to get any schooling". Norm Mortimer was furious, how dare crazy Hettie Baxter talk to him like that.

"Whoa there, let's calm down some. First off, boys shouldn't be picking fights or bullying girls 'specially little 'uns like Carmella there. Second off, two cowboys like you two shouldn't be pushing 'round anyone just 'coz they are getting some schooling. Are you employed on the Mortimer spread Julio?" Johnny looked at the boy.

"No signor my papa works there but wants Carmella and me to go to school until we are at least 15. Mz Edwards at the school says I am good enough to go to college, so Signoretti Hettie gives extra schooling"

Johnny looked closely at the boy, skinny, angry and he saw something of himself when he was about 10 years old. Being treated as less than others by the nuns in the orphanage, no matter how hard he tried at lessons there was always a reason to rap his knuckles or even feel the switch on his backside. Then at 11 being sent out to work for Don Carlos for nothing but a bed and poor food and even worse treatment. He knew he deserved better, was better and that's when he ran away full of anger at the world that had left him without family.

Johnny sighed pushed his hat off his head to hang down his back, "Well this is what's 'gonna happen you two," he pointed at the Mortimer boys, "are going to go on your way back to your place, and these three are going to Mz Hettie's place, 'coz if a body wants schooling they should get it."

The two Mortimer's looked at each other, the older of the two staring daggers at Hettie but not looking into Johnny's eyes. "Come on Norm" he said to his younger brother. They turned their horses and trotted off, their heads together talking.

Johnny knew in his bones he had made enemies, only two kids, but their Pa was a rancher friend of Murdoch's so as Scott would say there's bound to be consequences.

"Right think it best if Julio rides the mule and you two ladies can ride with me," Johnny grinned at the three.

"I don't ride" announced Hettie.

"What!, how'd you get about?" asked Johnny.

"Walk or drive a buggy" she said frowning at him.

"Well there ain't no buggy an if'en you walk I'll have ta walk 'coz it ain't mannerly for me to ride while you walk". Johnny turned to Carmella, "you 'wanna ride with me on Barranca chica?"

Brown eyes popped open wide "Si signor".

"Right, it's settled you're out-voted Hettie Baxter". He grinned with delight at her.

Julio lifted his sister from the mule to sit in front of Johnny and then Johnny took his foot out of the stirrup and reached down to the stubbornness bravest girl he had come across in a long while. "Come on hop up Hettie".

There they were a boy on a mule and Johnny with two passengers. Barranca snorted as Johnny told him to be good with young ladies on board. "So where we going?" he asked.

Hettie sighed at being out smarted "Just along here then the right hand road takes you to my folks place".

A real pretty wooden ranch style house with a sign on the gate 'Charles E Baxter, Veteranarian Surgeon'.

Johnny lifted Carmella off and let Hettie hold onto his arm as she slid to the ground. He turned to Julio, "You 'gonna be okay Julio? Get you Papa to come to Lancer there will be work and a home for you. No discriminación está bien". No discrimination okay".

Julio nodded, "Señor Si le digo muchas gracias". "Si signor I will tell him, thank you".

Of course he was now running late for the ol'e mans tune calling evening meal time table.

"Never you mind none Barranca you'll have extra oats for your good deed an' a real good rub down". Barranca nodded as they made their way to Lancer at a steady trot.

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Scott found his new little brother in the barn talking softly in Spanish to his cousin Matteo, Cipriano's youngest boy, one each side of Barranca grooming the palomino.

"Hey there Johnny you have trouble at that fence?" Scott asked.

"Hey there Scott" replied Johnny, "Nope just got held up some on the way back".

Scott waited wondering what that hold up was, but Johnny didn't elaborate, just gave a lop sided smile.

Scott couldn't help but smile back at this newly discovered younger brother, there was so much more to him than the silent, at times, insolent gunfighter. He was hoping the head butting with Murdoch wouldn't get so bad it drove the boy away.

"Our father wants to talk to you".

Johnny groaned it was a real test of his patience when Murdoch lit into him.

Scott held his hand up, "He is taking me with him to a cattlemans meeting in Stockton".

Johnny raised his eyebrows, "How long you gonna be gone?"

"We leave the day after tomorrow on the stage from Green River, and will be gone for a week".

Johnny didn't know if he should be annoyed, once again being over-looked and treated like just another vaquero, but then two days in a stage there and back with Murdoch, and then sitting still in a room with men he didn't know Dios no. He and Scott were walking from the barn towards the hacienda his eyes slid sideways, "Lucky you Boston".

"That's Scott, Boston is where I lived, and a week in such close proximity with our father is more of a challenge than luck I think".

"Sure Boston, not sure I want to know what being in close proxy monity with the ol'e man would be like".

Scott laughed, "I'm sure you have been in very close proximity with the girls in Rosas cantina, and it's Scott".

They were through the front door laughing and gently pushing against each other.

Murdoch looked up, it had surprised him how easily these two completely different people had started to build a friendship, 'No' he told himself, 'not people his sons'.

"You had anything to eat yet?" he wanted to say son but at the last moment said, "Johnny".

Johnny watched this huge man, his father, get up from his chair by the fire with a drink in his hand, 'Dios he is a big man' "Nope saw to Barranca, hope Mamacita has left something in the kitchen".

"Go and eat boy then I'll bring you up to date with my plans" Murdoch tried to make it sound less like an order, but years of being the tune caller he found it hard.

Murdoch had finished his drink and looked again at the time on the long case clock, Johnny and time-keeping are not close companions he thought. Scott was about to speak but Murdoch held up his hand, "It's okay Scott I'll go to him".

Murdoch did wonder if the boy had disappeared back to that horse of his, but no, there he was in the kitchen washing his used dishes. 'He is house trained, stop you old fool' he told himself, thinking of him as some half wild creature. But where did he learn the good manners he caught glimpses of, why can't I just ask him? Instead Murdoch silently took a drying cloth and dried the wet dishes and stacked them ready for Maria in the morning.

Johnny watched unsure of this quiet Murdoch he played with the bracelet around his left wrist and waited.

"Do you want a drink with me and Scott, or more coffee, there's tequila?" Murdoch made an effort to keep his voice quiet.

"You got tequila?" Johnny blinked in surprise.

Murdoch smiled, a small success, "Had Cip fetch some from Morro Coyo, been a while since I drank it and maybe we take time introducing Scott to it eh?"

"Yeah ol'e man not sure his Boston taste buds could cope" Johnny gave him one of his rare genuine smiles and the ol'e man had a note of affection not an insult.

So with drinks in hand the three men looked over a map of the northern section of Lancer. Murdoch pointed to two ponds, "These are essential for watering the stock in summer, but the creek feeding them has dried up and should be in full flow at this time of the year". He pointed to North Creek ridge, "The water source is up there some place, not sure if it was Pardee's doing or a natural event but it must have got blocked or diverted. Now Johnny while Scott and I are in Stockton I'd like you to go and survey the ridge and try and find what's happened and make a list of what we need to do to get the water flowing back to the ponds. Can I trust you with this Johnny?"

Johnny looked up from the map into Murdoch's eyes, what was there? He was good at reading a man but not this one, and it worried him, "Yeah ol'e man" Dios he thought to himself stop being so prickly with him.

Next day Murdoch's orders kept both Scott and him close to the hacienda. Johnny took to actually hiding in the loft to avoid Murdoch once more telling him about that damn blocked water source. Scott found him, "Well at least you won't be late for the evening meal today little brother. Come on you can't hide out any longer".

"What's with him, fussing like an old lady? You'd think he'd never left on a business trip before" Johnny couldn't get a handle on it.

"Well it's the first time he's taken a son with him. But maybe he's worried you'll still be here when he gets back" Scott asked the question his grey blue eyes looking into Johnny's sapphire blue ones.

Johnny gave that some thought, was that what happened when his Mama left? "Ain't going nowhere, this here is mine" he grinned, "At least one third is".

Over the evening meal was when Murdoch asked about the fencing from the day before. Johnny kept his calm, 'pect Tio Cip told him it got done, instead said "You know a rancher name of Mortimer?" watching for a tell, yep there it was, ol'e Murdoch his eyes narrowed and a twitch, so he don't like Mortimer much.

Murdoch took a sip of his wine to collect his thoughts, "Yes Neville Mortimer of the double M, got a spread the other side of Green River. You come across him son?"

"Nope but met two of his kids, boys name of Harvey and Norman, they don't take to my kind do they?" get to the point see what happens when you prod a man, usually worked.

But it was Scott who re-acted, "What do you mean your kind?"

"Mean Mexican or in my case mestizo Scott not everyone has time for us" Johnny pushed the last of his dinner away his appetite gone.

"Was there a fight Johnny? Norman's only 15?" Murdoch had that frown on his face.

Best not tell him I was even younger than that, "Nope, I kind'a stopped a bit of a fracas. Those boys were giving Julio DeSalvidora a hard time. You know a Hettie Baxter, the veterinarian's daughter?" Johnny didn't wait for an answer, "Boy for an Anglo, she sure does have a lot 'a Latino temper in her. She gave them boys a real tongue lashing. How old is she Murdoch?"

Murdoch took a breath, no gun play thank the lord, "Yes I know the Baxter's and Hettie is going to be 16 in a few week. Very intelligent gone through all the grades the Green River school can provide and her parents are deciding on where her next school should be. She is quite a character".

Johnny raised an eyebrow, more there about Hettie than ol'e Murdoch was letting on then.

Murdoch fretted again after the evening meal and again all through breakfast about the surveying. Johnny had stopped listening, amazed at how polite Scott was being.

tbc

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