La Luna de Miel Chapter Three: La Reina
Breakfast concluded amid small talk and silence. "Permiso," Mano said, folding his napkin and placing it beside his plate. "Thank you, Tío," he nodded and walked over to pull out the chair for Carmen, even as John and Hector did the same for their wives. Buck and Domingo stood as the ladies rose to leave the table. His attention on Carmen, Mano did not see the approach of danger, although he did hear a snicker from Buck as the Doña Dolores pushed past Victoria and John and grabbed her son-in-law by the arm. He turned, surprised, to look down into his mother-in-law's eyes. Her gaze pierced him through the folds of flesh surrounding dark orbs.
"You," the Doña said. "You I wish to speak with. Alone. You will take a walk with me."
"Por supuesto," Mano answered bowing. He had no choice. With a sideways glance at Carmen, he grinned and drew one finger across his throat as if to signal his coming decapitation. Only his bride could see this gesture and she stifled a chuckle. Domingo offered his arm to Carmen, who took it, flashing her mother a warning look that the old lady ignored. Mano took a deep breath and decided, with nothing to lose, to pour on the charm. "Shall we, Doña Dolores?" he offered her his arm as would any gentleman. "The courtyard, perhaps?" The gray haired matron agreed with an imperious nod. Hector's eyes narrowed, but the others watched, wide-eyed, while Mano escorted his mother-in-law from the dining room as if she were the grandest of ladies, which in some ways, she was. He held the door for her. Once they were outside, he again offered his arm as they walked around the fragrant courtyard. Roses, sage, and dew perfumed the air. Not bad last scents for the condemned man, Mano laughed to himself.
"Son-in-law," the Doña began. "You should know that I was not pleased when Carmen wrote of her engagement to you."
"Why not? If I may ask."
"Your reputation. It is very bad. Or at least it was. My son confirmed what I already knew of your family, of your uncle. A gambler. I had heard you were not much better and far more of a womanizer than even he."
"I am surprised that my reputation is known anywhere south of Sonora, Doña Dolores," Mano replied.
"Montoyas are known," she said. "However, I have begun to change my mind about you."
"Whatever you may have heard, it is probably true, Doña," Mano admitted as they paused before the central fountain. Clear water bubbled up, disturbing the lily pads floating on the surface of the water.
"I know these things are true," the Doña continued. "But I had also heard that you had changed. That you have helped your uncle. That you should have inherited this rancho and will do so someday. I have heard many things. Besides, after what I have learned about my own son, being a gambler seems, shall we say, not so bad. My son is an incompetent gambler and an embezzler, far, far worse."
"Uncle is the gambler. I, ah, deal in small hands," Mano replied, amused by his own pun.
"Yes, you are clever. I also believe I owe you the life of my son. You could have shot him. I am not sure I would not have done so, were I in your place. Carlos is a fool."
"Well, I cannot say I will ever trust Carlos. But to shoot him? No. It distresses me to kill a relative, even an in-law," Mano said, pensive. The Doña nodded in agreement.
"Know this, Manolo Montoya. Nothing stops my daughter when she makes up her mind. You must be strong to save her, sometimes, from herself. She will listen to you." Mano shrugged his shoulders. He doubted this very much. Maybe sometimes, but his Carmen was strong willed. "And something else. You will not hurt her, do you understand?" He nodded. "No other women, no mistresses, no carousing. If you mistreat her, this you should know..."
"Ah, Doña," he stopped her. "She has already told me, She is a good shot."
"And just who do you think taught her how to shoot?"
Mano laughed. "Doña Dolores, I can only say that your daughter is the most important person to me in the world. I shall strive to be worthy of her and although I will never achieve this, I will be faithful. I love her more than life. I would give my life for hers. I do not deserve her."
"No, you do not. On that we agree," she answered, then a softness came into her eyes. "Just make her happy, Manolito," the Doña called him by his nickname for the first time. The old lady looked up and patted him on the face, not unlike his own father might have done. What I wouldn't give to have seen you with Papá, Mano thought with a grin. He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek and they walked inside together, to the immense relief of Carmen, who rushed to his side, and Buck, who caught his eye with a wink.
VKS & MJRod claim the creation of Carmen Navarro, although we took her first name from a David Dortort script proposal. We also are the creators of the Vargas clan , Rancho Navarro and its people including Delgado, and all of the characters in and around Hermosillo. We would have nothing to create were it not for our favorite western, "The High Chaparral," to which we pay tribute.