Author's Note: AGH! Crap! I totally forgot Adrianna in there (the lost de Silva sister, as I would like to call her). I could've sworn I typed in six names.. Thanks for pointing that out, Genies9!

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Okay, so Jesse wasn't wearing that billowy white shirt that I love so very much. He was actually wearing grungy brown pants with a mud-encrusted shirt. The ensemble of a true rancher. Don't get me wrong, he was still gorgeous, but his outfit wasn't too flattering. Well, when you work on a ranch all the time, you're entitled to look dirty.

I slid off the white horse as he approached. He looked at me with those liquid eyes. He gave a small smile and then turned his attention to his father. After sharing a brief hug, Primotivo said something to Jesse in rapid Spanish. All I could catch was "Maria". I felt something in my stomach once again flip. I looked at Jesse's face. He had that unreadable expression again.

I introduced myself to Jesse. "Susannah Simon. I'll be working on your family's ranch from now on."

He said softly, "My name is Hector de Silva." Jesse took my hand in his and kissed it (Don't swoon, Suze. Stay focused. BREATHE, DAMMIT!). "You are replacing Miguelito?"

I had no idea who Miguelito even was, but hey, I'd lie just so that I could stay. "Yes, I am."

Primotivo shrugged. "I had never liked Miguelito. Why did he leave?"

From atop her beautiful horse, Carla brushed her dark hair away from her face. "He got word that his uncle died. He said he would come back, but he made a mess of his living quarters before he left. His dresser is destroyed and the window is broken. I can't understand why he'd do that."

Primotivo sighed. "I'm sure he did that just to pester us. He did not like me, either. He might have destroyed our entire ranch, given the chance." Primotivo shook his head, as if trying to forget something. "Well, let us go inside. How is your mother, Jesse?"

As the two of them continued with their conversation, I took the opportunity to look around. Their entire ranch was massive. Their land stretched out as far as I could see. Jesse had said his family worked like slaves. Well, they sure did achieve a lot.

Carla dismounted her horse and said to me, "It's nice to have another girl around here, a girl my age."

"You have sisters, right?" I asked.

Carla smiled. "I do, but Consuela is twelve and Adrianna is ten. It's sometimes difficult to talk to them about things."

"What kinda things?" I asked, smiling.

She hesitated, and then whispered, "Boy things."

I suppressed a laugh. She acted as if she had just uttered a curse word.

She would have continued talking, but then the front door to the home burst open and several people came streaming out. Carla gave me a look and then proceeded toward the barn, hanging on to her horse's reigns. Hmm. Boy troubles in the 1800s. Intriguing.

The girls who just appeared embraced their father lovingly and showered him with kisses. All were talking excitedly about things that had happened while he was away. I looked over at Jesse, who grinned widely as he witnessed this.

Primotivo laughed and picked up the littlest one. He tousled the others' hair as he spoke to them in Spanish. I honestly did not know what to do. I stood there on the bottom porch step, my hands clasped together and looking like a complete idiot, I'm sure. I was wondering if they would even invite me in. I was just the hired help, and the help usually sleeps in a part of the barn with the other animals.

Maybe this whole traveling back in time wasn't a great idea. Sleeping on itchy hay was bad enough. Now I might have to share a room with a horse.

The young girls piled into the house, dragging Primotivo in with them. The door slammed shut.

Guess they weren't inviting me in.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jesse look over at me. He cleared his throat and I met his gaze. He was smiling. "Well, that is my family."

"I was kind of lost in the happy shrieks and fast Spanish. But other than that, your sisters look very sweet."

Jesse shrugged, still smiling, and sat down on the porch step. He gestured to the spot next to him. I tried not to appear too eager as I sat down next to him.

I didn't know what to say. Here Jesse was, alive, and I couldn't think of anything to say to him. He obviously didn't know who I was since he had introduced himself as Hector. How could I possibly convince him to return with me to the twenty first century? I hadn't put a whole lot of thought into this. This was the outcome of another act-first-think-later moment.

I tugged nervously on the heavy amulet that hung around my neck. This was a bad idea. I should've thoroughly thought this through -

I noticed that Jesse was no longer smiling. In fact, he looked downright P.O.ed. Worried, I asked, "You okay?"

He shook his head slightly.

I took a chance. I said, "You're upset about Maria, aren't you?"

Jesse looked over at me, surprised. "You know of Maria?"

"Yes. Last I heard she was-." I was going to say "going out", but he probably wouldn't have understood that. ".- courting Felix Diego. Do you know of him?"

Yes, I knew he knew, but he needed to be warned.

Jesse's face grew dark. "I know of Diego. Vicious man. You're not the first person who has told me these rumors of him and Maria."

I rested my elbows on my knees. How would I ever take the conversation from here? "What are you going to do about it, Jes - Hector?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but at that moment we heard Primotivo from inside the house. "Jesse! Susannah! Come to eat!" he called in his accented voice.

I swear. I am sick to death of these interruptions. Every time Jesse is about to tell me something, someone just has to come barging in or yelling for me. Why can't people just leave us alone for TWO SECONDS???!?

Jesse sighed and then stood up to go into the house. He took my hand and helped me to my feet (Don't swoon!!!) and whispered into my ear, "I want to know more about Diego and Maria. Meet me in the loft at eleven o'clock tonight?"

I nodded, trying to ignore the fact his face was so close to mine. I breathed, "I'll be there."

He held open the door for me, and we went inside.

The inside of their home was just as colorful as the outside. The living room had your basic furniture: a table, two rocking chairs, a sofa, and a glass cabinet that displayed expensive-looking China. The clean wooden floors were partially covered with handmade, woven rugs. What I liked the most, though, were the pictures that hung on the wall. They were like the painting I had of Jesse - you could barely tell they were even paintings. Each one that hung on the wall was of their family, and of people I assumed were distant relatives.

Their house smelled good. Senora de Silva must have been cooking all day. My mouth watered at the idea of Mexican food. Andy's cooking was great, but to have an authentic Mexican meal prepared by an actual Hispanic woman? Ugh. I'd die happy.

Jesse gestured me to follow him. He explained, "We treat our farmhands very well, granted we only have three. They join us for dinner every day. They work very hard and deserve a good meal."

I was impressed. Jesse's family was incredibly generous.

The de Silva family was settling down in their own chairs. The four remaining de Silva sisters looked at me curiously. I gave a half-hearted wave.

Senora de Silva was absolutely beautiful. All her daughters looked exactly like her. Her long black hair was placed into an intricate braid on top her head. She was a heavy woman, but it gave me an odd desire to hug her - like she'd be really warm and loving when she hugged me back. The apron she wore protected her bright Mexican clothes. She took one look at me and she smiled brightly, her eyes shining. She exclaimed, "Hola, bonita! Como te llamas?"

I froze.

"That is Susannah, Mama," Carla explained. "She's replacing Miguelito."

At the mention of Miguelito, Senora de Silva's face fell slightly, but she said to me, "Muy bueno! Have a seat, Susannah. Mi comida es mas Buena!" (Author's note: That Buena is not supposed to be capitalized. My computer is just being stupid.)

I took the wooden chair between Carla and Adrianna. I saw Jesse sit down across from me. He looked tired. Must've been from working all day. I've never seen him tired before. His eyelids were actually drooping down a bit.

Senora de Silva set several plates of food down on the table. My eyes widened at the variety. There was so much of it: refried beans, rice, flautas, tortillas, enchiladas, etc. I was too shocked to put anything on my plate. I was surprised that their entire family wasn't dying of heart attacks.

When Senora de Silva sat down, everyone said grace, and then dug in. I really didn't know what to reach for first. Across from me, Jesse had loaded his plate with everything. This was going to be interesting. I've never seen him eat before, either.

"Are you all right, Susannah?" Primotivo asked from his place at the head of the table. Then he laughed and pointed a teasing finger at me. "Ah! I see. You are so used to fish that you have not had Mexican food before, eh?"

I smiled nervously. "Yes, that's right."

Carla plopped an enchilada on my fragile plate. She said, "These are the best. They're Mama's enchiladas especiales. She puts special ingredients and spices in it. I guarantee it's the best thing you've ever eaten. Go on, try it!"

I did. It was the best thing I'd ever had. Plus, I had been famished before and Senora de Silva's cooking really filled me up.

And Jesse, well, he ate like a hungry guy. Given, he wasn't anywhere near disgusting as Dopey, who had a tendency to eat like a duck. Jesse merely ate quickly and left his plate completely clean, while I hadn't even finished my rice.

Primotivo spoke, "Susannah, we'll have you look after the horses tomorrow. Groom them, replace their horseshoes.." He kept talking, but I had stopped listening. How in the world could I care for horses? The last time I rode one was at a kiddie park I went to when I was seven years old, and even that was a pony! How am I going to change their horseshoes? I thought there was some Shoe guy who did that!

I'm in trouble.