Author's Note: I'm posting this chapter a little early (as will be explained afterward) and the view count seems to show that a number of readers haven't yet had the opportunity to read Chapters 19 and 20. If you haven't done so, please take a few minutes to read at least Chapter 19: Isabella before starting this one so it will make sense. Thanks!

Chapter 21: Violeta

Two large clay bowls sat in the middle of the table between them, and a basket sat on the floor at the corner of the table next to their feet. The first bowl was partially filled with beans, and the second held discarded pods that would be fed to the pigs. The basket was still about half full of beans still in their pods.

As much as she loved and always wanted to see her baby sister, Violeta really hadn't wanted to make this particular trip. However, time and circumstances had conspired against her, forcing her hand. Now she was here and the talk that she had put off since their arrival had finally been broached as they sat shelling the beans.

Unfortunately, their work had slowed appreciably as a result and their discussion was going even more poorly than she'd expected. Their argument had been underway for over an hour, with the last twenty minutes in hushed but heated whispers since the unknowing subject of their disagreement was now sitting in the next room with an open door between them.

"It may not be right now, but it will probably be someday soon, maybe a little sooner or maybe a little later. Whichever it is, she'll meet the one she thinks is the right one, she'll fall in love, and her blood will run hot with passion. She'll make the decision then, whether you like it or not."

"I won't have it, I tell you," whispered Rosa angrily in reply in Spanish. "She's too young."

"Rosita, you keep saying that, but it's not up to you just like it wasn't Mamá's call with you and your sweet Richard, God rest their souls," replied Violeta quietly. "Deny it all you like but the girl is sixteen years old now, almost as old as you were when you married him. She may not realize it just yet, but she's a grown woman, and she's going to be making her own decisions soon, just like you did." Violeta patted her sister's hand and added, "I can tell that she is your daughter in that; she's as beautiful and every bit as stubborn as you were back then."

Rosa scowled, not sure if Violeta's last comment was a compliment or a swipe at her. "She may think she's grown, but she still has much to learn. I will keep her here if I must—"

Violeta was shaking her head as she gently interrupted. "You can be supportive and establish guidelines to help her with her choices, Rosita, or you can try to hold on tight to her with all your might. I warn you, if you do the latter, she'll probably slip through your fingers like sand…just like you did with Mamá."

Deep in denial, Rosa's face was red with anger and she was about to lash out at her sister, but a knock at the front door caused both women to look up. Frowning at her sister and eager to strike back after what she considered to be Violeta's unfair comments, Rosa called out, "Isabella, get the door. Por favor."

The scrape of a chair leg across the floor was the only indication of compliance until the sound of the front door opening came a moment later.

Rosa turned back toward Violeta. Almost hissing, she said, "This situation is totally different than mine and Richard's, and don't you dare compare me to Mamá. She—"

For the second time in as many minutes, Rosa was interrupted, but this time it was the loud slam of the front door that did the deed. Now seething, Rosa started to turn toward the door to the front room as if to yell at Isabella, but Violeta put her hand on her little sister's arm, hoping to calm her at least a bit to keep the situation from getting worse.

It did get worse, though, for from the front room she heard her niece exclaim, "¡Madre de Dios!"

Violeta quickly rose from her chair and ran into the main room only to see the girl looking as if she was scared to death, clenching her hands together.

Fearing the worst, Violeta reached for her brother's old shotgun over the fireplace as she said, "Isabella! What is it, girl?"

The young woman shook her head violently and waved Violeta away from the gun. In a loud whisper she said, "Tía Violeta, he's here! He came here!"

Violeta was confused for a moment, but her expression changed when realization set in. "You don't mean...?"

Isabella's eyes were wide but watery as she nodded frantically in reply.

The woman's thoughts mirrored Isabella's for a moment, but she suddenly was overcome with another thought. With them returning in a few weeks, the boy wouldn't have come all that way just to say hello.

Surely not! For him to have come here, something must be horribly wrong at the High Chaparral!

~HC~

Follow-up Notes: Thank you to wotwasithinkin and Junebug for their reviews on Chapter 20 and recent chapters. Readers are encouraged to provide feedback since it really helps me with the story. I welcome your input and greatly appreciate it.

Personal experiences sometimes enter our writing and this was one of those occasions that I can admit this with a smile. The bean shelling scene was inspired in part by a long-ago memory of my grandmother, my mother, and several of my aunts sitting around a table shelling lima beans while all of us youngsters were sent outside to play with my two youngest aunts who weren't much older than we were!

Finally, on another personal note, I'll be on vacation for the next few days (which is why this is posted a little early) but I do have the next chapter with Wind all set to go soon after my return...if I don't think about it too much on our trip and start changing things!