Chapter 25

Diego looked at his fiancée adoringly. Their lips merged as they shared their first kiss as a newly engaged couple. The two were so involved with each other that they did not see Don Alejandro enter the garden.

"Ahem….Ahem," Don Alejandro cleared his throat, "Diego! Victoria!"

The couple broke apart reluctantly. Diego recovered first to see his father smiling at them. I should have known that he could not wait…

"I see that congratulations are in order, son." By the looks of things, I may be getting those grandchildren sooner than I anticipate. "Welcome to the family, Victoria."

"Gracias, Father," she stepped out of Diego's embrace and kissed his father on the cheek.

"I am so happy for the two of you." The caballero hugged his son and his soon to be daughter-in-law. There would be love and laughter in the hacienda again. It would seem like a home again with a woman's touch. "We have so many plans to make…so many details…the banns need to be posted…You will have the finest wedding this pueblo has ever seen!"

"Father, we have just gotten engaged…" Don Alejandro would invite many family members who were still in Spain which would delay the wedding for several months. Diego did not want to disappoint him but he was impatient to marry the woman of his dreams.

"Son, we need to invite family and friends…your uncle…your aunt…cousins. There is so much to do...so much planning..."

"That could take months, Father. I appreciate the thought but Victoria and I don't want to wait that long…All we want is to be married."

"Victoria, what do you think?" Don Alejandro hoped that she agreed with him. "All most men wanted is to be married. They were not concerned about the details but women were different. Surely, you have a vision for your wedding. Don't you want the wedding of your dreams?"

"Ramon and Francisco are both in Monterrey. I would like one of my brothers to give me away."

"Of course but what about the gown…the flowers… the food. Every bride wants a beautiful wedding."

"There is a seamstress in town who could be wonderful at designing my wedding gown...The fabric can be picked up in Monterrey. While I am there, I can tell my brothers the good news! As for the food, Pilar and Maria can come up with a wonderful menu...The roses in the garden would make a lovely bouquet. I appreciate what you are trying to do but all that matters is that I am married to your son and that you finally become my father-in-law by love and by marriage..."

Diego smiled as he listened to his soon to be bride. Victoria could be very persuasive when she wanted to be. She has certainly thought of everything. Father, I think that you have met your match!

"It seems like you have thought of everything, my dear."

"I want a beautiful wedding but I want to marry your son even more. That's what is truly important to me...a family of my own...The wedding will just make it official."

Don Alejandro was touched by Victoria's words and he embraced her once more. If I am not careful, she will wrap me around her little finger...Perhaps, she already has..."Thank you, my daughter...for putting everything into perspective."

ZZz

"Thank you for the wonderful evening, Jaime," Amanda said as they stood at the door to the hacienda, "I don't know when I have enjoyed an evening more."

"Are you certain, Amanda?" The sergeant wondered if she was susceptible to Javier's charms.

"Why would you ask that, Jaime? I have been honest with you about my feelings."

"You didn't tell me that you were engaged only a few months ago...That came as a total surprise to me especially when your former fiancé showed up a few days ago."

"I never expected to see Javier again...He means nothing to me!"

"He is a gentleman and you are a gentleman's daughter. A woman like you deserves the very best..."

"If I wanted those things, I could have easily had Luis Ramon...He would have given me everything I could ever want except love. Stop comparing yourself to some scoundrel like Javier or the alcalde, for that matter. Do you truly believe that I don't care for you?"

"I want to believe you, Amanda. I want to believe in us..."

"Then believe me, my dear Sergeant."

"Do you still intend to marry me, Amanda? My feelings have not changed."

"I intend to marry you, Jaime. I want to be your wife."

"What about Javier?"

"He is my past and you are my future."

"Then I will have the good padre read the banns. You, my dearest Amanda, have a wedding to plan."

"Shall we tell the others? After all, if it weren't for Diego and Victoria, we would not have found each other!" The couple walked arm in arm toward the garden. They heard laughter and wondered what was going on...

"Sergeant, Amanda. Come join us. We are having a celebration," Don Alejandro began.

"We want you to be the first to know. Victoria and I are engaged," the tall caballero said as he stood beside his fiancée.

"Congratulations, Don Diego, Senorita Victoria, that is wonderful news." Mendoza shook Diego's hand enthusiastically. The caballero had been sweet on Victoria for years. It was about time that he did something about it.

"Congratulations to you both," Amanda added.

"I hope that there are wedding bells for the two of you in the near future, Sergeant," the old don had his doubts at the beginning, he believed Amanda would be a good wife for Mendoza.

"Amanda and I intend to be married in the near future!"

"That is wonderful news, Sergeant. You could not have chosen a lovelier bride."

"Gracias, Don Alejandro."

"I would like to make a toast then," the haciendado stopped as Maria entered bearing several glasses of wine. "To Diego and Victoria, may their future be filled with love and happiness. May their love last for all time...To Amanda and Sergeant Mendoza, may you have many years of health and happiness..."