Chapter 7 [Two Hours Later—High Chaparral]

Buck stalked out the tack room. Frustration wore across his face. Gosh dang it, John! Years of riding and doing things for you. Even after all that, you put me in the blasted tack room! He sucked in a deep breath.

"Hey, Buck! Mr. Cannon…" Sam started to give another task. Observation, however, strangled the command in his throat unspoken. Yeah…let the Boss tell him personally.

"Now what else does Big John want Little Buck to do? HUH? What?" Buck snapped. He saw John coming out the door. "HEY, BROTHER JOHN! ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT? LIKE…OH…DIGGING A LATRINE?"

John arched an eyebrow. Incredulity left him incapable of deducing Buck's rationale at that moment. Oh now what? He strode across the dirt compound. "Buck?"

"I GOT THAT TACK ROOM GOOD AND COUNTED! YOU KNOW THAT!" Buck bellowed.

"Uh, Boss. Maybe I…?" Sam motioned toward the corral.

John nodded. "Think there are some horses needing shoeing, Sam. Go on." He turned to Buck. "Buck, what the Devil's gotten into you? So I had you count the tack room? It's a job like any other on this ranch. It's needed doing. You were available. I had you do it. What's the problem?"

Buck flung his hat into the ground. "I can't believe you! You don't get it? YOU REALLY DON'T GET IT?" He threw his hands up in the air.

"No. I guess I don't." John saw Victoria rushing toward them. He shook her off before turning back to Buck. "So explain it to me, Buck."

"You really are that dense! I guess there's something I don't get since you're the one running the ranch and I'm just the mule!" Buck groused. "A tack room, John? Really? I've been riding with you for how many years? You treat me like a damn clerk!"

"What on Earth?" Victoria reached the two brothers. "Buck Cannon, why are you carrying on like this? What has John done?"

"Victoria, this is private!" Buck hissed.

"Right!" John insisted.

"Private?" She cursed a few choice Spanish words. She saw Annie watching from the porch. Indignity twisted her mouth up into a frown. "Perdona mi, John Cannon! I am your wife! Annie is Buck's wife! We should talk inside!"

John sighed. "Dear, this is…."

"Yes…yes…it is always between you two. What burns there can stay there. But you are making a scene out here! Do you wish to be arguing when the horses go by?" Victoria insisted. She put her hands on her hips. "¿Cual es su problema? Your problem, Buck…WHAT IS IT?"

Buck shook his head. He glared at the dirt. He clenched his fists. "Victoria, I…."

Two shots echoed from the watchtower.

"SEÑOR CANNON, HERE THEY COME!" Pedro bellowed down.

Everyone stopped. As one, they rushed to the outer fence.

The drive raced by the compound. The mustangs' horse lengths ate away the distance. The vaqueros and Rivertree's ranch hands kept the herd together and banked them left toward the Tucson road. Blue barked out orders to the others. He stopped to look at John. He tipped his hat, smiled and then he rode back toward the task at hand.

"Will you look at that?" Buck grinned. His eyes lit up.

"Yeah. Ain't that something?" Sam elbowed Joe in the side. Approval definitely made its mark in the Butler brothers.

Pride lit up in John's eyes. Absentmindedness and Ill Discipline had no place in Blue's eyes. Much like watching a symphony, he noted how Blue conducted the whole thing. Blue's attention focused on the line remained straight and no potential strays would escape. His boy was a man and foreman in his own right. A tear creased his cheek.

"We will talk later, John. I will not ruin this moment for any of us," Victoria noted. She shook her head. Papa, you should see how Blue is doing. I believe you would change your mind. He could not be any more a Montoya if Mama had been his mother instead of Annalee. She turned and walked back toward the hacienda. "Let's go inside, Annie."

"What was that about, Victoria?" Annie wondered.

"Buck and John have their problems. I refuse to let them ruin Blue's and Manolito's moment. Come." She marched out of view.

Buck, you've got to talk this out. Please! Annie shook her head. She wanted to talk but she understood Victoria's reasoning. Instead she followed her sister-in-law inside and shut the door.

Arguments would stew after all….