Chapter 8 [Rancho Henche Just Outside of Los Angeles—Early on the First Day of "Strands Broken"]
Day's respite and the slower pace benefited the group. Pursuit stayed behind in the woods above. They rested and regained their strength for the final ride down the coast. The visitors admired the Pacific coastline and surrounding vistas.
Blue sketched the scenes for Posterity's sake. He didn't know if the drawings would come back with the group. Still, for everyone at Chaparral, he wanted to give it his best shot in between bites of a meal.
Then the group pressed on. Right above their destined pueblo, Mercedes veered left and further inland. Her horse's hooves glittered in Sol's light. They cut through the tall grasses. The guys followed in the same way. Memoria reminded of previous excursions of this nature.
She couldn't help but steal looks at Manolito.
For his part, his heart followed her as it would his wife. It skipped beats. It prompted the grin to push against his ears in its length. Amor sparkled in his eyes. Despite recalling their purpose, it relaxed Manolito's larger mood.
In the distance, they beheld trees in a ravine. Beyond that, an old hacienda stood watch over all in its domain.
"Hey! Ain't we getting too close to that place?" Buck called out.
"It is all right! It is my family's home!" She guided them into the ravine. Once under the trees' cover, she dismounted. She surveyed the area. She washed her face in the small river flowing through there. She crossed the water on the rocks. On the other side, she slid her hand up and down the bark of a gigantic oak tree.
"One more way we are alike, Chica." Manolito regarded the tree. "Just like the one on my father's land. Don Alejandro, he met you here?"
"At the hacienda. We rode down here. We enjoyed picnics and shared pleasant memories and dreams. He proposed here." She sighed. "I wish I had not run away." She frowned.
"What is done is done, Mercedes. We are helping now. You lead us. You show your devotion that way. He and you shared something special in this place. We will save his rancho and this pueblo. Just believe! Yes?" Manolito reminded her.
"We got this." Buck affirmed.
"Maybe we should scout around the pueblo?" Sam volunteered.
"That is a good idea. We will bring our horses to the hacienda. We can rest there. Buck, Sam and Pedro, you can go to the Tavern Victoria. There you will use these." She held up two coins. "The owner is Victoria Escalante. Hand those to her. There is a heavy lancer named Mendoza. That is to buy him his own bowl of soup. He made Don Diego sick by eating from the same bowl." She set the coins into Buck's hand.
"Got it. Lady tavern keeper behind the bar. Right!" Buck agreed. He closed his hand and put the coins in his pocket. "Let's get up to your house." He walked his horse out of the woods. He gazed up the hill toward the house. "Hey! Someone's up there!"
"Now what?" Sam took a pair of binoculars from his saddlebag. He looked through them. "I see him. He's a tall dark haired guy with a mustache. He's dressed like he's rich. He's writing something on a notepad."
"Let me see." She took a turn with the binoculars. "That is Diego. He comes here for inspiration. He's a poet as well as a hero." She saw him stand up and head for his horse. Within minutes, she watched Diego ride away toward Los Angeles. "He goes to the Tavern. Buck, you and the others know what you must do."
"I should go. I know cantinas and such taverns best," Manolito volunteered.
She shook her head. "You cannot go for the same reason I cannot go. The people will ask questions. I cannot go because they know I am dead. I trust Buck, Sam and Pedro."
"Te entiendo." Manolito cleared his throat. "Just do not gamble with the money."
"And no fighting." Blue coughed.
"Just take all of the fun out of it, Blue." Sam shook his head.
"He is right, Compadres. The less attention, the better." Manolito motioned toward the horses. "Vamanos."
Buck got on his horse. "Come on, Fellas. We'll be back. See you at the house." He rode off with Sam and Pedro up the hill. From there, they pressed on toward the pueblo.
"The hacienda should be clear now." She rode toward the hacienda with Manolito and Blue. "I wish it was in better condition."
"I believe it will suit our purpose, Mercedes. We have slept on the ground for a week and more. You have beds in here?" Manolito walked through the door. Despite the scraped paint and chipped woodwork on its exterior, the interior remained sound. "Si. We have shelter and a fireplace. ¡Excellente!"
Blue called from the bedroom. "Ms. Mercedes, your folks left their beds and a couch in here!"
"There are two more beds in the servants' room." She shook her head. "I am glad my father cannot see this hacienda."
"For what we need, it is a grand palace. We should gather wood for a fire. Vamanos." Manolito led the others out the front door and toward the waiting horses.
Supplies and fire fuel would make the coming days bearable….