Chapter 10 [Two Hours Later]

Breakfastcame and went. Ideas bounced around the table. Plans formed for the next two days. Buck, Blue, Bart, Ricardo, Manolito and several vaqueros decided to drive the cattle to Rivertree. While Ricardo and two vaqueros would return that evening, the others would stay so as to alleviate the number of guests within the house and to keep working around the rancho.

In this way, Productivity could be maintained….

[Buck's Room]

Annie rooted through an old trunk. Purpose guided her hands through layers of poplin and muslin. Her eyes narrowed. I know I packed it in the bottom. Let's hope it made the trip all right! She shook her head. I never thought I'd need it again.

"What are you looking for, Mama?" Jenny watched her mother going through the clothes.

"Something really special, Jenny." Annie's fingers glided across a wrapped bundle. "Here it is!" She pushed the clothes aside. She pulled the bundle from the trunk and set it on the bed. "Your Papa was the last to see me in it." She unwrapped it to reveal an ivory dress with ruffles at the wrists, along the skirt's bottom and along the high neckline. She carefully set the veil and train next to it on the blanket.

"That's so pretty!" Awe stole the air out of Jenny's lungs. Her eyes went wide.

"This is my wedding dress." Annie smiled. She considered her daughter. The best part of my marriage to Jack. I won't say it but I should have only worn it for Buck. This time I'll get it right. "One day you'll have a dress like this for a special man too."

"I don't know of any other special men besides Papa and Buck, Mama," Jenny disagreed.

Annie chuckled. She smiled at Jenny. "And they both are special. One day though, you will meet another man who makes your heart beat faster. When you do, hang onto him. He'll make your life special."

"Gosh, Mama!" Jenny exclaimed. She saw Joy shining in the older woman's eyes for the first time since their last stay there. "Papa will be glad. Buck will take care of us."

"Now he will be. Back when we were here last, I wouldn't be so sure." Annie had seen Jealousy's green pallor in Jack's eyes. "Your Papa and Buck both love us. They didn't want us with anyone else." She sighed.

"I'm glad Papa and Buck made up before we left." Jenny shook her head. She had no idea why grown ups fought over such things as they did.

"Me too." Annie smiled for her daughter's benefit. She heard a knock at the door. "Yes?"

Mercedes stuck her head into the room. "Perdona mi, Annie. I…" She gasped. "¡Ese vestido es hermoso!"

"Huh?" Jenny arched an eyebrow. "What are you saying? Mama?"

"She's talking in Spanish. I don't understand," Annie explained.

"Your dress is beautiful," Mercedes translated. "Victoria wanted to lend you a dress for tomorrow. I am glad you have this." Her eyes looked over the wedding dress. "Do you have a pin for the collar. Perhaps a ribbon?"

"My cameo is broken." Lament weighed on Annie's tone. "Perhaps if there's one I can borrow?"

"We will find one. Vamanos. We have coffee and some milk for Jenny. Victoria has sugar cakes," Mercedes offered.

"Sugar cakes?" Jenny's eyes lit up. She hustled from the room and down the stairs.

"¡Dios Mio! She shook her head. "Victoria said she would like them."

"Jenny loves them. Let's get down there before they're all gone." Annie smiled. "Mercedes, can I ask something?"

"Of course. What is it?" Mercedes agreed.

"Where did Manolito and you meet? He did not have anyone the last time we were here." Annie studied the younger woman. Much like Victoria, Mercedes seemed out of place on a working ranch.

"We met when we were children. My mother used to take Miguel and me to visit the Rancho Montoya. There we knew Victoria and Manolito." Mercedes smiled. Memoria set her eyes aglitter. "Manolito and I played by this river not far from the hacienda." She sighed. "We met again not long ago. He rescued me from Comancheros. I could not refuse him. We married two weeks ago."

"And Buck? Did he face those Comancheros?" Annie bit her lip.

"Si. But he and Manolito are very careful. Buck took care of me. Everyone here is so kind," Mercedes assured her. "You will like it."

"I do." Annie nodded. "John and Victoria are good people. Buck is happy here. It will be a good place for Jenny to be." She headed for the door. "Shall we join the others?"

"Si." Mercedes followed Annie out and closed the door behind them. "Come." She led Annie down the stairs to where the others waited for them. "Victoria, Annie has a wonderful dress and veil!"

Victoria quirked an eyebrow. "Very good! Does it need any work, Annie?"

"It's ready. I tried it on before we left Silver City. Thanks, Victoria." Annie sat down at the table. "What else did you have in mind?"

"Just a few decorations. We will have a nice dinner for everyone. Is there something else you would like?" Victoria proposed.

"I'd need to speak with Buck. For me, that sounds fine. Can I help you with the cooking?" Annie accepted tentatively.

"We'd sure appreciate that," Penny agreed. "It'd be a way for us to get to know each other better."

"Can you make more sugar cakes?" Jenny requested.

"Honestly, Jenny! There are other desserts besides those sugar cakes!" Annie shook her head. "Maybe we could have a nice cake or pie? What do you think, John?"

"Hmm?" John looked up from his ledger. "Sorry. I was focused on my figures. What was that?"

"Annie was asking what you thought of pie and cake. Which would you prefer, my Husband?" Victoria looked right at him. Her eyebrow raised. Expectation twisted her mouth into a frown.

"Either one's good for me." He informed them. "Annie, I want you and Buck to be happy." He smiled at her.

"We should make both then. We need enough for everyone. Don't we?" Penny suggested.

"I believe so," Mercedes agreed.

"It is decided then!" Victoria announced. "John, can the men get what we need?"

"I'll send them into Tucson. Be right back." He closed the ledger. Then he got up and walked out toward the yard beyond.

"He will go with them. Now we can talk." Victoria poured the others' coffee. Then they began to talk.