Chapter 10 [Rancho Henche]
Mercedes wandered out the front door. She looked out across the idyllic meadow in front of herself. Other than the trees in the ravine to her right, waves of grass ran in all directions for as far as the eye could see. Memoria recalled Bliss' earlier encounters. She'd enjoyed growing up with her mother and father there. She recalled the whirlwind courtship with the dashing Don Alejandro. It all seemed so intoxicating and tempting…
…especially when he proposed by their tree…
Her eyes alighted on the cross. She shook her head. I ran away from my dreams. The world was so cruel. Antonio used up my inheritance. Then he shot me. Tears ran down her cheek. She fell to her knees.
A handkerchief waved to her right.
Manolito extended it toward her. "I imagine it is a very hard thing." He shook his head. "I almost lost my Mercedes in the same way."
"Oh?" She accepted his token. "Gracias, Manolo. How?"
"Comancheros kidnapped her. When they ambushed us, she fell from her horse. She almost hit her head on the rocks. By God's grace, she was spared. I am quite fortunate." He cleared his throat. "So much good has come from that for the High Chaparral and Rancho Vega. I am sorry."
"I am too. I was foolish. It killed me." She bowed her head.
He narrowed his eyes. "You returned here. You and your love were together again. That does not sound like denial to me. No. I would say Love pulled you back here and to Alejandro. It was a bullet not your actions that stopped it. Besides you are back here seeking to help him and his son. No?"
"I…am." She shook her head. Regret stabbed through her heart. "You are right. We help those we love."
"Si. I believe that is what matters. Even if you married your husband, you did not love him. You love Alejandro. You did your best for them both. You are doing more for Alejandro now. It is not such a hard thing." He leaned close to her ear. "Have faith. You are stronger than you know. I believe I would know." Mischief twinkled in his eyes and broadened the smirk on his face.
She rolled her eyes and snorted. "Si. I believe you would!" She glanced at him. "I appreciate that. Gracias."
"De nada." He nodded to her. "It will be all right." He saw Buck, Sam and Pedro coming over the hill. "Let us see what they have found out."
"Hey, Mano!" Buck pulled up on the reins. He dismounted. "Everything quiet up here?"
"Si. Blue keeps watch. He is close." Manolito helped her to her feet. "What did you see in the pueblo, Compadres?"
"It's like Casa Cueva, Manolito. We found the Tavern Victoria. Don Diego and Victoria Escalante were both there. We couldn't really talk to him about the emissary or those soldados," Sam reported.
"That sergeant was there. We did not want to say anything. She served him his own bowl," Pedro chimed in. "We talked with them both. That is good."
She nodded. "Don Diego is a very intellectual hombre. I am glad you could eat with him. I wish you could have told him about the Emisario."
"We have the rest of today, Amigos," Manolito assured them."Let us hope for peace."
"It will not happen. Gilberto Rescendo, the Emisario, will take over Los Angeles. He will confront Alejandro and Diego over their rancho. You all are here to intervene," she disagreed.
"We need to get up on roofs." Pedro scratched his head.
"Vamanos." Manolito ushered them back into the hacienda.
A plan was needed….