Chapter 12 [Later—Rancho Rivertree Hacienda]
[A/N: And now, we FINALLY get to open that crate! Wait until you see what's inside!]
Sol's setting and Nocturne's ascendency ended Celebration's feast. While Happiness wished for more of Revelry's enjoyment, it was understood that there would be further opportunities. Friends would not simply be passing through. Rather Community grew. Old Ties returned with new gifts to offer.
This was true both in past and present….
Penny sat beside Blue nearest the fire. She watched the flames dance about each other. She sipped from her coffee cup. "Yours okay, Blue?"
"Hmmm?" Blue nearly jumped. He'd sipped maybe two small mouthfuls. Reverie still retained control of his thoughts. "Sorry. I was just thinking of the great day. We're lucky."
"I agree, Blue." Mercedes leaned into Manolito's shoulder. "Es verdad, mi Manolo."
"I would not argue, mi Amor." Manolito assured her.
"You'd best not. I don't want to see you in a guest room." Blue sassed. Teasing and Mischief spread the grin across his face.
"Eh?" Manolito narrowed his eyes. He waved his forefinger.
"Manolito, he only makes fun. I know you love me. It seems you have taught Blue too well." Mercedes took a draught from her cup.
"Si. I have." Manolito smirked at Blue. "You see, Compadre? Two can play that game. ¿Si?" He got up from his seat. "Perhaps now is a good time?" Anticipation lit up his eyes.
"Blue, he has been busy," Miguel warned.
"Miguel." Manolito shook his head. "I have a surprise for you, Blue. Follow me." He motioned with his fingers.
"What? Manolito?" Blue jumped to his feet.
"Just follow me, Amigo. I think you will like it. It will suit you." Manolito lingered by the empty storeroom.
"Blue?" Penny narrowed her eyes.
"I don't know. Guess we'll find out." Blue almost crept across the floor. He held Penny's hand all the way. He peered inside. His eyes went wide. "What? Mano!"
"I believe I did, Compadre." Manolito pointed to a wooden art easel and a wooden stool. On a small table, a collection of paints sat ready for use. A small pile of canvases leaned against the corner.
"Blue, are those like painting things?" Penny gasped.
"Yeah they sure are. Guess I'm gonna have to practice on my own time. I didn't want to put us out though." Blue rubbed his forehead. "Manolito, I really appreciate this."
"Then enjoy it, Amigo. You work hard. We saw your artistic talent on our experience. I spoke to Mr. Haskins at the mercantile. He had this one ready and at a good price," Manolito urged.
"Papa wanted you to have a nice Christmas present. I look forward to your pictures filling our hacienda one day," Mercedes assured him.
'I'll do my best. Thanks for your support and good thoughts. Sure wish I had something for you." Blue rubbed the back of his neck.
"Blue, you brought those pine cones. You help us every day. You found me in Trails End. You helped to make this possible." Mercedes embraced him. "Remember that. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas. Wow." Blue returned the embrace. "Penny, next year…"
"Blue, those pine cones are sure going to be a neat thing to see when they're growing. That's my gift. I'm so glad to be with you." Penny kissed his cheek. "And that goes for all of you."
"Amen to that." Miguel held up a crowbar. "I believe we have waited long enough. I want to see what's in Papa's crate."
"I waited for the others to leave. Then I forgot!" Manolito exclaimed.
"I'm sure with Miguel. I want to see!" Penny urged.
"Then we shall!" Manolito returned to the living room. He waited for the others to rejoin him in there. "For three months we have waited." He rolled his eyes. "Now we see. Miguel? Blue?"
Miguel pried open one side of the crate.
Manolito and Blue took the other side. They removed the front wooden piece. The side pieces came away. Then they stopped.
"Manolito, are you seeing this? GEEZ!" Blue's eyes went wide.
"I am indeed, Amigo." Manolito chuckled to himself. "I cannot believe he gifted these to Mercedes and me." He lifted three portraits from the wooden backing. "Ayudame por favor."
"Hey, Miguel. Can you get one? I got one too." Blue picked up the top one. He walked it slowly over to the adjoining wall and set it there. "Hey, Manolito! This one looks like you with some dark haired lady! It's like old looking clothes too!"
"Manolo?" Mercedes looked at Manolito and then at the portrait.
"Hey! That's Alejandro!" Blue realized.
"I believe Blue is speaking of Don Alejandro de la Vega, our great great grandfather," Miguel looked the two pictures over again. "Si. The dark haired lady is his first wife, Doña Elena de la Vega and our great great grandmother. Mercie, look at the second portrait."
Her eyes went wide. Shock numbed her mind. "¡Madre de Dios! ¡Soy yo!"
"That, Mercedita, is your namesake. But is this what I think it is?" Manolito raised an eyebrow.
"It is their wedding portrait. A mysterious chain of events happened in 1819. Five strangers appeared to help Los Angeles. They only appeared to deal with a corrupt emisario. Then they vanished like the wind. All but one. Doña Mercedes Henche de la Vega. Much like Lazarus or it seems like Señora Butler, she reappeared from nowhere. They lived another twenty-five years together." Miguel looked to Blue and Manolito. "I imagine that you know of those events?"
"¿Manolo? ¿Tiene razon? ¿Estaban Uds. allí?" Mercedes grabbed onto Manolito. "Were you there?"
"Si." Manolito looked to Blue. "Blue was on a rooftop with a rifle. I held the emisario at gunpoint."
"Gosh! That must've been something! So that's what you did?" Penny shook her head. "Blue, you promised me!"
"Penny, it was an emergency. If I didn't do it, we wouldn't be here." Blue rolled his eyes. "I told Uncle Buck you'd find out. I'm going to lose you."
"Blue, I'm just glad you didn't charge in by yourself. You saved our family. I don't get how. I just know you did." Penny's eyes shone into his. "And you ain't goin' nowhere, Mister."
"I ain't?" Blue looked deeply into her eyes.
"Nope. You're stuck with me, Blue Cannon." She kissed him on the forehead. "You're my hero. Thanks for remembering your promise to me."
"You bet. I ain't forgetting that." Blue assured her.
"I'm sure glad." Penny admired the three pictures. "Hey! Who are these folks?"
Mercedes rubbed her chin. "If those are of Don Alejandro, could that be his son?"
Miguel nodded. "Penny, you have heard me speak of my great grandmother who ran the tavern?"
"Yeah so?" Penny scratched her head. "That's her?"
"Si. It is. Don Diego de la Vega and his wife, Doña Victoria Escalante de la Vega. They were married in April of 1819. It is a shame that we have nothing further of them but this portrait." Miguel shook his head. "Many of the old Spanish nobility hated them." He sighed.
"What? Why? What did they do?" Penny protested.
"It's Diego, Penny. He put a black mask on and fought for his people. He married Victoria. To my father, he was a traitor." Manolito frowned. "Have you ever heard of Zorro?"
"The bandit? Sure! Who hasn't this close to Mexico? I thought he was just made up! And…he was real?" Penny gasped.
"Oh I assure you. Zorro was very real." Manolito nodded. "He had a sword and a whip. He dressed all in black. He had this big black Andalusian steed named Toronado."
"He could outfight a bunch of those Spanish military guys too." Blue chimed in. "So he did marry her. Good for them." He shook his head. "Mercedes, did the family recipes make it?"
"They did. Papa has them. ¿Por qué?" Mercedes rubbed her chin. She looked at Manolito. Realization made connections between Manolito's account from the previous night, Blue's muddled points and even the pine cones. They really did go back there!
"I hear she made a real mean bowl of chili. That would be great around here." Blue bumped Diego and Victoria's portrait. As he did, something fell against the wall. "Now what?"
"Blue, you barely touched it! You couldn't have broke it!" Penny protested.
"I just slid it over a little bit." Blue picked up the portrait. "Hey! There's something here!" He held up a sealed envelope and a bundle wrapped in a small blanket.
"What could it be, Compadre?" Manolito glanced at Mercedes. Caution held him back for a heartbeat.
"This is made out to you! How'd that happen? I don't know this handwriting either." Blue shook his head. "Sure looks real old too." He held the letter out to Manolito.
"To me?" Surprise raised Manolito's eyebrow. "¿Cómo es posible?" He accepted the letter. "Gracias. Let us see what it says." He slit the envelope open. He removed the letter and read it. He shook his head. "¡Increible!"
"Manolo? What is it?" Mercedes demanded.
"It ain't more bad news from there. Is it?" Blue frowned. He felt a headache coming on.
Manolito smirked. "No it is not. Just listen." He shrugged and began to read:
"Rancho de la Vega
Los Angeles, Alta California
25 Diciembre 1845
To My Most Esteemed Friend, Don Manolito Montoya and Great Granddaughter, Doña Mercedes Vega de Montoya,
I send you greetings from a distant past. Changes have unfolded across our region. Some have been for the better. Some did not bring about positive outcomes. Los Angeles has prospered under Gilberto as our Alcalde. We have resolved our differences and are a family once more. It is a good thing for I fear what is to come of our new nation under General Antonio de Santa Ana's dictatorship. What a true conundrum. I pray for us all!
Victoria and I married immediately after your disappearance. We have two children, Alejandra and Pedro. We also adopted Felipe, my former servant. Father sent his regards and thanks for your aid in our most desperate hour. Mercedes revealed the truth to us just before Father passed away under strict secrecy. The children do not know your exact identity. The legend speaks of Zorro's compadres, Manolito, Blue, Buck, Sam and Pedro. For your sakes, Victoria and I will not speak further about these matters.
Zorro rode his last ride three years ago. It was not easy for me to give up the role. Age and my trusted Toronado's death alas made that necessary. Despite all he has done, Zorro still has animosity among my peers. It is a pity. The people know the truth. And so do you.
Victoria still manages the tavern. Alejandra learns from her in there. Soon she will open another next to your refuge at Rancho Henche. She wanted Buck, Sam and Pedro to know there will always be a bowl of chili and cornbread for them on the house. She sends her thanks for their act of kindness toward Sergeant Mendoza. I have attached the recipe. There is a small bundle as well.
Mercedes, how I wish you and your brother had accompanied them. I can only imagine the good you will do. Even so, Victoria and I are proud of you. We love you. Carry on our name well. Even if the world does not understand, you can serve the people well.
Sadly I must close this letter. From our family to yours, Feliz Navidad. It is a wonderful thing to know that our family cares enough to help as you have. May you be so blessed as you have blessed us.
With Warmest Regards Always,
Don Diego de la Vega"
"I wish I'd gone in and got me some of that chili. Uncle Buck was going on about it something fierce." Blue frowned. "So we really did it then?"
"Si. We set matters back on course." Manolito regarded the third portrait. "It happened."
"Your prayer, it seemed, was answered, Manolo." Miguel patted Manolito's shoulder. "It is as the letter says, Faith and Love are powerful." He regarded the golden necklace around Elena's and Victoria's necks in their respective portraits. "The missing necklace. Alas! My grandfather claimed it lost. Nobody has seen it in forty years."
"Perhaps." Manolito unwrapped the bundle. He laughed. "I believe we have solved another mystery, Amigos." He held up the exact necklace next to Victoria's image. "It seems she concealed the necklace herself."
"¡Fantastico!" Miguel stared at the golden necklace. Weavings of golden strands wound around each other. An ornate cross hung from it.
"I cannot believe Papa would miss this!" Mercedes reached out toward it. "Can I?"
"Touch it? Si. Turn around por favor." Manolito twirled his hand.
"But, Manolo! Mama should wear it!" Mercedes protested.
"Mama and Papa's marriage is a political alliance, Mercie. He loves her. She however spits on the family name. She is one of those people that our great grandfather wrote about. No! Keep the necklace for yourself and your children. May God forgive me for saying so," Miguel spoke up.
"From what I heard, I agree with Miguel," Blue chimed in. "They think it's lost. Let 'em think that. It won't hurt 'em." He shrugged.
"Gosh! So it really did happen? But you were in bed with me the whole time!" Penny scratched her head.
"We all fell asleep. We did the job. We woke up here when it was done." Manolito put the necklace on Mercedes and secured the clasp. "And there we are!"
Miguel folded his arms across his chest. "Bravo! It becomes you, Mercie." He brought out another envelope. "Papa wanted this opened with our crate. If I may, Manolo?"
"Of course." Manolito squeezed his wife's hand.
Miguel cleared his throat. He started to read:
"20 de Agosto 1877
Querido Manolito and Mercedes,
The days have been wonderful here in Rancho Rivertree and the High Chaparral. I have treasured our time together. The people here in Tucson have impressed me. I believe that John Cannon chose well when he settled here. Our investments here will only grow if we show them proper care.
My children, words fail me. I came to Tucson in the expectation of disaster. I thought that Manolito would try to repeat history. I did not want your dowry squandered like that of Mercedes Henche Villero. From what your mother had heard, the Cannons would take advantage.
Nothing could be further from the truth. There is a sense of familia here. Not just family but familia. It is something our family has missed for a generation. John and Victoria have planted something at the High Chaparral. I want you both to learn from it, keep your connections and prosper. It was in part for that reason that I wanted Blue to be the foreman. His name and skill will be a great help. I hope my apple trees will grow in the meadows. There is ample fertile ground there. Perhaps there will be other things there as well? Only time will tell.
I hope you will keep the portraits safe and intact. Your mother wanted no further part of them. I have sent them to you in order to ensure their safety. Her shame of our family is no secret. She is like many of our class. She views Don Diego and Doña Victoria with contempt. Our views are as divided as Don Sebastian's and Doña Esperanza's were. But these are your heritage, Mercedes, and Miguel's as well.
I trust you found the necklace. Grandmother claimed it was lost just after Don Diego's death. In truth, she hid it in the back of the portrait. Papa never knew the truth. Mama had turned him against the family in all but the name itself. Grandmother revealed the secret to me on her own deathbed eighteen years ago. She did not want your mother to have it. When you and Miguel ran away, I thought it would stay lost. When I heard you defend our family and accept the stories of our family's history, I changed my mind. When Miguel used the stories as the basis of his first Mass, I could not have been prouder. Wear the necklace, Mercedes, with the love of Doña Victoria and me. Keep it a secret from all save those you trust the most. But no second thoughts or trying to give it to your mother. You are worthy, mi Hija.
Speaking of your mother, I return now because she is dying. There is a disease with no cure. She suffers. She lived to see you married, Mercedes. She still will not favor Miguel for his choice. I will write again after her passing. I am alone much as Don Sebastian is at his rancho. Perhaps I shall visit with him? Can I reconcile with him? I do not know. But for now, I will go to my beloved Lupe's side. For all of her faults, I love her.
We shall speak soon, my Children. Please know that I am proud of what you are building. Manolito. I could not be prouder of you. Mercedes and Miguel, you have grown so. I believe you will take up our ancestors' mantle well. Blue and Penny, thank you for supporting their dream. I hope Don Sebastian takes our advice and includes you in his familia. But if he does not, you are de la Vega as well as Cannon. Remember that,
Best wishes. Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Don Ricardo de la Vega"
"Mama?" Mercedes choked back a sob. "Manolo…"
"It will be all right. Your father takes care of her. You will see." Manolito embraced her. He gently rocked her in his arms. "She will not be in pain."
"But why didn't he say anything?" Miguel protested.
"Perhaps she did not want us to know, Miguel." Mercedes sucked in a deep breath. "Manolo, I know it would be hard but…."
"What? To have your father here? ¡Mercedita, por favor! There is much we can all do for Tucson and our familia. Miguel?" Manolito looked to the priest.
"I will send a telegram next week. I wish for him to come here as well. He will be delighted to meet Father Guillermo." Miguel looked over the portraits. "And I wish to thank him for these."
"Let him know Pa and Victoria will help. Got it?" Blue chimed in.
"As if there was any doubt? Gracias, Blue." Miguel expressed.
"We're all family. Right? Sure got to help each other," Penny added.
"I could not have said it any better!" Manolito grinned. He didn't feel pressure from his father-in-law's possible return. Instead Peace and Warmth eased his mood. He hugged Mercedes' shoulders.
"And you say we have no presents!" Mercedes giggled. "These are the best presents!"
"I could not argue, mi Mercedita." Manolito looked at the others. He grinned.
Truth not Games ruled that roost…