Chapter 13 [Ten Minutes Earlier]

Blue pushed Soapy down the trail. Longing tugged him toward Penny. Enthusiasm wanted to report on their progress. Anticipation wanted to see Buck and Annie get married. Schemes cooked up in his mind to snitch tastes from the next day's wares…

…of course he knew Victoria would be watching those bowls and plates with care….

Makadoo matched Soapy stride for stride. After the two-day graze in the high grasslands, he stretched his legs with reckless abandon. Hooves flashed barely touching the ground underneath. He needed no urge from Manolito to keep the pace.

Some things horses needed to do for themselves….

"Hey, Amigo! I thought you were racing! Maybe you should keep up?" Mirth played off of Manolito's tongue. Naughtiness baited Blue through his eyes and that Devil-may-Care smirk. "¡Vamanos, Makadoo!" He leaned urging his friend around the bend and through the Chaparral's entrance five lengths ahead of Blue and Soapy.

"Sonnuva!" Blue frowned. He ground his teeth. "Dang it! He just did it to me again!" He stopped Soapy right in front of the house. There, he tied the reins to the rail. "Penny!" He waved. "You been busy?"

"Hi yourself, Blue!" Penny embraced him. "Got to do something with the wedding and everything tomorrow!" She touched foreheads with him. "Sure glad to see you."

"You too." Blue smiled. His wife's presence washed away Resentment's burn for the lost race. He put his arms around her. "We got a lot of work done up at the Rancho."

"That is what Don Ricardo told us." Victoria smiled. "I am glad for you both. John and Blue will be back." She turned to Bart. "Thank you, Bart, for helping."

"All part of my job and being a friend, Mrs. Cannon. I appreciate just having a steady job," Bart expressed. He tipped his hat. "I'll check with Sam and Joe in the bunkhouse if that's okay?"

"Si. Gracias." Manolito turned to find Ricardo and Mercedes watching him. "Ah you two!" A grin spread further across his face. "It has been a good day. No?"

Mischief prompted a smirk in return from Mercedes. "¿Y por qué no, Manolo? We have the future to plan for. No?"

"The future, eh?" Manolito considered her. He embraced her. Speculation and Anticipation danced about in his eyes. "What have you been up to, mi Mercedita?"

"You should not put your eggs in one basket, Manolito. Just as you and I have our task with the silver, Mercedes has her own plan to be self-sufficient. Penelope suggested something else." Pride and Approval prompted a nod from Ricardo.

"Yeah?" Blue looked to Penny. "And what's that?"

"We're going to have a garden! And she's got something else!" Penny motioned toward Mercedes. "Tia, show them!"

"Oh ho! You have a surprise?" Manolito grinned.

"And if I did?" Mercedes coughed. "I have apple seeds. Some I have saved from our trips to Tucson, your father's Rancho and Trail's End. Papa gave us another dozen seeds from his orchard at Rancho Vega. We can have our own orchard! What we do not use, we can sell for money or credit." She grinned.

Manolito shrugged. "And what about the cattle? They will need room to graze."

"We have land right by the hacienda. We will have to plan. I think of resources. We plant. The rancho will produce at least some of what we need. Our dream can sustain itself," Mercedes pointed out.

Manolito nodded. "Si. It can."

"They've got a point, Mano. There's all that land by the tree line that we can't really use for the stock anyhow. Them trees would work real well there," Blue suggested.

Manolito nodded. "We have enough land beyond the south and west tree lines for our cattle and Big John's. Perhaps we start with a few trees? I will ask in Tucson. Perhaps I can buy some saplings? And this garden, it would give us some food for the kitchen and cellar? I would remind you we have the patio and courtyard to plan. We will talk more." He smiled allowing Approval to calm Mercedes' concern. "Is there anything we can do, my Sister?"

"I believe Bart, Blue and you are sweating from the work and the ride. I have some water inside. We will have dinner when John and Buck return." Victoria beckoned them all inside.

"That sure sounds good." Blue led Penny back into the hacienda.

"I think you are thirsty, mi Manolo. You have earned a drink," Mercedes supposed. Sauciness spread in a smirk across her face.

"Oh you think so, do you?" Manolito grinned at her. "I will have to see how refreshing it is then."

"Si. You will." Mercedes took him by the hand and walked inside.

Productivity and Positivity seemed effective at that point….