Chapter 2 [High Chaparral—Half an Hour Earlier]

Blue reached the trail's leveling off point. Caution and Nerves urged him to look over his shoulder. Disbelief still weighed on his shoulders.

He and Penny were going to have a baby. They were really going to have a baby….

Sure can't believe it! I'm going to be a Papa! He looked at her again.

"Blue, you're going to run into a cactus if you don't watch out." Penny rolled her eyes. She guided Trixie right up beside Soapy. "I'm fine. I ain't going to break."

"Well don't want anything happening. You know?" He bowed his head.

She coughed. "Think it's a little late for that." She smirked.

He shook his head. "I know that! I just want you safe. Okay?"

"I know. You're being sweet, Blue. Just remember. I can take care of myself. And I did promise to ask for help." She rubbed his arm.

"Just so hard. I want to protect you. I know you can deal with things. I just think…." He sighed.

"You're trying to respect me. Thanks. Come on. Let's see your Pa and Victoria." She galloped down the trail toward the Chaparral's compound.

A pair of sentry shots echoed through the air.

She sure don't hold back! He urged Soapy onward in her wake. As he rode into the compound, he found her talking with Buck. "Hey, Uncle Buck!"

"Hey, Blue Boy!" Buck waved to him. "Sure's good to see you! Been too long. Mano keeping you two busy up there?"

"We're getting things done before we move the herds up there, Uncle Buck. Everything good?" Blue climbed down from his horse.

"Yeah. We're good here! Hey! Your Pa just got back. He'll be sure glad to see you." Blue considered Penny's slight baby bump. "How's that little one?"

"Okay I guess. We're just takin' one day at a time." She squeezed Blue's hand. "Can't believe we're three months already."

"Yeah well time creeps on by. That be for sure. You just keep an eye on that niece or nephew of mine." Buck urged them toward the hacienda. He hustled in to find John and Victoria just sitting down to eat. "Hey, John! Victoria! Look who's here!"

"Well! We were getting ready to send riders up to Rivertree to check on you, Penny. How are you?" John walked over to them.

"You look well, Penny. How are you feeling?" Victoria embraced Penny. "It is so good to see you!"

"Yeah sorry. Takes longer to get things done when you're trying to take it easy. Martha's sure a big help though." Penny seized tightly onto her as well. "How are Triny and Pilar doing?"

"They are fine. Sam and two of the other hands take Annie, Jenny and them to Tucson. I believe they check on the school. Are you hungry? We were ready to eat," Victoria invited.

"Sure! Getting hungrier these days." Penny eased into her seat. While the nausea had subsided, she wanted to relax.

"Need a hand?" Blue offered.

"I am fine, Blue. It is all right. Gracias." Victoria brought out a platter filled with roast beef slices. "How is Mercedes? She has visited a few times."

"She, her Pa and Countess Maria are spending time together. Sure is nice to see them like that. From the way Mano and you both talk about her, I never thought I'd have seen that Countess settle down like that." Blue speared a few pieces of the roast beef.

"I never thought I would before Annie came back, Blue Boy. Look at Penny and you. Look at your Pa and Victoria. No explaining it. It just happens." Buck shrugged it off. He took a gulp of milk. "So what's going on with all of that building up there?"

Penny swallowed a bite of meat. Then she drank some milk. "Tio and Tia wanted a servants' quarters. Martha got to design her own room. She paid for that section on the back."

"Manolito wanted a secure fence around the hacienda after that deal in Tubac." Blue rubbed his chin. "Then Don Ricardo's looking for a new ranch."

"Really? There isn't any land available around here." John pondered his son's observation. "Even to the west, there's nothing but barren desert for almost forty miles until you hit the western mountains. Maybe east of Tucson?"

"They would face the same dangers as we do here." Worry paled Victoria's face. "They cannot deal with the Apache by themselves."

"Manolito's been studying them maps. Yesterday, he even went to that village. He and the chief talked about it." Blue shook his head.

"I wonder if Don Ricardo really knows what he's doing?" Buck shook his head. "Hey, John, ain't the Army doin' something up there?"

"I heard something about that. Well I know it's Manolito's and Don Ricardo's business. I still want to hear more about this. Blue, think we can get everyone down here?"

"We don't want to be a burden!" Penny protested.

"You are most certainly not a burden!" Victoria set her jaw. "It has been too long since we have been together. It is settled. If they do not come here, we will go there."

Buck took a bite of mashed potato. "Annie and Jenny have been asking about everyone. Brother John, maybe we should ride with them?"

"I was thinking the same exact thing." John narrowed his eyes. He shoved a piece of meat into his mouth.

Blue knew that look well enough. He frowned.

A few more voices had just jumped into the fray….