[A/N: Happy Easter!]

Chapter 5

[Catholic Mission—Just After Miguel and Benjamin Ran Out]

Manolito stopped the horses in front of the mission. Sol rapidly warmed the air. He looked to his companions. "Let us hope Miguel has coffee. We could all use some. ¿No?"

"Manolito, there is coffee for us. It will be all right. You will see." Mercedes stretched her arms and legs. "I hope the dress maker will have the material for a veil."

"I brought my wedding dress in the trunk. It will be all right," Countess Maria declined.

Victoria shook that notion off. "You will have a new veil at the very least. It does not hurt to look around the shop. We like to shop. Do we not?"

Manolito rolled his eyes. He parroted her words to himself. "Let us see."

"Want me to put these horses in the livery for the day, Manolito?" Blue interjected.

"Si, Compadre. Gracias." Manolito nodded. He saw Sister Pilar rush out. "Hola, Pilar. Hey, what happens? Why are you like this?"

"Manolo." Sister Pilar grabbed onto him. "I am sorry. Padre Miguel and Brother Benjamin are at the livery. They go with Sister Maria to convince Sister Ellie not to ride by herself! She seeks to go to Tombstone by herself!"

"What? Manolito, she would not do so!" Victoria frowned. She recalled her previous conversations with the missionary in question.

"Si." Manolito recalled his previous experiences with Sister Ellie and the other missionaries. "She ignores threats and harm to herself. She sets her sights and charges in." He shook his head. "¡Ay! ¡Ay! ¡Ay! Blue and Penny…."

Blue nodded. He galloped down Main St. with Penny close behind.

"Vamanos." Manolito turned the horses back toward the road. He started the wagon in that direction.

Everyone hoped for the best….

[Livery]

Sister Ellie frowned. "Brother Miguel. You cannot stop me. I do have free will."

Miguel shook his head at Sister Maria. "We cannot dissuade her. She is right. It is her wish."

Sister Maria frowned. Disagreement and Concern still urged her to restrain her missionary counterpart. Still, she bowed her head and stepped aside. "I will pray for you then."

"Thank you." Sister Ellie climbed up on the horse. "The Lord will protect me. You will see."

Blue and Penny pulled up right in her path.

"Everyone okay here?" Blue looked around at everyone.

"Let's just settle down. Okay?" Penny pleaded. "Sister Ellie, can't you see sense? You don't want to be there by yourself."

"Manolito and the others will be here in a minute! We just got in here! Penny and I just rode over from the mission when we heard! Why don't we all just settle down? We'll get you someone to escort you there. You just can't ride across 75 miles of desert by yourself!" Blue rubbed his forehead.

"I need to get back there, Brother Blue. Now please!" Sister Ellie pointed out.

"Maybe you can send a telegram to Tombstone?" Miguel suggested. "You can tell them that you need help to get back there." He saw Manolito pull up in the wagon with the others. "Papa?"

"Si, Padre. ¿Que esta pasando?" Ricardo looked at everyone. "Are you Sister Ellie?"

"Yes, Brother. I am indeed. And you are?" Ellie tried to hold onto her patience.

"I am Don Ricardo de la Vega. I understand you need to get back to Tombstone. ¿Si?" Ricardo rubbed her chin. "Father Miguel cannot simply buy you a stagecoach ticket. You would have to leave your horse. Vamanos."

Sister Ellie thought about the offer. She knew the Tombstone would not have anyone to spare. "I can follow you to the stagecoach office. Brother Manolito, can you show us?"

"Si, Sister Ellie. Follow me." Manolito exhaled sharply. ¡Ay Caramba!

The group headed toward the stagecoach office on that note. Solutions seemed more at hand than they did before….