Chapter 6 [High Chaparral]
Maria stared out the window. Questions bothered her. It wasn't so much about Ricardo and Manolito leaving her behind. On the contrary, she preferred not braving the desert before First Light. She noted how the two ranches remained closely knit. Relief warmed her over John's changes in attitude toward Victoria since their first meeting. Maturity brought the best out of Manolito. She saw familia coming together.
Needs or not, she didn't want to take Ricardo from that.
The mountains are not that far! The seasons are there. Manolito and Mercedes have a pretty location. Perhaps we can find something close. She shook her head.
"Does something trouble you, Doña Maria?" Victoria set a cup on the table.
"No. Everything seems so calm. It is quite unlike our first meeting." Maria smiled. "The men, it seems, have learned how to plant their garden and walk us through it."
Mercedes shrugged. "Manolo has always known about such things. Even as a boy, he knew the right flower or the right star to show me." Her heart skipped a beat.
"Si. He has indeed. He presented me with a celestial tour on his father's patio. For someone who was an apparent 'saddle tramp', he is truly quite insightful." Maria giggled. "My! You should have seen Don Sebastian and Manolito. I fear if they did not care, they would kill each other."
"It has been that way since Mama died." Victoria frowned. "And now, I fear it will be worse. I cannot believe the Granadas crossed the border! ¡Ay!"
"I can." Mercedes exhaled. Anger clenched her jaw. "They hate Papa. They think Miguel and I are mierda. Manolito, he was so angry. ¡Dios Mio!"
"They stole your family's rancho. To have friends in the Mexican government allow it, that is no small thing. Persons such as they are will not forget the humiliation." Maria shook her head. She remembered Ricardo's account.
"They can stay in Mexico City." Irritation prompted Mercedes to slurp on her tea….
…loudly…
"Mercedes, it will be all right. John and Manolito watch for trouble." Victoria put her hands on her hip. "I cannot believe how Papa is acting. His pride isolates him. Those people pressured him before. What can the Territorial Governor do against the Granadas? I wish El Presidente Juarez could do something."
"Juarez? I am sorry. What would El Presidente care about our problem?" Mercedes raised an eyebrow.
"We stopped an assassination attempt on him. He has been here in this very hacienda. Sister Pilar and her brother, Santos, visited here just before. Santos schemed against El Presidente. Manolito was forced to kill him. He pushed her away." Victoria bowed her head. "She took the vows after that."
"Then you write to him. That is the only way." Maria put her hand on Mercedes shoulder. "You poor dear. No one has the right to think of you or your brother in such ways. You both are the substance of this world. Alas! Those like your aunt and uncles feel that everything is theirs. They never stop to see what their actions do to others."
"They do not care." Mercedes took another draught from her cup. "I hope Papa and you stay close, Maria. Miguel and I care."
"Your father knows that. So do I." Maria patted her shoulder. "He wants to be close by. He hopes for a grandchild."
"Manolito and I are trying. When God thinks we are ready, He will send the baby." Mercedes crossed herself and looked toward the ceiling. "We should help Penny with her baby."
"That baby will have enough help. Manolito and you should think of the future." Victoria turned back toward the coffee pot. "I wish I had been young enough to give John a baby."
Mercedes got up and walked over. She put her arms around her sister-in-law. "Victoria, it will be all right. You will be a grandmother and an Aunt again. You have Jenny here."
"Si. Gracias." Victoria smiled. "I should not be so impatient. I just want that little one to be born. I want to hold him or her in my arms. John tries to hide it. He is so excited! And Buck…he is like a little boy himself!"
"Manolo is that way. He and I watch Penny very, very carefully. I cannot help it. She is not just my niece. I feel like her sister. She is so good to us up there. Martha works hard and is very pleasant. There is something about Penny. I cannot put my finger on it." Mercedes puzzled over her own observation. She took another sip.
"You share a connection. I can tell. It is a good thing. I shall need someone like that at the new rancho. I fear I do not know anything about cooking. I hope there is another person like Penny there." Maria ran her hand across the table's varnished surface. "I will be raising my own garden. Wait until you see the herbs and flowers!"
"That is nice. I enjoy the fresh herbs in my cooking. I would like some mint. I remember Mama liked that in drinks and desserts." Victoria tapped her fingers. "And I will like to see the rose arbor when it is big once more."
"We will plant that." Mercedes rubbed her chin. "There are so many things to put in the ground. We will have two full gardens to visit."
Sentiment picked the mood up making it easier to wait….