Chapter 2 [Rancho Montoya]

Monsoon refreshed the air. Clean Scent wafted through nostrils. Damp darkened Dirt's shading. Washes conducted water down their passage. Plants drank deep and stored still more of it.

Pity that not all in its midst were so at ease….

Manolito stopped Makadoo along the dirt road. Issues weighed on him. He bit his lip. More than a few choice Spanish curses had escaped his lips on the ride. Deal had been finalized. Everything seemed clear….

…until Domingo crashed the party….

He ground his teeth. ¡Ay! ¿Por qué, Tio? We do not hear from you for years! And now you come? For your blood money? He gazed up the hill.

Sentry Lions awaited him as well….

Ah! You are a symbol of Papa's vanity! Manolito shook his head. He is gone now. We can keep the family pride!

"Mano? Manolito!"

Manolito turned toward the convoy behind himself. "Si, mi Hermana. I know you all are there. I have much to think about." He considered John and Victoria in the wagon. Joe, Reno and Johnny flanked them.

"You mean we have much to think about." She shook her head.

"Who is this Don Domingo? I've never heard you talk about him?" Frustration bubbled up in John's tone. He'd spent the entire trip in fruitless attempts to start conversation about anything with her. Small Talk had filled the spaces to a point. Still this mystery man confounded a seemingly done deal. Given that and potentially the Chaparral's southern border, he wanted to know more.

"He is not a popular topic in our family." She sighed and shook her head.

Manolito coughed. "He is Papa's brother. We have not seen him in many years. He stays in Mexico City and gambles away his money. He cares little for responsibility."

John bit back a comparison between uncle and nephew. "This smells like one of those Granadas or Anita's family. They told him."

She banged the parasol's tip into the wagon's foot rest. "I can well imagine!" Indignation sparked in her eyes and twisted her lip upon itself. "It would be just like them!"

Manolito smirked. "Sí. Vamanos. We can think on what Tio wants to do or we can talk to him. I think we should talk and see what he wants." He urged Makadoo onward up the path.

"Mano's got a point, Victoria. Maybe we should hear the man out?" John started the wagon toward the lions and gate beyond.

"Papa said he was not worth talking to. Then he would change the subject." She set her jaw and looked straight ahead.

Yeah. This is going to be really interesting! John pressed the horses into the compound. He saw Manolito dismount from Makadoo. "The servants aren't running out? That's not like Pepe."

"No it is not." Worry nagged at her.

Manolito looked around. "¡HOLA! ¿Donde está todo el mundo? ¡PEPE!"

Pepe rushed out. "¡Don Manolito! ¡Doña Victoria! ¡Lo siento!" He took a couple of deep breaths. Then he clapped his hands. "¡VAMANOS! NUESTRO PADRÓN!"

Three white clad servants sprinted from the hacienda. They retrieved Victoria's trunk. Working together, they carried it inside.

"You see? We have to ask now?" Manolito shook his head. "¿Pepe, donde está Rafael? Necessito hablar con él."

"El está con los vaqueros, Padrón." Pepe motioned to the remaining servants. "Take care of their horses and wagon." He led them toward the parlor. "We have other guests, Padrón."

"So I have heard. Gracias, Pepe." Manolito sighed. He rubbed his forehead. "I believe we should see who is in the hacienda this time."

Shouting and Argument erupted from the parlor.

"¡Dios Mio! ¿Que pasa allí?" She hustled down the hall and toward that room. Before John or Manolito could catch up, she pushed the parlor doors open. Then she strode in. "Que esta pasando aquí?"

"Victoria!" Carlotta jumped to her feet. "¡Gracias a Dios! ¿Está Manolito aquí?"

Domingo argued with Santiago, Alejandro and a heavy set dark haired woman. "We are having a discussion. The door is closed."

"Not to the Padrón y nuestra familia!" Bile soured Manolito's mood even further if that was possible. "Buenas tardes, Compadres." He raised Carlotta's hand. "Tia." He kissed the back of it. "Tio Santiago y Don Alejandro."

"Manolito?" The unfamiliar woman edged toward him. "It is you! Victoria, you came as well?"

"Yes we are both here. Perdóname. And you are?" Victoria raised an eyebrow.

"Soy su Tia Teresa. It has been too long!" Teresa embraced Victoria and then Manolito in turn. "Forgive me, Señor. You are?"

"I'm John Cannon, Victoria's husband. I run the High Chaparral ranch outside of Tucson. Thank you for coming as well." John shook her hand.

"This is my brother's rancho. If Manolito does not want it, I am to inherit it." Teresa nodded to John. "Gracias, Señor Cannon. My English is not very good. I try."

"I think it's very good, Doña Teresa. My compliments to you." John nodded to her. "I appreciate your willingness to take on Rancho Montoya."

"I believe, Dear Sister, he is forgetting other claims on the rancho." Domingo flicked an eyebrow at John. "We are all family. Are we not?"

"Oh? So now we are family, Tio?" Manolito coughed. "I'd have thought you'd gamble us away if you could!"

Disdain raised Domingo's eyebrow still further. "Yes! I remember you, Manolito. Do not seek to judge me. You cannot even run this rancho!"

"I have dos ranchos to run now, Tio! ¡Dos! That is why I made the offer to Tio Alfonso y Tia Teresa! I have too much to do now to simply gamble and drink my days away." Manolito sighed. "Don Fernando told you. Did he not?"

"Yes. He did tell me about your father." Domingo shrugged off Sentiment's burden. "I wish I could feel sorry. Alas! I do not! And it is my life! I will live it as I see fit!"

"There is a reason Don Sebastian cut you off, Domingo." A tall man in a dark suit stepped between Manolito and Domingo. "Do not forget. Don Manolito is Padrón." He turned to Manolito and Victoria. "Gracias por su hospitalidad."

"De nada, Tio Alfonso." Victoria cleared her throat. "¡El placer es nuestro!"

"Indeed so, my Sister." Manolito raised an eyebrow. "Bienvenidos, Tio Alfonso. It has been too long." He put his hand out.

"Indeed it has." Alfonso shook Manolito's hand. "We will have our business soon enough. For now, we should greet each other." He raised Victoria's hand and kissed the back of it. "My niece."

"Tio Alfonso. Muchissimas gracias. Bienvenidos a Rancho Montoya." Victoria greeted.

"And Señor Cannon. I have heard many things about you." Alfonso extended his hand.

"Oh? Such as?" John shook the other's hand.

"You have the big rancho. You are an excellent businessman. Consul Ortiz compliments you. I look forward to speaking with you further. Our alliance will benefit us both." Alfonso nodded and smiled. "We watch each other's backs."

"That's the idea. I'd like nothing better than that, Don Alfonso. You will of course come to High Chaparral and dine with us?" John agreed.

"Por supuesto. I will see los tres ranchos. I spoke with Blue ayer. He is your vaquero, Manolito?" Alfonso noted.

"Sí. He is also John's son as well." Manolito rubbed his chin. "You shall have to see them. Don Alejandro can tell you of our plans in Tucson and Sonora."

"I have indeed! Angelina works hard. The taverns will succeed and so will our rancho." Alejandro took a deep breath and released a sigh.

"That tavern is always busy, Alejandro. Do not worry." Manolito nodded and pointed toward his friend.

"Well now!" Domingo cleared his throat. "Then there is money to be had then! You can pay me my due of the inheritance!"

"You're due of…what?" Manolito turned to Domingo. "Tio…"

Santiago curled his lip. "Desafortunada Domingo tiene derecho al rancho. Págale."

"There is no will. I could contest the sale." Domingo frowned. "I simply want my share of the proceeds as a member of the Montoya family."

"Oh so now you are a member of the family? HAH!" Disdain now pushed a loud guffaw from Manolito's mouth. "This is a joke!" He stared at the ceiling. "Oh, Papa! You are playing with us one last time! I know it!" He raised his clenched fist.

"Don Sebastian would agree with your decision, Manolito." Teresa shook her head. "You took the rancho and tried to please him. He knows that. Now we will have to pay mi hermano to go away."

"It will be land not money. I know the exact area. Don Domingo, vamanos. We have business to discuss." Alfonso motioned toward the door.

Domingo stiffened. "I have no need of land or titles! I do not want to be a Padrón. I wish to travel and have a life of adventure! No mas."

"Perhaps some responsibility will help you as it has helped Manolito, Tio Domingo." Victoria smiled. Saccharin Sweet notes dotted her tone and gaze at that moment.

Alfonso nodded. He led Domingo from the room without another word.

Manolito shook his head. "There! Estoy hambriento. Pepe!"

Pepe rushed into the room. "¿Sí, Padrón?"

"Perhaps the kitchen might cook something? I am hungry. I would like our guests to eat as well. Gracias, Pepe," Manolito requested.

"¡Por supuesto!" Pepe rushed off toward the kitchen.

Manolito nodded. "Now Victoria, John and I need to clean up. We will be in the dining room in twenty minutes? I would like to talk further. If you will excuse us?" He left the area on his way toward the grand staircase.

Business would have a snag to be resolved….