Chapter 2 [Los Angeles—River Station]

Mercedes watched the coastline speed by her window. Awe and Surprise over the Iron Horse's elegance and comfort overwhelmed her. She reclined in the seat's soft cushions. This is certainly better than the carriage ride last time! The dining car treated them to exquisite meals done just to their liking. She'd talked with Victoria and her father on certain matters. She tried to talk to John with little success.

Beside her, Manolito grimaced. He tried to sleep. Nightmare tortured him with images of Sebastian. He turned this way and that. Sweat beaded across his forehead. His eyes snapped open. He sat up straight. "PAPA!"

"Manolo! Take a deep breath. It will be all right." Mercedes snaked her arm around his shoulders. She embraced him. "We are almost there."

"Mano?" Victoria reached across the aisle to take his hand. "It was just a nightmare. Look! See?"

Manolito rubbed his forehead. His eyes blurred into focus. "See what, my Sister?" He stood and stepped across the aisle toward where John and Victoria sat.

"The plaza! That is it!" Victoria grinned. "I know it was not such a great time for you and the others but…"

"The standoff was not, Victoria. The last meal at Rancho Vega was muy bien." Manolito shrugged. "We were here for a purpose. It was done. The people here were muy simpatico."

"The de la Vega hospitality is to be expected, Manolito." Ricardo pointed. "There! You can see the tavern. We shall go there."

"So that's it?" John rubbed his chin. "After all of the tall tales, I'd like to put a place to them."

"And so you shall, John." Manolito settled back into his own seat. "We are slowing down."

A man in a blue coat and a red banded cap walked down the aisle. Despite the coach's swaying motion, Posture remained straight and true. Professionalism kept a poker face. "NEXT STOP, RIVER STATION IN FIVE MILES!"

"That is welcome news!" Maria eased a crick in her back. "I am ready to see this rancho for myself."

"It is a rancho like Papa's, Rivertree or the High Chaparral." Manolito rubbed the back of his neck. "Don Diego had a garden. I was not here long enough to see it."

"Doña Elena took care of her father's garden, Manolito." Ricardo checked around the seats. "He brought plants back from Spain."

"If they resembled his books, I would very much like to see it." Manolito smiled. "Nor would I deny a certain someone her glimpse. I think not."

"I remember it as a beautiful place. So many colors! So many flowers!" Mercedes' eyes lit up at that memory.

"Let us hope then that your family continued the tradition." Victoria watched the stockyards and cattle. "John, there are cattle here as well!"

"Yeah. Sure are. Unfortunately, we get better money in Texas than we would here." John took Victoria's small bag down from the overhead compartment. "There you are, Dear."

"Thank you, John." Victoria set the bag on her lap.

The train passed through the stockyards as it slowed. Finally it stopped in front of a two story building.

"Guess this is it!" John stood. Then he helped Victoria from their seat. "Any word on folks meeting us?"

Ricardo shook his head. "I did not have time to send a telegram. We can hire a carriage to bring us there. It is but a short ride from here." He helped Maria to her feet. "Wilkommen in Los Angeles!"

"Danke. We shall see the city's beauty in its own right." Maria followed Ricardo toward the exit door.

"I believe Maria has the right idea. I wish to see this place for myself, my Husband," Victoria added.

"And so you shall, my Sister." Manolito put his hand forward. "We shall follow you. Mercedita?"

"Si, mi Manolo." Mercedes took his hand. "Espero que aún sea grandioso."

Manolito patted his wife's hand. "Have faith. We shall see." Mischief widened the grin across his face. He stepped down onto the platform. "Where are the suitcases?"

"They will be in the reception chamber." Ricardo surveyed the area around them. "This is so different now than I remember, John."

"I imagine it is. The Gold Rush and the Mexican-American War had a lot to do with that." John tilted his hat back on his forehead. "Let's just hope we can get that help we need." He looked about the milling crowd.

Ricardo noticed three people approaching them. He took in the two men's grey suits and bolo ties. The young lady wore a burgundy dress. A beautiful white hat adorned her dark hair with two sheer ties meeting under her chin. Age's frost spattered the elder man's dark hair and beard. He narrowed his eyes. "Don Carlos!"

"¡Bienvenidos, Don Ricardo!" Carlos ambled up with his cane's assistance. "I am glad Don Miguel sent the message. We would not have known you were coming."

"I am sorry. This trip was not planned. We have an important matter," Ricardo apologized. "Before that, this is my wife, Doña Maria von Kettenden de la Vega."

Carlos raised Maria's hand and kissed the back of it. "von Kettenden? Bist du Deutscher?"

Maria smiled. "Another educated man! Thank you so much! No. I am Austrian. I am most delighted to meet you! As Don Ricardo said, we are sorry to trouble you in this fashion."

"Bah! He explained everything in the telegram. Do not trouble yourself, Doña Maria! Wir sind eine familie! You shall stay with us at the rancho. The consul himself will dine with us tonight at Rancho Vega." Carlos pointed to his companions. "Don Ricardo, these are my children, Don Felipe and Doña Elena. And is this little Mercedes? ¡Ay Caramba! You have grown up, Chica!"

"Gracias, Don Carlos. I have. I do wish to see the rancho again. I remember it well." Mercedes grinned. "And you should meet my husband, Manolito Montoya. Manolito, this is Don Carlos de la Vega." Mercedes introduced.

"Don Carlos, it is a pleasure." Manolito stuck his hand out.

Carlos shook his head. "¡Increible! Don Miguel said I would know you immediatamente. The resemblance!" He shook Manolito's hand. "You make my cousin happy. No?"

"I live every day for that purpose. Gracias." Manolito pointed toward the others. "And I would like to present my sister, Doña Victoria Montoya de Cannon and her husband, John Cannon.

"¡Ah sí! John Cannon of the High Chaparral rancho! We have heard a great deal. It is an honor to welcome you to Los Angeles, Señor. Doña Victoria, welcome!" Carlos shook John's hand. "I have looked forward to meeting you."

"Oh? I must admit I didn't know what to expect. My apologies." John nodded. "Perhaps Victoria, Mercedes and Maria would like to freshen up while we get our luggage?"

"Get your bags?" Carlos coughed. "My servants are doing that. Elena, can you take them please? We can wash. Then we shall have breakfast." His eyes sparkled. "Don Miguel told us of your interest. Angelica cooks in the Tavern ahora."

"It seems, Don Carlos, that you have thought of everything! ¡Gracias!" Victoria offered their host a nod.

"De nada. We are family." Carlos met his daughter's eye.

"Vamanos." Elena led the ladies toward the women's reception area and adjacent washroom.

"Let them feel better. Then we have a much better breakfast. No?" Carlos smiled. "You all have been through a difficult ordeal. My condolences about Don Sebastian."

"Muchissimas gracias. It was quite a shock to see my father in that state. I hope our dinner is a good one." Manolito exchanged looks with John. Then they followed Carlos into the station.

A good start indeed….