Chapter 14 [Fifteen Minutes Earlier]
An ornate dark carriage jostled its way toward the Rancho's compound. Sol's light sparkled on its gilt trim. Two white horses pulled them along at good pace. Six blue and red clad soldados flanked the carriage on its journey. It passed the barns and buildings. Then it stopped in front of the hacienda.
The driver set the brake. He wrapped the reins around it. Then he climbed down from his seat and opened the door and lowered a step. He put down a red carpet on the dirt. "We have arrived." He stepped back and bowed to his superior inside.
A robust white haired man with a carefully manicured beard peered out the door. His military jacket bore Valor's medals across the chest and Rank's stripes across its sleeves. His polished boots stepped onto the carpet. "Muy bien. Te llamaré cuando te necesite." Dismissal slapped at the air from the back of his hand.
The soldados flanked him.
The consul squinted at the Rancho. He recalled an earlier visit in the 1830s on Santa Anna's behalf. Money concerned him then for the military. Security concerned him now. He tired of Intrigue's games. The de la Granadas' influence had troubled him for decades. A smile creased his features.
At last, the Gringos had given him the answer….
The dogs think they can build their empire under El Presidente's nose! He shook his head.
The hacienda's door opened. The servientes rushed out. They bowed to him. Don Carlos, Don Ricardo and Don Felipe did the same. Maria, Doña Elena and Doña Angelina curtseyed to him.
"Consul Ortiz, it is an honor." Don Carlos stepped forward. "Bienvenidos al Rancho de la Vega. Mi casa es su casa."
"Gracias, Don Carlos. Ha sido un largo tiempo." Ortiz inspected the other de la Vegas. "Contessa Maria?"
"Consul Ortiz, it is good to see you once again." Maria allowed him to raise her hand and kiss it. "Do you know my husband?"
"Sí. It is a shame you did not return to Mexico City. ¡Felicidades!" Ortiz nodded to Ricardo. "Don Ricardo, you are a fortunate man."
"I am indeed, Consul, in spite of our troubles." Ricardo bowed to him once again. "I await your advice and wise counsel."
"It was a pity what happened with your rancho." Ortiz hissed to himself. "I learned of its fate only afterwards. Your apple trees…." He shook his head. "¡Qué lástima!"
"My loyal servants saved three saplings. I had presented seeds to my daughter and son-in-law during my visit to Tucson last summer. Much as with other landmarks, our family preserves the great things. Perhaps a bit of Mexico for the Americans?"
Ortiz grinned. Appreciation sparkled in his eyes. "Ah, Don Ricardo, you are missed." He stuck his hand out.
Ricardo shook it. "I miss our talks. And Presidente Diaz?"
"He is well. He asked me to pass along his regards and condolences concerning Doña Lupe. I cannot believe how you were treated! Don Santiago informed me of the evil tidings." Ortiz shook his head. "I wish I could bring the de la Granadas to heel."
"Con su permisio, General. I have a surprise." Ricardo motioned for the official to follow him.
"Oh? Don Ricardo, you never cease to amaze me. What do you have up your sleeve this time?" Ortiz rubbed his hands together. He followed toward the small whitewashed building. Two armed guards stood watch over the door.
Don Carlos nodded from three steps behind the duo. Frustration burned at him. He glanced at his son. His head shook slightly. How can Ricardo just take over the conversation? This is my rancho! Jealousy boiled in his blood.
He lost the rancho in Mexico. How is he treated so well by this Consul? Felipe twisted his lip.
Ortiz followed Ricardo into the barn. "It is in here?" He put a handkerchief in front of his face.
"Sí." Ricardo batted Stench away from his nose. "Lo siento. It will be worth it." He pointed straight ahead.
There Don Eduardo and Don Pedro sat in stained white peasant rags. Their red eyes still itched. Their stomachs still rumbled. Their noses clogged.
"You never disappoint us, Don Ricardo." Ortiz swaggered up to the two captives. "He esperando mucho tiempo por esta dia." He raised Pablo's face to meet his. "You've lost. Both of you."
"You cannot hold us, Ortiz. You will see." Eduardo glowered at the Consul. "We are in America. The Gringo courts will send us to their prison. We do not have to go back."
"With due respect, they have attempted murder on this side of the border, General Ortiz. They invaded my hacienda!" Don Carlos interjected.
"Conozco bien sus criménes." Annoyance flicked in Ortiz's eyes toward the host. "Ellos vienen conmigo. Ellos pagaràn por la justica Mexicana." He shrugged. "The Santiago y Amistads are your murderers, de la Vega.Your State Department has agreed to let me take Don Eduardo and Don Pablo myself back to Mexico." He sighed. "We will speak further of these matters at dinner, Don Ricardo."
"Follow me then, Consul Ortiz. Dinner is about to be served." Don Carlos led them out of the barn and toward the hacienda. He kept his eyes toward the ground so as not to antagonize Ortiz any further. Resentment bubbled up within him.
"It seems our guests have finally joined us, Papa." Disdain flicked in Felipe's eyes toward the Cannons and Montoyas waiting by the door for them.
Ricardo cleared his throat. "Lo siento, General Ortiz. We have had a very busy day. They did not mean any disrespect toward you. The de la Granadas' incursion was only one matter today."
Ortiz nodded. "I understand." He studied the two couples. He noted Stress, Anxiety, Hope and even some Desperation there. The elder Americano did not flinch even under Scrutiny's study; his blue eyes doing the same to Ortiz in turn. "And these are the ones I have come to speak to?"
"Sí, General. Consul Ortiz, may I present John Cannon of the High Chaparral Ranch in Tucson, Arizona Territory? This is his wife, Doña Victoria Montoya de Cannon. Her brother, Don Manolito Montoya and his wife, Doña Mercedes de la Vega de Montoya."
Recognition arched Ortiz's eyebrow. "Ah sí. So you are John Cannon? I have heard a great deal about you, Señor."
John nodded. "I am, Consul Ortiz. At the High Chaparral, we are American. We respect both countries."
"So I can see. That is to your credit, Señor Cannon." He raised Victoria's hand. "You are every bit as ravishing as I was led to believe, Doña Victoria." He kissed the back of it.
"Gracias, Consul Ortiz." Victoria curtseyed ever so slightly. She kept her reaction to an official one. "We appreciate you coming to speak with us."
"It is my pleasure. We have not forgotten your assistance against the traitor Santos Castañeda." Ortiz turned to Manolito. "Especially not where you are concerned, Señor." He turned to Manolito. "Manolito Montoya, at last we meet!" He assessed this one closely. "Don Ricardo, I see you have made a caballero out of him."
Manolito squirmed but kept a straight face. Resentment burned inside of himself.
"We worked together. John and I presented him with opportunities. My daughter…gave him incentive." Ricardo shook his head ever so little.
Victoria shot her brother a knowing look.
Manolito grinned. "Consul Ortiz, you call it incentive. I call it respect and love." He raised his wife's hand and kissed the knuckles there.
"It is mutual, Consul Ortiz." Approval flashed in Mercedes' eyes toward Manolito. She curtseyed again. "Papa has provided the opportunity for the dream and hard work to benefit. If I may, the de la Granadas have been a thorn. If they will not stop their threats, we wish them out of our lives."
"That was very well put, Mercedes. Gracias." Ricardo rubbed his chin. "We do not want anyone harmed. We have our lives. They have theirs. I fear they will not leave us alone."
"You show insight as always, Don Ricardo." Ortiz nodded. "Very well. Shall we eat? Then I shall tell you what we think of that. Vamanos." He strode into the hacienda.
The others hustled after him. Intrigue and admitted Nerves kept everyone on edge.
Dinner would be something else….