Chapter 15 [Two Hours Later—Dining Room]
Time dragged throughout that meal. The steaks, potatoes and grilled vegetables pleased Taste well enough. Age had not worked enough magic on the wine it seemed. Conversation remained sporadic. Tension remained high around the table.
Carlos tried to grasp Seasoning and Spice's flavors on the meat. He'd always liked Guillermo's cooking well enough. This steak, however, seemed different to him for some reason. He looked to his children. Then he chewed on another piece.
"Have to say this is very good, Don Carlos." John offered Compliment's pick to break the ice. He approved of the spice mix. "What do you think, Victoria?"
"It is very good. I have never used cilantro in this manner. I shall have to remember it." Victoria savored the beef's kick to her taste buds.
Ortiz nodded. "Please have your cook come out, de la Vega. I'd like to congratulate him personally! ¡El bistec es excellente!"
Carlos turned to the lackey by his left arm. "Get Guillermo from the kitchen! You heard the Consul."
The servant shrugged. "With due respect, Don Carlos and Consul Ortiz, Guillermo está muy enfermo. We had no time. The cooks are here." He bowed his head. "Doña Mercedes and Doña Alejandra worked with us."
"WHAT?" Anger and Outrage fumed across Carlos' face. "¡Ya es basante malo que hayan Uds cocinado en esa taberina! ¿Ahora me avergűenzas delante del Cónsul? ¿Eh? ¿Quién creen Uds que son?"
"Mercedes, Angelina, this is magnifico!" Manolito complimented. "Don Carlos, por favor deje de!" He threw his napkin on the table. "I am sorry, Consul Ortiz. I have had my fill of the so-called 'hospitality' on this day."
Ortiz shook his head. "Stay where you are, Don Manolito. I agree. De la Vega, you embarrass yourself and your family with your attitude. You did not see me this morning. I was at the tavern in the far corner. I watched you all. I wanted to see the Americanos I would eat with tonight." He nodded. "Your husband, Doña Mercedes, is correct. This is very well done."
"Gracias, Consul Ortiz. I cooked the vegetables. Doña Angelina grilled the steaks." Mercedes nodded to him.
"De nada." Ortiz sampled another piece. "I should have known. I heard the tavern has closed. Qué lástima."
"With due respect, we are not closing. We are relocating, Consul Ortiz. I am needed in Tucson. That is where I am going." Angelina sighed. "I wish to go where I am appreciated."
"And you think that town will be such a place?" Ortiz coughed.
"There is a need there, General." Ricardo wiped his face. "The town needs a depot hotel and restaurant for the lines coming from the west and south. The bank has telegraphed its branch here. We will sign papers in the morning."
"I see." Ortiz set his fork down. "The tavern has emptied. I would not force you to stay. It serves my country's interests if the Tavern Victoria is in Tucson." He cleared his throat. "You are a woman with talent, Doña Angelina. I will speak to the bank myself. Which one por favor?"
"Wells Fargo Bank. The gentleman's name is Markum," Ricardo informed him.
"Ah sí. I know him well." Ortiz leaned back in his chair. "Debe ser hecho. I will let my government know. You will keep your doors open to my people?"
"Our people, Consul Ortiz." Angelina raised an eyebrow.
"Angelina!" Carlos chided.
"No." Ortiz put his hand up. "Doña Angelina is correct. Nuesta gente. Gracias." He raised his glass to her.
She raised her glass to him as well.
"We will give whatever support we can, Consul Ortiz. You can rest assured of that," John chimed in.
"I am sure you will, Señor Cannon. Your reputation and that of the High Chaparral precedes you." Ortiz nodded. "Muchissimas gracias. That will help us with what I have to say." He took a mouthful from his wine glass. "Señores de la Vega, you wish to be the big hombres in the stockyards here. Yes? You would deal with Arizona?"
Carlos burned over the official's dropping of their family's title. "Of course we would deal with Arizona! The railroad ties us together."
Ortiz nodded. "Sí. It does. And who do you think you would deal with there? The Tucson cattle market goes through one man and his familia. That is John Cannon. Those would be sus primas. Your manners and hostility were wretched to say the least! And it is not the first time I have seen such actions on your part. Both of you need to understand such things.'
Felipe frowned. He shook his head but stifled the response.
"You hear but will not listen. Su primo, Padre Miguel, would have much to show you. Your sister does as well." Ortiz shook his head. "You will learn one day, Chico, to your sorrow." His eye flicked on Elena as well. "And you. You could learn from your sister and cousins." He speared a last chunk of meat. "Me gusta esto. I value this dish. Si desea aferrarse a lo que tiene, aprenda a valorarlo." Seeing John raise an eyebrow, he translated, "If you wish to hold onto what you have, learn to value it. I see a possible business arrangement here…several of them actually. Presidente Diaz wants such arrangements here and with Mexico."
"We want that as well, Consul Ortiz," Felipe insisted.
"Then listen to me! Do not act in such ways toward them. I heard you say it this morning. Son Americanos. That is why I do not call you 'Don'. You have not earned it. Your country does not allow it. But your cousins earn it. They are here to make matters better. Well I do not agree with everything. Still El Presidente does agree." Ortiz tapped his fingers on the table. "Well either you listen or you do not. It is no matter to me." He tapped his fingers on the table. "That brings me to the other matter. This pains me." He turned to the servant. "More wine."
The servant nodded. He refilled the glass. Then he retreated back to his previous post.
Ortiz exhaled. "The whole de la Vega-De Soto business. It is quite distasteful. There is to be an end to it. The Granadas have overstepped many times. They abuse their positions. What happened to you, Don Ricardo, should never have happened. You were young. You made mistakes. We all did. Still, today, I see the good. Su hijo el sacradote he works hard. Doña Mercedes saved two meals today. The Granadas and Santiago y Amistads have been told of these matters. I will give the good news first. Their raids and attacks across the border and on your cattle are to stop immediately. The railroad traffic is muy importante. There should be business between our nations."
"They respect us. We respect them. You'll pardon me if they have to earn my trust." John shrugged.
"Good luck on that one, John. They will not care." Manolito interjected.
"Respect works two ways. We will get to that." Ortiz cleared his throat. He brought out a slender oak box. From it, he produced two scrolls. "For you, Don Ricardo. El Presidente thanks you for your service and respect to our countries." He handed Ricardo a sealed scroll tied with a red ribbon. "The Granadas were warned not to attack you and your family again. They have done so. They will pay accordingly. There is also the matter of your assistance to Tucson. The Granadas accused you of neglecting your rancho, people and the misspending of your money." He nodded and smiled. "Don Miguel El Padre and the Bishop tell a different story."
"Miguel?" Ricardo raised an eyebrow.
Ortiz sipped on his wine. "The government wrote to him and the Bishop on this matter. Don Miguel told us of your business dealings in Tucson with Rancho Rivertree, the donation of land and building materials to the church, the railroad, your friendship with the Apache and the new Rancho Vega. He also told us of how your household servants and vaqueros walked to Tucson from Mexico City to be with you. That, your support for the tavern, Tucson's depot and the railroad do not surprise me, mi Amigo. I have known you for far too many years. Open the scroll."
Ricardo broke the seal. He read it. "How? The government…."
"What is it?" Maria peered over his left arm. Joy widened her eyes. "Danke Gott! Someone has some political insight."
"Indeed, Doña Maria. Intrigue has a heavy price. The Granadas have learned that. They have embarrassed us enough. Your government demanded an end to their attacks. We have done so. They have lost their lands to Don Ricardo," Ortiz clarified.
"Papa?" Mercedes stared at Ricardo. "Is that true?"
"It is. We have our rancho once again." Ricardo set the scroll down. "General, please thank El Presidente for us. This is very gracious."
"For your service, Don Ricardo." Ortiz raised his glass. "May your family learn from your example."
"As I did from Don Alejandro, Don Diego, Doña Victoria and Doña Alejandra before them." Ricardo raised his glass to touch the Consul's.
"HEAR! HEAR!" the group chorused. Enthusiasm and Tones varied.
"And now the last matter." Ortiz shook his head. "The Montoya family name and Rancho Montoya. ¡Qué lastima! not Don Sebastian supported Juarez and Mexico's cause. That is why we tolerated his own intrigues. Unfortunately, his deception where the Santiago y Amistads was the final straw. Juarez might have pardoned him. El Presidente Diaz did not. The duel will stand. However, the result will not." He held up another scroll. "Presidente Diaz remembers your service to Mexico. I was only to hear your respect for both countries. You declared as much this morning. He returns the Rancho Montoya to you. Doña Victoria, this is for you." He handed her another scroll. "And for you, Don Manolito, I have your pardon. For your service against Castañeda, this is your reward. We like what we see." He handed yet another scroll.
"Gracias, Consul Ortiz,' Manolito accepted his scroll. He wondered how
"¡Muchissimas gracias, Consul Ortiz!" Glee practically had Victoria jumping up and down in her chair. She accepted her scroll and opened it. "I have one request. I wish to have Papa exhumed and buried in the cathedral at Hermosillo next to my mother."
"That is acceptable. The Bishop will expect you. I will inform the government. The Santiago y Amistads wish to speak with you at Hermosillo. I believe they have a proposition for you, Don Ricardo," Ortiz agreed.
"A proposition?" Suspicion raised alarms in Ricardo's mind.
"Don Ricardo, be very careful." Manolito raised his hand. "They do not offer anything unless it suits them first. Por favor."
"Consul, Don Fernando had a very insulting tone toward us. They threw my father's body on the ground like rubbish! They dressed him in peasant rags. He referred to Mercedes as 'la Bastarda de la Vega'. He said I was no better than a common maid to my American husband! He called me 'Gringa'! Si. I am American! I am proud of both countries!" Victoria accused.
"He said WHAT?" Anger darkened Manolito's eyes.
"¡Don Manolito, por favor! Entiendo. That is most…unfortunate." Ortiz rubbed his forehead. He frowned. He could well imagine Official Response to such an incursion. "We do not want another duel."
"I will deal with it." Purpose darkened Ricardo's face. "The Santiago y Amistads will pay for their scenes at the High Chaparral and in the Western Pastures. We will speak of their hermanos in the Tucson churchyard. I want certain concessions from them. Don Fernando and I will speak on those."
"Don Ricardo, por favor. No sea Ud. tonto." Carlos paled. He did not think his cousin would stand against Don Fernando Santiago y Amistad.
"This is about honor, Don Carlos. I will do what I must. I will do what our grandfather would have told us to do." Ricardo brought his fist down on the table. "Manolito is not wrong. They shed blood for Don Sebastian's insult. I will demand payment but not in blood."
"Gracias, Don Ricardo. Your insight may solve this issue," Ortiz expressed.
"And what if they attack again?" Manolito shook off the assessment.
"I do not think they will be able to." Ricardo rubbed his son-in-law's arm. "Trust me, Manolito. John, you and I will come out ahead. Now let us have dessert?"
"Sí Papa." Mercedes signaled to the servant by the kitchen door. He disappeared into the room. He reemerged with a covered platter and a stack of plates. She allowed the covered platter to be set down in front of herself. She picked up the lid to find fried pastries drizzled with honey there. "Sopapillas."
"Doña Mercedes y Doña Angelina, you are have thought of everything! I love these!" Delight moved Ortiz to clap his hands together.
Enjoyment capped the meal. Solutions were in the air. Would everyone heed them?