Chapter 16 [Next Morning]

Sol broke over Horizon's eastern frontier. Pacific's cool breezes rustled Meadow's grasses. Magentas, Cardinal and Canary burned across the early morning skies. Along the stockyards and Centro, businesses and shops opened their doors. Deals and Transactions waited to be struck.

Another pivotal day awaited….

[John and Victoria's Room]

John paced about the chamber. Consternation had kept him up all night. His eyes burned into the ceiling. Attitude about the hacienda grated on him. How could people such as those ancestors Mano talks about have a family like this? His face contorted. His hands went to his hips. Well Angelina's a good person. We'll get her packed and on the train. At least, Miguel's getting everything ready back in Tucson. And that Ortiz…he turned out to be a lot better than I thought he'd be. And what are those Santiago y Amistad propositions? I hate this!

"John?" Victoria's hand slid along his left arm. "John, what is it?" She slipped across the floor with nary a sound. Her eyes drank in Concern in his stiffness. She well understood his mood. Indignation still chafed at her as well. Still, Relief eased her mind as well. Rancho Montoya was back in their hands again. She'd begun to plan for her father's funeral in Hermosillo. She knew Manolito and Ricardo had similar ideas based on their knowledge of Sebastian's wishes…

…the casket crafted of Mahogany's exquisiteness and bearing Lion's paws of Gold's regal appearance….

…Procession through Hermosillo and Mass given no less grace than Bishop's words themselves….

…Dignity…

Dignity? Appearances. What is substance? What is real? She bit her lip. That question stood right in front of her of course. Her rugged axis struggled with Intrigue and Appearances. Opportunities jousted with Pratfalls in his path. Chaos fogged him in.

Her hand brushed against his arm. "John?"

"Hmm?" Her voice burned his mind's fog away. "I woke you. Victoria, I'm sorry. I…"

"No. I was up. You do know your troubles are mine. What is it, my Husband? What troubles you?" She embraced him from behind.

"I know that, Victoria. Even when we have answers, these people never stop with more questions and games!" He huffed.

"It is the world they know. We have our world." She tightened her arms around him.

"It's your world too, Victoria." He raised an eyebrow. "Ortiz put that back on your shoulders last night."

"It is our world, John." She slid around him so as to face him. "I need your strength."

"You're the strong one, Victoria. You're my guide through this maze. I'd be lost without you." His eyes met hers.

"As I would be without you." She leaned close. Her lips whispered Amor's sweet notes across his. "I know what the proposition is." She shook her head.

"Oh? And what would those people want? They hate Don Ricardo and us."

"Very true." She raised her index finger. "But Doña Anita hates the desert. She'd rather be in Mexico City for her parties. Her brothers wish to be close to the intrigue and power. They will never learn. Don Ricardo wants a buffer between the High Chaparral, Rancho Montoya and them."

"Your father's scheme for the Grand Rancho." John remembered Sebastian's attempted unification of the three ranches under his control all too well. He sniffed. Irony was certainly having a field day. "So everyone gets something."

"In a manner of speaking…yes. As with Mercedes, as long as the Santiago y Amistads stay away from us, I do not care about them. We have my father's vaqueros. His abogado and Rafael know the Rancho. Manolito and I know it as well. We will put the spirit back into the Rancho. My mother's roses. Manolito and Mercedes' tree. I know what I wish to do. I cannot grasp how it will be done." She shrugged.

"That's for Don Ricardo, Mano and me." John sucked in a deep breath. "That's a lot of territory to cover, Victoria." Scale strained his thinking.

"Perhaps it is time you trust others?" She raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not going to have a choice." He frowned. His lips pushed Admission's sour taste past his lips. "This is when we're going to miss Blue."

"And why do we miss Blue?" She put her hands on her hips. "Do you remember where he is right now?"

He sighed. "Keeping an eye on things."

"That is right! He is keeping an eye on things! Blue is very reliable. So are Sam and Joe. John, talk with Manolito and Don Ricardo. We will decide together." She held his hands in hers. "Have faith, John. It will be all right."

He nodded. "It'll be good to have that space between those people and us. Besides we have something else to think about." He looked at her.

"Oh?"

"Our grandchild and niece or nephew. Then there are Jennifer and Pilar to think about too." Purpose glinted in his eyes.

She smirked. "Indeed. Gracias, John."

"You never need to thank me, Victoria." He kissed her forehead. "Shall we get dressed? Then we'll eat and head for the bank."

"We will help Angelina move the tavern to Tucson," she agreed.

And they transitioned another step toward the future….