Conclusion [Next Afternoon]

[Mexico City]

Anita paced back and forth across the hotel suite. Honeymoon could not deliver its expected promise. Ceremony had lacked for the advertised glamor. Don Rafael seemed more enamored with the casino than her charms. And then, that blasted government emisario with his message.

Anger puffed its own Morse Code from her ears.

How can they do this? How? She ground her teeth. Anger burned in her heart. "How did they get everything back? HOW?"

A sharp rapping could be heard at the door. Rafael stormed through the door. He hissed through his teeth. Setbacks kept piling on top of one another like so much cordwood. He shook his head.

She sniffed. "So you finally return. Do you? I have been alone all night! You spend all night in the casino!"

He rubbed his forehead. "ENOUGH! I have not been in the casino!" He began to understand why Manolito despised her to say the least. Anita's harping and self-entitlement wore through Patience's armor with surprising speed. "We have troubles enough without gambling our last pesos away!" He bowed his head.

"¿Qué pasa ahora?" Irritation added an edge to her voice. "Do not tell me we have to return to Rancho Montoya! The less I see of that wilderness, the better!"

He curled his lip. "That is the good news. You will not have to return there ever again. We cannot go to my Tia's rancho or Rancho Granada either." He put his hand up. "We will return to your brothers' rancho."

"That place?" She stalked up to him. "NO! I hate that desert! I…!"

He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Thanks to our brothers, it is the only place left to us! I told Don Fernando and Don Rafael that those raids were a bad idea! Diaz turned against our families! He and that bastard Ortiz took Rancho Vega and Rancho Montoya from us! They granted Rancho Granada to De la Vega as well! That desert is our only rancho! And there is more. Lo siento."

"More? How much worse can it be?" Anita poured herself a glass of wine.

"Tio Eduardo and Tio Pablo are dead. They tried to escape. Ortiz shot them both. Mama comes with us to your family's rancho." His fist came down against the table's hard oaken surface. "Our fortune! GONE! My uncles and your four brothers are dead!" He seethed. "I do not know how we will face them in Hermosillo!"

"Hermosillo?" She narrowed her eyes. "What is in that cow town?"

He rolled his eyes. "Will you think of something else besides your own whims? Ortiz wants us to meet with Don Ricardo and the Cannons. We have to bury them! Don Fernando has a proposition. I wish he would tell me what it is."

"My older brother schemes yet. I hope he knows what he is doing. That is the last place I wish to go! We bury the dead and that is all!" She pulled her wrap on. "Have you eaten?"

"No. I hoped you were hungry. Vamanos. I could eat something as well." Rafael led her from their room. Hunger juxtaposed with Migrane for worst pain at the moment. Schemes had best bear fruit….

[Tracks Crossing Through Chaparral Range]

Iron Horse chugged along its steel tracks away from the coast. It lingered to load a coffin and passengers in Yuma. It pressed southeast through Dirt, Arid Wind, Cacti and Heat. Mountains provided little barrier to them.

Home beckoned….

Victoria inhaled a calming breath. The familiar western mountains put her at ease. Honor had been restored. Chaparral remained safe for the moment. Rancho Montoya lay in their hands once more. Management of a rancho rivaling a small country overwhelmed the mind.

She could see Angelina watching Sonora, the telegraph poles and attached wire rolling past her window. It must be so unfamiliar to her! She watched John doing much the same. "John?"

"Hmm? Anything wrong, Victoria?" Attention jarred him back to the there and now. "Sorry. I was thinking about the five ranches."

"We are very fortunate, my Husband. We are not alone. Manolito and Don Ricardo are with us. We are a family." Victoria rubbed his arm. "I am here with you."

"I couldn't do it without you, Victoria." He set his hand gently over hers. "We are a team." His eyes noted their newest companion. "I think I'm going to see how she's doing." He cleared his throat. "I'll be right back."

Victoria smiled. "That would be very nice, John. Gracias." Approval shone in her eyes.

He eased past her and across the jostling aisle. He hung onto the seats for support. "This is where I welcome you home."

Angelina turned from the window. Confusion arched her right eyebrow. "We are not in Tucson yet. I do not understand." She pointed to the window. "We are still in the desert. I see cattle. And there's a road cutting across the tracks."

He smiled. "Yes we are in the desert. But these tracks cut through my land, Angelina. Welcome to the High Chaparral."

"This is your rancho?" Angelina stared at the landscape speeding past the window.

"The railroad owns the tracks and land under them. I own the land on both sides. When I sold it to them, I told them that road back there couldn't be cut off by the tracks. But yes, this is Victoria's and my land. We'll pass beyond it on our way to Tucson." He sat down beside her. "Everything all right?"

"Oh sí! Everything is muy bueno! I have seen desert east of Los Angeles. I am glad. I am not alone here." Angelina saw the tracks cut northward. "We're heading back toward the north now?"

"We're actually a few miles south of Tucson. We'll be right there." He pointed at the window. "We should see it coming up in a few minutes. You're not alone. Remember that."

"I know. Muchissimas gracias. It is a whole new world." Angelina observed the train making the northward turn and press on over the new set of rails.

He nodded. "I felt as you do when my brother, son, first wife and I arrived here from Missouri. I met Victoria and Manolito right after that. That is a very good way of putting it. It is a whole new world. There are also new opportunities here."

She saw Tucson's buildings on the horizon. "There it is!"

"It most certainly is." He saw the conductor stepping through the car's door. "I have to go back to my seat. We'll be pulling in any minute." He held onto the seats again. He swayed back across the aisle and to Victoria's side. "She'll be all right." He sat back down in his seat.

"You think so? She seems worried." Victoria studied Angelina again.

He reached up and took their bags down from the overhead shelf. "She's trying to take in this new world and her opportunities, Victoria. Same as Buck, Blue and me when we arrived. Same as you when Manolito and you came to Chaparral from your father's rancho. Give her time. She'll make it just as we did. We'll keep these on our laps."

"I wonder where Mano, Maria, Ricardo and Mercedes are?" Victoria looked around.

At that moment, the aforementioned quartet hustled up the aisle. They sat down in their seats just as Tucson's southern most buildings passed the window. They talked to Angelina about some of them.

"See? They probably spent too long in the dining car." John sat back in his seat. His carpetbag rested firmly on his lap. "I hope Buck brought the buckboard."

"I am sure he did, John." Victoria glanced back toward the car's rear door and the freight car behind theirs. "What of that coffin they loaded in Yuma?"

"Yeah that." John pushed the hat back on his head. Ill At Ease nagged at him. "Let's just hope the body's not who I think it is."

"I do not want to see any of those people. As you said, let us hope Buck brought the wagon. We can speak at the church or at Rosie's." Victoria frowned.

The locomotive's horn blared loudly.

"TUCSON! TEN MINUTES TO TUCSON STATION!" The Conductor strode up the aisle. His steps remained straight and true. His posture gave nary a concession to the train's swaying motion. "EXIT FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN WE STOP! THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"

The familiar landmarks and buildings moved past albeit at slowing rates by now. Main Street ambled by with its horse and wagon traffic. The tracks banked left. The church's steeple peered over several blocks of surrounding buildings. The station was now visible.

Steam hissed. Sparks jumped from the screeching wheels against the tracks. The train slowed and jerked to a stop right in front of the platform.

"And here we are! We made it!" John patted her arm. "Welcome home, Dear."

She smiled. "And I welcome you home, my Husband." Warmth shone like Summer's sunlight through her eyes. Her hand squeezed his.

John stepped back into the aisle. "Watch your step." He helped her out of the seat. "Don Ricardo?"

"We are fine, John. Gracias. Lo siento. We lost track of time in the dining car." Ricardo helped the ladies from their seats.

"It is not bad eating back there, Amigo." Manolito took their bags down from the overhead compartment.

"I figured on Rosie's. Let's welcome Angelina to town in style." John shrugged off Manolito's observation. He led Victoria down the aisle and toward the open door.

"This way, Folks! Thank you for riding with us. Have a nice day now!" the Conductor offered Victoria his hand. "Watch your step now!"

"Thank you, Señor." Victoria accepted the steadying hand. Her shoes carefully descended by each step to the platform.

"You're welcome, Ma 'am." The Conductor tipped his hat. Then he offered the same to Maria, Mercedes and Angelina. "You all have a nice time here."

"Gracias. We will indeed. Where will our possessions be?" Ricardo asked him.

"They will be unloaded shortly, Sir. You might wait in the waiting area. Thank you." The Conductor nodded. He turned back toward the next passenger.

"Now, Ricardo, we have that heavy crate and our bags. It will take time. I am sure everything will be all right," Maria reassured him.

Ricardo nodded. "Si. I know." He glanced around the milling crowd for Miguel and their other friends.

"Papa!" Miguel waved to them. He strode toward the arriving group. "¿Como estuvo su viaje?"

Ricardo embraced his son. "Doña Victoria saw everything ahead of time. We saw the tavern and both ranchos. We found Don Alejandro's and Doña Mercedes' tree by her family's rancho. Don Carlos and we spoke with the city about a history marker. We saw the church and visited the crypt. Let us take pride in those things, mi Hijito. And there is someone for you to meet."

Miguel nodded. Anticipation warmed his heart akin to Child on Christmas Morning. He embraced the others in turn. Then he stopped in front of Angelina. "Bienvenidos a Tucson, Doña Angelina. Soy Padre Miguel." He embraced her as well.

"Gracias, Padre Miguel. Por favor llámame Angie." Respect coaxed a nod from Angelina. "I have heard of your devotion to the people and Our Lord."

"Siempre y para siempre." Miguel crossed himself. "We look forward to the Tavern Victoria here. John's son, Blue, has Guillermo's drawings of the tavern. He has shared them with us. There are others here. This is Buck Cannon and his wife, Annie. Buck and Annie, Doña Angelina."

"Howdy. Sure nice to meet you." Buck tipped his hat. "You got any bags or anything needing to go in the buckboard?"

"How was your trip, Angelina?" Annie extended her arms.

"The trip was great! I cannot believe the train! And to be here! ¡Ay Caramba! Gracias, Annie. Please call me Angie." Angelina embraced her new friend. She looked Buck over. "Are you John's brother? The one named after your famous uncle?"

"Famous uncle?" Buck took a minute before seeing John's and Manolito's expressions. "Oh that Uncle Buck! Yes, Ma' am! He sure was a hero of mine! Sure wish I could see where his big stand was! I've heard a lot. Bet it's long gone."

"Actually, Buck. Uncle Buck's stand is clearly marked within the church there." John rubbed Buck's shoulder. He raised an eyebrow. "So's the other man's blood."

"What?" Surprise lit up in Buck's eyes. "After all this time? Really? Wow. You all will have to tell us the whole yarn when we get back to Chaparral. How are you all doing? Did you get us some help?"

"Sí, Buck. The Consul Ortiz gave us help. We will tell you at Rosie's." Victoria stiffened. She saw Don Fernando emerge from the station and onto the platform. Outrage twisted her mouth into an angry frown.

"Victoria. Por favor." Miguel shook his head. "I know you are angry. I am as well. He is here for Don Rafael. No mas. We will speak to them soon enough."

"Yeah. We'll see them when we take Don Sebastian to Hermosillo, Miguel." John's eyes met Fernando's across the platform. Presence offered an ever so slight shake of the head. He motioned toward the freight area.

Fernando nodded. Challenge still burned in his eyes. Still, Truce demanded Restraint. He turned on his heel and hustled back into the station.

"Yeah. You'd best be careful of him, Brother John. He ain't lookin' too friendly. And since when did you get per-mi-ssion to bury Don Sebastian there? Thought we couldn't go down there no more." Buck took Annie's hand.

"Are things better now?" Annie put her hand on Victoria's arm.

"Yes, Annie. The Mexican government returned Ranchos Vega and Montoya to us. Don Ricardo has more land. We have an agreement to bury Papa. Don Fernando is here for his brother. There was a most unfortunate incident at the rancho in Los Angeles." Victoria shuddered.

"My uncles thought they'd help themselves to Zorro's things. It did not go so well for them." Manolito shrugged. He raised his eyebrows to make the point further. "Angie can shoot better than you, Compadre. We saw for ourselves."

"You found it? You really found that place too? Dang! Now I really need to hear about this! Come on. Let's get your things. Jenny and the others are waiting back at Rosie's. The boys are waiting for that crate you sent that telegram for, John. What's in it?" Buck scratched his head.

"Victoria's desk and chair, Buck. A few other pieces of history fit in there as well." John rubbed his brother's shoulder.

"Vamanos, Prima. Tenemos una gran comida esperándonos." Miguel led Angelina toward the station door and the waiting town beyond.

Truce upheld. Situations awaited. For the moment however, Family came together. And in that, Celebration was necessary….

THE END (for now)