Chapter 6 [Don Sebastian's Office, Rancho Montoya—Two Hours Later]

Don Sebastian read over the latest transactions in his ledger. He sipped on a second cup of coffee. His eye skimmed each line seeking out treasures amongst those entries. Rivera's stock will fill out the south herd. If those cows in Mesa Verde work out, they will be apt breeding stock as well. He dipped his pen into the ink well. His hand scratched out some notes next to those respective entries. John Cannon's stock can now rival my own. Who would've believed that in the beginning? Then again, with the Bull Montoya as a sire, his cattle should be superior! He knew Big John had the potential as an ally at their first meeting. Despite a few hiccups along the way, Respect brought them closer. Certainly, the Chaparral's growth and development reflected that merit. The fact that he'd turned the political marriage with Victoria into a loving one and won her heart only added to that sentiment. Furthermore, Big John had Manolito's respect.

That observation raised an eyebrow.

Manolito….

Sebastian sighed. He gulped down another mouthful of coffee. I wish I knew his secret. How can Cannon motivate Manolito? He stood and turned toward the window. His eyes surveyed the desert outside of the compound's walls. Acres went on for miles and then. It was Sebastian's and ultimately Manolito's legacy….

…that is if the younger would want to acknowledge it and earn his place….

Victoria had her place with Big John at the High Chaparral.

This land…this was for Manolito. Alas he had not wanted it. He stubbornly refused it. Instead he'd chose to whore, drink, rob and gamble his days away in Nogales. Even at the Chaparral, he did the same in Tucson and even Tubac and Tombstone.

Was it so bad? Sebastian wondered.

Our games, Papa, are all we have, Manolito's voice reminded him.

Our jokes. Sebastian frowned. He shook his head. Once again, Instinct nagged at him. He scratched his beard. The question ate at him. He cares about the High Chaparral. And then he completely turns his attitude on its head and lectures me about comancheros and this ranch's workings? Truly? And now he's escorting guests without being told to? Surprise and Wonder were the smallest description of his mental state at that moment.

Something was up in Sonora. Sebastian didn't know what it was exactly but he knew that much.

What are you up to, Manolito? He'd actually marveled at how his son faced his mother's memory. And then, he seemed almost protective of the younger guest. Sebastian rolled his eyes. "You have my charms, my Son but it can't be the Señorita. Not this quickly." He coughed. "I will need to speak with him. If it is her, I'll make it worth her parents' while to arrange a marriage."

At that moment, a loud knocking came from the door. "¡Padron! ¡Padron!"

¿Que pasa ahora? He knew Pepe wouldn't raise such a furor except in dire cases. "Si, Pepe."

Pepe opened the door. He bowed quickly. Fear paled his face. His eyes remained riveted to the floor. "Padron, I am sorry. The vaqueros have returned with Señora Lopez. You must come!"

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Calm yourself, Pepe. Why would the vaqueros come back now? Don't tell me my son ran away with our younger guest!"

Pepe shook his head. He trembled. "No, Padron, he is here as well. Please. Follow me and see for yourself." He motioned toward the door. "I beg you."

Sebastian frowned at his servant's uncharacteristic emotional display. "What is it? Show me."

"Si, Padron." The elderly man led his master out of the office and down the passage toward the outer courtyard.

Sebastian stopped dead in his tracks at that point. Disbelief widened his eyes. He saw five vaqueros with their hats in their hands. They flanked Makadoo who had a rig of some kind strapped onto himself. A dusty and disheveled Lopez shuddered off to the side; her bloodshot eyes still watering. "What's going on? WHAT IS THIS? Where are they?"

"Don Sebastian, Manolito is here," Lopez spoke up. She slowly stood and dusted herself off as best as she could manage. "Behind the horse."

"Where? I do not see him!" Sebastian's heart beat faster. Anger and Panic flared. "I have no patience for games now. I…" He stalked after Lopez. When he reached her, he gaped.

There, Manolito lay still unconscious on a travois. A bandage covered his wound.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. Crimson reddened his face. His voice roared, "WHAT IS THIS? WHAT HAPPENED?"

A tall and burly vaquero cleared his throat. "Padron, Señora Lopez galloped back toward the herd. We followed her to where Manolito was. We bandaged his wound and were careful in bringing him back here. We found the Señorita's horse. There was no trace of her or the comancheros."

Lopez shook her head. "I told you! Those brutes surrounded us. Your son, Don Sebastian, wanted to fight back. Still he was thinking of us. He was doing what their leader ordered. Then another of those animals shot Señorita Vega de la Granada and your son anyway. They took her! What are we going to do? I failed her parents and you!"

Sebastian shook his head. "Nonsense. There is nothing you could have done against men such as those. Gracias for alerting the vaqueros as you did, Señora. Pepe, see her to her room. I would have her rest."

"M…Mercedes?" Manolito groaned. His eyes flickered open. "Where…is…?"

"Mano!" Sebastian dropped to his knees beside his son. "Don't talk. You are at the rancho."

"Pa…pa, where is she? Where…?" Manolito whispered. Desperation forced his hand up. He grabbed onto his father's sleeve. "We…must find her."

"We will. Right now, we'll get you into the house." He pointed to the closest vaquero. "Eduardo, fetch the doctor! I don't care what else he has to do! ¡AHORA!"

Eduardo barely took the time to bow. He ran to his horse and practically bounded onto it. With a quick spur, he rode through the gates and down the trail beyond.

Sebastian sighed. "I should've listened."

"Si, Papa….I…told you," Manolito whispered. "No…games. Mercedes…we need to find her."

"And we will." Sebastian raised his eyebrow. "I appreciate your concern. We will search for her. She is a guest in our home. I will not leave her."

"No, Papa. Not just a guest…." Manolito grabbed onto him again. His eyes met the Old Lion's flush. "She's to be…my wife." With that, he lapsed back into unconsciousness.

"Manolito? MANOLITO!" Sebastian felt the other's neck. Relief allowed some respite as he felt the other's life beat therein. He shook his head. Suddenly it all made sense. Their walk in the garden…Manolito's lingering with the roses…the connection between him and Mercedes at breakfast…

A miracle had happened…as much as God Himself reaching down and bringing his wayward boy back home.

"Did you know anything of this?" Sebastian demanded of Lopez.

"I suspected it was something like this." Lopez considered Manolito. "They were so happy together. Señorita Vega de la Granada promised me she would have your son speak with you after their ride. He'd agreed to her request to do so before those brutes attacked us. Now what her parents feared has happened. She's gone."

"No! NO!" Sebastian smacked the bricks underfoot. He sucked in an angry breath. Opportunity had given him a way past the games. He had a way to have a relationship with Manolito at last. He'd have his son as the latter should be instead of the saddle tramp.

Foolishness threatened everything now.

No. He would not let Arrogance take those things away from him. "JOSE! RICARDO! BENITO!"

The three vaqueros snapped to attention. The Old Lion's rage left them quivering in their boots to be honest.

"You three get our fastest horses. You will ride for the High Chaparral! John Cannon will come! GO AND RIDE LIKE LIGHTNING! MOVE!"

The trio bowed. As with Eduardo, they ran as if Hell itself opened behind them. Within a dozen heartbeats, they galloped out of the compound and to the north.

Sebastian bit his lip. Games had entertained them all. Machinations had made everything work for him. Now he saw their price. He shook his head.

Now he looked skyward and then toward the north. "What a mess. When this is over, Manolito, we will speak." He sucked in a breath. "Pepe, help me. We must get him inside."

"Si, Padron." Pepe agreed. "Señora, por favor." He detached the travois from Makadoo. "I am ready."

Sebastian picked up one end as his servant did the other. Together they bore the precious cargo toward the waiting guest chamber.

Malaise was no more. For now, the Old Lion was awake and fully enraged at Sanchez and his jackals.

The hunt was on….