THE BORDER EAGLES
CHAPTER TWO
THE MEXICANS
Rancho De Arboles Verde, Mexico 01, May 1846.
Katherine Houghton Beckett de Duarte was almost as much angry as she was sad. They were burying her husband, Miguel Felipe Antonio de Duarte, Captain Fifth Regular Cavalry of Mexico.
It wasn't as if he'd died in battle or of a disease. No, he'd died because of vanity. He fancied and styled himself as the best horseman in the cavalry. Captain Renaldo Coronado had disputed that claim and challenged Miguel to a rough country horse race. Their horses collided at a narrow space in the trail both men were thrown. Miguel. landed at just the wrong angle, broken his foolish neck and died. Renaldo went over a steep embankment, and too, landed wrong wrenching his back and breaking a hip so badly that it was a year before he could walk again and never, for the rest of his life, without pain.
Now, Katherine was a twenty-two-year-old widow with one year old twin girls. Beatrice and Elisa. To make matters worse, Kate knew that as soon as her one year mourning period was over, Enrique, Miguel's brother would be pressuring her to marry him Which she would never do. She despised him.
Three years older than Miguel he was overweight, already balding at twenty-nine, Pompous, vain and lazy. Although she had never told her husband for fear of what he might do, Enrique had tried to get Kate into bed, despite being married to his brother.
The way he was casting sly glances at her, even at Miguel's funeral, she was sure that he would try again. She would be tempted to geld him if he tried to force her. Not that he'd be able to. She was four inches taller than him and probably stronger. She seen his flabby arms.
Miguel had been the youngest of the three Duarte brothers. He'd been twenty-six when he died. He was handsome with his dark curly hair, big brown eyes, strong even feature and flashing smile. A genuinely loving man, open and generous. His only real failing had killed him. Vanity, in this case, was truly a deadly sin.
Enrique was the middle son and jealous of both his brothers believing that Vincente was favored, being the eldest and Miguel indulged, as the youngest. Neither was true.
Vincente, the oldest brother and oldest child was thirty-one. A tall, slender, very intense man. A skilled and surprisingly honest lawyer, in a land known for "La Mordida" the bite. (Meaning bribery to get anything done if it had to do with government officials.) He and his wife, Carlotta, were childless. The two of them doted on Kate's daughters.
Don Luis Alfonso Lorenzo de Duarte was a very wealthy landowner owning one very large Rancho about ten miles from Mexico City, Rancho Arboles Verde. He had three smaller ranchos within a twenty-mile radius of the main rancho, one in Baja California and one in Alta California near Los Angeles, Rancho Agua Dulce.
When each of his sons had come of age, he had been given one of the ranchos near Arboles Verdes. Vincente and Miguel had done well with theirs but among his other vices, Enrique was a gambler, not a successful one. He was heavily in debt. He figured that if he married Kate, he could gain control of Miguel's (Now Kate's) money and pay off his debts. He foolishly didn't think Kate realized what he wanted, besides her body. She dd and so did Vincente. He would not let that happen.
Vincente had informed Don Luis of his suspicions. Sadly, Don Luis was well aware of his middle son's failings and agreed with Vincente that he would protect Kate's interests. Don Luis loved Kate as if she were his own daughter. He and Elenora had lost their only daughter to typhus when she was only thirteen.
Everyone here called Kate Catalina, the Spanish translation of her name, but she always thought of herself as Katherine. Miguel had been the only exception. He'd called her Katherine or more often, Mi Corazon.
A few hours after the funeral, Kate sat with her friend and confidante, Elaine (Lanie) Parish. Another immigrant, a Jamaican, skilled in herbal medicine and midwifery. She had helped deliver the twins.
"What have I done that was so bad, to deserve all this? Miguel I dead from a foolish race and my babies are now fatherless, I lost my mother when I was fourteen and my father and I had to flee Ireland. Our beautiful Eire."
"You haven't done anything bad, Kate, you're a good person.
Just sometimes bad things happen to good people. I'm sure that things will get better, I know that God has a plan for you."
"How can you say that, after all that has happened?"
"Because among my people, I am a seer. I can only see if I know the person. Give me your hands."
Feeling a bit silly, Kate complied. after all, her people had the legend of the Fey so maybe Lanie had some power. Lanie was absolutely still for about five minutes. I can sense something there Kate, A man, a handsome man. One you will truly love and he you before the new year turns twice you will meet him.
A shaken Kate said;
"How can this be true, a vision?"
"I cannot explain how the visions work I only know that they do, but much depends on you."
Kate and her father, James, had come to Mexico from Ireland, fleeing political oppression. James, also a lawyer had spoken out for Irish independence and the English crown had charged him with sedition.
They had fled just ahead of an arrest warrant. Expecting something like that to happen, James had seven thousand pounds in cash
stashed where he could easily get it.
Johanna, Kate's mother had died two years before their escape.
Kate was sixteen when they'd arrived in Mexico, in December of 1839.
James had enough cast to start up a practice and was quickly successful.
Kate had met Miguel in 1842 when James had business dealings with Vincente. Miguel was infatuated with the lovely Irish girl and immediately began courting her. He was a genuinely nice man, refined and courtly. It wasn't long before he was thoroughly in love with her.
He was kind and generous and Kate learned to love him, although, not to the degree he loved her. It wasn't the all -encompassing love she'd read and dreamed about. She finally bowed to societal pressure and agreed to marry him. She did love him enough to be a good wife to him.
Elenora de Duarte was English. She'd met Luis when he was in England on business. They'd married after a whirlwind courtship. They had been married for thirty-three years and were still a handsome couple. She was fifty-one, still slender and elegant, still with a peaches and cream complexion, although her once blonde hair was grey. Don Luis was every inch the Hidalgo. Slender, like his wife and ramrod straight he gave the impression of being taller than he was. Born in Mexico but of Spanish parents from Castile. He was a superb horseman. He was generally a kindly, generous man but hard as steel when he had to be.
It was a few days after the funeral and the Duarte men plus Don Luis' brother-in-law were in the study having cigars and brandy. Enrique had a few glasses of wine at dinner. The snifter of brandy on top of them overcame his inhibitions and he let his true feelings show.
"Father, neither Vincente nor poor Miguel managed to give you a grandson. I will do it. I will take that Irish spitfire and produce a son on her!
Vincente had been waiting for such a moment.
"How will you do that. Enrique? She will be here and you in Baja. Father has paid your debts to save the family honor. And revoked your title to Rancho Estrella. You are to manage the Baja Rancho. You will have one year's advance if you blow that on gambling you are on your own
"You can't do this to me!"
"We didn't do it to you, you did it to yourself. Be ready to leave in three days."
"I will not! These are not father's words they are yours. Father, do not allow this!"
"Enrique, I not only will allow it, it is my word and my will. You have behaved in a disgraceful manner. You gambled away all that was entrusted to you. You are venal and lazy and would dare to try and take Catalina when she is not willing. If you do not go to Baja as we have offered you will be cut off, entirely, Penniless and disgraced. Furthermore, if you fail in Baja again, there will be no help for you. You are a man in years and name. Become a man in reality."
(Enrique didn't make it for even a year. He lost the rancho to gambling debts and he was killed in a gambling fight.)
Rancho Arboles Verde, 23, May 1846.
The family was again gathered in the hacienda's great room. Elenora's brother and sister-in-law were visiting from England. General Sir Henry John Weddington KB was a retired Royal Army major general. He fit the image. Tall, somewhat stout and florid faced with gray hair and eyes. He had been a handsome man in his youth. Elizabeth, his wife was a plump, diminutive, genial woman., a perfect foil for gruff husband.
"The timing of our visit is horrible, but we were at sea when it happened. Still, we are here now and we, and the family is together in our grief." Sir Henry said.
"Dear Katherine, we are devastated by the news of Miguel's passing. He was such a good man. You have our deepest sympathy and if there is anything we can do for you, you must ask."
"Thank you, Aunt Elizabeth, but there is nothing that I need, except prayers for Miguel's soul. Papa Luis has taken care of everything."
"We certainly will pray for Miguel's soul and for you too. And I'm just Bess."
About ten minutes later there was a commotion at the door. Don Luis stood and walked to the door. A business associate was there."
"How dare you interrupt us in our grief, Rodolpho?"
"A thousand pardons, Don Luis, but I have important news. It is war! War with the Norte Americanos! It is wonderful news. We will get Texas back!
"Thank you for informing us, Rodolpho, now please leave us to our grief."
"Si, Don Luis."
Don Luis walked back in.
"You all heard?"
"We heard Luis, and that is not good news. War with the United States will be a disaster for Mexico." Sir Henry said.
"Why do you say that?" Our army is three times as large as theirs. Our men are brave!
"Yes, you have the numbers and brave men. But let me tell you what you don't have. One is the money. Mexico is heavily in debt to Britain and to France. Two, while you have more officers than they do, how many are professionally trained? Most of theirs have graduated from their military academy Are the men well trained or mere conscripts?
Their artillery is better. The quality of your gunpowder is poor, as you well know. You import your personal supply from England. But most of all, the Yankees are stubborn. In their revolution, we won more battles than they did and still lost the war."
Elenora said;
"Please, no more talk of war. I don't want to think about it. Let us have these nights in peace to both mourn Miguel and celebrate our family that is still here. Let us celebrate Catalina and our two darling babies.
Catalina, please have Leona bring them out so that Henry and Elizabeth can see them."
Kate went to get the nanny and the two girls. She came back carrying Beatrice and Juana caried Elisa both girls were awake and happy to be the center of attention as Elizabeth cooed over them. Henry just smiled then praised their beauty. "They will grow to be as beautiful as their mother."
Kate blushed and Vincente said;
"I am certain that you are right, Henry, Catalina is our family's jewel."
Kate blushed even more and said;
"Vincente, stop saying things like that. I am simply a woman and a mother. No more than that."
Carlotta spoke;
"No Catalina, Vincente is right. I remember that no matter what kind of mood Miguel was in, as soon as you came into the room, his face would brighten and he would smile. You made him happy whenever you were with him, even from the very first day. He loved the beautiful gift you gave him with the little ones. Vincente speaks true you are a jewel."
Kate was thankful that neither Miguel nor his (her) family never realized that she wasn't as deeply in love with him as he was with her. She had nevertheless been a good and faithful wife. She did, however love her babies to the depth and breadth of her soul.
Author's note: I will be jumping back and forth in time as I address each character's actions until they meet. They then will continue on the same track.
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