Warning: This story contains adult language, graphic violence, attempted
rape, attempted suicide, and sexually explicit themes. Reader's discretion
is advised.
Rating - R.
Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of the Newsies characters. Apollonia, Giselle, Checkers, and other miscellaneous characters are all mine.
Chapter 26: A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes
Jack was anxious to see the desert sections of Santa Fe on a horse. He left Apollonia to take care of her own business of shopping, which was one of her favorite pastimes. He promised to meet her later on in the afternoon.
So far it was everything that he had dreamed. The land orange and dusty, the sky, blue and fresh, and the sun was bigger, just like he had said to Sarah years ago when they had their talk on top of the roof of the Jacobs' apartment building. His horse was steady and obedient and obeyed every command Jack had given. He inhaled the fresh air of the New Mexican landscape as his eyes gazed upon the cacti and tumbleweeds. He took in the magnificent mountain beauty that was around him. His gaze fell upon the mountain tops with their jagged-edge summits that made them both dangerous and majestic all at once. How magnificent the sight would be to see snow- capped mountains in the middle of winter, he thought.
He had been riding about an hour when he heard alarmed voices. He quickly cantered down the road to see what was causing all of the commotion. Ahead, he saw a fine lacquered carriage being driven at high speeds. He kicked the sides of his horse to catch up to the runaway stagecoach. He could hear the driver yelling for the horses to slow down but was obviously having trouble. As he approached the stagecoach, he heard the sounds of a young woman screaming. Jack was closing in on them when the carriage finally broke away from the speeding horses and tilted over, landing on its side and throwing the driver from the carriage. Jack quickly dismounted and rushed to the scene to help the driver, but not before looking into the carriage to look in on the damsel in distress. He found a very pretty young girl in the carriage who was okay but shaken up from the entire ordeal. He reached in to see if she was physically hurt.
"Are you alright?" She looked up in relief.
"Si, Señor. I am alright." He helped her out of the carriage. She was trying to pull herself together while noticing that half a dozen satchels and two trunks littered the roadside. Jack immediately ran to help the driver who had taken a nasty fall when the carriage tipped over. "Are you okay, sir?" Jack asked.
"Si, Señor. Is the Señorita Sandoval okay?" Jack aided him in walking over to the elegantly dressed young girl.
"Is everything okay, Señorita?" The driver said gasping for air. While straightening her clothes, she quickly gathered her thoughts to thank her hero.
"Yes, everything is fine. Señor, I want to thank you for your help. You have been most kind."
Jack graciously accepted her gratitude. "It was no problem, Miss. My name is Jack Kelly."
"My name is Maria Rosa Sandoval. I am the daughter of Eduardo Sandoval. Our horses seemed to have been scared of some snakes that were nearby and they slipped and bolted. Thank you again, Señor. How can we ever repay you?" Jack did not want to be rude and not take her up on her hospitality.
"Well, I have just gotten into Santa Fe. I'm from New York and me and my girlfriend had just started looking around for some land ta build a house and ranch on." She seemed eager to help Jack out with his plans. "Since you have been so kind as to have saved my life and that of my driver, I would like to invite you to my father's house. It is in the center of Santa Fe and I would love to have you and your novia over to meet my family for dinner." Jack accepted her invitation. "Bueno. Antonio, we have to get back as soon as possible."
"Of course, Señorita." Antonio said. Jack interrupted with immediate assistance in helping the limping driver. "You can use my horse ta ride on, so your dress won't get dirty." Jack helped Rosa onto his horse while Antonio, who was still limping, but well enough to support himself, got two of Rosa's satchels. "We will send for someone to get your luggage, Señorita." The trio then made there way back to town.
~
That late afternoon, Apollonia was frantic. She was wondering what had happened to Jack. He did not state how long he would be out looking throughout Santa Fe. She kept pacing back and forth, trying to stay focused. As the door opened behind her, she swung around anxiously.
"Jack! Where have you been!?" She said, both in a mixture of anger and relief. Seeing her angst-ridden expression, Jack slowly hugged and kissed her to calm her down.
"I'm sorry, sweetie. I had gotten into a little episode with the daughter of a rich businessman and I had ta go ta her house." Apollonia had given him the evil eye. A sly grin spread across Jack's face.
"Don't get antsy on me. She's just a kid. I saved her and her driver and helped them through their ordeal. As a result, she has invited that me and you to her house for dinner next week so they can meet us together."
Apollonia was excited. She couldn't believe what she had heard. She ran into Jack's arms, squealing loudly like a little girl at Christmas.
"Oh, mon Dieu! This is too much. I have to get something to wear. I have to find something elegant and impressive to meet a General and his family." Jack just smiled and chuckled as he watched her pace back and forth, racking her brain, and trying to figure out what attire would be appropriate. Seizing her by the wrist, he made her stand still and look up into his eyes.
"You're so cute when you're excited; and very sexy when you're mad." He said huskily as he moved his head down to kiss her neck. Apollonia just closed her eyes and leaned her head back, allowing Jack to have his way with her.
~
The following week had arrived and Jack and Apollonia's presence was required to be at the General's estate. He sent his own personal carriage to the hotel to pick them up. Apollonia climbed into the ornate ride with Jack close behind her. The driver snapped his whip at the horses to bring them to their destination. Apollonia was nervous, being that this was the first time in a long time that she had to meet someone of high standing. Jack looked over at her and smiled, holding her hand firmly to diffuse the anxiety rising within her. Jack looked out at the night sky. It was just as clean and fresh at night as it was in the day. He caught glimpses of different citizens as they passed through the city. Men and women were walking down the plaza and on dirt roads passing various buildings enjoying each other's company. It was reminiscent of what he witnessed in Central Park before he had any girlfriend or Apollonia.
His enthusiasm was increased once he caught sight of a large manor of stately means. The driver proceeded to park the carriage in front of the house while a footman stood at the carriage doors waiting to receive them. Apollonia stepped out of the coach first as the footman held her hand. As Jack exited the carriage, a servant who appeared to be a butler welcomed them.
"Bienvenidos! Señor Sandoval is expecting you, please." He said extending his arm to the doorway of the elegant home. Apollonia linked her arm with Jack's as they approached the stairs leading up to meet the General and his family.
Once inside, they marveled at the beauty of the mansion. Large oil paintings and earthenware figures adorned the walls. A crystal chandelier stood hovering above their heads in the foyer. The elegance of the estate rivaled that of Pulitzer's mansion. Sandoval was obviously a very rich, aristocratic Mexican. At least he appeared to be. They were then escorted to the sitting room where they waited patiently for their hosts.
"Man, I knew that the goil I saved came from a wealthy family, but I didn't think that she was this wealthy!" He whispered to Apollonia as she lightly fluttered her feathered fan against her bosom. Apollonia admired the surroundings. The Spanish flavor of the house reminded her of some of the structures and architecture that she grew up around in New Orleans. They were immediately met by the deep voice and presence of a General and his lovely spouse.
"Hola! I am General Sandoval and this is my wife, Isabella." Both Jack and Apollonia greeted the two graciously.
"Hello, I'm Jack Kelly and this is my beautiful girlfriend, Apollonia."
"We will be dining very soon. Please, come with us to the dining room so that we can get better acquainted, yes?"
Jack and Apollonia then followed their kind hosts into a large and elegant dinner hall. On the opposite side of the room entered Rosa. She was ecstatic to see Jack once again after their previous encounter. She was also quite taken with Apollonia. "Muy bonita!" she said after the pleasantries.
During the course of dinner, Mr. Sandoval talked about his family history of moving to Santa Fe. Mr. Sandoval was a very handsome man. His dark, thick hair, curling mustache, and respectable demeanor showed that he was dignified man of means and influence. He raved about his family in Mexico and his noble ancestry. His wife was also distinguished. She had a regal air about her, sitting in her chair with her elaborate festoon necklace adorned with rubies.
"Tell me, Señor Kelly, have you found any land that you would like to purchase?"
Jack shrugged. "Not really. I have been trying ta learn my way around Santa Fe and the outer edges, but I just started looking is all."
"Well, I think that I might be of service in that department. I will put you in touch with a gentleman who is highly regarded in the business of building ranches. His name is Alejandro Gonzalez and I will inform him as soon as possible of your plans to build your ranch."
Jack was overwhelmed with shock. No one had ever offered to help him with such graciousness. Even when Pulitzer had lined his pockets with money, that kind of hospitality was nothing compared to the generosity of Sandoval.
"Mr. Sandoval, um, are ya sure ya wanna do this for me? I mean, ya barely even know me and you're being so generous."
"Señor Kelly, you must understand. You saved my daughter; my only child. If it wasn't for you, she might not be here and I would go crazy, both me and my wife. I am offering you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to help you achieve a dream that you wish to make true." Jack then looked over at Rosa, who was sitting quietly across the table from him.
"When you have a daughter, you will feel the same way." Jack just smiled at the aristocratic gentleman, before looking over at his love sitting right beside him, squeezing her hand.
Later on, Jack and Eduardo retired to the second story terrace of the elegant house, overlooking the central courtyard with its flowing fountain and rock-and-cactus garden, where they discussed in heavy detail the contacts to be made. Eduardo knew of a large villa near the edge of Santa Fe that he guessed would be the perfect residence for his new amigos. He made sure to inform Jack of all of his options when it came to choosing land or a house. Since Sandoval was a man of means and influence, he knew that he had the connections to businessmen and labor that could aid him in his endeavors.
Meanwhile, Apollonia, Rosa, and Isabella were in a sitting room talking "girl talk." They discussed a range of topics from New York fashion to New York men. Rosa admired the Baby's breath that adorned Apollonia's hair. It made her look regal and exotic all at once being that the white decorations stood out in her very dark hair. Rosa even asked Apollonia for tips on where to go on a date with a guy in Manhattan.
They also wanted to know about New Orleans, since she had already informed them that she was a New Orleans native. Meeting Apollonia made the two of them want to visit both cities, and they were pleased to meet such an admirable woman. She told them of her business in Manhattan and they were very impressed. In their environment, women of the middle to higher classes did not own business. Usually, such operations rested on the shoulders of the men. Both women were very taken with her and her attractive significant other.
After a night of conversation and pleasantries, Jack and Apollonia went back to their hotel. Things seemed to be getting better and better for them, Jack thought to himself. God must have been smiling on him for a past good deed of some sort. For all he had done wrong, he must have done something right. He hadn't had this many contacts since the implementation of the strike.
Apollonia was a little drowsy; the night's events having taking its toll on her. Before making it to the La Fonda, Jack ordered the driver to make a surprise pit stop. He saw a vendor preparing to close up shop at his stand. He quickly stopped the vendor from closing briefly so that he could buy some piloncillas, which were some brown sugar cone candies that he noticed men buying for their wives and girlfriends. Afterwards he reentered the carriage with a confused Apollonia looking at him. He handed her the tasty treats and kissed her on the cheek.
"What are these?"
"Just try 'em."
She tasted them and took an immediate liking to them. "Mmm, they remind me of the brown sugar sticks that my father used to bring home to me when he came from work."
"See that. You're so sweet, someone named some candy after ya." Jack lovingly teased. Jack then prompted the driver to transport them back to their hotel.
~
At Tristan's ranch, Jack was learning the ropes of being a full-fledged vaquero from a veteran cowboy. Everything from lassoing to rounding together cattle was taught. Jack was a fast learner, much to Tristan's delight. Jack noticed that he had some hidden talents in him from his cowboy abilities that he would never had known if he still lived in Manhattan. Training on his new friend's ranch made Jack all the more anxious to own one of his own.
Tristan's hacienda contained 5 horses, 5 sheep, 2 cows, 1 donkey, and a dog. His adobe house was of moderate size along with his ranch. Every week Tristan had a maid come in to clean his house for him. Being a bachelor and a busy cowboy, he didn't always have time to look after his home. They sat on the patio resting for a while before getting to the next phase of training. In the meantime, Tristan told Jack a little more about his background.
Tristan's grandfather was taught by Mexican rancheros how to deal with horses, cattle, and other livestock on a farm. They had been developing the sheep and cattle ranching industry for 300 years and by apprenticing to seasoned cowboys as wranglers until they learned how to do things properly. He had become such an expert; he decided to become a rancher for a living. After he and his wife had three sons, he then instructed them on the art of ranching. Tristan's father took on the family business and became more prosperous operating a large livestock enterprise. Having an independent spirit, Tristan moved to Santa Fe and had made it his home for the past eight years. He hasn't been happier.
"Tell me, Tristan. Did you always consider yourself an honest ta God cowboy or did you just follow in your family's footsteps?"
"Well, I'll tell ya this, Jack. Cowboys aren't made. They're born. I was a cowboy before I was even born. Even my mama told me that I kicked my way into the world like a wild horse!" Jack laughed. Tristan was definitely a man of funny words and colloquialisms.
"What about you? Where's your pa?"
"He was in jail. Last time I heard, he died. He got some sorta sickness in jail and it finished him."
"I'm sorry, Jack."
"Nah, you don't have anything ta be sorry for. He was a good guy. I made my peace with him before he passed. So, everything's okay." Tristan felt like an ass bringing up something so personal, especially since he just met Jack. He decided to change the subject.
"Say how old are ya, Jack? 23? 24?"
"25, Tris." Tristan smiled to himself. "I take it Apollonia is the same?"
"Yeah, we're da same age. She's my reason for being."
"I can tell." He said as he took a swig of his cerveza. "How long have you known her?"
Jack sighed. "For about seven years now."
"Wow! That long?"
"Well, it's kind of a long story. See, she was involved with someone else when we met. So, I didn't stand a chance. But something bad happened and I stepped to da plate. We fell in love and eventually came out here to live out my dream."
"Touching." Tristan said. "Did you leave a lot back in New York?"
"Telling me. I left everything I ever knew ta come out here. We left our best friends, our jobs, and our families. It's not a total loss. She still has her place up in Manhattan and her business up there, but she made the bigger decision to come out with me here to Santa Fe. Ya gotta respect her for that alone."
"Seems ta me your beyond twitterpated, mi amigo. You're totally head over heels in love, the both of you."
Jack just smiled at his new friend's observation. "Don't I know it."
~
Apollonia spent her day shopping in the marketplace and in the various tiendas that marked the town. She bought some peasant blouses for herself along with some colorful skirts so that she would fit into the southwestern style of the city that she and Jack have decided to make home for a while. She even purchased some silver jewelry that complimented her new attire. Ecstatic, she stood in front of the mirror in her room with the garments in front of her, thinking to herself about how she wished that Giselle were there to share in her happiness. She would probably fawn over her and how the clothes showed off her womanly curves.
She missed Giselle. She also missed Racetrack, Kid Blink, Mush, David, the Jacobs, and the others. She sat on the bed, wondering to herself what they were all doing. She wondered if Giselle was out on a date with David, if Racetrack was at Sheepshead or hanging out at a cabaret show with Blink and Mush trying to pick up women. She warmheartedly remembered her friends and family back in New York. Her eyes were becoming misty when Jack broke her concentration.
"Heya, sweetie. What's up?"
"Oh, nothing." She lied as she wiped away a tear that almost ran down her cheek. Jack's intuition told him otherwise. "Baby, what's wrong. I can tell that you're upset." He said as he sat down next to her. Immediately, Apollonia broke down.
"I miss New York. Our friends, our family. Everything. Don't get me wrong, Jack, I love Santa Fe, but I just miss everything and everyone we left behind."
"Come here, baby." Jack held her close to him. He comforted her tenderly as she wept on his chest.
"Ya just homesick. That's all. I told you that we would visit New York as much as we could."
"I know, cherie. I'm just in a melancholy mood right now."
He kissed her on the forehead, hugging her tight. "We've come this far. You've dealt with harsher things than this. We both have. This'll pass."
"I know, my love."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author's Note: I cannot put an accent on the "i" in "Si", which is suppose to mean "Yes" in Spanish. Si in Spanish means "if", but that's not what is supposed to be said. Just informing anyone who noticed the error. ~ Apollonia
Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of the Newsies characters. Apollonia, Giselle, Checkers, and other miscellaneous characters are all mine.
Chapter 26: A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes
Jack was anxious to see the desert sections of Santa Fe on a horse. He left Apollonia to take care of her own business of shopping, which was one of her favorite pastimes. He promised to meet her later on in the afternoon.
So far it was everything that he had dreamed. The land orange and dusty, the sky, blue and fresh, and the sun was bigger, just like he had said to Sarah years ago when they had their talk on top of the roof of the Jacobs' apartment building. His horse was steady and obedient and obeyed every command Jack had given. He inhaled the fresh air of the New Mexican landscape as his eyes gazed upon the cacti and tumbleweeds. He took in the magnificent mountain beauty that was around him. His gaze fell upon the mountain tops with their jagged-edge summits that made them both dangerous and majestic all at once. How magnificent the sight would be to see snow- capped mountains in the middle of winter, he thought.
He had been riding about an hour when he heard alarmed voices. He quickly cantered down the road to see what was causing all of the commotion. Ahead, he saw a fine lacquered carriage being driven at high speeds. He kicked the sides of his horse to catch up to the runaway stagecoach. He could hear the driver yelling for the horses to slow down but was obviously having trouble. As he approached the stagecoach, he heard the sounds of a young woman screaming. Jack was closing in on them when the carriage finally broke away from the speeding horses and tilted over, landing on its side and throwing the driver from the carriage. Jack quickly dismounted and rushed to the scene to help the driver, but not before looking into the carriage to look in on the damsel in distress. He found a very pretty young girl in the carriage who was okay but shaken up from the entire ordeal. He reached in to see if she was physically hurt.
"Are you alright?" She looked up in relief.
"Si, Señor. I am alright." He helped her out of the carriage. She was trying to pull herself together while noticing that half a dozen satchels and two trunks littered the roadside. Jack immediately ran to help the driver who had taken a nasty fall when the carriage tipped over. "Are you okay, sir?" Jack asked.
"Si, Señor. Is the Señorita Sandoval okay?" Jack aided him in walking over to the elegantly dressed young girl.
"Is everything okay, Señorita?" The driver said gasping for air. While straightening her clothes, she quickly gathered her thoughts to thank her hero.
"Yes, everything is fine. Señor, I want to thank you for your help. You have been most kind."
Jack graciously accepted her gratitude. "It was no problem, Miss. My name is Jack Kelly."
"My name is Maria Rosa Sandoval. I am the daughter of Eduardo Sandoval. Our horses seemed to have been scared of some snakes that were nearby and they slipped and bolted. Thank you again, Señor. How can we ever repay you?" Jack did not want to be rude and not take her up on her hospitality.
"Well, I have just gotten into Santa Fe. I'm from New York and me and my girlfriend had just started looking around for some land ta build a house and ranch on." She seemed eager to help Jack out with his plans. "Since you have been so kind as to have saved my life and that of my driver, I would like to invite you to my father's house. It is in the center of Santa Fe and I would love to have you and your novia over to meet my family for dinner." Jack accepted her invitation. "Bueno. Antonio, we have to get back as soon as possible."
"Of course, Señorita." Antonio said. Jack interrupted with immediate assistance in helping the limping driver. "You can use my horse ta ride on, so your dress won't get dirty." Jack helped Rosa onto his horse while Antonio, who was still limping, but well enough to support himself, got two of Rosa's satchels. "We will send for someone to get your luggage, Señorita." The trio then made there way back to town.
~
That late afternoon, Apollonia was frantic. She was wondering what had happened to Jack. He did not state how long he would be out looking throughout Santa Fe. She kept pacing back and forth, trying to stay focused. As the door opened behind her, she swung around anxiously.
"Jack! Where have you been!?" She said, both in a mixture of anger and relief. Seeing her angst-ridden expression, Jack slowly hugged and kissed her to calm her down.
"I'm sorry, sweetie. I had gotten into a little episode with the daughter of a rich businessman and I had ta go ta her house." Apollonia had given him the evil eye. A sly grin spread across Jack's face.
"Don't get antsy on me. She's just a kid. I saved her and her driver and helped them through their ordeal. As a result, she has invited that me and you to her house for dinner next week so they can meet us together."
Apollonia was excited. She couldn't believe what she had heard. She ran into Jack's arms, squealing loudly like a little girl at Christmas.
"Oh, mon Dieu! This is too much. I have to get something to wear. I have to find something elegant and impressive to meet a General and his family." Jack just smiled and chuckled as he watched her pace back and forth, racking her brain, and trying to figure out what attire would be appropriate. Seizing her by the wrist, he made her stand still and look up into his eyes.
"You're so cute when you're excited; and very sexy when you're mad." He said huskily as he moved his head down to kiss her neck. Apollonia just closed her eyes and leaned her head back, allowing Jack to have his way with her.
~
The following week had arrived and Jack and Apollonia's presence was required to be at the General's estate. He sent his own personal carriage to the hotel to pick them up. Apollonia climbed into the ornate ride with Jack close behind her. The driver snapped his whip at the horses to bring them to their destination. Apollonia was nervous, being that this was the first time in a long time that she had to meet someone of high standing. Jack looked over at her and smiled, holding her hand firmly to diffuse the anxiety rising within her. Jack looked out at the night sky. It was just as clean and fresh at night as it was in the day. He caught glimpses of different citizens as they passed through the city. Men and women were walking down the plaza and on dirt roads passing various buildings enjoying each other's company. It was reminiscent of what he witnessed in Central Park before he had any girlfriend or Apollonia.
His enthusiasm was increased once he caught sight of a large manor of stately means. The driver proceeded to park the carriage in front of the house while a footman stood at the carriage doors waiting to receive them. Apollonia stepped out of the coach first as the footman held her hand. As Jack exited the carriage, a servant who appeared to be a butler welcomed them.
"Bienvenidos! Señor Sandoval is expecting you, please." He said extending his arm to the doorway of the elegant home. Apollonia linked her arm with Jack's as they approached the stairs leading up to meet the General and his family.
Once inside, they marveled at the beauty of the mansion. Large oil paintings and earthenware figures adorned the walls. A crystal chandelier stood hovering above their heads in the foyer. The elegance of the estate rivaled that of Pulitzer's mansion. Sandoval was obviously a very rich, aristocratic Mexican. At least he appeared to be. They were then escorted to the sitting room where they waited patiently for their hosts.
"Man, I knew that the goil I saved came from a wealthy family, but I didn't think that she was this wealthy!" He whispered to Apollonia as she lightly fluttered her feathered fan against her bosom. Apollonia admired the surroundings. The Spanish flavor of the house reminded her of some of the structures and architecture that she grew up around in New Orleans. They were immediately met by the deep voice and presence of a General and his lovely spouse.
"Hola! I am General Sandoval and this is my wife, Isabella." Both Jack and Apollonia greeted the two graciously.
"Hello, I'm Jack Kelly and this is my beautiful girlfriend, Apollonia."
"We will be dining very soon. Please, come with us to the dining room so that we can get better acquainted, yes?"
Jack and Apollonia then followed their kind hosts into a large and elegant dinner hall. On the opposite side of the room entered Rosa. She was ecstatic to see Jack once again after their previous encounter. She was also quite taken with Apollonia. "Muy bonita!" she said after the pleasantries.
During the course of dinner, Mr. Sandoval talked about his family history of moving to Santa Fe. Mr. Sandoval was a very handsome man. His dark, thick hair, curling mustache, and respectable demeanor showed that he was dignified man of means and influence. He raved about his family in Mexico and his noble ancestry. His wife was also distinguished. She had a regal air about her, sitting in her chair with her elaborate festoon necklace adorned with rubies.
"Tell me, Señor Kelly, have you found any land that you would like to purchase?"
Jack shrugged. "Not really. I have been trying ta learn my way around Santa Fe and the outer edges, but I just started looking is all."
"Well, I think that I might be of service in that department. I will put you in touch with a gentleman who is highly regarded in the business of building ranches. His name is Alejandro Gonzalez and I will inform him as soon as possible of your plans to build your ranch."
Jack was overwhelmed with shock. No one had ever offered to help him with such graciousness. Even when Pulitzer had lined his pockets with money, that kind of hospitality was nothing compared to the generosity of Sandoval.
"Mr. Sandoval, um, are ya sure ya wanna do this for me? I mean, ya barely even know me and you're being so generous."
"Señor Kelly, you must understand. You saved my daughter; my only child. If it wasn't for you, she might not be here and I would go crazy, both me and my wife. I am offering you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to help you achieve a dream that you wish to make true." Jack then looked over at Rosa, who was sitting quietly across the table from him.
"When you have a daughter, you will feel the same way." Jack just smiled at the aristocratic gentleman, before looking over at his love sitting right beside him, squeezing her hand.
Later on, Jack and Eduardo retired to the second story terrace of the elegant house, overlooking the central courtyard with its flowing fountain and rock-and-cactus garden, where they discussed in heavy detail the contacts to be made. Eduardo knew of a large villa near the edge of Santa Fe that he guessed would be the perfect residence for his new amigos. He made sure to inform Jack of all of his options when it came to choosing land or a house. Since Sandoval was a man of means and influence, he knew that he had the connections to businessmen and labor that could aid him in his endeavors.
Meanwhile, Apollonia, Rosa, and Isabella were in a sitting room talking "girl talk." They discussed a range of topics from New York fashion to New York men. Rosa admired the Baby's breath that adorned Apollonia's hair. It made her look regal and exotic all at once being that the white decorations stood out in her very dark hair. Rosa even asked Apollonia for tips on where to go on a date with a guy in Manhattan.
They also wanted to know about New Orleans, since she had already informed them that she was a New Orleans native. Meeting Apollonia made the two of them want to visit both cities, and they were pleased to meet such an admirable woman. She told them of her business in Manhattan and they were very impressed. In their environment, women of the middle to higher classes did not own business. Usually, such operations rested on the shoulders of the men. Both women were very taken with her and her attractive significant other.
After a night of conversation and pleasantries, Jack and Apollonia went back to their hotel. Things seemed to be getting better and better for them, Jack thought to himself. God must have been smiling on him for a past good deed of some sort. For all he had done wrong, he must have done something right. He hadn't had this many contacts since the implementation of the strike.
Apollonia was a little drowsy; the night's events having taking its toll on her. Before making it to the La Fonda, Jack ordered the driver to make a surprise pit stop. He saw a vendor preparing to close up shop at his stand. He quickly stopped the vendor from closing briefly so that he could buy some piloncillas, which were some brown sugar cone candies that he noticed men buying for their wives and girlfriends. Afterwards he reentered the carriage with a confused Apollonia looking at him. He handed her the tasty treats and kissed her on the cheek.
"What are these?"
"Just try 'em."
She tasted them and took an immediate liking to them. "Mmm, they remind me of the brown sugar sticks that my father used to bring home to me when he came from work."
"See that. You're so sweet, someone named some candy after ya." Jack lovingly teased. Jack then prompted the driver to transport them back to their hotel.
~
At Tristan's ranch, Jack was learning the ropes of being a full-fledged vaquero from a veteran cowboy. Everything from lassoing to rounding together cattle was taught. Jack was a fast learner, much to Tristan's delight. Jack noticed that he had some hidden talents in him from his cowboy abilities that he would never had known if he still lived in Manhattan. Training on his new friend's ranch made Jack all the more anxious to own one of his own.
Tristan's hacienda contained 5 horses, 5 sheep, 2 cows, 1 donkey, and a dog. His adobe house was of moderate size along with his ranch. Every week Tristan had a maid come in to clean his house for him. Being a bachelor and a busy cowboy, he didn't always have time to look after his home. They sat on the patio resting for a while before getting to the next phase of training. In the meantime, Tristan told Jack a little more about his background.
Tristan's grandfather was taught by Mexican rancheros how to deal with horses, cattle, and other livestock on a farm. They had been developing the sheep and cattle ranching industry for 300 years and by apprenticing to seasoned cowboys as wranglers until they learned how to do things properly. He had become such an expert; he decided to become a rancher for a living. After he and his wife had three sons, he then instructed them on the art of ranching. Tristan's father took on the family business and became more prosperous operating a large livestock enterprise. Having an independent spirit, Tristan moved to Santa Fe and had made it his home for the past eight years. He hasn't been happier.
"Tell me, Tristan. Did you always consider yourself an honest ta God cowboy or did you just follow in your family's footsteps?"
"Well, I'll tell ya this, Jack. Cowboys aren't made. They're born. I was a cowboy before I was even born. Even my mama told me that I kicked my way into the world like a wild horse!" Jack laughed. Tristan was definitely a man of funny words and colloquialisms.
"What about you? Where's your pa?"
"He was in jail. Last time I heard, he died. He got some sorta sickness in jail and it finished him."
"I'm sorry, Jack."
"Nah, you don't have anything ta be sorry for. He was a good guy. I made my peace with him before he passed. So, everything's okay." Tristan felt like an ass bringing up something so personal, especially since he just met Jack. He decided to change the subject.
"Say how old are ya, Jack? 23? 24?"
"25, Tris." Tristan smiled to himself. "I take it Apollonia is the same?"
"Yeah, we're da same age. She's my reason for being."
"I can tell." He said as he took a swig of his cerveza. "How long have you known her?"
Jack sighed. "For about seven years now."
"Wow! That long?"
"Well, it's kind of a long story. See, she was involved with someone else when we met. So, I didn't stand a chance. But something bad happened and I stepped to da plate. We fell in love and eventually came out here to live out my dream."
"Touching." Tristan said. "Did you leave a lot back in New York?"
"Telling me. I left everything I ever knew ta come out here. We left our best friends, our jobs, and our families. It's not a total loss. She still has her place up in Manhattan and her business up there, but she made the bigger decision to come out with me here to Santa Fe. Ya gotta respect her for that alone."
"Seems ta me your beyond twitterpated, mi amigo. You're totally head over heels in love, the both of you."
Jack just smiled at his new friend's observation. "Don't I know it."
~
Apollonia spent her day shopping in the marketplace and in the various tiendas that marked the town. She bought some peasant blouses for herself along with some colorful skirts so that she would fit into the southwestern style of the city that she and Jack have decided to make home for a while. She even purchased some silver jewelry that complimented her new attire. Ecstatic, she stood in front of the mirror in her room with the garments in front of her, thinking to herself about how she wished that Giselle were there to share in her happiness. She would probably fawn over her and how the clothes showed off her womanly curves.
She missed Giselle. She also missed Racetrack, Kid Blink, Mush, David, the Jacobs, and the others. She sat on the bed, wondering to herself what they were all doing. She wondered if Giselle was out on a date with David, if Racetrack was at Sheepshead or hanging out at a cabaret show with Blink and Mush trying to pick up women. She warmheartedly remembered her friends and family back in New York. Her eyes were becoming misty when Jack broke her concentration.
"Heya, sweetie. What's up?"
"Oh, nothing." She lied as she wiped away a tear that almost ran down her cheek. Jack's intuition told him otherwise. "Baby, what's wrong. I can tell that you're upset." He said as he sat down next to her. Immediately, Apollonia broke down.
"I miss New York. Our friends, our family. Everything. Don't get me wrong, Jack, I love Santa Fe, but I just miss everything and everyone we left behind."
"Come here, baby." Jack held her close to him. He comforted her tenderly as she wept on his chest.
"Ya just homesick. That's all. I told you that we would visit New York as much as we could."
"I know, cherie. I'm just in a melancholy mood right now."
He kissed her on the forehead, hugging her tight. "We've come this far. You've dealt with harsher things than this. We both have. This'll pass."
"I know, my love."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author's Note: I cannot put an accent on the "i" in "Si", which is suppose to mean "Yes" in Spanish. Si in Spanish means "if", but that's not what is supposed to be said. Just informing anyone who noticed the error. ~ Apollonia
