Chapter 3 [Next Day]

[Rancho Rivertree]

Mercedes opened her eyes just before sunrise. She stretched her arms. Sleepers squinted out of her eyes. "Mmm…Buenos Dias, Manolo." She put her hand out to shake him awake.

His side of the bed was already empty.

"Manolo?" She sat up. "¿Donde està él?" She jumped out of bed. She went behind the changing screen and put on the previous day's work dress and apron. She brushed it clean. Good thing Papa cannot see me! ¡Ay! What will we do when he returns? She rolled her eyes at the upcoming arguments. She hustled down the stairs.

Penny broke some eggs in a pan. She turned. "Hola, Tia. I've got breakfast on."

"Gracias, Penny. You have not seen Manolo this morning?" Mercedes looked into Manolito's office. She did not find him there.

"Yeah I have." Penny frowned. She and Blue had argued that morning. She drank from her coffee mug. "They rode off about an hour ago."

Mercedes threw her hands up. Exasperation and Frustration reddened her face. She bit back the next comment knowing that Penny didn't deserve it. "I need that breakfast. I hope they will be all right."

"Bart and Reno are here on watch. Ira, Wind and Johnny went with Manolito and Blue." She put some chopped onions and jalapeños into the cooking eggs. "This'll make you feel a little better."

"I am sure." Mercedes curled her lip. "We have to wash and get ready for mañana." She poured herself some coffee and sat at the table.

Tio, you sure messed up. Penny winced.

[North Pasture]

Manolito rode Makadoo onto the flat pasture from the downhill sloping trail. Chill bit into his cheeks. His eyes surveyed the field.

Nothing of note could be seen across the sea of grass. With his pencil, he scratched out a few observations.

"Anything?" Blue rode up beside him.

"No. It is quiet. Almost too quiet." Manolito urged Makadoo albeit with Caution's gait out into the pasture. "Ride around the pasture. See if there is another trail."

"There is." Wind pointed across the grass and toward the northeast. "That goes further into these hills. This is how the Apache come onto the pasture behind us."

"Dang! Why didn't you bring this up before?" Ira rolled his eyes.

Wind coughed. "Because you did not ask. Before you ask me, there is another trail off of the Western Pasture. It goes toward an Apache village between this rancho and the High Chaparral."

Manolito sighed. "Gracias, Amigo, for sharing that. At least we know of these trails." He wrote those insights into his journal.

Blue noticed movement by the trees on the pasture's other side. His eyes went wide. "Guys! We've got company!" He pointed toward the trail.

Three Apache warriors stopped four horse lengths onto the grass. They took note of the riding party. Then they turned and rode back into the woods.

"They're supposed to be in their winter stronghold. Ain't they?" Chad stared at the braves. He kept his hands away from his pistol at all costs.

"What now?" Blue stiffened. "Think we should go after them?"

Manolito shook his head. "No, Amigo, we would never find them. If we did, it would be an ambush. Vamanos." He knew better than to linger there. Given that there were no cattle or horses to defend at that juncture, a standoff would prove a fool's errand. He rode back up the trail and into the Western Pasture.

A dozen more Apaches watched them intently from the pasture's center. They did not seek to attack. Their hands remained firm on the reins. Their eyes fixed on Manolito and his men. Their rifles rested on their laps.

Chad recalled such faceoffs with the Apaches. His Dad had known when to fight and when to run. "We're surrounded."

"No but stay still, Chad. They can run us down if they wish." Manolito raised his right hand. He made the sign of peace to the other riders.

The leader in the center conversed with his companions. Then he smoothed his long dark hair back. He urged his pony ahead at a canter. With the slow pace, he made his way toward the group. His eyes looked into Manolito's.

Manolito set his jaw. He recalled John going into such meetings with Apache chiefs and sub-chiefs. He took his gun belt off. "Keep this." He handed it to Blue.

"What are you doing?" Blue took the offered weapon and belt. "You can't…!"

"It is as your father does, Blue. That is Tularosa. He is not armed. If we wish to speak, I cannot be either. It will be all right." Manolito patted Makadoo's neck.

Makadoo grunted.

"I know, Amigo. Vamanos." Manolito urged Makadoo into a trot. As with Tularosa, he did not speed up or deviate from his course. He knew of Hate's hold on the Subchief's heart. He drew a ragged breath.

Once more, he now understood John's perspective on things.

How do you do this, John? Manolito shook his head. He met Tularosa in the meadow's center. "Hail Tularosa! I come in peace." He put his hand on his chest and extended Greetings' sign to signal Good Will's intent.

Tularosa's eyes narrowed. His mouth remained twisted in a tight frown. "You have come. You should speak. I will determine if you come in peace."

Manolito nodded. "I only seek to live in peace."

"You raise the metal wires across our lands. How is that peace?" Suspicion dripped from Tularosa's tongue. "You follow Cannon."

"No." Manolito shook his head. "I am Chief of this rancho. Do you wish to graze your cattle?"

"We need grass for our cattle. Patterson kept us off of plateau. He tried to keep us from this place. Now you build more. You will tear down forests for cattle." Tularosa curled his lip still further.

"No. With this grass, we have enough. Chief Tularosa knows I respect Apache ways. I will protect my family and home. I wish to live alongside you." Manolito slowly extended his arms. "Look around us. There is land for Cannon, you and me. Do you see Yellow Hair with the others?"

"Yes. So?" Tularosa glared at Blue. He recognized Cannon's son as well. "He is with his father!"

"He has left Chaparral and come here with me, Chief Tularosa! He, our wives and I have a plan. We will plant trees like those pines in big mountains to the north and west. We have apple trees to plant for food. If we cut tree down, we plant another in its place." Manolito kept his hands on his reins.

"You will plow land under. Then you plant your crops. There will be no graze left," Tularosa accused.

"I have cattle that need graze and water. I will keep pastures. Small areas will be for crops. I do not want attack or war. That will not benefit your people or mine, Chief Tularosa," Manolito disagreed.

Tularosa nodded. Unlike with Cannon, Logic came from this one's words. He'd heard of this one's Trial by Courage. He knew of Blue's connection to the squaw, Moon Fire, before her death. If they had left the Ranch of Cannon to start over, perhaps there was such a plan. "You let us graze? We have but a few dozen cattle."

"Chief Tularosa has my word." Manolito put his hand over his chest. Then he made Peace's sign anew. "I ask about hunting."

"My braves hunt in forest. There are deer, White Man. We hunt to survive." Tularosa informed him. "We need animals for food and hides."

"We are far from Tucson. We also need them." Manolito nodded. "I understand Chief's need for people."

"And well you should. I will not see my village starve for you! Other whites talk of living together and peace when it suits them! Then army comes and shooting begins!" Tularosa advised. Menace and Distrust soaked his warning.

"We have land. We share. I will speak to Cannon about this. I cannot speak for him or High Chaparral. That is between Cannon and Chief Tularosa. On my land, this is what I can say. That is my offer." Manolito proposed.

Tularosa did not care for it. Still, if Manolito kept his word, the proposal would be a fair one. "Very well. We shall bring our cattle to graze. We share forests and game. We would like to see great pine. The sap and cones help us."

"Then you shall have some." Manolito grinned. "Thank you, Chief Tularosa." He bowed at the waist to him.

"Remember you have promised. You remember well!" Tularosa turned his pony. He galloped back toward his warriors. Then they rode onto the Village Path and toward their own settlement.

Relief pushed a sharp breath from Manolito's lungs. That was close. They came back from the stronghold early? He urged Makadoo toward the others.

"You impressed him." Wind relaxed. He nodded albeit in a begrudging manner toward the Padron.

"Are they going to attack us, Manolito?" Blue glanced toward the Northern Pasture and Village Trails. Ill at Ease ate at them.

"I do not think so. Tularosa demanded certain needs for his people. I allow them. Big John will speak for the High Chaparral. I speak for Rancho Rivertree. We should get back to the hacienda. I will tell Mercedes, Penny and you there. Vamanos." He urged Makadoo back toward home.

Negotiation had made a foothold. Now would it hold?