Rivertree (A Time to Love 9)

DJ Dubois

July 2020

Notes: The High Chaparral belongs to NBC and its copyright holders. Please send comments to dante0220 .

Prologue [High Chaparral, Arizona Territory, 1870s]

Doña Victoria Montoya de Canon writes…

After Buck and Annie were married, life seemingly returned to normal for us. John and Buck worked with the men to drive cattle toward Fort Marcie. Blue and Mano helped with repairs and herding around the South Range. Mercedes, Manolito and I attend Miguel's masses every Sunday whenever possible. Sometimes Miguel will come to dinner midweek. It has been wonderful to have Annie and Jennifer around. Now I am not the only woman in the house. I am relieved to have them, Mercedes and Penny for companionship. More than an uneasy blending of Montoyas and Cannons, I feel we are finally becoming a family.

As much as it pains me to say this, I am glad Doña Lupe returned to Rancho Vega. I am also glad Papa has remained distant for the past three months. I know their absence hurts Manolito, Mercedes, Miguel and Don Ricardo. I would welcome them if they would accept us. John agrees with me strongly in this regard. Perhaps the time apart will force them to reconsider their views.

Even as I speak of our bonding family, we are being pulled in different directions. Manolito and Mercedes move to their new hacienda. Si. I know it is only ten miles away and a brief horseback ride away. Still, Manolito and I have always lived together whether under Papa's rancho or here. It will seem strange for him to be some place else. I know Buck still worries. I wonder how Manolito will prove himself as a new padron. How will Mercedes carry herself as Doña? Can Blue handle being a foreman? (Fortunately, Don Ricardo has agreed to Rafael's request to stay on.) And what kind of ranch hands will Manolito bring in? Surely not the bunch that he and Buck get out of those saloons!

So much to consider. Yet we should look to the future. We grow. Our family shares a common border. We can work together.

[Rancho Rivertree, Arizona Territory, 1870s]

Doña Mercedes Vega de Montoya writes…

I cannot believe the hacienda is finally finished! After months of work, we have suitable walls and a roof over our heads. Doña Esperanza's rose arbor grows on its trellis. Penny, Annie, Jenny and I have finished planting not one but two new apple orchards! One is in back of the hacienda. The other is a group of twenty trees along the west range. Manolo and Blue have ridden long days on horseback to make sure the mustangs and our cattle are branded and graze in their pasture.

Miguel's new church continues to grow. Oh I am so proud of him! He takes care of everyone. I have to make sure he takes care of himself as well. Before he returns to Rancho Vega, Papa will talk to him about that.

Now to start on our garden.

Manolo is so proud. I feel the same!