Chapter 4 [Outside]

Buck rode Rebel into the compound. Exhaustion wore at him. He'd ridden since first light. He'd led the ranch hands after the herd's strays. He knew Joe and Pedro knew what to do. Still, he spent as much time leading those new hands, Henderson and Mathers, around practically by their noses.

Who wrangled who? The cattle or those greenhorns?

Buck slapped his hat against the fence post. "Confound it! Now Brother John can't even get good men! I mean really?" He ground his teeth and frowned. "Bad enough Don Mano's got his ranch. Now he's got Blue Boy dreaming of being a foreman! They took Reno and Bart! They got Ira. I mean really?"

"Howdy, Buck! I'm sure glad to see you!" Jenny rushed out of the barn. She seized onto his waist. Her head rubbed up against his chest. "I was thinking about you all day!"

Embarrassment reddened his face. Dang it. I didn't realize she was listening. He rubbed his forehead. "Yeah. Hey, Jenny. You were?"

"I sure was! In between helping Mama with the chores, I looked out toward them mountains! I was thinking of Rebel and you out there. Must be something else," she presumed.

"Yeah. That's one way of putting it." Warmth lifted his spirits. His arms snaked around her back and held her close. "Still having your Momma and you waiting for me makes me so happy!"

She grinned at him. "Well good! Victoria's making a big dinner. Hope you're hungry!"

His eyes sparkled into hers. Depression evaporated at just a glance from her. "I sure am!" He heard a pair of shots from the watchtower. "Yeah, Jenkins?"

"BUCK, INCOMING RIDERS!" Jenkins alerted.

"Now what?" He guided Jenny back toward the house. There he saw John and the ladies watching as well. "Wonder who that might be."

"Hopefully it's Manolito and Blue." Annie squeezed Buck's hand. "You have a good day out there?"

Buck glanced toward his older brother. "Yeah well, we have a few things to straighten up, Annie. Nothing too bad though. Hey when I have my angel waiting for me, it can't be bad." He kissed her on the cheek. "How was your day?"

"Just cleaned and helped Victoria with dinner." Annie looked her husband over. "Everything all right?"

"Yeah sure. Why wouldn't it be?" Buck put on his best front for Annie's sake. He glanced back out toward the main gate as a way of changing the subject. "Well lookie there! It's our boys, Manolito and Blue Boy!"

Manolito waved to the group. A broad smile spread across his face. "Hey, Buck! ¿Que pasa, Amigo?" He led Blue to the house stopping right in front of it. His eyes sparkled at Mercedes. He dismounted. "Mercedita, it is good to see you!" He embraced her.

Relief and Warmth washed over Mercedes. "It is always good to see you, mi Amor." She pressed her lips against his in greeting. "We have finished packing."

"Have you now? We have been busy." Manolito squeezed her hand. "Victoria, Penny, Annie, I trust everyone is well."

"Now that everything's ready to go, we sure are," Penny declared. She considered Soapy and Makadoo. Then she thought about Lucinda and her own horse. "We may not be. There's Mercedes' trunk."

"Si. There is that." Manolito rolled his eyes. "I cannot believe I forgot about that." He rubbed his forehead.

"We have to get a wagon anyhow, Manolito. Maybe if we get one in Tucson, we can swing by on the way back to Rivertree?" Blue suggested with a shrug.

"That's what we shall do!" Manolito decided. "Perhaps we can pack a few things in a satchel or a bag?"

Mercedes sighed. She wanted to look her best for Ricardo on the following day. "Perhaps Papa might help with his carriage? Speaking of Papa, where is he?"

"He is still working with the vaqueros. We shall see him tonight." Manolito kept the response curt. "We can ask if he can help."

"So you ready to drive those horses into Tucson?" John shook hands with Mano.

"I would think so. Blue, what do you think?" Manolito agreed.

"We sure are, Pa." Blue glanced toward Manolito. "We're hoping to get an early start. Should be coming by here about 6:30 or so."

"That sounds about right." John nodded. "My stock and horses are in the South Range. I was going to have the boys drive them up to your South Range day after tomorrow. Maybe we can get a month of grazing up there."

Manolito nodded. "Si. The stock is in the West Meadow right now. I do not see a problem. As soon as we pass by, you should start your own drive. That way, your animals can graze before the cold weather. ¿No?"

"I believe Manolito is correct, John," Victoria concurred.

"Well I'm sure glad everyone thinks so. Come on. We have dinner waiting," John urged while ushering them inside.