Chapter 9 [Rancho Rivertree]

The new rancho seemed peaceful. A cool breeze rustled through the trees. Sol floated amidst the clouds in their robin's egg blue backdrop above. A few birds serenaded each other from branch to branch.

Penny hauled a bucket of water up the hill. Now that she and Mercedes had finished putting away the clothes from the sacks, she wanted to wash some clothes. Her eyes gazed up the hill and past the hacienda. Around the structure's sides, she saw hints of the untamed grass contained within the growing apple saplings. We're going to grow some of our own stuff at least. That sure would be a help! She'd seen vegetables show up in the general store from time to time. That and maybe a cow? She added that item to her mental checklist. She brought the bucket into the hacienda and set it down without spilling a drop.

Mercedes gave the table one last swipe with her polishing rag. "There!" Satisfaction prompted a nod at the gleaming table and counter. "Are you washing today?"

"Yeah. Blue's down to his last clean shirt. Best to stay ahead." Penny winced. "Oh I plumb forgot that the basin's outside!" She shook her head.

Mercedes got up. "A break would be good for us." She carried the bucket back outside and set it to the left of the door. "I will make coffee."

"Gosh! Thanks!" Penny slumped into one of the chairs. "We sure have been busy. The place is looking real nice. Isn't it?"

"We will clean everything before Manolo and Blue come back." Mercedes smiled for her niece's sake and her own. She took the coffee pot and filled it from the water bucket. Then she returned and poured the grounds in the top. "We need a well." She set the pot on top of the wood stove. "I do not want you to be tired."

"I'm fine. Thanks. Sure is nice to sit down." Penny rubbed her arms. "Whew! Victoria makes this look so simple."

"Victoria has a plan for everything. I learn from her," Mercedes pointed out.

Two gunshots echoed from outside.

"What was that?" Penny jumped to her feet.

"That is Bart. He is on watch. Vamanos." Mercedes hustled outside. She saw Buck driving the buckboard along with Victoria, Annie and Jennifer. "It is all right! Penny, we will make more coffee!"

"Wow! Sure!" Penny put out a few more coffee cups. Imagine that! We talk about Victoria and she comes on up here. Guess it was meant that we took a break! She walked out onto the porch.

Buck stopped the wagon and set the brake. Awe widened his eyes. He recalled Patterson's shack, the lean-to passing for a barn and the broken-down corral. Now he took in the new hacienda on the hill. He shook his head.

"It sure looks nice!" Jennifer noted.

"That it does, Jenny." Annie waved to their hostesses.

"Everyone has worked hard to make it nice." Victoria climbed down from the wagon seat. "Buck, can you get the trunk out of the back?"

"Sure thing, Victoria." He got down and walked around the wagon toward the back. He considered the new corrals. No wonder Manolito and Blue wanted to come up here. As Jenny said, this is nice. He eased the trunk out of the wagon. He lowered it to the ground with a grunt. One glance up the hill told him he wouldn't want to heft it up to the hacienda by himself. "Hey! Just wondering if I can get some help?"

"All you had to do was ask, Buck!" Bart rushed over. "Hey! How are you doing?"

"Great! You got some place here!" Buck embraced his friend. "How'd they do it? I knew you all were up here a lot. This sure is something else!"

"Manolito and Don Ricardo have been building and working. This ain't even everything!" Bart pointed at the trunk. "You going to the house with that?"

"Yeah. Appreciate the hand, Bart." Buck picked up one end as Bart did with the other. He led the way up the hill and toward the hacienda. "Where can I put this, Mercedes?"

"I am sorry, Buck! Let me show you. Gracias!" Mercedes led Buck and Bart into the living room. They went up the stairs and to her bedroom. "It will go in here." She opened the door.

Buck whistled at the bedroom. Perhaps it was not as large as Sebastian's at Rancho Montoya. The chamber could easily fit John and Victoria's bedroom into it twice. Admiration appreciated the fine furnishings and king-sized bed. "This is nice. Real nice!" He guided Bart over to an empty spot beside the dresser. "This good?"

"Si. Gracias." She watched them set the dresser down. "I appreciate your help."

"Weren't nothin', Ma 'am. I'll be getting on watch now. Good seeing you, Buck!" Bart tipped his hat. Then he hustled back toward the stairs and outside.

Mercedes studied Buck closely. Despite Enthusiasm's beat in his tone, Negativity billowed off of him like the smoke from a fire. She frowned. "We should talk."

"Yeah sure." He surveyed the room. "This here's some bedroom. John and Victoria would sure love a room like this!" He walked over to the window. His eyes looked over the back pasture. He regarded the apple saplings. "Those new trees?"

"Si. I wanted apple trees. I loved to pick them at Papa's rancho." She sighed. "Buck?"

He rubbed the back of his head. "I'd best see if Victoria needs anything. Excuse me." He hustled from the room and down the stairs. He knew what she wanted to talk about. Still he didn't want to unleash Frustration's tempest at her. He glanced back up the stairs and shook his head.

"Buck?" Victoria regarded him. "What is it?"

"Oh nothin', Victoria. Trunk's where it needs to be. I…well…" He grimaced.

Annie turned to Jenny. "Jenny, can you step outside? I need to talk to Buck. It's grown up stuff."

Jenny nodded. She wanted to hear the adults' conversation. "Okay, Mama. Just let me know when you're done?"

"Of course. Now run along." Annie walked Jenny over to the door. "Don't go wandering too far off now." She sent her daughter outside and shut the door. She rubbed her forehead. "This should be a pleasant visit." She saw Mercedes peer like a shy doe around the corner at the top of the stairs.

Victoria slapped the table. "Buck, enough!" Anger simmered off of her. "Look up there! LOOK!" She pointed toward Mercedes. "She hesitates to come down! I do not understand! What did you do?"

"What did I…? I didn't do nothin'! NOTHIN'! I told her what a nice room she and Manolito have. Bart and me…hey we helped get that trunk in place real nice." He ground his teeth.

Annie looked him over. She knew the signs well. "Buck, something's eating at you. What is it?"

"Annie, there ain't…"

"Buck Cannon, who do you think you're talking to? I know you! I remember John and you had your dust ups back East. But there's been something burning at you. Is it something Jenny or me did?"

"What?" Shock widened his eyes. "Annie, no! It ain't you! I just don't want to talk about it." He bowed his head.

"I'm your wife, Buck. We're family here. There ain't a lot that we can't hear," Annie admonished.

Mercedes descended the stairs. She watched him carefully. "I'll get that coffee." She slipped around the edge of the room. She fixed herself a cup and sipped it. Tears watered in her eyes. "What did I do?"

"What are you getting at? You ain't done nothin' except work all morning!" Penny squinted at Mercedes. "Buck, I know you're older. But Mercedes ain't done nothin'. She's been looking forward to getting that trunk upstairs. Sure enough!"

"All I said was that I enjoyed picking apples at Papa's rancho." Mercedes shook her head. "I do not understand. Buck, how did that upset you? If you want some apples when they are picked, you know Manolito would give you all that you want."

"Aw! I know that! I…." He gulped from his coffee. "Nuts!"

"I cannot believe you! First you fight with John and cause a scene there. Now you are causing a scene here!" Victoria snapped. Her eyes narrowed. "You have to be a…." She shook her head. ¿Como se dice? Ah si! You have to be an example to Jennifer! You pout like a child!"

He got up and paced about the room. Frustration frothed and boiled up inside of him. "You want to know? YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW?"

"Buck, whatever I've done…." Mercedes started.

"¡Mercedes, para! ¡No has hecho nada! ¡No te disculpes!" Victoria insisted. She turned on him like a maddened snake. "Buck Cannon, you will not address her in that manner! Lower your voice and speak respectfully to her! This is her home! Even if we were at the High Chaparral, I would not tolerate this!"

He curled his lip. "And I'm supposed to take being passed over for foreman? I'm a good foreman! All right? I ride and work all day! And everyone just uses me! I'm glad Blue Boy got it. And I'll bet her Daddy don't like me or something!"

"What?" Mercedes gasped. "Papa likes you, Buck! How can you…?"

"Now wait! Blue's a good foreman too!" Penny argued.

"Si. Blue certainly did not make it seem like it was his first cattle drive this morning. I am very proud of him." Victoria allowed herself a smile for an instant. "Buck, stop this talk! John respects you! Everyone does! Don Ricardo is a good businessman. He understands people. Manolito and I have known this since we were children." She shook her head. "It does not take a great deal to understand!"

"Well then enlighten me, Victoria!" he railed.

Mercedes shook her head. "Papa wants Manolo to be a proper caballero! He wants this rancho to succeed! I know you are Manolo's best friend. I would never come between you. But Manolo cannot gamble and be with those women anymore. He promised me! If he wishes to have a drink with you or anyone, bueno. ¿Que pasa? ¿Que pasó con el hombre que nos recuperó de Trails' End?"

"Huh?" He frowned. "Victoria, what is she saying? I don't…"

Victoria sighed. "Mercedes wants to know what is wrong with you. She asks what happened to the man who got everyone back from Trails' End in one piece." She raised her hands. "I would want to know the same thing! A foreman cannot lose his temper like this! He has to master his feelings! He has to deal with good and bad! Look at you! Manolito leaves and you are still angry! You apologized but still you go on!" She shook her head. "It is not just about you! It is about Annie and Jennifer!"

"Buck, it's not like this is the end of the world. It's only a short ride up the trail. We've sure got a good home. I don't want to leave but…." Annie started.

"No! I don't want to leave! All right?" He shook his head. "I…I just want my friend. I want people to get what I do. It's like ol' Ricardo just staying here and deciding what goes. I…"

Mercedes shook her head. "¡Basta! You will not talk about my father like that! He watches. Si. Manolito and Blue decide. Penny and I talk too." Indignation turned her face red. "You will not have to worry. Papa will leave soon for Rancho Vega." She stood. "Lo siento, Victoria. El no puede estar aquí. No permitiré que hable así sobre Manolito o mi padre." She pointed to the door. "Please wait outside. I cannot hear any more, Buck."

"I am sorry, Mercedes." Annie got up. "Buck, let's go look at the apple trees."

"Annie, what?" He saw her eyes narrowing. "Yeah. Guess we better get see 'em." He followed his wife outside.

Mercedes sobbed. "What have we done? We just want our home! We want to be happy! We want Penny and Blue to be happy! Why are Mama and Don Sebastian acting like that as well?"

Victoria embraced her. "They want what they want. It is why Papa has only visited the High Chaparral twice. He cannot accept my life. He cannot accept that Don Ricardo is helping." She rubbed her forehead. "¡Ay! ¡Ay! ¡Ay!"

"My dowry paid for this land! We sell horses to purchase what we need! We repay Papa for this hacienda! Who are they to judge us? We will work and build our dream!" Mercedes shook her head.

"You sure do work hard. Who cares what they think?" Penny took a heavy draught from the cup. "I just don't want trouble from this."

"Manolo will not stand for it," Mercedes insisted.

"I will have John speak to him." Victoria stood. "I wanted to tell you that this hacienda is beautiful. You do not wish to hear that now."

"No, Victoria. I know you mean that. Don Sebastian laughed at our dream. I will not have Buck or anyone doing the same in my home. Annie and you are welcome. I feel bad for Jenny. If we had a wagon, I would offer to let her stay up here for a day. I do not wish to come between Annie and Buck," Mercedes assured her.

"Gracias, Mercedes. I would not tell your father. Don Ricardo almost challenged Papa. I fear he would want satisfaction for this morning. You do have to tell Manolito. This has gone on long enough." Victoria shuddered. Indignance flared at Sebastian's insults toward her brother and sister-in-law's dream. She knew her brother would demand more than an apology this time. "I would continue this visit at another time."

"Gracias for my trunk," Mercedes expressed. She walked Victoria and Penny out of the hacienda and down toward the wagon. "I meant what I said about Annie, Jenny and you, Victoria."

"I know." Victoria saw Buck sitting in the back of the wagon. Annie and Jenny sat on the wagon seat. "It will be all right." She hugged Mercedes and then Penny. "You make this hacienda your home."

"We are," Penny agreed. "Victoria?"

"Yes, Penny?" Victoria turned to her daughter-in-law.

"You said Blue looked great out there this morning?" Penny wondered.

Victoria smiled. Her eyes sparkled. "Oh yes! He was in charge. There was no hesitation. Blue rode like an experienced vaquero! We are all so proud of him!"

Penny grinned. Pride warmed her heart. "I knew he could do it! I knew it!"

"So did Manolo and Papa. That is why Blue and you are here, Penny. Besides I want mi Sobrina with me." Mercedes rubbed Penny's shoulder.

Victoria nodded. She waved and headed back toward the wagon. She climbed up onto the seat. With only a single look toward him, she started the horses and drove back off down the path.

"Sure wish Buck didn't have to be like that. I don't get it." Penny shook her head.

Mercedes frowned. "Everyone wants us to do what they want us to do. I would not. I left home. Manolito would not follow his father's wishes so he went to the High Chaparral. Papa understands how to work with us. I wish everyone else would too." She sighed. "Vamanos." She led Penny back toward the hacienda.

Life always did present its challenges…..