Chapter 16 [High Chaparral—An Hour Later]

John tied his horse to the corral fence. His handkerchief swiped the sweat from his forehead. He noticed Sam working on the halters across the fenced in area. Pedro watched the desert from the observation tower. He sucked in a deep breath. Foreboding ate at him.

Just a short time before, Manolito, Blue and their caravan had circled close by the ranch. They waved but didn't stop. They seemed determined to get back to their own hacienda. They had two new wagons, supplies and new livestock.

They did well enough with those horses. I just hope they put some money away. He sighed. And what's going to happen when Manolito and Ricardo find out about Buck's words with Mercedes? He frowned. He definitely did not want to play peacemaker with everyone.

Well this time, he'd make sure it was settled. Once and for all.

I won't have Buck stirring up trouble because of hurt feelings! I won't make an enemy out of Mano. Blue was doing a fine job from what I could see. He has a life here with Annie and Jennifer.

"John?" Victoria hustled out of the hacienda and across the yard. Concern pressed down on her shoulders and lent speed to her pace.

"Hmm? Oh, Victoria!" He regarded her. Despite his current issue, her presence lightened his heart. Perhaps the reminder that I needed. He thought back over the early days of their marriage. Storms practically raged over Expectations' perceptions of each partner toward the other. Still, they did finally adjust to each other. They grew together. Instead of the ranch being his dream, it became theirs. "Everything all right?"

"Yes." She glanced around. "Do you know why Manolito and the others did not stop? I wanted them to get something to eat and drink. It is a very long road from Tucson. No?"

"It is especially when they're driving cattle." He arched his eyebrow. "That was nice of you. I think they wanted to get back to Rivertree with their goods and the animals. Sure that's all you wanted to do?"

She narrowed her eyes. "I was trying to be helpful!"

"I know you were." He coughed. "Sure you weren't trying to get on everyone's good side too?"

"I get them in a better mood. What is wrong with that?" She folded her arms across her chest.

"Oh nothing…nothing. Sure you don't want to force a solution on everyone? Buck has to face Manolito and Don Ricardo. I don't want anyone getting hurt."

"Well I do not want that either!" She frowned. "Mercedes and Penny know I scolded him for that."

He nodded. "I know. They know. Still it's something they have to work out for themselves. I don't like Buck saying what he did about Blue and that job. I told him that. Buck needs to get over it." He shook his head. "He's got Annie in his life. They've got Jenny to think about. We're a family. I mean that's worth something. Isn't it?"

"Of course it is! Oh, John. We are of one mind on this." She put her arms around his waist. "I want everyone to be happy. It is not an easy thing."

"No. It isn't. But that's what makes you special, Victoria." Amor sparkled in his eyes. His lips whispered sweet notes across hers. "You'd make everyone get along if you could."

"Si. I would. So would you." She looked up toward him again. "Where's Buck?"

He shrugged. "He'll be back soon. I sent him out to check the fence on the ridge. I can't just keep him here every minute."

"I just don't want him riding up there and making things worse." Worry overwhelmed her mind. "It will start with good intentions. Then someone will say something. Manolito and Buck both can be stubborn and hot headed. Don Ricardo will not stand for that." She shook her head. "I do not want a duel."

"A duel? Victoria, I thought we got past that when we left your father's ranch." He rolled his eyes.

"We left Papa to stew on it. We solved nothing. Doña Lupe returned to Rancho Vega. Papa will never accept Manolito's arrangement with Don Ricardo. I will not have Buck being jealous of what others have! We do not need that!" She frowned. "I wish an apology could solve our problem."

"It still could." He sucked in a deep breath. "Maybe Mercedes won't say anything. Maybe she and Manolito can talk to Buck by themselves and not say anything to her father?"

"I wish." She shook her head. "Something like this you do not keep from Don Ricardo. He will find out." She sighed. "I do not want Buck hurt either. He has to understand what his words did. I do not think my scolding did that."

"I think it did more than you think it did," he assured her. "When I spoke to him, he regretted the whole thing before that. But I think everyone had a role in it."

"Excuse me? John, what are you saying?" She stared at him.

"Buck can feel like a mule no matter what we say. This all started because Don Ricardo feels that Buck and Mano are bad influences on each other when they are not being supervised. I'm inclined to agree. I'm sure you will too. Buck explodes because he doesn't feel appreciated enough. He just feels that he was shoved out of the way because he's a problem…or he thinks that we think that way." Consternation chafed at his mind and ground his teeth.

"We appreciate him!" she declared.

"Yes we do. He wants respect. Lord knows, I try to give him as much as I can. I'm not going to favor Blue, Manolito, Buck or anyone on this ranch above anyone else." He turned back out toward the desert. "I just wish folks could work out their own demons. That way we can deal with our own." He bowed his head.

"It is not that easy, my Husband. I wish it could be so. But it is not. All we can do is live together and help each other. We love each other. That is all we can do." She rubbed his shoulders.

Pedro fired off two shots into the air. "RIDERS!"

"Now what?" John straightened his hat. Anticipation squared his shoulders. His eyes fixed on the entrance. He saw Manolito, Blue, Ricardo, Penny and Mercedes riding their horses toward it. "Speaking of them. Victoria, why don't you start some coffee? We're going to need it."

"In a moment." She collected herself. "We shall greet them first." She summoned up every bit of Nobility's poise. Her eyes narrowed. Serenity composed her perfect poker face.

John let out a breath. He tilted his hat and set his jaw. He knew what he had to do. It was his ranch after all….

…but it was Victoria's too….

"Yeah. Together then?" He looked into his wife's eyes.

She nodded. Her hand squeezed his. "Together."

"All right then."

They walked together to meet the quintet riding toward them. Their eyes met the others.

"This is a surprise! Wish you could have stopped when you drove by earlier!" John greeted. "You all looked like you had a great trip."

Manolito looked to Ricardo. Then he shook his head. "I am sorry, John. I wish this was a simple visit. Buck and I have a matter to settle." He dismounted.

"We have matters to settle." Ricardo corrected as he got down from his horse. "Where is he?"

"He's out dealing with a job. I'll have one of the men fetch him." John turned toward the corral. "SAM! SAM!"

Sam rushed over to them. "Yeah, Boss? What is it? Everything all right?"

"You know where Buck is? Saddle a horse and bring him back here. Quick as you can." Purpose shot forth from John's eyes toward his foreman's.

Sam looked toward Manolito and Blue. Anger therein sent shudders through him. "Yeah. I'll do that." He ran toward the corral. As quickly as he could manage, he saddled a horse and galloped after Buck.

"I was about to put some coffee on. Perhaps after that cattle drive, you must be thirsty," Victoria offered.

"I would like some. Gracias, Victoria. It will not change anything, my Sister," Manolito accepted with conditions and an edge to his voice.

"Can't we just talk about this before everyone gets angry?" Penny interjected. She saw Annie standing in the door. She bowed her head. "Blue…"

"I don't want no one getting hurt either, Penny. I just want Uncle Buck to get some things straight is all." Blue consoled his wife.

"Glad to hear you say that, Blue," John noted. Appreciation and Relief relaxed him ever so slightly. "Manolito, Don Ricardo, why don't we just settle down?"

"John, I will not stand for someone saying such things about me!" Ricardo asserted.

"Nor will we." Victoria met Ricardo's glare with one of her own. "John and I have already scolded Buck for that. If you wish to speak with him, we may do so. I will not see a duel here."

"Let's go inside, get some coffee and settle this peaceably." John motioned toward the hacienda. "Annie?"

"I put the pot on as soon as I heard the shots, John." Annie shuddered. "I just want it to be dealt with. I'll have Jenny go to her room. I don't want her to hear this." She hustled back into the house.

"It is quite the pity." Manolito took a step forward.

"Manolito, you will calm down. I will not have you charging in here like a mad bull," Victoria chided.

Manolito coughed. "And I do not have the right? Victoria, Buck did not have to yell at Mercedes! He could have made his point."

"How would you feel if I came into that hacienda and yelled at Victoria, John?" Ricardo pressed.

"You and I would have words. Maybe a few punches. Nobody would be dead over it though. There's a lot to both sides. We should hear the whole thing. The whole thing. I won't allow any killing over some words." John narrowed his eyes.

"You agree with what Buck did? JOHN!" Manolito bellowed.

"Now settle down! Pa didn't say that!" Blue stepped in the middle. He sucked in a deep breath. "He just wants everyone to talk and understand each other! Let's just get some coffee. We're supposed to be family. Come on, Penny." He took her hand and headed toward the hacienda.

"Papa, Manolo, that is what I wish as well. Por favor. Vamanos." Mercedes frowned. "Necesitamos hablar. Quiero esa taza de café."

"Very well. We will talk. I want any bad feelings put to rest. Neither of us did anything to deserve it, Mercedes." Ricardo marched inside.

This is going to be some talk. John eyed Victoria before they led everyone else in.