Chapter 17 [A Half Hour Later]

Buck pressed Rebel up the trail. Panic goaded him as much as spurs and bridle did to Rebel. Now what? Are Annie and Jenny all right? He looked back toward Sam who somehow managed to keep him in sight. He noted but didn't pay much attention to the cacti and brush streaking by on either side.

Rebel's horseshoes flashed in Sol's light. The hooves barely touched the ground. The horse lengths consumed Distance's separation like a warm knife through butter.

In no time at all, Buck raced under the hanging sign and rounded the left toward the corral. He tied Rebel's reins by the water trough. "You drink all you want. You earned it." He patted the horse's flank and turned toward the hacienda. He noticed the five other horses tied on the corral's other side. "Now what?" He trudged up to the door. He almost creaked the door open.

"Buck!" Annie rushed over to him. "I'm so glad you're back!" She threw her arms around his neck.

"Hey, Annie. I'm glad you're okay. Jenny all right?" Buck looked at the table. He saw Manolito, Ricardo, Blue, Mercedes, Penny, John and Victoria all watching him in turn. "Seems everyone's here! How'd that trip to Tucson go? Bet you did real good with that trade and…."

"Not now, Buck." Manolito frowned. He motioned toward the empty seat. "¡Siéntate!

"All right. No need to yell." Caution regarded each of the visitors. He sat down in the desired chair. "I guess this is about the other day. Ain't it?"

"Si." Ricardo tapped his fingers on the table. "There are two matters. One between my daughter and you. The other is between us." He took a gulp from his cup. Consternation reduced his breathing to rasps. "What do you think I'm doing up at the rancho, Buck?"

"Oh this again." Buck frowned. "Look! I wasn't gonna say NOTHIN'! Blame Mercedes for draggin' it outta me! AWRIGHT?"

"Keep your voice down when you address me." Ricardo sighed. "You remember what happened when Don Sebastian said that. I nearly challenged him. Be grateful that Mercedes, Penelope, Blue and Victoria have begged for restraint. If this happened before your marriage, I'd have challenged you. Because of Anna and Jennifer, I give you a chance. Ahora responde mi pregunta. What do you think I am doing up there?"

Buck sniffed. "You want the truth? You really want it? All right!" He glared at him. "Maybe ol' Sebastian wasn't completely wrong. You want to run your rancho up there. You get Manolito dependent on you. I ain't seeing him no more anyhow. I'm not big enough to work for you. I'm a trouble maker! I get it!"

"I'm still my own man, Buck! Do you think he is giving Mercedes and me a gift? It is just like here! Big John does not favor any of us above the others. Do you, John?" Manolito cut in.

"You know I don't," John agreed.

"So if he invests in that property, should he not expect something in return? He wants Rancho Rivertree to be productive! And we will be. God willing." Manolito shook his head. "We have talked. He has told me what he thinks. Mercedes' dowry paid for the land. We traded some of the wild mustangs on the land for the supplies and wagon that came by here a few hours ago. Penny and Mercedes have requested fresh milk so I brought a few cows and a bull. The hacienda and building materials will be repaid very soon through an arrangement with Don Ricardo. These ideas are ours, Buck! Those apple trees are Mercedes'! Penny wants a large garden so we can be more self-sufficient. She also wants to a small forge so we can work on our horse shoes and fix tools. Blue has already told me of a few improvements. I have my own ideas as well. But these are OUR IDEAS!"

"I am leaving day after tomorrow for my rancho. Whatever happens, I will have one of my former vaqueros here. But Javier is his own hombre. I rely on the High Chaparral and Rancho Rivertree to work together as una familia. Buck, this is why I did not want you as the foreman. I do not doubt your work ethic. I know you work hard. I do not doubt, however, you will help both ranches. Before today, I considered you a friend. I do not think Manolito should have you as a foreman. I have seen and heard enough in Tucson and Tubac about you both. Besides you should have more faith in your nephew. Blue has earned my respect. Manolito and Mercedes have faith in him. So should you,' Ricardo clarified.

Buck curled his lip. "Yeah. I heard you're leaving. Hope your ranch is goin' good." He shook his head. "You all don't have idea about space. Do you?"

"¿Perdona mi? What do you mean 'space'?" Ricardo looked to Victoria.

Victoria eyed Buck. She shook her head ever so curtly at him. "Buck is saying that he did not receive due consideration for his feelings." She shot him another look.

"I care about your feelings, Buck! How can you say that?" Mercedes demanded.

"Then why did you keep asking me? I knew you'd get all upset! That's why I didn't want to answer. I would've kept it to myself," Buck pointed out.

"But you were upset already. How was I to know that talking about Papa's apple orchard at Rancho Vega would anger you? I just want to help you." Mercedes bowed her head.

"You did not know, Mercedes. It is all right." Manolito nodded. Understanding granted him a clear image of the events. "And that is when he started yelling, Victoria? Penny? Annie?"

"Yeah. We didn't know what was going on. Uncle Buck, if you don't like something, can't you just talk about it with us?" Penny grabbed onto Buck's gloved hand.

"I told him not to address Mercedes like that, Don Ricardo," Victoria added.

"I see." Mercedes put her hand up. "I am sorry, Buck."

"You are sorry? Mercedes…" Manolito started.

"No, Manolo. I am sorry I did not know. I will be more careful," Mercedes apologized. "I asked because I did not want you to hurt."

"And I should've just said it. I just remember what happened in Sonora between your Daddy and Don Sebastian. I was looking to avoid all of this. I get mad when people don't listen." Buck shook his head.

"Buck, we have to communicate," John told him. "How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"Yeah you tell me that! Then you don't want to hear me! It's just you! You, you and you!" Buck groused.

"When we try to talk about it, you both say it's private, Pa. You just clam up. Think that's what happened here," Blue interjected.

"Yeah. I get it." Buck sighed. He rubbed the back of his head. "Well I'm sorry too. I meant what I said about your nice house and everything. I…I…just…" He shook his head. "I hate bein' called a bad influence and all of that!"

"We have our past history, Buck. We are both married now. We are no longer free spirits as it were." Manolito looked to Mercedes. "Are you satisfied?"

"I have one request." Mercedes turned to Buck. "Buck, be honest with me. I did not mean to hurt you. How can I know if you do not tell me?"

"Yeah. I get it. All right. And that goes both ways. All right?" Buck looked her in the eye.

"Bien. I am satisfied ahora." Mercedes smiled. She held her arms out.

"She goes easy on you, Amigo. Still if Mercedes is satisfied then so am I." Manolito gulped from his coffee cup. "I do not want that happening again in my hacienda. ¿Comprende?"

"Yeah I get it." Buck hugged Mercedes. "This is better. I sure don't like yelling and getting everyone upset."

"Then you talk to me." Mercedes squeezed him tighter. She rested her chin on his right shoulder. "No quiero escuchar mas 'no es asunto tuyo'. ¿Entiéndeme?"

"Huh? What? I didn't get that." Buck looked to Victoria and then Mano.

Manolito shrugged. "Mercedes told you that she does not want you to tell her that such things are none of her business any more, Buck. I have had enough of that myself. There is much anger when we do not speak to each other. That has to stop. Si. I have to do better myself. I think I am satisfied as well."

"Great!" Buck cheered.

"There is the matter of Don Ricardo's feelings," John reminded them all. "Buck, you were out of line. I know we've already spoken about it. I'm telling you that if you want respect, that's not how to go about it. Am I clear?"

"Yeah. I got it." Buck nodded.

"We all have to work together. I don't want to get into a competition between our ranches. We can work together. I just hope one day Don Sebastian gets some common sense." John sighed.

"Papa's games go too far." Manolito rubbed his forehead. "We have little gain from being that way. Do we not?"

Ricardo glanced at Manolito. "He could not deal with your mother's death, Manolito. He wants control. He loses it." He rubbed his son-in-law's arm. "You should think about that." He looked at Victoria. "Both of you." He turned to Buck next. "Listen well, Buck. I wish you learn from this matter. There will not be another."

"Sure I will. I…" Buck stared at Ricardo. His eyes went wide. "What? Why?"

Manolito glanced at Buck. "Amigo, he gives you another chance. If there is another, he will return and challenge you." He arched an eyebrow.

Buck blinked. Incredulity numbed his brain. He trembled. "You serious? I mean…I…" He looked around the table.

Deadly earnest echoed in everyone's eyes. Silence throbbed throughout the room.

Victoria bit her lip. She squeezed John's hand.

Manolito sighed.

"Buck, we all need to think on this. All of us," John told him.

"Yeah. I guess." Buck stood slowly. "I need some air. Annie?"

"I'll be right there." Annie watched Buck go outside. Gratitude welled up in her eyes. "Thank you, Don Ricardo. I…."

"De nada, Annie. You should not lose another husband. Jennifer needs a father." Ricardo exhaled. "Watch him por favor."

"I will." Annie hurried after Buck.

"Gracias, Papa." Mercedes expressed.

"De nada, mi Hijita." Ricardo shook his head. "Miguel would talk of peace and vengeance being the Lord's. He would be right." He stood. "I need some air. Perdona mi." With that, he left the room.

Heaviness sagged across Mood's dominion on that afternoon….