Conclusion [Rancho Rivertree—Five Days After the Last Chapter]

Manolito stepped out of the hacienda. His eyes drank up the budding scene all around. Along the lake's western shore, the Rondos and Wind hammered away at what would be a barn. Blue worked with the new horses in the corral. Bart inspected a fence. "This may just work."

"Doubts already, Manolo?" Mercedes joined him on the porch. She handed him a steaming cup of coffee. "I think it is a good start." She sipped from her own cup. "Unless of course you wish to pull one of those men from the barn's new roof?" Sauciness glittered in her eyes.

"¡Ay! ¡Ay! ¡Ay!" He rolled his eyes. "Mercedita, si. It is a good start. We have much work ahead of us." He glanced at her.

"Anything worth value comes through such means." Mercedes leaned against him. "We have this wonderful place, good people around us and ourselves to help each other. What else could we want?"

"Hmm yes. Has Penny been for her walk?" he supposed.

Mercedes grinned. "Oh yes! She looked on our apple and cherry trees! She works out on the terrace. I would be with her except that I thought a certain oversized boy would want his coffee before he goes pulling me out of one of those trees." She giggled.

He coughed. "I think we are a little old for that." He kissed her forehead. "My love however is not."

Contentment coaxed a dreamy smile from her face. "Ah, Manolo."

He patted her shoulder with his hand. If he could, he would freeze such moments in time. Amor warmed his heart. Alas it was about to expand….

She straightened herself. Her eyes beheld Miguel pushing his horse up the dirt road. "That's Miguel! Now?"

"He must have news." Manolito motioned to Blue.

Blue nodded. He set the branding iron in the water bucket. Then he rushed out of the corral and toward the hacienda. Much as with Manolito and Mercedes, he puzzled over Miguel's sudden appearance. Now what?

"¡Hola!" Miguel waved to them. He dismounted and tied his horse to a post. "I have news!"

"Miguel, this must be very important for you to ride so far. You will stay for lunch at the very least. I insist!" Mercedes invited.

"Si, Hermana. I shall indeed." Miguel embraced her. "I would like some of that coffee por favor. Where is Penny? I wish her to hear as well."

"I will bring her. Come inside. We shall talk at the table." Mercedes disappeared into the hacienda.

"Ah! Mercedes is so busy! So like a buzzing bee that one!" Manolito grinned. "Is everything all right, Compadre? You seem nervous."

"Nervous? No, Mano. I am happy." Miguel started into the hacienda with Manolito. "Blue! I am sorry to disturb your work."

"No trouble at all!" Blue grinned. "We're doing great. Horses are almost branded and ready for the south meadow."

"Excellente, Amigo." Manolito smiled and nodded. "We shall take our break. Vamanos." He led them into the dining area. There, Penny and Mercedes had four more coffee cups set up with milk and a bowl of sugar cubes.

"Gracias, Mercie." Miguel sipped on his coffee. "I rode up here because I have news from Tubac."

"That would be Papa!" Mercedes' face lit up. She took the envelope from her brother. "He said he would let us know what happened with the silver!"

"That would sure be good if it works out," Blue hoped.

"Well? What does it say?" Penny pushed.

Mercedes read it. "It is excellent news!" She started reading….

"Queridos Manolito y Mercedes,

The silver has been refined. The American dollars received have settled our debt. I have deposited the remaining $250.00 in your Wells Fargo account. I will send word from Rancho Vega.

Take care. Best wishes to you, Miguel, Penny and Blue.

Don Ricardo Vega"

"That is good news! ¡Bueno!" Manolito reread the telegram. He nodded. "That will help."

"So are you all squared up then?" Blue asked.

Manolito nodded. "It means our debt with Don Ricardo is settled, Amigo. Your father speaks of the High Chaparral as a group effort. No? It is the same here. We all work together." He squeezed Mercedes' hand. "All of us together." He raised her hand and kissed it.

Mercedes blushed. "Si, mi Manolo. All of us."

Whatever challenges would beckon, Comradery and Family would provide strength. Love lit up that Rancho and its bond to the adjoining neighbor to the south.

After all, Familia was most important. Now is it not?

THE END (for now)

(**Author's Note: This isn't the end of the series (hence the 'for now') there. We have a road to positive healing and growth for the ranchos and Tucson. Right?

Yes but….

What if something happened in the past? Think about how Mercedes' survival changed the High Chaparral. In the other extreme, what effect would a character's premature death have on a person, family, community or even the history of a nation? That question comes up next. How can an event in 1819 change the High Chaparral? Can they help with things?

The "Generations" crossover will deal with that.

Part 1 takes place in Nueva España of 1819. Part 1 "Strands Broken" is a Zorro piece. (Henry's Don Alejandro plays a prominent role.) To read it, go to the Zorro section.

Part 2 "Ripples" is right back here at the High Chaparral and "A Time to Love". (And there are some more returning characters there before the Big Twist hits.)

I'll give folks a chance to read Part 1. Part 2 starts early next week.

Thanks! **)