Chapter 4

[John and Victoria's Room—Ten Minutes Later]

Victoria stared into her old mirror. Anger twisted her stomach into knots and her mouth into a tight frown. "Can you believe her, John? We are worried! We try to make her comfortable! And she just comes right back here!" She smoothed her best white blouse. White lace gloves covered her hands. Her hair rested in one of the finest twists. Her make up accented her eyes and lent color to her cheeks.

"There's no pleasing some people, Victoria. You should know that by now." John splashed his face with fresh water. "Doña Lupe's going to do what she wants. I sure feel sorry for Don Ricardo, Mercedes and Miguel." He wiped off with a fresh towel.

"They did nothing wrong. I do not know what happened to that woman. She was so kind to us as children," she lamented.

"Oh I think I know." He let out a deep breath. "It's all about expectations. No more, no less." He walked over to her side. "We're all raised to believe that our way of living is best. She wants her children to be the way she is. I've seen how she scowls when Manolito, her children or you work alongside the rest of us." He admired her appearance. "She thinks this is how you should live and be…as you are right now."

"But I have chosen our path, my Husband." She turned toward him. "I have chosen our dream over this."

He nodded. "Not everyone here would understand that. Your father's waiting. Victoria, I'm not going to let anyone ruin those weddings. Blue and Manolito deserve better. So do Penny and Mercedes."

She coughed. Her eyes narrowed. "Oh I quite agree. There will be an understanding. Now we should go." She took his hand and led him into the hall.

[Manolito's Room]

Manolito washed Trail's dirt from his face. Disgust dimmed Joy's delight over the upcoming wedding. He glared in the mirror. "I am trying. Am I not? I've committed to being the caballero for Mercedes. We will build a rancho. We will not be poor. What else is there?" Frustration pushed his hand against the bureau with a resounding smack.

"The reflection ain't gonna answer you, Mano." Buck watched his brother-in-law/best friend from across the room.

Manolito rolled his eyes. "I am angry, Compadre. You are not funny."

"Wasn't meanin' to be. You're just going to have to deal with her. Same with Big John and your Daddy. Ain't going to change." Buck sighed. "She's wrong. I was too."

"You apologized, Amigo. Gracias." Manolito softened his expression. "I know what I've done in the past. That is different."

"You gotta prove that to some folks. It ain't fair. It's the way it is," Buck insisted. "As you just said, you're doing what you can. You've got good people around. We'll keep you straight."

"And how do you fit into that?" Manolito snarked. A smirk broke through Depression's overcast.

"I'm here to keep you straight." Buck shrugged. "Who else is going to do that?"

Manolito rubbed his chin. "Hmmm…let me think. Mercedes for one. And then there's my sister to nag me. And then…my father."

Buck rolled his eyes. He shook his head.

"I know you are there, Buck. It is a joke. No?" Manolito grinned at him. "He straightened his neckerchief again.

"Never knew you for primping like this." Buck frowned. "Let's get downstairs. They're waiting." He opened the door.

"Right behind you, Amigo." Manolito followed Buck toward the stairs. At least he had his friend back in his corner….

[Blue's and Penny's Room]

Blue hung his coat and good shirt up in the closet. He glanced over at Penny across the room. Propriety ate at him. Instinct screamed at him about sharing a room with her before their ceremony. He bowed his head.

None of it felt proper….

It shouldn't be a problem. I mean we're gonna be married day after tomorrow. We just won't try nothing. He recalled the night he'd slept in her father's bed back in Trails' End. Even if she'd just pulled him out of a potential face off with Keough, he still didn't like her looking at him at that point.

"Good night, Penny." Memoria reminded him of the words.

Now I'm the one who shouldn't be here. Maybe I can bunk in the stables or on a couch? He sighed. He determined to honor and respect his lady.

"Blue? Gosh! Don't you be getting all moody too," Penny cut in. She finished brushing out her hair.

"I ain't. I just want this to be all proper between us," he assured her.

Confusion arched an eyebrow. "We're being proper. I trust you to treat me right. We've slept next to each other on the trail. Right?"

"Yeah."

She nodded. "And we've had lots of hugs and kisses. You've never tried anything improper, Blue. I know we can share a bed. I know nothing will happen tonight or tomorrow."

"Nope. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking of the night after tomorrow though." He looked deeply into her eyes.

She blushed. "Blue, you're too much!" She slapped at the air between them.

"You can't say you're not thinking of that. I know better," he gibed. Playfulness twinkled in his eyes and spread the smirk across his face.

"You know I am. Honestly, Blue Cannon!" She sighed. "I've waited for you since that day in the barber shop. It'll be our special night."

"You bet." He kissed her forehead. "With everything else, I won't give you any less. Pa, Don Sebastian and the others'll be waiting downstairs. You ready?"

"For that, I am." Excitement sparkled in her eyes. She practically hopped to his side. "Come on!"

[Vegas' Room]

Ricardo fumed in the hallway. He'd spent the previous minutes apologizing to Sebastian for Lupe's behavior. He hated to admit it but his snipe-reminder about their wedding was appropriate. He recalled her parents looking down on him and his lineage. It wasn't enough that they are Mexican national heroes. They stood against the Spanish aggressors for the people. He smacked at the air. No more! I will not allow her to act like Don Martin and Doña Rosa did! He opened the door without knocking and stepped inside.

Lupe looked up from her reading. "Ricardo?" Surprise startled her. "I did not expect you until mañana."

"No I suppose you did not." He seethed. "I suppose you are quite comfortable?"

"I am now. Si." She frowned. "Much more than in that shack or the broom closet you rented for me in Tucson!"

"Broom closet? Lupe, that was the only hotel in Tucson! Would you rather sleep in the stable? You could deal with it for a night!" he retorted without missing a beat.

"I have a standard. You should as well! I cannot believe you would let our daughter live like that!" She narrowed her eyes.

"I remember a woman who defied her parents' standards. They looked down at my family." He recognized Shock paling her face. "Sebastian told me what he said to you. Es verdad. No?"

"Are there no manners here? I said that in confidence to him!" she complained.

Sarcasm blazed in his eyes. "You act toward Victoria, John Cannon and Sebastian as you have. Then you ask that? You are out of line!" He sucked in a deep breath to compose himself. "ENOUGH! For the sake of our children and friends, ENOUGH!"

She stood. "You do not tell me…"

"I cannot change your thinking, Lupe. I will not allow you to ruin the weddings. Everything is quite in order. Those will happen in two days. You should prepare," he informed her.

"Two days? Ricardo, it will take time to get back to Mexico City! We would need to get the bishop from Hermosillo or there! Where?" She sighed. "Mercedes will not…."

"Miguel will marry his sister and Manolito. Then he will do the same for John and Victoria's son," he declared. "And before you say otherwise, he is an ordained priest recognized by the Diocese of Santa Fe. He will have his own church in Tucson."

She rolled her eyes. "Does nothing matter anymore? They just can't marry in a garden or in a meadow! There is tradition! They should be in a cathedral!"

"They want the ceremony in their favorite place." He shrugged. "John and Victoria married downstairs in the parlor. Practicality prompted that ceremony as it does this one."

"Why, Ricardo? So you can put them up on that wasteland? So you can grab at the Montoyas' fortune?" she accused.

"Sebastian, John Cannon and Manolito know my intentions, Lupe. I am surprised at you. I would have thought you'd be happy. Our daughter is marrying into not just one but two great families. Our grandchild will be heir to Rancho Vega, Rancho Montoya and this new ranch! He or she would be tied by blood to Rancho Cannon as well! Even your parents would approve of this understanding." Exasperation pushed a tired breath past his lips.

"If that one is not raised in a shack!" she snapped.

"Manolito has promised me. The new rancho has resources. We will build a proper hacienda. He will have vaqueros. Mercedes will have servants to help her. You should have seen him up there. We looked at the house where the former owner lived. He said he wouldn't have Mercedes living there. Have some faith in him," he insisted.

"He wants this. After they're married, he'll go back to being the scoundrel. Just you wait and see, Ricardo! I'll remind you of your words!" she told him.

"You know me better than that, Lupe. This is not a gift. It is an investment." He saw her eyebrow rising. "What? You did not think I would not have an understanding with John Cannon? He will watch matters."

"And that one's brother? He will want to be the foreman." Doubt bowed her head.

He shook his head. "I have respect for Buck Cannon. No, I do not want him working there. I have my own ideas. I am sure Sebastian will have his own things to say." He opened the door. "They are waiting for us downstairs."

She sighed. Defeat weighed on her face. "Very well." She stalked out the door.

¡Dios Mio! He glanced toward the ceiling. Then, he followed….