Conclusion [Half an Hour Later—Courtyard, Rancho Montoya]

Disappointment hung in the air. Anger crackled throughout the hacienda. Outrage sparked sudden changes in plans. Haste pushed the guests to shove clothes into bags and trunks. Inspection satisfied them that nothing had been left behind. Servants carted the trunks to the waiting buckboard. Vaqueros brought horses to the front door.

Victoria stalked down the stairs. Embarrassment burned at her. Her eyes narrowed. She tapped her parasol against her open palm. She would not bother to talk to Sebastian. She would not lower herself to Rashness' bidding. Worse, Anticipation had her looking forward to a visit with Vaquero.

Hubris cast a pall over everything.

I cannot believe he thinks that way! I thought we were past such foolishness! She seethed. Her eyes watched as two servants set the trunks in the back of the buckboard. She noticed that Ricardo's vaqueros packed his items into his carriage. I cannot believe Doña Lupe simply left! She does not have enough vaqueros to guard herself!

Buck trudged down the stairs. He walked over to Rebel. "Hey. Ready for that ride?" He hooked his bag to the saddle. "You see Blue or Mano?"

"No, Buck." She bowed her head.

"I know." He frowned. "Can't believe he'd ruin the wedding like that! Just plumb loco!" He scuffed at the stones underfoot.

"Papa needs to learn how hurtful his words can be." She shook her head.

Blue and Penny came out next. He carried a small bag and a larger one. She had a small bag of her own.

"Hey. Can we put this big one in the buckboard? Our clothes from yesterday are in there."

"Of course you may!" She pointed to the wagon.

"Thanks. Don't want it getting messed up." Blue put the bags in the wagon. "Maybe I should make sure Pa's okay?"

"¿Que pasa?" She looked to the sky. "¡Dios Mio!" She frowned. "No. Penny and you should stay by the wagon. I…"

Right at that moment, John marched out the door and down the steps. His eyes narrowed. His mouth twisted into a frown. He dropped his bag into the buckboard's back. "Are you set, Victoria?"

"Si, John. Are you all right? I was worried," Victoria told him.

He shrugged. "I said everything in the dining room earlier. No sense in starting something else." He helped her up to the seat. "You have your things set, Blue?"

"Yes, sir. Everything is in the back. Didn't want anything getting ruined on the trip back," Blue reported.

"Good. Mount up. As soon as Don Ricardo, Manolito and Mercedes are ready, we're pulling out." John turned toward the door.

Shouts echoed from beyond the door. Anger pierced the morning air.

"Now what?" John complained. Imagination prompted all sorts of scenarios through his head….all of them bad… "Buck?"

"Yeah I'm on it!" Buck hustled back up the stairs. "Hey in there! What's goin' on?"

Miguel stepped onto the top stair. "Lord, help us!" He crossed himself and stared up at the sky. "Mano! Papa! Vamanos!"

"Please! This solves nada!" Mercedes' voice added. She had one foot out the door. "Manolito, the others wait for us!"

"What in blazes?" Buck rushed into the passage. There he found Manolito and Sebastian staring each other down. "Mano, come on. This is dumb."

"No, Buck, it is not." Manolito wheeled around on Buck. "I am tired!"

"Oh you are so tired? Then you do not have to be here! Go on!" Sarcasm sniffed through Sebastian's nose and through the wave of his hand.

"Mano, it ain't worth it," Buck hissed. He grabbed Manolito around his midsection. "Let's go, Amigo. He's wrong. You know it. We know it. Come on."

"Enough, Don Sebastian!" Ricardo barked. He stood halfway up the stairs. "Señores, please see Mercedes to the buckboard por favor." Seeing Manolito stiffen, he shook his head and motioned outside.

Manolito shook his head. "Come, Mercedes. We have our new rancho to build." He led her out the door.

Buck raised an eyebrow. "I ain't leaving you two alone either." He pushed his hat up on his forehead. "What you just said to them goes for you too, Don Ricardo. Don't be stupid. As I just said, he ain't worth it."

"I know." Indignity flared through Ricardo's nostrils. "¿Que te ha pasado? You have lost a great deal today, Don Sebastian."

"Si. My children turn against me. They will be back. You blind them with promises. We shall see when you take that rancho away from them," Sebastian snarked back.

Ricardo shook his head. "I would never leave my daughter homeless! You know that!" He exhaled. "One day, you will regret your words! ¡Adios!" He turned his back on his former friend and stomped toward the waiting carriage. He only looked to make sure Mercedes was in the buckboard and Manolito sat on Makadoo's back.

"You okay, Sir?" Blue called back to Ricardo.

"Si, Blue. Gracias." Ricardo sat down next to Miguel on his carriage's seat. "Gracias, Manolito. I do not wish for any more trouble."

"He is not worth it, Don Ricardo." Manolito reached over and squeezed Mercedes' hand. "My father cannot take the most important part of my life away." He raised it and kissed the back. "And you should not forget that, Mercedita."

"I know. Gracias, Manolo." Mercedes nodded to him.

"That goes for you as well, Blue Boy. You and Penny are special too. Don't let this stuff ruin it," Buck interjected.

"We ain't forgetting that, Uncle Buck." Blue rubbed Penny's arm.

"That goes for me too, Blue. I saved you from Johnny Keough. I sure can take a few angry words," Penny rebutted.

"I believe Penny makes her point very well, Compadre," Manolito added.

Blue shrugged. "Yeah I guess she did." He leaned close. "Glad you're here with me."

"I ain't going anywhere. You better believe that," Penny admonished.

"Except with us back to High Chaparral!" John corrected. He looked around to make sure everyone was ready. "You all set, Victoria?"

Victoria noted her father standing at the door. She wiped a few stray tears from her cheeks. "Papa, por favor. Apologize!"

Sebastian shook his head. He lingered for a few heartbeats. Stubbornness turned him and pushed him out of view.

"MOVE OUT!" John started the wagons and headed toward the gate. He shook his head. "I'm sorry, All of You. Your father's done some things before. I can't believe it."

"I cannot either, John." Victoria glanced back toward the hacienda once more. "Let Papa think on this. He will come to his senses when he needs us."

"And we are a family," Mercedes chimed in. "All of us. We will build our own world."

"And perhaps plant another tree by the riverbank there?" Manolito suggested.

"We will do that." Mercedes shrugged. She patted her coat.

Mercedes raised an eyebrow. "What did you do?"

"Un minuto, Manolo." "She reached into her coat. There she produced a small wrapped package. "I took some cuttings this morning." She smirked. "Doña Esperanza will have a second arbor at Rancho Rivertree. I would never deny you, Manolito." She rubbed Victoria's shoulder. "I expect you to come and enjoy as well."

"I will be there," Victoria vowed. Happiness shone through Despair's clouds. "Gracias, Mercedes."

"Leave it to you, mi Amor. Gracias. We can have Mama's treasure with us as well." Manolito expressed.

"Now that's better! Let's get back to our dreams and good fortune!" John announced. He steered the horses along the road back toward the north.

Perhaps Bliss lay shattered in the short term. Transformation, however, had started its process. Change loomed for all.

And for Manolito and Mercedes, their hacienda in the north hallmarked new beginnings…..

THE END (for now)