Chapter 4 [Two Hours and Five Miles Away]

Mercedes observed everything around herself. She relaxed around Natura's backdrop. Much as at her parents' estate, the trees rustled along the path. Cattle bayed and moved between nourishing grasses and the riverbank. Sol shone brightly but not too warmly. Off in the distance, she knew Don Sebastian's vaqueros watched the herds. Satisfaction filled her.

Fantasy whispered that this could all be hers….

I never wanted this. You make me want it for the first time, Manolito had admitted to her.

She nodded to that insight. Her parents' ideal husband, the aforementioned Diego Rodriguez, had a claim on his family's rancho. The place had trees, a river and animals too. Still the river didn't sparkle and flow like the one flowing at her horse's hooves. That rancho was smaller than the Montoyas'. Those oak trees did not a play tree make. Nor did Duty's servant a romantic make either. Diego, I am sorry. You deserve to be happy with a woman who loves you for you. I will not play the political games. My heart is with Manolito.

Manolito rode up beside her. He noticed her introspection. "Mercedes, what is the matter? Surely you're not upset by Papa at breakfast?"

"Hmm?" She turned toward him. "No, mi Manolo."

"Su Manolo. I like that." He grinned allowing his eyes to sparkle at her.

"That is a good thing." She smiled broadened. Her eyes glittered into his akin to the rarest gems. "I grow into this much as you do." She spread her arms to encompass the scene around themselves.

He nodded. Surprisingly he felt no inner protest at that observation. Amor, it seemed, was already taming his inner wild child. "Love has that effect. We have our common purpose now. I have to say as much to my father."

"I wish we could have at breakfast. Surely Don Sebastian would not object," she lamented.

"Si. We should have." He bowed his head both out of Contrition and Acknowledgement. "I promise, con su permiso, we will speak with him when we get back," he relented.

"Gracias, Manolo." She sighed. "I am happy." She rubbed his hand. "Please say this isn't a dream."

He shrugged. "If it is, we are dreaming it together." He shrugged and grinned at her. "And if we are, is that such a bad thing? I do not want to be separated from you."

"Nor I you, Manolito," she agreed. She glanced back over her shoulder. "She's there still. We could try another escape?"

He rolled his eyes. "Si. We could." He smirked and waved his index finger in front of her. "You tempt me. Mercedes, I would like nothing better. Still we know how Señora Lopez is the bloodhound. We do need allies. I do believe I am growing on her. ¿Comprendes?"

She giggled. "You are such a schemer, Manolito."

"When you are concerned, I am leaving nothing to chance. We let them have their little game. Then they let us have what we want." He sighed and frowned. "I never have thought as much before. Now, for you, I do so."

"Our dream," she reminded him.

"Si." He took her hands in his. "Our dream." He saw Lopez drawing closer. "You can join us." He held up the canteen in invitation.

"Gracias." Lopez rode up to the couple. She'd hung back to allow them their conversation as long as they remained in sight. Once again, she acknowledged Manolito's discovery about Courtship's methods. He hadn't tried to lead her away or anything worse. He'd been polite toward her and her charge. She drank from the canteen. Then she handed it back to him. "We should return to the rancho. We are too far without escort."

"But it is such a beautiful day!" Mercedes protested.

He bit his lip. Annoyance burned at him for her trying to cut the perfect day short. Still he kept his voice even. "Perhaps an hour more? We won't go much farther. Besides the vaqueros are over the next hill if we need help."

Lopez coughed. Since they were working with her, she'd relent as well. "All right. We go for another hour and then return. We do not know where those brutes are."

He nodded. "This way." He led them up the trail and into the trees determining to keep them out of sight.

Little did he know, they should have listened to the chaperone….