Chapter 20 [Sebastian's Office]

John paced about the chamber. His eyes floated about the books, pictures and the big wall map in back of his host's chair. He weighed his words carefully. Restraint held back the "I told you sos" racing through his mind.

"Please sit down," Sebastian invited (yet again). Overconfidence's sour taste cut at his craw. "We do have our alliance to speak of."

"Oh we do, do we?" John raised an eyebrow.

"Let us not be tedious," Sebastian retorted.

"I'm not. I'm pointing out that before you didn't see a problem. Manolito, Buck and I all told you there was. You told us we were on our own. You let this happen, Don Sebastian. I want to work with you. We have to stop those Comancheros. A young woman is out there hurt or worse. Manolito's lucky to be alive," John reminded him.

"Yes! Yes!" Sebastian bellowed back. He stood and turned to the map behind himself. "Those jackals have hundreds of miles in which they can hide."

"Ob both sides of the border," John added. "They can slip back and forth undetected."

"Or they split our forces to attack us both at once," Sebastian suggested. We need to draw them out."

John nodded. "We make it seem worth their while. It could work. I just wish we knew where they are now."

"That is why we set a trap and bait it accordingly." Sebastian saw Victoria watching from the open door. "¡Hija Mia! Please! Join us!"

"Gracias, Papa." She hustled to John's side. "Have we reached an understanding?"

"We're getting there." John shot Sebastian a knowing look. "How's Mano?"

"Impatient. He wants to search for Mercedes. I told him to stay put," she recalled.

"Given how this has happened, I wouldn't put it past him." Sebastian complained. "Why has he never mentioned this before?"

"I'd ask the same thing, Victoria," John added.

She rolled her eyes. "Papa, don't you remember when she'd visit with her parents? No, you wouldn't. You were too busy with her father right here talking of your ranchos. Mama and her mother would watch us. Miguel would read all day in the library. Mercedes and Manolito would spend every moment together that they could get." She frowned. "You never noticed!"

"So, this isn't just by chance then." Sebastian nodded. Once more, Understanding revealed yet another secret of his son's mind to him. "Well then, I should be glad he is engaged to her. When we rescue her, I will write to her parents on the usual matters."

John nodded. "Well, Manolito has a place at High Chaparral of course. We'll speak to them when we get to that point." He looked at the map. "Where are your vaqueros searching?"

Sebastian pointed to the east and northwest of their position. "I have sent them there and there."

"I'll have my men search to the north. It's still a lot of ground," John proposed.

"That is why we have to be thorough," Sebastian reiterated.

"Perhaps Mercedes' parents could send their vaqueros to help search?" she suggested.

"We could search more area with more men," John prompted.

Sebastian frowned. "Si. It would also be a scandal with her father. He would never approve after what has happened."

"He might if he knew what Mano said beforehand. Papa, this is on you not Manolito. Let's look ahead. Send an escort with Señora Lopez back to his rancho," she insisted.

Sebastian nodded. He sighed. This would not be an easy request for anyone to hear….