La Luna de Miel Chapter Seven: Holiday
The chess match appeared to have had an amicable ending. John, nursing a brandy, sat in a brocade armchair. Tío Domingo, cigar in one hand and snifter of brandy in the other, seemed content on the red velvet sofa. As they entered, Mano saw John leaning forward as if making a point, but both men looked up and smiled when the four from outside made their presence known.
"Well, which one of ya won the chest game?" Buck asked, hoping to provoke a rise. Neither man answered; instead both grinned.
"We shall resume our competition later," Domingo purred, blowing a stream of smoke.
A light afternoon meal was served, followed by cards, more chess, siestas, and reading-an unaccustomed holiday for ranchers who knew no holidays. A gift of leisure, just this once, Victoria thought. Let us enjoy this day. She even persuaded John to take a walk in the garden with her. Dinner was early: the men groomed and dressed as they had been for the wedding; the women in silk and satin and lace, radiant amid china, crystal and silver: polite, elegant, subdued, and over by 9:00 so all could go to bed early enough to attend sunrise mass in the Montoya chapel that Padre Sanchez had been invited to conduct the next morning, Sunday. Sunrise? Mano grimaced when Domingo made the announcement at dinner. John hemmed and hawed about needing to pull out early, but Carmen and Victoria gushed so much about the special service that objections vanished as all retired after dinner and cognac.
"This has been an almost perfect day, mi corazón," Carmen said to Mano as they collapsed in bed, finally alone but exhausted that night.
"Almost?" he reached for her and she rolled over to look him in the face, pulling the ivory bed linens up as she did, wrapping herself in them.
"Sí. Almost. I was apart from you too much, beloved," she said. "My mother, what did she say to you?"
"Oh, the Doña Dolores? Well," he chuckled and kissed her cheek. "She said you were always to be very, very good to me and to make love to me whenever I wanted. She said I was the best thing that has ever happened to you, We were…"
She shut his mouth with a kiss. "Now I know that you are lying."
"All right. We had a good talk, chiquita. Your mother does not think I am good enough for you, but she concedes that, if I am good to you, I might work out. I think she is reserving judgment."
"Mamá never reserves judgment. I think she is growing fond of you. Es un milagro," she added, then frowned. "Another thing, Manolo, I have been thinking."
"Uh oh," he reached for her again, to stroke her hair.
"Yes, I think that you and Buck may have cheated your sister and me at euchre this afternoon. I believe you passed the deal to Buck when it should have been our turn."
"Beloved, would we do that?" he asked, kissing her hand and swallowing his laughter.
"Yes, and more than once. It is not funny, Manolo!"
"But you and my sister were talking so much, eh, how would you know?" His lips moved to her mouth...and elsewhere.
"Next time, mi corazón, I shall watch you! You will not escape," she affirmed, half amused, feigning annoyance.
"I do not wish to escape, beloved. But, do you think we might dispense with some of this talking for now?" She smiled and returned his kiss and embrace and the linens seemed to fall away.
Buck grinned the next morning as they all sat in the chapel. I ain't no Catholic, but I sure wasn't gonna miss this, he thought. Yep, John an' the boys is here, too, like I thought. Course Pedro is a Catholic. An' look how purty Carmen and Victoria are this morning. Almost like angels. Looks like we all made it to church, even Mano, who looks kinda tired but boy he shore looks happy. Little gal will be good for him. Now if I could just understand when to stand and when to kneel, I'd be aw right with the good padre here.
Padre Sanchez blessed all present-friends, family, servants who were both-affirming with his benediction the changes in the family and praying for their individual and collective futures and eternal salvation before accepting coffee and a contribution, then returning to Casa Cueva astride his burro to hold mass there as usual.
As usual. All seemed as usual as the Cannons prepared to depart and all took their leave with handshakes and hugs all around. Mano shook the hands of Joe, Sam, Reno, and Pedro, thanking them for coming.
"Wouldn't a missed it, amigo," Sam replied in a deep voice. The others nodded.
"No, we wouldn't," Reno said.
'Yeah. Sure glad Mr. Cannon let us come," Joe added.
"Sí, es verdad, and now Joe owes me five dollars," Pedro chimed in. "He bet me that you would not go through with this wedding."
"Really, Joe?" Mano asked, amused.
"That's a fact," Joe admitted. "But that was before I met Miz Carmen." They all chuckled and moved on to the horses after tipping their hats to Carmen and Don Domingo.
Buck grabbed Carmen and swung her around in a bear hug. "Now missy, if you need help keeping that cabeza dura in line," he exclaimed, indicating Mano, "you jes call Uncle Buck." She laughed and kissed him on the cheek.
John and Mano clasped each other on the shoulder as they shook hands, looking the other straight in the eye.
"I'm happy for you both, Mano. Don't be a stranger."
"We won't, John. Gracias for...everything, compadre."
"Am-eego!" Buck and Mano embraced. "You take care of Missy Carmen, ya hear?"
"And you take care of our horses, sí?" Mano laughed. Then he paused. "Hey, Buck, muchísimas gracias, compadre, for everything," he said, putting his arm around Buck's shoulder. "You are..." his voice trailed off as his throat caught. When would he see his gran amigo again? Soon, he hoped. Soon. Buck nodded and punched him in the arm. He knew. No words were needed.
Mano next hugged Victoria and helped her into the buckboard. accepting the kiss on his cheek that she leaned down to bestow.
"Take care, hermanita mía. Gracias por todos. Te quiero."
Her eyes moist, she smiled, "Te quiero también, Manolo." She had earlier hugged and kissed Carmen and Tío Domingo, but she wanted to save her goodbye to her brother for the last. The Cannons and the men, also their friends, headed out of the grand arches, north to Tucson. Don Domingo turned to walk inside. Mano and Carmen watched until the buckboard and horses moved out of sight.
VKS & MJRod claim the creation of Carmen Navarro, although we took her first name from a David Dortort script proposal. We also are the creators of the Vargas clan , Rancho Navarro and its people including Delgado, and all of the characters in and around Hermosillo. We would have nothing to create were it not for our favorite western, "The High Chaparral," to which we pay tribute.