Gold Raven (46 page)

Manny smiled at the excitement and pride he heard in his sons voice when speaking about his eldest…he couldn't wait to meet his grandchildren as he listened while Mike went from Esteban to Maria and the four she
’d given him. By the time they made it through Louisiana, Manny was filled with knowledge of his grandchildren and their personalities, manners, faults and looks. He could not wait to see them, especially the daughter whom his son had described as a spitting image of Lena; but with her father’s impulsive makeup.

Manny was surprised that his son was able to discern his inner makeup, as he’d described the other attributes of her personality so much like his, namely his orneriness, his stubborn pride and his quick temper ready to do battle. Then he made a startling confession, that he’d taught her the art of knife play, sword play and shooting along with many fighting moves…he had Leon, Gaitsu and Manny laughing when telling them of the many arguments they’d had while he was teaching her how to defend herself.

All were eager to see her again as well as meet Mike's family. Manny rode with a fixed grin as he thought back to the few brief months he had spent with her; she was indeed an inner model of him when he thought back. His thoughts transferred to her mother and he knew that it was possible many of her personality traits had come from her as well. Lena had never been a coward, indeed she had been fiery, virtuous, loyal and elegant…a truly regal, strong black woman. Surges in his adrenaline made him anxious to see their daughter again; he needed to see her, maybe because she was so much like her mother physically. He needed a reminding image or link to Lena. Perhaps because they had disappeared together, it gave him a feeling of getting that much closer to her, by having their daughter back with him.

As they came within a mile of the cabin, Mike told Manny of the whistling signal he had taught Esteban when they went hunting together to keep track of each other and for safety reasons. When the homestead came into view, all four men were excited and ready for the rest. Of course, seeing their loved ones again was uppermost in their minds; it was at that point, that Mike began whistling.

"Esteban, riders are comin'! Four uv'im Esteban, I saw'em while swingin'!" Celina cried in alarm, as she held onto her brother. "Get into the house! Now!!" He did not have to hear it twice before sprinting into action. The absolute terror reflected in her eyes made it clear that someone was coming. Quickly he ran with her to the back door of the house placing her on the steps to enter the door before him as he followed to grab a rifle. Maria was about to come out when they met her there.

"What is it hijo?" She asked in dread. "Riders, four of them, get Lolita and the others inside, hurry!"

Maria's heart lurched, she crossed herself muttering, "Dios Mio, nooo," then ran to alarm the others. "Lolita, get into the house! Hurry – riders are coming!" She ran to the barn. "Felix, Papo – riders come! To the house…pronto, pronto!!"

Both of the boys dropped what they were doing and ran with her back to the house, as she entered the back door, she grabbed a rifle and a pistol before she joined Esteban, ready this time for whoever approached their home.

"Mommie, pleeease … don’ go out there." Celina started crying, stomping and prancing in one spot as her tears poured, grabbing her mother's skirt to keep her in. "I must baby, Esteban is out there alone…Lolita – get your sister hija!" With Lolita pulling a distraught Celina away, Maria left her crying child and ran out the door, screaming back. "Do not come out until you know it is safe!"

Esteban looked back at his mother as she ran up behind him, he was taller than she was now and he could not help but feel protective of her. "Go back into the house, mamah!"

"I will not leave you out here to face them alone, so do not ask it of me!" There was no sense in arguing, as it would be a waste of time, knowing she would remain where she stood.

"What do you think they want?" She asked.

"I don't know, but shot is what they will get if they try-…" He stopped mid sentence. "…-what was that?" He asked.

"What?

"Do you hear that?" He returned.

"Hear what, hijo?!"

"Shhh, listen, listen!"

They both stood in rapt attention, their ears straining to distinguish and make sense of what he heard. They had not seen the riders yet, because they were in one of the low dips in the undulating landscape, but it was easy for them to see the road dust stirred by riders.

After a moment of waiting, they both heard it again at the same time, a more precise and discernible whistle. Not just any whistle, but a signaling whistle they both knew well. Maria turned wide eyes to Esteban at the moment he looked down at her.

"Esteban? Oh my God! That – it's – your father! That is Miguel!" She screamed out, dropping her weapons, taking off as fast as her tiny feet could carry her; forgetting her long skirt, she fell, then leapt back to her feet, gathering it before her, taking off again.

Tears sprang to Esteban's eyes as he turned back to the house
, running to tell his brothers and sisters that their father was home.

"Son, now I wonder – what in the world could that possibly be moving so fast this way?" Manny grinned.

"Sweet, sweet lady of mine… Mariaaa!!" Was Mike's only response as he bellowed her name, kicking his horse to a full gallop. Maria ran heedlessly towards him, screaming his name through her blinding tears. In an instant, his horse was beside her as he threw a leg over and dismounted, grabbing her to him as if he could merge her body into his own.

She could not see him through her tears, but she could feel the solid, warm strength of him in her arms. She could feel the fervor of his passion, the timbre of his voice, the power of his embrace as he rained loving kisses down upon her. She greedily accepted. Clinging to him; as she sobbed in her joy, he was not dead. He was not a prisoner. He was home…he was alive, well and in her arms…home.

His husky deep voice cried her name, equally thankful – overjoyed with the blessings of being back with his family. Mike swept her off her feet, unrestrained in his emotional relief to know they were back together again.

Manny, Leon and Gaitsu were on the verge of tears themselves witnessing the reunion. Then they heard a small herd of children running and shouting, "Papah! Papah!" as they stampeded towards the lip locked couple, bowling them over to land in a large heap on the ground, where laughter overflowed.

Manny shook his head feeling a lump in his throat. It made him ache for a certain reunion of his own. He wondered, would Lena be as happy to see him again? What if she was married now, seeing him again might only serve to complicate her life. He shook off the depressing thought; this was not the time for such a worry. Suddenly it occurred to him that something was wrong. Then it hit him as he looked from the pile of arms and legs towards the house, why was his daughter not among them?

When the three men - two on horseback, one driving the team, made it to the happy group, they dismounted to stand beside the family, who had finally coming to their feet. Mike was laughing as he gathered his kids before him, his wife beside him, too overcome with excitement to realize someone was missing.

"Maria, children…that man right there, is my father. Maynard Ramsey Webster; and if it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here now." He admitted sincerely.

Father and son, stood eyeing each other as a tangible bond thickened between them. They were unable to express their feelings openly but the deep emotion was definitely there. Maria smiled to herself again, awash with emotion, so glad to see it finally happening, a true and wonderful change coming to her husband's life.

"Buenos dias, Senor Webster. I am so happy to meet you at last. I only wish I could express the thanks I feel, knowing that you have returned my husband to me and to his children."

As she smiled up at Manny, she was astounded by the looks of him, so much like her husband. Now she could see how he would age, even though she secretly admitted that her husband was the better looking of the two. His father looked harder, menacing almost. Then he smiled at her, and the menacing part faded away, replaced by the look of a man distinguished and captivating. His entire face brightened and softened attractively.

"Well, senorita Webster, it is with pride and pleasure that I finally get to see the woman who stole my son’s heart, while taking such good care of him; not to leave out mentioning that you have provided me with a new generation of Webster's!"

He grinned, teasing her, making her blush and bow her head. "Which, I'd like to get a look at; let's see if I can identify you all by name without any help." Manny announced with a nervous chuckle.

All lined up, eager to be noted and identified by him; except for Celina who had wrapped her arms and legs around her father because she had missed him so.

"Let's see now." Manny began. "You are Esteban, my oldest grandson." Esteban smiled and nodded. "Yes sir, it is nice to finally meet you grandfather." Hearing the young man call him grandfather took Manny by surprise and he heard Leon snicker behind him. "Nice meeting you as well. An-n-nd-…"

"You look like my papah!" Felix observed aloud.

Everyone chuckled, "Yes well, fact is, he looks like me…and you look like a Felix."

Felix's eyes grew wide as did his mouth in surprise. "How'd you know that?" He asked, everyone laughed again. "Lucky guess." Manny replied, as he met the other children as well, surprised by Celina's resemblance to Hope, which made him ask.

"So now, where is my daughter and why is she not out here with you all?" The smile on Mike's face slid off as he looked up, realizing now that she was not with them, he looked down at his wife. "Where is she?" He asked in a low calm, almost dread because he knew her.

Maria's stomach quivered with panic as it dawned on her that she was not with them; she bit into her bottom lip, nervously swallowing as she finally answered timidly. "She – she is, not here…she went back to the camp to – fight with you."

"She what!” He exploded, feeling as though he wanted to cry. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, despair and terror came down on him as he heard his father groan beside him. "Let's move this to the house son, then Maria can tell us what happened." Manny suggested, with his guts twisting in disappointment, shaking him from within, deeper and more painfully than his outer behavior showed. Mike turned from her and his father, running his hand through his hair in a nervous, angry gesture. With his daughter still clinging to him, he went to his horse taking its reigns. "Wanna ride on the horse darling'?" He asked Celina, as all headed for the house. She stayed as she was and shook her head no.

Maria felt punished that Mike turned from her to grab his horse, leaving her behind to walk back to the house; she was almost in tears from it until Manny placed his arm around her to haul her in close at his side to support her. Close behind, he heard Felix tell Leon, "My papah's – mad as hell!" After entering the house, Mike asked Esteban and Papo to take care of the horses. They ran to do so as he bid Gaitsu and Leon to make themselves comfortable. With everyone except the boys gathered in the study, Mike stood by the cold fireplace as he turned to questioning his wife. She explained what had taken place, how Hope felt about leaving him and how she was unwilling to listen to her or Esteban.

"I told all of you to come here! To stay – here…to wait for me - here!" He argued frustrated.

"So I am to blame? I did not let her go back, she insisted upon it! She did not wish to leave you in the first place! Did you think she would do as you said when she has a mind of her own?" Maria reasoned getting upset.

"You should have stopped her!"

"Stop her? How!?" She asked incredulously.

"Damn it, I don’t know!! You just should have!!"

He exploded heatedly, yelling at her as the helplessness of it all crushed him, causing Maria to burst into tears, turning into Manny's arms.

"Wait a minute now son. Yelling and blaming her is not the answer here. Nor is it going to change anything…what's done is done." Manny defended. "I tried to make her stay … you know… you know how she is – is … I tri – tried – but she – she was determined – to – go back to you." She sobbed.

Feeling bad, Mike pulled her from his father's arms into his. "I'm sorry.
God knows I am. It's just that-…"

"Why is my mother crying?!"

Esteban stood in the doorway looking from his mother to his father, who looked at him surprised by his tone.

"Papah yelled at her! He blames her for tia leaving." Lolita accused angrily. The look on Esteban's face, as well from his other children stunned Mike. Manny had to bite his lip to keep from grinning. Celina was now in Lolita's lap, where she too showed her disappointment in him. "We tried to stop her, but she went anyway! That is not my mother's fault!" Esteban further defended her angrily. Mike was shocked; his son had never been this way with him.

"I realize that…and I told her I was sorry." He tried to remain calm and explain, but the look in his eyes showed his confusion at his son’s behavior.

"You shouldn't have made her cry in the first place!"

"Yeah! You shouldn't have!" Felix added getting up from his seat to stand with his brother. The others did the same. Maria was just as stunned as the other adults were.

"If you knew what she's gone throu-…"

"Calliate hija!" Maria snapped. Mike looked from his children down to his wife, pushing her away from him but holding her arms firmly in his hands. "What are they talking about? What happened in my absence?"

"It does not matter it is over now…thanks to Esteban."

Mike stared down into her eyes, afraid to inquire further, but needed to. Slowly he looked up at his son across the room.

"Tell me – what happened."

"Santiago showed up here looking for Tia. He wanted her. When he knew that she was not here…he attacked our mother."

"Santiago?! He was here?! Did he hurt you! That, sonofabitch! I'll kill him, I swear to God-…"

"Too late…your son already has."

Mike looked up at Esteban again stunned. Feelings of shame, horror and regret washed over him simultaneously as he realized what could have been, and what could have happened to them all – because he had refused to put his family before a place and a lifestyle that could have killed him, and them. All was quiet as the truth and ugliness of it sank in. Mike turned Maria loose. His eyes went to his father, who remained quiet, but hurting for him; hurting for him because he knew, what it was like, without anyone saying a word, how it felt to face the results of making a wrong decision.