Tessa walked into the Ap where the prisoners were being held. She walked up to Montoya.

"I don't think I like the expression on your face, Seņorita," said Montoya as he noticed the sad look in her face.

"The council has met and their decision is irrevocable," she replied, faking a strained expression.

"And?" asked Montoya.

"I am sorry, Colonel," she said as she turned and ran out of the Ap.

"Shit," said Grisham. "I wonder what they have in store for us?"

"Whatever it is, I don't think we will like it," said Montoya.

Two Chumash warriors walked in, took a soldier by the arms and pulled him outside and around the Ap.

Helm and Churi stood there. "Drink this," said Helm. As the man drank it, Helm said, "Now, scream."

The man's scream was cut short as Churi hit him over the head with a war club. Blood from a slaughtered calf was poured on the man's head and he was placed on the opposite side of the Ap.

One by one, each soldier was taken out, and the procedure repeated, until only Montoya and Grisham were left.

Grisham was led out and allowed to view the 'slaughtered' men. Helm walked up to him.

"Helm, how can you do this? This isn't civilized," cried Grisham.

"I suppose beating up defenseless prisoners, murdering men and leaving their families destitute is civilized?" asked Helm.

"What are you going to do to me?" asked Grisham, as he stared at the bodies of his men.

"Well, you have two choices. You can end up like your men, or you can take your chances with the women."

"'Chances with the women?' What are you talking about?" asked Grisham.

"Quite simple. You will be given a fifteen-minute head start and then five young Chumash women will come after you. If you reach Santa Elena, you will go free."

"And if they catch me?"

"If you survive them, then you will also go free," replied Helm.

Grisham thought a minute.

"Ok, Doc, I choose the women."

"Fine, take off your boots."

"My boots?"

"Yes. You will walk barefooted as the Chumash do," grinned Helm.

"I'll get you for this, Helm."

"You have to survive, first."

A few minutes later, Grisham was pointed towards Santa Elena. He started running as fast as he could.

Churi looked at Helm. "How long do you think it will be before he realizes that no one is chasing him?"

"Maybe when he reaches Santa Elena," replied Helm.

An hour later, Montoya was led out and shown the bodies of his men.

"Where is Grisham?" asked Montoya.

"He is running from five women," replied Helm.

"Usually is," mumbled Montoya.

Montoya looked over and saw Pablo, tied spread-eagled on the upright poles. A pile of brush was being placed underneath his crotch. Several lit torches were burning nearby.

"What are you going to do with him?"

"Ever heard the term 'Chestnuts roasting on an open fire'? asked Helm.

Montoya grimaced.

"And what nice torture have you concocted for me?" asked Montoya.

"Not me. I am not the one who will decide your fate," replied Helm.

Montoya looked at Churi, who was standing next to Helm.

"Alright, get it over with. I am ready."

"You are a brave man, Colonel. I am not the one who will decide your fate," said Churi.

"Who is? I thought you were the chief of this village."

"I am, but the council decided to let the one you wronged decide your fate."

Montoya looked at the two men, puzzled.

"Are you ready for your punishment, Colonel?" asked a woman's voice from behind Montoya.

Montoya turned. "You are going to decide my fate, Seņorita Alvarado?"

"Yes, Colonel, I will. Since you did order your men not to harm the Chumash, they allowed me to decide. You came here to arrest me for sedition. What you found was me visiting my Chumash family. You had no reason to attack this village. By doing so, you are responsible for me being shot. Luckily for me, your men are lousy shots. You also believed a man who has already shown that he cannot be trusted. He was the one who violated my personal things. How could you even think to trust him?" she asked.

"A slip in judgement, Seņorita. What are you going to do with me? My death will force Monterey to send another military commander."

"You are correct, Colonel. First, I am sending a letter to the Viceroy and another letter to the Court in Spain. If you ever, ever attack me again, the Viceroy will be forced to replace you. Second, you will reduce taxes and allow the Dons to start a council to govern the pueblo. Naturally, you will be a member of the council but you will have one vote, just like the other members."

"You aren't going to kill me?" he asked.

"No, Colonel. I won't, nor will the Chumash. You will be given your horse and you will take your men back to town. All except for Pablo."

"What will you do to him?" asked Montoya as he again looked at the man, whose shirt was hanging at his waist.

"That is not your concern, Colonel. Now, please mount," said Tessa.

A few minutes later, Montoya led the horses, with his men lying across their saddles and tied on. He cast one more look at Pablo and shook his head.

Montoya rode into town leading the horses. A sudden groan came from one of the men. Montoya stopped, dismounted and walked over to the man who groaned. He lifted the man's head and then checked each man. They were all alive.

"Colonel, help me," yelled Grisham as he ran into the pueblo.

"Grisham," said Montoya.

"Colonel, I am being chased by Indians."

"You mean, by Indian women. Tell me, Captain, how did you know they were chasing you?"

"Helm gave me a fifteen-minute head start."

"Did you at any time see someone chasing you?" asked Montoya.

"No."

"I think Seņorita Alvarado and Doctor Helm saved our lives but sent us a message. I think we shall enjoy the boredom that we complained about earlier."

"What about Pablo?"

"We shall see, Captain. Somehow, Seņorita Alvarado persuaded the Indians to let us live. I am sure that she will do the same with him. She is quite angry, but I think she does not want to kill anyone."

"That may be true, but she has a personal problem with Pablo," said Grisham.

"That she does," replied Montoya nodding.

A week later, the Dons gathered, at Montoya's request, in the rose garden. The Dons were subdued as Montoya entered the gathering.

"My friends, I have asked you here to discuss a matter of great importance. I was persuaded by a very forceful individual to offer you a chance for self-government. I will allow you to set up a council of Dons. The council members will all have one vote and a majority will rule on such matters as taxes and implementation of laws. According to the charter for the Pueblo, no council may be held without the military governor present. I will be a member of the council as well, but I will only have one vote. The matters of the defense of the Pueblo will rest solely with me. Do you have any questions?" asked Montoya.

Don Hidalgo rose. "I applaud your modern thinking, Colonel. We will discuss this offer in private, if you don't mind."

"Not at all. The offer is made in good faith, my friend. I hope you will accept," Montoya said, as he left the garden.

"Colonel," said Tessa.

"Seņorita Alvarado, why aren't you discussing this with the rest?"

"Don Gaspar knows my stance and he will vote for me. I have something for you," she said as she handed him a wrapped object.

He opened the wrapping and found his sword, which had been left behind in the village.

"I don't understand," he said.

"Churi said that you were a brave man and offered your sword to you as a sign of respect for your bravery."

Montoya looked at the weapon and noticed that the hilt had been rewrapped with the same material and design as the coiled Chumash baskets.

Don Gaspar approached. "Colonel, the Dons voted unanimously to accept the Council of Dons."

Grisham walked around the pueblo and came across Helm at the cantina.

"How much influence did Seņorita Alvarado have with the Indians?" asked Grisham.

"Let me put it this way. You are alive and for that you owe her."

"Tell me, were there really five women chasing me?" asked Grisham.

Helm shrugged his shoulders. "Quien sabe?" he replied with a non-committal expression.

"What happened to Pablo?"

"That, Captain, I don't know. When I left, they were lighting the fire under him. Now, if you will excuse me, I have patients to see," Helm said as he got up and walked away.

He saw Tessa as she left the rose garden.

"Grisham wanted to know what happened to Pablo," he said. "So do I."

"Quien sabe?" replied Tessa with a smile. "He will never bother my things again," she replied.

"And Mohammed?"

"He has taken two Chumash women as his wives."

"Do you think he will ever go home?" asked Helm.

"He is home," replied Tessa.

Epilogue

Many miles away, a lone horseman rode into an unknown valley of Alta California. His tattered soldier's uniform hung on him and his face now bore the marks of a facial tattoo as a reminder of his close call with death. Pablo urged his horse forward towards the large lake, known as Tulares, that spread out before him.