"I am going to miss him," sighed Marta.

Elena and Josephine nodded.

"It looks like we ladies are on our own for a couple of months. You won't miss them for long," said Tessa with a grin.

"That's easy for you to say," replied Elena. "Your man is still here."

"My what? What man?" asked Tessa.

"Does the name 'Roberto' jog any memories?" asked Josephine.

"He is just a friend," said Tessa, as a slight red came to her cheeks.

"Keep telling yourself that, Tessa, and it might just come true. Roberto might just be a friend when he marries another woman," said Josephine.

"Let's go," said Marta. "We have two weddings to prepare for."

"Maybe we can make it three weddings," said Elena slyly and then laughed as Tessa snapped the tresses over the rear of the horses.

Eleven hours and ten miles later, Juan Pablo signaled for the herd to stop. The wagon was pulled up near a stand of trees and the driver dismounted. Juan Pablo rode up to him as the rest of the men worked the herd into a tighter group for the night.

"Luis, I hope your reputation as a cook is correct. I am starving."

"Si, Señor Vallejo. Señorita Alvarado would never forgive me if you men went hungry."

"Good. We will rotate eating, three at a time. Make sure to save some beans and tortillas for the night riders and keep a pot of coffee on the fire all night."

"Si, Señor. I rode on a cattle drive in Mexico when I was but a muchacho, before I came north."

"Good. By the way, do you have some aloe with you? I think our Americano friend will need some for the saddle sores," Juan Pablo said, with a grin.

"Si, Señor, I am sure everyone will need some. It has been a long time even for me. My butt hurts from that wagon seat."

Roman and Grisham rode up.

"Juan Pablo, Grisham and I will be the night riders tonight. Luis, could you wrap some beans and tortillas together? We will eat in the saddle."

Grisham groaned. "You may sit in the saddle all day, but if I don't relieve myself, my eyeballs will float."

"Just watch out for the veneno roble," said Luis, as he handed him a small jar of aloe.

"Are you going to shadow me all the way, Roman?" asked Grisham.

"No. If you run back to Montoya, he will hang you unless we catch you first," replied Roman with an evil grin.

Grisham took the aloe and rode a mile away from the campsite to relieve himself.

"Grisham," said Juan Pablo, when the American returned. "Draw yourself another horse for the night ride. From now on, we will change horses every four hours."

"Why?"

"A tired horse can get you killed on a drive. It is not like taking a ride. These horses must be more alert that the rider. One false step, and you might end up on the ground with your horse on top."

"Good point. Are they all broken."

"Sort of," replied Juan Pablo.

Two days later they reached the Mission de San Miguel and watered the cattle and horses at the Salinas River.  The padres at the mission were hospitable and let the men stay the night while their Chumash neophytes watched the herd.

Four days after leaving Santa Elena, they came to a ford in the river and the herd was led into the water. Several of the cattle started swimming downstream and Grisham headed towards them to force them to the opposite shore.  A steer suddenly turned his head and gored Grisham's horse. The horse reared and fell to the right into the river. Grisham barely got his feet clear of the stirrups when he went under. He kicked and felt his feet strike the saddle and he pushed himself away from the flailing horse. His wet poncho that he wore dragged him down and Grisham's life flashed before him.

Grisham tried to scream but the churned-up water rushed into his open mouth. Suddenly, he felt himself being lifted out of the river. He broke the surface and started coughing and spitting out the blood-fouled water.

Two hands pulled Grisham over the saddle of a horse as the rescuer headed for the shore. Grisham finally found himself on his back on the ground as he stared up into the face of Roman.

"There is an easier way to get a drink than drowning," said Roman.

"Thanks, Roman. I am surprised you didn't let me drown," said Grisham.

"The thought crossed my mind, but that would leave me to ride drag. Also, Señorita Alvarado would skin me alive."

"What happened? Where is my horse?" asked Grisham.

"You have to watch out for horns. Your horse was gored. He made it to shore but he will have to be put down," said Roman motioning to the horse as it lay on its side, blood oozing into the dirt.

Grisham and Roman walked over to the suffering animal and stripped off the saddle and bridle. Since his pistol was soaked, Grisham asked to borrow Roman's. Roman handed the pistol to Grisham and walked away, signaling to a vaquero to bring over another horse.

Grisham patted Maligno's neck as Roman walked away. A tear ran down Grisham's cheek.

The gunshot did not startle anyone. Grisham saddled the new horse, placed a lasso around the dead horse's neck, pulled the animal a quarter of a mile away from the river and rode back to the herd.

Grisham rode up to Roman and handed back the pistol, now recharged. "I hate having to do that."

"It's never easy but it had to be done," replied Roman.

One week later, after an uneventful and boring ride, the herd finally reached Mission San Jose.

Juan Pablo ordered a two-day rest period before the last leg of the journey.  Juan Pablo donated three head of cattle to the mission and a fiesta was held.

"How long before we get there?" asked Grisham.

"Maybe two days to the river. Then, we have to transport the herd on barges. The river is too wide, deep and swift to swim. Oh, and don't be tempted to drink the water. It is brackish," said Juan Pablo.

"What is brackish?" asked Grisham.

"When the fresh water from the river and the salt water of the sea meet and mix, it is called brackish. Not fit to drink.

True to expectations, it took two days to reach the Sacramento River and one day to get the cattle across. They were only able to transport ten head at a time. As the last barge was unloaded, Grisham turned to Juan Pablo.

"When do we head home?"

"I am home," replied Juan Pablo. "However, there are some things that must be taken care of before I return. We will leave in a week. We will go to Monterey first, which will take about another week, and then on to Santa Elena, depending on how fast we travel."

"What's in Monterey?"

"We have two weddings to prepare for and this will give us time to shop. I didn't know you were that anxious to get back."

"I am just happy not to have to stare at a tail all day long," said Grisham.

"Funny, that's not what I heard," said Juan Pablo, with a sly grin.

It had been about three weeks since they had started the cattle on the long drive, and now it was time to leave for Monterey and Santa Elena. Juan Pablo called his fellow travelers into his office.

"Gentlemen, I thank you for all of your assistance in recovering my cattle and bringing them here. Your working for me for the last month has helped put everything together. I owe you."

"No, Señor, it was our pleasure to help you," replied one of the vaqueros.

"Pleasure or not, I am paying you all for the time you have been gone," he said, as he paid out forty reales each.

"Señor, this is more than we get paid for three months," said the vaquero.

"Call it hazardous duty pay for the cattle drive. We are going to Monterey, so maybe you can pick up something for your esposas."

The vaqueros left to prepare for the trip home, leaving Grisham and Roman.

Juan Pablo tossed a leather sack to Roman.

Roman looked into the sack and his eyes widened. "Juan Pablo, my friend, this is not necessary. I am your friend. Friends do not pay each other for helping them."

"Roman, amigo, that is not pay for work done. That is a pre-wedding present. I expect that you will have enough for a nice present for Marta," said Juan Pablo as he placed his hands on Roman’s shoulder.

"Gracias, amigo."

"Marcus," said Juan Pablo. "You were sentenced by Colonel Montoya for your part in the cattle issue. Since you have been gone, Colonel Montoya has saved money by not paying you. I thought that we would have a real issue with you. Instead, you have pulled your weight and the vaqueros and myself have a lot of respect for you. Señorita Alvarado told me that she was impressed that you have not once complained. I hope you have learned something from this experience. I am a fair man, Marcus. I pay men for their work and you are no exception," he said as he handed Marcus another leather pouch.

Marcus took the pouch and, with a shocked look on his face, opened it. "Thank you, Juan Pablo. I did not expect this at all. Please don’t tell Montoya. You are extremely generous. Maybe I should work for you full-time as you pay better than Montoya. This will be between us," said Grisham, with a grin.

"Between us," replied Juan Pablo. "We still have a long ride, so let’s get started."

Continue to Part Nine

If you have missed any episodes so far, you will find them in the Season Three Archives section .