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the meal with his men and Anita.
    Once back in their room, under the threat that they must be awake and ready early, he unwrapped his present and the honeymoon began.

C HAPTER 5
    On their coach ride to Tucson through the darkness, Anita asked Cole about Jesus. Obviously, the girl had been impressed by him.
    â€œHe’s the greatest guy on earth. He had a girl in his village in Sonora and planned to marry her. But she died and he’s been pretty quiet since then,” Cole told her.
    â€œAnita, she was kidnapped by white slavers, and fearing her plight, she hung herself,” Chet said. “Cole was telling you the truth, Jesus did come back very sad.”
    â€œThank you. He is a very polite man.”
    â€œMy darling, all these cowboys are very nice men. They do many good things,” said Liz.
    â€œI am learning, señora.”
    â€œThey are nice men.” Liz lay back against his arm on the rear-facing seat. “How many times have you ridden in this coach?”
    â€œMany times. But it beats riding horses this far. We’ve done that, too.”
    She laughed. “I feel like a little girl who is ready for her birthday cake.”
    â€œI hope you will be pleased.”
    â€œDon’t worry about me. I will be.”
    She slept in his arms and felt such a part of him. This was his wife. Not wife-to-be, but his wife. He shook his head in wonder at the turns his life had taken. Not all that long ago, on a cold Texas winter afternoon, he’d lay under some cedars with three ambushers shooting at him. Two hour later, he rode away from there, and they weren’t breathing anymore. Now, here he was under some blankets against the cold, holding this lovely butterfly and taking her home. Man, he’d been damn lucky.
    Monica sent two buckboards for them. The two vaqueros driving them were excited, politely meeting the two females in the dark night. Their things were loaded and they headed for the ranch. The snow on the road had melted but covered the rest of the countryside and sparkled under the stars. Riding in the second seat, she held his arm tight.
    â€œThere is snow,” she said.
    â€œLots of it has melted.”
    â€œWill it snow more?”
    â€œWe can hope so. It’s valuable winter moisture. When you meet my housekeeper, Monica, speak to her in Spanish.”
    â€œWhy? I have worked so hard to speak good English while here.”
    â€œI can’t believe how good you are at it. I just love Monica. But you speaking Spanish will spin her around.”
    â€œYou aren’t ever mean, are you?”
    â€œNo, only with people I love.”
    When they drove up, he saw all the rigs parked in the yard and asked the driver, “Is everyone here?”
    â€œOh, si , Señor Chet, they are all here.”
    He sat back and shook his head. He hadn’t expected this. “Forget my idea. Monica did this, bless her heart.”
    â€œI will get to meet everyone?”
    He nodded. “Welcome to your new family.”
    â€œWhat did you tell her?” Liz was amused.
    â€œI was bringing home a very important person and for her to be nice to you.”
    â€œShe did what you said.”
    â€œThat lady does not miss much.”
    The driver brought them to the front steps to drop them off, so they must all be in the living room.
    â€œWait,” she said. She quickly put on her great silver earrings. “Are they alright?”
    â€œOh, yes. That’s you.”
    â€œYou hardly knew me without them in Nogales?”
    â€œYes, but I knew why you didn’t wear them on the stage.”
    â€œSo robbers would not steal them?” Amused, she laughed.
    â€œRight, but your earrings are safe here. Come, this is my family.”
    Valerie broke ranks, ran off the porch, and tackled him.
    â€œThat’s Cole’s wife, Valerie,” Chet explained. “Go ahead, Anita. No one will hurt you.” He stopped and announced, “Her name