Chapter 23
The day Noah left for San Francisco, Pilar spent the morning with Titan. The stallion still remained wary of her presence but he protested less. He even deigned to eat from the feedbag of oats while she held it, but when she reached out to touch him he raced away. It was disappointing in some ways but she felt encouraged, too. They were making progress.
She was sitting on the patio having lunch with Alanza when Drew appeared. “Afternoon, ladies.”
He was greeted in return.
“Pilar. I want you to close your eyes.”
“Why?”
He shook his head. “I have a surprise.”
“What is it?”
He looked up to the sky as if seeking strength from the heavens. “Why are Yates women so hardheaded? Can you do what I ask please?”
Alanza interjected. “Go ahead, Pilar. He’ll just whine until he gets his way.”
He shot his mother a look of amused censure.
“Okay, Drew,” Pilar said, “but if it’s something that scares me, I will get you.”
“I’m terrified, little sister.”
She closed her eyes and waited.
“Now, you may open them.”
And on the patio stood her mother and sister. She jumped up with a scream and for the next few minutes there was much hugging, rapidly spoken Spanish, and tears of joy.
“Oh, it so wonderful to have you here,” Pilar proclaimed enjoying the feel of being embraced by her mother. “I’ve missed you and Doneta so.”
“We’ve missed you, too,” her mother whispered back. “So much.”
She and Doneta shared a hug and tears.
The elated Pilar finally remembered her manners. “Mama, this is Noah’s mother, Alanza Rudd. Alanza, my mother, Desa Banderas, and my sister, Doneta.”
“Welcome to Rancho Destino. We’re honored to have you here. Your daughter has given me much joy.”
“Thank you. We’re honored to be here. She’s been behaving herself?”
Drew tossed in, “Of course not.”
“May I punch him, Alanza?” Pilar asked laughing.
“Not now, let’s get your family settled in first.”
But Pilar had a question for him, “How did you find them? Where did you find them?” She noted her mother’s and sister’s reserved manner upon meeting Alanza but told herself it was to be expected. They had no way of knowing how Pilar was being treated by Noah and his family. Later, once she was alone with them she’d reveal the truth because she dearly wanted them all to get along.
In response to her question, Drew explained: “The depot manager sent a messenger to the bank to alert me to tell Noah of their arrival. Since he’s away, I drove to the depot to pick them up and—voila—we’re here.”
Pilar gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I take back wanting to punch you. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Senora Banderas and Doneta, welcome to California. It’s been a pleasure meeting you both. I’ll see you tonight at dinner.”
He bowed and departed.
Alanza said, “Mrs. Banderas, give us a short while to ready your rooms. In the meantime, Pilar, why don’t you take them up to your wing so they can relax and the three of you can talk. I’ll send Bonnie up with refreshments.”
Pilar found that agreeable.
Winding their way through the hallways to her and Noah’s suite, her mother said, “This house is very grand, Pilar.”
“Yes it is. His family has lived here for many years. They’re old Spanish but not stuffy or formal at all.”
She opened the door and gestured them inside, and both women stared around in awe. Doneta asked, “These are your rooms?”
Pilar nodded. “When his mother became wealthy enough to afford it, she added this wing so that Noah and his two brothers could have their own space away from the main house. Noah said they made too much noise and monopolized the lone bathing room.”
Doneta went to the verandah doors, while Desa continued to stare around. Her gaze rested on the piano. “Who plays?” she asked curiously, “or is it simply for show?”
“Noah does, and extremely well. He also paints and composes music.”
“Really?”
She chuckled in response to her mother’s unmasked surprise. “Here, sit. Or do you wish to sit out on the verandah? You can see the mountains from there.”
Doneta made the decision by opening the doors, so they followed her lead.
“This is lovely,” she said, standing at the railing and looking out. “And his family owns all this?”
Pilar nodded. “There’s cattle and chickens and orchards and grapevines. Noah’s father died when he was very young and Alanza built all this practically with her own hands. She’s an amazingly wonderful woman, Mama. Reminds me of you in many ways. She’s been incredibly kind to me.”
“And Noah?” her mother asked pointedly.
Pilar thought about the wonderful man she’d married and her heart soared.
Doneta laughed. “Look at her smile, Mama. Pilar, are you in love?”
Pilar beamed.
Doneta cried, “You are, aren’t you! I am so jealous.”
They all laughed.
“We get along far better than I ever dreamed we would. He’s been incredibly kind, too.”
Doneta held out her hand. “Pay up, Mama.”
Pilar eyed the exchange curiously.
Doneta explained, “I told Mama the night you left that he was in love with you and that she wouldn’t have to worry about how he’d treat you.”
Desa chuckled and fished around in her handbag for her coin purse. Extracting one, she placed it on her daughter’s open palm. “You know extorting your mother is a sin.”
Doneta turned to Pilar. “Where is he?”
“In San Francisco on business. I’m expecting him later today, unless something’s detained him.”
“Drew is very handsome. I know you said both his brothers are married. Does he have any unmarried cousins?”
Pilar laughed. She was so happy to be with them again, especially her sister. “I haven’t been here long enough to meet any cousins yet, but I will keep an eye out for you.”
Bonnie arrived a short time later bearing a tray with tea and sandwiches. As they ate, they caught Pilar up on things in Florida.
“Our cousins have novios!” Doneta informed her excitedly. “A set of twins who are only a few years older. Tio Miguel and Tia Simona are ecstatic.”
Pilar was pleased to hear that. She hoped they’d be as happy as she and Noah.
The talk moved to the house Desa had been considering buying when Pilar left Florida. “We moved in last week. It has three acres of land and the house is in need of some repairs but Miguel will take care of that and promises everything will be ready by the time we return.”
“How long are you planning to stay?”
“Our tickets give us two weeks. Would that be an imposition?”
“Of course not. In fact, I hope you will decide to stay longer. I love it here and I know you will, too.” Pilar couldn’t stop grinning. She couldn’t believe they were truly there.
Alanza came in a short while later to let them know their rooms were ready. “I’ll see you at dinner,” she said.
They were given the wing that Billie and Drew once called home and the visitors again marveled at the suite’s size and scope.
Doneta took a seat on the settee and declared, “That’s it. I’m not going back to Florida, Mama. I’m finding a husband and living right here for the rest of my days. This is exquisite,” she added, looking around the well-appointed space.
Pilar and Desa chuckled.
“Good afternoon, ladies.”
“Noah!” Pilar shrieked. She ran to him and he caught her up and they held on to each other as if they’d been apart for a lifetime.
“How are you?”
“Wonderful, now that you’re here. Mama and Doneta are here, too.”
“So I see. Welcome to California. I hope you plan to stay with us for some time. How was your trip?”
As Pilar settled in beside her husband, she doubted there was another woman in the world happier than she.
Eventually the talk came to an end, and Pilar and Noah stood to leave so Desa and Doneta could rest up for dinner. Pilar shared a parting hug with her mother and again whispered, “I’m so glad to be with you again.”
“I feel the same way.”
She shared a hug with Doneta as well. Wiping at her happy tears, Pilar and Noah departed.
In their room, they shared a welcome home kiss. “I missed you,” he said holding her tightly against his heart.
“I missed you as well.”
When they finally parted, they walked out to the verandah and took seats. “How was the trip?” she asked and then listened as he told the story. “So you now own a shipyard.”
“I do and sometime soon you and I need to go to San Francisco and begin the search for that house we talked about. I’m letting you tell Mama we’re moving.”
“Coward.”
“Definitely.”
“This is all very exciting.”
“Yes it is. There was a fly in the ointment though.”
“Meaning?”
He told her about Gordonez.
She stared. “He was in San Francisco?”
“Yes and he wants to buy Walt’s shipyard. Lavinia wanted him to be the owner.”
“Is she out of her mind to be on the same side of a snake like him?”
“My sentiments exactly. He asked if I’d back out of the deal. When I told him no, he threatened to reveal your location to the Spanish authorities.”
Her heart stopped. “Would he really do that?”
“I promised to kill him if he did.”
The cold truth in his eyes raised the hair on the back of her neck. She realized he was not kidding. She also realized there was a man beneath the surface of Noah Yates that she didn’t know and that gave her pause. Was he the man who had the nightmares? She sensed that questions about that would open a Pandora’s box, so she let it be. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
They talked about his trip for a short while longer and then he asked, “How’s your horse?”
Her worries about Gordonez negatively impacting her life momentarily faded and she smiled. “He’s coming along rather well. I want to take him with us when we move.”
“That means we’ll need a place with some acreage.”
“Will we be able to find something that has water, too?”
“I don’t know but we’ll certainly try our best.”
That filled her heart. “You are so kind to me, Noah Yates.”
“I don’t ever want you to regret marrying me, Pilar. I want us to be happy.”
“As do I.”
His arm across her shoulders drew her closer, and as she rested her head against his chest, she wondered if this was how it felt to be in love.
That evening at dinner, Pilar introduced her family to her in-laws and the babies, and Alanza declared, “Next weekend will be the party to celebrate Noah and Pilar’s marriage, and to let our neighbors and friends meet Desa and Doneta. All in favor say aye!”
The answering ayes could be heard in Denver.
Rancho Destino spent the next week gearing up for the party. A small army of hired workers retrieved tables and chairs from the warehouses, along with linens, china, and tableware. Food orders were placed with local providers like Eli’s Naomi, now happily working out of her brand-new restaurant, while fresh fruit was gathered and stored for the gallons of sangria that would be consumed. Alanza and Pilar, accompanied by Desa and Doneta, drove all over the valley to find the peppers, yams, and other vegetables needed for the Cuban dishes Pilar planned to prepare as her contribution to the festivities. And Pilar finally learned why Mariah had taken her measurements during that initial visit to her shop. It was for a gown.
Mariah presented it to her one evening at dinner and the deep red gown was so beautiful, Pilar cried.
“I wanted it to match your rubies. You are planning to wear them, correct?”
“I will now. Thank you, Mariah.”
Mariah kissed her cheek. “You’re welcome.”
Later as she and her mother and sister viewed the gown her mother asked, “What was that about rubies?”
Pilar explained.
Doneta stared shocked. “You have rubies?”
She nodded. “You’ll see them at the party. They’re in the safe now.”
Desa said, “I’m getting jealous of your mother-in-law. There’s no way I can compete with that.”
Pilar gave her a hug, “There’s no way my love for her will ever surpass my love for you, so please don’t be. She’s my mother-in-law and I adore her, but you’re my mother. Okay?”
Desa nodded and smiled.
The party was yet another grand Alanza affair. There were no juggler or dancing bears but the people of the valley turned out in droves to meet and greet the newest Yates wife and her family. Only a few of Alanza’s many relatives were able to attend due to the short notice but those who did come were as pleased to meet her as she was to meet them and they were ecstatic that she had Spanish roots and spoke the language. Wearing her beautiful gown and the rubies around her neck, she felt like a queen. And her king, decked out like a Spanish grandee in his well-cut black suit and snow-white ruffled shirt, was so handsome and elegant he looked good enough to eat.
As they moved through the crowd mingling and garnering hugs and well wishes, he said to her, “I can’t wait to get you alone tonight. The only thing you’ll be wearing are those rubies.”
Her senses flared. “You look so handsome I was hoping to maybe sneak off and make you do all manner of scandalous things.”
“You’re a woman after my heart, but my mother would kill us both.”
“As would mine.”
“So hold on to that thought.”
“You do the same.”
She and Noah received hugs and congratulatory kisses on the cheeks from his brothers and their wives. They were all beautifully attired as well.
Drew raised his glass of sangria. “A toast to all the women who weep this day because the last Yates brother has married.”
The brothers raised their glasses. Their wives rolled their eyes.
A short time later the musicians arrived and music filled the air. She smiled at the sight of her sister doing a rumba with one of Alanza’s young male cousins. He was among the small battalion of unmarried men competing for her attention. Doneta looked to be having fun and Pilar was pleased. Her mother looked happy as well. She was seated with Alanza, Max, and some of the aunts, drinking sangria, eating, and chattering away in Spanish.
Noah left her for a moment to speak with the postmaster, Will Sally, about a package that had arrived for him and she continued to thread her way through the gathering.
Naomi stopped her. “Pilar, what are these? They’re delicious. You have to show me how to make them.”
“Certainly. They’re called chatinas. They’re fried green plantains.”
“I could eat these for the rest of my life.”
Eli had introduced the two women to each other a few days ago and Pilar genuinely liked her. “May I make some for your wedding dinner?”
“Would you?”
“I’d be honored.”
They spent a moment discussing the wedding that was only a few short weeks away and Naomi went off in search of more chatinas and her novio Eli.
Noah made his way back to her side.
“What did Will say about the package?”
“It arrived yesterday. He would’ve brought it with him but he was so anxious to get here, he rode off and left it. I’ll go pick it up Monday morning. I’m hoping it’s the paperwork from Walt’s lawyer.”
“Have you told your mother we’re moving yet?”
“No. If I had I’d be dead and you’d be making love to a ghost tonight.”
She laughed.
“Would you care to dance, mi pequeño pirata?”
The endearment made her heart soar. “I’d love to.”
Later, as dusk fell, the party began winding down. The musicians packed up their instruments and the hired help started to clear the tables. Surplus food was given to all who wanted to take some home—there wasn’t much left, and Noah and Pilar said good-bye to each and every guest and thanked them for attending. Alanza’s relatives would be staying overnight but would be heading for home at first light.
A happy Doneta gave her and Noah hugs. “I had a wonderful time.”
Noah said to her, “I hope you told your army of suitors that we’re sleeping in the morning and that anybody arriving before dawn will be shot.”
She hit him playfully on the arm. “I doubt there’ll be any demand at all.”
Pilar said, “You might be surprised. I saw a few of them talking to Mama.”
Her sleepy eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Now I’ll be unable to sleep, wondering who it might have been.”
Pilar chuckled. “Go on to bed. Sweet dreams.”
“’Night.” And she headed inside.
Noah draped an arm around her waist. “Are you ready to go in?”
It was a beautiful night. “Just let me stand here for a minute.” She looked around at the torch-lit grounds and thought back on the glorious time she had and knew she’d remember this day for the rest of her life. “Your mother really knows how to throw a party.”
“I wanted dancing bears,” he groused.
She laughed and they went inside.
Upstairs in their room, just as promised, he slowly removed her gown and left her dressed in only the ruby necklace. The love they made was so hot and scandalous the party wasn’t the only thing Pilar would remember for the rest of her life.