That Which Was Lost by SandySha

Word Count Part 1-25,221

*A Pre-Lancer/Alternate Reality/Alternate Meeting story. 
*Thanks go to Alice Marie for helping with the beta and to Charlene for help with the legal narratives. All mistakes are mine.

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Luke 15: 6-7
‘And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.’

Part 1

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Lancer Ranch
May 21, 1870

Seated on the front portico of the Lancer hacienda, sipping lemonade, Murdoch Lancer and his Segundo, Cipriano Roldán, watched the activity at the corral.  Both men were smiling at the sight of Murdoch’s sons standing shoulder to shoulder, talking and laughing as if they’d never been separated.

Cipriano glanced at Murdoch. 

“You are happy, Patron?”

“Yes, very happy.”  After a few moments, the smile on Murdoch’s face slid away.  “Do you think they’ll stay?”

Cipriano sighed. “I pray they will.  I believe they need you and this place as much as you need them.”

Murdoch looked surprised at the comment, but still, he nodded.  “I do need them.  I always have.  Thank heaven for Teresa.  If it hadn’t been for her, they wouldn’t be here now.”

“Si, Patron, none of us would be here had the ninos not come back when they did.”

After Paul O’Brien was killed and Murdoch wounded, Teresa took it upon herself to send the Pinkertons to find Scott and Johnny.  They’d come here for an offer of $1000 for an hour of their time and stayed to fight.

The battle for Lancer had taken its toll, but there was no doubt the ranch would recover.  After Pardee’s defeat, the dead had been buried, and the living…well, the living grieved and then went on about the business of living.  With each passing day, it became easier to forget and move on.  Now, four weeks later, like a bad dream, the stress and trauma of the past months was starting to fade. 

Laughter from the corral caught their attention.  Nineteen-year-old Johnny gave his twenty-four-year-old brother a gentle shove and Scott shoved back.  Johnny grimaced and grabbed his shoulder.  The smile disappeared from Scott’s face as he put an arm around his brother and said something that made Johnny smile.

Cipriano frowned and shook his head. “He is not well enough to be out of bed.”

“I know.   He should still be in bed, but keeping him there wasn’t an option any longer.  If Pardee’s bullet had gone an inch more to the right, we’d have buried him up on the hill with the others.  That boy is as stubborn as a Missouri mule.”

“Like his Papa, I think,” Cipriano laughed.  “They are happy to be back together, Patron, and I think they have missed each other as well.  You can see the bond between them is still there.”

“Yes.  It’s like the last nine years never happened for them.  There are times I wish I’d never sent Scott to Boston to go to school.  If I had kept him here….”

“We cannot live with ‘what ifs’ Patron.  What has passed, we cannot change.”

“I’ve lost them twice, Cip.”

“Si, Patron, you have lost them twice, and you have found them both times.  Not many men get a second chance, but you, you, my friend, have been given a third chance.”

“That’s true.  It’s just that I don’t think I could survive losing either of them again.”

“Then, Patron, we shall make sure they have no reason to leave, especially Juanito.  For him, it is dangerous to go back to his life along the border.  Does Senor Scott know what his brother has been doing for a living?”

Murdoch shook his head.  “Not that I know of, and it’s Johnny’s place to tell him, not mine.”

“Si, it is Juanito’s place.” 

Murdoch turned to look at his friend. “Cipriano, we’ve known each other for over 25 years, and in all that time, you’ve never called me Murdoch.  Don’t you think it’s about time?”

Cipriano gave his boss a look of dismay. “Never. It would show a lack of respect to use your first name.”

“Even when it’s just the two of us?”

Cipriano laughed.  “As it was all those years ago when it was just the two of us in Mexico?”

Murdoch nodded.

“You remember how it was when we went to find Juanito?”

“I remember.” Murdoch sighed and looked out over the ranch, his eyes settling once more on his boys.  “I remember it all as if it were yesterday.” 

---

Hermosillo, Mexico
(174 miles South of Nogales, Arizona)
December 24, 1856

Alive with music and laughter, Hermosillo buzzed with the excitement of the holidays.  It was the ninth and last day of Las Posadas and tomorrow was Christmas day.

A few months earlier, a series of interim Presidents had replaced Antonio López de Santa Anna and for the first time in years, Mexico was at peace.  The people rejoiced and gave thanks because peace in this turbulent land never seemed to last long.

Revelers filled the streets, dancing and singing.  At one end of the city, a procession, comprised mainly of children holding lit candles, began its way through the winding streets.  Before reaching its destination, the parade would circle the Place Zaragoza and pass La Catedral de la Asunción.

Last year the procession ended at the Cathedral, but this year all roads lead to the newer building, Capilla de Nuestra Señora del Carmen. (Chapel of Our Lady of Carmen).

The music faded as people entered the Chapel’s courtyard and spread out, admiring the decorations.  Occupying one corner of the yard was a traditional Nacimiento (nativity scene).  Overhead, swaying in a slight breeze, hung dozens of colorful piñatas, each made of paper mâché and shaped like a seven-point star.

Priests and the devout knew the original concept of the piñata was for each point to represent the seven deadly sins and the bright colors to attract the souls of sinners.  Believers, blindfolded and armed with faith, and a stick, would break the piñata to overcome temptation and thus reap the grace of God, being a step closer to salvation.  

However, now, only children, blindfolded and armed with a stick, took enthusiastic turns swinging at the decorative vessels until they burst, releasing their treasures of candy, fruit, and gifts.

The Chapel’s Padre, Father Juan Francisco Escalante, stood to one side of the patio enjoying his parishioners.   Father Antonio de los Reyes, the Padre of the Mission in Tubutama, far to the North, stood next to him.

“When will you leave for Tubutama?” Father Juan inquired.

“A week, I think. Sometime after the new year. As much as I enjoy Hermosillo, I must return home. I admit I miss the Mission San Pedro y San Pablo del Tubutama.”

“Entendido, Padre.” Father Juan nodded. “Entendido. Your Mission is quite beautiful.” (Understood)

Father Antonio watched the children, who were taking turns happily swinging at the piñatas.  A small boy standing to the side caught his eye.

“I see you have noticed our little friend.” Father Juan was also looking at the boy.

“Si.  Why does he not join the other children?”

“The nino is new to Hermosillo.  I have only seen him once before, with his mother.  At least I believe she was the boy’s mother.”

There was something about the tone of Father Juan’s voice that made Father Antonio turn his head, questioning. 

Father Juan blushed. “The woman… she is … she ….”

“Ay, I understand.”  Father Antonio cocked his head, looking at the boy. “The nino looks as if he could stand a good meal.”

“Si, muchas buenas comidas.”  (Yes, many good meals.)

A shout rose up from the people in the courtyard.  A blindfolded girl in a red dress had hit a piñata with enough force to break it open.  Its contents flew across the paved floor. 

Father Antonio watched the small boy run from the shadows and snatch up an apple.  Seeing a piece of candy near his foot, his eyes darted around before reaching down and grabbing it also.  Then, clutching his newly acquired treasures close to his chest, he backed away.  Finally, when he felt no one would take the fruit from him, he bit into it and chewed hungrily.

Father Antonio looked away for a moment.  When he looked back at the boy, Father Antonio saw the boy watching a petite woman pushing her way through the crowd.  She walked up to the boy and said something to him.

With both hands, he held the apple out to her.  The woman shook her head and pushed the apple back to his chest.  The boy looked relieved and took another bite.  Then the woman squatted in front of him.  For a few moments, she talked and he nodded.  The woman glanced at Father Antonio then turned her attention to the boy.   

As the woman talked, the boy nodded, then suddenly stopped chewing.  He dropped his head, his hand still holding the apple, fell to his side. 

She stood and took a final look at the child, placed a hand on his dark head, and then turned to leave.  Stepping out of the shadow, the woman walked towards the front entrance to the courtyard.  For the first time, Father Antonio could see her face more clearly.  He was stunned at the woman’s beauty.  It was as if the statue of Our Lady of Carmen had come to life.

The boy began to follow her.  The woman turned and shook her head, then put a hand on his chest, pushing him back.  As quickly as she’d come, the woman was gone, disappearing into the darkness outside the courtyard walls.

The boy stared after her for a moment before his attention was drawn to cheers as another piñata met its fate.  Father Antonio thought light reflected tears in the boy’s eyes.

As the celebration continued, Father Antonio forgot about the woman and small boy.  The traditional ‘Misa de Gallo’ (Mass of the Rooster) was held at midnight, followed by fireworks. Then, in the early morning hours, the people drifted away to their homes.

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Father Antonio entered the Chapel early the following morning.  A stream of sunlight poured through the Chapel’s stained glass windows and glinted off the cross at the altar giving the entire room a golden hue.

Stopping to admire the statue of the Virgin of Carmen, he thought of the woman from the night before.  Truth be told, he’d thought of the woman and boy many times during the night and wondered what happened to the boy.

He was near the front of the building when he spotted a small figure curled up on one of the pews.  A boy dressed in a white peon shirt and pants and holding a half-eaten apple lay on his side, sound asleep.    

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Tubutama, Sonora, Mexico
68 miles Southeast of Nogales, Arizona
April 6, 1857 

“We’re here.  Finally.”

“What if…?”

“What if what?”

“What if he is not here?  What if it is the wrong…?”

“Don’t say it.  He has to be here.  After all we’ve been through to get here, it has to be him.”

“Si, Patron.  It has to be him, and God would not be so unkind as to have us travel so far and it not be the nino.”

“No. God wouldn’t.  I’ve prayed for the last four years to find my boy, and now….”

“And now he is within reach.”

The tall rancher could only nod as he tried to fight down his emotions.

“Should we wait for morning?”

“No.  No, I’ve waited long enough.  I have to know tonight.”

For four years, he’d searched and hired men to search when he couldn’t.  Then, three weeks ago, he’d received a telegram with words that had traveled almost 900 miles. 

‘Your son John found. Stop.
 Come to Mission San Pedro y San Pablo de Tubutama, Sonora. Stop.
 Bring reward. Stop. Do not delay in coming.’

Less than an hour after receiving the simple message, Murdoch Lancer had called in his Segundo Paul O’Brien and explained what was happening.  Leaving Paul in charge, Murdoch and his friend, Cipriano Roldán, set out on the long journey to bring the boy home.  They made only one quick stop, the bank in Green River.  Murdoch withdrew only enough cash for the trip.  The reward money he’d offered through the Pinkertons, $2500, would remain in his account until he was sure his son had been found. 

They’d taken the stage from Green River, heading south until they got to San Bernadino.  From there, they’d traveled East to Pheonix and then South to Tucson.  Finally, in Tucson, they rented horses to cross into Mexico.

Now they’d reached their destination.

There was no need to ask where to go.  Tubutama, Mexico, had only one distinctive quality: the building in the center of town.  The Mission San Pedro y San Pablo de Tubutama gleamed white against the darkening sky and reddish-brown landscape.  Inside the arched entrance were two massive oak doors.  To the right of the door, a pull rope attached to a bell hung ready for visitors to announce themselves.

Stepping down from his saddle, Murdoch stretched his back and looked around.

When Cipriano moved to stand beside him, both men turned to the doors.  Murdoch wasted no time in pulling the rope.  The bell clanged loudly, breaking the stillness of the night.  Impatiently, he pulled the rope again.

Finally, the oak doors squeaked open.  A man dressed in robes stepped forward holding a raised lantern.  When the light fell on the two visitors, the Priest gave them a disapproving look.

“Senores, it is late. Can your visit to our Mission not wait until morning?”

“Padre, I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour, but we’ve come a very long way.  From California.”  Murdoch held out the tattered telegram he carried in his pocket and read a hundred times.  “I received this three weeks ago, and it says my son is here.”

The Padre looked the two men over thoroughly before nodding.  “I see. Come inside out of the night air.”

The Padre stepped aside to allow them entrance.   Walking into the building, they found themselves in a small vestibule.  

“I am Father Antonio.  I think we should go to my office before we speak.”

They followed Father Antonio into the main Chapel.  Overhead an arched ceiling was illuminated by candlelight.  In front of the long aisle, an altar displayed a wood carving of Christ on the cross flanked on either side by oil paintings.

Moving quickly down the aisle, neither Murdoch nor Cipriano took time to admire the building’s architecture.

Padre Antonio stopped in front of the altar, knelt and crossed himself.  Then looking over his shoulder, he witnessed Cipriano doing the same.

Continuing through a side entrance to the main Chapel, Murdoch and Cipriano followed Father Antonio out of the building, across a garden and into a smaller structure.  Finally, the Padre stopped in front of a door, opened it, waving the two visitors inside.

“Senores, sit, por favor.”  

The Padre took a seat behind a desk, straightened his robes, then folded his hands on top.

“I have introduced myself, but you have not told me your names.”

“I’m sorry. My name is Murdoch Lancer and this is my friend Cipriano Roldán.”

“You said you have come for your son?”

“That’s right.  John would be six now. His birthday was just before Christmas, December 23^rd.”

The Padre looked at the tall rancher and frowned.  “Senor, we have no gringo children here.”

“He’s… my son is part American, part Mexican.  Maria, his mother, is Mexican.”

A faint smile formed on the man’s face.  “Your son has blue eyes?”

“Yes! Yes, he has blue eyes, but his skin is tan and he has black hair.”

“And his name is John?”

Murdoch took a deep breath.  “Yes. John.  We called him Johnny.”

“Juanito,” Cipriano quickly added.  “I am the ninos Tio.”

“How do I know you are who you say you are?”

Murdoch and Cipriano looked at each other.  They hadn’t expected anyone to doubt their identity.

Murdoch reached into his pocket and pulled out a wallet.  Thumbing through it, he found a small photograph and handed it to the Padre.

“This is Maria and our son.  I had it taken only a few weeks before she left.”

The picture showed a woman seated with a tiny cherub-faced boy on her lap and Murdoch standing behind them.

“A beautiful family.” The Padre handed the photograph back. 

“I thought so.  I thought she was happy, but….  It doesn’t matter any longer.  All that matters is my son.”  Murdoch placed the picture back inside his wallet and looked at the Padre.  “Is he here?”

“The picture does not do the Senora justice.”

Startled by the comment, Murdoch half rose from in his chair.

“You’ve… you’ve seen Maria?”

“Si.  I have seen her but not here.”

“Where then?”

“Let me explain.  We have such a child here at the Mission; however, the first time I saw the nino was at the Mission in Hermosillo on the last day of Las Posadas at Capilla de Nuestra Señora del Carmen.

“She… the woman in the picture was there with the boy.  I saw her myself and it was I who found him the next morning asleep on one of the pews in the Chapel.”

“Hermosillo?  I don’t understand.  How did he get to Tubutama?  Did you bring him here?”

“No.  I was visiting Hermosillo at the time, but the nino was still in Hermosillo when I returned to Mission San Pedro y San Pablo del Tubutama.  A few weeks later, a man came to Tubutama with Juanito.  He told us who the chico was and how to contact you.  It would appear his mother never returned for him.”

“She just left him?  And you’re sure it was his mother?”

“Si, Senor Lancer.  As I said, the woman in the picture is the one I saw with him at the fiesta.”

“Christmas Eve.  That was over three months ago.”

“We have no telegraph in Tubutama and had to rely on a passing traveler who was able to take word north to Nogales.  That was…,” he thought for a moment.  “That was five weeks ago.  We did not expect you so soon.”

“We didn’t waste time.  As soon as I received the telegram, we took the stagecoach as far as Tucson and then rented horses.  Speaking of which, Father Antonio, is there a place we can stable them for the night and a place we can stay?”

Antonio nodded.  “You will stay with us here, and I will have a room prepared for you.  There is a stable behind the Mission.”

“Thank you, Padre.  Now, can I see him?  Can I see my son?”

“It is late, Senor Lancer.  Perhaps….”  Seeing the look on Murdoch’s face, Father Antonio relented.  “Very well, but he is asleep.  Please do not wake him.”

“Thank you.”

As the Priest started to stand, he thought of something and sat back down. 

“Senor, I must tell you the chico has not been happy since he has been with us.  Juanito has smiled only once, and that was when he spoke of a man he called Papi.”

“Papi?”

“Perhaps someone who has been a father to the chico.”

“I don’t know who this man is, but I’m Johnny’s father.  No one is taking him from me again.”

“I understand, Senor.  Now would you like to see him before I show you to your rooms?”

They eagerly followed the Priest through a series of hallways and into a room near the rear of the building. 

“We have fourteen boys with us now.  Unfortunately, there are not enough beds, so we make due.”  The door opened slowly and light spilled into a room where straw-filled pallets lined the walls.

Quietly, the three men walked down the middle of the room until the Padre stopped at the feet of one of the boys.

“Here.”

Murdoch stepped around the Padre, holding a lantern high enough to illuminate the small body.  Cipriano came to stand behind Murdoch.

The dark-haired boy rolled onto his back, one bare leg kicking the covers off and the other pushing it away. 

For the first time in four years and one month, Murdoch was seeing his son.  There was a time he could have told anyone who asked how many days and hours, but he’d stopped counting those when it became too painful to remember.

Right now, there was nothing he wanted more than to pick Johnny up and hold him to his chest.  Instead, Murdoch straightened the boy’s leg and covered him up.  Absently, he brushed the hair from the small forehead and smiled when the boy turned onto his side and sighed contently.

The one simple act gave Murdoch more joy than he’d felt in years.

“Is this your son, Senor Lancer?”

Murdoch nodded.  

“You are sure?  How old was the child the last time you saw him?”

Murdoch didn’t have to pause before answering, “Seventeen months.”

“Senor Lancer, all boys look alike at this age.  You have not seen your son since he was a bebé.” 

Murdoch looked up at the Padre and frowned.  ‘Was he sure?’ 

“Perhaps we should wait until morning and let you see him again.  Just to make sure.”

The Padre turned without another word and started for the door. 

As Murdoch started to follow, another child caught his attention.  This one looked very much like the one the Padre had pointed out to him as his son, but there was something….  Then turning slowly, Murdoch looked at Cipriano, and they both looked around the room.  Most of the boys were about the same age with dark hair and brown skin.

“Patron?”

“I’ll know him when I see him.  I’ll know my John.  They may all look the same now, but there is only one boy with the Lancer eyes.”

“Manana?”

Murdoch nodded. “Si, mi amigo, manana.”

---

A Crucifix was the only decoration to the adobe walls of the room Father Antonio assigned them.  

Murdoch and Cipriano stood shoulder to shoulder in a space barely large enough to accommodate two slim beds and a tiny table. 

“Which do you want, Patron?” Cipriano chuckled, knowing neither would fit his friend.

“Very funny.”  Murdoch took one step, reaching the middle of the room.  “I’ll take the one on the right.”

Cipriano started to move forward but couldn’t until Murdoch sat down on his bed.

“Surely, the Padre has something else?”  Murdoch looked around the small room. 

“I can sleep with the horses, Patron.”

“No.  If anyone stays with the horses, it’ll be me.  Let’s just try to get some sleep.”

Slipping his boots off, Murdoch swung his legs around and laid on the too-short bed.  His feet hung off the end by a good twelve inches.

Cipriano tried to hide a smile as he quickly sat down, removed his boots, and laid down.

Murdoch blew out the candle sitting on a table between the beds.  Darkness engulfed the room. As hard as he tried to get comfortable, it was going to be impossible.

“Patron?”

“Yes,” Murdoch answered in the darkness.

“The nino…?”

“I don’t know.  I’ll know when I see him in the morning.”

“Si.  Buenas noches.”

“Good night, my friend.  Thank you again for making this trip with me.”

“Where else would I be.  You are the chico’s Padre, but I am his Tio.  We are familia, are we not?”

A small window high on the wall between the beds allowed sunlight to stream into the enclosure. 

Murdoch woke to the sound of children laughing and playing in the courtyard outside.

Struggling to sit up, he noticed Cipriano was already sitting on the side of his bed, putting on his boots.

“I will check on the horses and find out from the Padre where we can eat.”

Murdoch yawned.  “Very well, but I need to know where the outhouse is.”

Cipriano nodded.  “Si.  That is first.”

After their morning routines, the two men meandered through the Mission halls until they found the kitchen.  Father Antonio was ready for them with two cups of coffee.

“Thank you, Father.” Murdoch gratefully accepted his cup. “I need this.”

“Gracias, Padre.” Cipriano nodded as he took his cup.

“Do you wish to eat before seeing the boys?”

Murdoch’s hand froze as he lifted the cup to his lips. 

“I think I’d rather see them first.  I’m not sure I’ll keep anything down if ….”

“If the nino is not yours?”

Murdoch didn’t answer; he didn’t have to.  The answer hung in the air between them.  

“Very well.  Follow me.” 

Father Antonio led the way into a large courtyard where boys ran, laughed, and played. 

Murdoch stood for a moment taking in the sight of every one of them.  He dismissed the older boys, but several looked to the right age. 

“Can I talk to those five?”

Father Antonio nodded before walking into the yard and tapping the five young boys on the shoulder.

“Chicos, there is someone who wants to meet you.”

The boys hesitantly followed the Priest back to where Murdoch was now sitting.  Cipriano stood at his right shoulder.

Father Antonio lined the boys in front of Murdoch.

“Ninos this is Senor Lancer. He is visiting our Mission today.”

Together they responded with, “Hola, Senor.”

One by one, Murdoch looked at their faces and into their eyes.  Three boys had brown eyes, one light blue and one green.  Murdoch’s heart sank.  Glancing up at Cipriano, he shook his head.  None of these was his Johnny.

Murdoch smiled at the boys but couldn’t get his voice to respond.

Thankfully, Father Antonio intervened.  “You can go back to playing now, ninos.” 

The boys turned and ran away.

“I was so hoping….”  Murdoch closed his eyes, fighting to stay in control.

Murdoch started to stand when a small voice stilled him. 

“Padre?”

Settling back down, Murdoch stretched his neck to look behind Father Antonio’s robed figure.  A boy peeked out; his eyes lowered.

“Si, nino?” Antonio responded and put a hand behind his back.  “I believe the Senor would like to meet you as well.”

Murdoch started to smile at the boy, who appeared to be only four or five years old and hardly weighed 30 pounds.   

When the dark-haired child raised his head, Murdoch’s world froze along with his smile.  He’d know those eyes anywhere.  A color many in his family had tried to describe, but none agreed on – vivid blue, deep blue, sapphire blue, and even dark blue.  A blue that changed with the emotions of the person to whom they were gifted. 

He’d seen them on his grandmother, his brother Ian, and his youngest son. There was no doubt in his mind this was his son.

Murdoch started to reach out and take the child by his shoulders, only to have the boy step away from him.

Swallowing, Murdoch licked his dry lips. 

“Hello.  My name is Murdoch.  What’s your name?”  When the boy didn’t respond, Murdoch tried in Spanish.  “Hola. Mi nombre es Murdoch. Cuál es tu nombre?”

Father Antonio looked between Murdoch and the boy.

“It is all right, little one.  Answer the Senor.”

The boy answered, “Juanito.”   Then straightening to his full height of no more than four feet, he stated proudly, “Mi nombre es Juanito.”

Murdoch’s breath caught in his throat.

“Juanito, do you speak English?”

Johnny stared back at him.  “Si, I… I speak English.  Papi taught me.”

“Papi?  Who is Papi?”

Johnny frowned.  “Papi is Papi.”  He took his time in answering further.  “Papi took care of Mama and me until….”

“Until what?”

Johnny dipped his head to his chest and sighed.  “Until Mama …”  Looking up again.  “Senor, will you take me to Sasabe?”

“Sasabe?”

“On the border, Patron, west of Nogales,” Cipriano volunteered.

“What’s in Sasabe?” Murdoch directed his question to the boy.

“Papi.  He needs me and…. I miss him.”

“I’m sure you do, but I know something I hope will make you happy.”

Johnny cocked his head, giving Murdoch a questioning look.

“What if I told you I’m your Papa?  You’re real Papa.”

There was a moment of fear in the boy’s eyes.

“She…Mama said my real Papa did not want a mestizo.  He did not want me.”

“That’s not true, son.  I’ve always wanted you.”

“That’s not what….”

“I don’t care what your mother said,” Murdoch’s voice bellowed.  Then, when he saw the boy flinch, he lowered his tone.  “I’m sorry.  Don’t be afraid.”

Reaching inside his vest, Murdoch removed his wallet and took out the picture he’d shown Father Antonio the night before. Then, holding it out, he showed it to Johnny.

“See.  This is a picture of your mother and me when you were a baby.”

Johnny stepped closer.  His eyes widened when he saw the woman and his hand reached out to touch her photographic face.

Looking up, Johnny waited a moment before speaking.  “Mama?”

“That’s right.  And that little fellow sitting on your Mama’s lap is you.”

Johnny ran a finger over the baby’s face.  

“Me?”

“Yes, son.  You.”

“And you?”

Murdoch nodded.

“You really want me?” His voice was so soft it was hard to hear.

“Yes, very much.”

Cipriano cleared his throat.  Murdoch looked up and smiled.

“Johnny, this is your Tio.  His name is Cipriano.”

Surprised, Johnny blurted out, “Tio?”

“Si, muchacho.”

Johnny shook his head.  “Mama never told me I had a Tio.”

“That’s alright, son. There’s a lot we need to talk about.  Why don’t you go play now and while I talk to Father Antonio?”

Johnny looked up at the Padre for permission.  When Father Antonio nodded his approval, Johnny turned slowly and walked away.  He stopped once and looked back at the gringo who said he was his Papa.  Then he ran to the other side of the playground.

“He’s so small compared to the other boys his age.  I would never have thought he was six years old.”

“It is sad but true.  When Juanito came to us in Hermosillo, he was starving, and it was evident he hadn’t had a good meal in a long time.  I believe he is small because he has not had enough to eat all his life.”

“He did for his first two years, well, almost two years.”

Murdoch took a few deep breaths before standing.

“So, Senor Lancer, you have found your hijo?”

“Yes, Padre.  Thank you, but you knew all the time you’d shown me the wrong boy last night.  Why?”

“I had to be sure.  Giving a child in my charge to another is something I do not take lightly.”

“I understand.” 

Murdoch studied Johnny as he stood next to two of the other boys he’d met. He was everything he’d expected and hoped for.

“Padre, about the reward.”

“Oh yes, the reward.” Father Antonio held up a hand and shook his head.  “For the mission, there is no need for a reward, Senor.  Reuniting you with your son is reward enough.  However, the man who brought Johnny to us is most anxious for the money.  His name is Jose Rivas.  He comes every afternoon to see if there is word of your arrival.”

“Then he’ll be here today?”

“Without fail.”

“What type of man is he, Padre?  Did he tell you how he knew of Johnny or me or of the reward?”

“He explained nothing.  Perhaps he will tell you.  As for the type of man he is… I will let you make up your own mind.”

“Padre, I know you don’t want to say anything negative, but….”

“But you would like my opinion?”

“Yes. Yes, I would.”

“I will only say I would not trust Senor Rivas with the mission’s collections.  I assume you have the money with you?”

Murdoch shifted uncomfortably. Before he could answer, Father Antonio moved so that he was standing under the shade of the tree.

“I had the money wired to the bank in Nogales.  I’ll give Rivas a bank draft.”

Father Antonio nodded.

“I have never asked Senor Lancer, but how much is the reward?”

“Twenty-five hundred American dollars.”

Father Antonio’s eyes widened.  “So much?”

Murdoch smiled and let his eyes fall on Johnny.   “Not so much, Padre.”   

“So, Senor Lancer. When do you plan to leave?  To return to your country with the nino?”

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to leave tomorrow morning.  I want to get John home as soon as possible.”

“I understand.  You have my blessing and that of the church.”

---

The morning passed and then lunch.  Finally, as early afternoon came, the people of Tubutama and the Mission settled in for a siesta.

Cipriano happily found a chair sitting in a doorway where he could see all of the Missions courtyard.  From his seat, he watched his Patron and sobrino.    

Father and son hadn’t spoken to each other since early that morning, the boy having stayed his distance from the tall rancher.  Cipriano wondered who would give in first and approach the other. 

Murdoch sat on a bench under a white oak tree; his long legs stretched out in front of him.  His eyes fixed on his son. 

On the other side of the same courtyard, Johnny sat cross-legged shaded by the Mission’s wall and glared at his father. 

For an hour, they’d stared at each other. Now, Cipriano noticed Murdoch appeared to be dozing and thought he might as well find a place to take his own siesta.  When he was about to give up, he saw Johnny make the first move. 

Holding his breath, Cipriano watched as the boy stood and then crept across the yard.  He stopped several times but never took his eyes off his objective.

---

Murdoch kept his head down. From under his hat brim, he saw Johnny slowly making his way towards him.  He’d waited four long and lonely years to be this close to his son, and he couldn’t take the chance of frightening the boy away now. 

From his discussion with Father Antonio, Murdoch knew Johnny’s mother hadn’t cared for their son.   He wanted to know so much, but for right now, all he needed was to have Johnny trust him. 

Johnny inched his way around the courtyard wall until he was even with his father.

Murdoch remained still, waiting to see what the boy would do.

Johnny took a step closer and then another. Finally, when he was standing near the other end of the bench, Johnny eased down.

Murdoch cut his eyes towards his son.  Johnny was just sitting, swinging his legs.  After a few minutes, Murdoch was rewarded by the boy sliding closer to him. 

They were within a foot of each other when Johnny hesitantly dipped his head and looked under the brim of Murdoch’s hat, trying to see if the man was asleep.  Satisfied he was still undetected, Johnny reached over and touched Murdoch’s arm, then quickly pulled his hand back.

Murdoch sat perfectly still for a few seconds, then lowered his hand to the bench before reaching over and touching Johnny’s arm using only one finger.  The boy giggled.

Johnny waited a minute before repeating his action.  This time he laid his hand on Murdoch’s arm.

Yawning, Murdoch raised his head and pushed his hat back off his forehead.  Looking down, he smiled when he saw the small hand still on his arm.

“Buenas tardes, Senor.”

“Good afternoon, Johnny.”

The two sat quietly for several minutes. 

“You don’t want to take a siesta today?”

Johnny shook his head.  “I am not tired,” he paused.  “Are you tired, Senor?”

“A little.  I’ve come a long way to find you.”

Johnny frowned. “Why?”

“Why?  Because you’re my son, mi hijo.  I love you.”

Johnny dipped his head.  “No, senor, I don’t deserve….”

“Hold it right there.  You do deserve to be loved and believe me, son, I love you with all my heart.”

Johnny sighed, swung his legs onto the bench, then laid his head on his father’s leg.

Murdoch’s breath caught. 

Johnny wiggled around until he was comfortable and placed a small hand under his head.

“Senor, are you going to take me with you when you leave the Mission?”

Murdoch nodded.  “Yes.  I’m going to take you home with me, back to where you were born.”

“Is it far?”

“Yes, very far.  It will take us a long time to get there.”

Johnny frowned.

“What’s wrong, Johnny?”

“If I go that far away, Papi won’t be able to find me.  No.  I should stay here… or….”

“Or what?”

“You could take me to Sasabe.”

“It’s been a long time since your mother left you in Hermosillo.  Don’t you think he would have come by now if he was coming?”

“Tell me about your Rancho.”  Johnny quickly changed the subject.

“You’ll love it there.  It is big and green.  Lancer stretches across valleys and mountains.  There’s this one spot where you can stand and see it all. As far as the eye can see, there are trees, grass, water, and cattle.  Lots of cattle.”

“Do you have horses?”

“Yes.  There are a lot of horses.  Do you like horses?”

“Si, I can ride.  Papi taught me.”

“Is that so?”

“Si.” Johnny yawned. “Can I have a horse of my own?”

Murdoch placed a hand on the boy’s head. His heart soared.

“Yes, son.  You can have a horse of your own and as many as you want.”

Murdoch looked down at the sleeping boy who’d stolen his heart the moment he was born.  For four years, he’d yearned to hold him again, to touch him.  Now, here he was and he’d kill to make sure no one separated them again.

*******

Long shadows were falling at the mission when Cipriano sought Murdoch out.  The rancher was still in the garden watching Johnny. 

“Patron?”

Murdoch glanced at his friend and then went back to watching Johnny.  The boy wasn’t doing anything special, but it didn’t matter to Murdoch. 

“You are afraid he will disappear if you look away?”

“Yes, I guess I am.”  Murdoch sighed.  “I’m afraid if I look away, he’ll vanish.  I still can’t believe I’m sitting here watching him.”

“It will take time, but once he is home….”

Murdoch laughed, “Once he’s home, I may lock him in his room until he’s a grown man.”

“I know how you feel, but remember he is still a nino.  You cannot smoother the life out of him.  You must give him room to grow.” 

“Senor Lancer.” Father Antonio entered the garden with a man following him.

Murdoch stood and appraised the man he knew must be Jose Rivas. The Mexican was dressed in traditional leather calzoneras with conchos down each leg and a bolero jacket.  He was tall with dark hair and brown piercing eyes and sported a pencil-thin mustache. The only thing to distract from his otherwise handsome face was a scar running from the corner of his left eye and disappearing into his hairline. 

For a reason even he couldn’t understand, Murdoch took an instant dislike to the man. 

Father Antonio performed the introductions.  “Senor Lancer, this is Jose Rivas.  The man who brought Johnny to the mission.”

Murdoch extended his hand.  “Senor, I’m grateful for the return of my son.”

Rivas smiled.  “I am sure you are, Senor Lancer.”

“Can you tell me how you knew about me and the reward?”

Rivas glanced around the garden, his eyes falling on Johnny.  

Murdoch realized Johnny was staring at Rivas.

“I know the chico’s madre.  Maria spoke of you often.  I must say she was not flattering in her description of you.”  Rivas continued to smile, one that didn’t go to his eyes. “Now, Senor, there is the matter of the reward.”

“Yes, of course.”  Murdoch lowered his eyes so as not to see the smirk on Rivas’ face.  Reaching into the breast pocket of his vest, Murdoch took out his wallet.  Opening it, he took out a bank draft.  “The money is in the bank in Nogales.  All you need to do is present this.”

Murdoch handed over the draft.

Rivas looked at the piece of paper and frowned.

As if reading the man’s mind, Murdoch added, “Senor Rivas, I don’t carry a great deal of cash with me when I’m traveling and definitely not that kind of money.  The draft is good.  Once you present it to the bank in Nogales, they’ll give you twenty-five hundred American dollars.  I’m sure they have it in gold if you wish.”

Rivas raised his eyes to look at Murdoch and then looked at the bank draft again.  The corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile.

“Bueno.  I will leave for Nogales manana.  And you, Senor, when do you plan to go north?” 

“We’ll be leaving tomorrow also. I’m anxious to get my son home.”

Rivas stood for another few seconds before nodding.   “I hope you have a safe journey, Senor Lancer.”  Then turning to look at Johnny, he said, “Juanito, you do as your Papa says.”

Johnny shifted so that he was partially hidden by a tree.

Rivas laughed. “Senor Lancer, that one is wild and has a hard head.  I do not envy you a long trip with him.”

“I’m sure we’ll manage.” Murdoch wanted the man gone.  Extending his right hand again, Murdoch said, “Thank you again.”

“De nada, Senor.  It is I who thanks you for the dinero.”

Rivas turned and walked away without another word.

It wasn’t until Murdoch was sure the man was gone before he relaxed.  He looked at Father Antonio.  “I believe I understand now why you would not trust that man with the mission’s collections.”

Father Antonio laughed.  “I admit it makes me very happy he will no longer be coming to the mission.”

“And I’ll admit, I’m glad he’s gone.  But I would still like to know how he knew Maria.”

“Senor Lancer, perhaps some things are better left in the dark.  You have your son.  Is that not enough?”

“Yes, Padre, it is enough.”

Murdoch looked around the garden.  Johnny was still behind the tree, and it was obvious the boy was glad Rivas was gone as well.

---

“Vaya con Dios, Juanito.”

Johnny ran to Father Antonio and threw his arms around the man.  Then, reaching up, he pulled on the Priests robed arm and pulled him down to his level. 

Father Antonio bent over.

Johnny whispered into the Padre’s ear, “When Papi comes for me, tell him where I’ve gone.  He has to find me.  He has to know I’m all right.”

“Are you sure, mi hijo?”

Johnny nodded. 

“Por favor, Padre Antonio.”

“I promise to do as you say if this man comes for you.”

“Gracias, Padre Antonio.”

“What of your mother?  What if she comes for you?”

“She will not.”

“But if she does.”

“Mama will not come.”

Father Antonio looked into the boy’s blue eyes and nodded his understanding.

“Johnny,” Murdoch called out.  “Come on, son, it’s time to go.”

Johnny turned and started to run back to his father’s side.

“Juanito,” Father Antonio called out, “wait.”

Johnny hurried back.

“Juanito, what is the man’s name?  The man you call Papi.”

Father Antonio bent down.  Johnny whispered in his ear, “Val.  Val Crawford.”

---

Watching Johnny running towards him, Murdoch realized he was smiling.  It had been a long time since he’d felt happy, really, really happy.

For years, it felt like a dark cloud was hanging over his head, and a hand was squeezing his heart.   No matter how he’d forced himself to move forward, there was always the lingering pain of loss. 

Losing his first family had been devastating.  He thought he’d never recover, but then he met Maria and for a short time they were happy, especially when Johnny came along.  When Maria left with their baby, his life came crashing down around him again.  But all these years, he’d never given up.

Although he was relieved to be leaving Tubutama, he wouldn’t start relaxing until they were on the trail.  No, that wasn’t true.  He wouldn’t relax until they were in Nogales and on the stage headed for California.

Johnny stopped in front of him.  Murdoch reached down and ruffled the boy’s dark hair.  

“Ready to go?”

“Si, Senor.”

Johnny looked around, noticing his Tio wasn’t there.  Before he could ask, Cipriano came from around the corner of the mission leading two horses and a pony.  Johnny’s eyes widened.

Murdoch smiled. “I thought you’d be more comfortable riding your own horse.”

“Si, I can ride.  Gracias, Senor.”

Murdoch knelt in front of the boy.  “You know you don’t have to call me Senor.  You can call me Papa.”

Johnny’s face hardened; the faint smile that was forming disappeared.  

Murdoch knew he’d pushed too far.  “It’s alright, son.  You call me whatever you want.  We’ve got all the time in the world to get to know each other again.”

Without another word, Murdoch picked Johnny up and sat him on the pony.

“Now, how’s that, young man?”

Johnny frowned when his feet wouldn’t reach the stirrups. Seeing the dilemma, Murdoch quickly adjusted them.

“There you go.  Is that alright? You’re sure you’ll be able to ride.”

“Si. It is good, Senor.  See.”   Johnny raised both feet firmly fixed in the stirrups.

“Cipriano, are you ready?”

“Si, Patron.” 

“Then let’s go.”

Murdoch looked at Father Antonio one last time.  “Gracias, Father.  Thank you for all you’ve done.”

“Go with God, my friend.”  Father Antonio whispered as the three riders rode away.

---

Propped up on his left arm, Murdoch laid on his bedroll, watching the campfires dancing flames.  The crackle and pop of the wood combined with the red and orange glow of the fire should have been enough to put him to sleep.   But tonight, he was too wound up to sleep.

Looking through the tendrils of smoke, his eyes were glued to the small boy sleeping on the other side of the fire. 

They’d left the mission in Tubutama shortly after sunrise, making it a long day.  It wasn’t until last night he’d made up his mind which route they were going to take back to Nogales.

The most direct route between Tubutama and Nogales would have taken them 68 miles straight through the rough terrain of the Palamos mountain range.  An alternate, more accessible route around the southern tip of the mountains was longer by 30 miles but easier riding.  Murdoch wasn’t taking a chance on the rough trail with Johnny with them, so he chose the longer route.

They’d stopped several times during the day to rest both themselves and the horses.  Johnny had been especially quiet all morning and Murdoch wondered what the boy was thinking.  The conversation of the day before with his son kept repeating in his mind. 

“Senor, are you going to take me with you when you leave the Mission?”

“Yes.  I’m going to take you home with me, back to where you were born.”

“Is it far?”

“Yes, very far.  It will take us a long time to get there.”

Murdoch remembered the frown on his son’s face.

“What’s wrong, Johnny?”

“If I go that far away, Papi won’t be able to find me.  No.  I should stay here… or….”

“Or what?”

“You could take me to Sasabe.”

Was that it?  Johnny was still concerned the man he called Papi wouldn’t find him.  The odd thing was, Johnny hadn’t once mentioned his mother coming back for him.  In fact, Johnny hadn’t been as concerned with his mother as he had with the man, and he had to wonder why.

There were so many questions he wanted answers to.  If only he could get the boy’s trust.  He was driving himself crazy with worry.  He’d worried for four years, worried on the trip from Lancer to Tubutama, now he was worried about keeping the boy.

---

A layer of dust rose around Johnny’s feet as he ran.  He had to get home.  The tall man was coming again.  The small adobe house came into view, and still, Johnny ran.

“Papi!  Papi!”

Coming to a stop at the doorway of the house, he tried to catch his breath and called out again, “Papi!”

 “Papi, are you here?  Please be here.  You’ve got to be here.”

“Papi….” Out of breath, Johnny looked over his shoulder.  The tall man, his hands outstretched, was coming closer.  He braced his back against the wall of the shack, his eyes wide with fright.

“Por favor.  No.  Papi no … no lo dejes …”   (Daddy, no… don’t let him…)  

Johnny tried to pull away, but the man was too big and too strong.  They were always too big and too strong.  He knew what was coming and fought to get away as a hand grabbed his shoulder and shook him.

---

A slight moan drew Murdoch from his musings.  Johnny was starting to toss and turn; the blanket covering him was thrown aside. 

Murdoch eased himself up and started around the fire.  Johnny cried out as first softly, then louder, “Por favor.  No.  Papi no … no lo dejes …”  

Cipriano threw back his blanket and jumped to his feet, gun drawn.  “Patron?”

Murdoch waved his friend off.  Then, kneeling on one knee next to Johnny, he reached down and took the boy’s shoulder.  

“Johnny.”

The boy jerked away and his eyes flew open, staring at his father, yet unseeing. 

“No.  No me toques … Papi, deténlo. Por favor detenlo. No dejes que me golpee.” (Don’t touch me … Daddy, stop him.  Please stop him. Don’t let him hit me.)

Murdoch grabbed Johnny’s shoulder and gave it a gentle shake.  When that didn’t work, he lifted the struggling body up.  The entire time the boy was kicking and pounding his chest.

“John, no one is going to hurt you.”

“No me toques. Déjame ir. Déjame ir. Daddy. Dónde estás?”   (Don’t touch me. Let me go. Let me go. Daddy, where are you?)

Murdoch started rocking his son. 

“Shhh, it’s going to be alright.  I’m here.  Papa’s here to take care of you.” 

“Patron, what can I do?”

“I don’t know.  What the hell happened to him?”

“Algo malo. Muy mal.” (Something bad. Very bad.)

Johnny stilled in Murdoch’s arms. 

“I think he’s past it.”

Murdoch laid Johnny back on the bedroll.

“He’s clothes are soaked with sweat.”  

Murdoch sat back on his heels, shaking his head.  Everything Johnny owned; he was wearing.  Planning to buy clothing for him in Nogales, they hadn’t thought to bring anything else for him to wear.

“He cannot stay in the wet things,” Cipriano stated the obvious.

Resolved to what needed to be done, Murdoch lifted Johnny’s shoulders. “Help me get these off of him.  We’ll have to wrap him in a blanket until his clothes dry.”

Just as Murdoch lifted the shirt, Johnny woke up.  Eyes wide, he looked around and then pulled away.

“It’s alright, son.  You had a nightmare.  Your clothes are wet.  We have to get them off of you and dry before you catch a chill.”

“No.  I …”

Murdoch lifted the shirt again.

“No!” Johnny grabbed the shirttail and pulled it down.  “Por favor, Senor.  I am good.  There is no need.”

Murdoch frowned.  Leaning back, he looked at the boy’s face.

“We aren’t going to let you stay in wet clothes all night.  Your uncle has a blanket to wrap you in until your things dry.  When we get to Nogales, we’ll buy you new clothes.  Now, let’s get this shirt off of you and then the pants.”

“Por favor.” This time Johnny was begging. 

“What’s wrong?”  Murdoch asked as he pulled the wet shirt over Johnny’s head. 

The boy buried his face in his hands and started to rock.

“Madre de Dios,” Cipriano whispered and crossed himself.  He was staring at Johnny’s back.

Murdoch turned the boy sideways to see what Cipriano was talking about. The firelight illuminated the scars on the small back.

Swallowing hard, Murdoch took a deep breath.  “Johnny, how…what happened to your back?  Who did this to you?”

Johnny shook his head and jumped up, backing away from the two men. 

“Son?”

“Don’t call me that, gringo.  Don’t call me your son.  I have no padre.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No. If you were my Papa, you would have been there to stop them.  You weren’t there.  No one was there.”

Murdoch was on his feet, looming over Johnny, who was not stepping backward.  It was as if the man in his dream was coming for him.

“No!  Stay away from me.”

“Johnny, who did that to you?”

Johnny lowered his head and wrapped his arms around his chest.

“Tell me.  Who did that to you?”

Johnny heaved a sigh, “Mama’s men.  They did not want a mestizo any more than you.  I tried to stay away from them, but ….”  Panicked, Johnny looked around for a place to run.  There was only darkness outside the circle of campfire light.

“But, what?”

Johnny raised his eyes and fixed them on the man who said he was his father. 

Both Murdoch and Cipriano saw a change come over the boy.  His face hardened and his eyes darkened, somehow making him look older. 

“Mama’s men… they said it was my punishment for talking back and fighting them.  They said they would teach me manners.  I had to learn my place,” Johnny spat the words out.  “They used their hands and fists, and when they tired, they used their belts.”

“My God, son.  Where was your mother?  How could she allow that to happen to you?”

“Mama…” Johnny slowly shook his head.  “I do not wish to talk of this.  My shirt, Senor.”  Johnny held out his hand.

Murdoch hesitated a moment but handed the still damp shirt to Johnny.  The boy slipped it over his head and tugged it down to his hips. 

“You’re still wet.  Come sit by the fire until you dry.”

Johnny didn’t move.

Cipriano handed Murdoch the blanket he’d been holding.   Approaching his son, Murdoch wrapped it around Johnny and eased him closer to the fire.

While Cipriano put wood on the fire, Murdoch cautiously sat next to his son and eased an arm around the tiny shoulders.  After a few minutes, he could feel Johnny’s shoulders relax as the boy slumped against him.

“It’s going to be alright, son.  We’ll work it out.  There are so many things I want to know and I’m sure you’ll tell me when you’re ready.”

Johnny didn’t say anything.

Cipriano squatted next to Murdoch and Johnny.  Reaching for the coffee pot, he poured a cup of the hot dark brew. Then, holding it out toward Murdoch, he was surprised when Johnny’s smaller hand reached out and took the cup.

“Gracias, Senor.” 

Murdoch laughed.  “I take it you like coffee?”

“Si,” Johnny responded with no emotion in his voice.

“I like it too.  But sometimes, I like it with a little sugar in it.”

Johnny turned his head and looked at his father.

“You’ve never had it with sugar?”

Johnny shook his head.  “No, Senor.”

“Cipriano….”

“Here, Sobrino.”  

Murdoch watched Johnny’s face as Cipriano lifted the small bag of sugar he carried with him, reached inside and took a pinch of the sweet granules.  He dropped them in Johnny’s cup.  Then Cipriano looked around for something to stir the coffee with and found a short stick.  Cleaning it off, he dipped it in the coffee and stirred.

“See if you like that better,” Murdoch said.  

Johnny took a sip of his coffee.  His face lit up, and for a moment, there was the slightest hint of a smile.

“You like it?”

Johnny nodded.  “Si.”

The only sound for several minutes was the crackle of the fire and crickets chirping in the darkness.  Murdoch thought Johnny had dozed off, then heard a soft voice.

“Lo siento, Senor.  I do not mean to cause trouble.”

“You didn’t cause trouble.”

“Will you beat me now, Senor?”

“What?  Why would I beat you?”

“I did not do as you said.”

Murdoch took a deep breath and looked at Cipriano.

“No, John.  I’m not going to beat you.  I’d never lay a hand on you, not like that.  Any man who beats a child or anyone like you were, is a coward.”

Johnny looked squarely at Cipriano.  “Will he beat me?”

Cipriano shook his head.  “No, nino, he will not beat you.  That is not to say if you are disobedient, we will not take a hand to your el culo.”

Johnny’s eyes narrowed.

“Son, there’s a difference between a spanking and a beating.  If you do something I told you not to do, then you’ll feel my hand on your bottom.  Your uncle can also discipline you, but no one else.  I promise you no one will ever raise more than a hand to you.  Not as long as I’m alive and can stop it.” 

“Promesa?”

“Si, Promesa, hijo.”

Murdoch looked at Johnny’s downturned face.

“You don’t believe me, or is it you don’t trust me?” 

“It is not wise to trust, Senor. I do not trust, not anyone.”

“No one?  Why?”

“So, I …”  Johnny couldn’t go on.

“So you can’t be disappointed when someone breaks that trust.  Is that it?”

Johnny nodded.

“You know you’re too young to be so cynical.  But for a six-year-old, you’re pretty wise, too.”

Johnny’s head came up.  “Seis?”

“That’s right.  You’re six.  You didn’t know?”

“No.”  Johnny took a deep breath and sighed.  “That is why she no longer wants me.”

“What?”

“Mama told me when… I became six, then I would be old enough to take care of myself.  That I would not need her any longer.”

“You must have misunderstood her.”

“No!” Johnny stood up, throwing the blanket around his shoulders to the ground.  “I know what I know.  She never wanted me.  She said she hated me, hated my eyes.  My padre’s eyes, she called them.  All my life, she said I was like a piedra, a stone, around her neck.  When she left me at the Mission in Hermosillo, she said it was time for her to go.  Now I know why.” 

Murdoch hurried to his feet.  “John.”

“I will go with you, Senor, but ….”

Murdoch took a step forward, but Johnny didn’t move.  Reaching out, Murdoch put a hand on his son’s shoulder.   The unsaid words hung in the air between them.  ‘But I do not believe or trust you.’

“I do not wish to discuss it, Senor.” Johnny yawned. “Can I go to sleep now?”

“I think that’s a good idea.”  Murdoch picked the boy up and carried him to his sleeping bag.  Laying Johnny down, Murdoch leaned over and kissed his forehead.  “Good night, son.”

“Buenos Noches, Senor.”

Murdoch lowered his head and leaned back.  Why couldn’t Johnny call him something, anything except ‘Senor’?  Maybe it would just take time.  He now realized how much damage Maria had done.  It was going to be an uphill battle and take time to overcome the harm she’d done.  Not only had she deprived their son of a safe and loving home, but she’d destroyed the child in him.  

Thinking back to their stay at the Mission, Murdoch remembered he’d never once seen Johnny play with the other children, nor had he seen the boy laugh.  Even the simple pleasure of a pinch of sugar wasn’t enough to bring a genuine smile to his face.

Raising his face to the night sky, Murdoch said a silent prayer for all of them.  

---

Coming to a stop in front of the hotel in Nogales, Murdoch breathed a sigh of relief.  It had been a long day, and he was ready for a hot bath and a soft bed.

“Cipriano, I’ll take the saddlebags and get us settled in rooms at the hotel.  Would you take care of the horses?”

“Si, Patron.”

“What do you say, son? Are you ready for a soft bed and a good meal?  I know I am.”

Johnny had been quiet, answering only direct questions.  Now he only nodded.

“Patron, I will find the bathhouse.  The way we smell, I do not believe anyone will welcome us.”

Murdoch laughed.  “I agree.  I could stand a hot bath.”

Johnny cut his eyes towards his father but didn’t say a word.

“Oh, and Cip, can you check out the General Store to see if they have clothes that will fit our young man and don’t forget some underwear.”  Murdoch retrieved his wallet and handed a few bills to his friend. “We’ll go back later and pick out a pair of boots for him.”

Cipriano nodded.  Taking the horses’ reins, he led them toward the livery stable.

Murdoch put a hand on Johnny’s shoulder and guided him into the hotel.  Going straight to the check-in desk, Murdoch looked for a counter bell and didn’t find one.  Rapping on the desk with his knuckles, he waited.  Glancing down, he smiled when he saw Johnny looking wide-eyed all around the lobby. 

A short, balding man came from the office behind the desk. 

“Senor?”

“I need two rooms, joined together or as close as possible to each other.”

The clerk spun the register around so that Murdoch could sign it.  His eyes fell on Johnny.

“The chico, he is with you?”

“Yes.  Is there a problem?”

The clerk took a closer look at the boy.  “He is…”

“My son,” Murdoch cut the man off, knowing he was going to say mestizo or mixed. “He’s my son.”

“Of course, Senor.”  The clerk spun the register around so that he could see the name.  “Senor Lancer.”  Reaching behind him, he took two keys and handed them to Murdoch.  “Rooms 202 and 204 upstairs and on the left, and there is an adjoining door.  Two beds in each room.”

“Thank you.  That should be fine.” Murdoch turned toward the stairs, once again putting a hand on Johnny’s shoulder.  “Come on, son.  Let’s get settled.  Your uncle should be here soon.”

Murdoch unlocked one of the doors and stepped aside to let Johnny enter first.  The boy moved to the middle of the room and stopped.  Murdoch closed the door, walked over to the closest bed, and put down his saddlebags.

Turning, he looked down at Johnny, who was still standing in the middle of the room.  

“Are you hungry?”

Johnny tilted his head back and looked up at his father.  Murdoch felt like the boy’s eyes were drilling holes in him.  Thankfully, a knock at the door broke the tension in the room.

Murdoch opened the door to find Cipriano with a bundle under his arm.

“I found all he will need.  The bathhouse is near the store.  If what I bought does not fit, we can exchange them.”

“That’s fine.” Murdoch turned to the bed and opened his saddlebag, removing a change of clothes.  Then, looking at Johnny, he asked, “What do you say we get cleaned up and then have dinner?”

Johnny shook his head. 

“What part of that do you not want to do?”

“I will stay here and wait for you.  I do not need a bath.”

Murdoch chuckled, “Trust me, son, you need a bath.  We all do.”

Cipriano cleared his throat.  “Juanito, to sit and have a fine meal at the Cantina, you will need to be clean and wear clean clothes.  I have told the store owner we would return to buy you a pair of boots after we eat.”  

“I have never worn boots.”

“Then it’s time you had a pair, and it will make it easier for you to ride.”

Johnny thought for a moment.  “To do this, I have to have a bath?” 

Both Murdoch and Cipriano nodded.

Johnny inhaled and let it out in a whoosh.  “Bueno, but I need no help to wash.”

“Fair enough.  Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

---

Mission San Pedro y San Pablo del Tubutama 
Tubutama, Mexico
April 11, 1857

“How long ago did they leave?”

Father Antonio thought for a moment before answering. “Three days. They may well be in Tucson by now.”

“Don’t matter, I’ll catch up with them.  I’ll cut through the mountains.  I can be in Nogales by tomorrow night.  You’re sure it was the boy’s Pa who came for him?”

“Si, it was Juanito’s Papa.”

“And his name is Lancer?  Murdoch Lancer?”

“Si.  Senor, por favor.  Senor Lancer has searched for his hijo for many years.  Let them go.”

“You know you didn’t have to tell me any of this.  Why did you?”

“Because el nino asked me to tell you.”

“He asked you to tell me where he was?”

“Si, Senor.  Juanito loves you very much.  If you love him, you will let him go.”

“I can’t do that.  I have to see him, to make sure….”   The man paused.  “He was alright, wasn’t he?”

Father Antonio smiled.  “Si.”

Val Crawford turned to his horse and mounted.  There was no time to waste.  He needed to catch up with them before they headed west.

---

Nogales
April 11, 1857

The lights and noises of Nogales filtered through the window and walls of the hotel, keeping Murdoch awake.  It was late and he knew he should sleep but knew it wasn’t coming soon, not tonight.

It had been quite a day.  Getting Johnny into a bathtub had proved harder than either he or Cipriano thought possible.  However, once the boy was bathed and his hair washed, they were both pleased with the results.  Next came the issue of finding clothes that fit his smaller body.  It took Cipriano two trips to the General Store to get something that even came close to fitting.  After leaving the bathhouse, they went back to the store for boots. 

Murdoch thought that although Johnny hadn’t said so, the boy enjoyed having the new things.  

As they walked to the Cantina, Murdoch noticed Johnny’s head lowered as if hiding his eyes from the people staring at him.  Cipriano must have also noticed as he eased a little closer to his nephew.

Murdoch wondered what Johnny was thinking.  His dark skin and black hair announced he was Mexican no matter where he lived, but his blue eyes marked him as American.  Neither side accepted him, and he was a child stuck in the middle with no one to claim him.

Murdoch shook his head.   How had he survived in the border towns even with what little protection his mother gave him?

“Lift your head, son.” Murdoch put a hand on Johnny’s shoulder.  “You’re as good as anyone here and a hell of a lot better than most.  Remember, you’re a Lancer.”

Johnny glanced up at him.  Murdoch gave the boy a smile and a wink.  And just like that, Johnny raised his head and adjusted his stride.  Murdoch’s smile widened when the boy seemed to puff out his chest.

The boy was worn out by the time they were halfway through dinner and asleep in Murdoch’s arms as they made their way back to the hotel.  Johnny didn’t even stir when he was undressed and tucked in.

Now watching his son sleep, Murdoch had a flash of memory of the baby in the photograph he carried in his wallet.  That laughing child went from crawling to walking to running in a matter of days.  What he wouldn’t give to see that child’s smile again. 

Murdoch jumped at the sound of a slight knock on the door to the adjoining room.  Not wanting to wake the sleeping boy, he pushed himself out of the chair he was sitting in and eased the door open.

“You are still awake, Patron?”

Murdoch gave his friend a faint smile. 

“I can’t sleep.  How did you know?”

“I cannot sleep, either.  The noise, the lights, it is too much.  I much prefer sleeping under the stars than this.”

Cipriano looked across the room to the closest bed.

“I see our nino has no trouble sleeping.”

Murdoch waved Cipriano into the room and pointed to a second chair.  The vaquero sat down and stretched his legs out in front of him.  Murdoch mirrored his actions, retaking his own chair.

“No, John has no trouble sleeping.  The sleep of the innocent.”

The two men were quiet for a moment.

“What am I going to do, Cipriano?”

“I am not sure what you mean, mi amigo.”

Murdoch nodded towards Johnny.  “With him.  He hates me.”

“No, Patron, he does not hate you.  He is confused.  He does not know a father’s love.  It will take time, but you will see.  He will come to love you as much as you love him.”

“Will he?  I’m not so sure.  The boy is six years old and talks and acts like he’s twenty.  Her men have beaten the child out of him.  Have you seen him smile or even laugh?  I haven’t.

“All I see when I look at him is the pain he’s suffered because I loved his mother.  We created a beautiful being who isn’t accepted on either side of the border.  No child should have to endure what he has.”

“No, my friend, I have not seen him smile or laugh, but he does not express his emotions.  Padre Antonio told me the nino has not shed one tear since his mother left him.  Aye, but he has a temper, I am told.”

“A temper? He’s been so…. So subdued.”

“To us, he is quiet and well-mannered.  Padre Antonio told me of several fights the chico was in with other children who chose to pick on him.”  Cipriano laughed. “Our nino can hold his own from what the Padre said.”

“I suppose he had to learn to defend himself.  It’s obvious his mother wasn’t there to protect him.  I almost wish he would express his emotions.”

“Si.”

“What does it say about the boy that he doesn’t laugh or cry?”

“It tells me Juanito does not feel sorry for himself.  Contrario, he accepts what life has given him.  In time, he will feel trust again.  In time, he will know love, and Dios willing, he will return it.”

“I need to tell him about his brother, but I just don’t think now is the time.”

“I agree, Patron.  Juanito has enough to deal with without adding something more.” Cipriano smiled.  “You will go to Boston again to bring Senor Scott home?”

“Yes, and this time, the boy will come with me.  I won’t leave without him.”

“You will take Juanito with you?”

“I won’t be separated from John again.” 

Murdoch smiled.

“What?”

“Can you see that boy in Boston?”

Cipriano looked at Johnny, shook his head, and laughed.

“Perhaps, I should go with you as well.  You will need someone to watch this nino.”

“That might be a wise decision.”

Johnny stirred ever so slightly.  His leg poked out from under the covers. 

Cipriano pushed out of the chair and moved to the bed.  He lifted the sheet and blanket, shifted the small leg back into place and covered it up.

“He looks like his mother when she was that age.”

“He needs a haircut,” Murdoch laughed. “It gets any longer and people will think he’s a girl.”

Cipriano turned and walked back to the door.  “If we are to leave for Tucson manana, we both must sleep.  Buenos noches, Patron.”

“Buenos noches, mi amigo.” 

---

Murdoch woke to sunlight streaming through the dirty window of his hotel room.  Turning over, he looked around the room before closing his eyes and snuggling back into the pillow.  He sighed and felt himself drifting.

He wasn’t sure what time it had been when he finally laid down and dozed off.  The discussion with Cipriano flashed through his memory.

His eyes flew open. 

“Johnny?”

Panic setting in, Murdoch jumped out of bed and hurried to the door between the two rooms.  Pulling it open, he found the other room empty.  Wasting no time, he dressed and hurried downstairs.

“Have you seen my friend and son this morning?” Murdoch asked the desk clerk.

“Si, Senor.  Your amigo said he was taking the chico to the Café across the street for breakfast.”

“Thank you,” Murdoch replied over his shoulder as he headed out the door. 

Opening the Café door, Murdoch stepped inside.  He took a deep breath and let it out.  Waking up to find Johnny gone had hit too close to what had happened four years earlier.  On seeing his son with Cipriano, the knot in his stomach and tightness in his chest relaxed.

“Buenos dias, Patron.” Cipriano pushed the chair next to him out so his friend can sit.

“Good morning.”  Murdoch sat down and slid closer to the table, looking at Johnny’s downturned head.  “Good morning, John.”

Johnny looked up, his mouth full of pancakes and syrup smeared across his face, mumbling, “Buenos días.”

Murdoch laughed.  “Are they good?”

Johnny nodded and continued eating.

The blond waitress approached the table, carrying a cup in one hand and a pot of coffee in the other. 

“Coffee?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“What will you have this morning?”

“It appears your pancakes come highly recommended.  So, I’ll have those.”

The waitress laughed.  “That’s his second helping.  Would you like bacon or ham with yours?”

“Bacon, crisp.”

“You’ve got it.”  Looking down at Johnny.  “Would you like another glass of milk?”  

Johnny swallowed, picked up the almost empty glass, and drained it.  Then, holding it out, he mumbled, “Si, por favor, Senora.”

Murdoch sipped his coffee and waited for his breakfast.  Johnny was intent on eating and said nothing.

“You didn’t wake me.  When I woke up and found him gone….”

“Lo siento.  I was not thinking.  I heard Juanito getting out of bed, he was hungry, and you needed sleep.” 

“That’s alright.  I know you want to spend some time alone with him also.”

“Si,” Cipriano smiled.  “But now that you are awake, when do you wish to leave?”

“It’s later than I wanted to leave, but if we go right after breakfast, we can be in Tucson by nightfall.  Even if we have to stay over a day there, we can catch the next stage to California.  I can telegraph Paul that we’re on the way.”

“Senor Paul will be surprised.  I think Senorita Teresa will as well.  She will have a new playmate.”

Johnny, having finished eating, was listening to the conversation.

“Senor, who is Senor Paul?”

“Paul O’Brien is my Segundo.”

“And the Senorita you spoke of?”

“Teresa is Paul’s daughter.  She’s just turned four.”

Johnny nodded.

“Do I… are there more familia at your rancho?”

Cipriano looked at Murdoch before answering.

“Sí, sobrino, en el rancho tu tía María espera tu regreso. Maria estara muy feliz de verte de nuevo”  (Yes, nephew, your Aunt Maria awaits your return at the ranch. Maria will be very happy to see you again)

“Es verdad? Yo también tengo una Tia?”  (It’s true? Do I also have an Aunt?) 

“Y primos.” (And cousins)

Johnny stared at Cipriano a moment before dropping his head.

“Mama never told me.”

Murdoch’s heart broke.  “It’s alright, son.  You know now and that’s what’s important.  Now, let’s finish up here and get on the trail.  We’ll push hard and get to Tucson tonight.”

Still deep in thought, Johnny nodded.

---

While Murdoch and Cipriano prepared for the trip to Tucson, Johnny stood beside his horse and looked around the street.  Then, seeing the liveryman, he made sure no one was watching him and went to talk to the man.

“Senor?”

The man was older with graying hair and a mustache.

“What can I do for you, chico?”

“Senor, which way is Sasabe from here.  I know it is near Nogales, but I am not sure which way.”

“Sasabe? Why would you be interested in Sasabe?”

Johnny gave the man a stern look. 

“All right, don’t get your dander up.  Sasabe is that way.”  He pointed West.  “It’s across the mountains as the crow flies about thirty miles.  It’s a real hard trail going that way, though.  Most folks head up to Tucson and then follow the valley trails back down to Sasabe.  They’re a sign on the Tucson trail pointing the way.”

“Johnny?  Are you ready to go?” Murdoch called out.

“Gracias, Senor.” Johnny nodded to the man, then hurried back to his father.

Murdoch lifted Johnny into his saddle and placed his booted feet in the stirrups.  Then, satisfied the boy was secure, he mounted his own horse and waited for Cipriano.   It was a little after 9:00 when they set out for Tucson.

---

A lone rider entered Nogales shortly after noon.  Tired beyond belief, Val Crawford had made the trip from Tubutama to Nogales in record time.  He only hoped he wasn’t too far behind Lancer and the boy.

Stopping at the livery stable, Val stepped down from his saddle.  Stretching his back, he took a deep breath and looked around.

“Anyone here?”

The liveryman stepped into the doorway.

“I’m here.  Keep your shirt on.” Then, seeing the low-slung gun on the man’s hip, the liveryman changed his tone, “What can I do for you.”

“I need some information.  I’m looking for two men who would have come through here in the last day or two with a boy.  One of them is American, tall, and the other is Mexican.  The boy would be around five or six.”

“The boy mestizo?  Blue eyes?”

Val nodded.  “That’s right.  You’ve seen him?”

“Sure did.  They left here a few hours ago, heading to Tucson.  Funny thing though, the boy asked me about Sasabe.”

“Sasabe?  Lordy, he wasn’t planning on going there, was he?”

“I don’t know.  I told him the best route was taking the valley trails that broke off mid-way between here and Tucson.”

The man leaned against his horse and closed his eyes. 

“A few hours ago, you say.  How many?”

“Well, let me think.  I’d say they left around nine, and it’s noon now.  So, three hours.  You planning on trying to catch up with them?”

“That’s the plan.”

The man patted the horse’s neck.  “Not with that horse you’re not.  He’s plum worn out.”

Val nodded.  He’d pushed hard since leaving the Mission.  There was no way the horse could go on, but he was so close now.  Closer than he’d been in the six months, he’d been tracking the boy.

“I figure they’re riding slow because of the boy.  I heard them say something about making Tucson tonight, but don’t think that’s gonna happen.  I imagine they’ll be camping out.

“If you let your horse rest a few hours, he’ll be able to go on.  That’ll give you some time to get something to eat and some rest yourself.”

“That’s a good idea.  Will you give him a good rub down and feed?  I’ll head over to the Cantina for something to eat and be back in a couple of hours.”

“Make it three or four hours.”

Val started to protest and then nodded.  “Take good care of him.  I’ll be back around four.”

---

The further they traveled from Nogales, the slower they seemed to be going.  Murdoch looked back over his shoulder several times to see Johnny lagging behind.  They’d stopped several times already, and it looked like they were going to again.  It was only a little after twelve, and they’d only travel 20 miles.  They wouldn’t make Tucson until tomorrow at the rate they were going.

“Cipriano.” Murdoch motioned for his friend to hold up. 

“We are stopping?” 

“I’m not sure what’s wrong with him.”  Both men noticed the boy’s downturned head.  “Let’s stop ahead under those trees.” Murdoch pointed to a grove of Acacia trees.

Cipriano nodded and pulled off the trail.

Murdoch reined his horse back and waited for Johnny to catch up.

“John.”

Johnny’s head came up. 

“We’re going to take another break.  Cipriano’s waiting for us just up ahead.  Do you want to tell me what’s bothering you?”

“It is nothing, Senor.”

“Are you sick?  Do we need to make camp?”

Johnny didn’t respond.

“Well, we’ll rest here for a few hours until the sun gets a little lower and then go on.  I don’t think we’ll make Tucson tonight.”

“Lo siento, Senor.  I do not mean to slow you.”

Murdoch smiled.  “It’s alright, son.

Johnny swung his leg over the saddle horn and slid to the ground.  Taking his horse’s reigns, he led him to stand under the trees.

“I’ll take care of getting his saddle off him. You go sit in the shade.  I’ll have your uncle fix lunch for us.”

Johnny did as he was told.   Pleased so far that they hadn’t gotten closer to Tucson, he sat down and looked further along the trail.  He’d been looking for the signpost the liveryman told him about.  Somehow, he was going to go back to Sasabe.  Back to Papi.  Back to the one person he knew loved him and would protect him no matter what.

Murdoch eased down beside his son.  Then, glancing sideways, he put a hand on the boy’s leg, giving it a pat.

“Are you alright?”

Johnny nodded.

“Then tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nada.  Nothing is wrong, Senor.”

“Johnny, if you don’t feel well, we can stop.”

Cipriano sat on the other side of Johnny. “I believe he ate too much this morning.  Is that not so, Sobrino?”

“Is that it, son?  Is your stomach upset?”

Johnny grasped the idea.  He nodded, letting his father think what he wanted.

“Well, in the future, we’ll have to remember not to let you eat so much at one time.  Try to get some rest.  We’ll make camp tonight on the trail and go on to Tucson tomorrow.”

Four hours later, the sun had passed its zenith and the shadows were longer.  The relentless heat of the Arizona desert was letting up.  Murdoch saddled his and Johnny’s horse and looked at his son.  The boy looked better.  It had been a good decision to stay in one place for a few hours.

Mounting up, they started North again.  As before, Johnny lagged behind the others. 

Two hours later, Johnny spotted a sign.  He couldn’t read well, but he knew the word ‘Sasabe’ when he saw it.

---

Murdoch kept glancing over his shoulder watching Johnny.  He’d hoped the long stop would have helped the boy feel better and thought it had.  But, now, two hours further along, Johnny was slowing his pace.

The signpost with an arrow pointing to the left saying ‘Arivaca/Sasabe’ barely registered in Murdoch’s brain.

Cipriano glanced back and then looked sideways at his friend.  “Patron, he is alright.”

“I wish I knew what was going on in his mind.  Yesterday he seemed anxious to go on, and today, he acts like it’s the end of the earth.”

“Who knows what the nino thinks.  I still say he ate too much this morning.”

“I’d agree with you, but that was hours ago.”  Murdoch frowned.  “Maybe I should check him for a fever.”

Cipriano laughed. 

“What?”

“He does not have a fever.  I ….,” Cipriano cleared his throat and smiled.  “When I helped him to his horse, I checked his forehead as I ruffled his hair.”

Murdoch laughed. “All right.  I’ll leave it for now.  We’re going to have to set up camp in another hour.  I’ll check him for myself then.”

---

Johnny kept his eyes on the two men in front of him.  It had been some time since they’d turned to look at him.  Now was his chance.  Easing his horse back, he edged the animal around and returned to the signpost.  Looking back to make sure he wasn’t being followed, Johnny kicked the pony’s sides and took off down the trail.

Leaning over the animal’s neck, he laughed.  The wind caused his dark hair to blow across his face when he glanced back.  He still wasn’t being followed, and he’d made it.  He was going home to Sasabe.

---

He’d been so wrapped up in his thoughts, Murdoch was surprised that it had been a while since he’d checked on his son.  When he looked back, his heart skipped a beat. Then, yanking back on the reins, his horse sidestepped and whinnied.

Cipriano spun around, his hand going to his gun.

“Que?”

“Johnny! Where is he?”

“Dios mio.”

“He can’t have gotten far, but where?”

Murdoch remembered the signpost.

“Johnny asked me to take him to Sasabe.”

“Sasabe?”

“Yes, and I saw a sign….”

“I saw it also. But, Patron, it is a dangerous trail. We must find him.”

Not wasting time, the two men turned and galloped back the way they’d come.

---

Val Crawford had no trouble picking up the trail even leaving Nogales seven hours behind Murdoch Lancer.  The pony Johnny rode left a distinctive impression.

Val was two hours out of town when he realized the tracks were fresher than he’d expected.  It looked like he’d catch up with them before dark.

Pushing hard, Val rode at a ground-eating gallop, pulling up only when he spotted places along the way where the group had stopped.  It didn’t make sense for them to stop so often, but he wasn’t going to complain.  It just meant he was closing in.

He’d ridden straight past the sign to ‘Sasabe’ when he reined his horse to a stop.  Getting down, he knelt on one knee figuring out the tracks.  It looked like all of the tracks were heading towards Tucson, then the pony came back and veered off down the trail to Sasabe.  The other two horses retraced their path and followed the pony.

Val looked at the signpost once more, shook his head, and muttered, “Damn kid.”

As he remounted, something caught Val’s attention.  He hadn’t paid particular attention until now, but there were also tracks of four additional horses.  He’d seen them before but thought nothing of it.  It looked like someone else was following Lancer.

---

It took Murdoch and Cipriano twenty minutes to spot their rapidly escaping child.  Murdoch kicked his horse’s sides and covered the ground between them in only a few minutes.

Racing up beside Johnny’s pony, Murdoch reached out and grabbed the reins from the boy’s hand.

“Whoa there.  Whoa.”

Johnny’s face turned red with anger.  “Bastardo, déjalo ir. Lo dejó ir. Quita tus manos de gringo de él.”  (Bastard, let go.  Let him go. Get your gringo hands off of him.)

“No, Johnny!  Stop it.” Murdoch jumped off while still holding the reins of the other horse.  “Stop it!  Where do you think you’re headed, young man?”

“It is none of your business, gringo.  Let go.”

Murdoch was shocked by the outburst, then realized the boy, until now, had been on his best behavior.

“I don’t think so.”

Cipriano was off his horse and pulling Johnny from the pony before the boy knew what was happening. 

“Let me go!”  Johnny kicked out, his boot catching his uncle in the gut.

Cipriano dropped Johnny and grabbed his stomach, using a few choice curse words of his own.

Johnny jumped up and ran to his horse, trying to remount.  Murdoch grabbed him by one arm and pulled him back. 

“Stop it right now.”

When Johnny continued to struggle, Murdoch landed a firm open-handed swat to his son’s butt.

“Liar!  You lied!  You said you would never beat me.”

“Son, trust me, that wasn’t a beating.  That was a spanking and a poor one at that.  Now, calm down and tell us what you were doing.”

Johnny folded his arms around his chest, lowered his head, and didn’t say a word.

“All right then, mount up.  We’re going back to the main trail.”

“Patron, it is late.” Cipriano grunted, still holding his stomach.  “We should set up camp here and go back mañana.”

Murdoch looked around as if realizing for the first time how late it had gotten.

“Yes, of course, you’re right.”  Murdoch stared at his son.  “Johnny, I’ll take care of your horse.  Find some wood for a fire and don’t wander off.”

Giving his friend a closer look, Murdoch asked, “Are you alright?”

“Si, I will be.  I am not so sure buying boots for him was a wise idea.”

Murdoch laughed, then he noticed Johnny hadn’t moved.  

“John, do you want me to tan your backside again?”

Johnny raised his head, his blue eyes throwing daggers at his father.

“Good Lord.  You not only have your mother’s way of staring a hole through me, but you’ve got her temper as well.” 

Johnny’s eyes narrowed, and his bottom hip stuck out in a pout.  Murdoch couldn’t help but laugh, which caused Johnny to pout more.

It didn’t take long to set up camp.  The fire was blazing by the time darkness fell.  Johnny sat on one side of the fire while Murdoch and Cipriano sat on the other.

Cipriano started to open his mouth to say the food was ready when Johnny jumped up.

“Where are you going?” Murdoch was on his feet.

Johnny glared at his father and then back to the darkness surrounding them and then to his father.  When the boy rolled his eyes, Murdoch couldn’t help but chuckle.

“All right, but don’t go far.  I expect you back in less than five minutes.”

Johnny hurried away, leaving Cipriano laughing.

“Patron, this nino will be a challenge for you.”

Murdoch looked at his friend and shook his head.  “I noticed you didn’t include yourself in that statement.”

“No.  He is, after all, your wolf cub.”

“Our ‘wolf cub’ Tio Cipriano,” Murdoch laughed.  “Can you believe that boy?” Suddenly the humor of the situation was gone.  “What if we hadn’t found him?”

“That would not have happened, Patron.”

“He’s so determined to get to Sasabe. I have to admit I’m jealous of the man he’s trying so hard to get back to.”

“The chico…. he is ….”

“If you’re going to say confused.  I don’t think so.  John knows exactly what he wants and who, and it isn’t me.”

“All will change when he is back to Lancer.  You will see.”

“I hope so.”  Murdoch frowned and looked in the direction Johnny had gone.  “Johnny! Where is he?  I swear if he’s not back here in one minute, I’m going to put my hand to his backside again.”

“Patron,” Cipriano laughed, “you will wear your hand out long before his backside.”

Still angry at his father, Johnny took his time taking care of his needs.  His young mind kept thinking about Sasabe and how to get there.

“Johnny!”

Sighing, Johnny turned and started back to the camp.  The sound of a twig snapping nearby caused him to stop and look around.  He waited a full minute before hearing his name again.  

“Johnny!  I mean it, boy.  Get back here.” 

Johnny moved toward the camp when a man stepped in front of him.  He started to turn and run when someone put a hand over his mouth.   He struggled only to have the man behind him lean in close and hiss in his ear, “Silence, chico.  Silence, or I shoot the men with you.”

Johnny stopped. He wasn’t happy with his gringo father, but he didn’t want him hurt either.

The hand covering Johnny’s mouth was removed and the man whispered his ear, “Move.”

Johnny stumbled forward.  He was at the edge of the light thrown off by the campfire when the man put a hand on his shoulder and stopped him.

It was then, Murdoch looked up to see a man standing behind his son. 

Scrambling to their feet, Murdoch and Cipriano were reaching for their guns when a disembodied voice with a Mexican accent stopped them.

“Don’t do that, Senores.  Mi amigo has a pistol pointed at the chico’s head.”

Murdoch and Cipriano froze.

“Drop your guns.”

With no other option, Murdoch and Cipriano did as they were told.

“Bueno.  Now kick them away from you.”

Murdoch reached out with his right foot and gave the guns a half-hearted push, kicking up clouds of dust. 

Two men stepped into the light, a third pushed Johnny forward.

“All right.  You have our attention.” Murdoch sized the three men up.  “What do you want?”

A fourth man, laughing, entered the circle of light.

Murdoch’s eyes widened.  “Rivas?”

“Si, Senor Lancer.”

Stunned, Murdoch choked out, “I don’t understand.”

“It is simple. The chico is worth more than you have paid.”

“I’ve given you all the money I had with me.”

“But you can get more.”

Murdoch stared at Jose Rivas.  “How much more?”

Rivas strode across the camp and stopped in front of Johnny.  Looking down, he lifted the boy’s chin.  Johnny’s eyes narrowed as he stared daggers at his mother’s lover before jerking his head away.

“Really, it is a shame.”  Rivas shook his head.  “He is a good-looking nino, is he not?  If only he didn’t have those eyes.”  Rivas pivoted and looked at Murdoch.  “It is you he favors with his eyes, and you are to blame for the life he has led.”

“No. The boy’s mother is to blame.  She was the one who stole him away in the night and brought him to Mexico.  John was safe at Lancer.”

Rivas nodded. “I have often wondered why she did not return him to you. My Maria was never suited to be a mother. Still….” Rivas turned away from Johnny and walked over to Murdoch. “Juanito will serve a purpose now. You want him, Senor, and you will pay more money to keep him.”

“Only to have you come again asking for more, threatening him?  Why would I want to subject him or myself to that?”

Murdoch’s gaze fell on Johnny, judging how he was reacting to what was said.  The last thing he wanted was for the boy to feel his father was putting a monetary value on him.

Rivas frowned and strode around the campsite with his hands behind his back.  Finally, he turned and looked at Murdoch with a sickening smile on his face.

“Senor, is it not better to pay me and get the nino back rather than not pay and never see him again.  That is what will happen.  If you do not pay, I will make sure you never see him again.  It is easy to hide one small boy in Mexico.”

Murdoch looked at his son.  Johnny’s blue eyes were fixed on him.

“All right.  How much and where do I bring it?”

“Bueno.  The price is another twenty-five hundred in gold.  The place is Hermosillo.  You have two weeks.  After that …. well, Senor Lancer, I think you know I mean what I have said.”   Rivas turned and looked at Johnny before ordering his men, “Mount up.  The chico will ride with me.”

“No!” Johnny tried to run only to be caught around the waist by Rivas and lifted into the air.  Kicking, Johnny yelled, “I will not go with you.”

“Quiet! You will come, or I will shoot your Papa.  Is that what you want?”

Johnny stopped struggling. 

Murdoch saw his son’s tears, but all he could do was stand and watch Jose Rivas ride away.

---

At the sight of the campfire in the distance, Val Crawford slowed his pace.  For the first time in six months, he dared breathe a sigh of relief and felt a flutter of excitement. 

Dismounting a good two hundred yards away, Val started forward on foot.  He was only a few feet away when he heard voices.

“Patron, you could not have done anything differently.”

“I could have fought back.”

“Si, you could have fought and died.  Then what would have happened to Juanito?”

On hearing Johnny’s name, Val approached cautiously.

“Hello, the camp.”

Both Murdoch and Cipriano held guns ready as Val stepped out of the darkness and into the firelight.

“Hold it right there.”

Val held his hands up.  “I don’t mean no harm,” Val said as he looked around the camp. “Your name Murdoch Lancer?”

“That’s right.”

“The Padre in Tubutama said you’d come for the boy.”

“That’s right.”  Murdoch hesitated before saying more. “John’s my son.  Who are you?”

“The name’s Val Crawford.”

Murdoch looked Crawford over from head to boot tip.  Val Crawford was right at six feet tall with brown hair, sporting a mustache and a scraggly two-day-old beard. 

“What’s John to you, Mr. Crawford?”

A faint smile briefly flashed across Val’s face. “I’d like to think he’s my son, but I know that ain’t the case.  Let’s just say I love the boy as much as if he was my own blood.”

Murdoch lowered his gun. 

“I take it you’re the man John refers to as ‘Papi’?”

Val smiled again. “I guess that would be me.”  Giving the camp a quick scan, he asked, “So, where is he?”

Murdoch shook his head in despair.  “Gone.  Rivas took him.”

Val stomped across the short distance that separated him from Murdoch Lancer, coming within inches of the taller man.

“What do you mean, gone?  Who the hell is Rivas?”

“Jose Rivas is the man… Never mind that now.  What’s important is that Rivas is holding Johnny, and he wants me to bring him twenty-five hundred dollars in gold to Hermosillo.  If I don’t, I’ll never see my boy again.”

“Is Rivas the man who took Johnny to the mission in Tubutama?”

“Yes.” Murdoch blinked.  “How did you know about Tubutama?”

“Never mind that now.  So, you plan to give Rivas the money to get Johnny back?”

“That’s the plan.”

“You’re a fool.” Val saw a flash of anger cross the tall rancher’s face. “Mr. Lancer, I know men like Rivas.  You pay him now and he’ll keep coming back.  Each time he’ll take Johnny and you’ll pay.  The sad part is, Maria’s probably part of it.”

“My God, you think Maria would do that?  Lure me to Mexico, reunite me with Johnny and then have this man…. this Rivas kidnap Johnny?”

“I wouldn’t put it past her,” Val replied.  “I’ve seen her do worse when it comes to Johnny.”

“You don’t have a very high opinion of Maria, do you?”

“No.  Not after what I’ve seen her do to that boy and what she’s let her men do.   Do you want to put the boy through that?  I’ll tell you something else.   When you stop paying, Rivas will disappear with Johnny and find another way to make money off of him.”

“What do you mean another way?”

“Let’s just say there’s a market for young boys in Mexico. Especially Mexican boys with blue eyes and it ain’t pretty.”

“Good Lord.” Murdoch turned away and then back again.  “What can we do?”

“We go after them and we go now.  How long ago did they leave?”

Murdoch looked at Cipriano for assurance before saying, “Not more than two hours.”

Cipriano nodded in agreement.

“You said they were headed for Hermosillo.  To get there, they have to go along this trail through Sasabe.”  Val looked at the night sky, realizing the half-moon wouldn’t give them enough light to travel tonight.  “We’re going to have to wait until morning to start after them.”

Excited, Murdoch spoke up, “We could start now.”

“No, we can’t.” 

Val looked at the face of the man he’d hated since the moment Maria told the story of the big California rancher who’d kicked her and her son out.  The hate stemmed not from what had been done to Maria but to the boy.  Now, seeing the man’s pain at losing Johnny a second time, Val doubted there was ever any truth to Maria’s story.

“Mister Lancer, we go stumbling around out there in the dark and lose a horse we’ll never catch up with them.  I want to get Johnny back as much as you do.  I know this territory and the trail.  I promise you; we’ll catch them.  Let’s do this my way.”

Murdoch nodded in agreement.  The three men settled down for what they all knew would be a long night.  An unnatural silence settled over the camp while they waited.

“Mr. Crawford….” Murdoch started.

“Val.  Call me Val.”

“Val, I want to thank you for helping me…us.  I’ve come a long way to get my son back.  I can’t lose him again.”

Val turned his head away from Murdoch.  When it came to Johnny, he had a hard time controlling his emotions.  Now wasn’t the time to talk about what he had planned when they found Rivas and the boy.

An hour before dawn, Val couldn’t stand it any longer.

“Let’s get ready to move out.  Like I said, I know the trail.  Rivas had to stop last night. If we leave now, we’ll make up some time.”

“How far is Sasabe?”

Val looked to the south judging the distance.  

“Forty miles or so.  We won’t make it tonight but can by early tomorrow.  The trail from Sasabe to Tubutama is easier.”

“Tubutama?  We’re just going back to where we started.”

“That’s about the size of it.”

---

Seated in front of Jose Rivas, Johnny tried to wiggle free of the arm around his chest only to have it tightened.   The smell of body odor made the boy’s stomach roil.  He tried to push free again, only to have a hand land against the side of his head.

“Be still, bastardo.”

“I can ride my own horse.”

“Si, mañana, but for tonight you will ride with me where I can keep an eye on you.  Not sit quietly.”

“Where are we going?”

“I told you.  We go to Hermosillo to wait for your rich Papa.”

Johnny remembered glancing over his shoulder as they rode away from the camp.  His heart beat faster at the sight of the two men watching him ride away.

He was confused.  His mother had always told him his real padre didn’t want him.  She’d cursed Murdoch Lancer’s name more times than he could remember.  She’d said Lancer didn’t want a mestizo son, but Johnny was sure the man he’d been with the last few days did want him.  The Senor wanted him so much he’d paid to get him back and now … and, now was willing to pay more.

Johnny’s heart sank at the thought of losing someone who cared for him.  He’s been so set on getting to Sasabe to find Papi, he hadn’t given thought to the dangers he was putting his Papa and Tio in.

He had never dared believe his father wanted him, never believed anyone wanted him, not even his mother. 

When he was younger, like four years old, an old Priest had called him the spawn of the devil.   He’d not known what that meant.  So, he’d run home, tears in his eyes, to ask his mother.

Johnny remembered her face looking down at him, and for a moment, he’d flinched under her gaze.  At that moment, he’d known his own mother hated him.  Hated him because …. he hadn’t known why…then.   Now that he was older, he knew.  She’d said it every time he did something she disapproved of, every time he got in the way of her and one of her men, every time she got drunk and needed someone to blame for her life.  She’d cursed him and wished him never to have been born.  He was the biggest mistake his mother had ever made, a curse on her life.

Well, no more, he thought.  His mother had finally abandoned him, and now his fate lay in the hands of the man who wanted him to call him Papa.  Although there was only one man he wanted to be his father, Papi wasn’t here. 

The gentle sway of the horse and the events of the day were too much for the exhausted boy. Johnny’s chin dropped to his chest as he dozed off.

“We camp,” Jose called out.

Johnny’s head snapped up; he felt Jose lifting him from the saddle and setting him on the ground next to his horse. 

As the men set up camp, little was said to him and Johnny kept to himself. 

Rivas threw a blanket on the ground near the fire.

“Lay down, chico.” 

Johnny was too tired to do anything but obey.  He laid down, curled into a ball seeking warmth from the fire, and fell asleep.  His dreams that night were of a faraway ranch and a gringo Papa. 

The following morning Johnny felt a boot tip against his back.

“Get up!”

Struggling to sit up, Johnny looked around the camp, hoping to find something to eat, knowing there wasn’t anything.

As if reading the boy’s mind, Rivas leaned down and handed Johnny a piece of beef jerky.

“This will be enough for you until we reach Sasabe.”

Johnny’s head shot up and Rivas noticed.

“We will be there only long enough to get supplies.”.    

Wiping the sleep from his eyes, Johnny chewed the jerky and looked backed the way they’d come the night before.  There was no sign of his Papa or Tio.

A few minutes later, Jose ordered everyone to mount their horses.  Johnny was allowed to ride his pony and was thankful for it.

---

The sun was dipping below the horizon as six-year-old Roberto Flores ran through the streets of Sasabe, dust thrown up from his bare feet billowing around him.  Reaching the end of the row of buildings, he darted to the left and kept running.

Being a mestizo, Roberto didn’t have many friends as most parents in town wouldn’t let their children play with him.  Roberto’s father was one-quarter Apache, while his wife, Consuela, had been half Mexican and half White.   Both parents passed their blue eyes on to their son.

It took Roberto only a few minutes to reach the adobe building that he shared with his father outside of town.

“Papi!  Papi!”

Bernardo Flores stepped into the doorway of the shack just as his son ran inside, almost knocking him down.  Bracing himself against the door frame, he grabbed the boy’s shoulders.

“Hijo, slow down.” 

“Papi….” Out of breath, Roberto bent over and grasped his knees.

“Roberto, what’s wrong?”

“He is back ….”

“Slow down and take a breath. Who is back?”

 Roberto took a deep breath and swallowed, pointing back the way he’d come.

“Senor Crawford.  I saw him go into the Cantina.  He had two men with him, and one was a gringo.”

“All right.  It is time to eat.  Go clean up.  We will go to the Cantina later to see Senor Crawford.”

“But, Papi…”

“No arguing.  We eat first and then we will go to see the Senor.”

Roberto could do nothing but nod in agreement.  As much as he wanted to see Senor Crawford, he knew better than disobey his Papi. 

As they ate, Roberto thought back to the day a year ago, when Maria Pérez appeared in Sasabe with her son.  Everyone had been surprised the beautiful woman had decided to stop in Sasabe, let alone live there. 

The next day, Roberto walked into town and came around a corner.  He came face to face with another boy with blue eyes he’d never seen before. They’d stared at each other a moment before Roberto made the first move.

‘Hola, yo soy Roberto. Cómo te llamas?’ (Hello, my name is Roberto. What is your name?)

The other boy’s eyes narrowed.  Then after a few moments, he replied with a slight smile, “Juanito.”

Roberto smiled.  ‘Hola, Juanito.’

From that day forward, they decided it was them against the world.  They looked alike enough to be brothers.  The main difference between them was their size.  Johnny was shorter by a few inches and thinner than Roberto.  The only other difference if anyone cared to look closely was the color of their eyes.  While it was true, they both had blue eyes, Johnny’s had a deeper brilliant blue than Roberto’s.

Shortly after Maria and Johnny arrived in Sasabe, a pistolero rode into the village.  It wasn’t long before Val Crawford became the man of Johnny’s household, the man he called Papi.

For a time, life was good in Sasabe for Roberto and Johnny.  Then one day, a little over two months ago, without a word, Maria left town taking Johnny with her.  Roberto remembered Senor Crawford frantically searching for them before he too left town.

Now Senor Val was back.  Roberto knew he would come; he’d known it since seeing Johnny the day before.

 As they finished eating, there was a knock on the door.  Bernardo looked at his son, who shook his head.  No one ever came to see them.

Bernardo pushed back from the table and walked to the door.  Opening it, he found Val Crawford and two men he didn’t recognize.

“Senor,” Bernardo’s voice echoed the surprise he felt.  “Come in.  Por favor, come inside.”

Val walked past Bernardo, followed by Murdoch and Cipriano.

Once inside the tiny one-room house, Val looked around, his eyes falling on Roberto.   Murdoch’s eyes followed Val’s. 

The sight of the boy took Murdoch by surprise.

Val saw the rancher’s response.  “Spitting image of Johnny, ain’t he?”

Murdoch nodded.  “Yes.  For a moment….”

“Senor, is it good to see you,” Bernardo spoke to Val, but he was watching Murdoch.  “Of course, we knew you would come.”

“How’d you know?  Have you seen my son?”

“Your son, Senor?”

Bernardo’s eyes went from Murdoch to Val.

Val responded, “Bernardo Flores, this is Murdoch Lancer.  He’s Johnny real Pa.”

Bernardo held out his hand.  “Senor Lancer.”

Murdoch shook the man’s hand.

“And this is Cipriano…,” Val started and faltered.  “I don’t think I know your last name.”

Cipriano stepped forward, extending his hand to Bernardo.  “I am Cipriano Roldán.  I am Johnny’s Tio.”

“I do not understand.  Senora Pérez told us….”

“Pérez?  Is that the name she was using?”

“Si. Senora Maria Pérez.”

“Her name is Maria Lancer and I know what she told you… told everyone.  It isn’t true, Senor Flores.  Maria left me four years ago, taking Johnny with her.  I’ve been searching for him ever since.  I finally received word he was at the Mission San Pedro y San Pablo del Tubutama.

“A few days ago, Cipriano and I arrived at the mission.  A man named Jose Rivas was there claiming the reward I’d offered for Johnny’s return.  That was the first time in four years I’d seen my son.  We were on our way back to California…. Well, it’s a long story, but Rivas caught up with us two days ago.  He took Johnny with him and wants more money for his return.”

Roberto stood to one side, listening.  When the name Lancer was mentioned, his eyes widened.  Johnny had told him the story of how his gringo padre in America did not want him because he was mestizo.  Now, the man was standing in front of him. 

Roberto cocked his head.  The tall gringo did not look like a monster. 

“Johnny was in Sasabe yesterday, Senor.” Roberto blurred out.

Everyone turned to look at the boy.

“You saw him?  Was he alright?” Val asked before Murdoch could.

“Si.  I saw him, but Rivas would not let me talk to mi amigo.”

“You know Rivas?”

“Si,” Bernardo answered.  “Rivas was the man….”  His eyes went to Val.  “He is the man the Senora left with while you were gone, Senor Crawford.”

“Why didn’t you tell me the man’s name before, when I was asking everyone in town where Maria had gone?”

“It was because of me, Senor.”  Roberto stepped forward.   “Rivas told Papi he would come back and hurt me if we told you or anyone.”

“It is true, Senor Crawford.  I could not take the chance Rivas would return and hurt my Roberto.  Please forgive me.”

Val nodded.  “It’s alright.  A man like Rivas you can’t be too careful of.  Now, you said Rivas and Johnny were here yesterday.  When did they leave?”

“This morning.  They ride south toward Tubutama.”

Val turned to Murdoch.  “We’ll have to stay the night and head out in the morning.  We’re only a few hours behind them.  With luck, they’re stopping in Tubutama, and we’ll have Johnny back tomorrow night.”

“We could travel for a few more hours today.  You said you know the trail.”

Val nodded.  “All right then, let’s go.”

“Senor Flores,” Val spoke up as Murdoch headed for the door.  “Thank you for your help.”

“Da nada, Senor.  If … when you get Johnny back, will you send word to us so we will not worry about him?”

“I can do that.” Val looked at Roberto. “Roberto, you’re a good friend to Johnny.”

“We are amigos.  Senor Crawford tell Johnny I miss him.”

Val smiled.  “I’ll do that, too.”

Roberto watched the three men ride out of Sasabe, wishing he was with them.  He wanted to be with them when they found Johnny.  The boy smiled, thinking of his best and only friend.  The smile faded, knowing he’d never see his amigo again.

---

Murdoch, Val, and Cipriano left Sasabe, knowing they’d have one more night on the trail before reaching Tubutama.  They traveled mostly in silence, setting up camp at sunset.  At first light the following day, they broke camp and set out with a new purpose.  They knew today would be the day they’d catch up with Rivas and get Johnny back. 

They reached Tubutama shortly after nine in the morning.  As tempting as it was to just ride on through, they decided to stop at the mission and talk to Father Antonio.  

Murdoch strode up to the mission gate and pulled the bell rope.  The familiar ring brought a smile to his face.

“What?” Cipriano asked.

“The last time we were here it was to get Johnny.”

“Si, and tonight we will have him again.”

“Yes, we will.” Murdoch nodded and pulled the rope again.

The visit with Father Antonio was brief, only long enough to tell him what happened and explain where they were going.  With a final wave from the Priest and a silent blessing, the three men took the road south to Hermosillo.

The sun was setting when Val called a halt. 

“We have to wait for the moon to rise to keep going.”

“Is it safe to travel at night?”

“Trail isn’t bad.  With the moon, we shouldn’t have any trouble staying on it.”

Once the moon was high enough to throw off a good light, they broke camp and started out again.

Several times, when the moon blinked out behind clouds, Val called a halt.  He was on the verge of suggesting they make a cold camp and wait until morning when something ahead caught his eye.

Murdoch guided his horse so that he was beside Val.  Whispering, he asked, “What?”

Val pointed to a pinpoint of light in the distance.  “We found them.”

Dismounting, Val motioned for Murdoch and Cipriano to do the same.

“Wait here.  Let me take a look.”

Before Murdoch could respond, Val ground tied his horse and set out towards the light. 

Once Val was out of sight, Cipriano moved to stand next to Murdoch.

“Patron, are you sure we should trust this man?”

“I don’t know.  The only thing I do know is he’s willing to help us get Johnny back and apparently Johnny does trust him.”

“Si, that is true,” Cipriano replied.  After a few minutes, Cipriano chuckled.

Murdoch turned his head to look at his friend.  “What’s so funny?”

“This man… Senor Crawford, is very young.  It strikes me funny Juanito calls him Papi when he looks more like his hermano.”

Murdoch smiled.  “Yes, I noticed that myself.  I’ll have to ask him how old he is.”

Twenty minutes later, Val was back with a smile on his face.  “It’s them.”

“Thank the Lord,” Murdoch responded.  “How are we going to do this?”

“Only way we can is to go straight in.  I counted four men and Johnny.”

“That’s right. Rivas had three men with him.”

“Senor Crawford, what if I circle around and come in from the other side?”

Val shook his head.  “Can’t be done.  They’ve picked the perfect campsite.  I’ve camped here myself a time or two.  There’s a ravine on the other side of them.  The ravine is a good two hundred feet deep, and nothing can come up on them from that direction.”

“Did you see Johnny?  Is he alright?”

“I saw him.  He’s bedded down on the other side of the fire.”  Val smoothed a place in the dirt and started to draw a diagram of the campsite.  “Here’s the fire, and on the other side is the edge of the ravine.”  He drew a straight line.  “Three men are sitting close together on this side of the fire.  Johnny’s lying on the ravine side and one man is sitting near him.”

“That must be Rivas.”

“I figure they stopped here until morning and are planning on moving on at first light.”

Murdoch instinctively looked to the east, although he knew sunrise was still several hours away. “It must be close to two in the morning now.  The sun comes up at five.  That means we have three hours to make our move.”

“That’s the way I figure it, too.” Val sat down in the dirt. “If we’re going to take them by surprise, we need to wait.  Let them get comfortable. Then we’ll move in.”

Settling down to wait, Murdoch stared at the man they’d placed so much trust in. 

“How old are you, Craw… Val?” 

“Don’t see what that’s got to do with a darn thing.” Then, after a few moments, he stated, “Twenty-two.”

Murdoch smiled.

“Look, Mister Lancer, I know who you are or who you claim to be.  But, from what I heard from the boy’s Mama, you don’t deserve him.”

“I have some idea what you’ve heard.  I can assure you, I didn’t throw Maria or my son out.  I’ve searched for them for four years.”

“That so.  If it took you so long, how’d you find him now?”

“You already know it was Rivas who took Johnny to the mission in Tubutama.  They sent for me.”

“Where’s Maria?”

“I have no idea,” Murdoch snapped.  “The Padre at the mission in Tubutama said he saw Johnny and Maria for the first time at the mission in Hermosillo.  Father Antony said he was surprised when Rivas showed up in Tubutama with the boy.  I’m not sure what his connection is with Johnny or how he got his hands on the boy in the first place.” 

“Maybe Johnny can answer some of those questions.  It’ll be light soon.” Val stood and stretched. “Spread out and wait for my signal.”

“What signal would that be, Senor Crawford?” Cipriano picked up his rifle and jacked the lever.

“I’m thinking a bullet through Rivas’ head would work.”

Neither Murdoch nor Cipriano said a word.

“Any questions?”

Murdoch shook his head.  “No, in fact, I like your way of thinking.”

Spreading out in a semi-circle around the camp Murdoch and Cipriano waited for Val’s signal to move in.

---

Moving closer to Rivas’ campsite, Val’s eyes were glued on Johnny near the fire.  Seeing the boy was alright, Val had a thought.  During their time together, Val had taught Johnny how to signal with bird songs.  One of the calls he’d taught the boy was the ki-ki-doo sound of a Black Rail.  While not heard in Arizona, it was common to Texas along the Gulf Coast.

Johnny stirred and raised his head, then propped himself up on an elbow.  When the boy looked around, Val smiled.  Sounding the bird call again, Val was sure Johnny knew he was there.

---

At the familiar sound, a smile ghosted across Johnny’s face.  He sat up and looked at Rivas.

 “Jose, you were paid by the Senor.  Leave me for him to find and go back to Mama.”

Rivas laughed.  “Oh, I plan to go back to Maria but with more money than we originally planned.  Now, if you know what is good for you, chico, you will close your mouth.”

Johnny glared at Rivas and then spat on the ground in front of him.

Rivas jumped up and closed the distance between them.  He yanked Johnny to his feet and raised his right hand, backhanding the boy across the mouth.  The boy flew backward, landing on his back, a trickle of blood forming at the corner of his mouth.

Rivas stomped over to stand over Johnny.  Reaching down, he picked the boy up and shook him.

“I thought I taught you to watch your mouth.  Perhaps you need another lesson.”

“Leave him alone!” Murdoch’s voice bellowed as he stepped into the clearing, his gun trained on Rivas.

Shocked by the arrival of the rancher, Rivas turned and grabbed Johnny under his arms and pulled him up to act as a shield.

“I see you do not follow orders, Senor.”

“There’s no need to hurt him.”

Rivas huffed, “This one never learns.”  

“Drop your guns and step away from the boy!” A voice came from the darkness.

Rivas spun around, trying to find the owner of the voice. 

“Show yourself.” Rivas backed to the edge of the raven, turning slightly so that Johnny’s feet dangled over the side.  “Show yourself, or I drop the boy.”

“Step away from the edge and put the boy down.”

Johnny struggled, but the Mexican tightened his hold on his chest.

What happened next was so fast that it surprised everyone, especially Jose Rivas.

Johnny raised his right leg and then brought the heel of his brand-new boot back in one fluid motion, slamming it up into the groin of his tormentor.  

Rivas screamed; his eyes bulging.   He dropped both Johnny and his gun as his hands went to his crotch. 

Johnny hit the edge of the precipice and scrambled for a handhold.

Murdoch screamed Johnny’s name at the same time the sound of a gunshot, louder than Rivas’ screams, filled the night.

Jose Rivas raised his head, an expression of disbelief on his face.  He looked down and, for a moment, seemed to be watching the blood spread across his chest.  In the next second, he fell to the ground.   The three men with him stood frozen in shock. 

Rivas’ last two companions came to life when a second shot took out the man closest to Murdoch. 

Murdoch ran forward, trying to get to where he’d seen Johnny go over the edge.

Cipriano balled his fist and turned to hit the man nearest him. The man stumbled backward, bringing his gun up to fire, but Cipriano got his shot off first.

The last of Rivas’ men tried to escape into the darkness only to face Val Crawford.  The man tried to fight his way out and lost as Val fired once more.

A deafening quiet settled over the camp.  Val and Cipriano took a quick look around before joining Murdoch, who was lying on his stomach, leaning over the ravine’s edge.

“Johnny!” Murdoch strained to see into the ravine’s bottomless darkness.

“Do you see him?” Val was on his stomach next to the rancher.

“No.  I can’t see anything.”

“Johnny, can you hear me?” Murdoch called out again. 

They lay quietly waiting for some sign of life from below.  The sound of rocks falling to their right caught their attention.

Suddenly, the area was filled with light as Cipriano brought a makeshift torch to the ravine’s edge.

“I have a rope.  I will….”

“Here!”  A small voice echoed off the walls of the ravine.

“Where……?” Murdoch tried to pinpoint the place where he’d heard Johnny’s voice.

Cipriano held the torch out as far as he could while Murdoch and Val searched with their eyes.

“Here… I’m here!”

“There he is!” Val yelled and pointed to a spot fifteen feet below and to the right.  “I need a rope.”

“I have one here,” Cipriano replied and handed Val a lariat.

“Johnny, can you hear me?”

There was a moment’s pause before the answer came.  “Si.”

“If I throw a rope down, can you put the lasso over you and tighten it up?  We’ll pull you up.  Can you do that?”

In the coming light of day, they could see Johnny nod his head.

“Good.  Now here it comes.”

Val dropped the looped end of the rope over the side and inched it down.  Unable to see clearly, he wasn’t sure how close he was until he felt a tug on the line.

“Let me know when you have it around you good and tight.”

They watched as the rope moved and then stilled.

“Ready?”   There was no answer.  “Johnny, are you ready?  Make sure it’s tight and hang on with both hands.  Do you understand?”

“Si.”

Val turned to Murdoch and Cipriano.   “All right.  Start pulling him up.  I’ll guide the rope and grab him when he gets to the edge.”

It wasn’t long before a dark head of hair peeked over the edge and then the boy was up.  Murdoch removed the rope and pulled Johnny to his chest, holding him tight.

“It’s all right now, Johnny. You’re safe.” 

Murdoch pushed Johnny back to give him a quick once over.

“Are you alright?”

Johnny stared at Murdoch and then turned to look at the body of Rivas. 

“Johnny, are you alright?” Murdoch repeated.

Johnny nodded and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

---

Val’s breath caught in his throat and he closed his eyes. Involuntarily, he took several steps forward.  

Johnny turned, his eyes widened, and he started to go to Val only to have Murdoch grab his shoulder and pull him back.

“No, John. Stay with me.”

Val shook his head and Johnny stopped struggling.  Looking down, he saw Johnny’s blue eyes staring at him with anticipation.  

“Papi!” Johnny shouted and struggled to break free, but the hand on his shoulder tightened.

Not wanting to see the boy hurt, Val said, “Juanito, stop.  Do what he says.”

Johnny stopped moving.

“I want to thank you again for helping me get my son back, Val, but now I have to ask, what are your intentions?”

“Mr. Lancer, Lord knows I wouldn’t hurt the boy.  Can I…can I just see him?”

Murdoch scrutinized the man closely before lifting his hand from Johnny’s shoulder. 

Tearing across the short distance between them, Johnny threw his arms around the man’s waist.  Val knelt and wrapped his arms around the small body, pulling him close.

“I’ve been looking a long time for you, hijo.”

Johnny’s arms went around Val’s neck. “Papi, you came.  I always knew you would.”

“You recognized the bird call?”

Leaning back, Johnny nodded and smiled.   “Papi, I have a new pair of boots.”  Grinning, he raised his right leg so his new boot was visible.   “See.”

Val laughed, “Yes, I see.  You did real good.  Remind me never to get you mad at me.” 

Murdoch couldn’t stand it another moment.  He strode across the campsite.  “Johnny….”

Johnny tightened his hold on Val’s neck and wasn’t going to let go.

Val pried the small arms from his neck.  “Whoa boy, I gotta breathe.”

Val knew the older man wanted to hold his son, but he needed some answers.

“Johnny, why did she leave Sasabe?”

Raising his head, Johnny looked at Val and shrugged.  It was apparent who ‘she’ was.

“Why does Mama do anything?  Why does she always leave?  You were good to her, Papi, good to me, but Mama said Sasabe was boring.  She wanted excitement, music, and dancing.

 “The hombre Mama left with was Jose.  Jose promised her he would take her to Mexico City.  He had money, but it did not last long.  That is when they said they would get more money using me.”

“Using you?” Val stood and looked at Murdoch.  “Did you give her money!?”

“I didn’t give Maria anything,” Murdoch spat.  “I paid Rivas the reward.”

“Reward? What reward?”

“I offered a reward through the Pinkertons for John’s return.”

“How much?”

“Twenty-five hundred dollars.”

“American dollars!?”

“Yes.”

Val let out a soft whistle. “You had it with you?”

“No, of course, not.  I wouldn’t carry that kind of money with me into Mexico.  I gave Rivas a bank draft drawn on the bank in Nogales.”

Val looked up, his right hand resting on his gun butt. 

“That explains it.”

“Explains what?”

“I’ve been tracking you since Tubutama.  When I left Nogales, I noticed another set of tracks.  Four riders.  My guess is Rivas got his money in Nogales and wanted more.”

Val glanced at Johnny.

“Now, do you want to tell me why you were headed to Sasabe?”

“I was going home to you.”

Val knelt on one knee, so he was almost eye to eye with the boy. 

“Johnny, I haven’t been to Sasabe in six months.  Not since you left.  The only reason I stayed there was because of you.  Without you, there was no reason to go back.”

Johnny looked confused.  With a pout, he asked, “But where were you if not Sasabe?”

“Out looking for you, boy.  I’ve been over almost all of Sonora.  Got a lot of people mad at me right now for not doing my job.”

Murdoch cocked his head and asked, “And what job would that be?”

Val stood and locked eyes with the tall rancher.

“Whatever work I can get with my gun. You got a problem with that?”

Murdoch shook his head.  “No.  No problem.”

Cipriano stepped closer to Val.  “Senor, I saw Sasabe.  There is little there.  How did you come to be there?”

“Was just passing through one day about a year ago.  Met Maria and well…”  Val cleared his throat.  “Anyways, I went back there whenever I could.  Took care of her and the boy. That is until six months ago.  I got a gun job near Yuma and was gone about a week.  When I got back to Sasabe, Maria and Johnny were gone.  I’ve been looking for them ever since.”

“And now that you’ve found him, what do you plan to do?”

Val shook his head and laughed.  “I was gonna take him back to Texas with me, but now that he’s got his real Pa to take care of him….”

Johnny’s eyes widened.   “No.  I will go with you.”

Val shook his head and started to respond but stopped himself.  He didn’t want to upset the boy anymore tonight. Changing the subject.

“What do you say we talk about it after we get some rest.  I don’t know about you, but I’m worn out.”  Looking around, he pushed his hat back on his head.  “Guess we better get these bodies buried.”

“We aren’t taking them back to Tubutama?”

“No sense in it.  The closest law is the Rangers over in Texas, and New Mexico ain’t got none yet.  Besides, in this heat, they wouldn’t last long.  Best we plant them where they are.”

“Senor Crawford is right, Patron.  It is best these men are buried as soon as possible.”

“Cover them up for now.  I think we should at least take the bodies back to the mission and let the Priest take care of them.”

Val strode across the campsite, knelt next to Rivas’ body, and started going through the dead man’s pockets.

“What are you doing,” Murdoch started to protest.

Val didn’t answer right away.  “Looking for your money.”  He pulled a few bills from the dead man’s pockets and stood up.  “The rest must be in his saddlebags.  I’ll go check their horses.”  Without another word, Val walked to the string line where the horses were tethered.

“Cipriano, let’s move the bodies over there.”  Murdoch pointed to an area several feet from the campfire.

As Murdoch and Cipriano carried Rivas and his men away, Johnny collapsed next to the fire and looked into the flames.  He closed his eyes and yawned as the events of the night were catching up with him.   

Returning to the camp with Rivas’ saddlebags, Val took one look and smiled.  “Will you look at that?”

Johnny was sound asleep with his hands under his head as a pillow and his legs pulled to his chest.  

“He is very brave, my sobrino,” Cipriano said.

Murdoch stopped next to Cipriano also with a smile.  “Yes, he is.”

Val looked at Murdoch, then stepped forward and handed the saddlebags over.  “Your money’s in there.  The damn thing weighs a ton.  It looks like he got most of it in gold.”

“Thank you.” Murdoch accepted the bags and hefted them.  “You’re right. They are heavy.”

Murdoch stretched and yawned.  “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think I need a couple of hours sleep before we go back to Tubutama.”

“Si,” Cipriano nodded.  “I cannot ride even a mile until we rest.”

“Sounds good.  I’ll get our horses and be back in a few minutes.”

While Cipriano put wood on the fire, Murdoch kept staring at his son.  His son.  It seemed surreal that he once again had Johnny, and the boy was safe.  Too tired to think about anything but sleep, Murdoch was relieved when Val returned with the horses and bedrolls.  

---

Opening his eyes, Johnny blinked against the rays of light dancing through the leaves of the nearby trees.  Sitting up, he looked around.  It took a moment to remember what happened during the night.  With the memories of falling into the ravine came the sudden urge to relieve himself.

Jumping to his feet, Johnny hurried into the bushes out of sight of the camp.  With a sigh, he started to retrace his steps.  He’d only gone a few feet when he saw something off to the right that caught his attention, a booted foot.  Easing his way toward the boot, Johnny stopped and gasped.   He’d found Jose Rivas and his men.

Johnny slowly walked around the blanket-covered men until he was even with one of them. He stood staring down at the boots. Johnny knew they belonged to Jose Rivas.  He’d seen them often enough, felt them.  Johnny’s hand instinctively went to his right side.  He ran his hand along his ribs, remembering the last time those boots had kicked him.

Johnny wondered if he should have felt something, anything about the man’s death.  He thought about it a moment, but all he could think was, what would mama do now.

---

At the sound of someone moving around the camp, Val’s eyes snapped open.  Raising on one elbow, his first instinct was to check on Johnny.  Seeing the boy gone, he grabbed his gun, quietly stood and looked around.  He spotted the top of Johnny’s head moving away from camp and decided to follow.

When the boy changed directions, Val’s heart beat faster. Knowing what lay in that direction, Val decided he’d better head the boy off before he found Rivas and his men.  It didn’t take long to realize he was too late.

Val froze when he saw Johnny staring at the bodies, one, in particular, holding his attention. 

“Johnny?”

The boy looked up at Val and then back to the boots.

Val closed the distance between them, and he put a hand on the boy’s small shoulder.

“You alright?”

Johnny nodded but didn’t look up.

“Look at me, hijo.”

Johnny slowly turned but kept his eyes lowered.

Val saw Johnny rubbing his ribs and instinctively knew what the boy was thinking.  Kneeling, Val reached out and took Johnny’s chin.  Lifting it, he forced Johnny’s eyes to meet his.

“Did he hurt you?”

Johnny tried to look away, but Val wouldn’t let him.  Finally, he nodded.

“He ain’t never gonna do that again.  You know he can’t hurt you now.”

Johnny stared at Val.

“Johnny, talk to me.”

“I do not want to go with the Senor.  I want to go with you.”

Val gave the boy a faint smile.  “I know you do, and I’d like you to come with me, but, well, things have changed.”

Johnny cocked his head.  “Changed?” 

“That’s right.  You’ve got yourself your real Pa now, and he’s gonna take care of you.”

“I want you to take care of me.  I do not….”

“Now listen here.  You know I ain’t your real father.  As much as I want to be, it just ain’t so.” 

“You do not want me?”

“Of course, I want you.” Val closed his eyes and took a breath.  “I want you with all my heart, but he can give you things I can’t.”

Johnny turned his head away.

“If I can’t be your Pa, what do you say to me being like a big brother to you?  Your hermano?”

Johnny looked at Val and smiled.  “I have always wanted a hermano.  Does that mean you will come to California with us, to the Senors rancho?”

Val chuckled.  “I don’t think your Pa would be too happy about that.”

“If you are my hermano, does that not mean he can be your Papa too?”

Val glanced up to see Murdoch standing back a few feet, listening to them.   It was obvious the rancher was going to let Val handle the latest question.

“Well….”

“I know the Senor will not mind having another son.  I will talk to him.”

“Johnny, you know what I do for a living.”

“Si, you are a pistolero.”

“You think your Pa’s gonna want a pistolero under his roof?”

“I do not know, but I do not want to lose you, too.”

“You’re not going to lose me.  That’s never gonna happen. We’ll always be together.  You and me; we’re compadres.  Whether I’m with you or not, I’ll always be here.” Val tapped Johnny’s chest above his heart.  “And you will always be with me.” Val took Johnny’s hand and placed it over his heart.

“What if I need you?”  There was desperation in his voice. “How will I find you?” 

“Don’t you worry. I’ll stay in touch with you and your Pa.  I’ll make sure he knows where to find me.  If you ever need me, I’ll come running.”

Johnny didn’t seem to be convinced.

“Juanito, your Pa loves you.  A blind man can see it.  Give him a chance.  Promise me you’ll give yourself a chance, too.  You might find you love him just as much.”

Johnny dipped his head and mumbled, “Not as much as you.”

Val smiled. 

“What will you do with them?”  Johnny looked at the four bodies again.

“We’ll take them with us and let the Priest bury them.”

Johnny’s nod was followed by a yawn.

“What do you say we go back and try to get a couple more hours of sleep.  Then we’ll head back to Tubutama.”

Once back in camp, Val made sure Johnny was back in his place by the fire and then went to his bedroll.  He’d just closed his eyes when he felt his blanket being pulled back.  Opening his eyes, Val smiled as Johnny crawled in next to him and threw an arm across his chest.

Val didn’t say a word when he heard a gentle sigh from the boy.  It wasn’t long before Johnny was asleep.

Feeling he was being watched, Val opened his eyes to see Murdoch standing over them.  The tall rancher knelt down and pulled the blanket over Johnny’s shoulders.  With another contented sigh, the boy snuggled in closer.

The two men stared at each other in silence for a moment longer before Murdoch mouthed the words ‘thank you.’

Val nodded.

Murdoch went back to his bedroll and laid down, knowing everything was going to be alright.

---

“Stage will be leaving in 15 minutes, folks,” the Tucson station master called out.  “Fifteen minutes.”

Murdoch’s heart was pounding as he stood on the boardwalk next to the stage.  He couldn’t believe they would be leaving in a few minutes for the return trip to California. 

Looking around, Murdoch saw Cipriano handing their bags up to the stagecoach driver.  At the corner of the building, Johnny was with Val Crawford, neither of them looking happy.

It had been a rough week on all of them, especially Johnny.  The day after Jose Rivas and his men were killed, they took the bodies back to Mission San Pedro y San Pablo del Tubutama for burial.

As they stood beside the fresh graves, Johnny surprised everyone when he spoke for the first since breaking camp that morning.

Staring down at the freshly turned earth, Johnny asked, “What will Mama do now?”

No one said a word.

The boy looked up at the adults standing around the graves.  “She will have no one to take care of her now.”

Murdoch took a step closer to his son and placed a hand on his shoulder. 

“Son….”

“Jose was not much of a man, but he took care of her.”

“Your Ma can take care of herself, Johnny,” Val spoke up.  “She’s been doing it for a long time.  What she couldn’t do was take care of you.   Don’t you go worrying about Maria.  She always finds a way to land on her feet.”

Johnny slowly nodded, then turned away and walked back inside the mission.

“Will he be alright?” Father Antonio asked.

No one knew how to answer.  Murdoch and Val were quiet.  It was Cipriano who replied, “In time, Padre.  In time.”

One by one, the men turned away from the graves and went in search of the boy who had stolen all of their hearts.  

Father Antonio insisted they stay an extra day to give all of them time to recover from their ordeal.  It also gave Johnny and Val time together to say their goodbyes. 

Now, they were only minutes away from heading home to Lancer.  The last obstacle was getting Johnny away from Val.

---

Hearing the station master’s call, Val knelt in front of Johnny.  He could see tears welling in the boy’s eyes.  

“Well, it looks like it’s time for you to go.”

Johnny sniffled and rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. 

“You’re going to have a good life in California.  From what I hear, your Pa has a big ranch with lots of cattle and horses.”

Val glanced away, unable to look at Johnny’s downturned face any longer.

“Johnny.”  The boy looked at his father on hearing his name.  “It’s time to go, son.”

Johnny turned his head to look directly into Val’s eyes. 

“You will forget me?”

“No.  I could never do that.  You’re part of me now. Remember.”  Val took Johnny’s hand and put it over his heart.  “You are ….”

“You are my Papi.  Always and forever.”   Johnny glanced at Murdoch.  “I can have both a Papi and a Padre, can I not?”

“You can, but maybe that should just be between the two of us.  Like I said, you need to give your Pa a chance to be a father to you.”

“Val.”  Johnny threw his arms around the man’s neck.  Whispering in his ear, “Serás mi papi, mi hermano mayor, y mi amigo, siempre.  Te amo.”  
(You will be my daddy, my older brother and my friend, always.  I love you.)

Val lost the battle as tears rolled down his cheeks.  “Yes, I will. I love you, too … hijo.”

Val held him close for another moment, then stood up. 

“All right now.  It’s time you got a move on it.  That stage isn’t going to wait forever.  I’ll write you once I settle somewhere.”

“Promise?”

Val smiled as Johnny wiped his face with the sleeve of his shirt.

“I promise.  You promise to let me know if you ever need anything.”

“Si, I promise.”

“We’re getting ready to pull out, folks.”  The stagecoach driver sat patiently atop the coach, watching the tearful farewell between the man and boy.

“With a hand on the boy’s shoulder, Val walked Johnny over to surrender him to Murdoch.

“Mr. Lancer, I plan on writin’ the boy.  Can I count on you to let me know how he’s doing?”

“Yes.  I’ll let you know how he’s doing and someday soon, after he starts school, I’m hoping he’ll be the one to write you back.”

Val smiled.  “You hear that, Juanito?  You’ll be going to school and learn to read and write.”

The two men laughed at the frown on Johnny’s face.

“Well, this is it.”  Val gave the boy’s shoulder one more squeeze and then gently pushed him towards Murdoch.  Like the passing of a torch, Murdoch placed his hand on Johnny’s other shoulder and gently pulled him to his side.

Turning towards the coach, Murdoch lifted Johnny inside before looking at Val again.

“Are you sure you won’t take the reward money?  After all, you’re the one who actually found my son and returned him to me.”

“No.  Wouldn’t feel right taking your money.  You save it and use it to raise the boy.”

Murdoch smiled.  “I’ll do that.”

Val shook Murdoch’s extended right hand.

“Mr. Lancer, I’m headed for Texas.  Figure to join up with the Rangers again, maybe settle down and buy a ranch.  You let me know if you or Johnny ever need anything.”     

“I’ll do that.  John and I have a lot of time to make up.  In the near future, I hope to have his brother with us, and then we can be a real family.”

Val’s eyes widened.  “His brother?”

“That’s right.  I have another son.  He’s eleven now.  He’s been living in Boston with his grandfather since he was born, and I think it’s time I had both of my sons with me.”   

“I’ll be damned.  When you gonna tell Johnny?”

“Once we’re back at Lancer.  I want him to settle in a little before throwing another member of the family at him.”

Turning, Murdoch stepped into the coach.  The door closed as the stage lurched forward

Val watched the stage rolling away.  He’d started to turn away when he saw Johnny lean halfway out the window and call out, “Papi.”  The boy was waving as hard as he could. 

Val grinned and waved back and kept waving until there was nothing left but a cloud of dust following the rolling coach.

---

Stopping the buggy on the ridge overlooking Lancer, Murdoch took a deep breath and released it.  He was home.  The sight of the white hacienda nestled in the rolling hills caused a lump to form in his throat.

Looking down at the boy sitting beside him, Murdoch rephrased his thoughts.  No, it wasn’t just him any longer.  It was they now…. they were home. 

The sound of gunshots rang out from below.

“Muchacho!   Muchacho!”  The yell rang out from atop the roof of the hacienda.    “Muchacho!”  The vaquero waved his arms, fired his rifle into the air, and then pointed to the hill overlooking the hacienda.

Men, women, and children ran from all directions converging on the yard in front of the house.   Vaqueros on horseback raced in, waving their hats and yelling, “Welcome home!”

Murdoch wrapped an arm around his son and pulled him close.

“There it is, Johnny.” 

Johnny looked up through the dark hair falling into his eyes.

“Stand up and take a look.”   Murdoch smiled and helped the boy to his feet.  Turning Johnny so he had an unobstructed view, Murdoch pointed to the horizon.  “All the way to those mountains.  This is Lancer.”

When Johnny didn’t say anything, Murdoch enthusiastically asked, “So, what do you think?”

Johnny turned to look at his father, then shrugged.  

Exasperated, Murdoch responded, “All right then.”  He glanced at Cipriano, who was covering his mouth to stifle a laugh.

“You’re not helping.” Murdoch flicked the reins urging the horses on down the road.

“Patron, the nino, he is just tired and hungry,” Cipriano replied. “Are you hungry, Juanito?”

Johnny responded quickly, “Si.”

“I am sure my Maria will have something for you to eat.”

“Maria?”

“Recuerda que te lo dije, sobrino. María es mi esposa y tu tía,” Cipriano spoke up.  (Remember I told you, nephew. Maria is my wife and your aunt.)

Johnny nodded.  “Si, I remember.  Do you think she will give me something to eat?”

Cipriano laughed, “Nino, your Tia will give you anything you want.   She always has cookies baked for Teresa.”

Johnny frowned. 

“What’s wrong.”

“This Teresa, will she share her cookies?”

It was Murdoch’s turn to laugh.  “I’ll make sure she does.” 

---

Maria Roldán hurried out the front door, gathering up her apron, she pressed it to her mouth.  A few days earlier, a letter had come for the Segundo, Paul O’Brien.  It said the Patron and Cipriano were returning home; however, there was no mention of anyone else.  Now, going up on tiptoes, she strained to see who was in the approaching buggy.   

There was no mistaking who was driving the two-horse team.  Even from this distance, Maria could see a broad smile on the imposing figure of the Patron.  Cipriano rode alongside, vigorously waving to her.  What she couldn’t see was…. No.  Her eyes widened.  There he was.  A small dark-haired figure sat close to the Patron’s left side.

Tears of joy streamed down her face.  Her nino, her Juanito, was finally home. 

---

As they got closer to the hacienda, the cheering and yelling started in earnest.  Murdoch felt Johnny press closer to his side.  Moving the reins to his right hand, Murdoch put his left arm around the boy.  He could feel Johnny shaky.

“It’s alright, son.  They’re just happy to see you home again.”

Johnny looked around at the men on horseback and their smiling faces. 

“I do not understand.”

“What don’t you understand?”

“Why are they happy to see me?  They do not know me.”

“There are some who knew you as a baby.  The others have heard me talk about you.  They know how much I’ve wanted you here.  Relax.”  Murdoch lifted his left arm and pointed.  “See there.  Maria is waiting for you.”

Johnny looked at the small Mexican woman who stood in front of the house. 

Maria’s response to Johnny’s return was expected.  She lifted the boy out of the buggy and hugged him to her chest before covering his face with kisses, then hurried inside with him still in her arms.  Several ranch women swarmed into the house to help Maria, and Cipriano followed, carrying their luggage.

Pedro led the horses and buggy away while everyone else went back to what they were doing before the arrival of the youngest Lancer.

Suddenly, Murdoch found himself standing alone in front of the hacienda.  He shook his head and laughed.  Well, what did he expect?  He figured Johnny would get all the attention around here from now on.

Starting towards the front door, he looked up and saw Johnny watching him.

“Are you waiting for me?”

Johnny nodded.

“The women fussing too much?”

Johnny dipped his head.  “Si, Senor.”

“Well, come on, son.  I’ll do my best to keep them from smothering you with more kisses.”

Johnny looked up at him with an expression that was the closest thing to a smile he’d seen since finding him in Tubutama.

Reaching the doorway, Murdoch leaned down and whispered in Johnny’s ear, “Welcome home, John.”

To Part 2

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5- Epilogue