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One braced a hand on the fence and jumped over; the other went through the gate. The horses were led with little resistance, and within five minutes they were both bridled and saddled and back in the pen. The brothers worked well together. The horses even better. They were beautiful paired. An even gait. The same head movements. The brothers rode them around the pen at a fast gallop then trotted in front of Roman.
“Magnífico!” Roman said. He couldn’t take his gaze from them. Their coats shined a brilliant red beneath the sun. The manes, so beautifully manicured, bounced and rippled as they cut and turned. “How much for the pair?”
Roman was prepared for an astronomical cost and was pleased that it was only exorbitant.
“I have another ten Arabians arriving from Morocco next month. They will arrive in Cadiz by ship. Perhaps you should bring your wife to the docks, where she could choose horses of her own liking.”
Señor Madrigalas waved at his sons, and they returned the horses to the barns. Madrigalas propped a foot on the lower fence. “Belgrano and one of his men came here about five months ago. They were very interested in starting a militia. How did he put it?” He glanced up, in a neat eye-roll. “It is important that we protect our king and our Spanish brothers through this difficult time.”
“You didn’t believe him?”
“We may not see actual fighting, but if there is a civil war, no matter where there is fighting, we’ll be affected. And with a civil war, someone will be against the king. Bah, I have had enough of the political conspiracies and want to be left alone with my horses.”
“Your sons?”
“Diego wants to fight. Pablo wants to win. Two different sides of the sameescudo. Ah, what do wefundosknow, having been on the land so long?”
“I’m told there was a contingent of men in San Fernando a few months ago, marching toward Madrid. Were they supporting del Riego?”
“Who knows what they thought with their bellies empty, and the soles of their boots marched off? Ferdinand accepted a new constitution. Perhaps saved himself a real war.”
They returned to talk of horses, grains, olives and wine, as they walked into the cool interior of the hacienda. At a large mahogany desk, Roman counted out the money he had, primarily silverrealesand a few goldescudas. “I can leave an IOU for the rest, if that is suitable.”
“I know where to find you. No one would admit to marrying into Belgrano’s family unless it were true. Would you like to take the horses with you, or have Diego and Pablo deliver them later this week?”
“I can take them. It will be a nice welcome home surprise.”
Madrigalas laughed as he leaned back in his chair. “You must have made a grave error to be gifting such fine horses. One horse would be asking forgiveness. Two is asking for a lifetime of worshipping at her feet. I can laugh. It was the same with my wife.”
“Two? I am planning on buying any horse she wants in your next shipment.” Roman pushed to his feet. “Madrigalas, it is good to know you. If you hear anything new about my family, you’ll let me know?”
“Adiós, amigo. I will see you next month.” They shook hands before returning to the front of the house, still standing in the shade. His new purchases were standing next to his horse, halters secure and with a generous lead line. The strolled toward the animals; Roman threw the now lighter and emptier panniers across the back of his saddle.
“Oh, I meant to ask. Do you know who the other man with Belgrano was?”
“Navarro, a don from Barcelona. One who has no regard for the smallerfundoslet alone thejornaleroswho keep Spain fed. He barely spoke. I can say no more other than my opinion.”
They shook hands again. Roman mounted his horse and captured the leads in one fist. He clucked his tongue and followed his men to Ubrique.
Shelene was going to love the horses, but she was going to hate the fact he was knee-deep in the new intrigue surrounding Belgrano and Navarro.
Deep down she knew Belgrano was a bad man, but she would never believe her uncle intended to hurt her. Roman could prove otherwise. Roman rising from the dead, a death only Belgrano seemed to know anything about was all the proof Roman needed.
They wanted something at Las Colinas. That was the only explanation for Belgrano’s return home and Shelene’s convenient marriage of Belgrano’s friend or partner, Navarro. That something they wanted wasn’t Shelene—she was just one of the motivators for their actions. Their access. Their cover.
The commodore had done the best thing possible to protect his wife and daughter, and that was move them to London. He would not be able to pry Shelene away from the estate again.
When he returned to the valley, he was going to hire more specifically skilled laborers, obtain more weapons and fortify as much as possible. Shelene would think he was overreacting. So be it. He would overreact. He would do all that was necessary to protect Shelene, Antonio, Oliver, the commodore, anyone who made their living in the valley. Whatever it took. He would lay down his life for them.
They pushed hard the next day. The following morning would see them turn back north toward Las Colinas.
“Dewey, can you go into Cadiz? We need more guns and men. That seems like the best place to start.” If necessary, he could write to Adam to get a shipment of rifles and ammunition.
“Most of them are already serving in units. Half of them are deserters,” Dewey said.
“See if you can get your hands on about twenty Baker rifles. Fisk can help and provide the gold. As for men, I wantvaqueros. Good on their horses. If they already know how to shoot, all the better. Assure them it has nothing to do with fighting against their country.”
“What do I promise in pay?”
