Four months later
It had been four months since her initial meeting in town with Abogado Sanchez, and Elizabeth hadn’t heard anything further about the dam. She’d spent her days watching for a messenger, though, and her nights dreaming about floods and the loss of her ranch. She’d begun to hope that nothing would come of the dam, and that perhaps she would never receive the news she dreaded, when the mayor returned.
She was out in one of the horse pastures, checking on a recent injury to one of the ranch horses. As the owner of the ranch, it was her job to see to any injured animal. As an accomplished horsewoman, though, she always took particular care with the horses. She and her husband had brought new breeds here, and worked hard to produce horses that were faster and stronger. They’d made a name for themselves, and for the ranch. This was how they made their livelihood. So any injury deserved her personal attention.
She’d just poultice the horse’s leg again and stood, brushing her hands against her skirt, when one of the ranch hands approached her.
“Señora, the abogado from Santa Maria just arrived and he says he wants to talk with you.”
Her heart jumped into her throat. Here it was, then – the visit she’d been hoping never happened. “Thank you, Rico. Please tell him I will be right there, and make sure he’s comfortable inside.”
She followed after him, noting that the abogado was still sitting in his covered carriage in the courtyard, waiting. She also noticed several family members standing nearby, wanting to hear the reason for the visit.
“Sir, would you like to come inside and cool off? I am sure you had a long ride out here,” she said quietly. The last thing she wanted was to have this meeting out here, where the entire ranch could hear what was said. “We can talk more privately inside.”
“No, thank you, Señora Arroyo. I am only stopping by for a brief visit. I had an injury to one of my knees, so getting in and out of carriages can be difficult and painful. Sitting in the carriage suits me better, and your hand was kind enough to bring some water for my horse.”
Patting the horse on the neck and giving him a little scratch, she approached the carriage. “I’m sorry to hear about your knee.” Then she changed the subject to something more interesting. “Do you have some news about the meetings you mentioned to me a few months back? Is that why you’re here?”
He grinned as if this was the best news of all. “Yes! Yes, I do, Señora! I received a telegram straight from Mexico City just yesterday, telling me that people from the departments of Land and Water Use will be conducting a meeting in Santa Maria next month at the city hall meeting room!”
Elizabeth gasped. “Next month? Isn’t that kind of soon? Abogado, you said these things take years to plan.” They were already meeting? This was the worst news possible, especially after she’d started to hope that the plans had fallen through.
For some reason, the mayor seemed extremely excited about the prospect, though, and Elizabeth remembered the rumors about bribes and Abogado Sanchez. Could it be that the government officials were paying him for his support and excitement?
“They do! They do!” he was babbling in response to her question. “This is just a preliminary meeting, long before anything starts. This will give all the ranchers, farmers, and towns people a chance to talk and ask questions. There will be many of these meetings. This is just the first one, I believe.”
Still suspicious of what she was being told, but not wanting to display any anger or mistrust in front of the family, who had gathered around her, she bid the abogado goodbye.
“Adios, Señora. See you next month at the meeting.” The mayor’s coachman backed the horses up to turn towards the road. As they were turning around, Elizabeth saw Esteban step out from the group of family members, approach the carriage slowly, grab the horses’ reins to stop them from moving, and say something quietly to the abogado. The big smile on the abogado’s fat face disappeared, turning to an expression of fear and distaste. He snapped an order at the driver, who cracked his whip, and the horses jumped quickly and started to trot down the road out of the ranch, leaving a thick cloud of dust behind them.
“Poppa, what did you say to Abogado Sanchez?” Elizabeth asked quietly, striding forward to take his arm.
With a big smile on his face, Esteban answered, “I reminded him of who the Arroyo family is in this area, and how important we are to his future.”
Elizabeth smiled. The Arroyo family had been here far longer than Sanchez, and had more power than even the mayor. Though she wouldn’t have said anything herself, she was glad Esteban had put Sanchez in his place. “Alright, everybody, return to your chores and school work. We have a lot to do.”
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