La Luna de Miel

By VKS & MJRod

The plot picks up where "Carmen Navarro" leaves off—after Mano & Carmen's wedding day at Rancho Montoya.

La Luna de Miel Chapter One: Señor y Señora Montoya

Manolo Montoya stared at the ceiling, then glanced down with a faint smile to see beside him, his new wife. He kissed the top of her head, her black hair cascading over his chest and her back, his arm encircling her. She slept. He did not. He breathed in and out and the thoughts came in rapid succession as she shifted to draw closer to him. She opened drowsy eyes and looked up.

"Too bad, my beloved, that I was not your first conquest," she whispered, teasing.

"Yes, it is," he replied, inclining his head to kiss her again. "But Carmen, you will be my last." She sighed and shut her eyes once more.

Never had he made love to one whom he had actually loved. Oh, he liked women. All women. He enjoyed dalliances: the pursuit, the seduction, the consummation-the dance of love. But never had he made love to a woman he would rather die than live without. This he had not known until now. It was all new and somehow marvelous.

Such joy I did not think possible, he reflected. Why? Why now? I do not deserve her. Absolutamente no. His throat caught as a wave of gratitude engulfed him in its warmth. So many women I have known. Widows, wives, saloon girls, young women...never a problem...always willing. Just part of life. Expected. Encouraged. He had used them and they had used him. I never thought I needed a wife...of my own. And yet, now, with this one beside me, such happiness. And she is completely my own. No angry husbands or brothers or fathers or females to accuse him. No, just one completely my own. Ay Bendita, he did not think he could know such peace. I feel completely...he could not believe it...I feel completely free in her arms. He kissed her head once more and drifted off.

Before morning light filtered through the shutters, they awoke and found each other again. She smiled, recalling his words of last night. She knew what to expect. Spoiled? Yes, of course he is spoiled. These oldest sons always are. And he will flirt without question. He does so unaware. It is part of his charm. I don't mind. Besides, Carmen, you know yourself. You would never want a man that other women did not desire. She smiled as she looked in his face.

"If I am not your last conquest," she teased. "I hope you remember what I told you before: I am indeed a very good shot."

"Beloved, if things are not as I said they will be," he kissed her. "You have no need to worry. I shall furnish the gun." She smiled and returned his embrace. And things proceeded at a most pleasant pace.

They lay together, bathed in a golden light from the slats in the shutters which striped the ivory bed coverings, neither wishing to see the night end or the morning begin. Mano broke the silence first.

"Beloved," he said, stroking her hair. "I am afraid that any arrangements I intended to make for our luna de miel were delayed by Buck's and my latest, ah, adventure. I had meant for us to go to the mountains. Cuernavaca."

"Oh, I would adore that, mi corazón, but such a long trip?" Carmen replied. "Surely you do not wish this again so soon." He did not. This was true. The fast trek to Mexico City prior to the wedding had been unexpected and draining.

"What shall we do then, Carmenita mía?"

"The families are here. Mine leaves today...to Hermosillo to show my brother and his wife their new home. Hector says the Vargases have imposed too much on the Montoyas," Carmen chuckled as she saw Mano's smirk and nod of agreement. "Besides, he wants Carlos and Maria to see where they will live so they will know what to bring from Mexico City. The rest will be sold with the house so your uncle and Hector may be repaid."

"I like Hector. Your mother terrifies me, but I like your stepfather," Mano admitted, lifting Carmen's hands to his lips.

"As do I. And yet, mi vida, you know what this move of Carlos will mean," Carmen frowned.

"Sí, Hermosillo is lost to us," he sighed. "We shall have to think of new ways of avoiding your brother."

"I agree, but Manolito, the children! My nieces and nephews! I love them so. I wish to teach them to ride."

"The children can visit Rancho Montoya when we are here."

"Gracias, mi corazón."

"My family will be leaving the day after," he said, pausing at the fact that he had just referred to the Cannons as family. So they were, and not just his sister, Victoria. "Shall we stay at Rancho Montoya a few days and go to Hermosillo ourselves? Once the city is clear of Vargases, of course?"

"Oh, yes! The opera, the theatre, restaurants! The Hotel Nacional! Oh, please! We must enjoy these while we can. And then..."

"And then?"

"Manolo, I long to visit Rancho Navarro. I have not been there since the fall."

"All right."

"And then..."

"And then? What is this? Another 'and then'?"

"And then I want to go to Arizona to visit your sister at the High Chaparral and…"

"All right, beloved, all right...but perhaps first, we might, ah," he kissed her lips again and drew her close. She cut short the embrace.

"Manolo, I think perhaps we should go down for breakfast, mi corazón."

"I do not need to eat; I have you." he replied, teasing, kissing her again.

"But I should like a little something. Some fruit or a cup of coffee at least." She smiled and he could refuse her nothing. "Besides, our families will be stirring soon. I must tell my mother and Hector goodbye."

"Ay yi yi, chiquita. Very well, we will get up and go downstairs for some food."

VKS & MJRod claim the creation of Carmen Navarro, although we took her first name from a David Dortort script proposal. We also are the creators of the Vargas clan , Rancho Navarro and its people including Delgado, and all of the characters in and around Hermosillo. We would have nothing to create were it not for our favorite western, "The High Chaparral," to which we pay tribute.