* * *
Alfonso and Muñoz were in the barn, for the horses were Alfonzo’s responsibility and he would die before he saw them harmed. With musket in hand, he walked from stall to stall where only the best of the Padilla stock was kept and talked in low tones to the animals. When he reached Florita’s stall, he slipped a chunk of sugar—an expensive treat—from his pocket and fed it to the gentle mare.
Two other old vaqueros, Luis and Rafael, were in the main hacienda with a few old women who were caring for the very young children, who had also been left behind.
Some distance away, Cha paused amid a stand of thick willows. A slow-moving stream cooled his horse’s hooves while he peered through the branches and carefully studied the buildings beyond. It was too quiet. Vaqueros should be in the corral, and smoke should be billowing in preparation for the morning meal.
Yes, something was wrong.
He and his men were to be a diversion, attracting the vaqueros while Sahma and the bulk of the men drove away the horses from the pasture between the hacienda and the sea. He gave his men time to get in position, then, with some trepidation, whipped his horse up and out of the streambed. His small band galloped behind.
“They come!” Muñoz shouted from his vantage point at the far end of the barn.
Alfonzo ran to the door nearest the hacienda. “They come from the north. Get the women and children down!” Then he ran to join Muñoz.
The band of Yokuts was still over a hundred yards away. Alfonso counted ten. Only ten. Surely they would not attack the hacienda with only ten warriors.
In his many years, Alfonso had observed some strange behavior from the Indian tribes, so he cautioned Muñoz not to fire. Maybe this band was just a group of young bucks showing their bravery by an intimidating gallop within musket range of the house. Maybe, just maybe, they would ride on. Alfonso glanced at the boy. Fear tortured his young eyes, but he tracked the approaching Indians with his musket.
The Yokuts swung their mounts, keeping a hundred-yard distance as they circled the hacienda and its outbuildings.