MARCH 1851, NEW MEXICO TERRITORY

It was cloudy outside, a sign that it was about to rain. This became amusing for an eighteen-year-old young woman. She had lightly tanned skin and caramel hues that seemed to glow. The young woman's lips were full and rosy, and her golden brown curls had soft red tips. Her body was average, with slightly larger hips, and her face was fresh and appealing, but she had scars from her pox survival.

She was visiting her older brother's grave, Tomas, who was killed when he was only twenty-three. He was part of the Mexican Army, which fought against the United States government, which wanted Mexican-owned land. The Mexican Government refused, which began the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. The war lasted almost two years, but the Mexican Government had enough of the war; the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was created between the two governments.

The young woman wiped her tears away as she looked at her brother's tombstone."Mamá y papá te extrañan. Desearía que estuvieras aquí, pero sabemos que moriste valientemente." (Mom and Dad miss you. I wish you were here, but we know you died bravely.) She kissed the tombstone and walked out of the cemetery. While walking through town, she noticed many new settlers arrived; she eyed them with disdainfully. She knew they arrived to purchase lands that once belonged to Mexican citizens."Gringos(White people)."

"Aye, ya Mexican bitch! This is our land, naw! Go to Mexico! Yer not wanted here!" yelled out a middle-aged white man.

He was ignored; Laureana kept on walking. The white man grabbed mud from the ground and threw it at her, hitting her in the face. Lareana glared at the man, who laughed but kept walking away, getting mud off her face.

Laureana heard footsteps behind her and immediately turned around. Behind her stood a man six feet tall, with a broad figure and a handsome square face. His eyes were light blue as the clear sky; his skin was light beige with sweat and dirt. Some hairs were growing on his face; his hair was black and curly. His appearance was of a mature adult, with a little sense of mischievousness. He wore a long-sleeved, plain white buttoned shirt with dirt stains, dark pants, and dark leather boots.

"What do you want, Gringo?"

The man raised an eyebrow but smiled. "You can speak English? I'm impressed."

"Of course, I speak the language of your people. Now, what do you want?"

"I saw what happened; I wanted to see if you were alright?" He then got a handkerchief and motioned it to her. "May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

Laureana stuck out her tongue and walked away. The man stood there motionless as he watched her going farther away; he chuckled.

Moments later, two workers opened the gates to the ranch when Laureana arrived. There was a decent-sized house in the center of the ranch where two families could fit. From the house were corn and squash fields where Apache people worked. Before the United States Government bought all the land, many Native people were considered Mexican citizens under the Mexican Government. However, laws were slowly changing, making the lives of Mexican citizens so difficult that they had to resort to selling their lands.

Once inside the house, a sixty-year-old older woman greeted her young mistress. The older woman had black and gray hair and medium tan skin. She had a hunched back; her eyes were black and held experience and wisdom. Wrinkles filled her face and arms, making her appearance almost vulnerable. She wore a traditional Apache handmade dress with many shape designs, some jewelry, and a handmade black scarf with light brown flower vine decorations. "Hello, my child."

"Hello, Etka."

"Your Mother wishes to speak to you; she is in the garden."

Laureana walked toward the garden, and upon her arrival, her Mother sat on the wet mud; her long prairie dress and beautiful brunette hair were in disarray.

"Mamá, ¿qué pasó? (Mom, what happened?)"

"Ay, mija! ¡Hemos perdido nuestra tierra!" (Oh, daughter! We lost our land!) When the United States took control of the territories, the Government wanted proof that this land belonged to us! This land has belonged to your Father's family for years; there was never documentation! Your Father hired lawyers to fight but had many debts to the lawyers; he decided to sell our home and lands!"

Laureana's eyes widened. "Why wasn't I told?"

"¡Es el orgullo de tu padre! (It's your Father's pride!)"

"Someone contacted your Father to buy the land; the buyer is joining us for dinner!"

Laureana stood on her feet. "¡No puede ser verdad! (It can't be true!)" She ran out of the gardens, approached her Father's study, and entered without permission. Her Father sat by his desk, drinking whiskey. The older man always took pride in his appearance. His black hair was always well-combed but was in disarray. His light brown eyes looked dead to the world. His bow tie was undone, and his clean, white, buttoned shirt had whiskey stains. "Papa, is it true?"

"Your Mother told you."

"Of course she did! You invited the person who wants to buy our land!? How could you even think such a thing!?"

"We need the money; the man is willing to pay the price I am asking for."

Laureana glared at her Father."Where is your pride, Father? You let Tomas' death go in vain."

The desk was slammed, making Laureana flinch. "¡Mocosa mimada! (Spoiled brat!) You will not question my decision! Now get out and prepare yourself for tonight's dinner!"

Laureana's body shook with rage as she left his study. Once out, she saw Ekta carrying a tray in the hallway. Etka noticed Laureana's agitation. Laureana stopped before the elderly woman and fell onto the floor. Ekta put the trait down as she knelt beside her. "Your Mother told me everything."

Tears began to form and dripped from Laureana's eyes as she laid her head on Ekta's knees. "What of our workers? I view them as a family; now that we have to sell the land, I worry about what will happen to them."

Ekta touched the young woman's hair in a motherly manner. "You must not worry about us; our people have survived many difficult trials, and we will survive again. You and your family have done so much for us; we are forever grateful."

It was silent between the two. "I wonder where we will go."

"That is for another time; you must prepare for tonight's dinner. Pride must be set aside, my child. You have seen what it can lead, do not fall to the same path."

"You are right. Can you help me prepare my bath?"

The elder smiled. "Of course."

Eventually, the skies were filled with darkness, and thunder was heard throughout the night skies. The Quinteras family stood by the house entrance, awaiting their guest's arrival. The household servants prepared dinner and stood behind the family, awaiting orders. The three family members wore their finest clothing. Laureana wore a big light brown dress with white polka dots and a ribbon tied to her waist. Her hair was loose, and she wore a bird feather on the right side of her hair, as well as a native necklace and bracelet that she made herself, with the guidance of Etka.

"¿Porqué le está tomando tanto tiempo? (Why is he taking so long?)" asked Laureana's father.

"Cálmate, él llegará. Ellos siempre lo hacen (Calm down; he'll arrive. They always do)," his wife responded.

Laureana eyed her parents as they were whispering to one another. She mentally rolled her eyes.

Then, the door opened; one of the household servants entered, holding luggage in both hands."Señor y Señora Quinteras, su invitado ha llegado (Mr. and Mrs. Quinteras, your guest has arrived)." Footsteps were heard behind the servant; another man entered. He wore a bowler hat, black trousers, dressy shoes, an unbuttoned black jacket, and a white buttoned shirt with a light brown vest over it. His face was nicely shaved.

Laureana's eyes widened as the man came forward. The man stopped as all eyes were on him. He took off his bowler hat and gave a slight nod. "Good evening, sorry I'm late. I got lost on the way. The name is Luke Bixby." His eyes landed on Laureana; he saw her pointing at him.

"Y-You!?"

Thunder was heard again, and then droplets of rain came after.

..............

Gringo: someone that is considered a foreigner, a white person