Under The Desert Moon (Desert Sky Series Book 2)

by Mary Tate Engels

  "Thomas... he ..." Diego stopped and glanced anxiously at Brett.

  "What, Diego?" Brett asked.

  "He is at the mission."

  "Now?" Annie pressed her hand to her mouth and released a cry of joy.

  "How did he get there?" Brett took a step closer and Diego stepped back.

  "Is he okay?" Annie asked.

  Diego looked from one to the other, a little frightened at their reactions to the new information he had just imparted. "He is waiting for his family. To take them somewhere."

  "Where are they going? And how? He has a brand new son!" Annie was overjoyed.

  "No se, I do not know, seňorita. No answers to your questions."

  "Go out there and bring him here," Annie suggested. "Take him to see his mother, Isabel. It would make her very happy. I'm warming a relleno casserole and you all can eat it. Then later, maybe tomorrow, he can see his wife and new son." She looked at Brett. "Right?"

  He gave her a somber look and a brief nod.

  More than two weeks later, the little refugee family was ready to leave. Sad though she was to see them go, Annie knew they would be better off in their new home. Dr. Theresa had contacted a California group willing to receive them as refugees and help them get work and attain U.S. citizenship and begin their new lives.

  Brett made arrangements for their safe passage west.

  Annie sent them off loaded with food, including several loaves of apple bread and a large bag of freshly picked apples from the new crop. With teary eyes, Annie bid them farewell and made Carmen promise to call or write regularly and let her know how things were going and especially, details about baby Diego Thomas Garcia.

  When the transporting van disappeared, Brett hugged her shoulders. "They're going to be just fine, Annie."

  "I hope so." She wiped a tear.

  "They are. Thomas is smart and very capable. He made it out of his country and through some kind of hell in Mexico, didn't he? With the help of the California Refugee League, he'll certainly make it in this country."

  Annie spread the embroidered cloth Isabel had presented to her as a gift. "I'll always have this to remind me of them."

  "What is it?"

  "It's a church altar cloth," she explained. "This is the special colcha embroidery Isabel was working on while they waited on Thomas."

  "Oh, yes. The kind my grandmother used to make." He picked up a corner. "It's almost a lost art."

  "Maybe this piece should go in the folk art museum in town," Annie suggested. "It's a fine example of colcha embroidery. And a beautiful reminder of some remarkable people who passed this way once."

  "Only once," he repeated. "No more, Annie. Understand? No more. No more refugees hiding on your farm. I couldn't stand the stress."

  "Right." She grinned up at him. "Did I ever thank you for everything you did to help?"

  "About a dozen times."

  "Here's a dozen and one." She stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips. Then, arm in arm, they walked back into the house. "I guess," she said softly in her melancholy mood, "I guess you're next."

  "Next for what?"

  "To leave."

  He halted and turned her in his arms. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

  She shrugged. "The work is done. The apples are ready to be harvested, and I can hire legal migrant workers for that. You saved the farm and the refugees. Time for the white-hatted hero to get on his horse and ride off into the sunset. What did Dr. Theresa call you, Mr. Muscles?"

  "What gave you the idea that I would leave now, after all that's happened? All we've meant to each other? I could never leave you, Annie. I love you."

  He stopped walking and looked at her, as shocked by his words as she was.

  Annie recovered first. "I don't want you to stay here because of me, Brett. I don't want to be blamed when things don't work out. Or you get bored."

  His arms circled her and pulled her closer. "I love you, Annie. How can I convince you of that?" His lips settled on hers, kissing her with such passion that he took her breath away.

  Annie succumbed to his kiss and let it speak for him. There was nothing else to say. For the moment, he loved her. That's all she could ask for.

  The next week, Annie walked among the familiar mission ruins. The autumn weeds were knee-high and filled what was once the church sanctuary. She stepped onto a large stone in front of the mission and surveyed the nearest orchard. Migrant workers had nearly picked it clean today. A sense of pride swelled in her breast.

  "It's a good crop this year, Aunt Annalee," she said aloud. "I've been busy harvesting during the day. And at night I bake pies and apple bread, just like you used to do. Silver Creek's harvest fiesta isn't far away. We're calling it The Silver Fiesta. It's going to be a great celebration for all we've accomplished in the last year. We've invited mariachis from Tucson. Wish you could be there."

  She continued her walk, and talk. "I heard from Carmen today. They're living with a nice family in California until Thomas can get a job and make enough money for them to move out on their own. The baby's starting to smile." She smiled wistfully. "I miss them."

  Annie sat on a low brick wall. She felt the day's warmth radiate from the bricks into her body. "I haven't seen much of Brett lately. He claimed he loved me. He said it just once, but I think it scared him to say it. I think he's getting ready to leave. After all, it's pretty dull and boring around here now that Carmen and Isabel are gone. No more excitement. Just a good apple harvest."

  She looked up at the sound of an engine. A shiny red truck with large silver spotlights above the windshield and a fancy antenna on the roof parked behind her old 4-Runner. She stood.

  When the door of the unfamiliar pickup opened, Brett emerged.

  "Brett?" Annie watched the lean-hipped, broad shouldered figure come toward her. He was every bit as handsome as the first day she saw him. And the sight of him still made her heart pound and her stomach jittery.

  He looked, somehow, different. Today he wore jeans and a pale blue shirt opened at the neck. With scruffy boots. And he wore an appealing little half grin that drove her crazy. What was he up to, anyway?

  "Hey, Annie. Want to take a ride in my new truck?"

  "Got a new toy, Brett?" She cast another glance at the contrasting vehicles. His was, of course, as spiffy a truck as she had ever seen. Her 4-Runner was still a rattletrap.

  "It's a four-wheel drive. Got the works, too. Just drove it in from Tucson."

  She raised her eyebrows. So that was where he'd been the past two days.

  "I traded my car for it," he continued, taking her hand. "Come on, Annie. Let me show you."

  She folded her arms. "You traded the Mercedes?" She couldn't hide the doubt in her voice.

  "You catch on slow." He led her to his fancy new truck and showed her all the bells and whistles, including a mobile phone. "Want to make a call?"

  Annie shook her head.

  "It has a police radio, spotlights, phone, iTunes hookup, automatic everything that I need in my work."

  "Need? What work?"

  "Well, I can't be out in the middle of nowhere, needing a backup or to make contact with civilization. This way, I could even call you and tell you I'll be late for supper. Or tell you I'm bringing supper." He pulled her to the seat and scooted beside her, thighs touching. When he started the big engine, it purred like a giant cat. "Wait'll you see how this baby runs."

  The ride was almost—not quite, but almost—as smooth as the Mercedes. They drove to the Rocking M, where Brett ushered her in the front door of his old homestead. The living room was completely repaired and freshly painted. The carpet had been replaced by ceramic tile.

  "Don't have the furniture yet, but I figured you could help pick it out. If you want to." He stopped by the little bedroom that used to be his, the room where they had made love. It was obvious that he no longer slept in there. "It's really for a kid, don't you think?" He steered her to the kitchen. "Hope you like it."

  Annie gasped with
delight. The kitchen was clean and painted and usable again. "It's wonderful! Did you do all this? How? When?"

  "I had a little help," he admitted with a grin. "From Roman and Holt."

  "And they kept it a secret from me?"

  He smiled secretly. "Wait till you see the master bedroom." He took her hand.

  They went to the back bedroom, a room that Annie had never seen. She walked in hesitantly. This was where Brett's parents had made love. The large bed was made of heavy oak and covered with an old fashioned crocheted bedspread.

  "My mom made it. But if you want something different, I understand."

  "Oh, Brett..." Annie felt as if she were entering an enchanted castle. "It's beautiful."

  "At first I felt funny when I saw this room looking exactly as my folks had it. But now, I think it's just the way it should be. Traditional. But we can change it if you want to."

  Annie walked into the center of the room and turned to face him. "Why are you showing me this?"

  Brett's face was tight, but he continued. "The bedspread has been packed away for years. I figured it was time to make this place a home again. To use the master bedroom as it was meant to be, for adults. To follow tradition and... make a few of my own." He moved before her and took her hands. "But I need a wife for that, Annie. And I want you to be the one. We might even consider. . . babies in the future." He chuckled. "I can't believe I said that."

  Annie's voice stuck in her throat and tears stung her eyes. She felt as if she had been thrown onto a merry-go-round from the moment he tucked her into the shiny red truck. The house was different, and in some ways, so was Brett. And yet, he was still the same man with whom she had fallen in love.

  She was barely aware that he was kissing her, his lips tantalizing her shocked senses. Annie clung to his shoulders, wondering if she was dreaming or just plain insane.

  "Is this real?"

  "There's more, Annie," he said through the thick veil of fog that seemed to shroud her. They walked to the back patio. From there they could see into a nearby field, cleared of debris.

  She shielded her eyes and squinted. "What is this for?"

  He shrugged. "I'm going to try my hand at ranching. Maybe raising horses. Or planting a few apple trees to expand your orchard. If I'm no better at it than my dad was, I'll have my teaching and law enforcement work with the sheriff's department to fall back on."

  She laughed aloud and twirled on the brick floored patio. It was too good to be true. It was a dream! "You've done all this, Brett? Why?"

  "Only one reason, Annie. To prove that I love you. That I'm ready to settle down. I'll do anything you want." He pulled her into his embrace. "I love you more than I ever thought possible."

  She looked up into his serious brown eyes. "I love you, too, Brett. I loved you from the start. But all along, I was afraid that I was throwing my love away. I thought... that you'd leave, like everyone else I've ever loved."

  "I'll never leave you, Annie. I promise."

  His kiss sealed the promise with warm passion. When he raised his head, lights danced in his dark eyes. "I'd like to have a party. For our friends and family... to announce our engagement. Did you say yes?"

  Her face shining with happiness, Annie looked up at him. "I can't believe this is happening, Brett. It's everything I ever wanted. It's like a dream come true."

  He framed her face with his large tanned hands. "You're everything I ever wanted. Say you'll marry me, Annie." He kissed her lips lightly.

  "Yes..." she murmured. "Yes, yes, yes!"

  The kiss that followed led to more kisses and ... much more.

  Later they watched the sunset from the patio, overlooking the fields and speculating about the future.

  "We'll figure out a merger of our properties. I don't want to interfere with what you've started, Annie. You're building a reputation for the best apples and best apple bread and pies in the county." He lifted her hand and kissed it. "When do you want to get married?"

  "I would like to have our wedding at the old mission," she said. "We can clean it up, trim the weeds. It means so much to me. You don't mind los espiritus, do you?"

  "Not at all, if they don't mind me." He chuckled and added, "We'll have mariachis."

  "And children to dance and sing."

  "And J.M. can be my best man. He'd like that."

  "Is that a touch of sentiment for your dad?"

  "Yeah, maybe..."

  "Like father, like son..."

  "And we can use the colcha embroidery altar cloth. Then when you donate it to the museum, it'll have double sentiment." Suddenly she grabbed his arm. "Are you sure you want to do this, Brett? To settle down in boring Silver Creek?"

  "How could anyone be bored around you, Annie? Life is always exciting." He tousled her hair. "Risky, but exciting."

  She messed his neat black hair. "As exciting as watching apples grow?"

  "You, my lovable Annie, are all the excitement I need for a lifetime."

  "Beware," she whispered. "There's a full moon rising. And I hear things grow faster and los espiritus will gather."

  "I think that's when we should get married. We'll invite them all to the wedding."

  He kissed her until the western sun set behind the old mission ruins. . .

  and the moon rose and the apples ripened and blossomed and the cycle of love and life continued under the desert moon.

  END

  Enjoy Lacy's Feast of Flowers in UNDER THE DESERT SKY

  CREAM OF HARVEST MOON SOUP

  1 medium onion, chopped

  2 tablespoons butter or margarine

  4 cups chicken broth

  2 cups sliced peeled sweet potatoes

  2 cups cooked pumpkin

  2 cups milk, light cream, or half and half

  1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  1/2 teaspoon salt

  1/4 teaspoon pepper

  1 cup sour cream

  1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

  3 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

  In a large saucepan, sauté onion in butter until tender. Add the broth, potatoes and pumpkin; cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat; cool. Puree half of the mixture at a time in a blender or food processor until smooth; return all to the pan. Add the milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper; heat through. Combine sour cream and parsley. Spoon soup into bowls; top each with a dollop of sour cream; sprinkle with bacon bits. Finish presentation with a nasturtium blossom. Colorful and delicious!

  Lacy's MARGARITA SALAD

  Layer fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella cheese in a shallow serving dish. Sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Decorate with scrolls of Balsamic cream. Finish presentation with a couple of violet blossoms. Makes a fragrant table decoration that you can eat!

  Lacy's GREEN GRINGO CHILE CASSEROLE

  4 large eggs

  1 ½ cups milk, light cream, or half & half

  ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

  ¼ teaspoon salt

  1 teaspoon cilantro (Mexican parsley)

  1 jalapeňo pepper, seeded, finely chopped

  ½ cups green chiles, chopped into small pieces (fresh or canned)

  ½ cups red bell peppers, chopped into small pieces

  1 medium onion, finely chopped

  2 teaspoons chili powder (or a little more if you like the flavor)

  Dash black pepper

  ½ cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

  ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

  ½ pound ground chuck or shrimp or other meat of choice

  Or can be made meatless

  Cook meat separately and drain. Sprinkle half of cheese, green chiles and red peppers in bottom of well-oiled pan. Layer meat of choice. Pour egg mixture with all remaining ingredients over everything. Top with remaining cheese and peppers. Bake 20 minutes in 400 degree oven; then turn temperature down to 375 degrees and bake another 20 minutes. Best if served warm, but can be served cold as a quiche. Assemble a pinwhee
l of tender asparagus tips, lightly sautéed, on top for serving. Add a sprig of basil or dill for a casserole with flair.

  WILLY DILLY BREAD

  1 package fast-rising yeast (about 1 ½ tablespoons)

  Pinch sugar

  Pinch thyme

  ¼ cup warm water

  1 cup small curd cottage cheese

  2 tablespoons margarine or butter

  2 tablespoons honey

  2 tablespoons dried dill, chopped finely

  ¼ teaspoon baking soda

  1 teaspoon salt

  1 egg, beaten

  2 ¼ - 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

  1 tablespoon dried minced onion

  Sprinkle yeast, sugar and thyme in large mixing bowl; add medium-warm water and stir to dissolve yeast. Put aside. Heat cottage cheese, one tablespoon butter, and honey in saucepan until butter melts. Remove from heat and stir in dill, baking soda, onion and salt. Stir well. Blend cottage cheese mixture with yeast mixture, add egg and stir. Add 2 cups flour and stir with large wooden spoon. Slowly add enough of remaining flour to produce a soft ball of dough that is not sticky. Gather dough together with hands to form ball and place in a pan or bowl. Cover with a warm, moist cloth, and place in a warm spot; let rise for thirty minutes.

  Grease loaf pan and cover bottom with waxed paper. Stir or push down the dough and scrape it into prepared pan, patting to smooth the surface. Cover pan with damp, warm cloth and leave in a warm spot to rise another thirty minutes. (Yes, old-fashioned bread has to rise twice. But you can make this in your bread maker machine.)