Duende's Proposal

(Part of Change of Management story)

By Toni and Donna

The Hacienda was deserted. Duende had returned to it after making sure all the women and children were in a safe haven. He found no sign of Montoya, Grisham or Vera. There were signs of items having been hastily packed, and the safe where Montoya kept his valuables was standing open. Duende had a feeling that they would not be returning.

With a sigh and a shake of his head, he left the empty house. Duende wasn't altogether too unhappy about the two Spaniards leaving. The more he had come to know them, the more he had reason not to trust them fully. But he had had his own reasons for staying in the Hacienda. A reason that now seemed more important than ever.

With long, purposeful strides, he headed to the City Hall. He wanted to speak to Methos and his counter part, the modern Duncan MacLeod. Once there, he got straight to the point. "It appears that the Hacienda is now without an owner. Montoya and Grisham have both vanished. However, I would not feel secure in letting the women move back there without a male presence in the house. Do you not agree, gentlemen?"

 "Of course," said Methos, wondering where Montoya and Grisham had gone.  "Don't you live there?"

"I was a guest in the house. If the others agree, perhaps I should take over the management of it."

"It's fine with me," Methos said.  "You know how real estate works here!"  He grinned, and sent the Dancing Duncan to tell the others it was safe to go back to the Hacienda.

 Since both Methos and the modern Duncan MacLeod had agreed that Duende should become the home's new owner, Duende headed back to where the others were waiting. As he walked, he thought of Dolores, who was never far from his mind.

"The Hacienda is empty now," he told them all. "I have been given permission to take it over if you all agree."

Everyone looked at each other, and there was a general consensus and nodding. Dolores and Imogene, standing together, wondered if this meant they'd be able to go home!

"Dolores, may I speak to you alone for a moment?" Duende asked her. When she nodded, he offered her his arm and they stepped into an unoccupied sitting room of the woman's boarding house. There, Duende dropped to his knew. "Dolores, it would give me great joy if you would consent to be my wife, and therefore the Mistress of our home."

Her eyes widened only a moment, but they'd been dating long enough that she knew her mind in this matter. Taking his hand in both of hers and kissing it gently, she smiled, "I would not only be honored to, nothing could give me more pleasure than to say yes." She quickly blinked back tears of happiness, as she gazed at the man she loved.

Smiling brightly, Duende rose to his feet, hugged his soon to be wife, and together, they returned to tell the others the good news!