A head shorter, younger, and far below Skinny’s weight, Diego stood firmly in front of the bigger boy. He looked as dignified as a Spanish don.
“Nuts,” Skinny said. “I don’t apologize to Mexicans.”
Without a word, Diego slapped Skinny’s sneering face.
“Why you little —!”
Skinny knocked the smaller boy down. Diego bounced up instantly and tried to hit Skinny. The big boy knocked him down again. Diego got up, went down, and got up again. Skinny stopped grinning. He pushed Diego away from him, out into the street, and looked around as if he wanted someone to stop the uneven fight.
“Hey, someone get this little punk —”
Jupiter and Pete started towards them. The burly cowboy, laughing, jumped off the truck bumper.
“Okay, Alvaro,” the cowboy said. “Cut it out. You’ll get hurt.”
Everyone froze. The sharp command came from a man who seemed to appear from nowhere. He looked like an older version of Diego. Though much taller, he had the same slim, compact build and the same dark hair and eyes. He, too, wore old riding jeans, scuffed western boots and a decorated shirt — a faded black one with red and yellow stitching. On his head was a black sombrero banded with conchos — circular pieces of silver. His face was haughty, and his eyes were cold and hard.
“No one will interfere,” the newcomer snapped. “It is for the boys to settle between themselves.”
The cowboy shrugged and leaned back against the ranch wagon. Intimidated by the newcomer’s fierceness, the Investigators could only watch. Skinny glared at them all and turned to face Diego. In the street, the smaller boy raised his fists and moved forward.
“Okay, you asked for it!” Skinny snarled, stepping off the kerb.
The two boys grappled with each other in the space between the ranch wagon and the next parked car. Suddenly Skinny leaped backwards to get more room for a final, crushing blow at Diego.
“Look out!” screamed Bob and Pete together.
Skinny’s backward leap had put him directly in the path of an oncoming car! Still watching Diego, Skinny didn’t see the danger he was in!
Brakes squealed, but the car would never stop in time!
Diego dived wildly at Skinny and struck him full force with his shoulder, trying to hurl him out of the way of the car. Both boys fell to the road as the skidding car passed and screeched to a stop fifteen feet away!
Two still figures lay in the street. The bystanders rushed forward, filled with dread.
Then Diego stirred and slowly got up, smiling. He was untouched! And Skinny was unhurt, too. Diego’s tackle had shoved him across the path of the car to safety.
Grinning, Bob and Pete pounded Diego on the back as the driver of the car hurried up to them.
“That was quick thinking, son! Are you all right?”
Diego nodded. The driver thanked him, and made sure that Skinny was unhurt before driving away. Skinny was still lying in the street, pale and shaken.
“Lucky! Darn lucky!” muttered Skinny’s cowboy friend as he helped the boy to his feet.
“I… I guess he saved me,” Skinny said.
“He sure did!” Pete exclaimed. “You better thank him.”
Grudgingly, Skinny nodded. “Thanks, Alvaro.”
“You thank me?” Diego said. “That’s all?”
Skinny looked confused. “What?”
“I have not yet heard an apology,” Diego said evenly. Skinny stared dumbfounded at the slim boy.
“You will take back what you said,” Diego demanded.
Skinny flushed. “If it means that much to you, okay, I guess I take it back. I… ”
“Then I am satisfied,” Diego said. He turned his back on Skinny and walked away.
“Hey, now —” Skinny began. Then he saw Bob, Pete, and Jupiter grinning. His narrow face turned red with anger. He hurried towards the ranch wagon. “Cody!” he called to the cowboy. “Let’s get out of here!”
The cowboy looked at Diego and the fierce stranger, who now stood beside the boy.
“You two just made yourselves a lot of trouble,” Cody said.
Then he got into the ranch wagon beside Skinny and drove away.
As Cody’s menacing words echoed in their ears, the Three Investigators saw Diego stare after the ranch wagon in dismay.
“My stupid pride!” Diego wailed. “It will ruin us!”
“No, Diego!” the tall stranger snapped. “You did well. For an Alvaro, pride and honour come first always.”
Diego turned to the boys. “This is my brother, Pico. He is the head of our family. My brother, these friends are Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews.”
Serious and formal, Pico Alvaro bowed to the boys. He was no more than twenty-five, but even in his old jeans, battered boots, and worn black shirt he seemed like some old Spanish nobleman.
“Señores. We are honoured that you meet with us.”
“De nada.” Jupiter said, and bowed in return.
“Ah?” Pico smiled. “You speak Spanish, Jupiter?”
“I read it,” Jupiter said, a little shamefaced, “but I can’t really speak it. At least, not the way you speak English.”
“You have no need to speak two languages,” said Pico politely. “We are proud of our heritage, so we speak Spanish. But we are Americans, as you are, so English is our language also.”
Before Jupe could respond, Pete burst out impatiently, “What did that Cody guy mean when he said you’d made yourselves a lot of trouble?”
“An empty wind without meaning,” Pico said scornfully.
Diego said uneasily, “I don’t know, Pico. Mr. Norris… ”
“Do not bother others with our troubles, Diego.”
“You do have some trouble?” Jupiter said. “With Cody and Skinny Norris?”
“A trifle of no importance,” Pico declared.
“I don’t call stealing our ranch a trifle!” Diego said.
Bob and Pete gaped. “Your ranch? How…?”
“Calmly, Diego,” Pico said. “Steal is a strong word.”
“What word is better?” Jupiter asked.
Pico thought for a moment. “Some months ago, Mr. Norris bought the rancho next to ours. He plans to buy others nearby and have one large ranch — as an investment, I think. He wanted our rancho, but it is all we have, and although he offered a good price we refused to sell. Mr. Norris was quite angry.”
“He was mad as a roped stallion,” Diego said with a grin.
“You see,” Pico continued, “our land contains an old dam and reservoir on Santa Inez Creek. For his large ranch, Mr. Norris needs that water. When we refused to sell, he offered more money. And when we still refused, he tried to prove that our old Spanish land grant wasn’t legal. But it is. Our land is ours.”
“He even had Cody tell the sheriff our rancho is a fire hazard because we don’t have enough men,” Diego said angrily.
“Who is Cody?” Bob asked.
“Mr. Norris’s ranch manager,” Pico explained. “Norris is a businessman. He has no knowledge of ranching.”
“The sheriff didn’t believe your place is a fire hazard?” Pete said. “So your ranch is safe?”
