The Interloper — Jane Toombs

A fast-moving, dramatic California saga about the people--Spanish, Anglo, Mexican and Indian who struggled, fought, made mistakes, loved and survived to build the foundations of the Golden State. * * *Stella came for Angelica's funeral and took over all the arrangements to Diarmid's great relief. She never left, sending word to El Doblez for Lucita to send her belongings to the ranch and putting Lucita and her son in charge of the cantina. Diarmid never mentioned marriage to her and she never indicated she expected him to. She took over the raising of Davis and Meg as Aunt Stella. Diarmid saw to it that Davis learned all there was to know about running the ranch and when the lad turned eighteen, he sent him to Leland Stanford University, up near San Francisco. On the first morning after Davis came home for the summer in June of 1898, Diarmid rode with him around the property and, as usual, they argued.What's wrong with raising race horses? Davis demanded, reining in his mount at the top of a rise overlooking the orange groves. Mr. Stanford does very well training and racing his. It's true the horses might not show a profit immediately but--Diarmid's snort cut off his son's words. He halted his horse and scowled at Davis. They're teaching you a load of nonsense up there at Leland Stanford University.How do you know it's nonsense? Davis shot back. You never let me try out any of my ideas. Some day I'll be running the ranch, you might let me have a chance at a few things now.Diarmid didn't reply immediately. Davis take over from him? Not damn likely, as long as he was able to draw breath. Race horses! Couldn't the lad see raising such horses would be a poor investment, taking time and men away from what they did to bring in money? Not that his son was a fool, he was as bright as they came. Too bright, maybe, too eager. He needed someone with experience standing over him, showing him where he was wrong.Hank Jarvis, Diarmid's lawyer and fishing friend, had been at him for years to include the ranch in the corporation that handled all his other properties.