“Don’t you know me?” she cried, kissing him twice.

“It’s been almost ten years. You’ve changed, both of you. You’ve grown up.”

Annie backed off to arm’s length to stare at him, tears coursing down her cheeks. “You’ve changed, too, but I’d know you from a mile away, Andrew.”

James felt disappointment that it was not Michael who had come, and a little shame for not realizing this was Andrew instead of Michael. The Michael he remembered had to be taller than this. Stronger, too, and fiercer of eye.

Frank pumped Andrew’s hand and then hugged him. Seeing the two cousins together, James was struck by how much they looked alike. Some Lewis a long way back in their heritage must have planted mighty strong seed.

“Where’s Michael?” James asked urgently.

“He’s home where he’s supposed to be, and where we’ll all be goin’ soon as we get some paperwork done.”

James looked toward Sergeant Díaz, who watched without pleasure. “The sergeant yonder, he’s got a different notion. He’s wantin’ to throw me and Frank in the jailhouse a while, then send us back to Louisiana.”

Andrew shook his head, still smiling. “I know Sergeant Díaz. But what’s more important, Elizandro Zaragosa knows the comandante. He’s got everything fixed for me to take you-all to San Felipe, and then on out to the Colorado River.”

Annie said joyfully, “You mean we won’t be sent back to Louisiana after all?”

Andrew hugged her again. “No, you’re in Texas to stay.”

ZARAGOSA EMBRACED Sergeant Díaz in the traditional abrazo.

Díaz said, “It is good to see you again, lieutenant.”

“Not lieutenant, not anymore. Just plain Elizandro Zaragosa. I am a farmer now, not a soldier.”

“You will always be lieutenant to me, sir.” Díaz looked toward the americano wagon people with misgivings. “I have gone to much trouble to teach these foreigners a lesson. Have you and the comandante come to an agreement to let them go?”

“I am sorry to disappoint you, old friend, but I could do no less. These are family to the Lewises, Andrew and Miguel. You know they once saved my life.”

“And you once saved Miguel’s. I understand, sir, even if I do not agree with you. But every americano we allow into Texas now is one more americano we must fight when the war comes.”

“You talk as if war is inevitable. So long as men of good will prevail, it is not. There are many good Americans in Texas, loyal to the government of Mexico. They want to preserve the friendship.”

“Do they? Already there is much resistance to the new law that says no more americanos are allowed into Texas except by special permission.”

“The law was poorly conceived. I am sure it will be repealed when cooler heads are given time to reconsider.”

“And what do you think your americano friends will say when the government sends more soldiers into Texas and sets up more garrisons among them? Especially when they discover that the government is sending convict soldiers taken from the prisons of Mexico, and that when the convicts’ service is done they will be expected to settle among the americanos?”