Rafael and Chad
Chapter 5: The Proposition
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Rafael woke Chad up early the next morning as the sun was rising. "Put on a pair of jeans, and a heavy shirt, most plants in the desert have thorns, so you don't want to brush up against them. He put on a brown cowboy hat and handed one to Chad. "Cowboy up?" Chad questioned. "It keeps the sun out of your eyes". They had coffee and breakfast with the Serranos, and Rafael led him to the barn. He led a gray mare out of her stall and held her. "Now get that saddle and put it on top of the horse. Great, now cinch it up". "Huh?". "That strap hanging down, thread it through that buckle, and tighten it as much as possible. That's it, I think you can tighten one more notch. You want it as tight as you can get it, so the saddle doesn't slide down with you in it, under the horse; the one place you don't want to be with a horse is under it, by its hooves. Great. Now get one of those bridles and slip the bit into its mouth". "She won't bite?". "No, she's well used to it. Good, now slip the headband over the ears. Good, now fasten that strap hanging down, it's called a throat lash. Great! You're ready to mount up. Take both reins in your left hand and lift your left foot in the stirrup. Now climb on, you can grab the saddle horn to steady yourself if needed. Great, now put your right foot in the other stirrup, and great, you're ready to go. I'll saddle up and we'll be off".
Rafael saddled up his horse, mounted, and led them out of the barn.
"We're headed toward those mountains over there. Now, the way you steer a horse is to pull the reins in the direction you want to go. Try steering your horse to your right. Great, you're a natural! Now lead your horse back next to me. Good. Now, if you want the horse to go faster than a walk, just kick them gently and urge them on. Let's get the horses going into a fast trot". Chad kicked his horse gently, urged her on, and got her in a fast trot, and Rafael got his horse to follow. "Ok now, let's get them to gallop". Rafael kicked his horse and snapped at the reins, and his horse broke into a gallop. Rafael looked back and saw Chad had got his horse into a gallop and was catching up. They raced to the top of a hill and started down when a pack of javelinas burst out from under a thicket of bushes, squealing loudly as they raced away. "Whoa!" Rafael shouted, "Pull back on your reins to stop your horse". They came to a stop. "What the hell are those?" Chad gasped, "Some kind of wild pigs?". "Javelinas" Rafael explained, "They're native to the southwest, and a different branch of mammals than pigs. The boars especially have big tusks, and are very defensive, especially when young ones are in the pack. If we were stupid enough to chase them the boars might stand their ground and attack and injure the horses' legs. The way to think about javelinas is if you don't mess with them, they won't mess with you".
They rode on, climbing a series of hills and valleys, but steadily higher. The terrain was light-colored soil, interspersed with clumps of grass, low-lying barrel cacti, and the ever-present mesquite. Rafael looked around constantly, aware of his surroundings and any signs of activity. "It looks like we're following some kind of old trail" Chad observed. "Yeah, when the ranch was first settled, they used to come up here in a wagon loaded with barrels to get water". "They came up here just to get water?". Rafael shrugged. "In the desert, you get water wherever you can. Oh, shush. Stop. A coyote is watching us". "Where?". "To the right, behind that ocotillo". "What?'. "That tall, thin cactus-like plant". "Oh, I see him now. I saw his eyes first, and now I can make him out, he blends in with the terrain so well. Are they a danger to people?". "Not at all, the other way around, people are a danger to them. The native people used to revere them for their cunning and wit, and they lived peacefully side by side. When white people came, they tried to kill them off. When they hunt in a pack, they can kill a lamb or calf. Hunting by themselves, they can kill chickens, cats, and small dogs. I think they're a part of the land and have as much right to be here as people do".
They climbed one last hill and looked at the valley below. In the center was a small lake, a couple hundred feet wide, and a couple hundred feet long. Reed-like grasses grew along the edge, and the water looked clear and bright. "This is your waterhole?" Chad gasped, "It looks like an oasis, in the middle of the desert". "See those deer, drinking water?". "Oh yeah". As they started down the deer scattered and ran away.
They led their horses down to the water's edge and dismounted. "Let the horses drink some water" Rafael suggested, "And cup your hand and try some yourself, it's the purest water you'll ever taste". "Ummm, it is delicious. How can there be this lake in the middle of the desert?". "Rainwater, from last summer. Rainwater can seep into the ground, and through soft rock. But see those rock outcrops? That's granite, the mountains are made of granite, and it's too solid for rainwater to soak through, it just runs down into the lake. And there's a layer of granite under the lake, so the rainwater collects and stays here. It's just a miracle of Mother Nature, providing water and life for thousands of years to whatever living things passed this way".
"Walk over here, I want to show you something". He pointed to a large boulder. "Look carefully, the sun has faded it". He stepped closer and pointed to petroglyphs. "See, these are figures of humans. And see, they're holding spears. And see those four-legged figures over there, those are deer. Early people left a sign that this was a good place to hunt for food". Chad stepped closer to examine it, while Rafael stepped back. "Interesting interpretation. But perhaps they were just boasting about the success of their hunt?".
"Um, Chad? There's something I've been wanting to ask you". "Yeah?". When Rafael didn't say anything more, he turned back to look at him. His eyes widened in shock as he saw Rafael kneeling on one knee, his arms outstretched, his hands holding a ring. "Chad, will you marry me?". Seconds ticked past as Chad stood silently in shock. "Why", he finally asked. "Wrong answer" Rafael retorted, "You just get to say Yes', or No'". "Yeah, well we've been through this before, I don't do well with being told what to do". "Fine. Because I want to live the rest of my life with you". "And I want to live the rest of my life with you. But we don't have to get married for that to happen". "Well, to my thinking it kinda goes hand and hand: To have and to hold, until death do us part. As husband and husband, we will build a life together, a partnership. We can buy a house together, we can be a family together, be as a team, Team Chad and Rafael". Chad's eyes filled with tears, which quickly began to flow down his cheeks.
"Maybe I should try this again. He extended his hand again, offering the ring. "Chad Amboy, will you be my husband to have and to hold, until death do us part?". Chad nodded slowly. "Yes, Rafael Serrano, I will marry you; I will be your partner in life, to have and to hold". Rafael stood up and slipped the ring on Chad's finger. "It fits perfectly. This was my grandfather's wedding ring. It's a man's ring, my mother gave it to me after he passed, for me to have. I know she and my grandfather would be pleased that I gave it to the one I love so deeply. My husband. I like the sound of that". "Husband?" Chad repeated, "Yeah, I like the sound of that, too". He looked at the ring admiringly. It was silver, with an intricate design, with a small turquoise gem in the center. "It's a very nice ring. Your grandfather's? The one who told you to not let anything get in your way of getting what you want?". Rafael nodded. "Yeah, that pissed you off so much when I told you that". "Well, now I know your grandfather knew what he was talking about". Rafael put his arms around Chad and kissed him.
"So, how do you want to do this? A big June wedding?". "Hell no, those are for blushing brides. I was thinking we drive over to Nogales tomorrow and find a Justice of the Peace to marry us". "Tomorrow?". "Yeah, before you get a chance to change your mind". "Well, we could wait a lifetime, and I wouldn't change my mind. But, Ok, if that's what you think is best". Rafael shrugged. "Well, a same-sex wedding? There are not too many people or places around here that would welcome that. Chad nodded. "Well, we'd better start heading back. Mom told me Isabel was planning a nice dinner for us".
When they got back to the ranch they unsaddled the horses, fed them some grain, gave them water, and walked to the house. "Oh good" Adela greeted them, "Dinner is almost ready. Do you boys want to wash up?". "No, I think we're good. But we could do with some of Papi's tequila". "Oh? Celebrating something?". "Yes, we are". They took a seat at the table and Adela immediately noticed her father's ring on Chad's finger; she decided to wait for them to tell her. She brought a tray with tequila and glasses. "So, Chad, how did you like our waterhole?". "Well, calling it a waterhole doesn't begin to do it justice, it's a beautiful, special place. And then Rafael showed me that boulder with the petroglyphs. Then he told me he'd been wanting to ask me something. When I turned around, he was on one knee, holding this ring, and asked me to marry him. And I said Yes". Adela leaped up from her seat, rushed over to Chad, hugged him, kissed him, and then did the same to Rafael. "That's wonderful news! And Chad, let me be the first one to say this: Chad, welcome to our family". Jaime walked in and looked at them. "What's going on here?". Adela smiled. "Rafael proposed to Chad up at the waterhole, and Chad said Yes".
Jaime walked over and hugged his son, and then Chad. "That's wonderful news! So, we have a big wedding to plan?". "No, Papi, we thought we'd just drive over to Nogales tomorrow and find a Justice of the Peace to marry us". "The hell you will!" Jaime shouted. "Now Jaime, it's their wedding, they get to choose how they wish to marry" Adela scolded. "Rafael is a Serrano, and a Serrano gets married in style, surrounded by friends and family. I married you on this ranch, and my father married my mother on this ranch, and his father before he married on this ranch. And you, Rafael, will get married on this ranch. I want my friends and family to be here, celebrating the marriage of my only son".
"Papi?" Rafael began, "I'm marrying Chad, another man. Do you really think your friends will want to come to a same-sex marriage?" Jaime looked Rafael in the eye. "The way I see it, if my friends and any family member don't want to come to my son's wedding because of some ignorant prejudice or antiquated religious dogma, they were never much of a friend or family member to begin with".
Chad put his hand on Rafael's hand. "Rafael, if your father feels this strongly about this, I think you should consider his wishes". Rafael sighed. "Do you really want to put yourself through all this? People staring curiously at us, suppressing their urge to laugh at us? People gossiping, and subjecting you to endless questions: Why would an Anglo like you want to marry a Serrano? How did you meet Rafael? I had no idea Rafael might be gay, how did you seduce him? And worse, people can be cruel". "Rafael, it sounds like you are afraid of what people might say or think" "Hell no! I'm not afraid of anyone or anything! I just want to protect you". "Rafael, my marriage to you will be the happiest day of my life. I would run through hot coals in my bare feet to join you at the altar. So, please have the confidence in me that I can handle anything that might get thrown at me".
"Chad, when do you fellas need to be back in Vegas for classes?" Jaime asked. "Classes begin Monday, January 6". Jaime walked over to a calendar on the wall. "Hmmm, how about Saturday the 4th? An afternoon wedding, say 2:00 pm? That will give us time to send out invitations. I want to invite some folks from Tucson, friends, and some political people. I haven't made it official yet, but I'm seriously considering running for office next year".
"And where will we put everyone, Jaime?" Adela questioned. "Well, we'll have the ceremony out back, in the courtyard. And I'll give the ranch hands the weekend off, and we can fix the bunk house up nice for folks who want to spend the night. Tucson is only an hour or so away, most Tucson folks will probably want to drive back. Oh, and Chad, you'll want to invite your family from Las Vegas?". Chad nodded. "Well, they're welcome to stay here, or there are nice hotels in Tubac, whatever works best for them". "Oh, I haven't even checked my phone, do you get a cell signal out here?". Jaime nodded. "Yes, I had a cell signal booster installed a couple of years ago". "Oh great, I can't wait to call my mom and dad".
"And who will you get to officiate a same-sex marriage?". Rafael asked. "Padre Ricardo. He married your mother and me. He's retired now, so he doesn't have to worry about higher-ups rebuking him for officiating a same-sex wedding. I know he'll do it for your mother and me".
Rafael squeezed Chad's hand. "You see what you got us into?". Chad squeezed his hand back. "It's the right thing to do, to respect the wishes of your mother and father, and honor your Serrano heritage. And you know it". Rafael sighed and turned to his father. "Ok, Papi, you and Mami can plan our wedding as you wish". "Time for some tequila!" Jaime announced. "And what a way to start the New Year! My son and his husband, married here in the Serrano Rancho del Ciela! It will be a New Year, and a new Era!".