Laced & Leather Chaos

Reveal

Daisy Perez, despite her name and similarly fitting disposition that had drawn Antonio to her shortly after arriving in Texas, was not a push over, she had been an only child and run most of the chore list of her farm except for the things her father dealt with; and then ran her and Antonio's ranch all but. So, she was almost ashamed she slumped into a chair of the lobby, once she, Victoria, and Antonio made it inside after Victoria delivered the news.

They couldn't find Trent...and time was of the essence!

Victoria frowned guiltily, at both, "We...are so sorry", she gave the family apology, since she was the one representative there. Antonio, looking no more comfortable than his wife, but just standing there, hand to her shoulder, trying to think and be strong, nodded.

"It's...not your fault, we know...Trent would take off to the woods around both his farm and our ranch even at three, or try to", Antonio smiled at the memory of grabbing the wiggling toddler, trying to settle him with tales.

"Even older", Daisy informed, "the chickens still scattered when he came by, but his trumpet is the other blame in that", she smiled, then it crumpled, "Oh...Antonio, he can't be stuck here now! He's too young!".

"He won't be. We'll find him", Antonio just repeated what he also hoped to be true, but had no assurances of.

A series of barkings, or one bark and a sort of yip, interrupted and the trio turned to watch as two alebrijes rushed up. Either of which someone of the company recognized.

"Dante?"

"Is that...Wild Fire?", Daisy asked and stood.

Victoria turned back to the Perez' curiously, "Wild Fire? Oh the coyote's yours?". How she knew it was not a dog, she couldn't say, but it was obvious.

"The Larson's", Antonio answered, "but he's been helping me and Daisy since we got here...I...don't know, maybe my family had one, but...I was the last one who recalled my parents so...", he ended on saying all of his blood family was still living and not here. Well, discounting Trent, currently.

Victoria just nodded, turning back to the two alebrijes as they reached them. Dante crouched down, wagging his tail and awaiting. Wild Fire, the coyote, as if sensing it was what she needed, and alebrijes were very smart so he probably did, leapt up into Daisy's arms before she could react but to catch him, licking her face, then Antonio's as he bent to ask if the alebrije had found something.

He was then off, back to where Dante was, and glancing back expectantly. "I guess they'll lead us to the others", Victoria said, leaving off that hopefully they'd found Trent by now. The trio followed the two alebrijes.

***

"...and so...I know she meant no harm, but Señorita Rosita only got the parts of my talk which...made it sound like...I had meant to harm Héctor, or would have harmed Miguel", Ernesto finished. He'd had to amend and lie about a lot of the story, and if Trent went asking hardly anyone else in the Land of the Dead, he would soon be corrected, but Ernesto didn't plan on letting him do that.

He didn't know how he'd get the kid sent back, not being family, after making sure he was convinced of this, but was working it out. Good old hostage situation could always work...

Trent sipped the rest of the hot chocolate (not laced with anything. Yet), and frowned thoughtfully. Ernesto couldn't tell anything off that look.

"You...believe me, don't you Niño?", he pried once again.

"Oh, well...sure...".

That was not good enough!

Ernesto had to make sure! Doing this without force would work better, but he would threaten and give ultimatums if he had to! "Here, I'll show you some of my interviews! That will show you, I mention the comradery with Héctor, we were just like you and Miguel, who I think is a very good kid". The only truth in all of that, of course, was that he had tapes of interviews.

"N-no, that's alright, Sir", Trent set his hot chocolate aside, and looked to be standing. "D-didn't you say my grandparents would be here...".

This was turning.

"Niño...", Ernesto kept his voice level, "it is important...I know. Do you. Believe me?". He watched the child like a hawk now. Ready yet again to act if needed.

Trent frowned. "Well...sure". The boy glanced down, just thinking perhaps, and then became distracted as he held up a hand, all skeleton now!

"Oh, where are your grandparents?!", Ernesto sounded concerned for him, when really he smelled a perfect lead in...

"I shall go find them, Sí? They must just be running late". He rose.

"I'll come with!", Trent said, just sounding the same hurried, not suspicious. But Ernesto already knew he would have to change tactic a bit. Use a bit of force.

Instead of saying no, he nodded, "There's a jacket in the closet there, go grab it from the back of the door", he said. Trent darted off, and as soon as he was in the closet, moving the door in even a bit, Ernesto quickly grabbed it and closed it the rest of the way, next locking the door.

"Plan B it is", he said, kicking a box to over near the closet before marching towards the front door. "Make sure no one gets in, and watch that door", he told the chihuahuas on his way past. The few he still retained were loyal despite character, as alebrijes were, and typical little dog vicious.

***

"Dante! You found them!", Miguel said happily as the reunion of alebrijes was had. Wild Fire, sitting on his haunches nearby, all but wilted and whined. "Oh and you little guy!", Miguel turned and pet him too, before glancing up to their guests, "Does he have a name?".

Daisy, despite it all, giggled at the adorable boy, whom she could see why got on so well with Trent, he was so kind seeming himself, "Wild Fire", she answered.

"It fits!", Miguel informed the coyote petting him again, and for a few moments, forgetting their bad news.

Antonio shook hands and introduced himself, mostly to Héctor, the other Riveras at least recalled him, albeit as a little boy mostly. Daisy was formally introduced around, and Rosita instantly commented on her dress, that was not floral patterned, but still bright in a granny fitting way.

Then Imelda took in a breath, "We have not found your grandson yet, I am sorry to inform you" she said, sympathetically, but also taking the responsibility of.

"Well, but we got two fine alebrije hunting hounds!", Héctor tried to put a good light on it, "I'm sure they could find him!".

As he glanced back down to the alebrijes, Miguel noticed that sometime during all this introducing and informing they had gone stiff, just staring off into...nothing. Yet a voice came from the nothing even as Dante gave a low growl.

"Or I could just tell you where he is".