The shock of the sudden death of Don Hernando Batista had delayed any thoughts of going to court about the land. Carlos was afraid that he might lose his mother, but she proved to be much stronger than anyone thought. “I want time to think before you go to court,” she told Carlos. Life went on for nearly a year, during which there were reports of gold strikes in the north and that people were pouring into California in the hope of finding riches.
One day, Carmen had Carlos ask Crow to come to the hacienda. When Crow arrived, Carmen asked him and Carlos to join her in the dining room. Carmen sat in her husband"s chair as her son and Crow took chairs across from each other. “I have decided to return to Mexico. I have family there and will live with them. Carlos has told me that he will go w
