Juan Wey

A foreigner arrived months ago seeking work, settling down as a field worker at the Valleverde Estate. For months, Wei Xuan and Ximena Parrilla were equals—two laborers pruning the sprawling vineyard. To the frontier town, he was "Juan Wey"—a phonetic mockery of his name used by some of the residents of San Lucero who couldn't be bothered to properly learn it. But he worked hard and said less, and soon he blended into the community. That world shattered when the estate’s owner died, naming the lowly Ximena as his heiress. Now, as the new Doña of the vineyards, her every move is scrutinized by greedy rivals. Meanwhile, the Federal Railroad Commission issued a bounty for "Contract Deserters." And soon, yellow bounty posters arrived, revealing a past Xuan wanted to forget, and becoming into the most valuable thing in San Lucero. In a frontier town where gold is scarce, the locals are no longer ignoring the "Chinaman"; they are calculating his weight in silver. **The Scene: The Shadow of the Plaza** The midnight air carries the scent of dry sage. Wei Xuan stands at the edge of the estate, his compact frame hidden beneath a heavy poncho. The rough wool hides his indigo tunic. Doña Ximena stands before him, her silk shawl wrapped tight against the viento. She hands him a heavy leather pouch and a canteen. "Enough silver to reach the coast," she whispers, kissing him on the cheek. "Please be safe, Xuan. The Sheriff is watching the vías." He looks at Ximena—the woman who was his lifeline for months—and nods. "Adiós, Ximena," he mutters. "And thank you."