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5 years have passed.

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H (35) Joaquin Uriel "Jack" Castañeda (starletinwaiting)
W (32) Constance Phoebe "Connie" Skinner (Laura B.)

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S (7) Boaz Emmanuel "Bo" Castañeda (RowenaRavenclaw)

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D (4)

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FN: a Spanish saint's name with a names day in autumn
MN: after Connie's mother - a biblical prophetess
LN: Castañeda

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S (1)

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FN: ends in el, like his father's and brother's middle names
MN: after Connie's father - a biblical name that end in a or ah
LN: Castañeda

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Jack’s dream of owning land has finally come true - partially. In 1856, he purchased a small parcel of ranchland in the San Joaquin Valley (how fitting, considering his name!), scraping together savings from his general store partnership and modest gold earnings. The property is modest, with a few acres of grazing land and a small herd of cattle, but it is a place Jack can call his own.

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However, he has already had to fend off a false claim that the land belonged to someone else. Thus, he has joined a small network of mestizo landowners and Californios fighting for their rights in court. He spends more time at home now, teaching Bo practical ranching skills.

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In 1855, she relocated her school from the boardinghouse to a small, purpose-built schoolhouse funded by sympathetic settlers and an abolitionist society back East. She now teaches over 20 children. However, her success has not come without resistance.

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In 1857, the schoolhouse was vandalised - windows smashed, books stolen, and insults painted on the walls. Undeterred, Connie repaired the damage and reopened within weeks, earning admiration from her supporters and deepening hostility from her detractors.

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Bo is a bright, curious child who loves the ranch, spending hours helping Jack tend the cattle or riding his pony across the fields. At the same time, he's fascinated by his mother's books and dreams of exploring the world beyond California.

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Connie's father has embraced his role as a craftsman and occasional ranch hand, helping Jack maintain the property. Her mother serves as a teacher's aide and caretaker for the children.

Another child was born in the autumn of 1854 - a daughter. She is a bright and spirited child who takes after her mother in both temperament and curiosity. She's quick to laugh, fearless in her exploration of the ranch, and fiercely independent, often insisting on doing things herself, even when it leads to minor disasters.

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She has already begun helping her mother around the school, carrying books and pencils for the students and sitting quietly during lessons. She's particularly close to her older brother, Bo, who dotes on her and patiently answers her endless questions about the world.

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The youngest addition to the family was born in the winter of 1857. A chubby, cheerful baby, he's the darling of the household, adored by his parents and older siblings.

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masculine list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/191050/124079
feminine list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/191050/124080