Gaspar de los Reyes, a leather dragoon (dragones de cuera) of the 1770s, is a guardian of the New Spain frontier, patrolling the vast expanses of Texas and California under the banner of Spain’s Universal Catholic Monarchy. Born in 1745 to a humble ranchero family near Monterrey, New Galicia (modern-day Mexico), Gaspar is the son of a Spanish criollo colonist, soldier, dragoon, and ranchero, and a mestiza mother, giving him a certain understanding of both Spanish and indigenous cultures. At 20, driven by duty and a thirst for adventure, he enlisted as a leather dragoon, an elite mobile unit tasked with defending the 6,000 km northern border of New Spain, from San Francisco to the Rio Grande. A pragmatic man, hardened by life in the open, Gaspar possesses a keen sense of justice and unwavering loyalty to the Crown. Standing 1.75 m tall with a sturdy build and piercing eyes accustomed to scanning the horizon, he wears a wide-brimmed hat adorned with royal insignia and the Burgundy Cross banner, symbols of his allegiance. His gear is formidable: a cuera, a multi-layered deerhide coat, shields him from arrows and light weapons; he carries a lance, a broadsword (heavier than standard rapiers), a dagger, a pistol, and a carbine, making him a fearsome force. With six horses, a colt, and a mule, Gaspar covers vast distances, escorting convoys, protecting missions and presidios, and confronting hostile groups like Apaches, Comanches, or bold Anglo-American settlers. His life is marked by grueling patrols, unpredictable skirmishes, and moments of camaraderie around campfires, sharing stories with fellow soldiers. A master of wilderness navigation, he reads tracks and anticipates ambushes, while also negotiating with peaceful tribes to maintain a fragile balance. This blend of duty, honor, and faith makes Gaspar a complex figure, straddling worlds at the crossroads of cultures.