Untamed Fire (18 page)

“I owe you no explanation. You will do as I
direct.”

“But your mother—”

“Will have her errands attended to,” he
finished.

“By whom? She had specifically instructed me
to—”

“And you shall,” he interrupted.

“But how?”

“There is business I must attend to in town.
You will accompany me.”

Gaby knew it was a mistake. Looking at him
in his tight tan pants embroidered with black scrollwork along the
sides and the snug-fitting bolero jacket similarly stitched, he
appeared the perfect don. His white linen shirt held just the right
amount of ruffles down along his chest and his dark hair was combed
neatly back, accenting his stark, handsome features.

He was tempting to a woman’s eye—too
tempting. Gaby wanted no part of spending any time alone with him.
It was too dangerous.

“I’ll give the errands to you. You can see
to them. It is better I stay and look after Dona Maria. She may
need me.”

“She doesn’t need you.”

“You never can tell when she—”

“Gaby!”

Her name so loud and sudden on his lips
caused her to jump in alarm. She looked at him. His expression was
stern and unbending.

“You will accompany me to town. Is that
clear?”

“
Si,
Don Rafael,” she said, holding
her head up with determination.

“Go and tell Sanchez I wish to speak to him
and then have the stable hand prepare the gig.”

Gaby stared at him for a moment. The gig was
small, confining for two people. Especially for two people who
shouldn’t be close together.

Rafael misinterpreted her silence. “I know
you love to ride, but the sun is hot and the covering will offer
you protection from the heat.”

“Thank you,” she found herself saying, when
all she could think about was the body heat inside the vehicle.

Gaby was seated in the gig when Rafael
climbed inside. She purposely kept herself tucked to the side away
from him. It did no good. Rafael was too large, his thighs too
thick with muscles not to reach out and touch hers.

His hands, gloved in black leather, reached
out for the reins. The leather spread tightly and firmly across his
long fingers and over his hands, stretching the leather to its
limit. Gaby could almost feel the strength and power of his hands
as they expertly directed the horses away from the hacienda.
Gentle, yet demanding in his command, Rafael sat in total control.
The animal obeyed his every direction without protest. He was the
master; the horse, his servant, and the thought of his absolute
rule made her shiver. She equated herself with the animal. When he
touched, she obeyed, willingly.

“Is something wrong, Gaby?” Rafael asked
concerned.

“No. No, I was just thinking of how
wonderful it would be to see my family again. I miss them,” she
answered, grateful it wasn’t actually a lie so that she would not
have to seek Padre Jose out for a confession.

“I’m sure your brother Juan will be relieved
to see that I haven’t hanged you,” he said with a smile.

“Juan has the devil in him at times,” she
laughed, “always getting into something he shouldn’t.”

“He doesn’t take after anyone strange.”

“I am curious; Juan is devilish,” she
corrected him.

“I’d say you had a little bit of both in
you.”

“Oh no,” she said only half-seriously.
“Padre Jose prayed much for me when I was growing up. The devil
couldn’t possibly touch me with all that protection.”

“I agree,” Rafael said. “The devil would
find you too much to handle.”

Gaby laughed with delight. “That is exactly
what Padre Jose once said to me.”

Rafael found himself relaxing as Gaby talked
of her family and all the trouble she and her brothers had gotten
into over the years. He had often wished he had had brothers and
sisters to share his childhood with and then when he had grown and
married he had hoped for a large happy family. Neither was to be,
and now, looking at this young girl so full of life and happiness,
he wished he could share it with her. They would have many children
together. He could feel it. There would be sons and daughters to
share laughter and love. And one in particular would be just like
Gaby, and she would give him all sorts of trouble and he would love
her extra special, for she would be like her mother.

He forced himself to push such thoughts from
his mind and focus on Gaby’s tales. It was foolish to dwell on what
could never be, and he would stop such nonsense at once. He was a
grown man with responsibilities. There was no time for
daydreaming.

Rafael deposited Gaby at the mission gates.
He informed her he would pick her up near the cantina shortly after
noon. She agreed with a nod and ran off, stopping to slip her
sandals off her feet as she did.

Rafael was about to yell that she put them
back on, but didn’t. He sensed her need for that small bit of
freedom and allowed her it. Soon enough she would return to the
hacienda and would once again be required to obey him. For now, she
was free.

Gaby delighted in seeing her family again.
Juan was thrilled with the brown sugar bars Lupe had sent along and
couldn’t eat enough of them until his mother scolded him. Teresa
adored the colorful cloth doll Elena had made. And her mother was
grateful for the old clothing the servants were discarding which
Gaby had saved for her family: several skirts for the girls and her
mother, shirts for her father and brothers. It felt like Christmas
even though that was many months away.

After spending an hour there, Gaby left
having to tend to errands for Dona Maria. Her parting wasn’t as sad
as the first one, and she promised she would return soon for
another visit. It made her feel good to know she had provided so
much for her family.

She stopped to speak with Padre Jose and to
deliver the note Dona Maria had sent.

“You are being good, Gaby?” the padre asked,
opening the note.

“Of course, Father,” she answered.

But the padre caught that smile of hers and
wondered just how much Rafael Cabrillo regretted his decision to
have Gaby serve her punishment at the hacienda.

He shook his head with a grin and read the
note. “Tell Dona Maria I would be honored to meet her guests and
perform church services at the hacienda for her.”

“She will be so happy. This visit means so
much to her.”

Gaby was off again soon afterwards, walking
into town to deliver more notes and picking up a few items.

She was on her last errand, having only
twenty minutes to meet Rafael at the cantina. She hurried stuffing
the bottle of fragrant water into the cloth pouch she carried. It
was a special blend of flowered fragrances that Dona Maria loved.
Senora Cortel had been providing her with it for many years.

She walked along the dirt street toward the
cantina, stopping often to speak with her many friends. Friends of
her father hugged her to them like a daughter. She took time to
inquire about their health and family members, patting arms in
concern, followed by words of encouragement. Their faces brightened
and she was told how much she was missed.

Her brothers’ friends were a bit friendlier.
One young man hoisted her into the air, telling her how beautiful
she was and how the town was dull without her sparkling presence.
Gaby laughed and playfully whacked him on the arm, insisting he
seek the padre out for immediate confession for lying. They all
joined in laughing. None took note of the stiff, frowning man
standing outside the cantina watching them.

“Are you attending the Holy Day festivities,
Gaby?” one of the young men asked.

“I had almost forgotten about it.”

“The Cabrillos attend every year. They
donate much of the wine and food for the event,” another youth
said.

The young man who had hoisted her into the
air put his arms around her and whirled her about the street. “You
will save many dances for me, Gaby?”

She laughed and placed her hands on his
arms, enjoying the fun. “Of course, Chico, I will dance often with
you, especially since you are such a good dancer.”

With that, the other young men took turns
dancing with her, and shortly they were singing, clapping, and
laughing together. Soon people stopped to watch them and some
joined in singing, encouraging them to continue dancing.

There was a gaiety in the air, but it
quickly stilled when Rafael stepped among them.

“It is time to leave.” His voice was deep
and rigid with annoyance.

The young men backed away from Gaby. They
wished to show no disrespect to the powerful ranchero.

“I am late?” she asked, looking around for
her sandals that had slipped from her arm while she danced.

Rafael saw them and commanded Chico with his
eyes and a nod of his head to get them for Gaby.

He did so without delay and winked at her as
he handed them to her. “See you at the festival,” he whispered.

She gave a quick nod and looked to Rafael.
She was about to tell him she was ready, but his angry expression
stilled her words.

He said nothing, just turned and began to
walk away. His actions were meant as a command and Gaby had no
alternative but to obey. It was one thing to disobey an order at
the hacienda, but to openly defy him in public would be
unforgivable. She quickly followed, calling her good-byes as she
went.

They were soon on their way home, away from
the bustle and activity of the growing town. They rode for several
miles in silence until Gaby was unable to remain quiet any
longer.

“Did I do something to upset you?”

“No,” he almost shouted.

She jumped. “You are obviously upset. Did
you learn news that was not to your liking?”

“Yes,” he snapped. “I learned that you have
more devil than curiosity in you.”

Gaby was stunned by his words. “I did
nothing wrong.”

“You call dancing in the street with a bunch
of young men proper behavior for a young woman?”

“There is nothing wrong with enjoying
oneself.”

“You were flaunting yourself for all to
see.”

“I was enjoying myself, something you have
yet to learn to do,” she stated with an angry toss of her head and
turning away.

Rafael pulled sharply on the reins,
directing the horse off to the side. He held firmly to them after
they stopped.

“Look at me,” he demanded.

Gaby snapped her head around.

“Are you suggesting I don’t know how to
enjoy myself?”

“You act like a shriveled-up old man, and
shriveled-up old men don’t know how to enjoy themselves. They’ve
either forgotten, or they have never taken the time to learn.”

She did it again. She could always tell by
the flare of his nostrils when she had pushed him too far, but as
usual, her mouth wouldn’t quit. “You need to be taught how to
enjoy. I don’t. I already have that ability.

Rafael dropped the reins. “You need to be
taught something much more important.”

“What’s that?” she asked, backing away from
the smoldering heat in his blue eyes.

“Just how much of a man I really am,” he
whispered and reached out for her.

Gaby attempted to twist her face from his
grasp, but he captured her cheeks and squeezed, puckering her
lips.

“Shriveled-up old men can’t do this, Gaby,”
he murmured and drew her lips to his. His hand slipped down her
throat slowly, caressing it as his mouth touched hers, gently at
first, making no demands of her, only coaxing.

“Soft. Warm.” His whispered words entered
her mouth just before his tongue. He played with her, teased her,
and tormented her with aching tenderness.

Gaby could feel her flesh rise, her blood
heat, and her body quiver.

“I’m going to touch you,
querida
.”
His hand moved to her breast and she stiffened in anticipation. He
cupped it and began to knead, plying pressure to the full flesh.
Slow and methodically he worked.

Gaby’s eyelids fluttered and her breath came
in soft little gasps. The heat in the partially enclosed carriage
intensified, and she found herself opening her mouth wider to catch
her breath that was becoming more difficult to grasp.

“You feel so good,” he said, “and you taste
delicious.” With that his mouth covered hers.

She was lost. He held the reins and she
obeyed. Every kiss, every touch, deepened her obedience to him. She
belonged to him body and soul. She would do anything and the
thought frightened her.

Her hands reached up and pushed at his hard
chest. She twisted, pulling her breast from his grasp and winced as
his fingers squeezed her nipple.

“I’m sorry,
querida
. I did not mean
to hurt you, but you pulled away. Why?” he questioned, taking her
chin in his hand and forcing her to keep her eyes on his.

“This is wrong, Rafael,” she said,
addressing him as an equal as she had done on occasion.

He liked the sound of his name on her lips.
It spilled from her with an unquenched hunger. “You cannot deny you
care for me.”

She shook her head slowly, regrettably. “No.
I cannot deny that.”

He moved his face closer to hers. “Then why
is it wrong? From the moment we met we both knew it was meant to
be. Why continue to fight it? I do not have the strength left. I
want, you, badly. And you want me just as badly.”

Gaby battled the tears that threatened to
spill past her lashes. She held them back with sheer willpower even
though she trembled inside. “I cannot deny I want you. It is the
results I fear.”

He caressed her cheek as he spoke. “The
results?”

“What can I expect in return if I give
myself to you?”

He removed his hand from her face
reluctantly. “I will take care of you, Gaby. No harm will come to
you, and you shall be well provided for.

She took a deep, encouraging breath before
she asked, “But you will never marry me.”