Untamed Fire (20 page)

“Enough, Padre,” he said, before lifting the
glass of wine to his lips and drinking. He held the empty glass in
his hand, noticing the decanter was almost empty as well. “I think
it is time to speak of the festival, or I will find my stomach
cramping from laughter or shock—which, I’m not certain.”

“Yes,” the padre said with a smile that had
widened from too much Madeira. “The preparations are going
splendidly. The men are busy building the booths. The women are
stitching the brightly colored banners. The young men are lining
the torches along the street, and best of all, a large clearing is
being prepared for dancing.”

“Good. The food and wine will be brought to
town a few days before the Holy Day.”

“Gaby will be attending, won’t she? All the
young men are looking forward to dancing with her. She is an
excellent dancer. When she dances all eyes watch her. But then, all
your servants attend the festivities, so Gaby will be there,” he
said, answering his own question.

Rafael remained silent. The thought of her
dancing with other men fueled his temper to boiling. But he had no
right to deny her an evening of fun and pleasure. After all, he
would be attending with his mother and the Ortegas.

“You will watch her dance, Senor Rafael?”
the padre asked.

“
Si
, padre. I will watch her,” he
answered calmly.
I will watch her all night.

“You will not be disappointed. There is a
magic about Gaby when she dances. Many have made mention of it. You
will enjoy it.”

Rafael couldn’t help but smile. Gaby had
said he needed to learn to enjoy. Perhaps she would be the one to
teach him after all.

“I will enjoy, Padre,” he said.
I will
enjoy.

Gaby sat impatiently still. She was anxious
to be on her way. Her sandal-covered foot tapped repeatedly against
the buckboard.

Lupe’s hand patted her knee. “We will be
leaving soon. You have all night to dance and enjoy. Patience.”

A smile tickled Gaby’s lips. “I can’t wait
to hear the music, taste the food, laugh, sing, and be free.”

“Yes, but do not forget it is a holy day,”
Lupe reminded her. “You must pay your respects and make an
offering.”

“I will visit my family, make the offering,
then enjoy.”

“Good. I hear Sanchez can’t wait to dance
with you.”

“I look forward to it,” Gaby said. “I hear
he is an excellent dancer.”

“
Si
, he is,” Elena assured her,
squeezing closer to Lupe to allow more room for the other servants
climbing into the buckboard.

“Well, perhaps I’ll find out, if we ever get
there,” Gaby said.

“We’ll get there,” Lupe insisted. “See, the
Ortegas and Dona Maria are ready now.”

Gaby watched as Dona Maria walked toward the
carriage. She looked beautiful even though she wore black. She had
insisted that it wouldn’t be proper to wear any other color. But
Gaby sensed the woman wanted to look extra special tonight,
especially with Senor Serra attending. So she had searched the
woman’s wardrobe and discovered a black lace dress that narrowed at
the waist and flowed down in layers to her ankles. Dona Maria felt
young again, Gaby could see it in her eyes, her smile, and her
light step.

Gaby grinned with satisfaction, but it
quickly faded as her eyes caught sight of Louisa Ortega. The woman
looked stunning. Her dress was all white lace from the delicate
lace of the mantilla that covered her dark hair to the lace points
that touched the back of her hands. The fine lace even covered her
chest and rode high up to her neck. It hugged at her waist and fell
in layers down to her feet. She looked not only beautiful, but like
a wife of a rich and powerful ranchero.

Gaby rubbed the white cotton skirt she wore
and glanced down at her white embroidered blouse. She also wore all
white, but a simple and plain outfit befitting her station.

Rafael’s strong command for everyone to
mount forced her head up with a snap.Her breath caught in her
throat. She had never seen him look so splendid, so handsome, so
much the powerful don.

He wore black... all black—with one
exception—a wide red sash tied about his waist.

He reached for his saddle horn, his familiar
black gloves hugging his hands. His black wide-brimmed hat sat low
on his forehead. He grasped the horn firmly and, after securing his
foot in the stirrup, he swung with ease into the saddle. He sat
astride Bella, surveying his surroundings.

Gaby closed her eyes against the sight of
him and what he represented; what they all represented... wealth
and power.

The buckboard lurched forward. Voices were
soon raised in excited chatter and a guitar strummed a familiar
tune from another buckboard. This was her life, her people. She
opened her eyes and smiled, joining Lupe and Elena in their talk of
the crafts they hoped to purchase and the food they hoped to
enjoy.

No one, not even herself, realized how much
her heart was breaking.

The chatter grew in volume as they neared
town. The torches that lined the main street could be seen from
afar. The buckboard stopped just outside of town, and everyone
quickly scrambled out.

“I’m off to find my parents, Lupe,” Gaby
said, giving the plump woman a hug. “I will find you and Elena
later.”

“Go, go,” Lupe said with a laugh.

Gaby disappeared into the crowd of
people.

“Lupe!”

Lupe turned at the sound of Don Rafael’s
stern voice. Even Elena stood silent and still as he spoke.

“Where is Gaby?”

“Off to find her family,” Lupe answered,
then quickly added, “Is there something wrong with Dona Maria?”

“No,” Rafael snapped, “but I wished to speak
with her for a moment.”

Lupe relaxed, happy there was nothing wrong
with the senora. “It will be easy to find her, just follow the
music.”

Rafael stiffened and his nostrils flared. He
didn’t say a word, he just walked away.

Elena shook her head. “Trouble, Lupe. I tell
you there is going to be trouble.”

Rafael helped his mother along to the
special area they had sectioned off for the Cabrillo family and
guests, which held large comfortable chairs and the table set with
an abundance of wine and food. Servants stood by to assist them and
would be replaced throughout the night so each would have a turn to
enjoy the festivities.

“How I’ve missed this festival,” Dona Maria
said with a sad smile.

“But you are here now and you will enjoy,
“Eduardo Ortega insisted and poured her a glass of wine.

Dona Maria raised the glass. “To a night of
pleasure.”

Louisa lifted her glass as did her
father.

Rafael joined in, eager to be off to find
Gaby. While the others talked he removed his hat and gloves and
scanned the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. He recalled
she wore white, but then many young unmarried girls there wore the
pure color.

“Rafael,” his mother called, “you must take
Louisa to the booth of the Blessed Virgin to make an offer. She has
her own as well as mine.”

Rafael couldn’t refuse, but he could delay
it. “First I must make certain all is going well. Let me speak with
Padre Jose and then I will return and take Louisa.”

Louisa was not about to be put off again.
She was determined to remain beside Rafael Cabrillo not only that
night, but all his life. “I don’t mind accompanying you and waiting
while you tend to your business.”

Eduardo Ortega was about to interfere,
sensing Rafael didn’t want his daughter’s company at the moment,
but the fierce look in his daughter’s eyes held his tongue.

Rafael, not wanting to upset his mother and
spoil the evening, extended his arm to the young woman. She took it
with a wide smile and they were off.

~~~

“Juan, be still,” Dolores Alvardo warned her
son for the third time.

“But I want to go now,” the small boy
insisted, jumping up and down.

“As soon as I finish with your sister’s
hair.”

‘Girls!” Juan cried and plopped down on the
chair.

Gaby laughed and reached out her hand to
him. “Be patient and let mother finish my hair. Then I will take
you to the candy booth and buy you whatever you wish.”

Juan’s face lit with a smile that seemed to
spread from ear to ear. “Anything?”

“Anything, you little devil, you.”

Juan stayed silent until Dolores Alvardo had
wound the white ribbon through Gaby’s long braid and pinned the
large white blossom to the side of her hair with a small comb.

“Finished,” he said, jumping and grabbing
Gaby’s hand. “We go.”

Gaby barely had time to tell her mother
she’d see her later. Juan yanked her out the door and toward the
festivities.

Juan and Gaby stood staring at the street in
front of them. Every year she had seen it and every year she was
awed by the sight. Torches lined each side, setting the street
ablaze with light. Booths and tables were set up along one side,
traveling to the very end. There was free food and wine in
abundance. The crafts the women sold were for the benefit of the
mission. Banners and flowers of all colors and sizes dressed the
booths and the street, and added to the gaiety of the event. At the
far end was a booth where the statue of the Blessed Virgin stood
adorned with flowers. It was there where the women came to make
their offering. In return, the Blessed Mother, if she thought it
wise, would grant their favor. Healthy births and happy marriages
soon followed this event and while some gave much, others could
afford only a little. It mattered not, though, the Blessed Mother
did not care what the offering, as long as it was made.

“Come on, Gaby,” Juan cried, tugging at her
hand.

“I must make my offering,” she said.

“Later. You promised me the candy.”

Gaby looked into his anxious face. “Yes,
you’re right. I will get you that candy now for being so
patient.”

~~~

Rafael stood by the padre as Louisa went
forward to make her offering to the Blessed Mother. The women moved
out of her way and she stepped in front of the statue, placed the
gold coins at her feet, kneeled before her, and bowed her head in
prayer.

“Her offering will be answered,” Padre Jose
whispered. “She is a good daughter of the church.”

Rafael knew she prayed for them to marry and
he knew that was what was expected of him. However, he couldn’t
help but wonder what Gaby’s prayer would be.

Rafael bought Louisa a lace handkerchief and
a pink flower that she immediately slipped into her hair. Many
people stopped him and extended their thanks for his generous
contributions of food and wine to the festival. He accepted their
expressions of gratitude with grace and cordiality while Louisa
stood beside him not even acknowledging their presence. Her
indifference irritated him.

“Enjoying yourself, Mother?” Rafael asked as
he assisted Louisa into her chair.

“Oh my, yes,” she answered. “And I see you
are as well.”

Rafael’s smile didn’t come easy, nor did the
nod of agreement. He had searched for the last two hours for Gaby
and could find her nowhere. He had seen her sister Teresa, but
didn’t question the girl since her eyes grew wide with fright when
she caught sight of him. He had heard the music and the sounds of
people dancing, but he was afraid if he took Louisa to the area she
would expect him to dance with her most of the night and at the
moment he had no desire to do that.

“I must tend to some other business,
Mother,” he said, bending over and kissing her lightly on the
cheek. “I shall return shortly.”

~~~

Gaby was having a wonderful time. She had
bought the candy for Juan and as she expected, he chose the biggest
piece. Then he ran off with his friends. She had saved some coins
she had made doing extra sewing and jobs for others at the
hacienda. She had only a few left and needed to save a good portion
of those for her offering to the Blessed Mother. She roamed the
booths, sampling all the foods. She met up with Elena and Lupe and
joined them in sampling the sugar cakes. They were delicious.

She was soon off on her own again, drifting
toward the lively music until she recalled she had not made her
offering. She changed direction and headed down the street.

The statue was crowded with women and Gaby
walked to the side to wait.

“You have an offering, Gaby?”

Gaby smiled at Padre Jose and jingled her
handkerchief filled with coins. “I need all the help I can get,
Padre.”

The padre laughed. “I believe you do, my
child, I believe you do.”

His attention was drawn away and Gaby found
herself standing off alone waiting for the group of women to
finish.

She picked up her head and listened, certain
she had heard something strange. There was nothing. Then she heard
it again—a small cry of sorrow or perhaps pain. She followed the
pitiful sound until it brought her to a group of bushes. She walked
around them.

“Carmen?” Gaby asked, staring at her friend
huddled in a ball, weeping.

“Oh, Gaby,” she cried and flung herself into
her arms.

Gaby held her tightly. Carmen was a year
younger than her and such a good girl, sweet, innocent, and
trusting. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, God, Gaby, I’ve done a terrible
thing.”

“Nonsense,” Gaby said, pushing her dark hair
out of her face. “You could never do anything terrible.”

“I’m pregnant,” she cried.

Gaby shook her head. Her heart went out to
her friend and she offered what help she could. “Do you love the
father of your child?”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

“And does he love you?”

“Yes.”

“Then you’ve done nothing wrong. You will
marry and have a healthy baby.”

Carmen shook her head.