Gold Raven (39 page)

"Papo wake up! If you want to go fishing with me, you have to get up now. It is best to catch fish early when they are hungry." Esteban informed his little brother shaking him awake. They shared a room with Felix – who was still sleeping, which is the way Esteban wanted him to stay until they could slip away un-noticed.

Esteban loved the lake that was located not far from them. There was wild game aplenty and an abundance of fish, which was Esteban's favorite food. Catching them his favorite pastime. They had plenty of other food supplies stored away but Esteban gained greater satisfaction from bringing something fresh for them to eat. He did the best that he could to care for his family in his father's absence; counting the days that went by, hoping each one brought closer the time they would see him ride in as he promised.

For certain his hands were full, his days were busy; between comforting his mother when she looked far off and afraid for her husband and his tia Hope; as well, assisting her with his younger brothers and sisters. Keeping things together and everyone busy was paramount, until that day came…no one would be happier than him when his father was back with them again. Until then, he – with the help of his brothers cleared the grassy area surrounding the house, scything it low. He plotted an area close behind the house for his mother to plant an herb garden.

Walking with her and his siblings as they hunted down the familiar wild growing herbs she’d
transplant closer to their dwelling and kitchen. She also had seeds from when they lived in the camp. He and Papo were clearing a field to start crops. Thankful for the equipment stored in the many outbuildings left by his great-grandfather, he stalked wild turkey chicks and pheasants – building them a pen to farm them for reproduction and food. He suffered the attack of geese to capture eggs. He woke up early every morning with his mother drawing bucket after bucket of water to use for cooking, cleaning and washing. He’d venture off into the woods to chop fallen trees, sawing them then loading the wood into the wagon to bring back to the house, stacking it behind the kitchen. Papo and Felix gathered the small limbs and twigs for kindling, that would start the fires in the cook stove, while Esteban split log after log, his young muscles aching and quivering from his labors; yet he never once stopped to complain or say he did not want to. It was his job, in his father's absence he was the man…he had no time for complaining…there was too much to be done.

When all was done, he returned to the specially designated spot where he resumed his digging a pond, that once filled with water, would be stocked with fish. If he grew tired of that, there were also repairs to be done in the barn and corral. As he did all, he was trying to figure out the safest way to purchase livestock. Pigs, laying hens, a milking goat or two, a milking cow, a bull and a few head of cattle. Perhaps – when his father returned they could travel together to Webster Fields and maybe his great-grandfather would give them what they needed to get started. He would suggest it when his father returned – he would enjoy that.

Papo stretched sleepily with a wide yawn ending in a moan, it was so early. They never had to wake this early before – or work so hard at his father's camp. Now, it was work - work - work, instead of play - play - play, the way it used to be. "You loco, Esteban." He muttered sleepily.

"Come on…up you lazy! You have to start helping bring home food. Now get up!" He ordered, slipping his feet into his shoes. He was on his way to do a quick wash-up, but he knew not to leave the room until Papo was up.

He could hear Celina's little voice down the hall, telling their mom she was hungry. They must be in the bathroom washing up before his mother went downstairs.

Papo swung his legs over the side of the bed, willing his drowsy young body to sit up. He sat for a moment with his head hung to his chest nodding, and then pulled it up, shaking it to wake himself. He and Felix shared a bed and Esteban slept in his own because he was the oldest. Their mother let Esteban have his way and do as he pleased…she backed him in everything.

Papo turned to see Felix sleeping away, scowling he looked back at Esteban, who was getting ready to leave the room.

"How come he gets ta'sleep? Wake him up too – so he can come!" Papo complained.

"No. Leave him sleeping; it is better for mamah that he sleeps as long as possible. Besides, we're going to catch fish, not to chase after him because he won't sit still. Now stop whinin' like a baby and come on." Esteban ordered at the door of their room before he made his exit. Papo sat a moment longer, hearing him greet their mother in Spanish down the hall. Letting her know they were going fishing as soon as he, (Papo) was dressed and ready to go. He then heard their baby sister ask in her tiny voice. "Esteban, you make me a swing when ya' get back?"

"First thing." Esteban promised. Papo sighed and rose gathering his things. As he dressed, he made faces looking at Felix. When he was done dressing, he could not resist picking up his pillow and striking his sleeping brother as hard as he could over the head, startling him awake.

"Aaaah mamaaah, Papo woke me u-u-up!"

Papo pounced on him, covering his mouth. "Shush – you little horror!"

It was too late; their mother was at the door looking in at them. "What did you do to him, Papo?" She asked, Papo looked down from her, noticing her eyes were once again puffy and red from crying all night. He leaped off the bed, "Nothin' – he's a big baby." He defended as Esteban stood behind his mother in the doorway holding Celina in his arms. The look he gave him said he would regret waking Felix, when he had told him not to.

"I can't ge'back ta'sleep now." Felix whined, throwing a fit after being torn from it so early. "Oye! Do not start! Go back to sleep."

"I can't, he hit me with a pillo-o-ow."

"Fine…it is just as well, get up and put on your clothes! Wash up! Eat! Then you will help your brothers!"

"No no no nooo! I can sleep…just leave my room, now!"

"I swear to God up in the heavens…your father will come back to one less son if you do not do as I say!
Vamanos
!"

They were all in the hall as Lolita took her turn in the bathroom. "Hurry hija, we have much to do." Maria called, heading down the stairs. "Yes, mamah." Lolita called from the other side of the bathroom door.

Another day began.

Esteban and Papo left for fishing, as Maria sent Felix - whining, to muck out the stables and feed the horses; letting them loose in the corral. Lolita and Celina helped her around the house with the washing and cleaning.

There was much to do with the house that needed freshening up after being closed up so long. After a while, she freed the girls up to go on a hunt for wild flowers to bring back and add final additions to complete the rooms.

Maria's mind was elsewhere as she pulled linens from the line. The white sheets were flapping in the wind as she checked them to see if they were dry. With each passing day, her fears became almost choking. She worried incessantly about the fate of her husband. She also wished that Hope had stayed with them instead of going back against her brother's will. Trying to stop Hope from doing something she’d put her mind to was like trying to harness the wind. Living day to day without knowing what was happening tested her sanity. Dropping a sheet into the basket, she reached up to remove the next, lowering it brought the shock of her life.

Santiago!

Maria could not believe her eyes as realization set in. Fear gripped her as her heart accelerated into such a heavy hammering it hurt her chest.

Leering at her, a wry devious smile playing across his thin lips, he greeted her, "Ah! So it is senior leader's wife! I wonder where you disappear to; so this is where he called home. Very fancy…who knew…that he had such a spread as this to send his family to. You have done well for yourself … very well indeed."

Maria could not move – her mind spun in disbelief. "What do you want here? How did you find us?"

His sly eyes narrowed as he looked around the yard, at the spread of the land. "Yes, this is much better than the camp…better indeed."

Maria was trying to remember where she had placed one of the pistols…
'In the house! Oh God – help me to get into the house!'
She prayed silently.

"I'm – I'm certain your ride was long, come into the house, I will give you something to drink." She offered, scared to death, knowing she had to get near a weapon and soon.

Santiago clamped his teeth down on the cheroot in his mouth, his eyes homing in on her this time. "You are inviting –me- into your home?" Santiago reached up and scratched his head, then started grinning.

"What you think senora, Santiago has suddenly grown stupid? Since when do you care how I thirst…hm?"

Maria swallowed, moving away from him towards her kitchen door. "Only because, maybe, you bring news of the camp? Of Miguel?" She sounded sincere stepping up the three steps. Santiago followed behind her, watching her every move closely and threw his head back roaring with laughter at her question concerning her husband.

"Miguel!" He spat after repeating the name. "He is nothing! This is why I come you see!" They were in the kitchen now, his back to the door, Maria trying to inch toward the door leading to the dining room when his words stopped her.

"What about Miguel? What do you know of him? Tell me!!"

"Well it seems." He smiled as he moved with her, noticing her stealth. "The camp has been taken over and your mulat -…" He stopped to drive her mad with the waiting as he drew closer looking down his nose at her large fear filled eyes. "…- well let's say, he is no longer leader there…he has been taken…away it seems."

"Taken away where?!"

"Ohhh, to a yanquis fort…to jail…where he will – no doubt – face thee firing squad"

"No! You lie!" Maria yelled.

"I do not lie." He stated calmly. "You see, I watched them take him away. If he does not face a firing squad…it is because he is already dead." He finished with a nasty sneer. Maria felt herself trembling as her stomach cramped.

"Because I am such a gentlemen; I decided to do him the favor and bring you this news, as I check on his family." He informed her, looking around them. Maria was not listening to him as her mind repeated the information in her head – the horror that it just may be true freezing her from her initial mission.

"Where is she?"

Maria heard him ask suddenly, she looked up at him. "Who?"

"You know who! Do not play games with me! Miguel's sister…Hope! Where is she?"

Maria could only stare at him with wide frightened eyes. "Answer me!" He demanded.

"She is not here!" She cried. "She went back to the camp to help her brother! Have you not seen her!?"

"You lie! I demand to know where she is!"

"That is truly why you have come! For her!" Maria realized.

"And I will not leave without her! Tell me where she is!"

"You have no choice to leave without her…because it is as I have said – she ventured back to the camp to help her brother! Go search for her there and get out of my house!" Maria hated him right then, to bring her news meant to destroy her life while he searched for someone she knew he would never have.

He stood staring down at her knowing that it must be true; growing angry that he had come such a long way for nothing. Then a smile slowly grew in place of his frown, maybe it had not been entirely for nothing. The look in his eyes made a chill race up Maria's spine, bringing her plan back to mind.

"I want you to leave…now!" Her eyes were shifting about trying to figure a way out, as she ignored the panic that threatened to snap her composure. Her husband was in jail or dead. Hope was missing. Santiago was there. Where was the pistol? She was alone.

"You always thought him better than I! But he was a dog! A bastard of slaves! Now where is he…hm? And look who is here…Santiago is here. You are here. We can make all of this – ours! He is no more…what you think, hm? Good idea or no?"

Her revulsion was plain to see.

Santiago grabbed her arm as he snarled. "This look…it will soon change! I will make it change!"

"No! Let me go – I would never-…"

"Never what!? You stand the touch of that bastard mulat' - but cringe at my touch?! I come all this way to bring you news of him; what do I get in return? How polite is that chiquita? I am as you are-…"

"You – are – not!" Maria again spat, loathing his closeness…his hand tightly squeezing her arm. She twisted and turned trying to yank free of him. Angrily he reached for her other arm trying to bring her in closer to him; his hot, stinking breath washed over her face and filled her nostrils until she thought she would retch.

"No-o-o! Stop it…let me go!" She screamed, her mind was on trying to get away from him so that she could get her pistol.

"Aaah…where is your Miguel now, hm? When I think of all the times you would not even look my way! You were too good for me. Yet – you are Mexican as I am! You should be mine, not married to that filthy mulatto! May he rot in hell!" He growled. "I am your kind! ME! In the beginning, I wanted you…but he got you…well now it is my turn…I will have you now…when I get done with you…he will be nothing but a memory."

"I would sooner die than let you have me!" She panted, her chest rising and falling, her eyes blazing with hatred for him.

He laughed as he went down to kiss her, Maria fought him; kicking through her long skirt; twisting and turning, yanking and pulling her arms to break free, she dropped to the floor with all of her weight. This took him by surprise as she scrambled across the floor to get away from him, working her way through the door looking for her weapon; screaming at the top of her lungs. Santiago reached down and plucked her from the floor.