Untamed Fire (2 page)

Gaby wasn’t far from the mission when she
spotted Teresa running toward them, frantically waving her hands.
What had happened now? Hadn’t Juan’s antics been enough for one
day? She had tons of chores yet to finish for padre Jose, not to
mention the chores
Madre
had waiting for her.

“Gaby, you must hurry and return the horse,”
Teresa said between taking great gulps of air to catch her
breath.

“It’s all right, Teresa, calm down,” Gaby
said trying to reassure her little sister, always the one to worry.
“I’m returning her now.”

Teresa shook her head. “You must hurry. The
horse belongs to Senor Rafael Cabrillo, and he’s mad, very mad.
He’s yelling at the padre and he says he will have you hanged.” The
ten-year-old girl began to cry.

“He can’t do that. Can he?” Juan asked his
voice quivering anxiously.

Gabriella knew the powerful ranchero could
do anything he pleased, but didn’t want to upset the children. “Of
course he would never do such a horrible thing. When I explain to
Senor Cabrillo, he will understand. But I must hurry as Teresa
said, so you both must walk the rest of the way.”

Gaby left both children in tears, no amount
of reassuring assuaged their fears. They worried for her and she
couldn’t blame them. She wasn’t sure if the senor would understand.
She had heard many stories about him and believed only a few since
some were too outrageous to give thought to. But one thing was
certain—he was powerful—
mucho
powerful and not a man to
cross.

She rode into the mission courtyard trying
to persuade herself that she could convince Senor Cabrillo that she
was not a horse thief. As she approached the two men at a slow
gallop, her concern faded, giving way to anger.

The imposing ranchero stood with his hands
braced on narrow hips. His confident stance warned he wielded power
easily and the proud tilt of his head betrayed his arrogance. Gaby
was familiar with his imperious demeanor, having spied him on
occasion in church and town. Then there were the young women who
chatted endlessly about his handsome features, wishing he would
notice them and perhaps dare make one of them his wife.

Foolish dreams. They were peasant women; he
was a noble Spaniard.

She had no choice but to show him respect,
but she refused to cower. She had her pride and though she was not
of noble birth, she was of strong stock. She would show this
Spaniard courage and hold her head high.

Gaby reined in the horse within a few inches
of the two men. She looked down into the bright blue, hostile eyes
of Senor Cabrillo. They glared at her with such murderous intensity
that it sparked her own hostility, and she opened her mouth
prepared to battle.

“You stole my horse,” Rafael accused and
reached out for her.

Gaby moved with haste to avoid the forceful
hands that grabbed at her. Her quick efforts proved ineffective.
His large hands locked firmly on her narrow waist and he yanked her
off the horse. She stumbled hard against him, her large breasts
slamming against his taut chest. He held her there for a moment, as
if stunned by their intimate contact and then recovered roughly
shoving her away from him, though keeping a rigid hold on her
arm.

“I meant no harm; I simply borrowed your
horse, senor,” she snapped attempting to pull free, but finding his
grip impossible to break.

“
Borrowed
?” he repeated with anger
and looked down upon Gaby as though she were witless.

“Yes, borrowed.”

Rafael was incensed by her curt tone. “When
you borrow, you ask permission. I don’t recall you asking
permission.”

“It was an emergency, I didn’t think —”

“You’ve finally said something that makes
sense.
You
didn’t think
.”

“Senor Cabrillo, Gabriella has returned your
horse. No harm has been done,” the padre said, sweeping his hand
out toward the horse, his glance following. “
Madre de
Dios
!”

Rafael followed the man’s wide eyes and
nearly swore aloud as he hurried to Bella’s side. He stroked the
purplish red stain on her rump and then examined his fingers. He
contained a sigh of relief realizing it was only berry juice and
not blood as he first feared.

He shut his eyes tightly for a moment,
hoping to gain control over his mercurial temper that was rising by
the minute. He was only partially successful. He turned, marched
over to Gaby, grabbed her roughly by the wrist and dragged her over
to the horse. “What is this?”

If Gaby had her brother Juan in front of
her, she would have given him a good whack in the head. “Berry
juice,” she answered softly.

“And how do you plan on removing this from
her white coat?”

“I do not know, senor. If you tell me what
must be done, I will gladly see to it.” Guilt over her brother’s
careless actions had her softening her tone. She had not meant for
anything to happen to the beautiful horse.

Rafael stared into her deep brown eyes. The
color matched the rich earth when it was ripe and ready for
planting. He grew annoyed with himself for the unexpected thought
and spoke in a brisk tone. “You will get a bucket and scrub brush.
Then you will wash the area gently, very gently.”

“
Si
senor,” she said with a slight
bow of her head. She couldn’t blame the ranchero for being angry
with her. She had had no right to take his horse without
permission. She had reacted out of fear and look where it had
gotten her. In serious trouble with a powerful man and if that
powerful man wished to inflict punishment on her there was no one
who would dare stop him.

It was then she realized that her impulsive
nature had gotten her into trouble again. When was she going to
learn to think before she acted?

“Padre, I wish to speak to you,” Rafael said
and walked over to the fountain, expecting the padre to follow,
which he did.

“She must be punished for the damage she has
done.”

The padre felt droplets of sweat trickle
down his neck from the morning heat and the weight of his robe. He
smiled uneasily and reminded once again. “Senor, no harm has been
done. Gabrielle will see that Bella is cleaned.”

“It isn’t enough.”

The padre opened his mouth to further defend
Gaby but Rafael raised his hand. “A peon cannot be allowed to take
a ranchero’s horse without permission and walk away unpunished. The
laws are meant to be obeyed.”

“Gaby is a good girl. She is a dutiful
daughter of the church and as such obeys God’s laws.”

“She didn’t steal God’s horse, padre. She
stole
mine
. If she had broken one of God’s commandments she
would be expected to answer to you. Well, she broke one of my laws,
therefore, she will answer to
me
.”

The padre nodded slowly. “I see your point,
but perhaps we could find a just punishment, rather than a harsh
one. She is nineteen and innocent. I wouldn’t want to see her
suffer for a moment of foolishness.”

Rafael glanced at the young girl they were
discussing. She worked diligently scrubbing Bella’s rump. Her full,
round hips swayed beneath the brightly colored skirt and her large
breasts bounced lightly beneath the white peasant blouse. She
repeatedly had to toss her long black braid back over her shoulder
to prevent it from falling into the bucket when she leaned forward.
She looked far from innocent to him. She looked more like a woman
made for pleasure.

“She’s a
good
girl, senor.”

Rafael nodded, knowing the padre had
detected his assumption and wished to make it clear that Gaby was
not like some of the women of the town who were free with their
favors.

“Perhaps,” he said, voicing his thoughts out
loud. “She would fit the position I have come to discuss with
you.”

“And what would that be?” the padre asked
feeling hopeful.

“My mother requires a companion, someone to
see to her needs and keep her entertained. She still grieves for my
father even after two years. I fear for her health and wish to see
her accept this loss and begin to live again.”

“Gaby would be perfect. She has a natural
cheerfulness about her. She has lifted many a downtrodden
spirit.”

“Truly?” Rafael asked raising one brow. “And
here I took her for a sharp-tongued young woman who doesn’t know
her place, which makes me wonder. Can she take orders, Padre?”

Padre Jose said a silent prayer and promised
the heavens that immediately following this encounter he would seek
out Padre Manuel to hear his confession. “Of course she can, my
son. As I said she is a dutiful daughter of the church.”

“Obeying the church laws is one thing,
Padre. Obeying me is another. Will she obey me? Or will I find
myself forever punishing her?”

The padre knew he would spend the remainder
of the day on his knees doing penance for deliberately breaking one
of God’s commandments, but it was necessary. “Gabriella will obey
you.”

Rafael had his doubts, but he had handled
difficult servants before. “She will receive no wages for a period
of six months; a more than lenient punishment for her crime.
Afterwards, if I choose for her to remain on, I shall offer her an
adequate wage.”

“It is more than fair. I will tell
Gaby.”

“I will inform her.”

“No! No, senor. It is best I do it.”

Rafael tugged the brim of his black hat
lower, shading his molten blue eyes. “Make certain she understands
this punishment is not negotiable. She obeys or else.”

The padre nodded hastily, anxious to get the
difficult task done as quickly and painlessly as possible.

“I will return in twenty minutes. Have her
ready to leave.” Rafael turned and walked toward the mission
gates.

The padre crossed himself, shook his head
and walked toward Gaby. “This isn’t going to be easy,” he mumbled
and crossed himself again, praying for assistance.

~~~

“Six months,” Gaby cried out and threw the
scrub brush into the bucket with such force that it sent water
splashing over the sides and onto the hem of the padre’s robe.

“Listen to me, child,” he said in the stern
voice he used only in the confessional.

Gaby was immediately repentant and gave him
her full and silent attention.

“I do not believe for one minute that you
stole the senor’s horse. You were concerned about your brother and
acted instinctively. Unfortunately, the rancheros take great pride
in their possessions and their status in the community. And if they
hadn’t created laws for the town, chaos would prevail. Senor
Cabrillo is being extremely fair in his treatment of the
situation.”

“Fair?” Gaby asked incredulously.

“Yes, fair,” he repeated. “You will live in
a large hacienda with more than adequate food and shelter.”

“I have adequate food and shelter now.”

The padre shook his head. “Think, child.
Your family barely has enough to feed all of you. Many times you,
yourself, have gone without a meal so there would be more for the
little ones. Five of you sleep in one bed. Don’t you think by
becoming a companion to a wealthy woman that your family would
benefit? Dona Maria is generous. She will give you clothing and
food in abundance and coins on the holidays.”

Gaby knew he was right. Her family would
benefit from her punishment as crazy as it seemed. She had no
choice. The decision wasn’t hers to make anyway.

The padre gently placed his hand on Gaby’s
arm. “One thing you must remember, my child. You must obey Senor
Cabrillo. Never question his command.”

Gaby placed her hands on her hips, tilted
her head slightly to the side and smiled. A smile the padre was
familiar with. It was the one she wore just before her determined
nature was about to get her into trouble.

~~~

Gabriella hugged her mother one last time,
holding back tears so she wouldn’t upset her. She kept reassuring
her, explaining how this would be best for all of them. She
promised to visit as often as she could since the Cabrillo hacienda
wasn’t far from town.

“Give father and my two brothers my love
when they return from the orchard. Tell them I’ll see them soon.”
She quickly hugged her sisters and was about to give Juan a big
kiss when the little boy burst into tears and threw his arms around
her.

“It’s my fault that you’re being sent
away.”

Gaby couldn’t bear to see him blame himself.
“No, Juan. It isn’t your fault. The senor was looking for someone
to help his
Madre
and the padre thought of me.”

“No! No!” he cried. “He’s taking you away
because you stole his horse and he’s going to hang you.”

Gaby hugged the trembling boy. “No, Juan,
that’s not true. Senor Cabrillo isn’t going to hang me.”

“Yes, he is,” Juan insisted. “Pablo says all
horse thieves get hanged.”

“I’m not a horse thief.”

Juan pulled himself away from her. “But
Senor Cabrillo thinks you are. He’ll take you to the big tree at
the end of town and hang you there.”
Gaby’s mother began to cry and her sisters soon followed. The young
woman took Juan by the hand, grabbed the black shawl bundled with
her few clothes and meager possessions and ordered the others to
follow.

Rafael was standing next to Bella speaking
with Padre Jose when the Alvardo family with Gaby in the lead,
emerged from around the corner of the church,

“
Ay de mi
,” the padre said, crossing
himself.

Rafael smiled. “You appear to cross yourself
whenever Gaby is near, Padre. Does she require that much help from
above?”

The padre raised his head toward heaven and
nodded.

Gaby stopped in front of Rafael. Even though
she was just shy of six inches over five feet, she still had to
tilt her head back to meet his eyes. She paused a moment, realizing
for the first time just how handsome the ranchero was. His
complexion was touched with the deep richness of days spent in the
sun, and his eyes... Gaby stared. The strange blue color scorched
like a hot blue sun.