Untamed Fire (3 page)

“Did you want something, Gaby?”

His voice was deep and smooth like a warm
caress that lingers and leaves a tingle along the flesh. “Yes,” she
said a bit more boldly then she intended.

“What is it?’ he asked with a sternness that
brooked no disrespect.

She reined in her spirited nature, held her
head high and added a wide smile. “Do you intend to hang me?”

Her outspoken words caused her mother and
sisters to cry and Juan to cling tightly to her leg as though his
little arms could save her.

The padre paled and mumbled a quick Hail
Mary.

Rafael’s face lit in a slow, lazy smile. She
was bold and foolhardy, but he had to admit he admired her
effrontery. She intrigued him, challenged him, and he loved a
challenge. “I gave the idea thought, but decided justice would be
best served another way.”

Merriment filled her eyes. “According to
ranchero justice, horse thieves hang, and since I’m not a horse
thief, you couldn’t possibly hang me. Could you, senor?”

Rafael’s smile faded quickly and his jaw
tightened in anger. He was about to lash out at her when her glance
shifted rapidly from his face down to Juan who glared up at him
with wide frightened eyes.

Rafael understood immediately. “You’re
right, Gaby. Horse thieves hang.”

Gaby nodded with satisfaction, taking note
of the fact that he hadn’t actually admitted she wasn’t a horse
thief. Rancheros, she thought, were too prideful for their own
good.

“You have a minute to say your good-byes,”
Rafael said and turned around, giving Bella his attention.

There was a chorus of cries, hugs and kisses
before the padre began to pry the Alvardos away from Gaby.

Rafael growing impatient, walked over to
Gaby, took her by the arm, walked her briskly to the small mare
near Bella and ordered her to place her foot in the stirrup. Upon
seeing her barefoot, he shook her head. “You will wear sandals from
this day on.”

Gaby hugged her bundle to her chest. “I have
no sandals.”

He focused on her warm brown eyes and placed
his hands around her waist, hoisting her up into the saddle in one
swift motion. His hands lingered for several moments at the curve
of her slim waist before he released her. “You will have sandals to
wear before the day ends.”

“I don’t take charity.”

Rafael mounted Bella swiftly. He tugged the
brim of his hat lower over his face and removed a pair of black
leather gloves from his saddlebag. He slipped them on and took hold
of the reins.

“I said, I don’t take —”

“I heard you clearly. You don’t take
charity, and I offer none. You will wear sandals because I order
you to. You work for me now, Gaby, and as such follow my rules. Is
that clear?”

Gaby smiled and nodded.

“Good. I’m glad you understand for I accept
no opposition to my authority.”

Gaby’s smile remained constant, though
forced, as she waved one last time to her family and the padre as
she trailed behind Rafael through the mission gates.

The padre watched them disappear down the
road that led from town. He shook his head, crossed himself three
times and raised his eyes to the heavens. “
Madre de Dios
,
Senor Cabrillo! Your troubles have just begun.”

“No!” Rafael said sternly for the third
time.

“Why?” Gabriella demanded so contentiously
that he reined his horse to a stop and she did the same.

Rafael stared at her with a mixture of
bewilderment and frustration. She was either stubborn or
foolhardy—or stupid—which he didn’t think was the case. “I thought
that you understood your position.”

“I do, but don’t you think a bouquet of wild
flowers would brighten your mother’s day and spirits?”

Rafael was besieged by her determination. He
had refused her three times and still she undauntedly pursued her
request. “My decisions in matters are not negotiable.”

A nervous quiver tickled Gaby’s stomach. His
impervious attitude was difficult to deal with. He reminded her of
a warrior who forever held his shield protectively in front of him,
allowing no one to pierce the thick armor and wound him. She tilted
her head slightly to avoid the glare of the sun and to be better
able to look directly into his eyes when she spoke. “But you didn’t
give my request thought.”

“There was no reason to.”

“Why?”

Rafael shifted irritably in his saddle.
“Tell me, Gaby, do you question God’s law?”

Gaby recalled all the times she frustrated
padre Jose with her questions. “Yes,” she answered with light
laughter and added, “But God forgives. Don’t you, senor?”

Rafael couldn’t help but smile. She did it
to him again, put him on the spot with no place to turn. She was
quick and intelligent... and he liked her smile. “Are the flowers
that important to you?”

“I thought it would be a nice gesture since
I will be your mother’s companion. Flowers have a way of bringing
people together, establishing friendships.”

Rafael nodded. “Then I see your point. And I
wish for you and my mother to get along well. We’ll stop so you can
pick your flowers.”

“
Gracias
,” Gaby said and turned the
mare toward the patch of white daisies that sat back a few feet
from the dirt path they traveled along.

Rafael followed and by the time he had
dismounted Gaby was already standing barefoot amongst the flowers.
White petals tickled her toes as she bent to pick the vibrant
blooms.

“Be careful where you step,” he ordered
concerned for her safety. “You should be wearing shoes.”

Gaby didn’t raise her head or look his way.
She simply dismissed his command with a wave of her hand as though
it was unimportant.

The dismissive gesture irritated him. He was
about to descend on her when he noticed she had gone still, frozen
where she stood. He did the same, fearing she had spotted a
poisonous snake.

Instinct took over. Rafael slipped a knife
from the saddlebag and silently, with light steps surprising for
such a large man, approached Gaby.

She still hadn’t moved. Her long, slender
legs were as immobile as a stone statue. Her long dark braid lay
along her back to her slim waist.

He positioned the knife in his right hand,
ready to throw. His left reached out slowly, so slowly that he felt
the sultry air caress his flesh. Her blouse had slipped off her
shoulder and her smooth sun-drenched skin impeded his view
preventing him from seeing what threatened her. He had to take a
chance, a risk that he was faster than whatever had caused her to
freeze in fright.

Rafael’s hand inched forward toward her
waist. Ready to protect her, he reached out swiftly wrapping his
arm firmly around her and yanking her back against him while his
weapon was poised to throw.

Gaby grabbed his wrist and turned her head.
Her face rested flush against his, her lips skimming his cheek.
“No, Senor Rafael,” she gasped with a whisper. “It is only a
butterfly.”

Rafael saw it then, a beautiful brightly
colored insect that spread its wings in a slow yawn and flew away.
But it was the caress of Gaby’s warm skin next to his and the way
his name spilled with sensual breathlessness from her lips that
forced him still.

Neither of them moved.

Gaby’s long fingers remained locked around
his wrist, his coiled muscles taut and ready for action. She
breathed in his rich intoxicating scent that she could not quite
define, though she greatly favored. And she thought for certain
that she heard the hard and steady pounding of his heart.

They were much too close; it was not right
and so she released his wrist and he quickly lowered his hand. She
turned her face away from his and added a light pressure to his arm
that remained at her waist, silently requesting her release His arm
remained firm.

“Are you finished picking flowers?”

“
Si
.”

He removed his arm slowly, almost
reluctantly. Gaby quickly ran to her horse and mounted her. She
guided her mare just behind Bella and watched Rafael from the
corner of her eye as he approached. He didn’t look angry, but then
he wasn’t smiling either. He said nothing to her as he returned the
weapon to his saddlebag. He seemed to hesitate a minute, then he
bent down and picked something up off the ground, he turned and
walked toward her.

His eyes were fixed on hers. His lips were
tightly set. And his hand reached up to her. She jumped slightly
thinking he was about to do her harm. Then she saw it. He held a
white flower. He said nothing, just held it out to her and her face
lit with a smile as she took it from him.

“You dropped it,” he said and turned
away.

Gaby’s smile quickly faded. She had thought
it a peace offering, a beginning of a friendship. She was wrong.
Senor Rafael still thought her a horse thief, and he was taking her
to serve her punishment. There would be no friendship between them
and the thought saddened her.

~~~

Gaby’s eyes couldn’t take in everything fast
enough as they rode through the gates of the hacienda into the
courtyard. Her head turned frequently trying to take in the
wondrous sight. It seemed as though flowers bloomed everywhere from
the round beds dotting the courtyard, to the abundance of pots and
the gorgeous hanging baskets. An adobe fountain was built into a
portion of the adobe wall. Clear water sprouted from the large
spigot down into the generous fountain bed though didn’t
overflow.

“Gaby!”

She jumped at the sharp snap of her
name.

“You may acquaint yourself with your
surroundings later. Right now, I want you to meet my mother,”
Rafael said and dismounted Bella. He walked into the house,
ordering the young boy sitting by the fountain to tend the
mare.

Unfamiliar with her surroundings and not at
all worried about getting lost but most eager to explore, Gaby
thought it best to hurry after him before she found herself in more
trouble. Rafael was nowhere in sight when she entered the house.
Gaby walked slowly around the large foyer, fascinated by the
shining swords that decorated the whitewashed walls and the dark
wooden chests and chairs that occupied a space that was the size of
the house she shared with her family.

“And who are you?” a friendly voice
inquired.

Gaby whirled around and returned the wide,
welcoming grin. “I’m Gaby Alvardo, Dona Maria’s new companion.”

The short, plump woman nodded. “Good. Good.
I can tell by your smile that you will be good for her. I’m Lupe,
not only the cook, but in charge of the house servants.”

“Then I will be under your direction.”

Lupe shook her head sharply. “No, child, you
will answer to Don Rafael and no one else. Anything concerning his
mother he handles personally. He takes his responsibilities very
seriously.”

“I’ve noticed,” Gaby said, rolling her
eyes.

Lupe laughed. “He’s not that bad. After all,
he’s a man and can’t help some of the things he does.”

It was Gaby’s turn to laugh. She didn’t
think anyone criticized Rafael... and got away with it.

“And does the same hold true for women?”
Rafael asked.

Gaby caught the look of fright in Lupe’s
eyes. It was evident no one criticized the powerful ranchero, at
least not in front of him.

“I’m sorry, Don Rafael. I meant no
disrespect,” Lupe apologized.

Gaby turned just as Rafael nodded his
approval of her apology. The small display of power irritated her.
She couldn’t remain quiet. “You know, senor, God gave women the
difficult job of raising men. That says something for what he
thinks of us.”

She heard Lupe gasp and wasn’t surprised by
the woman’s reaction. After all, one did not question a powerful
ranchero such as Rafael Cabrillo, but then her mouth had a habit of
speaking before her mind gave thought to her words.

Rafael stared at her puzzled. He had never
met a woman who dared to voice her opinions in front of a man. A
woman simply obeyed. But Gaby certainly did not obey. He had
learned that upon meeting her. It mattered not though, she would
learn her place, of that he was certain.

He stepped closer to her. “Listen carefully
and learn. Women nurture and obey, men protect—that is the way of
God’s law.”

Gaby opened her mouth prepared to continue
the debate, but Rafael’s hand shot up in front of her face and
pressed a finger against her lips. “I gave you no permission to
speak.”

She glared at him with wide angry eyes. He
was testing his authority, and she had no choice but to obey. She
fought the words that threatened to run from her lips. His look
made it worse. It was one of superiority. His blue eyes shined with
it, as did his stance — his head held stiff and proud, his chin
jutting up, and his chest wide. It was just too much for her to
keep silent.

“Men protect... only because women allow
them to.”

Her whispery breath tickled Rafael’s finger
and her words fueled his temper. “You have much to learn, Gaby, and
the first lesson is that you will obey my orders... whatever they
are.”

She opened her mouth, intending to tell him
she understood, since his expression was one of controlled rage.
But he wouldn’t allow her to speak. He pressed his finger firmly
against her lips, forcing silence.

“I will not tolerate disobedience. You will
learn your place and learn to keep your ridiculous opinions to
yourself. Understood?”

Gaby nodded her head in confirmation, her
eyes fixed on his.

“Lupe, bring my mother to the study,” he
ordered, never taking his eyes off Gaby or removing his fingers
from her lips.

“Si, Don Rafael,” Lupe said and hurried
away.

Rafael remained unmoving.

Gaby, not certain of what he expected from
her, remained the same.