Renegade Love (Rancheros) (16 page)

Why?

Why had Rosa decided to seek solitary prayer at the mission as soon as he had left? The question nagged at him. And when a possible answer finally came to him, he jumped out of bed, dressed, went to the stables, saddled his horse and took off for town.

He arrived just as the sun rose bright and strong, Padre Marten taking a quick step back inside the entrance of the church as Esteban brought his horse to an abrupt halt only a few feet away. He dismounted so quickly and approached with such a determined gait that Padre Marten stepped further back, seeking the safety of the church.

Esteban walked right up to the padre keeping step with him as he kept retreating further down the aisle of the church until he bumped into the wood altar railing.

“Where’s my wife?” Esteban demanded.

The furious look on Esteban’s face had the padre blessing himself and silently asking for forgiveness for the lie he was about to tell. “She’s in prayer and should not be disturbed.”

“You’re telling me that if I go search the prayer rooms that I will find her on her knees praying for my condemned soul?”

The padre attempted to take a firm stand. “You will not disturb those who have sought solace here.”

Esteban snickered. “And who will stop me, Padre?”

The padre tried a different tact. “You would embarrass your wife after she has spent time in constant prayer for you?”

“Then bring her to me and that is not a request, Padre.”

“She finishes her prayer vigil in two days. Come back for her then,” the padre said hoping that Rosa would return by then, having left her with her newfound family with a promise they would see her safely home.

Esteban leaned his face closer to the padre’s. “Bring her to me now or I will tear the mission apart searching for her.”

The padre was well aware that Esteban would do exactly as he said and so he had no choice but to tell him the truth. “Rosa has gone to Los Angeles.

He kept his hands tightly fisted at his sides for fear of reaching out and strangling the padre. “When did she leave and who went with her?”

The padre’s mouth went dry and he had difficulty answering. “She left the day after your departure and I took her.”

“No one else accompanied you?” he asked stunned that the padre and his wife had traveled without any protection. He kept a tight grip on his fists or else... he’d kill the foolish man. “And did you expect her to return home alone?” He grew even more furious at the insane thought.

The padre shook his head. “I would never do that.”

He felt a sudden punch to his gut as another thought hit him. “Or perhaps you don’t expect her to return home.”

“No, no,” the padre rushed to assure him. “Rosa has every intention of returning. She is your wife and takes her vows seriously.”

That she would return out of duty annoyed him, but what did he expect... for her to miss him?

“Rosa got along well with her sister, and her parents assured me that they would see to her safety.”

“You left her with strangers who guaranteed her safety but not her return home?” Esteban had to step away from the padre. He was that close to raising his fist to the man.

The padre tried to reassure him. “Rosa will return home to you, my son.”

Esteban glared with fiery eyes at him. “You’re right, Padre, she will because I’m going to go get my wife and when I lay my hands on her... God won’t be able to help her.”

Esteban turned and hurried out of the church, the padre rushing after him. He mounted his horse with such speed that it startled the padre and he quickly blessed himself.

“Blessings won’t stop me from making you suffer if anything has happened to my wife,” Esteban said with such cold resolve that the padre shivered. “Now tell me where you took her.”

~~~

“I can’t believe the padre would take that upon himself to do and not tell us,” Dona Valerianna said, a hand to her chest after hearing the news.

“And I can’t believe my wife defied me,” Esteban said. “Where is Father, I must talk with him before I leave.”

“I heard what you said to your mother,” Don Alejandro said to his son as he entered the parlor. “Take as many men as you want with you.”

Esteban shook his head. “The vaqueros will do me no good.”

“You will go alone?” his father asked concern in his aging eyes.

“No, I will take men with me,” Esteban said.

“You cannot mean to—”

“I will do anything necessary to get my wife and bring her home.”

“Safely,” his mother said firmly.

“That remains to be seen.”

“Esteban!” his father said.

Esteban hadn’t heard that warning tone since he was a child. “I’m not a little boy anymore, Father. I will deal with my wife as I see fit.”

“It will do you well to remember who you are, my son.”

“No, father, it would do you well to remember who I’ve become.” With that Esteban left the room.

Dona Valerianna hurried out of her chair and went to her husband, taking hold of his arm. “Is he going to the renegades for help?”

“It seems that way, though I cannot believe that my son would be that foolish.”

The Los Angeles area wasn’t new to him. He had been on raids there with Pacquito. He had left much destruction in his wake and Esteban had been part of it. The memories still haunted him and probably always would.

He had made only one stop after he left the hacienda and now eight renegades rode with him and while the small group didn’t appear threatening, it would be a foolish mistake to assume so. They were far more lethal than a large contingent. There was another man with them, though he was what the renegades referred to as a ghost, a tracker who was never seen or heard until it was too late. Esteban knew the skill set all too well, since he had acquired it himself. The ghost would keep watch of the surrounding area and report back news, by then it would be too late for unsuspecting souls to do anything but... die.

They rode hard. He wanted his wife back where she belonged... with him. He wouldn’t fully rest until she was in his arms. And he intended to make certain that she understood that she was never to go anywhere without his permission again.

The more he thought about her alone and at the mercy of strangers, the harder he rode and the angrier he grew. And he wasn’t sure if he would strangle her or kiss her when he finally got his hands on her.

~~~

Rosa sat with a cool cloth resting gently to her swollen cheek and listened to Gaby and Rafael. She had come to love the woman like a sister, though they had discovered that they were not twins—not even sisters—it didn’t matter. They had bonded upon first meeting. And Rosa had learned much watching the spirited Gaby deal with the powerful and domineering Don Raphael, just as she was doing now.

“What do you mean you
forbid
me to go riding ever again?” Gaby demanded.

“You heard me,” Rafael said, adding more sticks to the campfire.

“I’m not deaf—”

“Just obstinate,” he finished.

“You’re being unreasonable.”

“I’m being a good husband.”

“We aren’t married yet.”

“We will be soon enough.”

“You can’t—”

“I can.”

“I won’t—”

“You will.”

“Why are you being so unreasonable?”

“Because I love you,” he shouted.

Silence descended over the camp.

“And I love you, Rafael,” she said for all to hear. She leaned over and kissed him and he kissed her back.

The vaqueros cheered and Rosa cried, happy for Gaby and Raphael. She couldn’t help but wonder if Esteban would act as lovingly as Raphael had upon finding out that she had disobeyed him and taken matters into her own hands much like Gaby had. Somehow she didn’t think so. She pictured a far different scene and resolution. But she couldn’t worry about that now. She had come to Los Angeles to find out about her true heritage and what she had discovered had left her with a broken heart.

The late night interrupted her musings with its familiar sounds; the fire crackled, a twig snapped here and there, and an owl gave a lonesome hoot.

Rosa clutched the blanket wrapped around her to her chest and glanced across the fire at Rafael and Gaby. His long legs were stretched out in front of him and his back was braced against his saddle. Gaby sat cuddled next to him in his arms, a blanket wrapped around her. They were a perfect couple.

Rosa closed her eyes for only a moment thinking of the man who believed he was her true father and wondered if he was as blind to the situation as he appeared to be. “Does Don Felipe know what his wife did?”

“No,” Rafael answered. “He doesn’t know anything. When I left he was joyously making plans to leave for Spain with his
family.
”

“He had no idea we were in danger?” Gaby asked.

Rafael shook his head sadly. “He is blind to so many things. He assumes all people have a place in life and they must do what is expected of them. As his daughters, he assumed that of both of you. You would do, without question, as he directed.”

“Just as his wife had done all those years,” Rosa sighed, finding it hard to believe that a mother would want her own newborn twin daughters dead.

“You mean as she led him to believe she did,” Gaby corrected.

“She was a cruel woman,” Rosa added.

“You take after your true father,” Rafael said, sensing her concern. “You’re kind and thoughtful like him.”

“Thank you. Is—is he all right?” Rosa asked, reluctant to hear the answer. She had barely gotten to know her real father, yet in the end he responded as only a true father would... he had protected her and Gaby with his own life.

“I don’t really know. His wound was serious and I had to leave. I left him in capable hands. My people will see that he is well cared for.”

“He’s probably fine. We’ll find out as soon as we return tomorrow,” Gaby assured her.

Rosa prayed that he would survive, for she desperately wanted to get to know her father.

Rafael suddenly sat up straight and looked about, his brows drawn in a frown and his lips set tightly.

“Is something wrong?” Gaby asked, feeling the tension in his body.

“I thought for a moment...” He let his words trail off. “It’s nothing.”

“Your instincts are as good as ever, Rafael.”

Rafael remained still at the sound of the deep voice that seemed to echo out of the darkness.

His men instantly aimed their rifles into the blackness that surrounded them.

“Hold your fire!” Rafael yelled. “And put the weapons down.”

“Wise decision, my friend,” the voice said.

“I know you too well. Your men surround my camp. We have no chance against you.”

“This is true.”

Rafael released Gaby and stood. He spoke into the darkness, as if the strong voice had the power to be everywhere at once. “What is it you want, Esteban?”

A dark figure emerged from the shadows of the night, but kept on the outskirts of the campfire’s light so as not to be seen.

“You have something that belongs to me.”

Rafael stared at the black figure, puzzled. “I have something that belongs to you?”

“Yes, although through no fault of yours, but I must insist you return it.”

“I don’t know of what you speak, but if I have it in my possession and am free to return it, I will gladly do so.”

“Good, then you’ll receive no trouble from me.”

“I’m glad to hear this. Now, what is it I have?”

“My wife.”

“Your what?”

“Wife!”

“I don’t have your wife. Gaby belongs to me and Rosa—”

“Is my wife and belongs to me.”

Rafael turned and looked at Rosa as if it could not be possible. This sweet young woman could not be married to such a monster.

Rosa stood slowly. She had known he would come for her once he found out she was gone and had anticipated this moment, growing more anxious over it each day. She had disobeyed him and now must face the consequences. “I’m sorry. I should have told you.”

“I can understand why you didn’t. Esteban isn’t known for his kindness,” Rafael whispered, feeling sorry for the young woman. “Do you wish to go with him?”

No, Esteban wasn’t known for his kindness but he could be kind, for he had showed her kindness many times. And while she had missed him, she had also enjoyed the freedom this time had afforded her. She was tired of feeling a prisoner and couldn’t help but voice her frustration, “Do I have a choice?”

“Of course you have a choice,” Gaby said, standing and joining them by the fire.

Rosa smiled at Gaby, as if she was a child unaware of the danger that surrounded them. And they very well could be in danger, for she had no idea what Esteban would do if she refused to go with him. “It is best I go.”

“Rafael, tell her she doesn’t have to,” Gaby insisted.

“No,” Rosa said. “I will not place any of you in danger.”

Gaby turned and stepped away from the fire. “Rosa is staying here with us,” she shouted.

Rafael ran his hand over his face in frustration and Rosa cringed.

“You control your woman good, Rafael,” Esteban said with a laugh.

“She is my sister,” Rosa yelled to protect Gaby. “You will not hurt her.”

There was a heavy silence. Rafael reached out and pulled Gaby back behind him.

“Rafael may not object to his wife speaking such, but you will hold your tongue or suffer the consequences.”

Gaby opened her mouth and Rafael quickly clamped his hand over it. “Shut up,” he ordered sternly. “You will only make it worse for Rosa.”

He released her and she remained quiet.

“I will go,” Rosa said.

“But—”

“No, Gaby, I must go,” she insisted before Gaby could object any further. “You have given me strength and courage, and I am grateful.”

Gaby threw her arms around her and hugged her tightly. “I shall miss you.”

“And I you,” Rosa said with tears pooling in her eyes.”

“Will I see you again?” Gaby asked.

“I will be in touch with you somehow. I must learn how my father is. Take care and thank you for all you have done for me.”

Rafael stopped her from going any farther with his hand to her arm. It got the desired response.