Renegade Love (Rancheros) (31 page)

“Carlita’s little boy?”

Rosa nodded. “I was able to get him free of the renegade who had captured him, but if it hadn’t been for my husband...” She shuddered unable to say anymore.

Marinda hugged her friend. “I am so sorry, Rosa, I didn’t know. And when I saw your face...” She stepped back and took the basket from Rosa. “We will have a cool drink, and then go to the fountain and visit with the other women. Once they hear the truth, they will spread the news and the lies will stop.”

“That would be wonderful, Marinda. Esteban is a good man and a very good husband, and I would like everyone to know that.”

“Then you are happy with him?”

Rosa couldn’t stop her cheeks from blushing. “Very happy—I love him and—he loves me.”

Marinda yelped with joy and once again hugged her friend. “I am so happy for you. I have been praying every day for you and lighting candles. Paco says I will burn the church down I light so many candles.”

The two women laughed, though Rosa was careful to laugh softly. She ached to kiss her husband again so she was vigilant about her lip.

“I have good news too,” Marinda said with a smile so wide, it seemed to spread across her face.

“Tell me,” Rosa said eager to hear.

“I’m pregnant.”

Rosa screeched and threw her arms around Marinda. They hugged and laughed again and when they separated Marinda’s smile faded.

“Your lip,” she said and hurried to get a cloth. She ordered Rosa to sit and tended the wound. “It’s not bad, just a little blood, but then you always did heal fast.”

“Do not worry about that, tell me about the baby,” Rosa urged. “When are you due? Have you thought of names?’

They were soon lost in discussing the baby. Time sped by and Marinda finally reminded that they needed to spend time at the town well with the other women.

Before they left the house Marinda said, “I am going to light more candles so that you will soon get pregnant and our babies are born close together and can be good friends like we are.”

“That would be wonderful,” Rosa agreed and they left the house arm in arm talking more about babies.

The women at the well greeted Rosa, pleased to see her. She knew that her peasant clothes made it easier for them to approach her, for it made it appear as if she was still one of them, and to her she was. It changed nothing that she was of noble blood. She actually didn’t care.

After greetings were finished and family’s asked about, it was Marinda who brought up the incident at the Cesare hacienda. The women listened intently as Rosa took it from there explaining what had happened. She made certain that everyone knew how much she loved her husband and what a good man he was.

After questions were asked and curiosities settled, talk turned to other things and Rosa was pleased. The women would spread the news and people would begin to talk differently about Esteban.

The women parted to let Padre Marten into their circle when he made it known he wanted to speak with Rosa. His gasped when he took one look at her. And she was relieved when Marinda began to explain what had happened, then other women joined in and Rosa knew that by nightfall the whole town would know the truth.

The padre was soon enjoying a fat orange from the basket Marinda had brought to the well with them. She had kept enough fruit for Paco and her, and the rest she had insisted on sharing with the other women.

The padre blessed the women and left them to chat, taking another orange with him.

The women continued to talk and laugh and Rosa was ever so grateful for being able to share this time with them just as she used to. She had missed the friendships and she promised herself that she would visit more often once this ordeal with Pacquito was finally laid to rest.

“What is this I hear?” the booming voice called out. “You shame me?”

Rosa turned to see Roberto Curro and three other men approach.

“Move out of the way,” he demanded of the women in his path.

They stepped aside reluctantly knowing Roberto would think nothing of squatting at them if they didn’t. And none wanted to put their husbands’ in the position of dealing with the harsh man.

Roberto came to a stop a few feet away from Rosa. “Your husband is forced to take a hand to you? Are you still a lazy sot? Have I taught you nothing? Or do you refuse to do your wifely duties?”

Rosa placed her hands on her hips and raised her chin a notch. “How dare you approach me and speak so discourteously to me. I am the wife of Don Esteban Cesare and the daughter of nobles, you will treat me with the respect deserving of my station. Now apologize.”

Smiles popped out on all the women’s faces and giggles could be heard behind her while Roberto looked about to explode, his face having turned bright red.

Roberto sputtered and spit as he tried to form an answer.

“You heard her. Apologize
now
!”

All eyes turned to the side to see Esteban standing there.

Rosa felt her breath catch. He had strapped on his sheathed knife and although his garments were that of a powerful ranchero, the weapon gave a hint to the renegade lurking inside him.

Everyone took several steps back and the three men with Roberto hurried off, though lingered nearby to see what would happen.

Not wanting to be made the fool in front of everyone, Roberto unwisely spoke up, “I taught her to be obedient—”

Esteban interrupted. “You taught her what cruelty was.”

“I did no different than you, raising a hand to her so she knows her place.”

Esteban took a quick step forward and Roberto stumbled back. “
Her place
? Rosa is not a servant, she is
my wife
. And I will not warn you again to apologize to her or I will show you exactly what happens when I take my hand to someone.”

The threat was enough to have Roberto saying, “I am sorry.”

“Not good enough,” Esteban admonished, his dark eyes heated with anger. “You will acknowledge her properly and issue an appropriate apology.”

Roberto did not look at all happy, though he did appear fearful, which no doubt gave him the impetus to say, “Dona Rosa, please forgive me for being so rude.”

“Now bow your head and say it again.”

Red splotches crept up Roberto’s neck to stain his cheeks, but he did as he was told and bowed his head as he repeated his apology.

Esteban walked over to Roberto who stood visibly shaking at his approach. He leaned over and whispered to the man, “Don’t ever talk to my wife again, don’t even look at her or you’ll be sorry.”

Roberto tried for a bit of bravado. “Threatening to kill me again?”

“No, death is too swift a punishment. I’ll turn you over to the renegades.”

Roberto stumbled back away from Esteban and paled to the point that he appeared as if he would pass out. He turned and hurried off.

Esteban went to his wife. “Time to go home.”

Rosa took her time getting dressed for supper. Esteban had been summoned to the vineyards by his father shortly after they had returned home. Rosa had gone to see if Dona Valerianna needed help with anything and had spent the next few hours helping to deliver extra food to the families of the vaqueros who had been injured.

When they were finished, both women had gone off to change for supper and to Rosa’s surprise and pleasure a bath was waiting for her. The warm water helped rejuvenate her, though she hadn’t felt as tired as she thought she would after the active day she had so far.

Even with the incident in town, the time spent there had been enjoyable as was the ride home. They hadn’t discussed Roberto and Rosa hadn’t wanted to. She had wanted simply to enjoy the ride with Esteban and think of it as nothing more than a happy day spent with her husband.

She planned on the night being even more enjoyable, not once forgetting that he said he would kiss other places on her body. She shivered at the image it evoked and couldn’t wait for later.

She had chosen a plain black lace dress that hugged her waist and had a lower neckline then she was accustomed to. She let her hair hang free cascading in waves down over her shoulders and back. And she hoped no one would notice that she wore her comfortable sandals.

With her appearance seen to, she hurried out of the room, looking forward to the evening ahead.

Esteban stood speechless when his wife entered the small parlor. Even with the swollen lip she looked radiant. And he loved her hair when she let it hang free. Then there was her dress that he wanted to get her out of as soon as possible.

He shook his head chasing away the images of stripping her out of it, but he couldn’t shake away his growing arousal as easily. Damn if he didn’t turn hard with just one look at her, especially when she looked so appetizing.

Realizing he was being rude just standing there, he went to his wife and took her hand leading her to a chair. He leaned down after she sat and whispered, “You look stunning.”

She contained her smile, though he saw pleasure beam in her wide eyes and he smiled. He went and poured two glasses of red wine and returned to her side, handing her one. He then turned to his mother and raised his glass of wine. “I am most fortunate to have two beautiful and loving women in my life.”

Dona Valerianna smiled broadly and Rosa noticed that the woman looked more radiant than she had in a while.

Dolores called them to supper as soon as Don Alejandro entered the room. They all took their seats at the table and were soon engaged in conversation.

Esteban rested his leg against his wife’s, pressing it hard against hers now and again. He was eager to be alone with her, but he also wanted to make certain that she ate well since she had to take her time eating due to her split lip. So he attempted to be patient as he grew more tempted to grab her and hurry her off to their room.

“The vaqueros say there is talk in town that the renegades came here at your invite, which was why we suffered no destruction to any of our buildings,” Don Alejandro said.

“It seemed to be the prevailing thought in town,” Esteban said.

“Do you let everyone know how wrong they were?” his mother asked, indignant that people would even think such a horrible thought.

Esteban was annoyed that his father had brought it up at supper and he hoped to avoid any further discussion on the matter. “They will think what they wish regardless of what I tell them.”

“By this evening everyone will know the truth,” Rosa said.

Esteban turned to his wife. “Why is that?”

“I spoke with the women at the well and told them exactly what happened here. How vaqueros were injured, and Emil almost abducted, and how you saved me from the renegade. The news will spread quickly and all will know the truth.”

“How do you know they believed you?” Esteban said.

“They are my friends. I grew up with many of them and know their mothers and sisters. They know I would never lie to them. Padre Marten was there as well and never questioned my word. Besides, Marinda will tell them how much I love you and you love me and that will confirm the truth.”

“You told her that you love me?” Esteban said as if he hadn’t heard her.

Rosa stared at his odd expression. “Of course I told her I love you. She and I are good friends and share things like that. And I am proud of my love for you, so I want everyone to know.”

“That you love a renegade?”

“Enough,” Rosa scolded. “You are not a renegade. You are a good man and I will not hear you refer to yourself as a renegade ever again.”

“Rosa is right,” his mother joined in. “You are not or ever truly were a renegade. You were a captive of the renegades and you returned home to your family. You are my son and I love you and I am proud of you for surviving your horrific ordeal.”

“Your mother is right,” Don Alejandro chimed in. “It was no easy task to survive as you did, but like your mother, I am proud that you survived anyway you could and returned home to your family that loves you.” He grinned. “And I am even more pleased that I picked the perfect wife for you.”

“You didn’t pick her,” Dona Valerianna teased. “Esteban saw her and knew she was meant for him.”

Rosa looked to her husband. “Is that true? Did you know I was meant for you?”

Esteban slipped his finger under her chin. “From the first moment my eyes met yours I knew you’d be mine.”

He kissed her lips so gently that Rosa barely felt it, but that didn’t stop a tingle from running through her.

“Another bottle of wine, Dolores,” Don Alejandro called out when the woman entered the room. “We celebrate the love of family.”

Dolores nodded, grinned, and hurried away with a tear in her eye to get the wine.

Rosa never felt so happy, never thought she would ever feel so happy again after losing her family. But now she had family again, family that loved her and she was overjoyed.

Esteban took hold of his wife’s hand as his father offered toast after toast and as he did Esteban could see the future unfold. He and Rosa’s love for each other would continue to grow and they would have many children and his mother and father would spoil them. His parents would age with time and he would one day take over the running of the ranch and the Cesare family would continue. It was all possible because a petite, dark haired, loving woman had the courage to fall in love with a renegade—no—with him, Esteban Cesare.

“I want to go visit Elena Garavito soon. It is time to renew our friendship,” Dona Valerianna said. “Will you come with me, Rosa?”

“You can’t go alone or with a few vaqueros,” Esteban said.

“He’s right,” his father agreed.

“Good, then you’ll come with us?” Rosa asked of her husband.

“That would be wonderful,” his mother said with a smile.

“It might be a good idea,” his father said. “Garavito land borders part of ours. We could have the vaqueros work together to patrol that area. You could speak to Manuel about it.”

Since his return Esteban had kept himself removed from all the land owners, he had once thought friends. They certainly hadn’t welcomed him home, but now seeing how things had changed with his family, he realized that he really hadn’t truly returned home until recently. And it would be wise of him to once again connect with the other rancheros.