Untamed Fire Page 14

  “Of course, Father,” she answered.

  But the padre caught that smile of hers and wondered just how much Rafael Cabrillo regretted his decision to have Gaby serve her punishment at the hacienda.

  He shook his head with a grin and read the note. “Tell Dona Maria I would be honored to meet her guests and perform church services at the hacienda for her.”

  “She will be so happy. This visit means so much to her.”

  Gaby was off again soon afterwards, walking into town to deliver more notes and picking up a few items.

  She was on her last errand, having only twenty minutes to meet Rafael at the cantina. She hurried stuffing the bottle of fragrant water into the cloth pouch she carried. It was a special blend of flowered fragrances that Dona Maria loved. Senora Cortel had been providing her with it for many years.

  She walked along the dirt street toward the cantina, stopping often to speak with her many friends. Friends of her father hugged her to them like a daughter. She took time to inquire about their health and family members, patting arms in concern, followed by words of encouragement. Their faces brightened and she was told how much she was missed.

  Her brothers’ friends were a bit friendlier. One young man hoisted her into the air, telling her how beautiful she was and how the town was dull without her sparkling presence. Gaby laughed and playfully whacked him on the arm, insisting he seek the padre out for immediate confession for lying. They all joined in laughing. None took note of the stiff, frowning man standing outside the cantina watching them.

  “Are you attending the Holy Day festivities, Gaby?” one of the young men asked.

  “I had almost forgotten about it.”

  “The Cabrillos attend every year. They donate much of the wine and food for the event,” another youth said.

  The young man who had hoisted her into the air put his arms around her and whirled her about the street. “You will save many dances for me, Gaby?”

  She laughed and placed her hands on his arms, enjoying the fun. “Of course, Chico, I will dance often with you, especially since you are such a good dancer.”

  With that, the other young men took turns dancing with her, and shortly they were singing, clapping, and laughing together. Soon people stopped to watch them and some joined in singing, encouraging them to continue dancing.

  There was a gaiety in the air, but it quickly stilled when Rafael stepped among them.

  “It is time to leave.” His voice was deep and rigid with annoyance.

  The young men backed away from Gaby. They wished to show no disrespect to the powerful ranchero.

  “I am late?” she asked, looking around for her sandals that had slipped from her arm while she danced.

  Rafael saw them and commanded Chico with his eyes and a nod of his head to get them for Gaby.

  He did so without delay and winked at her as he handed them to her. “See you at the festival,” he whispered.

  She gave a quick nod and looked to Rafael. She was about to tell him she was ready, but his angry expression stilled her words.

  He said nothing, just turned and began to walk away. His actions were meant as a command and Gaby had no alternative but to obey. It was one thing to disobey an order at the hacienda, but to openly defy him in public would be unforgivable. She quickly followed, calling her good-byes as she went.

  They were soon on their way home, away from the bustle and activity of the growing town. They rode for several miles in silence until Gaby was unable to remain quiet any longer.

  “Did I do something to upset you?”

  “No,” he almost shouted.

  She jumped. “You are obviously upset. Did you learn news that was not to your liking?”

  “Yes,” he snapped. “I learned that you have more devil than curiosity in you.”

  Gaby was stunned by his words. “I did nothing wrong.”

  “You call dancing in the street with a bunch of young men proper behavior for a young woman?”

  “There is nothing wrong with enjoying oneself.”

  “You were flaunting yourself for all to see.”

  “I was enjoying myself, something you have yet to learn to do,” she stated with an angry toss of her head and turning away.

  Rafael pulled sharply on the reins, directing the horse off to the side. He held firmly to them after they stopped.

  “Look at me,” he demanded.

  Gaby snapped her head around.

  “Are you suggesting I don’t know how to enjoy myself?”

  “You act like a shriveled-up old man, and shriveled-up old men don’t know how to enjoy themselves. They’ve either forgotten, or they have never taken the time to learn.”

  She did it again. She could always tell by the flare of his nostrils when she had pushed him too far, but as usual, her mouth wouldn’t quit. “You need to be taught how to enjoy. I don’t. I already have that ability.

  Rafael dropped the reins. “You need to be taught something much more important.”

  “What’s that?” she asked, backing away from the smoldering heat in his blue eyes.

  “Just how much of a man I really am,” he whispered and reached out for her.

  Gaby attempted to twist her face from his grasp, but he captured her cheeks and squeezed, puckering her lips.

  “Shriveled-up old men can’t do this, Gaby,” he murmured and drew her lips to his. His hand slipped down her throat slowly, caressing it as his mouth touched hers, gently at first, making no demands of her, only coaxing.

  “Soft. Warm.” His whispered words entered her mouth just before his tongue. He played with her, teased her, and tormented her with aching tenderness.

  Gaby could feel her flesh rise, her blood heat, and her body quiver.

  “I’m going to touch you, querida.” His hand moved to her breast and she stiffened in anticipation. He cupped it and began to knead, plying pressure to the full flesh. Slow and methodically he worked.

  Gaby’s eyelids fluttered and her breath came in soft little gasps. The heat in the partially enclosed carriage intensified, and she found herself opening her mouth wider to catch her breath that was becoming more difficult to grasp.

  “You feel so good,” he said, “and you taste delicious.” With that his mouth covered hers.

  She was lost. He held the reins and she obeyed. Every kiss, every touch, deepened her obedience to him. She belonged to him body and soul. She would do anything and the thought frightened her.

  Her hands reached up and pushed at his hard chest. She twisted, pulling her breast from his grasp and winced as his fingers squeezed her nipple.

  “I’m sorry, querida. I did not mean to hurt you, but you pulled away. Why?” he questioned, taking her chin in his hand and forcing her to keep her eyes on his.

  “This is wrong, Rafael,” she said, addressing him as an equal as she had done on occasion.

  He liked the sound of his name on her lips. It spilled from her with an unquenched hunger. “You cannot deny you care for me.”

  She shook her head slowly, regrettably. “No. I cannot deny that.”

  He moved his face closer to hers. “Then why is it wrong? From the moment we met we both knew it was meant to be. Why continue to fight it? I do not have the strength left. I want, you, badly. And you want me just as badly.”

  Gaby battled the tears that threatened to spill past her lashes. She held them back with sheer willpower even though she trembled inside. “I cannot deny I want you. It is the results I fear.”

  He caressed her cheek as he spoke. “The results?”

  “What can I expect in return if I give myself to you?”

  He removed his hand from her face reluctantly. “I will take care of you, Gaby. No harm will come to you, and you shall be well provided for.

  She took a deep, encouraging breath before she asked, “But you will never marry me.”

  Rafael felt a small stab of pain to his heart. “No. I can never marry you. But you will want for nothing.”


  “I want more,” she said, holding her head up proudly.

  A shadow of anger fell across Rafael’s face. He had thought her different, not like the other women who cried for coins and jewels as compensation. “What do you want?”

  “You cannot give me what I desire.”

  Rafael’s short burst of laughter annoyed her. “I can afford to give you anything, Gaby.”

  “You are a fool,” she snapped.

  “No, you are,” he said. “You have me at a distinct disadvantage at the moment. You should make the most of it and ask for what you wish. I will not deny you. As I said, I want you too badly to deny you anything.”

  Gaby’s dark eyes widened, and her words were delivered with precise slowness. “And, as I told you, you cannot give me what I desire.”

  He was tired of her little game. He grabbed her by the arms and shook her. “Tell me what it is you think I’m incapable of giving you.”

  She stared at him, wide-eyed and frightened.

  “Tell me, damn it!” he yelled.

  She sighed and whispered, “Love.”

  Silence filled the hot air. No birds were heard. No tender cries of the wild animals sounded. It was as if all life stilled for those few moments. Rafael stared at her for several seconds before releasing her without comment. He picked up the reins and directed the horse to be on his way.

  They rode on in complete silence.

  Gaby turned her head away from Rafael and watched the beauty of the land, bursting with life, pass by. She tried not to think of what his silence represented. She didn’t want to, she couldn’t allow herself to. But when the hacienda came into sight and she saw its imprisoning walls, her heart filled with pain and a single tear slipped from her eye.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Lupe!” Rafael yelled as he entered the cookhouse. “Where is Gaby?”

  Lupe cringed, not wanting to tell him she had sent the girl to pick vegetables only to get her away from him. He had been a tyrant to Gaby the last few days.

  “Well, where is she? Answer me,” he demanded.

  “I sent her to pick peppers for supper.”

  “I instructed her to polish the silver. I did not know your orders carried more weight than mine.”

  “I am sorry, Don Rafael. I will have her return at once and do as you say,” Lupe said, her head bent, but not in submission, in annoyance. She didn’t wish him to see how mad she was at his overbearing authority. He had never been like this before. He had always been strict, yet fair in his commands, but lately he had been unbearable.

  The other servants ran from his sight, frightened that they would suffer the bite of his irritability.

  “Make certain you see to it immediately. I want that silver sparkling.”

  “It is sparkling, Don Rafael,” Gaby said, placing extra emphasis on his name as she walked into the room and sat the full basket of peppers on the table.

  “I finished it early this morning.”

  She noticed the way his face masked his vexation, and she smiled, waiting for his next command that was meant to irritate her, but usually succeeded in irritating him.

  “There are other silver pieces that req—”

  “I have seen to them all,” she said, not allowing him to finish.

  He walked toward her, his leg muscles tense and taut. He placed his hands flat upon the table and leaned over near her. “Have you replaced the flowers in the vases?”

  “They have not withered.”

  “I didn’t ask you that. I asked if you’ve replaced the flowers.”

  Gaby produced that fatal, mischievous grin. “No, I haven’t. And they should be replaced. I’ll just get my basket and get right to it. I’m so happy you asked me to do that. I just love to be out in the sunshine on such a beautiful day.”

  Rafael glared at her. And she waited, certain he was about to blow steam from his nostrils.

  Instead he stood straight, mumbled an incoherent oath, and stomped out of the room like a little boy angry for not getting his way.

  Lupe crossed herself before she spoke. “You should be more careful around Don Rafael. He is in a terrible mood lately and it will do you no good to make it worse. It only brings more work down upon you.”

  Gaby sighed, plopped down on the chair, and reached for a sugar bar. “I know I should curb my tongue, but he’s been impossible.”

  “It is this pending visit that has him upset.”

  Gaby nodded, although she didn’t agree. She knew exactly what troubled him. His foul mood began shortly after they had returned from town. He found it difficult to accept what she had told him. And that was the reason for his petulance.

  “You best pick those fresh flowers now.” Lupe reminded her.

  “You’re right. The sunshine and being away from his sour mood will do me good.”

  Gaby left the cookhouse and circled the courtyard that spanned the dining room. She was about to turn toward the flower gardens when she spotted Padre Jose entering the courtyard.

  “Padre,” she cried, displaying an exuberant smile as she ran toward him.

  “How are you my child?” the padre asked as she knelt before him.

  Gaby waited until he blessed her, then stood. “I am staying out of trouble, Padre.”

  “Not an easy task as I recall.”

  Gaby laughed. “I didn’t cause that much trouble at the mission.”

  “You drove Padre Manuel, rest his soul, crazy.”

  “I was but a curious child.”

  “Too curious, too many questions you asked, and if I could not answer them you would find a way to discover the answer yourself.”

  “I was persistent.”

  “You were a pest,” he said. “Remember the time you asked Padre Manuel if all the candles in the church were lit would it be too hot to hold Mass?”

  “He never answered me,” she said, trying to keep herself from laughing.

  “So you decided to discover for yourself. That morning when the padre entered the church to prepare for Mass, every candle was burning brightly.”

  “But,” she said, holding up her finger, “it wasn’t too hot to hold Mass.”

  Padre Jose shook his head and continued to smile. “I often think you must have held a special place in Padre Manuel’s heart, for he allowed you to get away with much.”

  “He allowed her to get away with too much. She is disobedient and obstinate and deserving of a harsher punishment.”

  Gaby and the padre turned at the sound of Rafael’s ill-tempered voice.

  He walked toward her and stopped just inches in front of her. It was a mistake. The sweet scent of wild flowers drifted off her stinging his nostrils and his senses. Her smile remained firm and confident and her eyes sparkled with devilish joy.

  He spoke with a bit more sternness then he had intended. “You have a chore to tend to. Do you not?”

  “Si, Don Rafael, but I only wished to say hello to the padre.”

  “You said your hello. Now do as I ordered.”

  “Si,” she said and turned to the padre. “It was good to see you again, Padre Jose. Please tell my family I was asking for them.”

  “I will, my child, and be good,” he warned with a serious smile.

  “An impossible task for Gaby,” Rafael added.

  Gaby’s smile faded and she said softly and sorrowfully, “I disappoint you. I’m sorry.” She turned and walked away.

  Rafael was stung by her sincere apology when it was he who owed her one. He had been behaving like a spoiled child who was determined to have his way. It wasn’t fair to her. She had been truthful to him. He owed her the same. But the truth hurt, for he feared he could never love anyone, that he wasn’t capable of it.

  “She can be a handful at times,” the padre said, ending the oppressive silence. “But she means well.”

  “Tell me about her. Did she really light all the candles in the church?” Rafael asked with a grin.

  “Yes, she did. Then one year she spent the two
weeks before Christmas picking the fruit that was her father and brother’s job. They had taken ill and if the fruit hadn’t been picked they would have had no food or coins for the holiday. Gaby dressed like a young boy and picked till her hands were raw.”

  Rafael stiffened at the thought of her lovely hands sore with blisters.

  “At Christmas Mass she sat with her hands wrapped, unable to even cross herself properly, but her smile never left her face, and her voice sang out the hymns the loudest.”

  Lupe entered the courtyard and placed a tray with a crystal decanter of Madeira and wine glasses on the heavy wooden table.

  “Lupe,” Rafael said, drawing her attention. “When Gaby returns from her chore, see that one of the other girls changes the flowers and allow her the remainder of the day to herself.”

  “Si, Don Rafael,” she nodded and continued nodding with a smile as she left.

  “Tell me more, Padre,” Rafael said, pouring the wine. “Did Padre Manuel really favor Gaby?”

  Padre Jose accepted the glass of wine and took a sip before he answered, his throat parched from his trip from town. “Yes, and I always felt it was because he was the one who had discovered her tucked in the basket at the mission doors. And to hear tell, she smiled at him even at that young age, and he lost his heart to her.”

  Rafael held the glass poised just before his lips. “Gaby was left at the mission door? She is not actually the Alvardos’s daughter?”

  The padre appeared annoyed with himself. “I shouldn’t have spoken of this. Padre Manuel had forbidden me to tell anyone and now I’ve broken my promise.”

  Rafael replaced the full wine glass on the silver tray. “No, do not be upset. The secret is safe with me but please, I wish to know more.”

  The padre seemed puzzled. “Do you think it has something to do with the padre’s murder?”

  Rafael didn’t care for the thought. “Anything is possible. Please continue.”

  Padre Jose replied, “You must understand, I was not here at the mission at the time and only heard of this from Padre Manuel.”

  “There was no other priest present?”

  “Yes, I think... Padre Pablo. Yes, Padre Pablo was also there, but later transferred to the San Jose Mission.”