Untamed Fire Page 30

  “Money would seem the most logical reason,” Gaby said, furious that the woman could be so callous.

  “Intelligent, just as I thought,” Isabel said. “But there is more, sweet daughter.”

  “Perhaps it would prove more beneficial for Father to hear this,” Rosalita suggested.

  “Yes, I thought you the dumb one,” Isabel said and smiled.

  Gaby felt the hurt as sure as Rosalita did. Her tongue was quick to respond in defense. “Someone had to take after you, Mother.”

  That remark only made Isabel smile all the more. “My, my, you are like me, aren’t you?”

  Gaby grinned. “I don’t think that’s possible.

  “Really, you obviously know something I don’t,” she remarked.

  “I’m not your daughter. Annabelle died shortly after arriving at the mission,” Gaby informed her.

  “At least one of you little brats did something right,” she said and smiled.

  Both girls were stunned by her indifferent remark.

  “Now for my little surprise—no—I think I’ll let you discover for yourself. Go and talk with Eduardo Ortega before you speak with Felipe. There is where you will learn the whole truth.

  She stood. “I’ll be waiting for you afterwards. We have unfinished business.”

  “Only with me,” Rosalita said in defense of Gaby.

  “Unfortunately, Felipe will never believe she isn’t his daughter. The fool is blind.” Isabel walked from the room, never turning to glance back at them.

  “Let’s go,” Gaby said, standing.

  “Where?”

  “To talk with Senor Ortega.”

  Rosalita seemed hesitant. “Do you think that wise? This could be a ploy to give her time, or a trap to accomplish what she had failed to do years ago.”

  Gaby gave the idea thought. “Or she might just be telling the truth for once.”

  “What you’re saying is that we won’t know until we talk with him.”

  “It doesn’t seem that your dear, sweet mother is going to tell us anything more, and she’d probably deny everything if we go to your father. We need some kind of proof to offer everyone.”

  “But why is she handing us this proof? By sending us to Senor Ortega and discovering the truth her little game comes to an end,” Rosalita said, disturbed by the woman’s strange actions.

  “I see your point. She must have plans for us.”

  “And not a trip to Spain, either.”

  “Someone must be helping her,” Gaby said.

  “But whom?”

  Gaby was tired of this game of charades. “I think our answers lie with Senor Ortega. We must take the chance and go there.”

  “I agree, but do you think Rafael will allow us to go?”

  Gaby was certain he wouldn’t give his permission, but then she could always leave a message for him instead of telling him directly. “I’ll make sure he knows of our destination. Besides, the Ortega land borders the Cabrillo estate. It is only a short ride, and we’ll probably be back before he knows we’re gone.”

  Gaby had been right. The ride was short and uneventful, although their departure created quite a stir. Lupe insisted they wait for Don Rafael to return from town as did Carlos when they went to the stable requesting two horses.

  The only way the women were finally allowed to leave was when Carlos insisted they have an escort of two men. Gaby saw no problem with the added protection and readily agreed.

  The Ortega hacienda was quiet when they arrived. The women were shown to a receiving room to wait while the two vaqueros who accompanied them were directed to the cookhouse for refreshments.

  “What are you two doing here?” Eduardo Ortega’s voice was filled with concern and the wrinkles around his eyes seemed deeper as if he was worried or frightened.

  “Dona Isabel sent us,” Gaby answered. “She said you could explain everything.”

  Eduardo shook his head and muttered an oath. “You must leave—immediately.”

  Gaby was surprised by his nervous state. “We didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “We’re only looking for the truth,” Rosalita added.

  “The truth. Yes, yes, you deserve the truth,” Eduardo said. “But you are in danger, and you must return to the safety of the Cabrillo hacienda.”

  “We will return as soon as you tell us what we came to hear,” Gaby insisted, having come too far in their search to back down now.

  “I thought I had covered my trail well. I didn’t think she’d find me and discover my plan, not after all these years. But I forgot how devious she could be, how unforgiving, how selfish,” Eduardo said, reminding himself of the past.

  “Are you speaking of Isabel Galvez?” Rosalita asked.

  “Yes,” he said with a heavy sigh. “Please sit down. It is time the truth was told; time to remove the veil of deception.”

  The women sat, each hoping that Senor Ortega’s explanation would be the last piece in solving the puzzle.

  “Before I begin, both of you must make me a promise. After I explain the past, you must return to the Cabrillo hacienda and stay there until Rafael tells you this matter has been settled.

  Both women nodded in unison.

  “Good,” Eduardo said and smiled. “You are both so beautiful. I am glad I made the choice I did those many years ago.”

  “You are the one who protected us from our own mother?” Rosalita asked. “But why? Why would she want us dead?”

  Gaby heard the deep hurt in her voice and understood. Rosalita felt unloved, unwanted, and now to discover that her mother had wanted her dead and possibly still did—the ludicrous thought was just too much to bear.

  Eduardo shook his head sadly. “She is a selfish woman. She cares for one thing and one thing only... money.”

  “But how could our birth possibly affect her wealth? Rosalita asked, fighting to understand it all.

  “Yes,” Gaby agreed. “She was wealthy and would remain so.”

  “Not if Felipe discovered the truth. Then she would be penniless and scorned by society.”

  “But what could...” Rosalita’s eyes opened wide. “I know the final piece to the puzzle, Gaby.”

  Gaby stared at her, confused.

  Rosalita kept her eyes on Eduardo. “Felipe is not our father, is he?”

  “No... I’m your father,” he announced and continued before either woman could respond. “I had an affair with Isabel. When she discovered she was pregnant, she was beside herself. You see, Felipe had been away for a few months and couldn’t possibly have fathered the child. She lied about the time of birth, then pretended to fall and go into labor early.”

  Eduardo stopped talking for a moment and took a seat as if it was all too much for him. “I had a strange feeling she was planning something. She had refused to see me shortly after telling me about the child. I found out that she planned to have the child done away with at birth. I managed to switch the woman in attendance at delivery, but knew there wasn’t much time before she’d see her plan succeed.”

  “You saved us twice?” Rosalita asked incredulously.

  “You’re my daughters. I love you both very much,” he answered with a sad smile.

  Gaby sat forward in her seat, ready to tell him she wasn’t one of the twins, but Rosalita stopped her with a shake of her head.

  “Anyway,” Eduardo continued. “I made arrangements for passage on a ship. I had wanted to travel to California, start a new life. I hadn’t really loved Isabel. I was lonely and made a dreadful mistake in becoming involved with her. The plan worked out perfectly. I left Spain two weeks later and caught up with the man and woman I had hired to care for you both.”

  “Who cared for us on the voyage here?” Rosalita asked.

  Eduardo’s smile brightened. “I did, and I enjoyed it. You both were the most wonderful babies. Hardly ever cried and were more than content to sleep in my arms. I cherish the time I spent with both of you on that ship. It was all too short. When I arrived here I k
new I had no choice but to separate the both of you. No one could know you were twins. It would be much too dangerous. I still didn’t trust Isabel. She would search and search until she found you both.”

  “And she did. Didn’t she?” Gaby asked.

  Eduardo nodded his head slowly. “I had thought my secret safe. I fell in love and married. By that time you both had already been placed with families for several years. I thought it best I not disturb your lives. I wrote to Ramon Cabrillo encouraging him to come to Los Angeles. I told him I was friend of a friend, when actually I was the friend. You see the years had changed me considerably, and I had changed my name. When they arrived, Ramon didn’t even recognize me. The weather had tanned my complexion and added years to my face. My weight had doubled and my hair was thinning. He had no idea I was his old acquaintance Gaspar de Portola. That is why I’ve stayed away from the Cabrillo hacienda since the Galvezes have arrived. I was afraid they’d recognize me, but it doesn’t matter now. Isabel found out about you two. How, I don’t know, but you must be careful. You are both in great danger. I sent Louisa away so she’d be safe. Now you both must hurry and go. I could not stand losing either of you when I’ve just found both of you.”

  Gaby was speechless. She had never imagined an illicit affair had produced the twins and was the reason their lives had been in jeopardy.

  Rosalita stood and walked over to Eduardo. She bent down in front of him, covering his hands with hers. “I’m so very glad to meet you, Father, and so grateful you loved me enough to protect me. When this is all settled, we must talk. There is much for us to learn and say to each other.”

  Eduardo found tears blurring his vision. “You have grown into a beauty, inside as well as out. I was afraid—”

  Rapid gunshots and screams pierced the air in terrifying intensity.

  “Get down!” Eduardo screamed.

  The women hit the floor just as a fusillade of bullets ripped through the open-shuttered windows. They crawled toward each other and huddled together against a large wooden chest for protection.

  Eduardo managed to get to a chest of drawers across the room and pulled a gun from it.

  “Stay down,” he ordered as he crawled toward them.

  The shooting went on for what seemed like hours, but it was only minutes. Silence followed, deadly calm silence that was more frightening than the shooting itself.

  Eduardo stood in front of Gaby and Rosalita shielding them when a man entered the room. He was thin, his gaunt face etched with deep lines and wrinkles. He was followed by two more men, one short and heavy, the other tall and thick with muscles. They all smiled.

  “Oh santo Dios!” Eduardo whispered and both girls knew this time he wouldn’t be able to save them.

  None of the men spoke. They walked further into the room. The thin one raised his gun at Eduardo.

  “I love you both very much,” Eduardo whispered and raised his gun.

  Gaby, without thinking, stood and slipped in front of him. “You came for us leave him be.”

  The big man grinned. “She must be the dumb one.”

  “Shut up,” the thin man ordered harshly.

  “And you must be even dumber taking orders from the likes of him,” Gaby said with a laugh.

  “I have no patience for her sharp tongue,” the thin man said. “Take them!”

  The short and large man obeyed immediately, rushing forward and attempting to grab each of the girls. Gaby clawed the big fellow, while Rosalita bit and kicked the other.

  The thin man stepped forward and Eduardo didn’t back down. A loud shot rang out, causing everyone to still.

  Rosalita gasped and covered her face with her hand.

  Gaby tried to break free of the hold the large man had on her, but it was useless.

  “Take them away,” the thin man ordered.

  The last sight Rosalita had of her father was of him lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

  Gaby and Rosalita’s hands were tied to the horn of each of the saddles they rode. Their reins were held by other men who led the two women’s horses behind their own. They left the Ortega hacienda half-burning and with the screams of the women servants still echoing in their ears.

  They were kept separated and they rode hard and long. No stops were made. The men drank and ate in their saddle without an offer of any food or drink to the two prisoners.

  Finally they stopped near dusk and camped near the edge of a river. All Gaby could think of was sitting in the cool water to soothe her aching bottom. She had never ridden that far or hard. But it was obvious Rosalita had, or else she was accustomed to hiding her discomfort and did it well.

  “Finally, I thought you’d never arrive.”

  Gaby and Rosalita whirled around to see Isabel and Ignacio standing not far from the campfire.

  “It takes time to kill people, senora,” the thin man said in a dangerously slow drawl.

  “I pay you handsomely for work you enjoy, Miguel, and when I give an order I expect it obeyed, like it or not.”

  Gaby spoke foolishly at times, but never as foolishly as Isabel Galvez was now speaking to this man Miguel. He was dangerous, very dangerous. All one had to do was look at him to see it. Isabel had to be insane to speak to him in such a condescending tone.

  “Bring them over here. I’m tired of this dallying; I want this at an end and now,” Isabel demanded.

  Gaby and Rosalita’s hands had been untied and they were shoved from behind, toward the woman Gaby was glad wasn’t her mother.

  “So now you know why it was impossible that you live,” she said, a smile of pure joy on her face.

  “One thing,” Gaby asked. “How did you find us after all these years?”

  Isabel laughed. A laugh that betrayed the aging wrinkles in her face. “A stupid mistake. I would have never found you if a friend of Felipe’s hadn’t written to him swearing he had seen Gaspar de Portola in Los Angeles. I hired someone here through a friend to search Gaspar out. I knew once I found him, I would find my daughters.”

  “But why after all these years?” Rosalita queried.

  “Money, of course, and this time I want it all. I found myself a young, ardent lover, and I wish to live my remaining years free to enjoy as I please, not how a husband pleases.”

  “Ignacio.” Gaby asked.

  “Smart and quick with your mouth. It’s a shame you aren’t my daughter, I could teach you so much. You know then that Ignacio is no relation.”

  “I thought as much,” Gaby answered while wondering if her life and that of her child’s would end here.

  “Tell me,” Isabel said, looking at Gaby. “Did you enjoy the little tricks I had Miguel play on you?”

  “Tricks?”

  “The accidents you had, although Miguel did get carried away when he shot so close at that tomato you were about to pick,” Isabel said, sending the thin man a scathing look. “He was told to only toy with you.”

  Gaby found her fear turning to anger. “You are hateful.”

  “What a pity that you care so much. It’s a waste of your intelligence... enough of this chatter,” Isabel said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “I will make certain you both die this time. I will stand here and watch as you both take your last breaths.”

  “What of Felipe?” Rosalita asked, sticking close to Gaby’s side.

  “An accident on the return trip home should handle that problem nicely” she informed her and stroked Ignacio’s face in anticipation of their freedom.

  “As soon as we set sail,” Ignacio agreed.

  “Enough,” Isabel said impatiently. “We had our little reunion, now kill them, Miguel.”

  Miguel placed his hand on his holster.

  “Hurry, I want this done now. Right now!” Isabel demanded.

  “All will be taken care of, senora,” he said slowly.

  “It will be taken care of now. You will obey me, Miguel. I am the one that pays you,” Isabel yelled.

  Gaby wondered how the woman could b
e so stupid. Perhaps the years of being dictated to had taken their toll. Regardless, she had chosen the wrong man to order about. Gaby took a step back, taking Rosalita with her.

  The thin man smiled at Gaby and she shivered. They both understood what he was about to do.

  “You are smart. You will bring many pesos,” Miguel said, shaking his finger at Gaby.

  “Are you stupid?” Isabel cried. “I want them dead, now!”

  Ignacio gripped her arm. “I think we should be on our way. Miguel knows what he’s doing.”

  “No,” Isabel snapped, pulling her arm away. “He will kill them now. I want to make certain they are dead this time.”

  “Leave it to him,” Ignacio insisted. “He knows what he’s doing.”

  “She thinks I’m stupid.” Miguel laughed and shook his head, looking at each of his men as he did.

  Isabel opened her mouth, ready to tell him exactly how stupid he was, when a shot rang out.

  The men laughed when they saw the bullet had entered Isabel’s mouth and ripped through the back of her head. She lay dead in the dirt with Ignacio staring wide-eyed down at her.

  “Senor,” Miguel said, and Ignacio looked up. “A pity your woman did not listen to you.” Another shot rang out and Ignacio fell across Isabel.

  “Now they are together,” Miguel said with a smile. He then ordered their bodies taken away.

  Rosalita and Gaby clung tightly to each other. This man was dangerous. He not only killed for money, but for pleasure.

  He walked over to the girls and reached out, running his thin finger along Gaby’s face. She remained still, fearing she would only antagonize him if she demonstrated her distaste for him.

  “You are worth more to me alive than dead. I will get much for you in Mexico... or perhaps I will keep you for myself. We shall see.”

  Gaby shivered with relief when he walked away.

  “Will Rafael come?” Rosalita whispered.

  “Yes, he will come,” Gaby assured her, but didn’t add that it might not be soon enough.

  Chapter Thirty

  “She what?” Rafael yelled at the trembling man.

  “I sent two vaqueros with her for protection,” Carlos said. “She insisted. I could not change her mind.”