"The servants have no rights, no freedom," cried Felicia. "I've heard them talk about a revolution. The poor Indian and Mexican people with no education, nobody can read or write. I feel sorry for the women with small children. They all smell of hard work, sweat, horses, and cattle," she lamented.
"It's their way of life here. What can they do if there is a revolution? The peasants are never satisfied with Grandfather, no matter what he does for them! They have food and shelter. Grandfather even built them a small chapel where they could pray, and he gave them Sundays off."
Another small incident had occurred while Don Federico was absent. Fred, Carlos, and other young boys from Don Hinojosa's estate had wandered into the mango groves and had discovered a large brown and grayish honeycomb made by wild bees and hanging from one of the trees. The curiosity had been too great for the young, inquisitive, Fred, who adored the outdoors and nature.
"Honey!" remarked one of the servant boys, pointing up at the tree.
"We have seen it grow for quite a while," said one of the other boys, "and the honey is dripping on the ground. It's delicious!"
Lo and behold, with those words, Fred's ears perked up. It must have taken several hours for the boys to figure out how to take the honeycomb away from the angry bees, Fred being the instigator. Hours later, they returned to the hacienda, all stung and swelling up, and with little Carlos crying. But they had retrieved pounds of honey. The women were alarmed and stripped off all of the boys' clothes in mid-afternoon out in the open, putting papaya and juice from the nopales mixed with other herbs on their skin. For several hours, the commotion stirred, but in the end, the boys got well, with no fever, and no complications.
Barking dogs soon announced the arrival of Don Federico and some of the soldiers coming down from the mountains and through the front gates of the Hinojosa's hacienda. The peóns, including women and children, and the working vaqueros, rushed out to meet the troupe.
The noisy activity caught the ear of Victoria's great-grandmother. Down the long corridors of the hacienda came Señora Maria Alvarado, who had lived with the Hinojosa's family for over twenty-five years. Doña Francisca's grandmother was in her late eighties and always dressed in her gloomy, black lace gown. She had her rosary hanging by her side at all times, a white handkerchief in her right hand, and a walking cane in her left. She was a petite woman, with silver-white hair piled on her head and clasped in a golden brooch. La Señora Alvarado was a true Spaniard and within her course the best blood, combined with preferential old-fashioned manners and formalities. She was a Gachupin, born in old Spain, God's mother country. Her life would have made a gripping, romantic novel of hushed secrets and love affairs of the once attractive Spanish woman. Her willowy face was the color of a pale rose and she had marvelous, expressive blue eyes that mirrored a fictitious innocence of naiveté, which translated as charm and old age. She was quiet and reserved, but when stirred up, had a spiky tongue like a weathered bullwhip. The old woman frowned upon the conduct of Victoria and Felicia, laughing and making a spectacle of themselves, taking the liberty of coming and going, and riding without a chaperone into the countryside alone.
"Such ways in which young girls are being taught nowadays is blasphemous," she said, meeting Doña Francisca and Señora Hinojosa in the hall, and hitting her cane hard on the tile on their way outside to meet Don Federico and the soldiers.
"Why, Abuelita! The girls are here visiting for only a short period of time. They are happy and ready to attend school at the convent," Doña Francisca answered gently.
"Good thing!" she said. "The girls need discipline, especially Victoria. It's a good thing she is attending the convent. She will need it when she marries the son of General Del Calderóne."
"Sí, Mamá," Señora Hinojosa replied awkwardly, not wanting to be disrespectful.
"It's no wonder girls are so willful, getting bad ideas from the people up North. They dress too loosely, and too colorfully—it's disgraceful! Bah!" She spoke with a razor-sharp tongue. "Shame on the two of you for allowing them to do whatever they please around the hacienda grounds," remarked the old woman, with quivering lips. "The time is getting closer to the destruction, the war that the Holy Catholic Church has been telling us about—when La Virgen de Guadalupe appeared to the Indian servant and revealed to him the coming struggle."
"Sí, Mamá!" Answered Señora Hinojosa and was thinking that La Virgen de Guadalupe had appeared to the Indian servant over four hundred years ago.
"Sí, Abuelita," replied Doña Francisca.
Mother and daughter looked at each other with a resigned sigh and then turned to the old woman, being respectful and treating her with kid gloves. "We are just stepping outside to meet Federico after his long journey from the mountains. He was seeing the gold mine."
"Vaya, Sera por Dios, that everything is well with him. I had a terrible dream last night about Federico. I got up and prayed to the saints for his safety. They have answered my prayers. We must give our alms, light a candle, and give our thanks."
"Sí, Mamá, whatever you say," Señora Hinojosa replied respectfully, as they hurried outdoors, leaving La Señora Alvarado talking to herself in the long marble corridor. The old woman stood for a moment in a daze, then walked back to her bedroom, which was at the far end of the hacienda.
Horses were being unsaddled outside, and the atmosphere had become full of activity, like a humming beehive. Somewhere in the crowd, a woman with a small child in her arms cried out in anguish. Another child gripped his mother's leg and wept.
Don Federico's face sagged with a haunted look, a soul from which all the grand spirit of nobility had fled. His eyes were dull and lifeless, and on his forehead, the swollen purple bruise was still visible. He wore borrowed khaki clothes one size too small and was barefooted. He refused to answer any of the questions coming from Señor Hinojosa, who wanted an explanation. He glanced toward Señora Hinojosa and Doña Francisca, who were in shock upon seeing the dead vaquero being taken from the horse.
"Have Juana and the rest of the servants prepare my bath and fresh clothes. I need to get clean," he said weakly. "I'm too cold and shaken right now, but I will answer all your questions later tonight." He walked inside, down the long tile corridors, and up the stairs. Doña Francisca followed him.
It was late that night before the Don was able to talk about his horrible experience. They had consumed a splendid dinner and the women were all dressed in their best evening gowns and finest jewels. Don Federico, Fred, Carlos and Señor Hinojosa, dressed in their expensive silk suits, had gathered in the large sala where the warmth of the enormous, elegant fireplace warmed them.
Don Federico leaned back in his chair and slowly related the details of his horrific ordeal at the hands of the bandit Castillo and his men. "Los malditos bandidos!" He spoke the words with vehemence. "Of all the people to disappoint me, the least expected was—Juan!" he said sadly. "Castillo was the worse bandit to hire. I do not know what Juan was thinking. I was a fool thinking that Juan could solve my problems with Hanson. It was an expensive lesson. Those bandidos were not going to spare anyone. They were going to kill all of us. It's a good thing that you sent Capitán Nafarrate, or nobody would be left alive to tell the story of what happened."
"I was concerned," replied Señor Hinojosa. "I sent a message to General Garcia earlier and I will thank him later."
"Good thinking on your part. General Garcia must be paid well."
"He will be well compensated. I will see to that."
"I was surprised to see Hanson's corrupt partner, Hobbs. The two of them have been doing unspeakable, illegal things across the border. The good news is, I found out the truth about my father's killer. Hanson and Hobbs have been taken to jail here in Monterrey and will probably be extradited later to the courts in Texas. As for Juan, I shall deal with him later. I can't believe he set me up with that bandido, Castillo!"
"There's been a mistake, a misunderstanding, perhaps," countered Victoria, in Juan's defen
se. "He's too nice of a man to do anything like this to you, Papá," she sputtered, trying to protect Juan's name that had been repeatedly brought up during the evening's conversation by the Hinojosa clan.
"He's a revolutionist!" retorted Don Hinojosa. "Trying to uproot the Mexican government and going against Díaz's regime. I don't think that Madero knows what he's doing, and frankly, he is not going to come up with anything. Madero doesn't know a thing about military politics," he muttered, nursing his pipe. "If he is not careful, he will eventually be shot."
Victoria interrupted again. "You trusted Juan and went with him to San Antonio. So many times I heard you say how much you admire him for his courage in what he is trying to accomplish. You invited him to my fiesta and shared our home. It's a misunderstanding, it has to be," she said, turning to stare at Felicia who was rapidly fanning herself, wishing to stay out of it.
Emma, in an elegant black gown, was sitting next to Doña Francisca and Gloria Hinojosa, all the while watching the family and listening closely to their conversation. She was glad that Don Federico had returned safely, for the sake of Doña Francisca. "I've learned not to trust low-class people," Emma finally said, "especially revolutionists!" She cleared her throat and continued, "Nobody is sure of their political motives, and what they expect to gain." It was obvious she was working her way into the good graces of Don Federico and the Hinojosa family.
"Well, we will never know. For we will never see Señor Alvarez again, and I will forbid anyone in my household to see or talk to him again," Don Federico remarked, casting a quick glance at Victoria. Relaxing for the first time in days, he held a cigar in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. "This case with Alvarez is over!"
"Bah! Those Alvarez are all liars," commented La Señora Alvarado, who had remained quiet throughout the evening. Although she looked like an old corpse, her lips still quivered. She wore black lace from ankle to throat, providing the perfect setting for displaying her diamond jewelry. Everyone pivoted and listened to what the crotchety old woman had to say.
Señora Gloria raised her eyebrows and repeated, "Liars?"
"Yes, liars!" repeated Señora Alvarado in an angry tone, as her hand clutched the cane.
"But, Mamá, I remember you used to talk about Juan's grandfather, Señor Diego Alvarez, very fondly, especially when I was very young. He would often come and visit you shortly after father passed away. Through the years, I always thought you were in love with him. I was surprised to see the handsome, young Alvarez at Victoria's birthday celebration, knowing who he was, and coming from Monterrey," she said calmly, looking at her mother directly.
"Basta! Enough!" thundered the old woman, banging her cane on the floor and almost choking. She began instantly fanning herself, feeling cornered about her past romantic encounter.
Victoria's eyes met Felicia's, and both flickered with amusement. They sensed the hint of a love secret, a hot romance that had turned cold. Fred and Carlos, sitting at Doña Francisca’s side with swollen cheeks, listened with the utmost intensity. They, too, were amused.
"That whole family is trash!" hissed Señora Alvarado. "The Alvarez men have a terrible reputation of womanizing, starting with old Diego himself. His own wife caught him in bed with a fifteen-year-old girl who lived in the back of their hacienda, years ago. Of course, Diego denied it. Horrible scandals were being rumored. They lost everything from his estate and all of his property. It was said that he would disgrace young girls and sell them to men with money in the border towns. Of course, those were rumors among the elite in Monterrey—anything for a story! Juan's father was killed many years ago by the Federalists, and now his mother and sister live in the poorest part of town." She turned to Don Federico with quivering lips. "When you deal with those kinds of people, you will get the worst results."
"When Juan first came to see me at Spanish Acres, he was very sincere," said Don Federico, groping for the right words, since the Hinojosas were confirmed Díaz loyalists. "He was helping Madero with the upcoming Revolution, which was the main reason Juan visited our home. I was very impressed with him, especially for leaving medical school to help with the struggling conditions here in Mexico."
"For heaven sakes!" said Victoria, jumping to her feet and contradicting her great-grandmother in Juan's defense. "That happened many years ago. Juan is different! He is not like his grandfather or his father. Those are rumors and stories—people make them up and gossip. Is he responsible for his father’s actions? Haven't you thought of that, Great Grandmamma Alvarado?"
"I suppose so," remarked the old woman, who glared at Victoria intensely. "But reputation is hard to live down, my dear, especially your name and who you are. The young Alvarez man has to prove otherwise to the rest of Monterrey. There are too many families that still remember and do not forget. Does a good tree bear evil fruit?" She shuddered.
"Why does he have to prove anything?" cried Victoria. "Here in Monterrey, people live by the old customs and traditions, many years behind the times. Everything is so ridiculous, dumb, and stupid!"
There was an audible sound as everyone in the sala sucked in their breath in a collective action. Victoria was being disrespectful. The rest of the ladies brought their hands to their mouths, aghast, including Felicia and all of the female servants.
"There is nothing wrong with the old ways, young lady!" Señora Alvarado shouted. She got strangled in her wording and held her handkerchief to her mouth. "The girls nowadays think they can do anything without any respect to their elders. They think they know all the answers and can get themselves into trouble, without any consequences, hurting the family's name." She hesitated and sat there scowling for a moment. "It's getting late, and I must say my prayers and rest."
The old woman gave a commanding motion with her hands and stood up with the help of two servants, who then followed along behind her as she prepared to leave the room. She stopped, turned and addressed Don Federico and Doña Francisca, still angry and being spiteful. "I have sent a message to the Del Calderóne family earlier, informing them that Victoria is here and will be spending the rest of the week with them before she goes to the convent. They want to get to know her better," she said, struggling with her steps.
"Thank you, Grandmother, for reminding them. It was good of you to be thinking of Victoria," answered Doña Francisca, who had been very quiet and coughed sporadically during the evening's conversations.
"Yes," answered Don Federico, who looked haggard and exhausted. "Next week we will get the girls in school." In an effort to lighten up the conversation and make Doña Francisca happy, he turned his attention to his wife and said, "In Texas, I will see about the land in Mercedes City and build you a house there so you and Emma will be close. I want you to be happy, my dear. Your doctor has moved to Reynosa, and living in Mercedes City will make it easier for you to see him. But it's getting late now, and I think you need your rest."
"Well, it's about time!" hissed Emma. "My prayers to Saint Michael have been heard."
Doña Francisca got up and kissed Don Federico on his forehead, then went upstairs to her quarters. Emma followed shortly and, with the help of Felicia, waddled to her bedroom.
Victoria was in deep thought. Why I can't believe that old woman! To spend the rest of week with the Del Calderónes was going to be uncomfortable. All of the grandmothers, including her mother, were in a conspiracy! They all had gotten the hint of the way she felt about Juan and were trying anything to keep them apart. She knew that Emma had a big part in this plot.
Don Federico turned to finish talking with Señor Hinojosa, who had been quiet throughout the long discussion in his large chair, for he had been asleep in spite of the hot topic the family had discussed. His head had dropped to his chest, and he was snoring peacefully.
CHAPTER 16
Soon, Victoria found herself sitting nervously with her father in the large elegant, sala of the Del Calderóne estate mansion, called "Castle Del Calderóne." Her mother was unable to accompany them, due to
her illness and embarrassing cough.
Through the French gothic stained-glass windows, she could view the outside acreage of the mansion. The estate covered many miles in every direction, with wineries, horse stables, fields of sugar cane, hothouses for the orchids they grew, groves of various tropical fruits, and orchards of many varieties of citrus. The landscaped gardens were vibrant with color and neatly manicured, with waterfalls and ponds and hundreds of different walkways with flowers growing at the edges, and flowering vines hanging along driveways that led to the many courtyards between the main house and guest cottages. Set at the far back of the mansion grounds were ten dozen small huts in which the peóns lived.
Inside the enormous castle were paintings by European painters such as Goya, Degas, and Velázquez. The lavish marquetry fixtures were antique and imported from different parts of Europe. Many extravagant mahogany pieces of furniture with lion legs were gifts of Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlotta. The furniture had been brought overseas from his castle in Miramar and was later given to Señor Del Calderóne's grandfather from the castle at Chapultepec. Wide mezzanines joined rooms furnished with rich, dark furniture and sparkling silver tea services. Patina sets of wine glasses in silver and gold with matching decanters were arranged tastefully throughout the great ballrooms, as well as long-stemmed, fresh-cut orchids in crystal glasses. Enormous vases featuring colorful dragons and flower designs were stationed in every corner. Hundreds of marvelous Venetian mirrors reflected throughout. In the great sala were hanging crystal chandeliers, and Persian rugs covered the tile floors.
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