"Your mother is doing fine. She was here two weeks ago with Ricardo."
"So, you've heard about the killing."
"About the killing of Madero, yes!" she said, lowering her head.
"No! About your grandfather in Mexico City and what happened to him."
"What happened to Grandfather?" asked Victoria, panicked. "You know what happened to him? Please tell me! He's been gone for some time and everyone in the Hinojosa hacienda is worried.”
Felicia had managed to get out of the cellar and began helping the Indian girl whose clothes were torn to ribbons. Her face was pallid and full of fear, as she had witnessed the incident from her hiding place among the cellar wines. An elderly Indian servant whisked the crying young girl away, as Felicia found Victoria and sat down beside her.
"Felicia! Are you all right?" questioned Victoria, already distressed. Felicia's face was strained and without color. She did not answer. "Luis do you remember Felicia, my cousin, Aunt Emma's daughter?"
"You have grown up, too. I remember seeing you as a little girl."
"What about Grandfather?" Victoria prodded.
"Señor Hinojosa was in the capital. When Huerta found out he was in the city, he accused him of being a traitor to the Díaz regime. It was an excuse, of course, since your grandfather has always remained neutral even after his retirement. When Madero took office, the conspiracy began pointing the finger at those who had not supported Díaz. Bernardo Reyes was shot down at the foot of the steps of the palace by the cadets of the military school being led by the Minister of War, Huerta. Two days after Madero and Suarez were assassinated, your grandfather was hung from a large Ahuehuete tree."
Victoria felt as if her heart were being pulled from her chest, as tears filled her eyes. "Grandfather is dead? I can't believe that!" she cried, bringing her hands up to her face.
"The prison walls were opened and many of us prisoners joined together fighting for the cause of Mexico. We left the capitol and joined with some of Zapata's men. We are on our way to join Venustiano Carranza up north. He has chartered the Plan of Guadalupe for the constitutionalist movement. I'm sorry about your grandfather, but being in politics comes with a high price."
Felicia hugged Victoria and tried to console her. "It's going to be all right, Victoria. There is nothing we can do."
Between her uncontrollable sobs and wiping her eyes, Victoria stammered, "What's going to happen now?"
"Do not cry, Chiquita!" said Luis. "The best suggestion I can give you two girls is to go back to Texas and leave Mexico forever. This is only the beginning, and it's going to get worse."
"Going back to Texas is going to be an ordeal. We are going to have to wait until Father comes to get us," said Victoria.
"You can ride with us. We are going as far as Camargo, then to the state of Coahulila, waiting for orders from Carranza and the other regiment under the command of Juan Alvarez to join us."
"Juan Alvarez, did you say?" This news shook Victoria, who looked up at Luis, her eyes widening.
"You know him?" answered Luis, puzzled and scratching his head.
"Why, yes, where is he now?" queried Victoria.
"Several miles south of here. He should be arriving soon. Our plans were to take the southeastern part of Monterrey, then head up north, where we will gain more recruits and more forces." Luis could not help noticing that the look in Victoria's eyes had turned from tears to joy. "I understand now," he said, smiling. "You must have been the Tejana girl he talked about all the time while in prison. Small world! He had all of us prisoners dreaming, keeping our hopes up. How do you know Juan?"
"He was a guest at my birthday party and gave me this golden amulet as a surprise." Victoria pulled her golden necklace from inside her blouse, embracing it like the priceless possession it was. "Ricardo had just returned from Paris and was sick and not able to attend my fiesta."
"Oh! I see! While the cat is away, the mouse will play!" Luis grinned and winked at her. "Juan should be here by now!" he said, viewing Victoria as a young, foolish girl, infatuated with the revolutionist Juan, and never having known want or hunger.
Then he spoke with sadness in his voice, staring down at the empty plate on the table. "Those were bad times for me," he said softly. "Ricardo was away in France, and my father ordered me out of our hacienda, leaving me penniless. He never gave me one single peso, and I had to defend myself, finding food wherever I could get it. I learned my lesson the hard way. I was hungry and got put in prison for stealing a few morsels of food. My father knew about it and never tried to help me." He looked up. "Now about Juan—he's quite the hombre, Victoria! Be real careful! He's not the marrying type!"
Victoria's heart pumped faster at hearing those shocking words. She felt disappointed and her mind was spinning. Juan promised to marry me. He wanted to elope with me. Has he changed his mind?
There were more noise and commotion coming from the courtyard. Entering from the archway into the kitchen was a ragged young man, barefooted, with an old faded serape wrapped around him, holding onto a woman. The woman's face was covered by a dark rebozo and she was draped in a colorful blanket, as the night air was chilly. As they approached, Victoria's eyes grew wider with recognition as she viewed the woman's face. "Amparo! It's Amparo and her brother!" shouted Victoria, looking at Luis. "Don't you recognize them, Luis? They come from your father's villa."
Luis frowned and looked puzzled. "They must have come to my father's hacienda after I left. No, I don't know them. But she is very beautiful."
The two individuals picked their way through the crowd of revolutionists scattered around the kitchen, which looked like a battlefield inside the convent. Amparo and her brother appeared weak from exhaustion. A soldier still eating and chewing his food smiled at Luis and then winked, remarking, "A fine woman for you, Luis! You will not be cold tonight, compadre, eh!"
Victoria and Felicia rushed to help Amparo, who looked faint.
Amparo's brother spoke in words barely audible, for he was out of breath. "We escaped with only the clothes on our backs. I managed to kill one of the dogs, but the other dogs got away and killed two peóns who were running and risked their lives for us to leave. It's been five days since we left. Last night was spent in the shelter of some rocks, cold and in fear, knowing that we could find refuge in the convent. We have been running all day, never stopped or dared to look back. Please, can we have some water to drink?"
"Bring them some water. What is your name, amigo?" asked Luis, getting up from the table.
"My name, Señor, is Mario. I want to help with the Revolution. My sister and I have been used as slaves at El General Del Calderóne's hacienda. We waited for the chance to leave and did when the Campesinos from the hills came down with pitchforks and plows to destroy the Del Calderóne's villa. Many buildings were burned and, with the distractions, my sister and I decided to run or be killed."
"We need all who will join us," said Luis to Mario and then to the beautiful Amparo.
"Si, Señor! My sister and I will do anything. We both want our freedom. We will go with you," he said, breathing very rapidly.
"But tell me, what about the family that lived in the villa? What happened to them?" questioned Luis with much concern. "Were the members of the family killed?" How were they to know that the family that Luis was referring to was his own blood?
"La Señora and El General left with their son Ricardo several days ago to El Distrito Federal. They probably do not know what has happened to their villa. It was the Mayordomos and several of the hatred patrónes who were killed. The granaries and fields were all destroyed and the hacienda was burned down. It was still burning when we left. The peasants took most of the furniture and ransacked the storehouse, taking all the food. The peóns are heading to destroy the other villas and do the same."
The revolutionist who had grabbed Victoria earlier rushed over and whispered in Luis's ear.
Felicia shook with fear and became panic-stricken, turning to Victoria.
"What are we going to do now? The peóns are going to destroy the Hinojosa's hacienda."
"We mustn't stay here for very long," explained Luis. "We just got word that all the telegraph lines have been cut. Several trains have also been derailed. We need to stay and get some sleep tonight and then leave this area early tomorrow as soon as possible."
"But—"
"Nothing doing! After we leave, the Federalists will come and devour everything. You think my men are terrible—wait until the Federalists show up! I know! My father and the rest of the animals are experts in torturing and making people talk."
In the midst of his conversation, Luis was interrupted. "Capitán Luis!" shouted a revolutionist, rushing in from the courtyard. "Two nuns have escaped!"
"Fool!" Luis expressed angrily. "Go and get several men and get them. Find them, quickly! If you men hadn't been fooling around with the young girls, you would have paid more attention to the nuns. They are yours to keep. Don't come back until you find them. They are going directly to get help from the Federalists. We have come a long way, and the horses need rest."
"Sí, mi Capitán!" Said the soldier.
After saying that, Luis ordered another soldier to go and check on Mother Superior. "I don't trust her," he declared flatly. "Most of the money that comes from a place like this," he said, "comes from the corrupt government." His eyes wandered up to the convent's high ceilings and the elegant long corridors.
After an hour had passed, a shaken Mexican doctor arrived at the convent with his black bag, looking for the dying man for whom Mother Superior had ordered medical care. He was taken down the hall to the wounded man.
Thousands of thoughts were running through both girls' minds. Felicia nervously got up from the table and went outside. Victoria followed her. The sky had become a mirage of stars, with a soft wind that had stirred and become chilled. Most of the skirmish had ceased, and out in the courtyard, the peasants had built a huge fire to keep warm. The two girls sat on a low cement wall where they could feel some of the heat.
Victoria felt Felicia shake and helped her wipe her tears. "We cannot stay here, Felicia! We will have to go with Luis as far as Carmago. There, he will give us some good horses so we can get back across the border into Texas."
"We'll never make it!" cried Felicia in between her whimpers. "I have a horrible fear that something terrible is going to happen to us. You heard about your grandfather Hinojosa and what happened to him. He was an important man, and we are nothing."
"We will make it, Felicia! Stop your bawling! You heard Luis tell us that Juan will be coming, and he will see that we are safe. Stop crying! You are going to attract the other crazy men," Victoria whispered between clenched teeth, trying to convince Felicia that things were going to be all right.
Felicia trembled and wailed loudly and more bitterly. "Going back to Texas is going to be worse. If I go back home, I'll have to put up with my stepfather again. I'm fighting two evils. I like it here, where nobody bothers me. If I go back home, I'll have to confront my stepfather and tell my mother what has happened. Things are going to be worse. I was thinking of joining the nuns."
"Horse feathers, Felicia! Becoming a nun? You're out of your mind! There is nothing worse. We will get back to Texas, and things are going to be all right, you'll see."
Suddenly, from the iron gates came the sounds of horses and a group of riders, then a haunting silhouette; the familiar figure ambled toward the kitchen. Victoria's heart began beating wildly.
It was Juan. The others with him were three Americans, and all were weighted down with rifles and double-crossed cartridge belts full of bullets. They made a brilliant display throughout the shadows of the filtering light.
Juan did not see Victoria. His handsome face looked burned by the sun; only his eyes were like two reflections that guided him inside the convent, where Luis and the rest of the revolutionaries were carousing drunk. He had dismounted in a quick bounce, and two of the Americans had followed, while one delayed getting off his horse. There was loud laughter and joking when Juan and the Americanos entered the kitchen. The one Americano, who remained outside heard Felicia's sniffles and, after hesitating for a few seconds, dismounted and strolled toward the two girls.
"Felicia," whispered Victoria. "I wish you would stop crying. It's not going to help us. You have attracted the attention of the gringo, and he's coming this way."
In the dim light of the kitchen and the campfire outside, they could see that he was a tall, blond young man. Taking off his hat, he apologized for the way he looked.
"We've been traveling for several days," he said. "I normally don't look like this, and I need a bath real bad. You ladies speak any English?" His eyes wandered to Felicia.
Both girls eyed him and remained silent.
"What's the matter with this good-looking girl?" he asked. "I couldn't help hearing her crying," he said sympathetically. His concern for them was puzzling. He continued talking as he squatted down near Felicia. "Well, now! Things couldn't be too bad. What seems to have happened here?" His eyes sparkled in the firelight.
Victoria got up and snapped, "What does it look like has happened? We are like the rest, caught in the middle of a revolution and trying to find a way to get back to Texas!"
"You're from ol' Texas! Which part?" He grinned with delight.
"I'm from Spanish Acres north of Mercedes City, and Felicia," she said, pointing to Felicia, "she's my cousin from Mercedes City."
"Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle. I'll swan," he said in his Texas brogue. "I'm from McAllen and have been away from the Valley for almost nine months. Felicia, eh? That's a right pretty name." He pulled out a bandanna and tried to wipe Felicia's eyes. "Pardon me. My name is Dan—Dan Land. And your name is Felicia? Now there is no reason why a pretty girl like you should be sitting on the cold cement crying. I've headed to the border myself and will gladly travel with both of you misses. That's if it's all right, and you'll let me. Pardon me for coming on so strong, Missy, but I've been away for so long and haven't seen such pretty girls."
"Where are you men coming from?" questioned Victoria.
"Well, I'll tell you, Miss. Ten months ago, I was doing some investments for my father. Well, I had several tequilas in an ol' cantina close to Mexico City. I questioned the charges. There were words and a dispute. The cantina owner ended up calling the Federalists, and I ended up in a real hellhole. Those confounded men accused me of causing trouble in a foreign country and locked me up, and I thought I was never going to see daylight again. Several days ago, this revolutionist, Juan, and his friends opened the prison door and let all of us out of the dungeon."
He paused and shook his head. "There were several other Americans from up north who kept me company in there, or I would have gone completely insane. There were two from Harlingen, Texas. One was a retired Texas Ranger, and the other one was a big brute of a man, a Ranger also. Anyway, all they talked about was if they got out alive, they were going to kill a bigwig across the border because of a gold mine. They left quickly and did not want to come with us." He then turned his full attention to Felicia.
Coincidence or fate, did Doña Adela not predict this?
Mother of God sighed Victoria. Any minute she would join Felicia and start her own bawling fit. Juan actually let the demons out of the dungeon—the two devils that my father was sure he was safe from, and now they are free! They were turned loose to come back into Texas and haunt my father! Victoria felt her body go limp and leaned against the whitewashed wall, not knowing if it was anger, love, or fear that she felt inside. She closed her eyes. The world was coming to an end for her entire family.
"Olga, mister gringo!" roared a revolutionist, who staggered out of the kitchen half drunk. They had broken into the cellar and had emptied the wine storehouse. "How goes it? Are you going to fight with us?"
Dan Land did not respond. He seemed to be taken with Felicia. The peasant stumbled, tried to keep his balance, and went back inside holding onto the wall w
ith one hand and grasping a bottle of wine in the other.
From the flaming courtyard, a lone Mexican had procured a guitar. Several joined in the singing of a new song, Estrellita. The words were beautiful and so much like the symbol of Mexico, with its struggles, bitterness, love, and death.
Victoria leaned against the stone wall and closed her eyes again, listening to the sweet music that filtered throughout the still night. It was pleasant memories that would keep her strong on a night like this. The music reminded her of her birthday, Spanish Acres, her family, Juan, and all of the people she loved.
Then, from out of nowhere, the spirit of La bruja seemed to focus strongly in her mind. What Doña Adela had told them in the reading of the cards was all coming to pass: guns, arms, and ammunition; the killing; the destruction of the big haciendas. She began to wonder if the two of them would be able to get back to Texas safely. She thought about her father. He was probably going out of his mind with worry.
Felicia seemed more relaxed as she stood up and walked out into the courtyard, talking with the gringo, Dan Land, leaving Victoria alone against the arched walls.
A shadow slipped out from the noisy lit kitchen, sauntered forward, and stood still in front of her. With her eyes closed, the figure blocked the flickering light, surprising her. When she opened her eyes, there was the familiar face she had dreamed about for so many countless, sleepless nights.
Victoria smiled an uneasy smile and slipped away into that certain weakness that came with love, but at the same time, she hated him for not corresponding with her within the last two years.
Juan's breath had the smell of liquor and cigarettes, and he stood close enough that he could kiss her, but he only glared at her with malice. His olive skin reflected against the shadow of the night, as he stood with his dirty, white shirt loose and open. He leaned his hand against the stone wall over her head and began talking with haste.
"I'm surprised to find you here, still hanging around this convent. Haven't you gotten enough religion already? I thought that by now your high-priced family had taken you away to Texas and married you off to the fancy Del Calderóne general's son." His voice was full of sarcasm and contempt, his eyes glaring at her as if knives were slashing into her body. He stood looking down at her with scorn, uncertain of what to do with her next.
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