Ricardo stayed in Mercedes City as a guest of Don Federico, who was making plans for his new son-in-law in running the production of the oil wells. It would be a new venture for Ricardo since his family had lost everything in Mexico, and returning to his home in Monterrey was pointless. The thought of making money in oil motivated and challenged Ricardo, and by marrying Victoria, he would automatically take control of her land and possessions. He was seeing dollar signs and thinking of becoming wealthy again. He also hoped to find a way of getting his mother and sister to Texas, but that would take a great deal of money.
As the time slipped away, nothing seemed to please Victoria's taste. She would get out of bed and stroll only to the edge of the balcony to view the courtyard below. She would wave to Dan and Felicia as they rode their horses down to the pastures or out into the brasada. However, she seemed happier being in Spanish Acres with Ophelia, Olivia, and Soledad, who constantly consoled her. Felicia, with rosy cheeks, had her health restored. She seemed happy, laughed, and was more talkative than she had ever been. She would check on Victoria every day, and now talked about her future wedding with Dan Land.
Yolanda, looking heavier than before, pursed her lips and rolled her eyes with a hateful attitude, when she appeared occasionally in Victoria's bedroom. She would bring Victoria trays of soups and hot chocolate, but would never speak a word to her. Mamá Maria had told Victoria that Yolanda had a handsome baby boy, now over a year old, and was still not married. Elena and Miguel adored the child and took care of him as their own. Mamá Maria, who watched Victoria like a hawk, even took refuge, sleeping on a cot next to her bed. Aging and in failing health, she would still bring her remedies of teas, homemade foods, different pastries, and many chicken kinds of soup fixed with herbs in different ways, suggesting that if Victoria did not eat, she would surely die.
A future wedding was being prepared for Victoria, and it was something she should be looking forward to with happiness. A wedding was considered a holy sacrament and a special day for any young Señorita. The white dress symbolized that the new bride was a virgin, pure and untouched.
On the fourth week of Victoria's homecoming in Spanish Acres, Don Federico, and Doña Francisca, followed by Emma and her servants, all arrived at the hacienda by carriage. Emma, always the overseer, was already starting to help Doña Francisca make plans for the upcoming wedding.
Earlier in the morning Mamá Maria, still worried about Victoria's condition, had sent Manuel and Yo-yo to fetch Doña Adela. Yo-yo had returned to Spanish Acres from the chaotic Revolution in Mexico several weeks before, and with him had brought his two sons, José and Memo, who were now working as skilled vaqueros with Roy, Miguel, and Martin at the hacienda.
The whole household waited patiently outside in the corridors for Doña Adela's verdict. Don Federico, with more and more anxiety lines, etched across his forehead, paced up and down with Roy. Emma fumed, fussed, and sighed, saying that Victoria should be taken to see a regular doctor, instead of a common witch healer. Mamá Maria said nothing, but glared and bore her black eyes into Emma.
An hour had passed when the stooped old Doña Adela painfully opened the bedroom door and stepped outside with her cane, quietly closing the door behind her. From the inside, they could hear Victoria sobbing. The suspense was too much for Roy, and he decided to join Dan Land downstairs.
Doña Francisca, Mamá Maria, Soledad, Emma, Felicia, and Elena rushed to console the distraught Victoria. Yolanda entered the bedroom with curiosity, tagging along behind the other ladies. A bewildering array of questions followed, with all the women talking at the same time.
"Well?" Don Federico said impatiently, questioning la bruja. "Is she going to live?"
"Very much so, hombre," replied Doña Adela, cackling. "I think you had better sit down. What I have to say may not be so pleasant for you people at this time, since you're preparing a wedding, and it better be real soon." The old witch woman found a chair out in the hall, and her joints cracked when she sat down. She slipped off her bifocals and, with her white cloth handkerchief, began cleaning them. "I'm getting too old for this type of commotion." She cleared her throat, as anxiety mounted and doom hung in every corner.
"Well," Don Federico went on, "my main concern is Victoria! Is she going to get over her illness? Is she going to be all right?"
“Ah, si, she is going to be all right in about eight months." Doña Adela's eyes bored into Don Federico's. "Your daughter is with a child. She'll feel better in another month or two. I estimate the arrival of the baby will be around the middle of December."
The Don stiffened and his eyes widened, as though someone had sprayed skunk urine in his face. "With child? Not possible!" He felt his legs buckle. His heart pounded. His worst nightmare was unfolding. "How can this be? How could she possibly get pregnant in the convent? That's beyond me!" He was furious with rage, and his face registered fear as his heart raced. "But she is marrying Ricardo!"
"Cómo sí, no hombre, Don Federico." The old woman laughed. "There is only one way she could get pregnant. After all, Victoria is not the immaculate conception." She put her glasses on, peering over them, looking like an old gorilla and addressed the great Don Federico. "Just be glad that there is nothing seriously wrong with her. By the way, poor ol' Manuel described her illness, I was beginning to worry."
Unable to control his anger, Don Federico walked into Victoria's bedroom and demanded an explanation. Doña Adela's crackling bones and cane followed, repeating under her breath, "Aye qué estúpido—typical man!"
"Who's the father, Victoria?" Don Federico roared.
"Dios mío!" wailed Doña Francisca, kissing her rosary. She began to faint.
"Holy Mother of God!" cursed Mamá Maria, while Elena, Soledad, and Yolanda all reached out to catch Doña Francisca. Emma and Felicia were holding Victoria's hands. The tension in the room was charged like thunderbolts; such a thing was scandalous and absurd!
Someone suggested the fainting salts. Excited voices were mingled with lamentations. Don Federico's face was contorted with anger, and he became carried away by his own voice. "I'm asking you a question, Victoria! Now, who's the father?"
Victoria's countenance was that of a martyr. Every minute had become an eternity. She wasn't about to divulge any information regarding Juan. Mamá Maria and Elena got down on their knees and gasped the prayer: "Our Father, Padre Nuestro qué está…" Both moaned with grief, not because Victoria was with child, but by the simple fact that Don Federico was so distressed. This was just too scandalous, and perhaps the Don was going to send her away.
"Silence!" snapped Don Federico to the two praying women on the floor. "Quiet."
Victoria felt embarrassed and full of guilt. The wrath that had come upon her was making her feel hopeless. Her fate was signed and sealed. Her father would send her away.
"I don't know," she replied, sobbing. Her brain scrambled to make some sense and use the right words. What else could she say? The name of Juan could not be mentioned, as she was keeping it as her life's great secret.
Felicia’s face was numb. Her color went from pink to white.
"You don't know? What happened at the convent? What happened in this great mystery that has twisted and puzzled all of us?"
"I was raped!" wailed Victoria, with tears streaming down her face.
"You were what?" Sackcloth and ashes fell, not a pin drop was heard, as the problem took a different twist. "Who raped you?"
"The revolutionists who invaded the convent raped most of the girls, including the nuns. They killed the majority of them, including Mother Superior. That was the main reason we left with Ricardo's brother, Luis, and Dan Land, who saved our lives."
"Virgen de Guadalupe!" was the chorus from the other women and Doña Francisca, who began sobbing in between her coughing spells.
"Did Felicia get raped in the convent?" yelled Emma hysterically, looking at Felicia, while trying to hold onto Doña Francisca, who was now completely overcome.
&
nbsp; "No, Mamá," Felicia answered her mother. "I was in the cellar and was rescued by Dan Land. It doesn't matter anyway. We were there, it was horrible, and we were all victims."
"As a matter of fact," said Emma, calming down. "One of the Montoya twins was brought back to Texas very traumatized. Apparently, something happened to her also. The parents are devastated. The other girl will not say anything, just like Victoria, because it's much too scandalous!"
Doña Adela's eyes glistened over her spectacles in amazement—it was a scene from a Greek tragedy. Everybody was in a yelling match, and the situation was becoming a three-ring circus.
Soledad, with tears in her eyes, quietly walked out and downstairs. Halfway down, she met Roy and Dan; both had been concerned and awaiting the final truth.
"Who died?" questioned Roy. "Or who's gonna die?" he asked. The chatter coming from the adjoining rooms downstairs indicated other vaqueros who were also concerned.
"Nobody," whispered Soledad. With her head hanging in shame, she wiped her nose with her apron. The mention of the word "rape" had come crashing in her ears like a dagger. It had brought too many painful memories. "Victoria is pregnant. I'm going to the kitchen and take something for my headache."
"Waal, whut's the big deal?" Roy snickered. "Wummin have babies all the time! But, this 'un is diff'ernt. She's patrón's daughter and—oh, Gee Golly!" Roy's eyes widened. "Thar's gonna be some helluva, crock-a-shittin' e'plainin' to do, 'specia 'ly to the anxious, waiting for novio—El Señor Ricardo!"
Dan Land stood around and frowned, acting innocent, not saying a word. He was not surprised. He was not about to repeat what Victoria had told him on their trip back, and now he understood why.
Doña Francisca, with her handkerchief cupped in her hand and up to her mouth, immediately came to her daughter's defense. Her gracious patience and rare talent of blending words with an air of humility always conveyed good thoughts for every human being. This was her beloved daughter and her heart ached for her. Her gentle words were full of compassion, her face lined from years of caring. She sat on the bed where Victoria lay sobbing and touched her hand. "Hija. That was a terrible ordeal. It wasn't your fault that this happened. I’m just glad you are safe and home with us. That's what is most important, that you are back in Texas. So often the devil is in the midst of everything. Having a baby is wonderful, and you'll have it. You will marry Ricardo, for he loves you so, and it will probably not make any difference to him, one way or another."
"Have you gone mad?" responded Don Federico, frantically pacing up and down the bedroom floor. "It will make a difference, and this is out of the question!" he ranted. "Absurd! It's absolutely ridiculous on our part, wouldn't you say? We'll be liars to ourselves and Ricardo's family. We will have to tell the Del Calderónes of what happened. After all, it was their own son, Luis, who was the head of the takeover in the convent. How will we explain the child being born a month too early?"
"Ricardo doesn't have to know," suggested Doña Francisca, pleading. "It wasn't Victoria's fault. He does not have to know about this terrible incident. He will never know about what happened. Things do happen and life must go on."
Doña Adela interjected: "Children have been known to be born months early and have lived. No reason why the couple can't get married now. This sort of thing happens in this part of the country all the time, hombre." She cackled again, knowing the real truth from Victoria.
"Not to my daughter! It does matter! This child will not resemble our family or the Del Calderóne blood. How are we going to explain that the child will not look like either of the couples?" Grieved, Don Federico scratched his head and searched his mind to salvage his prestigious name, pride, and honor, trying to find a solution to the complex problem now facing them. Turning to Doña Adela, he said without thinking, "Is there anything that Victoria can take to get rid of this child?"
There was a collective gasp, coming from every woman in the bedroom, "Dios mío!"
"Oh, no!" cried Doña Adela, raising her twisted fingers. She shook her head in disgust. "I don't kill children. It's murder if you ask me. It's even worse for the mothers, especially how it affects them later. I'm a healer, not a murderer." She shook her head again pityingly and picked up her cane and bag. "I must go. I have stayed here too long. I have more important things to do, other people to help. Have Manuel take me back to my house."
"Kill the baby?" cried Doña Francisca, and she began coughing, regaining her words. "Impossible! The devil has gotten a hold of your brains and tongue. Think of all the stray people we have helped. Think of how they have made our lives so much richer by their souls. You have never turned anyone away. This is your daughter, our only daughter, who needs our help now. This was not her fault and she couldn't help it. What was she supposed to do? I will hear no more of this! The Holy Catholic Church will cast our souls into Hell. We would burn in Hell forever for doing such a terrible thing!"
Victoria, Elena, Mamá Maria, Emma, and Felicia felt waves of comfort move over them. It had become the climax of a pointless dispute, regardless of all the screaming. They were all facing a difficult problem, except Yolanda, who was actually treasuring the upheaval.
Humiliated, and with much shame for having thought and said such a terrible thing, Don Federico felt like a criminal. After all, it was he who had encouraged Victoria to go to Monterrey for a good education. It was he who had condoned her marriage into the Del Calderóne family. He lowered his head and struggled to restrain his emotions. He started to walk out into the hall, then turned back and faced his wife and the rest of the weeping ladies. "Francisca!" He addressed her with much authority. "You will have to answer for this child. The family's punishment will be great, and we will suffer the consequences in the years to come. Count me out! I'm washing my hands of this whole ordeal. Better have Emma start the wedding dress and procedures. Let us begin the lies, the sooner the better," he said. "Lies!" He closed the bedroom door behind him and walked out into the long hall, entered his own bedroom, and slammed the door.
"The marriage will go on," announced the shaken Doña Francisca, to all of the ladies in the bedroom. They smiled through their tears and nodded. "As soon as Victoria feels better, we will fit her into a wedding dress. There will be a wedding as soon as possible. Nobody has to know anything. The Del Calderónes must never find out about this child." Doña Francisca felt more at ease with the situation, and her shoulders sagged with relief. "We will all pray, for the salvation of our souls." Saying this, La Señora departed for her bedroom, the ever-present cough tickling her throat, and held her handkerchief up to her face. The committee of Emma, Mamá Maria, and Felicia followed her out. Elena went downstairs.
Yolanda repressed a spiteful grin as she remained at the foot of the bed, her hands gripping the wrought iron rails with intensity. Her eyes danced with delight as she glowered at Victoria in her grief and despair. She treasured the spectacle, watching the young bride-to-be present a pitiful sight, and she stood there thinking: People with money can do anything, buy anything and anyone, and can get away with almost anything, Making a mockery, almost a joke of the situation, trying to hide the truth of what really happened, like trying to hide the sun with one finger. Getting Victoria to marry Ricardo and have the dumb, loving groom not knowing anything about what took place in Monterrey is laughable. How does the Juelson family think they can get away with this?
Yolanda was haunted by the fact that Roy Dale had been given a section of the land promised to her by George Juelson before he died. Spanish Acres was the land that her father had worked for so many years and now, it had been given to the foreman. Yolanda hated Victoria for her spoiled, selfish attitude, her sassy, outspokenness and blunt ways. She always got what she wanted, always having the best of things in life. Well, this time was going to be different. She would cook Victoria's goose for good. She would create a wonderful scandal!
CHAPTER 25
In the weeks that followed, Victoria was quickly fitted into a simple, white s
atin wedding dress that Emma and her servants sewed. Emma was a wizard seamstress and had an eye for effortlessly inventing clothes like she saw in the new fashion magazines. Dresses in the new fashions were made simpler without all the adornments, and the hems were shorter. Hurried arrangements were secretly and quietly made for a ceremony with only the family members in attendance. It was customary for the Mexican groom to pay for all of the wedding attire, but since Ricardo and his family had lost everything, it posed a problem. Don Federico, reluctantly but with the help of Doña Francisca, paid the tab and was glad to get the simple wedding over and done with, as soon as possible.
In his own selfish interest, Ricardo saw the opportunity for making money, acquiring wealth from the oil wells, and becoming rich again. He was pleased to marry Victoria, as quickly as possible, before Victoria changed her mind. The family had agreed with Ricardo's suggestions to have the wedding in Reynosa, on the Mexican side, so that his mother and sister, who were now destitute and staying with a family member in Monterrey, could attend.
The Del Calderóne family had not heard from El General since the Revolution had broken out and did not know if he were dead of alive. They would occasionally see stories in the newspapers that the Federalist troops were busy trying to catch Venustiano Carranza, the former Governor of the State of Coahuila. His headquarters were now at Piedra Negras, and he had sponsored another revolt against the Jackal, Huerta, who had taken control as President of Mexico. Carranza issued his Plan de Guadalupe, the charter that became the Constitutionalist Movement and a declaration of civil war to disavow Huerta. He sent telegrams to all the governors asking for them to "unfurl the flag of legality and sustain the constitutional government chosen in the last election." Carranza had also named himself as the First Chief of the Constitutionalist Movement. The partisan Felix Díaz, nephew of former President Díaz, had taken command over the garrison in Matamoros.
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