“Do my eyes speak to you as much as yours do to me?” she asked softly.
“What do my eyes say?”
“That you want me as much as I want you,” her eyes danced with a smile again, “though your roaming hands speak much louder.”
He realized then that his hands were rubbing her backside and he stilled them. He brushed a kiss across her cheek and whispered in her ear, “There isn’t a time I don’t want you.”
“It is good then that I feel the same way.”
“Tonight... if you’re feeling well enough—”
“I will feel well enough. Will you?”
Esteban smiled. “There you go challenging me again.”
They bantered while he finished helping her dress in a skirt and blouse. He had insisted on her peasant dress, knowing it would be much more comfortable for her. She saw to her hair, quickly running a comb through it and twisting it to pin with a fan comb to the back of her head.
Once she finished, Esteban took her arm and wrapped it around his. “Now remember if you grow tired—”
“You will be the first to know.”
Chapter Thirty
Rosa woke with a stretch and a wince, reminding her of yesterday’s ordeal, and of how she had fallen asleep as soon as she rested her head to her pillow. She turned her head and wasn’t surprised to see that her husband wasn’t there. She knew exactly what he was up to. He had delayed coming to bed last night and now he was gone before she woke. He intended to avoid any chance of making love with her until she healed.
She didn’t like that thought at all, even if he was being considerate. She was about to smile when she recalled the consequences if she did, so she smiled inwardly. She wondered if Esteban realized that renegades were never considerate. Little by little he was shedding his renegade persona and though he had warned that it would always be part of him, she was certain that someday it would fade into oblivion. And the reason was simple. He would no longer need it.
She eased herself out of bed and was surprised that her aches were far more minor than she had expected. Actually, the more she moved around getting dressed, the less she ached. She was also pleased to see that the bruise on her face had never turned that bad. It was already a pale yellow and would be gone in a couple of days. Her lip however was still swollen, though the wound had at least closed up some. She would have to be careful not to split it open again.
Dolores entered the room just as she was braiding her hair, having decided it would work best for today.
“You should have waited for a servant to help you,” Dolores scolded with a shake of her finger.
“I have done for myself too long to be looked after by others.”
“Your husband thinks differently. He had ordered that you are to do nothing but rest until he says otherwise.” Dolores held up her hand when Rosa went to protest. “Would you make it difficult for the servants to carry out his orders?”
Rosa sighed. “No, I would never want that, but I feel fine. I don’t need to rest.”
Dolores pushed her hands away and went to work finishing her braid. “Esteban is worried about you and I have not seen him worry about anyone or anything since his return home. You have not only given him a reason to care, but also to live.”
Rosa allowed herself a hint of a smile. “He told me he loves me.”
Dolores grinned and blessed herself. “Thank the heavens. The man was carrying his heart for all to see, but he, himself, was blind to it.” She tied the braid at the end with a yellow ribbon. “Now, the sun has been up for hours, the day beautiful so would you like to have breakfast on the patio or in one of the gardens since everyone has eaten already?”
“What is Esteban up to?”
“He’s getting ready to go into town.”
Rosa jumped up. “I want to go with him. I can visit with Marinda. No doubt she heard about the incident here and is worried about me.”
“You are to rest,” Dolores reminded.
“It will be restful to visit my friend,” Rosa said and with a flourish was out the door.
She hurried through the hacienda, surprised that it was so quiet. She soon discovered from one of the servants that Dona Valerianna was busy checking on the wounded and Don Alejandro was with the vaqueros who were mending fences that had been torn down. Don Esteban was going into town for more supplies.
Rosa hurried to the stables and as she came around the corner she almost smacked right into her husband. Luckily, he was quick and grabbed hold of her before they collided.
Before he could say a word she said, “I want to go to town with you.”
“What are you doing running around the hacienda when you should be resting?” he demanded, ignoring her remark.
“Why did you leave me to wake alone?” she asked with a slightest upturn at the corners of her mouth.
He leaned down almost pressing his nose to hers. “The same reason I delayed coming to bed last night.”
“Which was?” She knew, but she wanted to hear him say it.
“You were exhausted and needed rest.”
She placed her hand to his chest. “I need you more than rest, but since you so generously gave me time to sleep, I am now well rested. And I would love to visit with my friend Marinda.”
“I can have her visit in a couple of days.”
“Why can’t I go now?”
“Because it isn’t safe.”
“I’m safe as long as I’m with you.”
Esteban looked ready to argue, but her reasoning struck a chord. Even with guards posted around the hacienda Pacquito’s men had managed to sneak onto the property and create havoc. And although his father was posting more guards, it wouldn’t make a difference. If Pacquito decided to strike with all his force, nothing would stop him.
That thought alone had him saying, “You will come to town with me.”
Rosa hugged him and fought not to smile, though her eyes turned wide with joy. “Do I have time to collect some fruit—”
“I will see to that. You go and find out from Mother what she needs from the Mercantile?”
“I’ll be back shortly,” she said, turned and hurried off.
Esteban stared after her smiling. She didn’t even think that he might be sending her off so that he could leave without her. It amazed him that she trusted him without a doubt. She hadn’t hesitated or questioned him... she simply believed in him.
He silently cursed her injured lip. He damn well wanted to kiss her—actually—he wanted to do more than kiss her, had since last night. But her exhaustion had been palpable. He had seen it in the way her shoulders had begun to droop and how her pace slowed and how she had repeatedly yawned. Not that she would have admitted it to him. She hadn’t had to though. He had known once she had gotten into bed that she’d be asleep... and she had.
It hadn’t been long after that that he had joined her. He had curled himself around her, her warmth seeping into him and though he thought that sleep would elude him, it hadn’t. He had barely settled against her when he had fallen asleep. The worst part was waking to an aching arousal. He hadn’t wasted a minute. He got out of bed away from her since if he had lingered, he wouldn’t have been able to stop from making love to her.
Tonight, however, he would make love to her, gently, carefully, of that he was certain.
~~~
The town was abuzz with people. Many gathered in groups talking, no doubt about the renegades in the area. Rosa hoped that with the incident at the hacienda all would realize that Esteban was no longer part of the renegades, and they would be more accepting of him.
Esteban stopped the carriage in front of Marinda’s small house, the six vaqueros with him remaining on their horses scouting the area with their eyes, while two dozen more vaqueros took positions throughout the town.
“You are to stay here until I come for you,” Esteban ordered stepping down from the carriage and walking around to the other side to assist his wife. Her hands went to his shoulder as h
is went to her waist. It amazed him that she had grown so comfortable with him and so trusting. Where once he had seen fear of him in her eyes, he now only saw love. He placed her on the ground, brushing a gently finger over the bruise on her face.
“It’s not that bad and it’s already fading,” she assured him.
“Be careful of your lip,” he reminded, “you don’t want to accidently open the wound again or it will take forever to heal. And it will be that much longer before I’ll be able to kiss you again.”
She lowered her voice to a bare whisper. “There are other places you can kiss.”
Esteban smiled and though he didn’t see it, Rosa saw the startled look of those around them. No one had ever seen Esteban smile. Now they would see that he was just like them... well somewhat like them.
He pressed his cheek to hers and whispered, “Tonight I’m going to kiss every one of those places.”
“We will see,” she said with a tap to his chest, “after all you did fall asleep last night.”
“Who fell asleep first last night?”
Rosa didn’t have a chance to answer. Marinda stepped out of the house with a broad smile and calling out her name. Her smile faded when she caught sight of Rosa, though she said nothing, for now.
Esteban grabbed the basket of fruit from the carriage while his wife hurried to greet Marinda with a hug.
“Don Esteban,” Marinda said lowering her head respectfully when he stepped next to his wife.
“Marinda,” he acknowledged with a nod, then turned to Rosa. “The vaqueros will be close by should you need anything. I will return for you when I finish, which should be in a couple of hours.”
Rosa nodded with the slightest of smiles to let her husband know how pleased she was to be able to spend time with her friend.
No soon as the two women entered the house, then Marinda asked, “Did he hit you?”
Rosa was so taken aback by the question that she found herself speechless for a few moments. Then she shook her head. “Esteban would never hit me. Didn’t you hear about what happened at the hacienda?”
Marinda lowered her voice. “There is talk that renegades where there, but no buildings were destroyed or lives lost. Some believe that the renegades were actually welcomed there.”
Rosa gasped. “What fool would believe such nonsense. Several vaqueros were injured chasing the renegades off the property and I was attacked trying to rescue Emil.”
“Carlita’s little boy?”
Rosa nodded. “I was able to get him free of the renegade who had captured him, but if it hadn’t been for my husband...” She shuddered unable to say anymore.
Marinda hugged her friend. “I am so sorry, Rosa, I didn’t know. And when I saw your face...” She stepped back and took the basket from Rosa. “We will have a cool drink, and then go to the fountain and visit with the other women. Once they hear the truth, they will spread the news and the lies will stop.”
“That would be wonderful, Marinda. Esteban is a good man and a very good husband, and I would like everyone to know that.”
“Then you are happy with him?”
Rosa couldn’t stop her cheeks from blushing. “Very happy—I love him and—he loves me.”
Marinda yelped with joy and once again hugged her friend. “I am so happy for you. I have been praying every day for you and lighting candles. Paco says I will burn the church down I light so many candles.”
The two women laughed, though Rosa was careful to laugh softly. She ached to kiss her husband again so she was vigilant about her lip.
“I have good news too,” Marinda said with a smile so wide, it seemed to spread across her face.
“Tell me,” Rosa said eager to hear.
“I’m pregnant.”
Rosa screeched and threw her arms around Marinda. They hugged and laughed again and when they separated Marinda’s smile faded.
“Your lip,” she said and hurried to get a cloth. She ordered Rosa to sit and tended the wound. “It’s not bad, just a little blood, but then you always did heal fast.”
“Do not worry about that, tell me about the baby,” Rosa urged. “When are you due? Have you thought of names?’
They were soon lost in discussing the baby. Time sped by and Marinda finally reminded that they needed to spend time at the town well with the other women.
Before they left the house Marinda said, “I am going to light more candles so that you will soon get pregnant and our babies are born close together and can be good friends like we are.”
“That would be wonderful,” Rosa agreed and they left the house arm in arm talking more about babies.
The women at the well greeted Rosa, pleased to see her. She knew that her peasant clothes made it easier for them to approach her, for it made it appear as if she was still one of them, and to her she was. It changed nothing that she was of noble blood. She actually didn’t care.
After greetings were finished and family’s asked about, it was Marinda who brought up the incident at the Cesare hacienda. The women listened intently as Rosa took it from there explaining what had happened. She made certain that everyone knew how much she loved her husband and what a good man he was.
After questions were asked and curiosities settled, talk turned to other things and Rosa was pleased. The women would spread the news and people would begin to talk differently about Esteban.
The women parted to let Padre Marten into their circle when he made it known he wanted to speak with Rosa. His gasped when he took one look at her. And she was relieved when Marinda began to explain what had happened, then other women joined in and Rosa knew that by nightfall the whole town would know the truth.
The padre was soon enjoying a fat orange from the basket Marinda had brought to the well with them. She had kept enough fruit for Paco and her, and the rest she had insisted on sharing with the other women.
The padre blessed the women and left them to chat, taking another orange with him.
The women continued to talk and laugh and Rosa was ever so grateful for being able to share this time with them just as she used to. She had missed the friendships and she promised herself that she would visit more often once this ordeal with Pacquito was finally laid to rest.
“What is this I hear?” the booming voice called out. “You shame me?”
Rosa turned to see Roberto Curro and three other men approach.
“Move out of the way,” he demanded of the women in his path.
They stepped aside reluctantly knowing Roberto would think nothing of squatting at them if they didn’t. And none wanted to put their husbands’ in the position of dealing with the harsh man.
Roberto came to a stop a few feet away from Rosa. “Your husband is forced to take a hand to you? Are you still a lazy sot? Have I taught you nothing? Or do you refuse to do your wifely duties?”
Rosa placed her hands on her hips and raised her chin a notch. “How dare you approach me and speak so discourteously to me. I am the wife of Don Esteban Cesare and the daughter of nobles, you will treat me with the respect deserving of my station. Now apologize.”
Smiles popped out on all the women’s faces and giggles could be heard behind her while Roberto looked about to explode, his face having turned bright red.
Roberto sputtered and spit as he tried to form an answer.
“You heard her. Apologize now!”
All eyes turned to the side to see Esteban standing there.
Rosa felt her breath catch. He had strapped on his sheathed knife and although his garments were that of a powerful ranchero, the weapon gave a hint to the renegade lurking inside him.
Everyone took several steps back and the three men with Roberto hurried off, though lingered nearby to see what would happen.
Not wanting to be made the fool in front of everyone, Roberto unwisely spoke up, “I taught her to be obedient—”
Esteban interrupted. “You taught her what cruelty was.”
“I did no different than you, raising a ha
nd to her so she knows her place.”
Esteban took a quick step forward and Roberto stumbled back. “Her place? Rosa is not a servant, she is my wife. And I will not warn you again to apologize to her or I will show you exactly what happens when I take my hand to someone.”
The threat was enough to have Roberto saying, “I am sorry.”
“Not good enough,” Esteban admonished, his dark eyes heated with anger. “You will acknowledge her properly and issue an appropriate apology.”
Roberto did not look at all happy, though he did appear fearful, which no doubt gave him the impetus to say, “Dona Rosa, please forgive me for being so rude.”
“Now bow your head and say it again.”
Red splotches crept up Roberto’s neck to stain his cheeks, but he did as he was told and bowed his head as he repeated his apology.
Esteban walked over to Roberto who stood visibly shaking at his approach. He leaned over and whispered to the man, “Don’t ever talk to my wife again, don’t even look at her or you’ll be sorry.”
Roberto tried for a bit of bravado. “Threatening to kill me again?”
“No, death is too swift a punishment. I’ll turn you over to the renegades.”
Roberto stumbled back away from Esteban and paled to the point that he appeared as if he would pass out. He turned and hurried off.
Esteban went to his wife. “Time to go home.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Rosa took her time getting dressed for supper. Esteban had been summoned to the vineyards by his father shortly after they had returned home. Rosa had gone to see if Dona Valerianna needed help with anything and had spent the next few hours helping to deliver extra food to the families of the vaqueros who had been injured.
When they were finished, both women had gone off to change for supper and to Rosa’s surprise and pleasure a bath was waiting for her. The warm water helped rejuvenate her, though she hadn’t felt as tired as she thought she would after the active day she had so far.
Even with the incident in town, the time spent there had been enjoyable as was the ride home. They hadn’t discussed Roberto and Rosa hadn’t wanted to. She had wanted simply to enjoy the ride with Esteban and think of it as nothing more than a happy day spent with her husband.
Renegade Love (Rancheros) Page 24