A Bride's Agreement

by Elaine Bonner

  “Sí Señor.” Tomas backed away a few steps. “Rico says you must come to the pasture.” He turned and trotted away.

  The set of Eduardo’s shoulders and the clenching in his jaw spoke louder than words. Now that they were alone, he would unleash his wrath on her. She tensed, fighting the urge to lean as far away from him as his hold allowed.

  CHAPTER 7

  Furious, Eduardo watched Tomás gallop back toward the pasture where Rico would be waiting. If he had the puma there, he would wring its neck with his hands. He could almost feel the bones crunching. He heard a moan. The sound seemed to pierce the wall of his wrath, and he turned. Chiquita stood beside him, her face pale, her golden eyes dark with fear.

  He glanced down. Remorse washed away some of the anger as he realized he’d been squeezing her hand. “Chiquita.” He gasped as he looked at her fingers mashed together in his. He let go, intending to look and see if he’d hurt her, but she leaped away. Backing against a stall, she began to edge down the walkway to the door, her enormous eyes following his every move.

  “Chiquita, wait.” He stretched out his hand to her. She flinched and moved back another pace. Eduardo let his hand drop to his side. He knew he could reach her before she got too far, but she would believe he was coming to beat her. If he was to ever win her trust, he would have to learn patience. The ache in his heart over the loss of this foal was pushed to the background, replaced by the guilt of what he’d done to his wife.

  “I know I hurt you. I’m sorry.” Eduardo twisted the tip of his mustache. “I am not a man who causes women pain. In my anger at the puma for killing this colt, I forgot I still held your hand.” He stopped. She eased a few more steps toward the door.

  “Go on to the house, Chiquita. I’ll be in after a while.” He wanted to say they would talk about this and clear the air, but she couldn’t talk. How would they ever be able to communicate if all she did was look at him with those doelike eyes? She usually didn’t even nod her head; she just watched him.

  He waited as his wife slipped out of the barn and hurried across the yard to the house. Striding to his horse he’d hitched outside, Eduardo could feel the rage building. He’d put a lot into these horses. Purchasing the pregnant mare and the stallion was an investment. He needed this foal to build his herd. He couldn’t afford to have some hungry cat preying on his livestock.

  Rico, Tomás, and Jorge were huddled around the torn carcass when he rode up. Eduardo dismounted, his horse jittery as he caught the smell of puma and death. Holding the reins in a firm grip, Eduardo moved to where Rico stood.

  “Tomorrow, we’ll plan to spend the day in the saddle. I want to find this cat. I can’t afford to lose more stock.” His clipped words caused the men to step away from him. He ignored that and continued. “Pilar can watch Lucio, can’t she?”

  Rico nodded. “He’s doing much better. So far, he doesn’t have any infection and should be back to work in a few days.”

  “Leave the foal here. If the cat comes back to feed during the night, we’ll get a much fresher trail for the dogs to follow. We’ll all meet at first light and begin tracking.” Eduardo swung up on his restless horse. The gelding danced sideways, wanting away from the terrifying scents.

  Taking a last look at his ruined dreams, Eduardo headed home. He had some work to do around the stable before he went to the house. He also wanted to look in on Lucio and talk to Pilar about going to see Chiquita tomorrow while they were gone. Maybe Pilar could make her understand he wasn’t a monster.

  Even though rage still coursed through him, he determined to be as gentle as possible with Chiquita. He would teach her as he usually did and read the Bible. Maybe she would begin to see that he hadn’t meant to hurt her. She sure didn’t want to listen to his apology.

  The chilly dawn air sent a shiver through Eduardo as he stepped outside the next morning. The lantern swinging at his side threw a ring of light around his feet as he headed to the barn to begin seeing to the gathering of the supplies they would need. He wanted to make sure the horses and dogs were fed and ready by sunrise. Tomás and Jorge were probably already seeing to the chores, but he wanted to make sure. Today, this puma would die. He couldn’t have one coming so close to the house. Not only were the foals in danger, but the people could be as well.

  “Mornin’.” Eduardo greeted Tomás as he entered the barn. The sleepy-eyed young man was forking hay to the horses. Small wisps of chaff drifted in the air, illuminated by the glow of the lantern. Eduardo hung the bail on a hook and went to check on El Rey. The stallion greeted him with a soft whicker.

  Jorge came out of the back of the barn where they milked the cow. He carried two pails, one two-thirds full of milk, the other about half full. He handed the smaller bucket to Eduardo to take to Chiquita while he took the other to Pilar to use for the men’s breakfast.

  “I think soon the other cow will drop her calf. Then we will have more milk to share,” Jorge informed Eduardo before leaving the barn.

  The eastern sky had paled to gray by the time Eduardo got back to the house. He carried the milk inside. The handle thumped as he released it. Chiquita stood at the stove, stirring the eggs. Tortillas warmed at the side. Eduardo’s stomach growled. He’d been pleased to find Chiquita was an excellent cook. After the first day, she was always up and fixing his coffee and breakfast when he came back in from doing chores.

  “Good morning.” He tried to ignore the way she flinched when he came near. Their school lesson hadn’t gone well last night. She’d been so afraid of him, that when he finally did get her to sit by him, she trembled the whole time. He’d ended up fighting his anger and frustration at her lack of belief that he wouldn’t hurt her. Rather than show more ire, he ended the session early and read to her from the Bible for a while before going to bed early.

  “That smells good.” He took a deep breath. “We’ll probably be gone all day after the cougar. Stay close to the house until we come home. I don’t like the idea of one of these cats coming so close to the buildings. It might be injured and looking for easy prey, so don’t go out, all right?”

  Chiquita nodded and dished up his breakfast. She began to strain the milk while he ate. He could see the dark circles under her eyes. She hadn’t slept well last night. Did she think he would come in the middle of the night and start beating her?

  Lord, I have no idea how to make her understand that she isn’t the cause or the satisfaction for my anger. Shame swept over him like a wave. He remembered his mama telling him uncontrolled anger was a sin. When he’d thrown fits as a boy, she used to read a verse from the book of Ephesians about anger. Back then, he’d managed to contain his temper, but since the death of his parents, wrath became easier than peace. He’d allowed fury to replace the joy in his life. He didn’t smile much at all anymore. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d truly laughed.

  Finishing his meal, Eduardo could see the pink on the horizon. The sun would be up any time. He carried his dishes to the washtub, trying to not feel hurt over the way Chiquita moved away from him. “I’m heading out.” He lifted his hat from the hook. “I’ll see you this evening.”

  Watching Eduardo stride across the yard to where Rico and the two hands waited with the horses and dogs, Chiquita couldn’t help rubbing her hand. She hadn’t wanted Eduardo to know it still hurt. Maybe it was only the memory that hurt. He hadn’t squeezed hard enough to break anything. The fear kept her awake most of the night.

  She frowned. She’d planned to go up on the hill today where she’d seen some yucca cactus. They needed some soap, and the yucca made the best. The men thundered out of the yard, followed by the loping dogs. Surely, if they were chasing the cougar, the cat wouldn’t dare come anywhere near the house. It would head for the hills to hide from the baying of the hounds. Gathering the cactus should be safe by this afternoon. Besides, she would be in sight of the house at all times.

  In midmorning, a knock sounded on the door. Chiquita froze, the cleaning rag dangling from her hand.
Who could be here? Maybe if she were quiet, they would leave. She didn’t want to see anyone. The knock came again, followed by a woman’s voice calling her name. Chiquita crossed to the door, her heart in her throat.

  A middle-aged woman stood outside. Her face, brown and creased from years in the sun, carried a smile that seemed genuine. She appeared pleased to see Chiquita, not at all the way Chiquita’s mother and sisters would look at her.

  “Hello, Chiquita. I’m Pilar Gonzalez, Rico’s wife. Eduardo asked me to stop by and see you, since you didn’t get to come over yesterday.” She held out a covered plate. “I brought some empanadas. If you have some coffee, we could spend a little time together.”

  Chiquita moved back to let Pilar in the house. She gestured to the kitchen. Her hands shook as she filled the empty coffeepot and put it on the stove.

  “You are just as pretty as Eduardo said you were.” Pilar set the plate on the table and stepped over to Chiquita. Pilar studied her, making Chiquita want to run and hide. Would this woman see how ugly she was and tell Eduardo’s men?

  Pilar smiled. “I can’t see a thing of Diego or Lupe in you. I’ve seen the other girls. You don’t look like them either. I think you got most of the beauty in the family, but don’t tell them I said that.”

  Pilar continued to talk as the coffee boiled, then perked. Chiquita got out cups for the two of them and poured the aromatic brew. She sank into a chair across from Pilar. As Pilar lifted the cloth from the plate she brought with her, the scent of the pastries made Chiquita’s mouth water.

  “Eduardo told me you can’t talk.” Pilar took a small bite, then a sip of coffee. “Have you ever been able to speak?”

  Chiquita didn’t know what to do. In the recesses of her mind, she could recall a time when she spoke to her sister, Teresa; but the memory was so vague, she always thought it might be a dream. She shrugged.

  Pilar gave Chiquita’s arm a feathery touch. “I know about Diego. I know he treated you terribly. I think perhaps your mother and sisters did, too.” She gave her a sad smile. “I want to be your friend. I want you to know that not all people are like the family you came from. My Rico would never dream of hitting me. He’s always kind and loving.” She tilted her head. “Sometimes he gets mad at me or at something else, but he would never hurt me. Getting angry is part of being human. What we do with that anger depends on who we are. Do you understand that?”

  Chiquita nodded. She couldn’t swallow past the lump in her throat. Was Pilar telling her the truth? Could Eduardo be angry and not hurt her? Could she trust him?

  “I remember when Rico and I first married and began to work for Eduardo’s father and mother. One day, a man named Diego came with his family. They were moving onto some land that bordered the Villegas ranch. They had two little girls with them.” She paused, looking past Chiquita, as if seeing the picture of the people. “The oldest girl was just walking. She tried to go everywhere. The younger girl, the prettiest baby I’ve ever seen, laughed and jabbered at her sister the whole time they were here. Lupe tried to get her to hush, but she wouldn’t listen.”

  Pilar’s gaze sought Chiquita’s. “I believe you were that baby, Chiquita. I think you have the ability to talk, but you were treated so terribly, you forgot how. Will you let me be your friend and help you? Please?”

  A tear dripped on the table. Chiquita hadn’t realized she was crying. Was this true? Someday, would she be able to talk? For years, she hadn’t wanted to speak, but now she found she did want to. She longed to be able to read aloud like Eduardo did. If she had children, she wanted to read to them. If she could talk, she would say things to Eduardo when he wasn’t angry.

  She wiped the wetness from her cheeks and looked up at Pilar. She was crying, too. Pilar stood and held out her arms. With a sob, Chiquita stepped into her embrace. She’d never felt anything so sweet.

  The afternoon sun felt good on Chiquita’s shoulders as she climbed the hill to dig the yucca roots. She carried a large cloth to bundle them in so she wouldn’t get dirt all over. She hadn’t accomplished much work this morning, but she’d had a marvelous time with Pilar. The foreman’s wife told her a lot about Eduardo and the ranch. She talked about Diego and Lupe and how everyone questioned where they got the money for their house. It was an unsolved mystery to many people in the area. Chiquita only shrugged. She had no idea.

  A couple of times during the early afternoon, she thought she’d heard the baying of dogs; but the sound had been so faint, she dismissed it as her imagination. She wondered how Eduardo and the men were doing. There was always danger when hunting an animal like a cougar. When cornered, they could be very vicious.

  She was wrapping the yucca roots in the cloth when she heard the baying of the dogs. She wondered how they could get this close without her hearing them. The ground shook with the thunder of horses’ hooves. Chiquita dropped to the ground, huddled close to the base of the yucca, grateful that this desert plant didn’t have the sharp stickers that many others did.

  An animal snarled. The barking became frenzied. She began to shake. A gunshot came so close, she started. She curled in a tight ball. The animal’s growl was cut off. Rocks rattled down the hillside. Chiquita raised her head a few moments later to see Eduardo and his men standing near her at the crest of the hill, staring down the other side.

  Eduardo turned to look back at the house. His gaze locked on Chiquita. His face darkened in anger. “What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you not to go outside today?”

  She trembled, the kind things Pilar told her about Eduardo almost forgotten.

  CHAPTER 8

  This had to be the cagiest cat he’d ever tracked. Eduardo and Rico shook their heads and pushed the horses harder as the trail wound back toward the hacienda. All day, the puma had tried to lose them, but the dogs were too well trained. Although they’d been slowed down a few times, they were closing in now.

  Up ahead, the dogs’ barking became frenzied and high-pitched. Eduardo urged his tired mount to a gallop. Racing up a hilltop near the house, he could see the cougar stretched out at a dead run. The cat would want to find a place with rocks at its back to face down the enemy. There weren’t any places like that close to here. Eduardo pulled his rifle from the scabbard. He wanted to be ready as soon as he could get off a clean shot. This beast wouldn’t be allowed to get any closer to his home.

  For a moment, his thoughts strayed to Chiquita. Amazing how protective he felt toward her already. He enjoyed having someone there when he came in at night. Although she didn’t talk, Chiquita’s presence warmed the house. She cooked and cleaned better than any woman he’d ever known. His clothes that were worn or torn were now mended with small, neat stitches that she made while listening to him read the Bible. All he’d seemed to repay her with was his short temper.

  All day, he’d been consumed with guilt over the way he’d hurt her last night. During the hours on the hunt, he let Rico take the lead most of the time while he hung back and prayed about his anger. He couldn’t bear to see the hurt and fear in Chiquita’s eyes again. His parents always had joy. He’d begged God to replace his rage with that same joy. Maybe if he tried hard enough, he could teach Chiquita to be content with him.

  The puma spun around at the top of the hill and snarled at the approaching dogs. Eduardo reined his gelding to a halt and raised the rifle. The cat stayed motionless a moment too long. In the middle of his growl, Eduardo’s bullet sent the cougar tumbling down the side of the hill, away from the house. All he could feel was relief that the animal hadn’t ended up in his backyard, scaring Chiquita.

  Swinging down, Eduardo followed Rico to the place where the cat disappeared. Rico held his gun ready in case Eduardo’s shot hadn’t been enough. The puma lay motionless in a pile of rocks at the bottom of the hill. Eduardo couldn’t believe how close this animal had come to his home, his wife.

  Turning, he started to look down the other side of the hill at the house below. Something beneath a tall yucca caught his eye. He f
ound himself staring at Chiquita, who huddled in a ball like a terrified child. She’d disobeyed him. She put herself in danger by coming out here while they were hunting this cougar.

  His fists clenched. He could feel the anger begin to course through his veins. As if he were outside himself, he watched as he began to stride toward Chiquita. Her eyes widened, then closed as if she knew a beating was coming. Eduardo didn’t slow his pace, but his prayers from earlier that day seemed to brush away the building rage. Instead, he only felt relief that she hadn’t been hurt by the puma. In his mind, he could almost picture the horror of finding her injured or killed. Even worse was the thought that one of the bullets, intended for the cougar, might have struck Chiquita by accident since they hadn’t known she was there. He didn’t think he could live with himself if he’d done that.

  Eduardo scooped Chiquita up off the ground. He pulled her against him. She came without resistance, although he could feel the rigidity of her muscles. Wrapping his arms around her, he began to stroke her back, her hair, speaking in a low, soothing tone. He glanced at Rico and motioned with a nod of his head for the foreman to take the horses and dogs and put them up. For a long time, Eduardo held Chiquita. Bit by bit, he felt her relax as she must have realized he wasn’t going to hurt her. At last she rested against him, her cheek pressed to his chest. Eduardo thought he could remain like this forever. How had this woman become so important to him so soon? Dare he hope that someday he would come to love her?

  “Are you all right?” Eduardo still held Chiquita tight. He picked off some of the plant debris tangled in her long hair. She nodded against his chest. He doubted she’d ever been shown simple affection like this before. “I think we should go back to the house. I’ll carry the yucca for you.”