"You mean you sting your nicely shaped little derriere only one time out of five, instead of five times out of five?"
Leonor flushed and looked around to see if anyone had heard his remarks. No one seemed to be paying them the least attention so she let out her breath and turned back to him. "I find your remarks objectionable," she said coldly.
"Of course you do! Nobody likes to admit they are making a fool out of themselves. And I don't apologize, either. You do have a magnificently rounded—"
"Oh hush," she snapped. "Have you such poor manners that you must tell me about it in company?"
"It would be more to your liking for me to mention it privately?"
Her face was scarlet. "No! Oh, you're impossible!"
He grinned. "So you've said before. Very well, I won't tease you any more. I'll go talk to your mother. She appreciates me."
And he did. He sauntered over and sat down between Dona Margarita and Dona Juana and spent the next hour captivating those two ladies, to Leonor's disgust. She sat in her corner, occasionally making stiff and uninteresting conversation with her host and several other of the dons who came over to speak and tried not to admit to herself that all the zest had gone out of the gathering. She didn't need Dimitri Varanov to entertain her. She could entertain herself well enough. He was an impossible, aggravating, arrogant beast! For the remainder of the visit she kept up an appearance of enjoyment, all the while growing more and more annoyed at the man who sat on the other side of the room, totally ignoring her.
Chapter Eight
Leonor rode towards the rising hills to the east, relaxed in the saddle, enjoying the fresh air that lifted the loose curls at her temples and nape. She had longed for a good, hard gallop on Raya for the last few days but Don Gilberto had given orders in the stable that she was to stay close to the hacienda. When she had stormed into his office to question that, he shrugged and said her mother was worried about the rumors of violence in the region and did not want Leonor wandering around the estate alone. If she must ride, she would take a groom with her. As she left his office, having promised that she would, he glanced at Eduardo and smiled, a small, cold smile that sent chills down Eduardo's spine. He didn't know what was behind his master's smile, but he could guess that it didn't bode well for Senorita Leonor!
True to her promise, Leonor rode out the next afternoon, accompanied by Paco, the youngest groom in the stables, a lad of thirteen. He was delighted to be released from stable duty to accompany his mistress and viewed her straight back and beautiful form on Raya with a sigh of pleasure. Not only could she ride, she was gorgeous! Blissfully, he trailed along behind her, not even minding the dust kicked up by Raya's heels.
The late afternoon sun slanted over the rounded hills and Leonor wondered why Benito, Tobias' eldest son, had chosen this section for a meeting. It was all very mysterious, she thought. When the message had been brought an hour earlier by a young lad that Leonor didn't recognize, she had given no thought to the strangeness of the request. Benito asked her to meet him at the little stream in the valley ahead and Leonor willingly agreed. But now she wondered about it. Had something happened that Benito wanted to tell her and he did not want to risk either Jorge or Don Gilberto finding out that he was meeting her? This was, indeed, the most isolated part of the estate. She had already left the last farm well behind her and this valley was on the northern fringe of the de Reyes estate. Thoroughly curious now, she skirted the last low hill and went down the slope to the narrow stream at the base.
''I am meeting someone here, Paco. While I wait, water the horses, please." She dismounted and handed him Raya's reins and walked over and leaned against one of the cottonwood trees that lined the stream. The sound of a branch snapping under a boot brought her around and she stared at the man emerging from the trees toward her.
"Who are you?" she demanded, frowning at the huge man. He wore a wide brimmed hat pulled low on his brow and his clothes were rough and stained. "Did Benito send you?"
The man did not speak, but kept walking toward her and Leonor pushed away from the tree, her frowning expression giving way to one of alarm. "Who are you?"
She made a move toward Paco, who had turned at her voice and was gaping at the man advancing on his mistress. When the man lunged and caught Leonor roughly in his arms, Paco, with a shout of alarm, dropped the reins and ran forward. A second man dashed out of the trees and seized the boy.
"Let me go!" Leonor gasped, struggling to free herself of the man's iron grip. "I demand that you release me!"
He gave a crude laugh and pulled her tighter against him.
"Paco!" she shouted, turning her head to look for her groom and, gazing in horror, she saw the other man raise his arm and strike Paco on the side of the head with a heavy branch. "You . . . You've hurt him! Let me go!"
The second man, not even sparing a glance at the fallen lad, came toward Leonor and her captor. He untied a coil of rope from his belt and, with the first man's help, began to bind her hands.
"What do you want?" she demanded. She was terrified now and struggled wildly.
"You," the second man said tying the knot firmly. He pulled a dirty handkerchief from his pocket and reached toward her face. Leonor shrank away from his hands and twisted her head back and forth. With a curse, he threw the handkerchief across her mouth and tied it firmly behind her head. Bound and gagged, she continued to struggle but in vain.
"Do you have the note?" the first man asked.
The second man pulled a tattered bit of paper from his pocket and stuck it in Paco's belt. "He'll be coming around soon and will take this to his master. We'd best move."
The first man picked the struggling Leonor up and carried her into the woods, while the second man followed. In a small clearing fifty yards inside the grove of trees, three horses waited. Leonor was unceremoniously dumped on one and barely managed to get her legs over the horse's back and her feet into the stirrups before the other two had mounted. The first man took up the reins and, leading her horse, moved out of the clearing.
Leonor tried to hold onto the small horn on the saddle with her bound hands and study the two men. She had never seen them before. Why had they kidnapped her? What did they want of her? She swallowed hard, trying to suppress the fear that rose within her at the possible answers to that question. They had put a note in Paco's belt, expecting him to awaken and take the note to her stepfather. Did they want ransom, then? For the first time, she began to hope that the situation wasn't as desperate as it first appeared. Nevertheless, she would take careful note of where they took her and seize any chance that offered for escape!
The sun was low over the hills when Paco awoke. He groaned, rolled over and rubbed his head gingerly. As his eyesight cleared, he saw the two horses grazing nearby and his wits began to work again. Senorita Leonor! Those two men had seized her and . . . what? He didn't remember any more! But she was obviously gone. He staggered to his feet and called and called but no voice answered him. The only sound he heard, beside the murmur of the small stream and the thunderous beat of his heart, was the crackle of paper when he moved. Glancing down, he saw the note shoved under his belt and drew it out. Paco couldn't read but he knew the note was not his. If Senorita Leonor had not put it there, then the men had! He turned and looked at the sinking sun. From its angle over the hills, he judged it must be nearly six o'clock. Had he been unconscious for two hours? His face blanched with pain and fear, he caught the two horses and managed to mount, leading Raya home.
He told his story first in the stables to Pedro, the head groom. Pedro, who also could not read, fingered the note thoughtfully and led the lad to the house to see Don Gilberto. Eventually Don Gilberto consented to see them. He listened to Pedro's story, questioned Paco several times then, taking the note, read it and dismissed them. Pedro, very curious indeed to know what the note said, lingered outside Don Gilberto's door as Eduardo was called in.
"I have here a note, Eduardo, which demands a heavy ransom for Sen
orita Leonor. It appears that two men have kidnapped her and will only return her if the ransom is promptly paid. I will be with Dona Juana. She must be apprised of this."
Pedro, pushing Paco out of the office, went thoughtfully back to the stable. He could scarcely believe what he'd heard. Strangers invading the estate and kidnapping Senorita Leonor? And demanding a heavy ransom? It was unthinkable! He ignored Paco's pitiful protests and made the boy go over the entire story again, describing both of the men he'd seen and what they said and did. He was unsurprised when, half an hour later, Paquita burst into the stable and demanded to see Paco. Pedro told her he'd sent the boy to bed to rest that throbbing head of his, and he would answer her questions.
"So you know what has happened, Pedro?"
"Si, Paquita. I heard the don tell his secretary. Does Dona Juana know?"
Paquita crossed herself fervently. "He has told her. Her maid is putting her to bed. Tell me exactly what Paco told you."
Pedro obliged.
"I need a horse," she said firmly, when he had finished. "Now, Pedro. I must get help for Senorita Leonor."
"You? Did Don Gilberto send you to get help?" Pedro asked cautiously.
"I go," she said even more firmly. "Hurry, now, time may matter!"
Pedro saddled a mare for her, wondering if he should let her have the horse. She had not said, not exactly, that Don Gilberto had sent her. If questioned, he would say he believed her to have said just that!
The guard outside the stables stopped her. "Where do you go, Paquita? No one is to leave the estate without permission."
"I have permission," she said sharply, hoping that he would not insist that Jorge be fetched to verify that. "Have you not heard? Some men have taken Senorita Leonor. Out of my way! Or you'll be explaining yourself to Don Gilberto!"
The guard scrambled hastily aside and watched in puzzlement as she rode furiously off.
Paquita knew the road well and kept the horse at a gallop until she reached the road leading to the Hacienda Azahar. She told the startled guard that she had business on the estate and he let her pass. Moments later, she turned into a lane and pulled up in front of the cluster of cottages.
"Andres!" she cried, tumbling from the saddle. "Andres!"
He came to the door of his house, staring in astonishment at her. "Paquita? What brings you here?"
"Trouble," she panted, drawing him inside. To her dismay she saw Cesar sitting at the rough table, cradling a mug of ale between his hands and she hesitated. "I must speak to you, Andres."
"Speak! You are mad to ride here alone, Paquita."
She waved that aside. "Some men kidnapped Senorita Leonor," she gasped. "Paco, the young groom with her, was attacked and when he awakened, he found a ransom note under his belt. He brought it to Don Gilberto. They want much money, Andres, and he says that he shall not pay it. Oh, Andres, you must help me! Some men have taken her and no one will do a thing!"
Andres exchanged a startled look with Cesar then drew her to the table and made her sit down. "Begin at the beginning, Paquita. Tell us the whole story."
She told of Paco's return, his tale and the note. "Don Gilberto told Dona Juana. I was there when he came to tell her, and he said he would not pay the money. She protested but he said no. She begged him, Andres, but he would not. He said the men would not return Senorita Leonor even if he did pay. They would not dare return her alive, since she had seen them!"
"He has men out searching for her?" Cesar asked.
"No! He has done nothing. He says it is impossible to do anything until morning, when he will send word to Don Carlos. It is Don Carlos who will take his soldiers to look for her. But Andres, something must be done for her now! Every moment that we delay, she is taken further from us. Who knows what those men might do to her!" Paquita burst into tears, leaning against Andres' shoulder.
He stroked her hair. "I'll have a man escort you home, Paquita, and I promise you we'll search for her."
"You'll go now? They took her at that small stream in the northern valley. You know the place?"
"I know the place. We'll go now."
"We must go and tell Don Dimitri," Cesar began.
"Oh, yes," Paquita said between sobs. "He will know what to do."
The three hurried to the main house, only to learn that Don Dimitri was not there. Cesar questioned the servant who answered the door, then turned in dismay to Andres and Paquita. "He has gone to Los Angeles, the man says."
Andres stepped past Cesar and fixed the servant with a stern eye. "You, did your master say when he would return?"
The man shook his head. "No, Andres, he did not. He said only that he would be riding into Los Angeles and would then call at Senorita de Reyes' house. I heard him tell Senor Sergei that."
Andres turned to Cesar. "Then he may be at the de Reyes hacienda already or at least on his way there."
"Then we wait for him," Cesar said.
"No! We cannot wait!" Paquita cried, "Andres—"
"Paquita is correct, Cesar. We must not wait. I will take men to the de Reyes hacienda and wait for him there. Once he learns the news, he will not wish to delay."
Unaware of the news awaiting him, Dimitri, accompanied by Sergei and an escort of four men, rode to the de Reyes estate. His excuse to call was a small pouch of crushed herbs, a species that Dona Juana had mentioned at the meeting of the dons at the Cerveras' that she was having difficulty in locating. Dimitri went to the trouble to locate some and now would deliver them to Dona Juana. His real reason for calling, however, was that he had not seen Leonor since the meeting and he was curious to discover how she was faring. She had been continuing her activities, if the gossip Sergei had collected was accurate, and Dimitri increasingly felt that she was flirting with trouble by doing so.
He let Sergei take his horse and the escort to the stables to wait while he paid his call and briskly mounted the steps to the front door. For a long time no one answered the door and he vigorously plied the heavy wrought-iron knocker again. At length, Tomas opened the door and Dimitri strode into the hall.
"Buenos días, Tomas. I would like to see Dona Juana."
Thomas gaped at him and stammered, "II, senor, it's impossible!"
Dimitri paused in the act of swinging off his cloak and looked hard at the majordomo. "Then is Don Gilberto here?"
"He is with the mistress. Senor, I'm sorry but—"
Dimitri had, by now, taken in the majordomo's pale, strained face and shaking hands. "Tomas, is aught the matter?"
Tomas wrung his hands. "Senor, we don't know what to do!"
"Perhaps if I could see Senorita Leonor she could explain what is going on here."
"Alas, that too is impossible," Tomas wailed. "She's gone."
"Gone? Gone where?"
"We don't know! Oh, senor, it has been terrible," the old man moaned, smoothing his rumpled shirt front with shaking hands. "The groom came back and said men took Senorita Leonor and the senora is prostrate! The master won't let me send for Don Carlos until morning or do anything and my lady fainted—" He turned paler just thinking about the scene in the sala when Don Gilberto had broken the news to his wife. Dona Juana had turned very pale and quietly fainted and Tomas had had a time bringing her around. When she recovered her senses, she had begun to cry and Paquita had managed to get her upstairs to her room and tuck her into her bed.
Dimitri took the shaken Tomas by the arm and insisted that he sit down. Once the elderly man was seated, Dimitri managed to calm him enough to coax the story from him.
Tomas quaveringly related what he knew about the ransom note and Don Gilberto's lack of immediate action.
"Where is Don Gilberto now?"
"With the senora," Tomas said.
"I wish to see him. Now," Dimitri added firmly. "Ask him to come and speak to me."
''I'll try, senor, but—"
"I will wait here until I see him. You may tell him that."
Shortly Don Gilberto came down the stairs. It was clear tha
t his normally smooth manner had deserted him. "This is not a convenient time to visit, Don Dimitri," he began coldly.
Dimitri also dispensed with the amenities. "I wish to know what is being done to find Senorita Leonor."
Stormy violet eyes challenged black ones and the black ones slid away. "It will soon be dark and there is nothing we can do until morning. Then I will inform Don Carlos and he will send soldiers to aid us in our search."
"And by then the bandidos who took her will be far away. What is this ransom they spoke of?"
"I do not see," Don Gilberto said frostily, "that it is any of your concern, senor."
"I am making it my concern," Dimitri said, his voice even but edged with ice. "What is the ransom?"
"They demand a huge sum of money."
"And you are going to pay it? Did they say where they would exchange it for Leonor?"
Surrender by Moonlight Page 12