Untamed Fire Read Free Page A

praying for assistance.
    ~~~
    “Six months,” Gaby cried out and threw the
scrub brush into the bucket with such force that it sent water
splashing over the sides and onto the hem of the padre’s robe.
    “Listen to me, child,” he said in the stern
voice he used only in the confessional.
    Gaby was immediately repentant and gave him
her full and silent attention.
    “I do not believe for one minute that you
stole the senor’s horse. You were concerned about your brother and
acted instinctively. Unfortunately, the rancheros take great pride
in their possessions and their status in the community. And if they
hadn’t created laws for the town, chaos would prevail. Senor
Cabrillo is being extremely fair in his treatment of the
situation.”
    “Fair?” Gaby asked incredulously.
    “Yes, fair,” he repeated. “You will live in
a large hacienda with more than adequate food and shelter.”
    “I have adequate food and shelter now.”
    The padre shook his head. “Think, child.
Your family barely has enough to feed all of you. Many times you,
yourself, have gone without a meal so there would be more for the
little ones. Five of you sleep in one bed. Don’t you think by
becoming a companion to a wealthy woman that your family would
benefit? Dona Maria is generous. She will give you clothing and
food in abundance and coins on the holidays.”
    Gaby knew he was right. Her family would
benefit from her punishment as crazy as it seemed. She had no
choice. The decision wasn’t hers to make anyway.
    The padre gently placed his hand on Gaby’s
arm. “One thing you must remember, my child. You must obey Senor
Cabrillo. Never question his command.”
    Gaby placed her hands on her hips, tilted
her head slightly to the side and smiled. A smile the padre was
familiar with. It was the one she wore just before her determined
nature was about to get her into trouble.
    ~~~
    Gabriella hugged her mother one last time,
holding back tears so she wouldn’t upset her. She kept reassuring
her, explaining how this would be best for all of them. She
promised to visit as often as she could since the Cabrillo hacienda
wasn’t far from town.
    “Give father and my two brothers my love
when they return from the orchard. Tell them I’ll see them soon.”
She quickly hugged her sisters and was about to give Juan a big
kiss when the little boy burst into tears and threw his arms around
her.
    “It’s my fault that you’re being sent
away.”
    Gaby couldn’t bear to see him blame himself.
“No, Juan. It isn’t your fault. The senor was looking for someone
to help his Madre and the padre thought of me.”
    “No! No!” he cried. “He’s taking you away
because you stole his horse and he’s going to hang you.”
    Gaby hugged the trembling boy. “No, Juan,
that’s not true. Senor Cabrillo isn’t going to hang me.”
    “Yes, he is,” Juan insisted. “Pablo says all
horse thieves get hanged.”
    “I’m not a horse thief.”
    Juan pulled himself away from her. “But
Senor Cabrillo thinks you are. He’ll take you to the big tree at
the end of town and hang you there.”
Gaby’s mother began to cry and her sisters soon followed. The young
woman took Juan by the hand, grabbed the black shawl bundled with
her few clothes and meager possessions and ordered the others to
follow.
    Rafael was standing next to Bella speaking
with Padre Jose when the Alvardo family with Gaby in the lead,
emerged from around the corner of the church,
    “ Ay de mi ,” the padre said, crossing
himself.
    Rafael smiled. “You appear to cross yourself
whenever Gaby is near, Padre. Does she require that much help from
above?”
    The padre raised his head toward heaven and
nodded.
    Gaby stopped in front of Rafael. Even though
she was just shy of six inches over five feet, she still had to
tilt her head back to meet his eyes. She paused a moment, realizing
for the first time just how handsome the ranchero was. His
complexion was touched with the deep richness of days