Zach threw back his head and laughed. He laughed until tears filled his eyes. Then he looked at her, really looked at her. It was the same, that slightly brazen stance, the slender shoulders squared as if she'd take on the whole world if necessary. It was in the challenge in her eyes. She reminded him of Elyse.
"You should be home with your sisters, wearing pretty dresses, learning how to be a lady."
"Why would I want to be a lady?" she replied. "It's boring. All they ever do is sit and gossip and eat pastries. They all grow fat, but I will never be fat." She laid a hand against her chest as if making a solemn promise.
"I want to be slender, so that I can run fast like the boys. I do what boys do, I like boats and horses and fighting."
"Ah." Zach sighed, taken by her. "But you are a girl nevertheless, and that can be quite a marvelous thing. Don't you know you will one day break many hearts?"
She seemed to consider how that might be accomplished. "How?" she asked.
Zach lifted a strand of her hair. "With lovely long hair worn loose about your shoulders, pretty dresses in every color, and your smile."
She frowned. "I don't like dresses. My mother always makes me wear pink ones with lace. It itches." She rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't mind if she would let me wear clothes like Antonia."
"Is Antonia your sister?"
She nodded. "She would like you."
"Would she now?" Zach thought on that, thoroughly enjoying such a lovely creature even if she was no more than seven or eight years old. She was laughing and teasing, and even a little flirtatious. It seemed so easy for this little one. Her feelings were unguarded, unpretentious.
"What color dress does Antonia prefer?"
Her eyes widened. "Oh, she likes bright ones—red, blue, green. Pretty full skirts, and blouses with short sleeves made of satin and silk. My mother has a woman make them for her."
"What would you choose if you could have something pretty to wear?" Zach played along, genuinely interested in the workings of this young, but decidedly very feminine, mind.
She thought very long about that. Closing one eye, she placed a finger against her chin and pondered. Then her eyes widened, and she pointed over his shoulder.
"That is what I would choose.” Her eyes sparkled with childish delight, as she slipped from his grasp and darted behind him to the small shop Sandy had entered earlier.
Zach followed her gaze. There displayed in the window was a magnificent silver and white knitted shawl. It was meant to be worn long over a woman's dress, woven of most delicate threads in a pattern of interwoven flowers. At first it appeared to be white in color, but as the sun shone through the glass, sparkling at the silver beads that had been intricately worked into the design, each flower bloom was silver. It was quite beautiful and no doubt very costly.
"That is what you want?"
"Oh, yes!" The little girl stood beside him now. "It is something a boy would give a girl he cared very much about. My sister has such a shawl."
"Does she now? And does she also have a special young man in her life?"
"Sí, Jorge. They are to be married. Then I can have her room all to myself."
He laughed at her charming innocence, and then he sobered, his smile softening. "Thank you for telling me about your sister."
"Do you have a special lady?" She lifted those large dark eyes that would one day hold a man's fate in their depths.
"You should," she decided. "No one who is as handsome as you should be without a lady." Then she looked up at him, struck by a sudden idea. "Would you like to meet my sister, Josefina?"
He smiled down at her. "I'll be leaving soon."
He couldn't remember when he'd enjoyed alady'scompany so much, except perhaps that morning and the night before with Elyse. Odd how she and this child were so much alike.
"But if your sister is only half as beautiful as you are, then she will have no trouble finding a young man." His little captive immediately blushed, but Zach didn't notice. He was staring at the exquisite shawl.
"Come on. You shall have your shawl." Taking her hand in his, he led her into the store.
He made several purchases. The white shawl he'd seen in the window was for his little apprentice thief. The second shawl he chose was very similar, with delicate hand-worked yarn and silver beads, but it also had tiny seed pearls woven into the design. He had them wrapped separately. Along with the shawl, Zach chose several brightly colored skirts and blouses. His little companion took great delight in picking the colors.
Zach accepted the wrapped items and paid the shopkeeper. Then he turned back, one last purchase in mind. He eyed the many clear glass jars containing candies of different sizes and shapes. What better way to sweeten a little girl's disposition? He let the little thief select her favorites.
