CHAPTER 20
Carolina
The carriage ride home hadbeen tense. Carolina didn’t even want to turn in her papá’s direction, less she be burned by the irritation in his gaze. He hated time being wasted, and that was exactly what their afternoon at the Montéz abode had been. Lalo never showed up.
Carolina glared out the dark window. With the clouds still thick, she couldn’t see the setting sun. She clenched her legs together to keep her knees from shaking. She’d been scolded enough times to know better than to fidget in front of her parents. Instead, she chewed on her lip discreetly. Gnawing away at it to calm her nerves.
Papá rubbed his finger and thumb down his thick mustache, something he did whenever he was getting ready to say something that was sure to make her furious.
“Eduardo Montéz is not the man for you, mija.”
Her spine stiffened. “You didn’t even get to speak to him.”
“I do not need to. What can a scholar do for my daughter? You need a man of means, not of ideals.”
“You’ve conveniently forgotten that his family owns a profitable business. You only wish for me to be with someone who will do and say whatever you wish. Someone who will take me far from Del Oro, like Rafa.”
“Del Oro isn’t safe,” Mamá chimed in. “It never was. Rafael will protect you from such dangers and treat you as a queen.”
“Bad things happen everywhere, Amá. Look at the newspaper.” She gestured toward the article about people who’d died in the ciudad. “Besides, there are sedientos in the cities. Did you know that?”
Papá and Mamá shared a startled look.
“Who told you such nonsense?” Papá asked. “There have never been sightings so far south.”
“Sending me away won’t help anything but your wounded pride over your godson losing a duel you encouraged. Evil always finds a way in. If it isn’t sedientos, it is people.”
“Some distance will do you good. You’ve never listened to anything I have said or commanded. Perhaps you will listen to Rafael,” Papá said.
“So that is what this is all about? Your control. But what about me?Youhave never listened to a thing I have said either. You have never believed in me and what I can do. I can fight, Apá. I can ride as hard and fast as any of my brothers. I am capable. Abuelo supported it, why can’t you?”
If Lalo, a boy she had tried to kill, a boy who hardly knew her, could trust her, could believe in her abilities to help, why couldn’t her own parents?
The carriage came to a sudden stop.
“Señor!” one of the cocheros yelled.
They had halted outside the gates to their hacienda. Everything was still. The lanterns that flickered at either side of their entrance were snuffed out, and the guards that were usually there were gone.
“Come quick!” el cochero hollered.
Papá moved at once. Carolina scooted after him.
“Stay here,” he commanded.
“But…”
“I said stay put, Carolina.” Papá dashed out of the carriage.
“Come,” Mamá said, tugging Carolina next to her. She raised her arm and pulled a small pistol from the lining of the roof. She pointed it at the door.
“Should you be handling a gun in your state?” Carolina asked.
Mamá scoffed. “There is nothing stronger than a woman with children to protect.”
Carolina wouldn’t argue with that. She’d once been chased by an angry hen after disturbing her nest. The bantam had kicked Carolina in the ankles until she climbed up a tree.
The ladies waited in silence until they heard footfalls pounding through the tall grasses. Mamá held her weapon at the ready. The door swung open, and Papá’s frame filled the space. Mamá sighed, but her relief was short-lived.
