Chapter Four

A day and half later, Rafael Aragon and his family arrived to the fertile fields of San Joaquin Valley to the Las Nubes Vineyard. On the way, Sara had been a subject of gentle debate between Rafael and his grandmother. Rafael insisted that this woman was associated with the policia somehow and should be left at the nearest hospital for the authorities to deal with one of the own. Esperanza understood Rafael's reasons and told him that while they held merit it was her decision to keep Sara with them. They could ill afford questions from authorities, most of the family members held green cards but a few of the newer ones had come across the border illegally to meet them in Arizona before going to Hiko. The risk was simply too great.

"Well, abuelita, she's your responsibility as you say," Rafael said resignedly. "What do we call her until she remembers or if she remembers?"

Justo stood outside of the Suburban, chewing his lip, straining to hear the conversation within that took place in hushed tones.

"Your faith in God sags, Rafael, and you could learn from your son who I hear outside even now," Esperanza said with a twinkle in her eye.

"Nieto (grandson), you may come inside as I have a very important question to ask you," Esperanza said as she beckoned to the boy.

"Si, abuelita," Justo responded with haste as he came to her.

"God lead you to the senorita and you're her protector while she is with us. This is a great responsibility, nieto, but she must have a name while she is with us. It must be a very special name," Esperanza told him.

Justo thought several moments before he replied, "She reminds me of una ángel oscuro de pelo (dark-haired angel) with the porcelain face of a most beautiful doll." Justo was bilingual as most of the family was but tended to mix his Spanish and English as the youngsters did.

"Bueno, nieto, we will call her Angelita and you should go help your mama unpack," Esperanza said as she gave Justo a gentle smack on his behind. The young boy scampered off to find his mother as told.

Sara was helping Graciela to move bundles of clothes into one of the large cabins provided for the migrant workers by the vineyard. It seemed spacious to the family with three bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and a small living area. The Las Nubes vineyard owners were fourth-generation Mexican-Americans but of Spanish descent. They took pride in providing the migrant workers with clean living quarters and ample pay. The Aragon family had worked here for two generations. In many ways, they were considered to be extended family by the Castille family who owned the vineyard.

"Mama, mama, the senorita has a name!" Justo burst into the cabin excitedly as he ran to Sara to hug her.

"I do?" Sara looked down at him in surprise.

"Hijo, what do you mean?" Graciela now asked as her son turned to her with a flushed face.

"Grandmother told me it was my duty to give the senorita a name until she knows what hers is again, so I thought of "ángel oscuro de pelo" and how pretty she is like the porcelain doll Mariamma plays with and we're to call her Angelita."

"Angelita like in "little angel" and you think I'm pretty?" Sara asked with a raised brow but gentle smile.

"You told us you knew a little Spanish but you're picking it up quick! " Justo said proudly as he'd personally taught her words. "Yes, you are muy bonita (very pretty)."

Justo then blushed and darted out of the room, much to the amusement of his mother and Sara.

"I'll never be able to repay you and Rafael's hospitality, Graciela. I just wish I could remember more about who I am and how I got under a wrecked car in the middle of nowhere," Sara said as her face showed her efforts to recall anything about her past.

"Angelita, did you dream about the man again? You were restless in your sleep," Graciela questioned gently.

"Yes, he speaks to me but I can't hear what he says and he's gone back into a mist. I feel he's trying to tell me my name," Sara replied as she rubbed at her tired eyes.

"You must give yourself time, Angelita, it will come back," Graciela said encouragingly before she and Sara headed back out to the Suburban to bring in more things.

That night, Sara dreamed of the mysterious man again as she tossed restlessly and muttered aloud. She shared a large double bed with Esperanza, who held the young woman close to comfort her and apply cool herbal compresses to her troubled brow. Sara repeated the same sound over and over of "Griss….Griss…Griss."