Chapter Six
The Wishes Of A Parent
As she ran blindly to she knew not where, her thoughts jumped and whirled in her head. He loves me, they went. He loves me but,.... but I think I am in love with Zorro. She stopped and leaned against a tree. "Oh, if only I could see him!" She said aloud. She meant Zorro, she had seen enough of Ramon. She looked around and tried to figure out where she was. Finely she decided that she was about a mile from home. Slowly she started back hoping that Ramon was gone by now. When she reached the stairs she was relieved to see that he was gone. She sat down to rest on the steps. She started thinking about the necklace. She didn't want to get it back for herself but for all of the poor people of the town. After she acquired the necklace she had decided that since her father was one of the richest men around she would find the mine, have the diamonds excavated and then use the money she would get from selling the diamonds to help the poor. Now all her plans were ruined. How would she, a rich man's daughter, get back that necklace? What she needed was help. And as if on cue she saw two black boots appear in front of her. She quickly looked up and to her great surprise and pleasure, Zorro was standing there. She stood up with a cry of delight. Her heart gave a little leap as he smiled at her. Then she quickly looked around.
"Whatever is the matter, dear lady?" He asked seeing her anxious state.
"Is it safe for you to be here? In the day light, I mean." She asked. He smiled.
"Nothing could keep me away." He said. She smiled at him then her face darkened.
"Senior Zorro, I need your help." She said beseechingly. His face grew concerned.
"Your word is my command, Senorita."
"I have lost, no, I have had stolen from me a valuable diamond necklace. More valuable than you can guess. It was taken from me last night at the chapel by a man named Antonio Rodregez." She explained.
"So that's what you were doing at the chapel." He said thoughtfully.
"No," She said. " I was praying for a safe journey."
"Where were you planing on going?"
"Well, I was going to find a jeweler in Santa Fe who could take all of the diamonds out of the necklace for me."
"And what purpose would it serve to do that?" He asked. She decided just to start from the beginning and explained everything from when and why she had the gotten the necklace to last night in the chapel. As she finished he sat down beside her.
"I will help you if I can. I will come to your balcony tomorrow night and tell you what I have found out."
"Thank you." She said with a
shy smile. "You are so kind to me even though we just met last
evening." He moved toward her but then seemed to change his mind
and stood up. He touched his hat as he had done the night
before.
"Adios, Senorita!" He said and
disappeared behind some bushes. She sighed a small sigh and the stood
up and shook out her skirts. She went back to the house and found
that the family was home now. But to her great pleasure Ramon was no
where to be seen. They all ate lunch then took their afternoon
siestas. At about 3 o'clock Catrina awoke and heard male voices. She
slipped her white afternoon dress on then went down the stairs and
tip toed to the door of her stepfather's study. There she stopped to
listen.
"Would it be proper?" She heard her stepfather ask. To Catrina's surprise it was Ramon's voice that spoke next.
"Oh ,yes. It would be quite proper. My Aunt would be traveling with us." Now her stepfather again.
"Well, I am whole heartedly for it."
"Thank you, sir. I shall come for her in the morning." She heard the men get up and start move toward the door. She darted quickly to the dinning room across the hall and shut the door softly. She heard them open the study door and go down the hall and out the front door. She exited the dinning room and went to the window by the front door. There she saw her father saying good bye to Ramon as he climbed onto his horse then road away. She ran upstairs and then slowly descended them when her stepfather came in again.
"Oh, good afternoon Catrina." He said, thinking she had just woken up and come downstairs. That was exactly what she wanted him to think.
"Good afternoon, father." She said with a big smile. She had always just called her stepfather, father. "Was that Ramon Andres that was just riding away?" She said as if she didn't really care if he answered her or not. But he did.
"Yes, and I see you two are on a first name basis now. Good! Good!"
"What was he here for? I thought he went home this morning."
"He did, he came back because he had a plan he wanted to discus with me."
"About what?" She said this again as if she didn't really care but her heart was pounding because she had a feeling she wasn't going to like the plan. She was right.
"He wants you to go to Santa Fe with him tomorrow to meet his parents."
"But..... but why?" She stuttered.
"Well," Her stepfather replied, "If he is to marry you and take you to live with him you must meet his parents." Catrina swallowed, her throat had suddenly gone dry.
"Marry me father?" He looked puzzled.
"Why, yes, of course. Didn't he propose to you today?"
"No." She barely whispered.
"Well, he's asked to marry you. I'm sure he will ask you soon."
"But father, I don't want to marry him."
"Not want to marry him!!! For haven's sake why not? He's rich, handsome and just right for you!"
"I don't love him, that's why."
"Love! You don't need love right now. Marry him and you will learn to love him."
"But father I...."
"No buts! You are going on that trip with him tomorrow and then you are going to marry him!"
"Tomorrow....." she whispered. Zorro was coming back tomorrow! "No! I won't go! And I won't marry a man I don't love!" Her father was taken by surprise. Catrina was always a obedient child and did what she was told. He came toward her getting angrier every step.
"You will do as I say! You will be
ready by tomorrow morning and if you aren't I will, I will....."
"You will do nothing!" She interrupted, almost shouting. "You, sir, are not my father! You were not there when I was born! You will do nothing to me or I will appeal to the mexican quart of law to overrule you as an unsuitable guardian!" He laughed.
"They will never listen to you! You are little more than a child!" He sobered up again and a frightening light came into his eyes. So frightening that Catrina backed up a step. "Now, as I was saying, if you don't go on this trip and don't marry Ramon Andres I will get a buggy whip and whip you within an inch of your life!" she trembled in fear. She knew he would do it and if she tried to tell anyone they would think she was making a joke. And he was right, the mexican quart of law would only see her as a little girl trying to get back at her daddy because she was mad at him. Right now she figured, it would be best to go along with the plan. While she and Ramon were in Santa Fe her father could not hurt her. Then and there would be her chance to run away. Her stepfather was watching her. She turned her back to him and walked back up the stairs then ran to her room.
