Chapter Seven


The Trip


Catrina flung herself across he bed and cried. While she cried she planed her escape for after they had reached Santa Fe. She would go along with everything but the first night she would run away. It actually wouldn't be that hard. I should leave a note for Zorro. She thought. I wonder if I'll meet him in Santa Fe? No, he would already be almost all the way back here when we were almost just getting there. She wiped her eyes and sat up. She found a piece of paper and a quill pen and started to compose her note.


My Dear Friend,


I am sorry I am not here, I was forced to go to Santa Fe this morning and I don't know when I'll be back. If you want to get in touch with me I shall be traveling with a Senior Ramon Andres. Thank you for your kindness, I regret that I've missed you.


With Warm Regards,

Catrina Charlota Arcadia Cortez


She folded it and placed it in an envelope then put it under her mattress. She rang her bell for Maria. Maria came hurrying in after a minute or so.


"Yes, Lamb?"


"I need my trunk."


"Where are you going Lamb?"


"I am going on a trip to Santa Fe." Catrina said with an air that plainly said 'Don't ask me any more questions!'. Maria took the hint and didn't inquire anymore. She did ask one more question.


"What should I pack Lamb?" Catrina shrugged.


"I don't know. A little bit of everything." She said absently. Maria went busily about packing the truck with graceful morning dresses, light afternoon dresses and a beautiful silk ball gown. Also frilly under things, hair accessories and two fans and a parasol. When she finished she closed the trunk and asked Catrina to sit on it so she could latch the lid. Even with Catrina sitting on it the trunk would not close. So Catrina got off of it and Maria opened it and looked through it trying to decide what to take out. Catrina finely convinced her that she could do with one nightgown instead of three and three morning dresses instead of five, after all Catrina said, she was only going to be there for three days at the most. After taking out the extra clothing the trunk did shut, but Catrina still had to sit on it.


* * *


That night Catrina was sitting alone on the balcony. She had stayed in her room all day and hadn't gone down to dinner after sending Maria to tell everyone that she had a headache. She didn't really have a headache she just didn't want to have to sit at the table with her stepfather watching her and her sisters and mother talking happily about the trip of the next day. Catrina aroused herself as she had been dozing since she hadn't had much sleep last night. She got up and went to her mattress and pulled out the envelope that held her letter for Zorro. She went back out on the balcony and looked around for a place to leave it that he would find it. After thinking awhile she finely decided on putting it in the corner with a rock on top of it to keep it from blowing away. She went back inside and undressed then blew out the lamp and climbed into bed. She lay there awhile then drifted off to sleep with Zorro's and Ramon's faces in her mind.


* * *


The next morning she had Maria bring breakfast to her bedroom, she still didn't want to see her stepfather. Maria brought the breakfast up on a tray and set it on a small table while she helped Catrina dress in her tan traveling suit. After she was dressed Catrina sat down and ate a little bit of her breakfast then left the rest on the tray. She went out to the balcony to see if Ramon had arrived yet. His carriage was waiting outside the front porch. The driver was sitting in his seat with his hat pulled down over his eyes. Catrina could tell he was sleeping. Ramon must be inside, waiting for her. She stuck a hat pin into her tan hat and picked up her parasol and handbag. She told Maria to find someone to take her trunk to the carriage then she opened her door and started down the stairs. When she reached the hall it was full of people. Her mother was holding her fan and fanning herself while she directed servants and her stepfather was conversing with Ramon by the door, while Padre stood listening. Her sisters were running here and there and asking their mother questions. There were servants everywhere. Catrina went and stood by her mother. When her mother finely noticed her she smiled.


"Good morning dear." Catrina tried to smile.


"Good Morning." she said in return. Catrina's mother touched Catrina's face.


"You look a bit pale this morning dear." She observed.


"I'm all right." He mother smiled.


"No doubt you didn't get much sleep last night in anticipation of today." Catrina didn't answer and her mother thought she had been right since Catrina didn't correct her. The truth was that Catrina had been awake a lot of the night but it was only with worry that her escape plan would fail. Suddenly Ramon appeared at her elbow and she started in suprise.


"Good day, Miss Cortez." He said with a bow. He seemed to be waiting for her to offer him her hand and when she did not he quickly started another subject. "Are you all ready? I saw someone loading a trunk onto the carriage and I could only imagine it to be yours." She nodded to him but still didn't utter a word. In fact she looked at him will a gaze of cool contempt. He sensed that she wasn't pleased with him in some way and resolved to apologize for whatever his short comings where when they were safely in the solitude of the carriage. "Well, since everything is ready I guess we'll be on our way. Good bye Mrs. Cortez. I'll take good care of your daughter." Saying this he kissed the mother's hand and offered Catrina his arm which she took reluctantly. They went out the door and her helped her into the waiting carriage the roused the driver and before she knew it Catrina was sitting across from him as they bounced up and down on their way to Santa Fe.