Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Not mine, not mine, not mine!
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When I woke up, it was hot. I mean HOT. Muy caliente, Jesse would say. I couldn't even breathe and my hair was sticking to the back of my neck. It didn't help that I was wearing a sweatshirt and jeans.
I stood up and immediately regretted it. A pain shot through my head and I knew I desperately needed some Tylenol. I managed to open my eyes. I breathed, "Whoa."
There was nothing. Absolutely NOTHING. Grass, sure. Trees, yep. But that's about it. Oh, so exciting.
I was stuck in a forest. I wasn't even sure that I was in California anymore. All that was missing from this was a talking scarecrow and a dog named Toto.
Stupid Paul. He probably knocked me out and stuck me here while I was unconscious. How sick can you possibly get??? He was kind enough to put me near a dirt road, though. The trees were so dense, though, you'd swear you were in a tunnel.
I was suddenly scared. I didn't know where I was at, and I didn't know how far away from home I was. I closed my eyes and called for Jesse. Nothing, once again. Jesse had let me down. It was so hard to believe.
I began to walk down the dirt road. I didn't know where I was going, but it was better than just sitting there all day.
I had hardly taken ten steps when I heard a horse trotting behind me. Before I could even turn around I saw a beautiful white horse stop beside me.
His rider was a middle-aged Spanish man with a very kind face. He was wearing a cowboy hat, riding boots, chaps, and a rather dusty-looking shirt. Very old-fashioned. He looked at me and said, "Como esta, Senorita?"
I stared at him, blankly. I had learned a little bit of Spanish from Jesse. I said, "Lo siento, Senor. Yo no puedo hablar espanol."
He chuckled. "You cannot speak Spanish? I think your Spanish is muy bueno." His face suddenly grew serious. "Senorita, where are you going in this hot weather? You will die of the heat before you reach the next town."
"I.I went on a hike, and I'm afraid that I'm a little bit unprepared. I didn't know it was going to be this sticky outside."
He echoed the word "sticky". He shook his head. "You have lost me, Senorita. Would you like a ride? Where are you going?"
I looked down the long road. Truth was, I had no idea where I was, let alone where I was headed.
Nonetheless, I looked up at him and smiled, "I'm going wherever you are, Senor."
He bellowed out a laugh and said, "Well, climb on. I am going to my ranch about two miles from here. It's not far!"
"My name is Susannah Simon," I said.
"Mucho Gusto. I am Primotivo de Silva."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paul hadn't let me down. I made it here. I was in 1850 conversing with Senor de Silva.
Okay, it was a little strange riding on a horse with Jesse's father, but he really is a nice guy. I felt bad because I had to lie to him a lot. Mostly about where I'm from and how I had found myself on that road, and even why I was dressed so strangely. I had no response for that one.
I was going to see Jesse. I wonder if he would recognize me. If I were thrown back in time, wouldn't the people who once lived in the mid 1800's be back, including Jesse? Okay, that didn't make much sense, even to me.
I asked Senor de Silva, "Do you have a family, Senor?"
"Si, si, I do," he replied. Even though I was behind him, I knew he was smiling. "I have a wife, and five children."
Yes, I'm aware of all this, but it's nice to hear this information from someone else besides Jesse.
"What are their names?"
"Carla, Consuela, Rosa, Isabelle, and Jesse. Cristina is their mother."
"I bet you're very proud of your children."
"Si, I am. I've taught them everything they know about cattle and horses. They are very, eh, how do you say.intelligent!"
I smiled. "Where were you coming from just now, if you don't mind my asking?"
"I was just visiting my brother, Ricardo de Silva."
I felt my stomach do a flip-flop. I'm sure Ricardo and Primotivo had been discussing their children's prearranged wedding.
Excuse me, but EW! Jesse and Maria are cousins, for goodness' sake!!
I was quiet for a while. I didn't know what to say, really. What do you say to a guy who's been dead for over one hundred years? And besides that, I know his son will be murdered as soon as he leaves for his very own wedding. Not exactly conversation material.
He urged the horse to go to a quick trot and I felt my stomach tighten. Not because of the horse, but because I was actually going to meet the entire de Silva family. Jesse never really told me about his family and I can't understand why. His father is just downright awesome. He offered to give a ride to a complete stranger who, to him, was dressed very oddly. People with cars don't even pick up hitchhikers anymore. It's understandable, though. Most hitchhikers are psychotic murderers who just escaped from the nearby mental institution.
Primotivo asked, "What does your family do for a living, Susannah?"
I froze. I almost said that both my parents have their own TV shows but stupid me, TV doesn't exist yet. So, I replied, "They fish. They have their very own business south of here." My lying skills are so good sometimes that it's scary.
Then Senor de Silva went on for what seemed forever about his cattle and horse ranch. I tried to listen, but I was bored to tears. I knew he was very proud of all that he had accomplished but the breeding of cattle to sell them for meat just doesn't fascinate me. It kinda disgusts me.
"Ah!" he said suddenly. He pointed. "There! That is my ranch."
I had to look around his shoulder. The forest had cleared into nothing but plains and then I could see his ranch. Well, he certainly had every right to boast. He owned acres and acres of land, most of which was covered by huge cows. I saw a person on a horse just wandering through the herd, but I could barley see him through the harsh sunlight. I squinted harder. It was a girl who was looking after the herd. Wow. This being such a sexist time, Senor de Silva actually trusted women to look after his cattle.
"Carla!" he shouted for their attention. The girl, startled, looked up, and then waved excitedly. I heard her shout toward the house, "Papa es aqui!" An even younger girl sat on the house porch. She heard her sister (at least, I think it's her sister) and then bolted into the home.
Their house was huge and beautiful. It was so colorful and had that Hispanic touch to it. The Rodriguez family lived just down the road from our house; they were so proud of their Mexican heritage, they spruced up their home with Hispanic decorations and flags. The de Silva ranch totally reminded me of the Rodriguez house.
The remaining girl guided her horse over to us. She exclaimed, "Papa! Como estas?? We've missed you!" Then her eyes turned to me. She seemed surprised. I saw that she couldn't be older than 16. "Papa, Quien es contigo?"
"Carla, this is Susannah. I found her two miles back," he replied as he dismounted his horse. He looked up at me, "I'm afraid this is as far as I will be going. You are welcome to stay here for the night and then continue to wherever it is you are headed in the morning."
I bit my tongue. I was where I wanted to be. A thought suddenly struck me. "Senor, truth is, I have nowhere to go. I am willing to work just for a place to stay. Do you need any extra help?"
Senor de Silva hesitated and then looked up at Carla. Carla smiled and nodded her head. "We could use her, Papa. Miguelito left yesterday."
Senor de Silva smiled at me and said in his heavily accented voice, "Okay, Susannah. If you are willing to work hard, you may stay here with us."
Getting a job in the nineteenth century is so much easier than it is today. I swear. I didn't need my social security card, my birth certificate, nothing!
We continued up the walkway toward the house. My heart pounding, I looked around for Jesse. Where on earth was he?
The door of the ranch house came open and three young ladies came rushing out, one of them was the girl I saw on the porch beforehand. They all squealed, "Papa!" and ran to hug him. Aw, a Kodak moment. How sweet.
The door opened again. And out stepped Jesse de Silva.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I woke up, it was hot. I mean HOT. Muy caliente, Jesse would say. I couldn't even breathe and my hair was sticking to the back of my neck. It didn't help that I was wearing a sweatshirt and jeans.
I stood up and immediately regretted it. A pain shot through my head and I knew I desperately needed some Tylenol. I managed to open my eyes. I breathed, "Whoa."
There was nothing. Absolutely NOTHING. Grass, sure. Trees, yep. But that's about it. Oh, so exciting.
I was stuck in a forest. I wasn't even sure that I was in California anymore. All that was missing from this was a talking scarecrow and a dog named Toto.
Stupid Paul. He probably knocked me out and stuck me here while I was unconscious. How sick can you possibly get??? He was kind enough to put me near a dirt road, though. The trees were so dense, though, you'd swear you were in a tunnel.
I was suddenly scared. I didn't know where I was at, and I didn't know how far away from home I was. I closed my eyes and called for Jesse. Nothing, once again. Jesse had let me down. It was so hard to believe.
I began to walk down the dirt road. I didn't know where I was going, but it was better than just sitting there all day.
I had hardly taken ten steps when I heard a horse trotting behind me. Before I could even turn around I saw a beautiful white horse stop beside me.
His rider was a middle-aged Spanish man with a very kind face. He was wearing a cowboy hat, riding boots, chaps, and a rather dusty-looking shirt. Very old-fashioned. He looked at me and said, "Como esta, Senorita?"
I stared at him, blankly. I had learned a little bit of Spanish from Jesse. I said, "Lo siento, Senor. Yo no puedo hablar espanol."
He chuckled. "You cannot speak Spanish? I think your Spanish is muy bueno." His face suddenly grew serious. "Senorita, where are you going in this hot weather? You will die of the heat before you reach the next town."
"I.I went on a hike, and I'm afraid that I'm a little bit unprepared. I didn't know it was going to be this sticky outside."
He echoed the word "sticky". He shook his head. "You have lost me, Senorita. Would you like a ride? Where are you going?"
I looked down the long road. Truth was, I had no idea where I was, let alone where I was headed.
Nonetheless, I looked up at him and smiled, "I'm going wherever you are, Senor."
He bellowed out a laugh and said, "Well, climb on. I am going to my ranch about two miles from here. It's not far!"
"My name is Susannah Simon," I said.
"Mucho Gusto. I am Primotivo de Silva."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paul hadn't let me down. I made it here. I was in 1850 conversing with Senor de Silva.
Okay, it was a little strange riding on a horse with Jesse's father, but he really is a nice guy. I felt bad because I had to lie to him a lot. Mostly about where I'm from and how I had found myself on that road, and even why I was dressed so strangely. I had no response for that one.
I was going to see Jesse. I wonder if he would recognize me. If I were thrown back in time, wouldn't the people who once lived in the mid 1800's be back, including Jesse? Okay, that didn't make much sense, even to me.
I asked Senor de Silva, "Do you have a family, Senor?"
"Si, si, I do," he replied. Even though I was behind him, I knew he was smiling. "I have a wife, and five children."
Yes, I'm aware of all this, but it's nice to hear this information from someone else besides Jesse.
"What are their names?"
"Carla, Consuela, Rosa, Isabelle, and Jesse. Cristina is their mother."
"I bet you're very proud of your children."
"Si, I am. I've taught them everything they know about cattle and horses. They are very, eh, how do you say.intelligent!"
I smiled. "Where were you coming from just now, if you don't mind my asking?"
"I was just visiting my brother, Ricardo de Silva."
I felt my stomach do a flip-flop. I'm sure Ricardo and Primotivo had been discussing their children's prearranged wedding.
Excuse me, but EW! Jesse and Maria are cousins, for goodness' sake!!
I was quiet for a while. I didn't know what to say, really. What do you say to a guy who's been dead for over one hundred years? And besides that, I know his son will be murdered as soon as he leaves for his very own wedding. Not exactly conversation material.
He urged the horse to go to a quick trot and I felt my stomach tighten. Not because of the horse, but because I was actually going to meet the entire de Silva family. Jesse never really told me about his family and I can't understand why. His father is just downright awesome. He offered to give a ride to a complete stranger who, to him, was dressed very oddly. People with cars don't even pick up hitchhikers anymore. It's understandable, though. Most hitchhikers are psychotic murderers who just escaped from the nearby mental institution.
Primotivo asked, "What does your family do for a living, Susannah?"
I froze. I almost said that both my parents have their own TV shows but stupid me, TV doesn't exist yet. So, I replied, "They fish. They have their very own business south of here." My lying skills are so good sometimes that it's scary.
Then Senor de Silva went on for what seemed forever about his cattle and horse ranch. I tried to listen, but I was bored to tears. I knew he was very proud of all that he had accomplished but the breeding of cattle to sell them for meat just doesn't fascinate me. It kinda disgusts me.
"Ah!" he said suddenly. He pointed. "There! That is my ranch."
I had to look around his shoulder. The forest had cleared into nothing but plains and then I could see his ranch. Well, he certainly had every right to boast. He owned acres and acres of land, most of which was covered by huge cows. I saw a person on a horse just wandering through the herd, but I could barley see him through the harsh sunlight. I squinted harder. It was a girl who was looking after the herd. Wow. This being such a sexist time, Senor de Silva actually trusted women to look after his cattle.
"Carla!" he shouted for their attention. The girl, startled, looked up, and then waved excitedly. I heard her shout toward the house, "Papa es aqui!" An even younger girl sat on the house porch. She heard her sister (at least, I think it's her sister) and then bolted into the home.
Their house was huge and beautiful. It was so colorful and had that Hispanic touch to it. The Rodriguez family lived just down the road from our house; they were so proud of their Mexican heritage, they spruced up their home with Hispanic decorations and flags. The de Silva ranch totally reminded me of the Rodriguez house.
The remaining girl guided her horse over to us. She exclaimed, "Papa! Como estas?? We've missed you!" Then her eyes turned to me. She seemed surprised. I saw that she couldn't be older than 16. "Papa, Quien es contigo?"
"Carla, this is Susannah. I found her two miles back," he replied as he dismounted his horse. He looked up at me, "I'm afraid this is as far as I will be going. You are welcome to stay here for the night and then continue to wherever it is you are headed in the morning."
I bit my tongue. I was where I wanted to be. A thought suddenly struck me. "Senor, truth is, I have nowhere to go. I am willing to work just for a place to stay. Do you need any extra help?"
Senor de Silva hesitated and then looked up at Carla. Carla smiled and nodded her head. "We could use her, Papa. Miguelito left yesterday."
Senor de Silva smiled at me and said in his heavily accented voice, "Okay, Susannah. If you are willing to work hard, you may stay here with us."
Getting a job in the nineteenth century is so much easier than it is today. I swear. I didn't need my social security card, my birth certificate, nothing!
We continued up the walkway toward the house. My heart pounding, I looked around for Jesse. Where on earth was he?
The door of the ranch house came open and three young ladies came rushing out, one of them was the girl I saw on the porch beforehand. They all squealed, "Papa!" and ran to hug him. Aw, a Kodak moment. How sweet.
The door opened again. And out stepped Jesse de Silva.