La Mentira

Chapter Four

Suze's P. O. V

Mapi and Julia were so tired that they decided to take a nap instead of the afternoon classes. I let them. There isn't really much I can teach them after eating, they are either too full to think straight or wondering what there will be for dinner. Though I have been at the Ranch for almost three weeks, I haven't had the time go where I wanted to go the most. So I decided to take a walk up to my favorite place in the whole world. Well, the place that means more to me in the whole world, place that happens to be within the De Silva Ranch.

I found my self in front of it, my favorite place. It was a tree.

But not any tree.

It' was our tree. Jesse's and mine. He told me he loved me under it's shade, we shared long, lazy, summer afternoons - the kind you could only get in Carmel by-the-sea - just laying on the grass talking about love.

I remember those afternoons. Jesse was always carrying one of his boring books. We would sit under our tree and he would read out loud. And I was willing to listen about something I hardly understood, just so I could hear his smooth, silky voice. Eventually his voice would fade away, and I would fall asleep -my cheek against his hard chest, his hand stoking my hair- to the lullaby of the gentle rhythm of his breathing and the calm song of his heart.

But those days are long gone…

So many hopes, so many shattered dreams…so much love wasted.

Then I heard someone approaching, but I didn't move, I thought it was just someone on his way to out of the ranch and to the town, or in direction to the main house. It wasn't. It was Jesse ridding his horse.

Jesse and I had managed to avoid each other most of the time. I hadn't thrown any more pieces of food to him again. Though we still had to sit together at church, but only because abuela and her cane. And because Slater was very bothersome. Last week he had come over to me when I was talking to David and asked if I hadn't changed my mind about our marriage. Like hell I'm never going to change my mind about that! The worst part was that Jesse heard it all. And my mother as well. She said that I was being immature because I choose to work for a living than marry rich.

But whatever. The problem at hand was that I had Jesse right in front of me, and in our special place…

"What are you doing here?" he asked dismounting his horse, he didn't looked pleased.

Jesse's P. O. V.

I know it sounds pathetic but I can't help myself.

I still go every chance I get. So many memories.

"What are you doing here?" I heard myself ask in a voice harder than what I had intended.

"Um. Nothing, I was just leaving," Susannah said quickly without meeting my gaze. "Sorry I disturbed you." She yelled as she ran away, back to the house. Part of me was glad, only God knows what I might have done if she had stayed longer, I might very well kissed her – something I had managed to avoid so far. But the other part of me all that wanted was for her to stay and things to be like they used to be.

I lowered to the grass, resting my back against the tree.

I had first kissed her here.

Susannah had been laughing at something I was saying, and I just knew I had to kiss that smile of hers. She was only fifteen and already was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. And that kiss was like coming home.

I had stolen some random kisses when I was younger, stolen kisses from various women who never really meant much to me. But that was until I snapped out of it and noticed the lovely girl Susannah was growing to be. And it wasn't just that she was pretty, she was also funny and smart, and independent… and so… everything. And I knew, for the moment my lips touched hers that I was in love.

Her lips had been so warm and welcoming, and tasted so sweet. I hadn't stole that kiss – or the ones that followed. That kiss was mine. Susannah's kisses were all mine, they had been all long. They were there, in her lips, waiting for me.

Or that's how it had felt.

I couldn't bear remembering that, I tried to don't think about it, but all I had to do was reach out and trace with my fingers the initials I had craved in this three. S J. With so much love and with so many hopes for the future had I craved those letters years before.

I stayed out there for a long time; by the time I made it to the house it was already pass dinnertime. And that was ok, I wasn't even hungry.

"Jesse!" Someone stopped me in the door, it was Carlos, one of my friends and my right-hand at running the Ranch, "Some of the men that were watching the fields came back, they are hurt, some thieves trespassed, I think they are the ones who have been burning the houses all over the county. For what they say I think they are near here. We better go and find them before they make it to the house."

"Yes, of course, get some people ready, I'll go for my rifle," I said running inside. I went to my room for my weapon and was ready to run outside, but then I got a second thought and grabbed my spare gun. Then I went knocking to Susannah's door.

"What?!" Susannah asked opening the door. She was only wearing a light nightgown, I couldn't help it, my gaze flickered down her body, she didn't even notice.

"Some thieves have trespassed the ranch lands, take Mapi and Julia and go to abuela's room and lock yourselves there." I said recovering from the thrilling sight of her form. I'm a man after all, I can't help myself, "Here, remember that I taught you how to use it?" I said and I gave her the other gun.

"Yes, I remember," she said but she looked white with fear.

I felt my free hand go to her cheek and cares it softly, then I kissed her forehead, "I promise everything will be ok, querida. Don't fret. Just do what I say."

She nodded, "Take care of yourself, Jesse." She added.

I didn't realized I had called her 'querida' until I was walking back outside. It had been so natural to me call her 'querida'. Before, when we were together, I had practically never called her anything else.

(Let's jump the boring part about the thieves, shall we?)

Suze's P. O. V.

I was so scared last night. So, so scared.

But then Jesse kissed me – in the forehead but still – and said everything would be fine. I can't believe that it just took a little kiss to make my fear go away. I had been talking to abuela while Julia and Mapi fell asleep again. At least three hours had passed since Jesse and the others went out, it was nearly midnight when we heard some noises in the hallway.

"Susannah," I head someone knocking softly, "abuela, are you ok?"

I opened the door quickly, there was Jesse, all sweaty and with a ribbon of blood down the side of his face but otherwise unharmed. "Oh, Jesse, I was so worried about you!" I said throwing my arms around him.

"I'm fine, querida, I'm fine," he said hugging me back.

Then we put Mapi and Julia back in their beds. And I cleaned the little wound over his right temple, even when that meant I had to go into his room. Pretty manly room he has, by the way. There was a moment in which I thought he might kiss me. But he just gulped and said "Good night, Susannah" and escorted me to the door.

End of chapter Four.

Notes:

Sorry for the delay!!!

Jesse isn't married to anyone. Mapi and Julia are his sisters.

The 'question' shall be asked next chapter. Is kindda cute!

Gotta run, My sister is kicking me out of the chair.

Much Love,

Alex.

P.S. PEACE, LOVE, FRUIT AND JESSE!!!