La Luna de Miel Chapter Sixteen: A Quiet Walk
Soon it was time for the afternoon meal. After, among other things, discussing their tactics-she was feeling better, Mano concluded-they headed downstairs to the hotel restaurant. Mano thought a nice simple soup or empanada might be just the thing, but Carmen had other ideas as the waiter approached.
"I'd like the pâté de foie gras followed by the trout in almonds on the watercress bed. Then some sorbet citron and, I think, the summer fruit compôte after that."
"Oui, Madame, and for Monsieur?"
"The same." If Carmen felt well enough to eat, why should he deny himself?
Lunch would take some time both to prepare and to eat, so they amused themselves with small talk. In walked the two Frenchmen who were seated by the waiter at a nearby table. Sunlight streamed in from the tall windows, illuminating the men's faces. They dropped their French and spoke English. Mano had not detected they were Norteamericanos although Carmen had already surmised this. Now he could see that pale skin under all those whiskers and the reason for the beards became clearer. Perhaps those faces adorned the walls of several law offices throughout North America and the beards were not only necessary south of the border, but everywhere. He shook his head. Despite himself, Carmen had gotten him interested in these two.
"Manolo?"
"Sí, Carmenita, what is it?"
"I've been trying to talk to you for the last few minutes and you have not been paying attention. I wish to go for a walk after our luncheon. I thought a stroll down to the river would be enjoyable."
"Of course, that sounds delightful," Mano agreed without thinking, his concentration focused on the two suspicious men and their purpose. When his mind caught up with his mouth, he realized he had promised her that they would walk over two miles. Some small stroll. They ate the meal, which proved to be of surpassing excellence. Just as they rose and walked past the two faux Frenchmen, Mano caught the word "payroll" in English, but had no time to listen to more without tipping his hand.
At the bridge, a half hour later, they stopped and looked over the rails at the water rushing beneath. "I have been thinking what they might be after in this fair city of Hermosillo," Mano said. "One thing occurs to me. The city itself is trying to improve its reputation within Mexico. Hermosillo desires to attract a wealthier, more affluent class, no? For example, the new cathedral is being built now on the site of the former mission church, because the city has grown. If it wishes to grow more, there must be facilities for those people to enjoy."
"Yes, I can see this all around us, Mano. The city is flourishing and growing, but what has this to do with our thieves?"
"Well, Carmen, I overheard the word 'payroll' from our friends before we left the hotel. I have been trying to think of what payrolls might be worthy of thieves who were prepared to create, as you say, a diversion," he explained. "The construction at the cathedral must take many men. The payroll must be very large. I don't know how often the workers are paid, but I would think they would not be paid weekly or maybe even monthly. Where the Church is concerned, money takes a long time to arrive. So perhaps the workers are paid quarterly, and we happen to be here near the end of one quarter, when this payroll is due."
"Yes, I can see that this might be the case. What about our thieves? Do you think they are here to steal this payroll? How would they know about it? How would they even know it is paid quarterly?"
"All good questions. At present I can only guess. They could ask one of the workers, of course, about payroll dates."
"Yes, Manolo, that is very good thinking. You could well be correct. But how would they go about planning to steal this payroll, assuming that is what they even intend?"
"No se. I am puzzled. One thing though: I think they may be Canadian, not American, beloved. This explains how they can switch from French to English so easily and also why their French sounds a little off. There is a French Canadian architect who has made a name for himself in Brazil and who has been training other architects. He has been there for years. Papá thought about consulting him at one point. His name is De Montigny and in yesterday's paper, I saw a photograph of him with another Canadian, the architect who is working on the new cathedral. I think De Montigny is advising him or something."
"But surely neither architect is dishonest?"
"No, my love, I do not think so, but they may have Canadian friends, who have other Canadian friends. Who knows? It is only a theory. I have no proof, nothing to go on but a hunch."
"Amor mío, we have gazed at the river, which is lovely, is it not? Now, shall we stroll back to the hotel, and I do mean stroll, Manolo?" She smiled and took his arm, but he noticed the slight faltering of her step as they set off. She was not quite as recovered as she would have him believe, and mala gente or no, she was not going out of the hotel tonight. They would spend a quiet evening in their rooms, whether she liked it or not. Punto y se acabó. As it turned out, she liked it just fine and he did not have to try to pull rank. As if he could, he laughed to himself, shaking his head.
They saw no strangers, or even people they knew, at the hotel. They spent a luxurious evening in their suite playing backgammon, enjoying a light supper delivered to the room, forgetting all about strange bearded men with odd accents, and instead concentrating on each other. Tired, happy, and very much in love, they went to bed.
VKS & MJRod claim the creation of Carmen Navarro, although we took her first name from a David Dortort script proposal. We also are the creators of the Vargas clan , Rancho Navarro and its people including Delgado, and all of the characters in and around Hermosillo. We would have nothing to create were it not for our favorite western, "The High Chaparral," to which we pay tribute.