La Luna de Miel Chapter Twenty: Viernes en Hermosillo
Carmen awoke first the next morning and watched him as his chest rose and fell with easy breathing. She could not believe her good fortune. Never had she made love to a man who desired to please her more than himself. This, too, was new, and also marvelous. She had loved her late husband, but they had been young, innocent, unaware that life could and would be brief. She now knew to savor the joys that each day and each night could offer and not to wish away the time in search of the next best thing. She had no need to search. She had found this, in him. Last night at the ball and afterward among the banditos had been thrilling and frightening, but they had survived, now stronger and even more in love.
She awakened him with a kiss. He smiled and returned it as she nestled closer to him, her fingers tracing circles upon his bare chest.
"Ay, mi vida," she began in a coy tone. "I must say, I have been most disillusioned."
"How? Why?" he said, unaccustomed to such words.
"Sí. I have decided the nuns lied to me."
"What?"
"Yes, the nuns lied. They told us at the convent school that when we married, our duty would be to our husbands and that we must endure it for the sake of the children we were to bear. I think they were trying to discourage our curiosity."
"I am sure they had the preservation of your virtue in mind, mi amor. So where were they wrong?" he moved his lips to hers again and then to her neck. "Is your duty not to your husband?"
"Mi vida, it is. but the nuns neglected to mention how pleasant this duty would be," she smiled, flirting. He hugged her close and his lips brushed her hair and forehead.
"But surely, this was not unexpected...you and..." he started, then stopped, aware of the awkwardness of what he had begun to say.
"Antonio? Oh, of course. But we were married so very young, Manolito," her voice trailed off as he kissed her again. "So much to learn. But with you, this is…"
"No don't," he said. "Do not say it." But at least I do not have to compete in lovemaking with a ghost, he thought with a smile.
"Mi vida. This has been a most marvelous luna de miel," she continued.
"Marvelous? You became ill. We spent hours worrying about wayward French Canadians. And we were kidnapped and robbed. Marvelous? I would like to see your notion of mediocre, or poor," he said laughing.
"Marvelous. But I am tired. I want to go home soon."
"Ah, Rancho Navarro? We can do that."
"No. Home. Rancho Montoya. We can send some things to Rancho Navarro so that they will be there for our eventual visit. I shall wire Delgado to have a man pick them up at the stage office in Cajeme. We can go to Rancho Navarro after…"
"After what, my love?"
"After we return to Rancho Montoya."
"What? Why?"
"I cannot believe you have forgotten. And I also had forgotten."
"Forgotten? Forgotten what?"
"The mares, Manolo! Are they not soon to foal? At Casa Cueva!"
"Ay chihuahua, you are right, mi corazón! They may have already delivered!"
"Well whether they have or not, I have had enough of this city. Let us go. I wish to go to noon mass at the cathedral today," she said, punching him in the shoulder when he grimaced. "Can you send to Rancho Montoya for a man to fetch us tomorrow? I am ready to ride horses and to see your foals...then perhaps we may go to Rancho Navarro in a week or so?"
"Oh, chiquita, I do not mind returning to Casa Cueva to check on the mares earlier than we anticipated, but let us remain in Hermosillo a few more days, at least through Sunday. When else will it be just the two of us, eh?"
"All right, mi vida. We can go about the city today and, oh, shall we shop? I ordered some items: new riding clothes, a few dresses, when I was at the dressmaker's before our wedding. Some of these might be ready."
"Of course, let us shop," he said, his mouth a thin straight line and his tone flat.
"And perhaps the opera tomorrow then?" she asked.
"Ah, yes, I shall speak to the manager about securing tickets for us. Bueno!" he said. "Maybe a matinee and an early dinner?"
"Oh yes!" her face shone. "And then Sunday we will attend mass again at the cathedral! We have so much for which to be thankful, Manolo."
"Oh, mass...again? Certainly, querida," he replied, attempting to sound interested while she slit her eyes at him.
"You promised the padre, Manolo, that you would go to church with me."
"I promised the padre I would attend mass with you. I did not promise how often," he replied, then chuckled. "All right, mi vida. All right."
"So you will send for a man to fetch us on Monday?"
"All right, querida. It may be a good thing anyway that we make an appearance at Rancho Montoya before heading to Rancho Navarro."
"Why?"
"I have been thinking," he paused and looked at her. "Toronado is mine...I mean, ours, no?"
"Toronado is yours, yes."
"Ours. What if we…" and Mano leaned in and whispered something in her ear. She smiled, radiant and happy.
"Oh yes. Delgado would be so pleased…. But what of Buck?"
"I think he will have no objections. It makes sense, with the stallion Osito coming along as he is. Well then, Señora Montoya, let us make this most of these, our last few days in Hermosillo, eh? Perhaps we shop a little. Yes, attend mass...but perhaps first, eh?" he reached for her.
"Sí," she smiled, coy, flirting, responding to his touch. She kissed him, then drew back, her face serious. "There is something more, mi vida. One thing troubles me."
"And this is?"
She sighed, then spoke. "You...so many...others...so many women..." she started, then stopped, but his reputation had bothered her. She had only known Antonio...
He raised her face to his and looked in her eyes. He did not smile. This was no joke. She must understand. "Listen to me, Carmen," he said, his fingers framing her face. "I do not remember them." He kissed her. "Not even one. There is only you. And always shall be." She nodded, smiled, and returned his embrace.
And there would be only one, each for the other, from thereon in...to the end of their days...which, as we may see, would be full of adventures and never, ever boring.
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.