Untamed Fire (36 page)

“In that case, he wouldn’t mind
rushing.”

“Sit,” Lupe ordered and shook her head while
Gaby laughed.

“Hurry, Lupe, hurry,” Gaby said as the older
woman wove the last of the white ribbon through the girl’s long
braid. “I heard the wagons arrive. She must be waiting.”

“And she will wait. Give her time to have a
cold drink after such a journey.”

“I’ll have one with her,” Gaby insisted,
moving closer to the door as Lupe attempted to tie the end of the
ribbon around the end of the braid.

Gaby flew down the hall, Lupe’s warning to
take it easy instantly forgotten. She slowed her pace as she
approached the parlor where numerous voices were raised in
excitement. Her feet seemed reluctant to proceed, and she stood
still, unable to move only a few feet from the room where her
sister waited.

She was filled with a feeling of dread.
Would she discover her other self, or wouldn’t she? Was the girl in
that room really her twin? Or were the instincts that continued to
haunt her correct? She never felt she was one of the Galvez twins.
It was hard to explain to everyone. She had felt too accustomed to
her surroundings, to her people, to her way of life. It was as
though it were part of her and her family before her.

But the real question that haunted her
was... who was she if she wasn’t one of the Galvez twins?

She listened for a moment. The strange
voice, the one Gaby had never heard before, was soft, refined,
mannered in her responses... nothing like Gaby.

She sounded sweet and obedient. Could this
person truly be connected with her, and yet be so opposite?

Gaby smoothed the cotton material of her
simple white skirt and blouse and took a cautious step.

“Oh, Felipe, she is charming,” Isabel
cried.

Gaby stopped. She could tell from the sound
of Dona Isabel’s voice that she was impressed by the girl.

“Like her sister,” Rafael added in his
strong commanding tone.

Gaby smiled. Rafael spoke in her defense and
right there and then his act of gallantry made her realize how much
he loved her and that was all that mattered. He waited to help her,
protect her, and comfort her, no matter the consequences.

She took a step, then another and another.
Her smile widened with each one, and she entered the room as Padre
Pablo always said she did... like a curious angel descending from
the heavens.

All conversation ceased as Gaby came
face-to-face with her sister. Her heart pounded, her eyes widened,
and she couldn’t believe what she saw.

They didn’t look anything alike. The girl
standing before Gaby was petite in form and a good three inches
shorter than her. Her facial features were delicate, as though
painted by a master artist, each stroke having been delivered with
care. Her hair was not quite as dark as Gaby’s, and it was wavy not
straight. The only thing they shared was the color of their eyes.
Both were dark brown.

“
Hola
.”

Her voice was rich in flavor like a sweet
melody.

“
Hola
.” Gaby returned her greeting,
not realizing her voice held its own rich distinction.

Rafael stepped beside Gaby and took her hand
in his, squeezing it and offering reassurance. “Gaby, may I present
your sister Rosalita.”

The almost unnoticeable frown that swept
across Rafael’s face was not lost to Gaby. Something was wrong. And
now that she saw her sister, she had the awful feeling that her
instincts had been right.

“I’m happy to finally meet you,” she said,
offering her hand.

Rosalita accepted it with a smile. “As am
I.”

Gaby’s inquisitive nature immediately picked
up on the slimness of the girl’s fingers, and although delicate to
look at, there were blisters on her palm that were just
healing.

“Perhaps we could talk,” Gaby suggested,
wanting to learn more about her and in turn herself.

“Of course, of course, we all can,” Felipe
said, stepping between the girls and hugging each one. “There is
much to discuss and decide.”

“I meant Rosalita and I could talk
alone
,” Gaby corrected him.

Don Felipe didn’t like the dismissive tone
Gaby used, but he controlled his annoyance with her before he
spoke. “I understand how you both must feel—”

“I don’t think anyone can understand that
except Rosalita and me,” Gaby interrupted.

“Perhaps,” Don Felipe snapped, “but your
mother and I wish to talk with the two of you and discuss your
future plans.”

Gaby took Rosalita by the arm without any
protest from her. “That will have to wait. Rosalita and I must talk
first, and then we will discuss with you
our
decision.”

Don Felipe had had quite enough. “I’ve been
as patient as I intend to be with you, young lady. I am your father
and you will follow my orders.”

“I think Gaby’s suggestion is the
wisest.”

All eyes turned to Dona Maria. Even Rafael
was surprised by the sternness of his mother’s voice. He had
remembered hearing that tone on the many occasions he had
misbehaved.

“Now, Maria—”

“Don’t speak to me as if I were a child,
Felipe, “Dona Maria said.

“
Ay de mi
, what has this country done
to women?” Felipe said, throwing his hands up to the heavens in
protest.

“It has made us strong and proud of whom we
are,” Dona Maria answered. “Gaby is a strong, intelligent,
beautiful woman, and her request should be honored.”

Rafael never felt as proud of his mother as
he did at that moment. And he knew she never would have had the
courage to speak as such if it weren’t for Gaby. The girl had a
distinct way of forcing her opinions upon you until you finally saw
the wisdom of her ways. She was special, very special, and he was
glad she was in his life.

“Perhaps Maria is right,” Isabel joined
in.

“Have you lost your mind?” Felipe yelled.
“We need to speak to them, make arrangements for their return to
Spain, and, of course, there are their marriages to consider.”

“I agree with my sister,” Rosalita said, her
voice a bit stronger. “There are things I wish to discuss with her
first... privately.”

“This is too much,” Felipe said, joining his
wife in the chair beside her.

Isabel gently placed her hand on her
husband’s arm. “Perhaps some time alone would be good for them.
Then tonight after supper we can all talk.”

“I’ll have Lupe prepare a special meal,”
Dona Maria said and walked to the door, stopping a moment to give
Gaby a motherly hug.

“We may go then?” Rosalita asked
politely.

“Well, at least you are familiar with some
proper manners,” Felipe said and waved his hand dismissing them.
“Remember, tonight after supper we talk.”

The girls left the room, their arms hooked
together. They headed down the hall toward Gaby’s room.

“So the twins are finally united,” Ignacio
said with a strange smile.

Gaby felt Rosalita grip her arm. She was
frightened; Gaby could feel it.

“This is my sister Rosalita,” she said. “And
this,” she added, acknowledging Ignacio with a tilt of her head,
“is our cousin Ignacio.”

He smiled and executed a dramatic bow.

“How is it that you are related?” Gaby
asked, finding herself suddenly curious.

Ignacio appeared flustered by her question.
“Distant cousin, some uncle or such, removed every now and then, a
boring story. And where are you girls off to?”

Gaby held firmly to Rosalita’s hand and made
certain that she was the one passing closest to him as they walked
by. “Off to discuss boring matters... nothing that would interest
you.”

Ignacio obviously was irritated by her curt
dismissal. He stood staring at them as they proceeded down the
hall.

“Do you always say such outrageous things?”
Rosalita asked, joining Gaby to sit on the edge of the bed in her
room.

“I don’t say outrageous things. I simply
speak my mind.” Gaby smiled and Rosalita couldn’t help but do the
same.

“You have the most beautiful and contagious
smile I have ever seen.”

“Thank you. Our smiles are somewhat
different.” Gaby said, hoping to introduce the fact that they
didn’t look anything alike.

“You don’t think we’re sisters, do you?”

“How did you know that?”

Rosalita placed her hand on Gaby’s arm. I
could see it in your face when you first saw me. But you needn’t
worry. I have no desire to be a Galvez and certainly no desire to
leave California.”

“I don’t wish to be a Galvez either.”

Both girls looked at each other wide-eyed
and burst out laughing.

Gaby wiped a joyful tear from her eye. “Do
you think there’s any chance that neither of us is one of the
twins?”

Rosalita frowned. “I don’t know. This is all
so strange to me. I knew nothing until the message arrived that I
was to come here and the reason for the summons.”

“Your adopted family didn’t mind?”

“No,” she said with a sad shake of her
head.

“They did not treat you well.” It was a
statement not a question. Gaby could read the sorrow in the girl’s
dark eyes.

“No.”

“Then why do you wish to stay here? Perhaps
this is a chance for a better life for you.”

Rosalita squeezed Gaby’s arm lightly. “I
have obligations here that must be met; other people are depending
on me. I cannot let them down.”

“Perhaps I could help,” Gaby offered,
feeling the weight of her sister’s burden, though she didn’t know
the cause of it.

“Perhaps, when all this is cleared up, we
will have a chance to talk of other things,” Rosalita
suggested.

Gaby nodded, understanding she wasn’t ready
to speak of her troubles yet.

“Do you know of anyone that could tell us of
the day we were supposedly left at the mission?” Rosalita asked
anxiously.

“Padre Pablo, a delightful priest, will tell
me anything,” Gaby said with a grin.

“A priest who speaks openly is rare.”

“No, it’s just that I usually hound him
unmercifully until he answers all my questions.”

Rosalita laughed. “You must have had an
interesting childhood.”

“Actually, the padres found my childhood
interesting,” Gaby giggled. “They insisted it took nightly prayers
to all the saints to keep them sane as I was growing up.”

Rosalita continued to laugh. “Oh, how I wish
I could have grown up with you!”

Again Gaby saw the veil of sorrow that
slipped over the woman’s eyes. “Well, we’re together now and
sisters or not, I feel a special bond with you.”

“I am glad, for I also feel it. Now where do
we start? With the padre?”

“No, I think it would be best to go to town
tomorrow and talk with some of the older people who were around at
the time. We need to know what was going on in the community
then.”

“Will we have trouble getting permission to
go to town?”

Gaby smiled that devilish grin of hers. “I
will speak with Rafael.”

“It is obvious he loves you very much.”

“It is?” Gaby asked stunned that a stranger
could see it so clearly.

Rosalita was surprised by her response. “Of
course, can’t the others see it? You need only see the way he looks
at you to know.”

Gaby was pleased that Rafael’s love for her
was visible. “Let me tell you how we met.”

Rosalita smiled, eager to hear the
story.

“It all began when I stole his horse.”

The next few hours flew by. The women talked
and talked. They discussed their childhood, their likes and
dislikes. They planned on a course of action, intent on settling
this matter within the next few days. And if it were proven they
weren’t the Galvez twins, they would remain lifelong friends,
always there to help each other when necessary. They formed a
special bond, since fate had decided to throw them together, and
together they would help protect each other.

~~~

Supper proved a trying time. Both women felt
uncomfortable at the table, especially Gaby, since she was being
served by women that were her friends, her equals.

It was also apparent that Rosalita wasn’t
accustomed to being served. Every chance she got she reached out to
help Elena as she attempted to serve her.

“It will be interesting to see the twins’
reaction to Spain after living here all their lives.” Ignacio said
with a sly smile.

“They will do well,” Felipe said,
“especially after Isabel instructs them.”

“Poor Isabel,” Ignacio remarked and stood.
“You must excuse me. I cannot stay for dessert. Louisa Ortega is
expecting me.”

“Is she still upset over Rafael’s impending
marriage?” Dona Maria asked.

“No, she is busy planning a trip to Spain
with my help,” he answered. “She is anxious to see all the places I
have detailed for her. Her father is making arrangements for her to
leave within the next few days.”

“Why so quickly?” Dona Isabel asked.

Ignacio shrugged. “He feels it will do her
good to get away and heal her broken heart, although, I think her
heart healed remarkably fast.”

“I’m happy to hear that,” Dona Maria said
and ordered dessert brought out as Ignacio left.

Gaby sat squirming uncomfortably in her seat
as everyone enjoyed the wild berry pie. Rafael had been frowning at
her when she had taken her seat. She didn’t understand why at
first, but watching his eyes, she concluded he wasn’t happy with
her dress.

She wore her plain white cotton skirt, but
the blouse she wore was new, finished just that afternoon. It was
white, but the low, round neck had been trimmed with lace, adding a
delicate beauty to it and displaying the tops of Gaby’s heavy, full
breasts as they swayed back and forth with each movement.

“Rafael,” Gaby said, hoping to take his eyes
off her breasts.