The House Of Crow Collection

21. A Young Woman's Wisdom

Carmen and Francisca sat at the long dining room table. They were sitting side by side with their heads close together, like a couple of conspirators. Carmen leaned back in her chair and watched her daughter. “You need not worry about your dress. You will be very pleased when you see it.”

“Oh mother, I am so excited! I am only curious. What does it look like?”

With feigned exasperation, Carmen wagged her finger, “You just stop now young lady. You will find out soon enough,” she said, softening it with a smile. "Hernando said he would take care of it. I hope I have not made a mistake trusting this to a man," she thought.

The musical sound of spurs and campanas (jingle bobs) got the women"s attention. Hector entered the room just as they turned to look. “Buenos días Señora Batista y la Señorita Batista,” greeted Hector.

“Good morning Hector,” greeted Carmen for the two women.

“Señora, I must go to el lugar de los cráneos. One of the vaqueros has reported a theft of hides. I will return this evening. I do not think there is any danger here, but to be on the safe side, I have two armed men close by.”

Carmen asked, “You ride alone? Perhaps you should take someone with you. Too many things have been happening of late.”

“I may do just that Señora. Thank you for your concern.” With that, Hector turned and left, his spurs chiming with each departing footstep.

Carmen noticed a frown on Francisca"s face. Francisca replied to the silent question on her mother"s face. “Hector has changed. I used to think of him as my caballero en brillante armadura (my knight in shining armor). I saw him as manly and handsome.”

Carmen sat back in her chair, “But then a certain Hombre Montaña came along?”

“Isaiah is different. His eyes are kind, yet Carlos tells me he is a fierce fighter. Hector has beautiful green eyes, but I see something there I do not like. He is harsh with the vaqueros, who seem to fear him. However, Isaiah has their respect and speaks harshly to no one.”

Carmen thought, "Oh my dear Francisca. I believe you have grown wise very quickly. I also think that you have fallen in love." “You know your father has thought that you and Hector would marry.”

“I also believed that Hector and I would someday marry. I am unsure now. Do you think father will be angry?”

“No, disappointed maybe, but not angry. I believe your father likes your Isaiah, and your brother speaks highly of him. No, I think your father will not be angry.”