Chapter 3: Wounds of Christ
396 Words
A fine mist of snow settled in the foothills of the Santa Ynez mountains; milky clouds ringed a blood moon. Cries of a woman with child were heard from a small adobe dwelling. A baby was born, cut from the umbilical cord with a sharpened Abalone shell and swaddled in cheesecloth. Its skin was a translucent pallor and it appeared stillborn. The baby girl was perfect in every way, except an amaranth blotch marked her right hand. The blood -like mark was centered in her palm and mysteriously appeared on the other side of her hand. Upon discovering this stain, Abuela Guadalupe brought the infant outdoors to examine the child's body in the moon's illumination. She realized that the blotch was not blood, but a birthmark. Upon closer examination of the baby's hand a midwife who was present at birth (called Bernarda) crossed herself in the "Catholic" way.
"It is the wounds of Christ," she said.
"Stigmata de San Francisco," said another.
"It is the mark of Lobo Rojo," exclaimed Abuela. "She is Ha'Na Panai, a daughter of the red wolves."
The child cried out and Abuela brought the infant back indoors to its mother. The baby's mother refused to hold or even cast an eye in her direction.
"Take it away. I don't want it. Go away. Go away!" Hearing Sorpresa's denial, Bernarda left the group to retrieve Father Paolo. Father Paolo was in his office putting on his collar when Bernarda appeared at his door.
"Padre, come quick. Sorpresa gave birth to a beautiful little girl!"
"I've heard the news just moments ago from sister Anita. I called my father and mother to relay the good news, but we were disconnected. Como es Ella?How is she?"
"Ella no es feliz, Padre. I don't know why."
"What did my sister name her?" asked Paolo.
"She didn't" replied Bernarda.
"She didn't. Did you?"
"Abuela Guadalupe," replied Bernarda.
"Abuela named her?" he asked.
"Si, Padre!"
"What Christian name did she give her?"
"She didn't."
"Para el Amor de Christo! For the love of Christ, take me to her!"
Ten days later the young child known only as Ha'Na Panai was baptized at the Mission of LaPurisma in Lompoc. When Sorpresa Da Rimini, refused to name the child, Father Paolo christened the infant, Francesca, in homage to the saint who bore similar markings on his hands and feet.
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