A Door closes and a window opens

Reponse to Trio Challenge 8 roof, axe, blouse

Synopsis. Another letter home

4 July 1820

Santa Elena

Alta California

Dear Mama and Papa:

I really enjoy Santa Elena. It is much different than El Pueblo de San Francisco. The weather here is warm and dry, which make a trip to the beach enjoyable. I can also walk guard duty at night and not feel the cold fog cutting through me.

Much has happened in the last three months, which has changed my life.

I told you about my first meeting with the Queen of Swords on the beach. Well, I met her again a few days after I wrote you last.

I was pulling guard duty at night when I saw a dark figure run across a roof and drop into the alley where I was standing. I aimed my musket and told the figure to surrender. The figure turned out to be the Queen of Swords. She was startled as she had not seen me but she raised her arms.

I put down my musket and said, "Buenos Noches, Reina, you are free to go but do so quickly."

She slipped by me with a surprised look on her face and mounted her horse that had come when she whistled. As she rode away, I fired into the air and then quickly reloaded my musket. I know she saw me.

Captain Grisham ran up and took my musket and aimed directly at her back and fired.

"Damn!" he said. "There is no way I could have missed. Sergeant have you weapon checked for accuracy."

I didn’t tell him the reason he missed was that I only put in powder but not a musket ball.

I know, that could get me in trouble, but I couldn’t bear to see that beautiful woman hurt or killed.

A couple of weeks later, I was on a patrol led by Colonel Montoya. You remember I told you that he had given me personal charge of his horse, Salan.

We were pursuing the Queen of Swords when Salan stepped into a hole and fell. Colonel Montoya was thrown from the horse and poor Salan couldn’t get up. The Colonel ran to his horse and comforted the animal. Mama, tears streamed down the Colonel’s face. It was if Salan was his child.

Captain Grisham our mercenary Captain of the Guard pulled his pistol to shoot the animal. I yelled stop and rushed in front of the Captain. Grisham pointed the pistol at me, but Colonel Montoya stopped him.

"Colonel, I can save the horse," I yelled. I knelt down and checked the leg. The leg was not broken but only badly bruised. Using the skills that Papa taught me, I made a splint for Salan. Salan was able to stand, finally and hobbled home. It took forever, but at least Salan is on the way to recovery. After two weeks I was able to ride him gently.

Colonel Montoya was so happy that he gave me a week off, with pay.

During that week, I went to the beach at night to think and enjoy the beautiful sounds of the ocean as the waves broke over the rocks.

One night, I was so lost in thought that I did not hear the approach of a horse. The Queen of Swords had come up behind me and dismounted.

"I want to thank you, Sergeant. I don’t know why you let me go, but I appreciate it. I also saw you fire into the air and then reload. When I saw Grisham aim at my back, I knew I was dead. Grisham is an excellent shot. I was shocked to find he missed," she said.

"Hard to shoot someone without a musket ball," I replied. "Besides after our first meeting I would like to think of you as a friend."

I started to blush and stammer when she laughed and then kissed me on the cheek. We took off our boots and walked along the shore, the waves splashing over our feet. I can still see how the moonlight reflected on the mist that had settled on her blouse, molding it to her body.

We walked and talked for about an hour then she kissed me again on the cheek, mounted her horse and rode away. "Vaya con Dios, amigo," she said as she left.

That woman stirs my heart. How could I see her killed?

Two weeks ago, I was walking Salan across the parade ground. A group of recruits were forming up for musket practice. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a recruit drop his musket. The musket was aimed directly at Salan.

I yelled no and jumped in front of Salan as the musket fired. The mini ball found its target.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I was the target. Colonel Montoya had seen the incident and rushed over. He even helped me to the doctor. The Doctor, an Englishman was great. He dug the bullet out and saved my arm. Alas, he was not able to make me whole again. The bullet did a lot of damage to my left arm.

I feel sorry for the poor recruit. The last I saw him, he was headed for the hills with an axe in his hand to collect firewood for the pueblo for the next year.

Doctor Helm said I may regain the full use of my arm, but he can’t guarantee that it will be so. Since I cannot use my arm fully, I could no longer stay in the Army. I was so disheartened that I went back to the beach. I looked at the cliffs around and decided to dive off of one. As I was sitting there contemplating my suicide, I remembered all that I was taught about life, how it isn’t always fair. Mama, you always said when a door closes a window opens.

Mama, many years ago you told me that Papa and his two brothers had a falling out because he married you, a gadje. Because of this I never knew the other Alvarado family members. It is also the reason that when I joined the army I used Guido instead of Alvarado. No one here knows my true name.

I digress. The Queen of Swords visited me that night on the beach. She told me that she had heard of my misfortune. She couldn’t fix the arm, but she told me to seek out a certain Dona who owns a hacienda and maybe she could find work for me.

I don’t want charity or pity so I did not go. A few days later I was in the cantina, trying to get drunk when the bottle of wine was removed from the table. I looked up and it was Senorita Alvarado, the Dona the Queen had told me about. The daughter of Papa’s brother Rafael. I had not known the name of the person the Queen had suggested me to see. The Dona said that Colonel Montoya had told her about me and praised me for my dedication. I guess what some people say about the Colonel may be wrong. He can be a caring person.

Since I can use my arm enough to ride a horse and with what she had heard about me from Colonel Montoya, she offered me a job. Rather than condemn her as her father had done to Papa, I gave her a chance. I am not the top man, but I have a place to live, responsibilities and a salary.

Mama, I still carry the small portrait of you that Papa had made. I look at it often. When I first went to the Alvarado hacienda, I met her Duena, Marta. You could have knocked me over with a feather. The woman in the portrait and the Duena were identical. Mama, I found your twin sister. Here, in Alta California, I have found family though they do not know it. I want to see if their hospitality is real or a façade.

Colonel Montoya did let me take the two horses he had given me earlier, so I also have the start of a horse herd. Since I am considered a disabled veteran, I also get some property of my choosing, so I will soon be a landowner also.

I had thought about speaking to Colonel Montoya about all of this, but even though he has treated me well, there is something about the man that does not inspire me to tell him the truth of my family name. I will remain Guido and build my own destiny.

The door may be closed but the window was definitely opened.

I will write again soon, Mama and Papa.

Your Son

Jaime