Episode
#312
Part Three of Five
Act Three
Colonel Montoya stood on his veranda looking out over the sleepy Pueblo. Life was not so bad when things were quiet and they had been quiet for a while. He appreciated small mercies.
In the shimmering heat haze, he saw the familiar figure of a woman coming across the street toward him. The Señorita was pretending to be only the innocent Señorita Alvarado today, it would seem. He chuckled to himself. This would be most entertaining. When she came close enough, he took her hand and kissed it. "Señorita Alvarado, this is a pleasant surprise. What may I do for you?"
She smiled charmingly and handed him an envelope. "This is your official invitation to the double wedding at my hacienda."
Montoya knew he was not the most popular man in Santa Elena; still, he had wondered when this would arrive. He took it from her hand. "It is not normal for a person of my position to attend the wedding of a former thief and a servant," he said.
She smiled graciously. "I have invited all of the dons and the entire pueblo to the wedding. Most of the dons have accepted. It would seem strange if the Commandante did not attend also."
"You do have a point, Señorita. I will be happy to attend."
But she did not turn and leave. Instead, she smiled coyly. "One thing more, Colonel. The Queen of Swords may decide to attend as well."
Montoya raised his eyebrows. This was amusing. "You are inviting her?"
"I am inviting everyone, Colonel. If she comes, she comes. I have come to ask that you not bring your soldiers."
"Señorita Alvarado, what I command my soldiers to do is none of your business. However, in view of the happy occasion, and since I would not wish harm to the happy couples, my soldiers will not set foot on your hacienda grounds. But it is because I wish it, not because you command it. I am not yours to command and neither are they. Is that understood?"
Tessa smiled. "Of course, Colonel. And I thank you for your understanding. I look forward to seeing you there. Adíos." And she turned and left.
The sky was clear and the weather warm on the day of the wedding. Roman and Fenner paced Doctor Helm's office as they waited nervously. Both grooms wore white embroidered shirts, made by their future brides, and a string tie.
"Calm down," said Helm as he put on his coat. "You behave as though you are being fed to the lions.
Roman and Fenner stared at him.
"It is time to go," said Helm as he led the condemned men to the carriage for the trip to the Alvarado hacienda.
Several vaqueros dressed in white shirts and pants with colorful serapés draped over their shoulders, the same ones who had helped during the cattle drive, rode on both sides of the carriage. Captain Grisham, dressed in a suit, rode with them.
After an uneventful ride, the male members of the wedding party arrived at the hacienda. Peasants dressed in white shirts and pants with red sashes, raced out to take the carriage horses as well as the horses of the arriving guests. The music of mariachi guitars could be heard. The wedding party gathered around for the trip to the church in Santa Elena. Four matching chestnut horses had been gathered for the two couples and were gaily caparisoned. Marta and Josephine were carried out by two large gitanos who lived in the area and placed on their sidesaddles. Both women wore white satin shoes that had been made by the grooms, with one foot placed in a silver braid. Roman and Fenner mounted their horses and sat on bearskin-covered saddles.
Marta and Josephine were elegantly dressed in black lace wedding dresses. Their intricately designed mantillas were similar. Marta's mantilla was trimmed in red silk while Josephine's was white. Both women wore orange blossoms in their coiffures. In their hands, they carried bouquets made of multicolored wildflowers. The wedding party rode away toward the church with Juan Raphael Elizandro leading the party followed by Marta and Josephine second and Roman and Fenner behind them. Wedding guests who were dons rode in their flower-decorated carriages and everyone else rode horses likewise decorated. Vaqueros, peasants and the don's family members rode intermixed. The mariachi musicians were also intermixed in the cavalcade.
Upon reaching the church, the gitanos helped the brides dismount and carried them to the church door. Roman and Fenner presented their brides with thirteen arras and the brides and grooms walked to the altar and the waiting priest. When the guests had been seated, Juan Rafael and Tessa placed a silken sash, fringed with gold, about the necks of Roman and Marta. Juan Pablo and Elena did the same to Josephine and Fenner.
The padre took the arras from Marta and Josephine and blessed them, then handed them to Juan Pablo and Juan Rafael. He then turned to the altar.
"In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen." The Padre made the sign of the cross.
"Introibo ad altare Dei," he continued.
"Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam," responded the acolytes.
The padre turned to the two couples.
"Roman Petroff, do you take this woman to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, until death do you part?"
"Sí," replied Roman.
"Marta Venegas-Sanchez, do you take this man to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, until death do your part?"
"Sí," replied Marta.
The Padre turned to Josephine and Fenner.
"Sean Fenner, do you take this woman to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, until death do your part?"
"Sí."
"Josephine Venegas-Sanchez, do you take this man to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, until death do your part?"
"Sí."
The couples exchanged their rings. The Padre turned back to the Mass.
"When were you going to tell me your name was Sean?" whispered Josephine.
"I haven't used that name in many years. The Father asked me and I told him."
"I like it."
At Communion time, the Padre lifted the Host to each one and said, "Corpus Christi," and placed the Body of Christ on their tongues.
He took the Chalice and said "Sanguine Christi," and handed the cup to each one.
At the end of Mass he turned back to the couples, "By the power invested in me by Holy Mother Church, I now pronounce you husbands and wives."
The Padre turned to the altar and knelt.
Ave Marie, gratia plena…
When the chanting voices were once more silent, the Padre stood up and faced the congregation. "Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus, et Pater et Filius et Spiritus Sanctus." He made the sign of the cross and placed his hands on the newlyweds' heads.
"The Mass is over but it has not ended."
The newly-wedded couples stood, embraced, turned and led the procession from the church. A carriage pulled by the four white mares was pulled up in front of the Church and the two couples climbed in. Marcus Grisham sat on the boot, dressed in white pants and shirt with a colorful serapé slung over his shoulder and a sombrero. He cracked the whip over the rumps of the horses and pulled away from the church. Everyone entered their own carriages or mounted their horses and followed.
As the wedding party arrived, the musicians started playing again and everyone gathered at the rear of the hacienda. During the cattle drive a large wooden deck had been built for dancing and now large decorated pots with wild flowers interspersed with red roses brightened the edges. Latticework had been built on two sides of the deck and latticework covered the top. Bougainvillea vines intertwined the latticework to form a green and red canopy. The musicians stayed to one side of the veranda and tables and chairs surrounded the deck.
Colonel Montoya came up to Tessa.
"Señorita, when did you do all of this? It is wonderful. Very colorful."
Tessa made a little bow of her head. "Thank you, Colonel. One of the workers thought it would be nice for Marta's wedding and this was his gift to her."
"Then, may I have the pleasure of a dance with you this evening?"
"I would love to, but the newlyweds have to christen it first with the wedding dance. Excuse me; my guests await."
Vera clapped in joy as Tessa came up beside her.
"Enjoying yourself, Vera?" asked Tessa.
"Oh yes, the dancers are wonderful. I wish I could dance like that. Can you do flamenco?" asked Vera.
"I have been known to in my younger days," laughed Tessa.
"Well, then. Go and join them," replied Vera, pushing Tessa forward.
Tessa saw Marta with Roman by the dance floor and pulled her up also. Marta danced a very gitano rendition of the flamenco and sound generated by the music and the crowd clapping, was deafening.
Montoya watched Tessa and Marta with a sly smile. Suddenly the smile vanished as he saw a figure move behind the crowd. He stood up a little straighter and focused on the masked woman in black. He started moving through the masses of guests while trying to keep sight of his foe but lost her near the parlor.
"Enjoying yourself, Colonel?" asked a female voice directly behind him.
Montoya turned. "Sí, Señora Vallejo. This is a marvelous party."
"You look like a man who has lost something. Is there something I can help you find?" she asked sweetly.
"No. I thought I recognized someone, but it must be too much wine," replied Montoya with a smile.
Over Elena's shoulder, Montoya saw the Queen again going into the kitchen. He lost her as she went outside. He walked quickly through the kitchen but saw no-one.
"Glass of wine, Colonel?" asked Juan Pablo, taking two glasses from a servant with a tray of wine-filled glasses.
"Either I have had too much or not enough," replied Montoya as he accepted the glass.
"Are you enjoying yourself, Colonel?" asked a voice from behind him He turned to see the Queen standing behind him.
"I was. What are you doing here?"
"The invitation was for everyone, Colonel. I told you I might be here. See? I am just a guest; I don't even have my sword."
"It's probably in my back," smirked Montoya.
"Colonel, how can you say that? I have been very cordial to you, even though you keep following me."
"I couldn't believe that you would even come. Surely you must know that you won't get away."
"Colonel, I told you I didn't want to ruin a wedding. I hope you aren't going to cause problems."
"Reina, I would never do that. I have kept my word. There are no soldiers here except as guests. Once you are away from the party, it is another story," replied Montoya with a sly grin."
"Thank you for the warning, Colonel," replied the Queen.
"Colonel Montoya, I have been insulted," came a voice from behind him. Montoya turned to see Josephine.
"How have I insulted you, Señora?"
"You have not asked me to dance," replied Josephine.
Montoya looked to the Queen, but she was gone. He turned back to the newlywed. "It would be a pleasure to dance with you Señora," he said as he offered her his arm.
He glanced back at the kitchen to see Tessa and Marta talking with Elena.
Montoya danced twice with Josephine and as he led her from the floor, he saw Elena stumble a little to a chair in the kitchen. He looked around and saw Tessa and Doctor Helm also coming off the dance floor. He glanced back at Elena and saw her bend over in apparent pain.
Tessa basked in the pleasure of Robert's company on the dance floor. Such a rare treat. Even though propriety forbade any closer contact than a discreet arm's length, she would remember this. She was about to tell him he was the handsomest man in the place when, glancing over her shoulder, his face darkened and he stiffened.
"Robert, what's wrong?"
"Elena," he said.
She turned in time to see Montoya walk quickly to the kitchen and, through the open door, to see Elena bent over.
Robert let go of Tessa's hands and began to walk toward Elena. "We need to get her into bed."
When Robert reached Elena, one step behind Montoya, he bent to her. "Doctor, it hurts," she said, sweat rolling down her face.
"We'll get you to a bed," he said, feeling her forehead. Colonel, would you help me, please?"
"Of course," Montoya replied immediately. "There is a guest room, Señorita?"
Tessa nodded. "Yes. This way."
Robert and Montoya placed their arms around Elena's back and under her knees. "Ready?" Robert asked. Montoya nodded. "We lift on three. One, two, three."
Between them, Montoya and Robert lifted Elena and followed Tessa down the hallway to the guestroom. They placed her on the bed and left, closing the door behind them.
When the men had left, Tessa helped Elena get undressed to her shift and get into bed. She pulled the sheet over Elena and went to the door to fetch Robert.
Robert closed the door and went to the bed. Tessa held Elena's hand to reassure her.
Robert touched the sheet. "May I?"
Elena nodded and Robert drew the sheet back over the small mound of her belly. He felt her belly through the shift, a look of concerned concentration on his handsome face. He said nothing.
Elena groaned. "It hurts."
Robert smiled. "I'm sure it does."
"Elena, just breathe normally," said Tessa holding her hand.
"Elena," Robert said gently. "Has there been any blood? It's important."
Elena smiled shyly. "No, Doctor, only the pain."
"Good. I am pleased to tell you that everything seems fine."
When a knock sounded on the door, he turned.
"Come in," said Tessa.
"Tessa, I can help," said Marta, looking worried.
"Not today. This is your wedding day. Doctor Helm and I will take care of Elena."
When Marta retreated, Tessa closed the door. "Is it really not a problem?"
"There doesn't seem to be anything wrong. It is not unusual for there to be cramps, sometimes severe ones." He turned back to Elena. "Has this happened before?"
"Perhaps a little."
Robert sighed his displeasure. "If you are going to tell me you have been riding a horse, I will instruct your husband that you are not to be left alone until the baby is born. Do you hear me?"
Elena scowled and folded her arms over her chest. "I will not be told what I may and may not do!"
"Then, when you miscarry, find someone else to come, for I shall be busy with women who know how to behave while in your condition. Am I making myself clear?"
Elena said nothing but still scowled. Tessa could not suppress just a little giggle at Elena's expense.
"And," Robert continued, his face dark, "I will give Marta a list of things you must eat, times you must rest, things you may not do. I warn you now, if you do not follow my instructions, you run the risk of miscarriage. This is not a game, Seņora, and you are not a child. Stop behaving like one. You're to stay here now and rest until the pain is gone, even if it means that you will miss the party. There is no reason for you not to have someone bring you wine and food and I shall send someone to sit with you. All right?" He turned to Tessa. "I'll wait for you outside." And he left.
When Tessa had made Elena comfortable, she joined Robert in the hall.
"What do we do now?"
"Seņorita Alvarado," he replied with a smirk, "you return to the dance floor with a handsome doctor on your arm."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea. Do you know one?"
"Not really. Will I do?"
"I suppose I could settle for our local doctor," she said as she sidled up to him.
"Any port in a storm?"
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