Renegade Love (Rancheros) by Donna Fletcher Read Free Book Online Page B

thought that the padre, in some small way, affected Esteban. She discovered the affect was far different than she had imagined when she heard his sharp response.
    “I already have and He didn’t hear me, Padre. No matter how desperate my cries, God never heard me.”
    Rosa shivered from the pain in his voice. His hurt ran deep, so deep, that she wondered if he would ever be able to heal. The sorrowful expression on the padre’s face told her that his thought mirrored her own.
    No further words were spoken. Esteban led Rosa from the church. Once outside he stopped to take a deep breath needing to cleanse himself of the painful memories. But it lingered like a shadow, refusing to go away, refusing to leave him in peace.
    “I’ll take you home,” Esteban said, not glancing at her.
    She followed along beside him, knowing there was little else she could do. His free hand reached for the reins draped around the post, and he directed his horse away from the church to walk her home.
    It was a short and silent walk and when he stepped toward the front door she gave his hand a gentle tug to stop him. “I do not live in the house.”
    “Show me where you reside.”
    It was a command and she wondered if that was the only way he knew how to speak... in commands. She nodded and he followed as she walked around to the back of the house and to the small rundown shack that was her home.
    Esteban stopped and stared at it for a moment, then with swift steps he opened the door and looked inside. He stepped out just as quickly, the space having been so small he could take the whole room in with a simple glance.
    “You live in this hovel?”
    She watched fiery anger grow in his eyes and she could have sworn he looked as he had when he had lost his temper and attacked Roberto. She didn’t need to suffer another of Lola’s tirades.
    Rosa’s hand quickly flew to rest on his bare chest. The warmth of his hard muscles stung her palm and she thought she felt his heart beating wildly. She spoke softly, hoping to make him understand. “It may not seem like much, but it is my sanctuary and if you say anything to them I will have more chores heaped upon me, and I can barely finish the ones I already have.”
    He understood all too well, thinking back to how he had been made to live like an animal and the endless days of backbreaking labor he had been made to endure until the squalid sleeping pallet that had greeted him at night became his sanctuary.
    It seemed that they both had endured hardships, but no more. “I will not have you suffer these unbearable conditions. I will see you moved to the hacienda right away.” He stepped away from her and mounted his horse, the animal pawing the ground anxious to be on his way. “Pack your things. I will send someone to collect you before this evening.”
    Rosa watched as he rode off, her hand that touched him tingling and sending a shiver through her.

Chapter Six
    Rosa stood in the small alcove waiting. It was a beautiful day, the sun bright, the breeze warm, and the hacienda gardens fragrant with new blooms. And yet she felt chilled. In a few minutes she would enter the garden where it seemed the whole town waited to see her wed to Esteban Cesare. She would walk to the arbor plump with red grapes, stand beneath it, beside Esteban, and with a few spoken words she would become his wife... forever.
    She shivered at the thought. If only Esteban had convinced his father to have Rosa become a servant at the hacienda rather than become his wife. Esteban had been true to his word and a wagon had come to collect her and her few belongings that day he had told her that he would no longer allow her to live with the Curros. That evening she had taken a stroll through the gardens and had heard Esteban and his father arguing. Esteban thought it more appropriate that Rosa live and work at the hacienda away from the cruel Curros.
    His suggestion had ignited a spark of hope in her, though it never flamed to life.