Dust Devil by Bonds Parris Afton

Author:Bonds, Parris Afton [Bonds, Parris Afton]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Parris Afton, Inc.
Published: 2013-03-31T21:00:00+00:00

"We knew you would feel that way,” he said. He paused and glanced at Inez, then went on. "We were hoping you two women might smooth the way with our fathers. I thought I’d ask Don Jiraldo for Inez’s hand at the Fourth of July Ball tomorrow night. But father . . .’’Jamie frowned. "Well, you know, mother, we’re not that close. But I would like his blessing.”

She turned away. Moving to the window, with her hands crossed about her elbows, she stood looking out. She saw the great cottonwood where her firstborn was buried alongside Stephanie’s grave. She saw the millhouse where Grant first kissed her. And she saw the village below where she spent many afternoons teaching the illiterate and many nights watching over the sick. Almost a quarter of a century she had lived in this land. A land she had come to love despite her initial reservation. She was bound to this land, more so than Stephen could ever be!

Slowly she turned to face the two lovers, her decision made. "Jamie, your father will never give his blessing.”

"Why not? Surely age can’t be that important. And he and Don Jiraldo have been friends for years.”

She held up her hand. "Let me finish.” Her teeth played with her lower lip. "I don’t know how to say this, because I care so much for you, Inez. But you see, Jamie’s father brought me here from Ireland to be . . . ” she drew a deep breath and finished, " . . . not so much a wife — but a breeder. Like a thoroughbred horse.”

She saw the couple’s faces register disbelief, then shock. Her lips twisted in a sad smile. "Actually, Inez, ’tis not so uncommon. Your father, who is a gachupine with the finest Spanish blood in his heritage, would never consider letting you marry a Mexican with Indian ancestry, a mestizo. Though he might be persuaded to let you marry Jamie . . . I don’t know. I do know that Stephen will never allow you to marry Inez, Jamie. He wants an empire ruled by pure Anglo blood.”

Jamie bowed his head. His right fist ground into his left palm. When he looked up, Rosemary saw the fury that tore him inside out, the tears that symbolized years of frustration and anger and hurt. "I used to dream, mother — horrible dreams. Every night of the three years you were gone. And father was always in them. Yelling, shouting, bullying.

"After you came back the dreams eventually stopped. But not my hatred for what father stands for. A bigoted megalomaniac. He will control everything, everyone. He moves us like puppets. The puppeteer. But not me, mother. Not any longer. With — or without his blessing, I shall marry Inez!”

She stifled her urge to console her son. Her voice sounded harsh in her ears. "Jamie, your father merely has to give the word, and one hundred and thirty vaqueros are at his command, ready to do his bidding.

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