In This Land of Plenty by Mary Smathers

Author:Mary Smathers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: mks publishing via Indie Author Project

RETURN TO THE FOREST

RANCHO CASTRO AND INLAND OF BAHÍA DE MONTERREY, ALTA CALIFORNIA

1796–1804

After storming out of their most heated conversation ever, that day in her tiny bedroom, Diego observed Sholeta’s transformation with concern. Since her brother’s death, after she’d swallowed roots to expel a baby from her womb, she was no longer the same. It was as if the herbs had sapped her energy. She lost weight and grew slight, almost as skinny as when he’d brought her home from the mission. Her eyes turned hollow with deep shadows beneath. She spoke even less than before. Her force diminished. Was this still the woman of his heart, maybe his true wife, the one he really loved?

Always a dutiful worker, Sholeta continued to care for the children, keep the house, manage the servants and the vaqueros who tended the gardens and cows. But her light had faded. The vibrancy and feistiness that had driven the mission priests and soldiers crazy and kept the children entertained were gone. The care Diego found so endearing each time he returned home was not as prevalent as before. She mostly seemed to avoid him.

However, eventually, as had been his habit for over a decade, when Quina disappeared south to Santa Barbara for yet another birth, he crept into her room a few days after his wife had departed and asked her to join him in his bed. He expected he’d have to cajole her out of this new passive state but she looked up at him, nodded, followed him to his room and embraced him enthusiastically. As if she’d been waiting for his summons. Relieved, he felt like maybe things could return to normal. This woman soothed him at night.

About a year after Ores’ death, one night in bed, Sholeta revealed that she was probably six months pregnant. He had not noticed the changes in her body and was slightly surprised but cupped her chin, tenderly, and smiled.

“I’m so pleased. This child will want for nothing. The baby will join our large family and—” She cut him off.

“Diego, this time it will be different. I will raise this child as an Ohlone. My final chance to make things right. For my father, my brother, my people.” He had just put his pants and shirt on and stopped with half his buttons still undone. He felt his face go red, he inhaled deeply. What craziness was this woman going on about now? He tried to protest but she kept on, holding up her hand, hard, palm facing him, as she continued.

“Don’t try to stop me,” she said as she climbed out of bed. “You’re responsible for Ores’ death. For our babies dying. I gave up Pedro for you and that cold Spanish woman. But this baby will be Ohlone. You’ll not stop me this time. I’ll be leaving for the villages soon.”

“What? Don’t be crazy,” he said. He grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look closely at him. “I’m thrilled you’re well enough to get pregnant again.

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