Yaqui Woman and the Crystal Cactus by Ric V. Solano

Author:Ric V. Solano
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Publish on Demand Global LLC

19

Casas Grandes

Beyond this point, I had no more dreams for a time. Then late one night, the dreaming returned though in small scenes. Then larger segments of Maria’s life emerged, one from just before her arrival in Casas Grandes. Maria confided in her mother that her menstrual periods had stopped. She was not sure what this meant, whether she was sick or was about to die. Guadalupe knew what was happening but sought to quiet Maria’s fears by listening rather than explaining. She already knew, however, that Maria was pregnant from the rape from words that had come to her when she had prepared her husband and son for burial and from a dream she had had on the road.

Before reaching Elena and Carlos’ home, Guadalupe had felt deeply feverish, made worse by the constant swaying of the wagon. It was then, as the fever worsened that Guadalupe entered a strange place of dreaming that foretold a miraculous birth. At first she said nothing to Maria for fear of again arousing her daughter’s anger. Later, when unable to contain her excitement, Guadalupe quietly told Maria about the dream and what was to happen.

Maria’s reaction was not what her mother expected. There was no anger. Instead Maria nodded as if accepting that her mother had been feverish as Elena had foretold. The improbable dream had to be a part of her fever.

Maria had other concerns. Since leaving the couple, she had begun to fully realize that she was responsible for her mother’s life. The recognition was thrust upon her because of what Elena had said about her mother’s poor health. Her mother had lost weight and so much more. Recognizing this, Maria suddenly felt tears falling.

Moments later she regained her composure and continued talking to herself. “Now I cannot forget what we must do … I’ll watch mother, then before too long, as Carlos said, we should reach Casas Grandes.”

Maria was correct. Soon they passed the small villages of Carretas, Janos, and Fronteras that Carlos had described, and finally they arrived at the outskirts of Casas Grandes. It was almost dark and lights flickered on in scattered adobe houses. Before going further, Maria stopped by a deserted road stand for a brief pause, helping her mother off the wagon.

It was late when they resumed the trip into town, and so Maria decided to wait to search for Guadalupe’s sister in early morning. Quietly she stationed the wagon under the lamplights of the big plaza and went to buy food using the little money they had left. Soon Maria returned with cooked food and fed her mother and herself. Shortly, she led Guadalupe to her little corner in the back of the wagon. After making her comfortable, she lay next to her mother and both fell asleep.

Maria awoke to find a town much larger and busier than she had expected. The plaza was large. A huge church faced the square and government buildings lined another side. Stores and shops crowded the other

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