The Lastoc of the Annumpi: The Butcher's Bill and First Steps to Recovery (Part 17)

The Butcher’s Bill and First Steps to Recovery

The O’Briens and the Bryants had never expected violence on the scale of the ambush. They had worried that Cupido and his friends would strike at them again, but they all expected the mess to cool off after a few fist fights. They were shocked when Cupido’s silk stocking crowd burned down Juan’s house. That raised the stakes. They all knew that if any one of them retaliated by burning down a house or barn belonging to the silk stockings, they would be hunted down and hung.  So they waited and made sure that they travelled in groups and kept an eye on each other’s home. 

The wiser heads in the families had looked to Maria to work things out. She had access to the homes of the silk stockings. She was the one who could walk in the front door and talk to the heads of the families. Mrs. O’Brien did what she could. She talked to the small farmers who worked the land of the silk stockings. She sat in the kitchens and kitchen gardens and gathered information. She knew which of the silk stocking sons was dangerous and which were all talk. Several times she heard of planned raids, and Pau and men were able to head off the trouble. No punches were thrown, but Pau was concerned that more of the men were carrying weapons these days.

Eduardo O’Brien had seen the violence coming. He had argued that this fight wasn’t about Maria and Cupido, it was about the death of Old Spain and the creation of an empire in New Spain. He talked of Napoleon and the war in Europe. He said that now was the time to break away from a dead monarchy and join the future. Soon England would fall and all Europe would be ruled by the Emperor. Then he would turn his attention to the New World, first to New Spain, and then to America. 

When Cupido’s elegant thugs struck, Eduardo thought that the opening act had begun. First a Republic to sweep aside the corrupt aristocracy and the priests, then the Emperor to restore order. Eduardo had made these arguments time and again in the Paris Club in Port Seguro, the capital. He had joined with like minded young men from across the country to organize a coordinated response when the moment came. They had negotiated with the British to buy weapons. Eduardo had studied the American war and decided that the new Baker rifles and new tactics would allow these small groups to join with a small part of the military and take control of the country. The Rojas family and other members of the Paris Club prepared for revolution.

When the Revolution occurred, it was not the Paris Club, but the aristocracy itself that lead it. The old families saw that Spain could not stand up to Napoleon. They knew that Spain had been propped up for years by the wealth of New Spain. For enough of these families, and Cupido’s silk stocking crowd came from these people, it was time to break away and form a great power in New Spain. They must gather their strength before the Emperor came to swallow them. If that meant working with the British pirates, so be it. Napoleon would soon deal with the British. Besides, General Morales was the equal of any French Field Marshall Napoleon might send. 

The plan laid by Morales and circumvented by Rojas was intended to result in General Morales being named King of Southern New Spain. After the ambush and the other actions taken simultaneously by Paris Club groups across the country, General Rojas took command of the army and the new country. Many clamored for him to take a crown as well, but he refused. He was a revolutionary of an older type. He wanted to be the Cincinnatus of Southern New Spain. He looked to George Washington as his model. He would not be King or Emperor.  Instead he ordered that a convention be called in Porto Seguro to design a government. He sent a copy of the United State Constitution as a model and three divisions of troops to protect the delegates. He sent troops to all the major cities to prevent rioting and settled his main army at the mining camp. They built a military camp there and laid in supplies for the winter. 

The conflict between the Valenzulas, O’Briens, and Bryants on one hand, and Cupido and the silk stockings on the other was caught up in these complex political struggles. Eduardo was involved directly, but his family was pulled in by necessity. They knew that if Morales won, Cupido, a leading figure among old monarchist families, would be an important man in the new government. He would then be able to use the force of the government against them. They weren’t sure what today’s explosion of violence would bring, but they knew that Morales was dead, as were most of Cupido’s gang, and he lay seriously wounded in Maria’a makeshift hospital. They would settle for these things for now.

*************

The family gathered in the kitchen as it inevitably did in times of emergency. Pots simmered while breads and cakes cooled on the window sill. Coffee and tea stood ready. People wandered over to the stove and served themselves. They were waiting until Mrs. O’Brien, Lucinda, and Miguel returned from the safe house. The three returned and Mrs. O’Brien immediately went into the library. She quickly returned and told Lucinda to go back to the safe house and stay with the children. Miguel went with her and said he would stay also. Mrs. O’Brien told them that a messenger would be sent tomorrow when the library and grounds were cleaned up. They all knew there were plenty of supplies to last another day, and the children would love the adventure.

Finn and Ronan returned home from the ferry crossing and went to help remove the bodies and clean the library. Pau’s wife, Vera, didn’t want her young son Finn to go, but Pau insisted that both his sons see this side of war. He didn’t like war and he didn’t want his sons’ heads filled with notions of military gallantry. Pau had the feeling his sons would see too much of war in their lives. 

The boys went to the library and saw the smashed window, the blood splashed wildly about, the holes burnt in the carpet and the furnishings by the smoldering wads from the pistols and guns. In the yard they saw the ripped and torn bodies, their limbs bent in unnatural angles. First Finn, then Ronan vomited on the lawn. Pau handed them clean rags to wipe their  faces, then passed them a jug of wine to clear their throats. After they regained possession of themselves, the young men helped Pau load the bodies into a wagon.

Don Hernando had ordered that the bodies be removed. He didn’t want them buried on Valenzuela land. Pau took the bodies to a place near the ambush site, a place out of sight of the Don’s house. There the three O’Brien men buried the six bodies. They covered the graves with stones and placed wooden crosses at their heads. Pau knew that Eduardo would have objected to the crosses, but the dead men’s families would never forgive him if he had failed to place crosses at the heads of the graves. The next day, Pau would gather the personal belongings of each man and take them to their families. He would include a map to the burial site, and expected that the families would come and claim their son’s bodies. After the burial, Pau lead the way back to the house. They removed the blood soaked carpets and furnishings, but there was too much to do in one night. The men boarded the window and locked the doors.

************

Maria and Ethna joined Mrs. O’Brien and the others in the kitchen. Maria reported that Cupido wasn’t doing well. She had done all she could do, but he hadn’t regained consciousness. Lemuel was also in the clinic. He had been shot through the hand, but hadn’t realized it until the fight was over. Maria had dressed the wound and he was resting. Fergus had a sword wound to the calf, but it wasn’t serious. The Sanchez brothers, Manuel’s brothers, who had been shot while defending the ferry crossing, were doing fine. Finn and Ronan were taking them home in the wagon. Maria asked if there was any word from the Bryants about injuries across the river. Mrs. O’Brien shook her head. Everyone was aware that now that she knew everyone nearby was fine, she wanted to know about her brother, Big James. 

Pau returned to the kitchen and asked about the Bryants. From a distance, he’d seen the confused fight at the barricade they manned. He saw that the barricade had held, but he hadn’t seen what had happened. If the Bryants didn’t send a messenger soon, he would go and find out for himself. He went to the stove and ladled out a bowl of stew. He ate it while pacing the kitchen.  He couldn’t seem to sit still. Rose entered the kitchen from the clinic. She went to wash her hands. She had changed Cupido’s bandages, but he was still unconscious. Lemuel was on his way to the kitchen, she reported. Not for the first time, Pau considered slipping into the clinic and killing Cupido. Once again he shoved the thought away. He wondered if he would continue fighting the thought.

Victor stepped into the kitchen and walked over to the stove to get some food. A stranger carrying two large bags followed him in. The man introduced himself as Dr. Roberto Suarez from the mine. “Senora de la Vega sent a messenger saying that you had injured people here and needed help. Here I am,” he said simply. Maria was overjoyed. She leapt to her feet and led the doctor to the clinic. Soon Fergus limped in, followed by Lemuel. Mrs. O’Brien ordered them to sit down and went to get them food. Meanwhile the doctor set to work on Cupido.

Lt. Villens knocked at the kitchen door. He was invited in, although his bloody uniform made him seem a candidate for the clinic rather than the kitchen. The Lieutenant introduced himself and asked for Maria. Mrs. O’Brien explained that she was busy in the clinic, and suggested that he join them in the kitchen and eat with them. She had heard of his role in defending Maria and the house. After thanking her for her kind offer, the Lieutenant asked if he could have writing paper, a pen, and ink. He must a write a letter to his comrade’s family. The wounded cavalryman had bled to death from his wounds. Ethna went upstairs and brought down her writing box for Lieutenant Villens to use. Finn and Ronan volunteered to carry the body across the river and bury in with the others. The Lieutenant gratefully accepted their offer.

The family sat quietly, talking softly and eating while the Lieutenant wrote his somber letter. There was a lull while Maria and the doctor examined Cupido. Ethna kept turning over the events of the library in her mind. She felt like she was seeing the events from a distance, like she was watching over her own shoulder as her body played its part in the terrible scene. Pau tried to sit on a high stool in the corner, but he gave up and started pacing again, a corn muffin in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Mrs. O’Brien watched him, but knew that nothing would help him. Pau had to move until his body realized the danger was over and it could rest. Word of Big James and Little Jimmy would help him, she knew. It would help her also.

The quiet was broken by Don Hernando sweeping open the kitchen door and ushering in three people quite unused to entering houses by the kitchen door. Considering the scene at the front door, Don Hernando had chosen this entrance, apologizing for any insult. Seeing that Cupido had created the incident at the front door, Don Hernando was tempted to make them walk the destruction, but he had no desire to put Senora de la Vega through such a thing.

The Senora was accompanied by her only daughter, Cecilia, and her youngest son, Martin, a priest. Don Hernando led the group into the clinic to see Cupido. Dr. Suarez courteously commended Maria for her prompt actions. “You son would be dead, if it was not for this young lady,” he said, waving a hand toward Maria. Senora de la Vega kissed Maria on the cheek, while Father Martin and Cecilia added their thanks. Maria murmured that it was nothing, and withdrew slightly so the doctor and family could have more room around Cupido. Senora de la Vega asked the doctor if Cupido would lose his arm. “He might,” said the doctor frankly. “But at this point the shock of the surgery would kill him. We must wait and see, but his chances are not good.” Cecilia asked if Cupido could be moved to their home. The doctor assured her that any such effort would surely kill him. 

“You all must stay here as my guests until Cupido is strong enough to return home,” said Don Hernando. “I shall not listen to any other plans. The rooms will be prepared immediately.”  The de la Vega’s accepted Don Hernando’s gracious offer. 

When the doctor told them it was time to leave and let Cupido rest, Maria gestured toward the kitchen and Cecilia headed that way. Father Roberto and the Senora lagged behind. Senora de la Vega asked Maria to show her where the fighting had taken place. Maria refused, but the Senora insisted and Maria gave way. They stayed in the library for only a brief time. The Senora was appalled at the damage. Maria was relieved that the bodies had been removed. In the clinic, Father Roberto took advantage of his sister’s and mother’s absence to administer the Last Rites to his brother.

When the de la Vegas had returned to the kitchen, Mrs. O’Brien announced that a small table was being set up for them in the old drawing room. A meal would be served there in about a half-hour. She knew they were not comfortable in the kitchen, and, if truth be told, she was not comfortable having them there. “If is not too much trouble, may we dine in the kitchen with you and your family?,” Senora de la Vega asked. “My family has done injuries to Don Hernando and your family and we would like to ask you forgiveness. Please allow us to dine with you at your table.” Father Roberto’s face betrayed no expression, while his sister was clearly unhappy with her mother’s words. Mrs. O’Brien recognized the look that the Senora gave her recalcitrant children and approved of its effect. Celia and Father Roberto dropped their heads in compliance. The Senora turned to Mrs. O’Brien and they shared an instant moment of maternal understanding. “What could you do with foolish, stubborn children?,” the look eloquently expressed.

*************

Another lull settled on the crowded kitchen. Quiet conversations mixed with the general noises of passing dishes and scrapping chairs on the stone floor as people got up to get another helping. The quiet dropped to silence when Anthony Bryant arrived driving a dog cart.

Anthony entered the kitchen and went directly to his aunt, Mrs. O’Brien. Blood and smoke had stained his clothes and face. Bloody bandages were wrapped around his left arm and thigh. Mrs. O’Brien tried to send him to see the doctor, but he waved off her concerns. “I’ve come for you, Aunt Bridget,” he said solemnly. “Big James and Little Jimmy are dead. The wake is tonight at my mother’s house. We’ve laid the bodies out there.”

Anthony’s face was so pale, Mrs. O’Brien thought he was going to collapse. She scrambled out of her chair and guided him into it. He resisted at first, but then he slid down onto the seat. She rushed over to the stove and prepared him a plate of food. Pau brought him a mug of beer. “You sit and eat a bit, Anthony,” said Mrs. O’Brien. “When you feel stronger, I want to hear what happened to my brother and his boy.”

Time passed while Anthony slowly ate and gathered his strength. People who had wandered out of the kitchen began to wander back in as word of Anthony’s arrival with news of the Bryants spread. The de la Vegas excused themselves so they would not intrude on a private moment. They were also keenly aware that their family had been on the other side of fight. They were lead into the small sitting room to wait for their rooms to be prepared.

When he finished his sandwiches and his beer, Antony asked for water, then began his story. He spoke in a low, flat voice and often halted as he struggled with his emotions. “Our job,” he began, “was to wait until the end of Morales’ column had passed a certain rock. Then we would swing the gate shut, as it were. We’d hidden four wagons behind the rocks and at the right time, we were to push the wagons into the mouth of the pass and flip them onto their sides, barricading the exit.  We would use the barricade as a fortification to pour musket and rifle fire into the rear of Morales’ forces.”

“Our lookouts were watching closely, but the column must have stretched out because before the last of the troops reached the rocks, gunfire broke out at the head of the column. The troops in the rear panicked and tried to retreat. We hurried the wagons into place, but in our rush we left a gap between the second and third wagon. We spread out along the barricade, but instead of firing controlled volleys, we fired wildly. Men fired as quickly as they could load and our aim was erratic.”

“A group of Morales’ horsemen saw the gap and made for it. If they cleared the gap, they would be behind our lines. From there they could slaughter us. Two cavalry entered the gap. Big James and Little Jimmy shot the riders out of their saddles. They slung their rifles onto their backs and grabbed an armful of pikes each. Big James and Little Jimmy stepped into the gap and began to drive the pikes into the earth. They were trying to fill the gap with a fence of pikes.” 

“They bristled with pikes, so the riders couldn’t get close enough to use their swords. If the riders slowed enough to try a carbine shot, our muskets and especially our Baker rifles would cut them down. Big James and Little Jimmy ignored the cavalry pounding toward them and continued to plant the pikes. When they planted the last one, they slid their sword bayonets onto their rifles and planted themselves in the middle of the spiky fence. If any of the hastily planted pikes snapped, they were going to step in and defend the gap.”

“The noise from the other end of the ambush grew even louder. Wounded men were stumbling to the rear and being ridden down by their own cavalry or were caught in our fire. Our muskets had settled down into a disciplined attack and it was devastating. I saw a group of the trapped cavalry ride out of range and draw together. One of the riders was yelling and waving his arm. I realized that it was Cupido de la Vega.”

“Cupido rallied the cavalry for a desperate charge against the pikes, still the weakest area of our defenses. He and his friends, the ones called ‘the Silk Stockings,’ led the charge. At the last second, they pulled off and circled tightly. They now had three or four other cavalry trapped between us and them. They drove the trapped riders forward, blocking them when they tried to veer away. The trapped riders plunged onto the pikes which buried themselves deep into the horses and riders. The pikes either snapped or were pulled out of the ground by the writhing beasts.  Big James and Little Jimmy were buried under the fallen horses.” 

“Cupido’s men tried to force their way through the gap, but the gap was blocked completely by dead and dying horses and riders. We directed our fire into the gap and killed several of Cupido’s friends, but he and a small group of others escaped. We were so enraged that we climbed the barricades and chased them in small groups, sending volley after volley at them. My brothers and I ran into the gap to rescue our father and half-brother. It was too late. Somewhere in the smoke and confusion they had fallen. We pulled their bodies out from under the dead horses and the wounded and dying cavalry.” 

“I grabbed my father’s rifle and set out after Cupido. It was then I realized that the sounds of battle had nearly died. I looked among the corpses for Cupido and did not find him. He must have escaped. I tell you now, and I will tell anyone who wants to hear, that when my father and brother are buried, the Bryants will hunt down Cupido de la Vega. We will catch him and I will kill him myself.”

Anthony’s mounting fury echoed in the silence long after he stopped talking. Many listeners found themselves wondering how the unconscious Cupido lying no more than fifty yards away could not feel Anthony’s rage.

Mrs. O’Brien looked at Pau and signaled for him to take his cousin outside to talk to him. Mrs. O’Brien knew that the men had grown up together. They were inseparable opposites. Pau was stoic and controlled. Anthony was dionysean and passionate. She was counting on Pau’s ability to calm Anthony, on his self-control. She didn’t know that as Pau was guiding Anthony outside, he was wondering if this was the time he would give in to his desire to kill Cupido. 

Those in the kitchen sat stock still, their ears straining to hear the exchange between the cousins. First Pau’s deep, calm voice was heard. Soon Anthony’s voice cut in, loud and angry. Pau’s voice never changed pitch or volume and seemed to absorb Anthony’s anger. There was one last angry outburst from Anthony, then the dog cart could be heard driving away.  Mrs. O’Brien went to the door and saw the cart disappearing into the dusk. “Mother,” said Pau, “get changed. I am taking you to the wake in one hour.”

“What happened?,” asked Mrs. O’Brien. “Has Anthony calmed down?”

“Not, he has not,” said Pau in the same preternaturally calm voice. “He wanted to kill Cupido now. Here. I told him that I would not allow Cupido to be killed in the Valenzuela house. Not with his family as the Don’s guests. Not while he is unconscious. I told Anthony that Cupido will likely die from his wounds. Finally I told Anthony that if he recovers, he and I will kill Cupido together.”

************

Later that night Don Hernando and Lemuel went to the safe house. The Don needed to be away from the house for a while and he asked Lemuel if he would mind showing him the way. They met Miguel who had been watching the path a little up from the house. The three sat on rocks while the Don caught his breath. Once he did, Don Hernando asked Miguel if he and his brothers could build him a new library. Miguel beamed and assured Don Hernando that they could build the finest library he could imagine. They made an appointment for the next day to begin designing the addition, then stood and shook hands. 

On the way home, Lemuel asked the Don if he could help Miguel. The Don agreed and said they’d have to think about how to pay him. “I’ve already thought about that,” said Lemuel. “If you allow me to live in my old house that you have repaired so nicely, and allow me to eat with the O’Briens, I wouldn’t need anything else.” The Don immediately agreed, but knew that he must do more for this man who had risked his life for the Don’s family.

*******

While Anthony was telling the story of Big James and Little Jim’s death, Ethna quietly slipped out of the kitchen. She didn’t want to hear about how Big Jim had died. She didn’t want any more images of death crowding her mind. She still felt strangely calm. She knew that earlier that day she had killed a man and seriously wounded another, but she didn’t feel any thing at all. When she wasn’t concentrating on something else, her mind would replay the scene from start to awful finish. She could see everything so clearly, but it bothered her that she could never tell how long the whole thing had taken. She still saw everything as if she were looking down on the scene from over her right shoulder. She knew she should be upset, but she felt as if she’d split, as if her mind had withdrawn to observe what her body performed. Somehow the split had frozen her emotions, they were under the control of her observing self. 

Ethna decided to go to her room and lie down. The younger girls’ absence made her tiny room unusually quiet. She stopped by the bathroom and cleaned up. In her room, she slipped into a nightgown and sat at her dressing table. She began combing her hair and gazing blankly into the mirror as one does while performing the mindless tasks of grooming. Tonight, however, she started to look at her herself, at her face, her eyes. In those eyes, Ethna saw her observing self. She saw how frightened it was. She laid down the brush and stared into those familiar, but somehow altered, eyes until her observing self merged with her active self and everything from that awful day collapsed in on her. She began to sob. 

When Anthony finished his story and Pau led him outside, Maria eased back in her chair. She hadn’t realized that she had leaned forward, drawn in by Anthony’s passion. Now she took a deep breath and looked about for Ethna. She had been trying to keep an eye on her. Maria didn’t want Ethna to be alone when everything hit her. 

As soon as she realized Ethna was gone, Maria hurried out of the kitchen toward Ethna’s room. She had just placed a foot on the bottom step when she heard Ethna’s strangely choked voice calling to her. Ethna was on the landing looking down at Maria. Her long dark hair and white nightgown hung loosley about her. Her feet were bare and her toes curled over the top step as if trying to secure a hold. Her face was ghostly pale. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Ethna looked imploringly at Maria and said in a flat, emotionless voice, “I can’t stop crying.”

Maria sat with Ethna for a long time. She held her until the young woman did stop crying. She listened while Ethna tried to explain how she had been split while all the violence swirled around her and now she was one again and it was all coming back, all the feelings were rushing in. She just listened and held Ethna close. She wrapped a blanket around Ethna when she grew cold. When Ethna lay down and fell asleep, Maria stayed a while then kissed her on the forehead, tucked the blankets in around Ethna, and quietly left. Maria stood in the dark hallway a few minutes to settle herself down. Today would difficult for everyone to forget.

**************

After leaving Ethna, Maria returned to kitchen. Most of the O’Brien family had gone to the wake. Others had wandered off to quiet places. Lieutenant Villens was sitting at the table with Finn and Ronan when Maria entered. Villens abruptly rose and bowed. She smiled at the formality on such a day and he was pleased to receive her smile on such a day. The boys staggered to their feet and made a poor show of bowing. Maria shook her head sadly at them. The boys had volunteered to stay behind and guard the house, but they really wanted to stay behind and watch Villens. At first they hadn’t trusted him, but they’d heard about his actions defending Maria and wanted to hear all about it from him.  He wouldn’t discuss the matter as it involved a lady, which they found honorable, yet maddening. “If you want to know about the attack on the house, you should ask Mr. Lemuel,” said the Lieutenant. “He was there through the entire attack. I just came in at the end.” The boys acknowledged this, but Lemuel didn’t cut the fine figure that the cavalry officer did.

Maria had had enough of war and discussions of war. She announced that she was going to take a walk. Lieutenant Villens opened the door and asked if he might accompany her. Maria thought about saying no, but decided that company might be desirable. She wasn’t certain things had completely settled down yet. Before she could leave, Villens reached in to his pockets and drew out her pistols. “I believe these are yours, Mademoiselle,” he said, offering them to her. “I apologize for taking possession of them earlier.” Maria wordlessly took the pistols and slipped them into her pockets. She noticed that Villens had found time to clean them.

The two walked for a while in silence. The moon was up and the evening was bathed a cool, pearly light. Villens began to speak about his future. He would leave the army. A lieutenant who served under Morales would always be under suspicion. It didn’t matter that Villens, like most of the junior officers, were not included in Morales’ plots. He hadn’t wanted to be in the cavalry. That was his father’s dream. It was a common story. His father was a military hero from a military family. So what if his boy wanted to be an engineer? The boy would be an officer in the family’s regiment, and so on. An old, old tale. Maria smiled.

“Now, I will get to take off this lovely uniform and wear old clothes while I build things,” said Villens. “I would like to rebuild this old bridge first. Of course, I would need to be around quite a bit. Perhaps I could stay here? I understand there are vacant rooms above the stables. Would you consider renting them to me?”

“How long will you be staying?,” Maria asked. 

“It should take a month to build that bridge properly,” he said.

“A month, you say,” Maria said neutrally. 

“More or less, more or less,” he said hopefully.

They walked in silence for a while each of them thinking of something quite different from the war. They liked the feeling.  “You will have to speak to my father, of course,” said Maria. 

“Your father?,” Villens said. “So soon?”

“About building the bridge and renting the stable rooms,” Maria replied quickly. An awkward silence fell over the pair. Villens broke the silence.

“Do you have any objections to my plans?,” asked Villens.

“No. They seem quite agreeable,” answered Maria.

“Do you know of anyone who could sew some clothes for me?” Villens asked. “I need to escape this uniform as soon as possible.”

“You should ask any of the O’Brien women. Either Rose, Vera, or Lucinda, with the help of the girls, will have you outfitted in no time.” And they will love every minute of it thought Maria, glancing over at Villens’s tall, well-formed frame. 

“Would you mind helping them pick the material and colors,” he asked. “I should like you to approve of my new wardrobe.”

Again Maria smiled and realized that it had been a long time since she had smiled so freely. “Of course, Lieutenant. Oh, what should I call you now?”

“My name us Eduardo Villens. Please call me Eduardo.”

In her pocket a crumpled letter from Eduardo O’Brien seemed to burn her hand. “I will call you Villens,” she said. “I have had bad luck with Eduardos.”

“As you wish,” Villens replied and they walked a while more in silence. They found themselves walking along the soggy banks of the river. The flood had soaked the normally dry land and unusual flowers had burst forth. Villens stopped suddenly and knelt down on the damp ground. He carefully snapped off a stalk of flowers. The tiny, dark magenta blossoms clustered around the tip of the stalk in a tight orb two inches across. He presented it to Maria.

“It’s lovely,” she said, amazed to find a plant so close to her house that she had never seen. 

“It’s the flood,” Villens said. “All that destruction brings new life with it. Life always pours in where there is the slightest opening. Do you recognize the flower?”

“I should, but I don’t,” Maria admitted. 

“I have only seen them in damp climates or at higher altitudes. It is a primula denticulata, a drumstick primrose. Please accept it from an admirer of your bravery,” said Villens. “And your beauty.”

Maria blushed and hoped the moon wasn’t bright enough to reveal the color on her throat and cheeks. Villens noticed the rising color and was charmed, but he didn’t let on.  Maria thanked him for the flower and for the first time in her life wished she was wearing a dress instead of her dirty, blood stained work clothes. Then she realized that Villens had only seen her dressed as she was. She wasn’t certain what to make of this realization. She tried to remind herself that she had only known him for twelve hours, but the intensity of those hours put the lie to their brevity. 

“Can you really rebuild the bridge in only a month?,” Maria asked.

“Well, sometimes there are accidents that make things take longer,” he said.

“You should be careful that no one gets hurt in the accidents,” Maria said smiling even more warmly. The smiles were coming more easily.

********************

Letter to Maria from Eduardo O’Brien. 

Maria received the letter from a messenger shortly after the attack on her house.

“Maria Valenzeula,

    I am on my way to the capitol with Lieutenant Rojas. We have heard from the capitol that victory is ours. I will not be able to come and see you before I go, but this is my chance to have a place in the new government and I must seize the chance. I am certain that you and all the family will be safe at your father’s house. I will send for you when I am settled in. We should marry soon; there is no longer any reason to wait. Major Rojas prefers his officers to marry. 

Yours Truly,

  Eduardo O’Brien”