Free Savage Enchantment by Parris Afton Bonds Page B

heard the gossip spread by those two spinsters -- and had seen her on the beach with the detestable Aguila. But was that any reason to judge her -- when his own past seemed just as open to speculation.
    And believing her to be a woman of easy virtue -- or worse -- what could Simon have been told by Nathan Plummer to make him change his mind and return to interview her?
    However, Simon's poor opinion of her was little to worry about, since she rarely saw him anyway. He was always gone, often for days at a time. And, fortunately for her, on the days he did spend on the rancho, he would ride out early in the morning with his vaqueros to hunt wild horses or round up stray cattle, the cimarrones, and not return until late at night.
    And that was another thing. Kathleen noticed that in spite of his Spanish surname, Simon did not adhere to many of the Latin customs, such as taking the heaviest meal in the middle of the day. Rather, after his return, he would bathe, then dine alone at the long, heavy table of oak.
    But that night, after Amelia left Kathleen, things were to be different. There was a timid knock at Kathleen's door as she brushed her teeth before the pine-framed mirror over the bureau. She pulled the lawn wrapper about her. "Sí?" she asked.
    "Perdóneme," Amelia said, opening the door slightly and sticking her round, pigtailed head through the aperture. "El Patrón would like to see you in the dining room."
    "At this hour? It's almost ten, Amelia. Can't it wait until tomorrow?"
    Amelia's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth, then closed it. Of course, thought Kathleen, no one keeps el patrón waiting. "Tell Señor Reyes I'll be there in five minutes, por favor."
    Amelia bobbed her head in relief. "Sí, Señorita Catalina."
    Kathleen put on one of three day-dresses Amelia had made up for her in the weeks since the fiesta, a lilac batiste with ribbon sashes, and pinned her hair up in a chignon, but did not bother with the spectacles, in her haste to dress.
    She realized it would be the first time Simon had seen her without the disguising glasses, but in the dimness of the scented candlelight she doubted whether Simon would notice. Yet from the far end of the table she saw the scarred brow raise in mild amusement.
    "Yes?" she asked, ignoring the twitch of his lips. "You wanted me?"
    "Take a seat, Kathleen. Maria Jesus'll bring you something to eat."
    No, thank you. I've already eaten."
    Kathleen noticed that he looked tired; the lines around his mouth seemed harsher, deeper. And against the whiteness of the linen shirt, his face, normally as bronzed as an Indian's, looked pale.
    "I asked you to sit," he said evenly. The green eyes, as fathomless as mirrors, watched her, waiting.
    "Very well." Kathleen took the seat at the end opposite Simon, remaining silent as Maria Jesus brought in another plate. Kathleen took a few tentative bites, noticing that Simon did not eat much either, though he consumed a great deal of the sangría from the decanter Maria Jesus had left on the table.
    When the strain of the silence began to grate on Kathleen's nerves, Simon spoke. "The workers -- what have you taught them so far? Are they willing to learn?"
    Kathleen put down her fork. "At first they were hesitant. Especially the older servants. The first week Maria Jesus refused to come to the arbor. Declared she was too old. But she comes now and listens, though she still won't participate."
    "And Diego?"
    "Diego's quick, you know. He and Amelia seem the most promising. He's picked up English remarkably fast. And since he's started coming, I've found that after the comida some of your shepherds and vaqueros steal into the arbor during the siesta hour instead of resting.
    Kathleen leaned forward, her great purple eyes shining with pleasure. "They sit quietly, like Maria Jesus, not saying anything. But I know they're assimilating most of what I say. DO you realize, Simon," she went on eagerly, "what could be accomplished if only ten of the