Free Until the Day Breaks (California Rising Book 1) by Paula Scott Page A

considered going to the patrón, but she didn’t want to attend to his desires if he happened to be in the mood. After years with him, Rosa knew he was not in the least superstitious. Informing Joshua that his wife was a witch would do no good. But if she told him about Sarita in Rachel’s betrothed’s room, certainly that would stir up enough trouble to keep the señora from casting her spells right now, but who knew where this telling would lead?
    Rosa still hoped she could return to Monterey and the little red tile-roofed house he had built for her there this past winter as he planned his wedding. Upon giving the situation more thought, Rosa decided to return to Señorita Rachel to help her dress for tonight’s celebration without saying anything to anyone. She was a servant after all, and servants kept their mouths shut and did as they were told.
    The siesta was nearly over. Soon it would be time to prepare for the evening activities. After she arrived at the señorita’s room, Rosa helped Rachel into a corset and petticoat, though the women of California rarely wore corsets these days. The peacock-blue silk gown with its scooped neckline and laced-up bodice made the most of Rachel’s slender curves. The girl’s long hair tumbled in golden waves to her waist. Washed and dried now, Rosa brushed the beautiful hair till it shone like sunshine, then pinned it up in artful curls. Thankfully, Señorita Rachel didn’t press her for any information about her betrothed. Rosa’s thoughts swirled about what she could do to help her young charge, but nothing came to mind that would protect the patrόn’s daughter from the wicked woman he’d married.
    # # #
    “You missed Rachel’s singing. You must hear her sing,” Isabella said excitedly upon Roman’s arrival that night at the family’s fiesta. His sister tugged him farther into the courtyard lit by candle lanterns. A table laden with food filled the air with the smells of a feast, but he wasn’t hungry and made no pretense of wanting to be there, resisting Isabella’s pleas to go see Rachel. He’d only come because Tio Pedro insisted on it.
    Isabella finally gave up trying to drag him over to where Rachel stood near the musicians and instead rushed over to Rachel’s side. After pleading with her to sing again— without success, it appeared from Roman’s vantage point, Isabella scampered over to Tio Pedro and Joshua Tyler, who were smoking cigarillos and drinking brandy where they sat in two carved wooden chairs probably carried out from the house into the courtyard.
    Hands on hips, Isabella planted herself before the two men. That determined look was on her little face that Roman knew all too well. He couldn’t make out the words she said, but he had an idea of what she told them.
    Tio Pedro crushed out his cigarillo, and Joshua Tyler did the same. “Have you asked her to sing?” Tyler’s voice rang out loud enough for all to hear.
    Isabella answered him, but Roman couldn’t hear what she said. He’d retired to the darkest corner of the courtyard, planting himself against a cool adobe wall where he set about lighting his own cigarillo .
    After speaking with Isabella, Joshua Tyler walked over to his daughter, who was standing with the Indian musicians. She did not look comfortable there. She looked like he felt, forced into something neither of them wanted.
    Isabella bounced back over to where he sat on the cobblestones, leaning gingerly against the wall. “I am sleeping in Rachel’s room tonight,” she teased. “Don’t you wish you were me, hermano ?”
    “You should not talk of things you don’t understand, pequeña. And look, you got Rachel in trouble with her padre.” Roman pointed to Tyler chastising his daughter now.
    A hurt look on her face, Isabella flounced away.
    It wasn’t long before the fiesta quieted as Rachel stepped into the middle of the courtyard once more. The Indians strummed the violins, softly, slowly, and then stronger, with