“Why do they all live together? I thought Indians lived in their own separate tribes.”
“Before the time of the missions, they did. Most ranged no more than a hundred square miles. For the most part, their way of life was destroyed when the mission fathers arrived. Do not misunderstand me. The padres’ intentions were good. They believed the Indians would profit by their association with the church. They would learn to grow their own food, to build smallrancheriasof their own, and their souls would be saved. Unfortunately, they never adjusted to such a life, and they were susceptible to every sort of disease. Most of them died.”
She felt a wave of pity. “And these?”
“When the mission system was destroyed, the Indians were given grants of land, but eventually they lost it. They were easilycheated. They were not allowed to testify in court, which meant they had no way to defend themselves. They went to work on the ranchos but now even that way of life will not support them. The old ways have flickered to life. The different tribes have banded together in small groups like these throughout the mountains.”
“I heard my uncle talking about them once. He says they raid the nearby ranchos and murder innocent people.”
Sitting in front of him on the horse, she felt the bunching of muscles in his arms as he shrugged his broad shoulders. It made something flutter in her stomach.
“They are bitter,” he said. “Sometimes they lash out. Just like the rest of us, they are fighting to survive.”
Just like I am,Carly thought, but she said nothing more. They continued down the hill and into the center of the village, but only an old woman and two young men came forward to greet them. The men wore beards and mustaches, and something that looked like an oversized rabbit-skin diaper. They wore hair nets made of milkweed fiber, while the women wore loose-fitting chemises that came only midway to their knees.
“For thousands of years they went naked,” the don said with a hint of amusement at the surprised look on her face. “The small bit of clothing they wear now is a legacy of the missions.”
He leaned forward, helping Carly slide down from the horse, then he gracefully swung down himself. “Where is Lena?” he asked the stoop-shouldered old woman. “Trah-ush-nah and the others?”
She answered in the Spanish she had learned at the mission. “There is a terrible sickness. It has raged for more than a week. It kills without mercy. You should not be here.”
The don’s face went tense. “Smallpox?” he asked.
The woman shook her head. “The disease they call measles. It has already taken four of the old ones. All of the men andmost of the women are sick. There is no one to tend them or the children.”
“It is late in the year for measles. You are sure that is what it is?”
“I have seen it at the mission. I have had it myself.”
A little of his tension eased. “I will return to the stronghold, see how many among my people have already had the sickness. I will send what help I can.”
His hands encircled Carly’s waist. He started to lift her back up in the saddle, but she pulled herself free of his grasp.
“I had the measles when I was a child. I can stay and help them.”
Something flickered in the depths of his eyes. “Caring for those who are sick is not a pleasant task,chica.”
“I’m no stranger to unpleasantness. And I’ve cared for sick people before.”
“Si,”he said softly. “I thought that perhaps you had.”
She looked at him strangely, wondering how he could possibly know that she had cared for her mother and those in the mine patch who had fallen sick with the cholera. It was a terrible time, one that made her stomach churn just to think of it. She had worked until she could scarcely stay on her feet, but she hadn’t been able to save her mother. Four women, two men, and three children had died, and she had been left all alone. Carly forced the memory away.
“Still,” he said, “leaving you here is not a good idea. You are only just recovered from a fever yourself.”
“I feel fine,” she argued. “I have for days. I want to stay.”
He took in her determined expression, the way her feet were planted so solidly apart, and finally gave in. “Esta bien.I will leave you then, but I want your word you will not try to escape. You would only get lost in the woods, and there are many dangers out there—snakes and mountain lions, huge grizzlybears big enough to track a man for prey.” He tipped her chin with his fingers. “Do I have your word?”
Her eyes went wide. “Would you actually accept it?”
He smiled. “Si,but I also believe you are smart enough to know that without preparation you would not get far away. And as I said, your life would be in grave danger.”
He was right, she knew. For a moment she had actually believed he would trust her word that she would stay. For some strange reason it would have pleased her, even if she might have considered running away.
“As you say, Don Ramon, I would be foolish to try to escape.”
The don merely nodded. For a moment it seemed he had sensed her disappointment, that he understood her feelings. She didn’t like the way he so easily read her thoughts. Turning away from him, Carly swung her attention to the aging Indian woman.