Fierce Love by Phoebe Conn Page B

his things are at the ranch. We should go out there tomorrow. It’s where I was born, and there’s a lot to see.”
    “Yes, I’d like that.” She opened the scrapbook and found sepia-toned photographs of men and women in their best clothes. “Who are these people?”
    “Our great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins; I can never keep everyone straight. Augustín is in the back. Here, let me show you.”
    Maggie recognized him instantly as a slightly older version of their father and a very handsome man. “Did you know him?”
    “I learned to stay out of his way,” Santos recalled. “Here he is before a fight.”
    Maggie leaned close to study her grandfather’s expression. Despite his magnificent suit, he looked thoroughly mean, and she didn’t understand why he and Carmen hadn’t been perfect for each other. “He looks awfully tough.”
    “Tough is a good word. Our father inherited his looks and talent, but he loves people and Augustín didn’t. Or maybe he couldn’t.”
    The twins came in, swishing the long skirts they’d found in a guestroom closet. They snapped their fingers and twirled around Santos. “Are you never still?” he asked. “I’ll talk to Father later about going to the ranch. Do you two want to come along?”
    The pair slid to a halt. “The ranch is all dusty,” Perry complained.
    “And our ponies are gone,” Connie added.
    “You’re too big for ponies now anyway,” he countered.
    “Are you going?” they asked Maggie.
    “Yes, I’d like to see the ranch while I’m here. Now, let’s practice dancing while you’re dressed for it.”
    They walked out to the entryway and went through the steps she’d taught them, with Santos softly clapping the rhythm. Maggie understood they ought not to make too much noise, but Cirilda soon interrupted them with a message for the twins.
    “Your mother wants to speak with you. Use the telephone in the den.” She went to the doorway to listen to the girls’ side of the conversation. Maggie and Santos could hear their excited shrieks from where they stood.
    Perry handed the telephone to her sister and yelled, “Our agent has some print ads lined up for us, and we may get to model in one of Donatella Versace’s shows!”
    Maggie had seen her sisters eat, so she knew they did, but they were still growing and had the thin, leggy figures designers loved. When their shapes filled out in a few years, they’d be out of work. Cirilda was smiling, so clearly she wasn’t opposed to exploiting the girls while they could. Maggie leaned close to Santos. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
    “No, but Marina will use it for her own publicity and encourage it.”
    After a brief conversation with their mother, the twins ran from the den, startled their aunt with a hug and danced around Maggie and Santos. “We’re going to be famous!”
    Perry went over to the banister and struck a pose. “We’ll be doing print ads first. We could become as famous as Ana Santillan!”
    Maggie didn’t dare look at Santos. “I hope you’re not forgetting about school.”
    Connie’s shoulders slumped. “How can you think about school when we’ll be making millions? We can go to school when we’re old. Mother will come to get us this afternoon. We have to pack.” They rushed up the stairs, laughing and tickling each other.
    “First, we must tell your father,” Cirilda reminded them and followed them up the stairs.
    “What do you suppose he’ll say?” Maggie asked her brother.
    He shrugged. “He avoids arguments, especially now, so he’ll say he’s proud of them and let them go with Marina. They expected to stay only a few days anyway. He’ll have too much excitement for today with the twins jumping around his bed, so I’ll talk to him tomorrow about taking you with me to the ranch. Marina is never on time and probably won’t be here for hours. I have some errands to run. Come with me, and you can see more of Barcelona.”
    “Is there somewhere I