virginity and am bound by honor to marry her.”
“But, Rodrigo, an Anglo?” the
padre
protested. “She is probably not even of our faith. Would it not better serve your honor if you found another man to wed her?”
Rod bristled indignantly. “And if there is a child of our union? Should I allow another man to claim what is mine?”
The priest shrugged helplessly. “It will anger your father greatly, not to mention Dona Elena, but I will do what I must.” Then he turned to Julie, stretched out a calloused hand and said in broken English, “Welcome to the mission of San Luis Obispo, child. I am called
Padre
Juan.”
Julie smiled shyly, accepting the proffered hand warmly. “Thank you,
Padre
Juan. Your mission is very impressive.”
Rod relaxed visibly, sensing that his first obstacle had been met and surmounted with
Padre
Juan’s acceptance of Julie. My … wife’s name is Juliet,
Padre,
” Rod said, stumbling slightly over his words.
“Appropriate,” mumbled
Padre
Juan, thinking of the ill-fated Romeo and Juliet. “Come inside children and rest while I prepare for the ceremony.”
Julie stopped short. “Ceremony? What ceremony?”
“I am to marry you and Don Rodrigo,” informed the priest.
“But we are already married,” protested Julie.
Padre
Juan’s dark eyes glared accusingly at Rod. “You may be wed but certainly not in the eyes of God. Don Rodrigo is well aware that his father will never accept a marriage performed by anyone but a priestaccording to the rites of the Holy Church. And even then his blessing will not be easily won.”
When Julie still hesitated, Rod grasped her hand and pulled her with him into the cool building. The priest led them to a small, crudely furnished room and bade Julie enter and rest until she was summoned. When the door closed, Rod had departed with the holy man and she found herself alone.
Julie paced nervously for several minutes, barely aware of her surroundings. Why was Rod marrying her again, she wondered? If he didn’t consider himself truly wed before, why marry her now in his church? How less complicated things would be if he just returned her to San Francisco where they could live their separate lives as if they had never met. The chance that she would become pregnant from their one encounter seemed so remote as to not even exist. All he had to do was wait a month to find out if his seed took hold before he brought her before a priest. Julie knew enough about the Catholic religion to know that once they exchanged vows before a priest they would be irrevocably bound. She could not understand the code of honor that dictated their marriage just because Rod had taken her virginity, especially in the face of such irreconcilable differences. The least of which were Rod’s disapproving father and jilted bride-to-be.
A mute Indian boy brought a large pitcher of water and Julie ceased her silent ragings to enjoy the unexpected luxury of washing all over. After her bath she tested the crude but clean bed and, finding it surprisingly comfortable, fell immediately asleep. She knew nothing more until she awoke abruptly to find a plump Indian woman shaking her. It was dark outside and a single candle sputtered feebly on the nightstand.
The woman said something in Spanish and motioned toward the chair, grinning broadly. Julie looked in the direction of her gesture and was stunned to see abeautiful white outfit carefully laid out. She arose, rubbed her eyes and carefully inspected the lovely garments made almost entirely of delicate lace. The woman, whose name Julie learned was Rosa, called the blouse a
camisa.
It had short, puffed sleeves ending at the elbow and a low neckline adorned with a wide ruffle. The skirt consisted of yards of ruffled lace ending at the ankle which Julie thought indecent. A lace mantilla to cover her hair and low heeled white slippers completed the outfit surely meant to be her wedding dress. Julie could not imagine where Rod had obtained
“But, Rodrigo, an Anglo?” the
padre
protested. “She is probably not even of our faith. Would it not better serve your honor if you found another man to wed her?”
Rod bristled indignantly. “And if there is a child of our union? Should I allow another man to claim what is mine?”
The priest shrugged helplessly. “It will anger your father greatly, not to mention Dona Elena, but I will do what I must.” Then he turned to Julie, stretched out a calloused hand and said in broken English, “Welcome to the mission of San Luis Obispo, child. I am called
Padre
Juan.”
Julie smiled shyly, accepting the proffered hand warmly. “Thank you,
Padre
Juan. Your mission is very impressive.”
Rod relaxed visibly, sensing that his first obstacle had been met and surmounted with
Padre
Juan’s acceptance of Julie. My … wife’s name is Juliet,
Padre,
” Rod said, stumbling slightly over his words.
“Appropriate,” mumbled
Padre
Juan, thinking of the ill-fated Romeo and Juliet. “Come inside children and rest while I prepare for the ceremony.”
Julie stopped short. “Ceremony? What ceremony?”
“I am to marry you and Don Rodrigo,” informed the priest.
“But we are already married,” protested Julie.
Padre
Juan’s dark eyes glared accusingly at Rod. “You may be wed but certainly not in the eyes of God. Don Rodrigo is well aware that his father will never accept a marriage performed by anyone but a priestaccording to the rites of the Holy Church. And even then his blessing will not be easily won.”
When Julie still hesitated, Rod grasped her hand and pulled her with him into the cool building. The priest led them to a small, crudely furnished room and bade Julie enter and rest until she was summoned. When the door closed, Rod had departed with the holy man and she found herself alone.
Julie paced nervously for several minutes, barely aware of her surroundings. Why was Rod marrying her again, she wondered? If he didn’t consider himself truly wed before, why marry her now in his church? How less complicated things would be if he just returned her to San Francisco where they could live their separate lives as if they had never met. The chance that she would become pregnant from their one encounter seemed so remote as to not even exist. All he had to do was wait a month to find out if his seed took hold before he brought her before a priest. Julie knew enough about the Catholic religion to know that once they exchanged vows before a priest they would be irrevocably bound. She could not understand the code of honor that dictated their marriage just because Rod had taken her virginity, especially in the face of such irreconcilable differences. The least of which were Rod’s disapproving father and jilted bride-to-be.
A mute Indian boy brought a large pitcher of water and Julie ceased her silent ragings to enjoy the unexpected luxury of washing all over. After her bath she tested the crude but clean bed and, finding it surprisingly comfortable, fell immediately asleep. She knew nothing more until she awoke abruptly to find a plump Indian woman shaking her. It was dark outside and a single candle sputtered feebly on the nightstand.
The woman said something in Spanish and motioned toward the chair, grinning broadly. Julie looked in the direction of her gesture and was stunned to see abeautiful white outfit carefully laid out. She arose, rubbed her eyes and carefully inspected the lovely garments made almost entirely of delicate lace. The woman, whose name Julie learned was Rosa, called the blouse a
camisa.
It had short, puffed sleeves ending at the elbow and a low neckline adorned with a wide ruffle. The skirt consisted of yards of ruffled lace ending at the ankle which Julie thought indecent. A lace mantilla to cover her hair and low heeled white slippers completed the outfit surely meant to be her wedding dress. Julie could not imagine where Rod had obtained
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