Rio by Georgina Gentry Page B

How in the world was she going to ever make a connection with Edwin Forester again? She wished Cimarron were home. Maybe she could reason with her stubborn husband.
    The night of the big celebration, the children had been let out of school to help Turquoise and the ranch handsstring the crepe paper and lanterns around the big front patio. It was a major Mexican holiday, celebrating the fifth of May, when Mexican soldiers had defeated the French invaders and run them out of Mexico. She had always enjoyed and helped with the festivities. The whole ranch had been given the day off and there was much tequila and wine flowing. A small band showed up at sunset and Turquoise helped old Maria and Juanita set up tables full of good food while the cowhands had a whole cow and a pig turning on a spit over the glowing fire nearby.
    Then she went in and put on a bright flowered dress with all the jewels that matched it. When she came out, it was warm and dark outside with all the people in a happy mood, visiting and dancing.
    Uncle Trace lounged against the rim of the big fountain in the courtyard, smiling as he sipped his drink and watched the crowd. “It is a very big celebration this year. I only wish Cimarron and the children could be here.”
    Turquoise smiled and nodded. “The ranch crowd, with all the neighbors, seems to get bigger every year.” She wondered what kind of festivities were happening in Austin. Certainly the upper-class Anglos like Edwin wouldn’t take part. She felt a bit of guilt because she enjoyed these festivals so much.
    “Well”—Trace turned his head—“look who’s comin’ to the party.”
    She turned to look.
    Rio Kelly, all washed and scrubbed and dressed in his short Mexican jacket and best boots, came toward them, smiling. “Ah, senor, such a great party.” He shook hands with Trace and then bowed low to Turquoise. “Senorita.”
    Now he was probably going to ask her to dance and she wondered how to say no without annoying Uncle Trace.
    Instead, Rio looked across the courtyard. “Excuse me, please.”
    As Turquoise watched in disbelief, he strode across the courtyard and bowed before Juanita. The girl looked dazzled and thrilled as he led her out onto the courtyard and they joined in the Mexican folk dance.
    “Well.” Uncle Trace grinned. “You should see your face, Turquoise. Evidently, you were expectin’ him to ask you.”
    She felt her face burn with humiliation. “Of course not. I don’t even like the man. He’s just a vaquero.”
    “But a mighty handsome one,” Trace said, pointing out the obvious and sipped his drink.
    The dance ended and Rio walked over to another girl and bowed, then led her out onto the courtyard as the music began again.
    Turquoise felt awkward standing here, watching him dance. “Maybe we should start serving the food.”
    “The beef isn’t ready yet,” Trace said as three little boys ran past them, chasing each other as they circled the fountain. “Turquoise, if you really want to dance, I—”
    “No, I’m fine,” she snapped. How would it look if no one except her uncle asked her to dance? “I can help old Maria set out the plates.” She went over to help at the tables, all lit with torches, and watched Rio out of the corner of her eye. Sure enough, he was dancing with yet another girl and seemed to be having a wonderful time, throwing back his head and laughing while the girl smiled up at him, obviously smitten.
    How insulting. The least he could do was ask his hostess for a dance. The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. She covered it by pretending to be engrossed in helping with the plates.
    Abruptly, there was a man at her elbow. “Senorita, would you care to dance?”
    It was him.
    “I don’t think so,” she snapped. “I’m very busy.”
    “Fine,” he said and whirled her around, took her in his arms, and began to dance.
    “Didn’t you hear me? I said—”
    “Be quiet, missy. You sound like a chattering