For Honor’s Sake (30 page)

Manuel smiled broadly, his large square teeth showing white in the firelight. “Look,
señor,
” he gestured, holding up one ring in particular for Rod to admire. “I don’t know how the bandits missed this one. It is delicately wrought and very heavy. There are even initials inside.”

Rod choked back a gasp of terror as sheer black fright swept through him. With shaking fingers he picked up the gold band and recognized immediately the initials he had ordered inscribed months ago when he bought the gold band for Julie in San Francisco.

“
Madre de Dios!
” cried out Rod as if in pain. “Where did you get this?” He became so pale that Manuel feared he was ill.

“It’s strange,
señor,
” Manuel revealed, scratching his thatch of thick hair, “but when I picked up one of the women, this ring fell from her mouth. I think she hid it there when the
banditos
attacked.”

“This ring belongs to my wife! I gave it to her myself. Was … was the woman who had the ring with child?” Rod had no idea he was holding his breath until Manuel answered his question, and then it came out in a painful whoosh. “No,
señor,
” Manuel quickly assured him. “There were no pregnant women among the dead. Or children under the age of five.”

Great shudders shook Rod’s powerful form. “Thank God! But … but how did the dead woman come by Julie’s wedding band?” Rod puzzled, “unless …” His
next thought was even more terrifying than finding her among the dead. “
Por Dios
! Do you think the
banditos
took her with them?”

“It is unlikely,
patron.
What use would they have for a heavily pregnant woman? She would only prove a hindrance. It is more likely that she would have met the same fate as those poor wretches on the wagon train, had she been with them.”

It sounded logical, Rod deduced with a sigh of relief. And if by chance they did take Julie, how is it that the ring was in the possesion of a dead woman? The answer came quickly. She had evidently traded it for supplies! He voiced his deduction aloud.

“
Si,
” agreed Manuel with alacrity. “I am certain we will find the
señora
somewhere ahead.”

Rod was not so easily convinced but he held his fears tightly in check. He placed the ring in his pocket with the intention of slipping it on Julie’s finger the moment he found her. Fate willed it to be longer than Rod would have liked.

The next day they came upon Julie’s abandoned buggy and once more a cold knot formed in Rod’s gut. Upon examination he saw that a wheel was missing from the vehicle and so was the horse, leading him to believe that determined to reach San Francisco, Julie had somehow mounted the horse and continued her journey on horseback. Convinced he was right, Rod sent Manuel back to the
rancho
to inform Carl. Resolutely he pressed on, never dreaming that at that very moment Julie lay but a few miles away giving birth.

The city lay directly before him and Rod felt certain he was but a few hours behind Julie’s entrance into San Francisco. By now she was probably being pampered by Brett and Polly and put to bed to recuperate from her arduous trip, Rod tried to assure himself. If the truth be known, Rod was never so glad to see San Francisco as he was at that moment. Not only for the obvious reason
but because something strange was happening to him that he did not like.

Since he had sent Manuel back to the
rancho
he was experiencing bouts of chills and lightheadedness and he was certain he had a fever. It took tremendous effort on his part to remain upright in the saddle and even more of a chore to hang on to consciousness. He could not become ill now, Rod thought groggily. Not when he was so near to finding Julie. There was so much he wanted to say to her, so much to make up for. But what fate wills, man fulfills.

Rod dismounted in front of Casey’s Pleasure Palace, staggering slightly before righting himself and lurching through the swinging doors. The casino was already filled and the din that assaulted Rod’s ears nearly bowled him over. Narrowing his overbright eyes against the glare, he searched frantically for a familiar face. Polly spotted him almost immediately, her face registering shock and dismay.

“Rod! My God!” she cried out, rushing to Rod’s side. “What happened to you? You look terrible!”

Hollow-eyed, disheveled, a blue stubble shadowing his jaw, Rod felt every bit as bad as Polly indicated. Not only was he exhausted beyond belief but he felt strangely vague and disoriented. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.

“What is it, Rod?” Polly asked, frightened as well as concerned by Rod’s unexpected appearance. “Where is Julie? Oh my God! Has something happened to Julie?” she cried frantically, assuming the worst. “Is that it?”

Once again Rod’s mouth flopped wide but this time his eyes rolled upward until only the whites showed and his huge body spiraled downward as the floor came up to meet him.

Polly’s scream brought Brett Casey on the run and his shock at finding Rod decorating his floor was no less greater than Polly’s. “Jesus!” exploded Brett. “What’s
he doing here? What’s wrong with him?”

“He’s burning with fever, Brett,” Polly replied as she bent over Rod’s prone form and put a slim hand to his forehead. “Hurry! Get him up to bed while I send someone for a doctor.”

“Did he say anything?” Brett asked hopefully. “Did he give you any reason at all for being in town? Did … did he mention Julie?”

Polly’s features softened. She was well aware of Brett’s love for Julie and had hoped that during these past months his feelings might have changed. She had done all in her power to make him forget Julie and in the process had fallen deeply in love with him herself. There were times when she felt her feelings were reciprocated but until he spoke of them to her, she must assume it was still Julie who held his affections.

“He said nothing, Brett,” answered Polly gently. Then she hurried away to summon help.

Rod’s fever was not unlike the illness that was so prevalent in this part of the country, the doctor informed an anxious Polly and Brett. There was nothing to do but keep him comfortable, sedate him with laudenum and let the fever run its natural course. For a week Rod alternately burned with fever and shook with chills. During the whole time nothing he said made sense. Though he often called out Julie’s name, his words were disjointed and incoherent, further frustrating Brett and Polly’s effort to discover Rod’s reason for being in San Francisco at a time when his wife was due to deliver his child.

The day Rod’s fever broke marked a milestone in his rapid recovery. He was young, strong and possessed of an iron constitution. From the moment he opened his eyes into full awareness and learned from a distraught Polly that Julie had not reached San Francisco, he was like a man possessed. Brett had to physically restrain him to keep him from dashing off then and there.

Brett had been devastated when he learned what had happened. He wanted to blame Rod, yet could not hold him responsible for the vile act of a jealous woman bent on vengeance.

“Was there somewhere else she could have gone?” Brett asked hopefully. “A woman so far gone with child doesn’t just up and leave on a long journey by herself without a destination in mind.”

“You don’t know Julie if you think that,” replied Rod ruefully. “Manuel told me Elena convinced her I neither loved her nor wanted her. The little act Elena and Manuel put on for her benefit was the final humilation that sent her running from the
rancho
without a thought to her own safety.”

“Rod,” Polly said suddenly, “I have an idea that might bear looking into.”

Both men turned their rapt attention to the beautiful brunette with green eyes and pixie-like features whose face began to glow with excitement.

“
Por Dios,
Polly!” Rod exclaimed, “if you know anything, anything at all that might help, tell me,
por favor
.”

“Well,” Polly began eagerly. “If I were a woman about to give birth, and I needed help, I would go to one of the missions and seek refuge.”

Both men looked at each other, astounded by the simple logic of Polly’s words.

“Of course!” rejoiced Rod. “Why didn’t I think of that? My one consuming thought was that Julie would want to be with her friends. It never occurred to me that she might seek help at one of the missions.”

“Sometimes the simplest explanations often escape us,” Brett said wryly. “Do you feel able to travel? If so, I will go with you.”

“Able and ready,” nodded Rod impatiently. “There are three missions in the vicinity where Julie left the carriage. San Miguel, La Soledad and San Carlos
Borromeo del Carmelo de Monterey.”

“That’s a start,” replied Brett.

“You’re not going without me,” asserted Polly forcefully. “When you do find Julie, she might need another woman.”

Brett smiled fondly at Polly. In a short time the exuberant, affectionate woman had come to mean a great deal to him. Though Julie would always occupy a special place in his heart, he was wise enough to realize her future lay with her husband, as did her love. In the past weeks he had viewed Polly through new eyes and liked what he saw. It was time he settled down and took a wife. He could do a hell of a lot worse than little bright-eyed Polly whose faithfulness he would have no cause to doubt in the years to come.

“I see no reason to leave you behind, sweetheart,” Brett smiled. “If Rodrigo has no objections, then neither do I.”

“As long as you can keep up, Polly, you are welcome to join us,” Rod agreed curtly, his thoughts already on his happy reunion with Julie. He soon would have her home to await the brith of their child, he thought with joyful anticipation.

The next morning the trio left the raw, sprawling city behind to begin their search of the missions for Julie. Exactly ten days had elapsed from the time Rod collapsed in Brett Casey’s Pleasure Palace until they set out, their hopes high.

24

Slowly Julie surfaced into consciousness, surprised to find herself lying on a cot in one of the cell-like rooms in the mission now known as Carmel, being cared for by a competent Indian woman. The soft Spanish words and soothing hands brought immediate relief to Julie’s tortured mind and body. Thank God she had reached help in time and her child was safe. That’s all that mattered, she thought, as another pain ripped through her abdomen forcing a moan from her lips that could not be repressed.

Though the baby was a few weeks early it was not excessively so, and Julie was confident it would live. Many times during the long, pain-filled hours, Rod’s name slipped from her lips as she labored to bring forth their child.

Padre
Enrico knew immediately the identity of the lovely lady who had shown up so mysteriously at the mission gate. He recognized her as the wife of Don Rodrigo Delgado from their overnight sojourn several months ago. But the good
padre
couldn’t even hazard a guess as to what brought her to the mission, alone and about to give birth. Because Julie was in no condition for lengthy explanations, the
padre
did what he thought best. He sent one of his flock on a swift horse to
Rancho
Delgado to summon Don Rodrigo to his wife’s side.

Julie’s son was born at exactly midnight. Though the birth was not difficult and the baby small, her labor was
long and painful, leaving her weak and exhausted. The moment her squalling son was placed in her arms she was relieved to see that he appeared healthy, his lusty cries falling like music to her ears. Satisfied that all was well, Julie finally allowed herself the reward of a well earned sleep.

From that moment on, Julie’s recovery was rapid. Within three days she was able to get out of bed and take her meals with the
padre.
It was the first time he had seen her alone since she gave birth.

“What have you named your son,
señora
?” he asked pleasantly.

Julie had been giving a name for her baby much thought. “I’d like to name him Carl after my father,” she replied, smiling, when she considered her father’s reaction to his namesake.

“Carlos is a fine name,” beamed
Padre
Enrico, “but shouldn’t you name him after your husband?”

Julie flushed. So far the
padre
had asked no questions of her concerning her unorthodox appearance at the mission and she wished to keep it that way.

“I had thought to name him Carl Rodrigo,” she added hastily.

The
padre
shrugged, then said, “Your husband should be here shortly. I sent for him when you arrived so unexpectedly. He will be happy to learn of his son’s birth.”

Julie went pale, her face drained of all color. “You … you’ve sent for my husband?” she stammered helplessly.

“
Si, mi hija.
I have asked nothing of the circumstances that brought you here, nor shall I. What happened is between you and your husband. If either of you wish my counsel, you have only to ask. In the meantime you and your son are safe here with me until your husband arrives.”

Later, alone in her small cubical nursing little Carl,
Julie’s emotions warred with one another. In the days since she had left the
hacienda
she had been given sufficient opportunity to think about what Elena had told her and reflect on everything she had seen with her own eyes. In the end, she came to regret the haste in which she had left the
rancho
without allowing Rod the opportunity to explain. Like a willful child she had fled without a thought for her own safety or that of her child. Rod’s child. She could have at least consulted her father instead of impulsively running away and placing herself in all kinds of danger. Would Rod ever forgive her, she wondered bleakly? She would soon find out.

There was absolutely no doubt in Julie’s mind that Rod wanted his child despite the fact that he already had a son by Elena. During her long hours spent pondering her dilemma, Julie was certain of one thing: she would never willingly give up her son to Rod or to anyone else. He was the most important thing in her life. She could not bear to be separated from him. She knew that Rod had the right to take Carl away from her should she choose to leave him, and that she couldn’t live with. She would not have her son raised by Elena who was sure to take Julie’s place in Rod’s life the moment she left.

And what of her own feelings, Julie reflected painfully? She loved Rod. She would always love him. Could she be satisfied with the crumbs of his affection while Elena feasted in the limelight of his love? There was also Felicia to consider. Elena would make Felicia’s life a living hell. The woman’s jealousy knew no bounds, respected no age limits, Julie told herself bitterly. After days of wrestling with her emotions, Julie came to the painful conclusion that for the sake of her son and Felicia she would return to
Rancho
Delgado and resume her role as Rod’s wife, living on the edge of his affections to the best of her ability. But she’d be damned if she’d allow Elena to defeat her. As long as she remained Rod’s wife, Julie pledged with grim determination,
she would fight to make him love her.

Julie was shocked when her father arrived accompanied by a
vaquero,
her mind registering the fact that Rod did not care enough about her and their son to come himself. Sobbing happily, she rushed into Carl Darcy’s open arms.

“Julie, Julie,” Carl scolded gently, “whatever made you leave like that? Rodrigo was sick with worry when he found you missing.”

“If Rod was so worried,” choked Julie angrily, “he would have come himself.”

“Rodrigo has been out searching for you since he discovered you were missing. The last I heard he was in San Francisco.” Julie was deeply hurt by the note of censure in Carl’s voice. How could he condone what Rod did to her while condemning her for retaliating in the only way open to her? Perhaps he did not know about Elena. If not, it was time someone told him, Julie decided perversely.

“Papa, you haven’t seen your namesake yet,” Julie said proudly. “Come to my room and I’ll try to explain everything to you.”

Carl was duly impressed with his first grandson. He thought the child looked much like Rod with his dark coloring and crisp black hair and he told Julie as much.

“I’m sure Rod will be pleased with Carlos,” she said tersely, using the Spanish form of the name. Somehow it seemed natural. “But were you aware that Elena has also given Rod a son? That they are lovers?” She waited for shock to register on her father’s face and when none came she was puzzled. “Papa, did you hear me? Elena is Rod’s mistress!”

Carl sighed heavily. It should be up to Rod to clear up this matter with his wife, he thought wearily, but he knew he could not let Julie live under the misconception that her husband had been unfaithful when it was within Carl’s power to tell her the truth.

“Daughter, did you know Manuel, the
vaquero
who often worked with the horses on the
rancho
?”

“Yes, Papa, but what does Manuel have to do with this?”

“Everything. Manuel fathered Elena’s child while he still worked on the
rancho
.”

“Oh, no, Papa, I’m sure you are wrong! Elena would never … not with a
vaquero.
She is too proud. Did … did Rod tell you this?”

“No, Julie. Manuel told me. He and Elena were married by
Padre
Juan shortly before his son was born. She coerced him into helping her perpetrate the foul deception you witnessed.”

“What … what kind of deception?” Julie asked, already certain of the answer.

Carl proceeded to tell Julie all that Manuel had revealed when he returned to the
rancho,
including the information that Elena had left him and their child.

“It’s difficult to believe she would do such a thing,” Julie said, shaking her head sadly. “Are … are you certain he didn’t make it all up?”

“For what purpose? No, Julie, it is the truth. I even brought Manuel with me for the express purpose of telling you himself, should you refuse to believe me.”

When Julie heard Manuel’s words she was surprised that Rod had allowed him to live, let alone return to the
rancho,
until she remembered Elena’s child would be both motherless and fatherless without Manuel. Even though Rod now knew why she had left so suddenly, Julie couldn’t help but wonder what his feelings would be when she finally faced him. Would he be angry with her, blame her for putting his child in danger? Knowing well his temper, she almost feared his reaction.

Carl wished to start back to the
rancho
the moment Julie felt strong enough to travel. For Julie it couldn’t be soon enough. Though she was still weak and tired easily, she was anxious to face Rod and learn what his
feelings were for her. But mostly, she wanted to present his son to him.

Carl and Manuel had driven a wagon from the
rancho
in order that Julie and the baby might ride in relative comfort on their trip homeward. The moment Julie insisted she was recovered sufficiently to travel, Carl agreed they should leave immediately. So as not to tire the new mother, Carl decided to break their trip into easy stages, staying each night at one of the missions. Their first stop, according to Carl’s planning, would be La Soledad Mission, an easy few hours’ journey.

When Julie, cradling Carlos in her arms, Manuel and Carl left the next morning, it couldn’t have been a more perfect day. Though the sun had not yet risen, glorious streaks of mauve and scarlet colored the eastern sky. There was no wind, nothing to give the slightest hint of the disaster that nature was about to unleash upon them.

The small party of travelers were made welcome by the wizened
padre
at La Soledad who fed them the best he had to offer and provided each with a bed. After feeding Carlos, Julie removed her dress and lay down on the narrow cot thinking she was one day closer to Rod and
Rancho
Delgado, the only real home she had known in years.

The first tremors caused little concern to the occupants of La Soledad. Earthquakes were common along the St. Andreas fault and at most were minor irritations. Seldom did a tremor of major proportions cause an upheaval in their placid lives at the mission.

But when the rumbling did not cease, in fact grew louder and more ominous, it became apparent that this was not a minor earthquake that could be so easily ignored. Carl awoke to find his cot sliding across the stone floor. He knew immediately what was happening for he had experienced many earthquakes when he rode with Murieta. Fortunately, none of them proved serious. But one thing he did learn. It was unsafe to
remain inside the brick and adobe building for they could be hopelessly buried beneath the walls that gave them shelter.

Carl’s main concern was for Julie and his grandson. He ran into the dark hallway just as Manuel, the same idea crossing his mind, careened around the corner. Together they burst into Julie’s room. Dazed and confused, Julie barely heeded her father’s words as he urged her up and out of bed.

“Hurry, Julie, we must get out of here! There is great danger.”

“What … what is it, Papa?”

“An earthquake. Hurry! We could be buried alive at any moment.”

“Oh, God! Carlos! My baby!”

“Manuel has him. Come,” he said, dragging her by the hand. “Follow me.”

Julie held back to look for her dress but Carl rudely pulled her forward, grabbing a blanket from the cot in passing. “Leave your clothes. We’ve no time.” Barefoot, clothed in nothing but her thin shift, Julie and Carl ran headlong through the deserted mission only steps behind Manuel carrying baby Carlos who was loudly protesting his rude awakening.

Only when they reached a gully that lay beyond the mission walls did they stop. The ground beneath their feet heaved and rolled until Julie felt herself reeling. All around them fissures opened up swallowing whole portions of landscape, shrubs, trees, and before Julie’s startled eyes a whole hillside seemed to disappear. It was the closest to hell she had ever been.

Throwing the blanket around Julie’s shaking shoulders, Carl settled her in the gully and quickly sized up the situation. If they were lucky enough to survive the earthquake, Julie would need transportation. She had been forced to flee shoeless and barely clothed into the night and was not yet fully recovered from
childbirth. Her survival, and that of his grandson, lay squarely on his shoulders, but Carl calmly accepted his responsibility and acted immediately.

It became increasingly evident to Carl that he and Manuel must return to the mission for the horse and wagon they had brought from the
rancho.
The stables were only a short distance from the mission itself and it should take them no time at all to harness the horses and lead the wagon to safety beyond the crumbling walls. Perhaps the worst was over.

Julie begged her father not to leave her when he explained what he must do. “Don’t go back there, Papa. I’m afraid. I don’t need the wagon, truly.”

“I’ll be fine, darling,” Carl assured her. “Ten minutes and I’ll be back here with you.” He took the baby from Manuel’s arms and gave him to Julie, saying, “You’ve made me very proud, daughter. Carlos is a fine boy.” Then he placed a tender kiss on both their foreheads and retraced his steps back toward the mission.

As they entered the gates, the insistent rumbling took on a different tone and Carl hurried their steps, realizing that the worst was yet to come. They reached the stables without mishap and between them managed to quiet the frightened horses and harness them to the wagon in order to lead them out of the stables. Just as they drew abreast of the doors of the church, they heard the
padre
calling out weakly to them. Halting, Carl peered inside and saw the frail priest attempting to lift an injured Indian woman to carry her out into the open. Without a thought for his own safety, Carl motioned Manuel to remain with the horses while he bounded off to help the
padre
rescue one of his flock.

Carl succeeded in getting both the
padre
and the injured woman out of the church and into the wagon, but suddenly the whole world seemed to explode beneath his feet as a shock wave rose up out of the bowels of the earth. Before his eyes the already
weakened walls of the church crumbled down around him. They might still have escaped injury if they had been able to control the horses and lead the wagon away from danger. But it all happened so swiftly that no one had a chance to react to the danger.