The pre-dawn darkness was peaceful to Victoria as she rose, dressed, and went downstairs. So much to do, so little time! There were still many dishes to prepare and then, of course, it all had to be moved to the de la Vega hacienda. As if preparing the food wasn't enough! she thought. Oh well, the fiesta would be more fun and more convenient for the guests if it was held at the hacienda. She reached the downstairs landing. No, my tavern is not too small, she mused, it's just not meant to be a ballroom.
Victoria walked into the kitchen and was surprised to find Anna awake and dressed. With one candle lit, the girl was fixing her hair using her reflection off the darkened window. She braided it behind her head and secured it with a dark green ribbon that matched her simple, almost plain, dress. The black sash was tied in a beautiful bow in the small of her back. This struck a contrast with Victoria's white sash, which draped at the innkeeper's side.
"Buenos dias, Anna. You look beautiful." Victoria said. Anna turned. She half-smiled, unsure of herself, then looked at the floor.
"I'll go get some water." Victoria said, noticing the girl's uncomfortable stance. Something was not right about the situation, Victoria sensed. What didn't make sense? She shrugged off the feeling as she walked out the back door of the tavern. Shadows still streaked the outside walls, as the pink light of dawn began to peak over the distant horizon. Victoria smiled. There wasn't a cloud in the sky; it would be a wonderful day for a fiesta. Victoria stopped suddenly. There was a man in the shadows.
"Who's there?" she asked, trying to conceal the fear in her voice. The man stepped out of the darkness into the light streaming from the tavern window. It was Matthew. Victoria relaxed. "You startled me, Matthew."
"I`m sorry miss--seenyoreeta—Vi'toria. I wus comin' to awayken muh seester, Anna." He said, pulling of his hat and fiddling with it.
"She is your sister? Not your wife?" Victoria asked.
"Yes—si—Anna is my seester." Suddenly, Victoria knew what had bothered her about her greeting with Anna that morning. The girl had turned at the sound of her voice! "Matthew…" Victoria began.
"Si?"
"Is your sister deaf?"
"Def? `Fraid I no' unduhstahnd."
"Can she hear?" Victoria repeated, pointing to her ear.
"Ah! Si, she can hear." Matthew paused and smiled, "When she wan's to!" He laughed. The innkeeper smiled.
"Can she speak?" Victoria was confused now.
"Sor' of."
"What do you mean, Matthew?"
"Anna speeks ohnly English. She dahs no' know Spanish li' I do." He replied. All was becoming clear to Victoria, as she pieced her observations together. Matthew continued, "Seenyoreeta Martinez dahs no' know English, baht they both know how t'… how t'…" Matthew trailed off.
"Sign." Victoria added.
"Ah, si! Sign." Victoria smiled.
"Gracias, Matthew. I understand now."
"De nada." Matthew said, crumpling his hat again.
"Oh, and Anna has already awaken."
"Ah, a goo' lass she es." He spoke with pride.
"She seems so," Victoria smiled. "Can I get you anything this morning?"
"No, thank ye' miss. I jes' go an' see me maste' now."
"Well, let me know."
"Thank—gracias, I wi'." Matthew answered, and entered the back door of the tavern. Victoria walked out into the square. The sky was lightening nicely into a beautiful shade of blue. Peasants began to push their carts into the town, and the many shops began to open their doors. It would be a wonderful day indeed.
Anna crept quietly into the darkened room of Senorita Martinez. She heard the woman groan and roll over in bed. The girl tiptoed across the room, thankful, for once, for the thin sandals, and reached the pitcher and basin. She poured a bit of the water into the bowl, then set the pitcher back on the dressing table. Anna glanced at herself in the mirror. How dreadful she looked! She was so skinny, and her cheeks looked so hollow. Nothing of what she had been. The girl quickly looked away.
"Anna?" a tired voice called from the bed.
"Si?" Anna answered walking over to the side.
"I want breakfast in bed. I don't want to get up yet. It's too early." Rosa complained.
Anna shook her head in incomprehension. Rosa sat up angrily in bed. "I'm hungry!" she signed. Anna nodded and turned away.
"Go!" Rosa yelled. Anna ran from the room.
The tavern was beginning to fill for breakfast as Anna hurried down the stairs. Upon reaching the kitchen, she found it a virtual Bedlam. The waitresses and cooks were busily preparing the day's fare and the feast for the fiesta. Women were cooking, pots were clanging, the oven was smoking a bit, and Victoria ran around the kitchen directing it all.
"Nia! Hurry with the tamales! Get them packed! The de la Vegas will be here any minute! Eliza! Watch the eggs! They're burning!" Victoria commanded. It was impressive to watch—almost as complex as the windmill machines Anna had seen in Spain.
How am I going to get her attention? Anna thought. Carefully, she made her way over to the other side of the kitchen, dodging large women and slinging pots. Victoria was packing fruit into a large basket. She timidly touched the woman's shoulder.
"What?" Victoria asked shortly, regretting it immediately. She turned and saw Anna back away. "Oh, Anna, I'm sorry. What do you need?"
"Ah..ah… seenyoreeta's…ah…" Anna trailed off, blushing, looking at the floor. She lifted her eyes to meet Victoria, who was looking at her with a compassionate yet "hurry up" expression.
*I need Senorita Martinez's breakfast tray* she signed.
"Anna, I don't understand."
*Senorita's breakfast*
"Anna…" Both women were frustrated. Victoria broke the tension. "I don't know what you are saying. It will have to wait." She turned to a side table on which three trays sat. "Here are the trays for your masters and mistress."
Anna smiled and nodded her head. She grasped one of the trays, balanced it somewhat on her hip, and turned back towards the tavern's main room. The girl carefully maneuvered up the stairs.
A small boy ran through the front door to the tavern and towards the kitchen. "Senorita Escalante! Senorita Escalante! The de la Vegas are here! Sergeant Mendoza, too!" he called over and over as he skipped across the floor.
Reaching the top of the stairs, Anna turned and walked toward Rosa's room. She slipped into the room without a sound. In the dim light, she could see that Rosa had rolled over again. Her breathing was even. Anna placed the tray carefully on the table next to the bed, picked up the dirty clothes on the floor, and left the room.
As she closed the door to her mistress' room, she heard movement in the rooms next door. Don Eduardo must be stirring, she though. She doubted that Don Roberto was awake yet; he had been drinking with the soldiers until early in the morning. Anna carefully took one step at a time—the load of clothes was large today, due to their traveling.
Slowly, she made her way to the bottom of the stairs. Glancing over her shoulder into the tavern proper, she saw the very distinguished gentlemen that had been there the day before. A military officer was with them, eating breakfast. Anna saw that they were having an animated conversation, but she did not have time to listen. There were clothes to wash before the fiesta that afternoon… and beds to make, and slips to mend, and hair to dress, and…. Anna became deep in thought as she tried to list in her mind everything she had to do that day.
She glanced back at the table where the men were as her hand grasped the rough weave of the curtain separating the tavern from the kitchen. She turned and swept into the kitchen, bumping hard into the man standing just inside the door. With the large load of clothes, she lost her balance, teetered, and pitched forward. Clothes flew everywhere, but before she hit the dirt floor, the young man caught her in his arms and righted her. The girl caught her breath and immediately brought her fist to her chest.
*I'm so sorry* she signed, her cheeks blushing pink.
*It's my fault* Felipe signed in return. Anna's eyes grew wide with his motions. Her lips parted in surprise. The English girl looked into the Spaniard's eyes for an explanation, but then blushed and looked at the floor. Her mistress' and masters' clothes were scattered—at least they weren't clean when she dropped them.
Felipe saw how nervous she had become; he wasn't too comfortable himself. He watched her glance at the clothes and as she knelt and began to gather them. Felipe knelt beside Anna and helped her pile the clothes up. They both reached for a white caballero shirt. Their hands brushed, and a thrill ran through Felipe. Their eyes met. Anna bit her bottom lip in such a way that the young Spaniard thought was adorable.
The girl looked away, added the shirt to the pile, took the pile in her arms, and stood. Her arms full, she nodded her head in thanks.
*De nada* signed Felipe.
The curtain swung open as Matthew entered the kitchen. He stopped, noticing the tension in the air. Looking from Anna to Felipe and back to his sister, he grasped her elbow and guided her out the back door. Felipe stood in the bustling kitchen, just now realizing how noisy it was. His world had stopped—his hand still tingled from where it had touched Anna's porcelain skin.
Outside the tavern, Anna placed the clothes on a long, weatherworn table and walked over to where the fire was crackling. A large pot of water was boiling and rolling. The English girl gave the pot quick stir with a large stick and walked back to the table for the clothes and lye soap. Matthew stood watching her, his arms crossed over his chest.
+Anna you need to be careful+ he said, in English.
+I am careful+ she said indignantly. +He was just helping.+
+I don't care. You don't know who these people are.+
+How do you expect me to know them if I'm not to have any contact with them? Besides, he can sign, and since we left Spain, the only people I've been able to talk to are you, Miss Rosa, and His Lordship. You just don't understand how stifling that is!+ Anna tied a beige homespun apron over her dress and began stirring the clothes in the boiling water.
+Anna, you know I want you to be happy. You've no idea how much I want that! But you must be careful! Now, listen, we have another problem.+
+What's that?+
+Roberto is still drunk. He's unconscious upstairs+
+The fiesta is in a few hours!+
+I know. That's the problem.+
They were silent while Anna put the remaining clothes in the pot. +All right. I'll see what I can do+ she said, wiping her hands off on her apron and walking towards the tavern.
+Thank you. Call me if you need me.+ Matthew said.
+I will.+
+And Anna?+ he said, grasping her hand.
+Yes?+ she asked.
+Watch your back.+
+I would if you'd get off it.+ Anna saw Matthew's genuine concern and didn't know if she liked it or not. It was nice having her big brother around, but he did get so suffocatingly protective at times. +Now go do… whatever it is that you do out there.+ She teased, trying to break the resurfacing tension.
+Oh, I just sit around and count my toes!+ Matthew grinned.
+I know that's difficult for you!+
+Get on! Go!+ Matthew swatted at his sister playfully; Anna squealed and ran inside.
