Daughters of the Summer Storm by Frances Statham (good fiction books to read TXT) 📕

"But I do not wish to leave little Paulo. . ."

"You are using him as an excuse, Maranta. Doctor Cavales will come to the fazenda each week while we are away to check on the child. And the padre will be here the entire time." Ruis's anger increased and his words were sharp. "I think there is another reason for this sudden attempt to back out. I believe you are afraid."

"Afraid? Of what, Ruis? Of the river, of the bats, or the snakes?" She gazed at the muçurana that lay in a coil by the steps, and she shuddered, remembering her narrow escape from the jararaca.

"I believe you are more afraid of me," he accused. "Of having to share your bed with me again—particularly after last night. But let me assure you, Maranta. If I should feel the need of taking a wench to bed, there will be many from the finest families in São Paulo, willing to accommodate me."

Maranta was so furious at his words, she dared not speak. She flounced down to the waiting palanquin and climbed in, turning her back to Ruis, while the boys secured her trunk on the wagon.

36

At the fazenda, Vasco sat in his apartment, holding the baby that he acknowledged publicly as his own. Maranta and Dona Isobel and Ruis had been gone on their journey to São Paulo for only three days.

Floresta's dark eyes glowered at the sight of Vasco with the baby, Paulo, in his arms. He had never shown such attention to Tefe, his own son.

"He looks like me, don't you think, Floresta?" Vasco said. "No one would ever suspect that I am not the father."

"You deceive yourself, Vasco, if you think your brother is going to let you play the role of father to Paulo much longer."

"What are you insinuating, Floresta?"

"Dom Ruis will get rid of you just as he did Innocencia. And then he will make Senhora Maranta his wife."

"You are stupid, woman. Ruis would not kill me—his own brother."

The Indian girl sneered. "Did brotherhood stop you, Vasco, from trying to murder Dom Ruis that day of your accident?"

Vasco's face showed his annoyance at the girl's words, but she continued. "If you had seen your brother in the nursery with the senhora the night before they left, you would have no doubt he wants her. Dom Ruis will soon claim your wife, Vasco, as surely as he will claim his own son—and you will be left with nothing."

Vasco took the rattle from little Paulo's hands and hurled it at Floresta. She ducked and ran laughing from the room.

The baby began to cry, and in a fit of temper, Vasco shouted, "Naka, take this bawling brat back to the nursery."

Once planted, the seed began to grow in Vasco's mind. He brooded over Floresta's words. She was right—Ruis had always been the lucky one. Even that day on the pampas, as they were driving the cattle to Sorocaba.

It had looked so easy, with Ruis in such a vulnerable position, apart from the rest. Vasco's shoulders moved in pain as he remembered. The sudden appearance of the gauchos, diverting the stampede from their master—almost like guardian angels appearing from nowhere—forcing the herd in the opposite direction.

Ironically, what he had intended for Ruis became his own destiny—to be knocked from his horse and trampled underfoot. And the ultimate disgrace had been to have Ruis come to his rescue.

Vasco stared down at his useless legs and recalled, with bitterness, his aborted effort to rid himself of his brother.

No, Ruis would not have it all his way. He had been the powerful one far too long. But now Vasco realized the vast power he held in his own hands to make Ruis suffer. He would never give up Maranta to him. And as for the child—

With a satanic expression, Vasco wheeled his chair onto the veranda and sat, staring in the direction of the river falls.

The sound of the rapids broke upon the idyllic peace of the day. Maranta reluctantly gathered the black cape around her and prepared to leave the canoe. It was so much more pleasant on the water than sitting in a jolting cart, riding the rough trail alongside the river until it became navigable again. But even with the roughness, this trip was much more sociable than the last; other women were also traveling to São Paulo to take part in the Intrudo.

The women had all mistaken Maranta for Dom Ruis's wife, which embarrassed her. When she tried to explain, Dom Ruis interferred. "It is safer for you, pequena, if these people think you have a jealous husband to protect you. I am not sure that you would be safe, even with Dona Isobel sleeping by your side. The men are much too bold as it is." Ruis's eyes narrowed. "I had not realized that the child has turned into a woman. We will have to do something about your clothes, Maranta, when we reach São Paulo."

Embarrassed at his attention, Maranta drew the black cape about her, as if to ward off his penetrating stare.

The journey on the river finally came to an end, as the mighty Tietê subsided into a huge lake outside São Paulo. Before evening, Maranta, with Ruis and Dona Isobel, traveled up the Avenida Paulista to the tall iron gates encrusted with the Monteiro family coat-of-arms.

In early morning, Ruis set out to put his business affairs in order, leaving Maranta and Dona Isobel alone in the casa, to spend the day recuperating from the exhausting trip.

The older woman remained in her room for the entire day, but though she slept late, Maranta was ready to get up by eleven. Pará, the Indian girl, brought a breakfast tray to her room, and soon Maranta left the confines of the bedroom.

The casa was even more magnificent than Maranta remembered. Memories of the first trip returned, and as she explored the casa, she found herself before the door