Chapter 2

The procession continued throughout the long, hot day, with the stable boy joining the end of the long line. Finally, darkness had fallen, the villagers had gone and all the sacks had been emptied.  Clasping the mayor’s hand and helping him up, Padre Humberto patted his old friend’s back as they headed for their own church in the village.

The village of Esperanza wasn’t prosperous, but it thrived in the desolate heat, and for that, thanks was owed.

“Heavenly Father, you have blessed us all these years.” Padre Humberto began. “We have the money to buy the fertile lands that grant us access to water. Our crops grow plentiful, and our animals are all well-fed. We share your blessings with the towns near us, helping when we can. We all have food in our bellies, roofs over our heads, and work for our hands to do. For all of this, we thank you.”

There was no safer place than Esperanza. The burned-out shell of the old church in the mountains of Maldito, the only building left there, stood guard over it all.


Once both men confessed their sins and made peace with their God, they parted ways.

Life in Esperanza continued as it always did, as the sun rose on a stifling hot Sunday morning.

The sheriff caught the mayor and Maria in their stables, getting ready to make the trek up the mountain.

“Mayor Ramirez, may I have a word, Sir?”

“Of course, Randall. Maria, we will be only a minute.”

The men walked outside the building for some privacy. Maria looked at the ground to hide her smile.

“Mayor Ramirez, yesterday, Maria asked if I could escort her to the mountain today. I would be honored if you would let me do so.”

The mayor looked Randall up and down, sizing up the young man before him.

“Randall, you know of the legends, si? But you have never been to Maldito. I must warn you, it is nothing like you have ever seen, and you will be forever changed by this. I must ask you this; how do you feel about my daughter?”

“Sir, I think your daughter is a fine, upstanding young woman, and I will treat her with the respect she deserves. You have my word.”

“This is not about having a chaperone, Randall. If I did not believe you were worthy of Maria, we would not be having this discussion. If you are serious; if you believe you might want her hand in marriage one day, then this is a test you will need to pass. You will see and hear things you never believed to be possible, and you must stay strong and accept these things, and you must never speak of what you see there. This is for Maria’s sake as well as your own.”

Randall grew uneasy. “Sir, I would die to keep Maria safe. I’m not sure I’m understanding what you’re telling me.”

“I know, son, but soon you will. I have faith in you. I see the way you two look at each other, and I know she is good hands. You take her today, Randall. Just try to be back before noon.”

The sheriff gave the mayor a minute alone with Maria to tell her she had a new escort today. He heard them whisper, and waited for them to fall silent before he came back to the stalls, just in time to see Mayor Ramirez kiss Maria on her cheek. The mayor walked his own horse back, while Maria led hers out to the road where Randall’s horse waited.

Once they were no longer in sight, the mayor headed to church for the first Sunday service.