Fair Gabriella

(From ``Sleeping under the cross’’)

 

Juan knew he should have been recounting his ordeal to Gabriella

Oh she was beautiful. Her hair was like drying corn. The strands of gold shone out. Her eyes green like the plains. Green and full of life. Her body, concealed in dark serge. More bountiful then his masters fields. Juan knew Gabriella had got her letters from somewhere Oftentimes Juan wondered if the maids wit was greater then his. For simple Gabriella parried his approaches like an expert duelist.

Juan never doubted that the great God in heaven has a plan. Yet he had often seen, that his earthly Lord had trouble realizing his scheme on earth. Someone needed to oil the muskets, and keep the street rats, and Indios from running riot. The great General relied on his Captains.

A Captain, should have a woman, to comfort him.

Thus Juan would have been relating the importance of his role in  recent events. Juan would be impressing on fair Gabriella the dangers that he had faced both beast and man, whilst out hunting. The horrors he had seen. All of it! The he would catch her, hand in his, and tell he had worried about her. .. Then leaning in. As Gabriella inhaled, and her breasts rose.. As her teeth flashed

She would tell, him with as face as grave as a Bishop dealing with a heretic. She needed to make the prayer. That she had promised her departed Aunt. A rosary, on her saints day. Her Aunt must have had many names..

Arggghhhh!!!! Juan wanted to break something

The food at least smelled good. Then again, he could not eat it. Juan was the eunuch at the harem, in that respect. His duty was to keep an eye, on the townsfolk, and an eye, on the House.

There was beef.. It would have been a good dowry’s worth of fat calves that had been slaughtered. There was Pork and lamb, too. Good meat. No Rats. No plains beasts. Freshly killed today. A butcher served the housewives and widows. Whilst the maids wrapped the meat in thick leaves. The Chief Cook, eyes never left Gabriella. As Aphrodite was envied amongst the Goddesses Gabriella was among women. The men and the boys in the crowd all tried to catch her eye and be served by her. They all smiled and stood straighter. Gabriella kept her eyes down. At the table she was as modest as aged Mother superior.

No one was fool enough to say a lewd word. The maids, and the housewives, were safe. Some of the Townspeople had brought jugs, to collect watered wine. The Great O’Neill hand was always open.