CHAPTER 43

The palomino mare’s hooves thundered on the dirt with her characteristic speed and agility. Yet today, she was more driven than usual. Her rider was in an extraordinarily competitive mood this morning, and it compelled her to be at her best as well. Stretching her limbs to the limit, she covered much ground with each stride. But the ebony stallion behind was fast gaining on her and it took everything she and her rider had to retain their lead. After a few more minutes, the mare felt the familiar tugging on her reins and she quickly responded. They were rounding the bend and being familiar with this terrain, the palomino gradually slowed her pace and expertly maneuvered the turn. The stallion, however, having more power in his long limbs than the mare, easily rounded the bend without even slowing down, leaving them behind by a few full gallops.

Gabriel tugged on the reins as soon as he had finally gained the lead and the stallion obediently slowed into a canter. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Louisa and her graceful palomino breeze past him in a surprising burst of speed. He tossed his head back and laughed in genuine mirth as he watched the spirited pair reach the edge of the clearing. He should’ve known Louisa would never let him win that easily. Still chuckling, Gabriel nudged his stallion into a gentle trot towards his ecstatic fiancée.

“I beat you! I beat you!” she laughingly shouted at him.

Gabriel shook his head and grimaced. Not “I won! I won!” but “I beat you! I beat you!” She just couldn’t resist throwing her victory at his face, could she? “I beat you” was indeed more personal, putting the victor and the conquered in one sentence definitely gives the event more weight and inflicts just a touch of humiliation on the loser. But Gabriel was not offended, just mightily amused. Having Louisa for a wife would never, ever, be boring. Her sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks, however, gave him more than enough reason to embrace defeat willingly, and even eagerly. Gabriel swung his long legs to the side and dismounted from his lathered horse. He tied the reins to the railing then walked towards Louisa and her mount.

“That was a rather foul trick you played on me, you know. I think I’d have to punish you for it,” Gabriel said as he reached up and helped Louisa dismount from her horse. With their hands entwined, they led the exhausted mare to the railing where they secured her reins a few feet away from Gabriel’s stallion.

“It was a trick, yes, but it wasn’t foul. You would’ve done the same had the tables been reversed,” Louisa replied, playfully punching Gabriel’s arm.

“Maybe. But you still have to be punished, my sweet.”

“Really? And what punishment are you going to mete out this time?”

“Oh, nothing too harsh. Just this,” Gabriel said as his lips quickly captured Louisa’s in a fierce and possessive kiss. It was quite a while before they separated.

“Well, then, if that’s the kind of punishment I’ll be receiving from you, I would really have to work hard at offending you more often,” Louisa said breathlessly, her own heart thumping loudly in her chest. It’s amazing how Gabriel could reduce her to jelly with just one kiss.

“Is that so? Then, I suppose I should think of more despicable ways to punish you, sweetling,” Gabriel huskily replied, playfully nipping at Louisa’s creamy neck.

“Gabriel, you fiend! Stop it, will you!” Louisa squealed in feigned dismay as she teasingly pummeled Gabriel’s chest.

“Why, you hellcat! I’d have to punish you again for that,” Gabriel replied laughingly as he moved to recapture Louisa’s lips, but she deftly maneuvered away from him and ran towards the railings.

Gabriel chuckled at his fiancée’s catlike reflexes. He’d really have to remain physically fit to keep up with her. He moved behind Louisa and wrapped her in his arms, entwining his fingers with hers. She leaned back and snuggled against his wide chest. Gabriel could not help but be stirred by the fragrance of her silky hair. But the uneasiness that he sensed about her quickly put a damper on his more amorous intentions.

“It’s really very pretty out here, dearest. I’m glad we came here,” he tentatively said. He knew what she was thinking about, yet he tried to veer away from it as much as he could.

“Yes, it is. This is actually my favorite spot here in the hacienda. It’s very peaceful, isn’t it? And it somehow puts things in perspective,” Louisa replied quietly.

Gabriel understood why this spot was Louisa’s favorite. It offered an unobstructed view of the Taal volcano and the now tranquil lake lay against a backdrop of clear, blue sky. They could also see the fish pens and the numerous bancas that stood lined up against the shore, like a miniature armada awaiting imperial orders. And from this viewpoint, one could not deny the power, beauty, and majesty of God’s creation. It also made a person realize his place in this grand design – just another speck of dust in the vast universe. It was a humbling thought, yet true, undeniable and vastly refreshing in the sense that it made one’s problems insignificant when compared to the immensity of life itself.

And for Gabriel and Louisa, whose problems seem to be mounting with each passing day, this view offered more than just a peaceful interlude, but more so, a hope and a promise – an assurance that life is basically good and meant to be good – no matter the complications.

Gabriel sighed when he was reminded of the ‘complications’ now plaguing them. And he had no one to blame but himself. Had he not been too hard-headed and full of himself, he would not be in this dilemma. Had he come home years ago, he would’ve discovered that his father was right in choosing Louisa to be his wife. Had he not let his childish pride dictate his actions, he would’ve watched Louisa blossom into a wonderful woman. He would’ve been there, eagerly waiting for the day when she would be officially his. Had he not left, they would surely be married by now and raising their own family.

But it’s all wishful thinking now. What’s done is done, and he’d just have to wallow in this muck he’d created for himself. If there’s one thing he really regretted now, it’s that Louisa got dragged into the muck as well.

“Hey, what’s wrong? You’ve been sighing and breathing down on me for the last five minutes,” Louisa said, teasingly nudging Gabriel with her elbows.

“I’m sorry, dearest. There’s just too much going on that I just can’t help but blame myself for.”

Louisa turned in his arms and looked up into his eyes, her hands cupping his face as a gentle smile graced her lovely lips.

“Gabriel, please, we’ve talked about this, haven’t we? I’m not blaming you for anything. You didn’t know me much back then. Besides, how would you have known that you would fall desperately in love with me the moment you laid eyes on me?” Louisa said, her lips twisting into a mischievous smile.

Gabriel smiled back and planted a soft kiss on Louisa’s lips. He admired his fiancée’s fortitude. It really would take a lot to dampen her spirits. His heart also swelled at her show of faith, he just hoped he would not disappoint her too much.

“Oh, dearest, had I known that I would be easy prey to your charms, I would not have tried to run away,” he replied, pulling Louisa into a tight embrace.

“Were you really running away from me?” Louisa quietly asked.

“Only because I was a fool,” Gabriel replied, hugging Louisa in desperation.

“Well, then, I’m glad you’ve finally come to your senses.”

“No one is happier than me, I assure you,” Gabriel said, tilting Louisa’s face up to him for another passionate kiss. And that kiss would’ve been ignited into far greater heights had they not heard the thundering approach of a rider. When they turned around, they saw Matthew riding astride his brown gelding, his brows knotted in a deep frown.

“Hey, Matthew! What’s up?” Louisa called out to her best friend.

Matthew pulled up a few feet from them then led his horse towards the railing. After securing his horse, walked back to them, his frown deepening with each stride.

“Gabriel, your father’s here,” Matthew said, casting a furtive glance at Louisa.

Gabriel’s brows lifted, a silent question hovering between them.

“Really? Have you told Papa already? He would be glad to know that Tio Fernan’s here to visit. He’d been dying to show him the new colt in the barn,” Louisa said, unaware of the growing tension in her fiancé’s stance.

“Uh, I’m not sure Don Fernando came here to look at the horses,” Matthew replied, his hands twisting and turning the hat he’d just doffed.

“What’s wrong, Matthew?” Louisa asked.

“I’m not really sure,” Matthew paused, looked up at Gabriel, then turned back to Louisa, “All I know is that Don Fernando arrived just about half an hour ago, then your Papa stormed out of the house and began searching for the two of you. When I told him you had gone riding, he practically screamed at me to bring the two of you back to the house – pronto!”

Louisa paled at what she’d heard. Her Papa rarely raised his voice, but when he did…

Gabriel took Louisa’s hand and led her a few strides away from Matthew. Louisa was greatly disturbed by Matthew’s message and he wanted to reassure her.

“Louisa, I think my Papa had already spoken to Isabella, just as I’d predicted. And I think we have to be prepared for what’s about to happen. Papa would not have come here had the talk gone as he’d expected,” Gabriel said, cupping Louisa’s face.

“W–what, what should we do?”

Gabriel saw the fear and apprehension in Louisa’s eyes and his guts shriveled inside him. He would’ve done everything in his power to spare her all of these. But they could not give up now, not after realizing how much they loved each other.

“I will go to them. You need not face the wrath of our fathers. I’m the one at fault here,” whatever else he had to say was lost when Louisa pulled him down and kissed him with a passion that surprised even him. When she pulled away, her eyes were shining bright with determination and courage.

“No, Gabriel. This is not just your problem. This involves both of us. And we are going to face it together, okay? Okay?” Louisa said, looking deep into his eyes.

“But…”

“No buts. We’re a team, remember? We’ll do this together.”

Gabriel briefly closed his eyes then nodded as he slowly lowered his lips to place a feather-soft kiss on Louisa’s own.

“I love you, Louisa Almendrez,” he breathed.

“And I love you, Gabriel Montoya,” she replied.

They kissed one more time then Gabriel led Louisa to Fairylights and lifted her up the saddle. After untying the mare’s reins and handing it to Louisa, he turned from her and mounted his horse.

Matthew was already riding away by the time they turned back to him, keeping his distance; careful not to break the silent bond between the two lovers.

Gabriel chanced a glance at his fiancée, worried that he would finally see the regret in her eyes. But what he saw was a fierce resolve in those lovely orbs instead. Truly, Louisa was a woman worth fighting for and that’s just what he would do.

And heaven help the person who would stand in his way.