The Forbidden Promise (35 page)

"There will also be Father Julian and Dr. Peron ... Nothing
will happen with Lucas, if that's what you fear! With all that there will be to
do, I doubt that we’ll meet!"
Doña
Viviana sighed anxiously and sat on the bed next to the suitcase
that Carmen was packing.
"Since I won’t be able to make you change your mind, at least promise me
you'll be careful," she murmured, taking her hand.
Aurora smiled at her and gave her a kiss on her forehead.
"I promise! I'll be back as soon as possible!"
As soon as the luggage was ready, Aurora, escorted by Carmen, went to Father
Julian’s church. The wagons filled with volunteers had assembled in the square,
while a small crowd of onlookers had gathered to see them off. Father Julian
gave a small community prayer and blessing, in order to ask for the
intervention of the Divine Goodness on the mission.
Aurora made a sign of the cross, then climbed into a carriage with Dr. Peron,
followed by Father Julian.
Slowly, the convoy moved and left Tampico, amidst the general concern.

    
In the meantime at the Zacatecas
hacienda
the situation was desperate.
Throughout the day the survivors dug furiously trying to free people still
buried under the rubble. The Zacatecas doctor, a middle-aged man with thick
glasses, could not keep up with the needs of the wounded. All the women,
including Yolanda, had offered themselves as nurses and assistants, but it was
extremely difficult to organize the work efficiently. Often unaware of the
correct procedures, the volunteers hamper each other and created more problems
than they solved.
Lucas seemed possessed by a supernatural force, he worked like a madman
personally digging in the mine to try and secure the underground mill that had
been devastated by the explosion. He rushed wherever he was needed and
materialized in the right place at the right time. His presence was the only
thing that lifted the spirits on that sad day.
Shortly after dusk, as he was leaving the mine due to the lack of light to go
to the tents where the wounded were being treated, he saw Pablo running towards
him.
"Master Lucas, the volunteers have arrived from Tampico with Dr. Peron and
Father Julian..." gasped Pablo, out of breath from running. "Aurora
is also with them!"
Lucas dropped the shovel he was carrying and ran to the wagons that were
approaching. Father Julian got out from the carriage at the head of the convoy.
Lucas went to meet him, while his eyes sought Aurora.
"What a tragedy, my son," said Father Julian shaking Lucas’ hand.
"Thank you for coming, Father," welcomed Lucas as he pointed behind
him. "We’ve set up a tent and we're taking all the wounded there and
anybody that we manage to pull out from the rubble."
At that moment Dr. Peron arrived.
"Show me where the tent is and I’ll get right to work straight away."
"I'll come too, Dr. Peron," said Aurora who had followed him at a
short distance.
She did not give Lucas even a glance but kept her eyes on the doctor's face
waiting for a response, while Lucas could not stop looking at her.
"No Aurora, it is better that you go to rest,” intervened Father Julian.
" But only one doctor isn’t enough for all these people!" She
protested.
"There is also the doctor from Zacatecas who right now is administering
care," said Lucas.
"So,
Doña
Aurora, I'll do the night shift, while you rest and
tomorrow morning you’ll take over from me, so we can provide continuous support,"
suggested Dr. Peron.
Aurora finally sighed, recognizing the practicality of such a proposal.
"All right," she said, nodding, "I’ll come and take over from
you at dawn."
Father Julian and the doctor walked towards the makeshift hospital while Aurora
stood staring at the ground.
"I'll accompany you to the house," Lucas said, touching her arm.
Aurora pulled away abruptly.
"Don’t trouble yourself, I know the way!"
" It's night and it's dangerous, I said I'll take you! In addition, the
volunteers are still unloading the tents and food from the wagons so there is
no transport available to take you to the house," he said staring into her
eyes. Then he turned to untie his horse and lead it over to Aurora.
He mounted with a leap and held out his hand to Aurora who grabbed it without
protest.
Lucas effortlessly hoisted her up and made her sit on the saddle in front of
him. Aurora stiffened.
Do not be stupid
... she forced herself to think,
it’s not the time to be overwhelmed by emotions like a girl
! But the
thought of being so close to Lucas’ hot and manly body made her heart beat
wildly.
Meanwhile, Lucas grasped the reins firmly and spurred his horse into a gallop.
Aurora felt his strong arms around her and his unmistakable fragrance that
penetrated her nostrils. She sighed quietly, hoping that Lucas would not notice
anything. How she wanted to surrender to the desire to turn and kiss him just
one last time!
I thought I had more pride, I’ve only been here for a few minutes and I am
already thinking of falling into his arms. I mustn’t forget how much he’s made
me suffer. Maybe he wasn’t lying when he said he loved me but I’ve learned to
know him, he isn’t a man that is satisfied with only one woman. And I don’t
want to share him with anyone else
. All these thoughts buzzed through her
head as the horse galloped quickly towards the house.
Arriving at the villa, Lucas dismounted and helped Aurora down.
Aurora, in her haste to get out of the embarrassing situation, accidentally let
her grip on the saddle go too suddenly and ended up straight in his arms.
Her lips were just inches from Lucas’, the desire to kiss him was such that
only the sudden intervention of Yolanda sobered her up.
" Lucas you're back!" Yolanda said happily coming out of the front
door.
Aurora immediately moved away from Lucas. Yolanda approaching them recognized
her and her expression changed. Her tone became grumpy as she spoke to Aurora.
" Good evening, ma'am, you’re here too!" she exclaimed resentful.
" Yes Yolanda, I’ve come to help the wounded," Aurora justified
herself.
Yolanda grimaced counting on the fact that no one could see her in the
darkness.
"How is Santos?" Lucas asked.
"His fever hasn’t fallen yet and he’s lost a lot of blood, I’ve settled
him in my room," Yolanda's voice betrayed an obvious concern.
" Santos is hurt?" Aurora asked, turning to Lucas.
" Yes, he was one of the first to rush to the miners’ rescue and an unsafe
beam fell on him."
" Let me see him," exclaimed Aurora.
"Yes, please, the doctor from Zacatecas hasn’t seen him yet as he’s had
other more serious cases. He told us just to bandage Santos’ leg tightly and
check that his temperature doesn’t go up." Lucas replied.
Yolanda went into the house and Aurora followed her. Santos was lying on the
bed, his face beaded with sweat, his leg wrapped in bandages already stained
with blood.
Yolanda stood before Aurora, her face impertinent, she looked Aurora up and
down with her hands on her hips.
“Are you back to stay? Do you intend to have a reconciliation with Lucas?"
Demanded Yolanda looking at her with hostility.
" No," replied Aurora dryly.
"Actually, ma'am, to tell you the truth, I always thought that you and
Lucas were too different to be together, he’s accustomed to another type of
women..."
"Women like you, I imagine!" Aurora exclaimed with a bitter smile.
" Yes, like me ... Since I’ve known him, he’s never been long without a
woman and because you’ve forsaken him he was entitled to console himself."
She smiled settling the neckline of her dress that showed off her generous
bosom.
"Yes. We’ve already talked about this once before Yolanda and for you it
didn’t end well, as I recall. I don’t know how Lucas would take it if I told
him how you describe him." Aurora’s tone became angry. "Now, please,
stop these silly schemes with me and let me see your brother!"
Aurora pointed to the empty jug.
" To begin with, bring me some fresh water.” She ordered dryly.
Yolanda grabbed the jug, but this time she did not dare reply.
" If you’ll excuse me," She said, going out still staring at Aurora
with open hostility.
Aurora bent over to check Santos.
Santos awoke for a moment and stared at her with feverish eyes.
"
Doña
Aurora, you here!" He said, his voice full of pain.
Aurora smiled, brushed the hair from his sweaty forehead and, worried, she
began to examine Santos’ leg. With a stifled curse she saw the fractured bone
protruding from the torn flesh.
Yolanda returned with the jug and poured fresh water into a bowl.
Aurora soaked a cloth and laid it on Santos’ forehead. Santos closed his eyes
and lost consciousness again.
Yolanda addressed Aurora indignantly, in her usual surly tone, "Listen to
me, I won’t let you get between me and my Lucas again!"
Aurora turned to face her furious.
"I'm here just to treat the injured, like your brother Santos, but apparently
you're more worried about my return than for his life. His condition is very
serious and he may lose his leg. The doctor should have visited him and at
least taken care of the fracture."
Yolanda reacted as if she had been slapped by Aurora’s harsh words that
continued,
"Call someone to help me to operate on him, we can’t wait any
longer!"
"Is it that bad?" Yolanda asked her eyes wide with fear.
"Get a move on!” Shouted Aurora indicating the door with an abrupt
gesture.
Lucas arrived attracted by Aurora’s shouting. "What’s happening?" He
asked worriedly.
"You were irresponsible! And the doctor incompetent! Waiting so long to
give Santos the necessary treatment! Thank God that the wound doesn’t involve
the femoral artery or by now you’d be making preparations for a funeral!"
Lucas paled visibly and dared not utter a word. He approached Santos and stared
at him desperately.
"Help me, I need to put the two parts of the femur back in position."
Explained Aurora taking a deep breath to dissipate her anger and regain the
cold lucidity that was necessary to operate on Santos.
Lucas turned to look at Yolanda.
"Get out of here, it won’t be a pretty sight,” he said impatiently.
But Yolanda refused.
" No, I want to stay!"
Lucas grew impatient and ordered her to leave brusquely. Yolanda sighed and
finally left the room.
Aurora got a bottle of ether and poured a small amount on a pad and took it to
Santos’ face.
"There is no need to move him as we risk making the situation worse.
You’ll help me and do exactly what I tell you."
First, she put the leg in traction bringing the two parts of the fractured bone
into the right position again.
Then Aurora disinfected the wound as best she could, removing the particles of
dirt and dried blood. Then she sewed up the wound, disinfected it again and
finally bandaged the leg with clean bandages. Finally she put the leg in a
splint to immobilize it.
Only then did she look up and encountered Lucas’ gaze, that seemed tired by the
experience.
"Thank you," he said, then took Aurora hands in his and added,
"if he is saved, it’ll be due to you, I didn’t realize the severity of his
injuries. If he dies I will never forgive myself."
He bowed his head in despair.
Aurora replied tenderly, "It’s not your fault, you tried to make yourself
useful in every way to save as many people as possible. Even now, without your
help I wouldn’t have been able to do it." She then looked away, returning
cold and detached.
"As soon as he’s conscious you should give him this preparation, the fever
mustn’t go up. Tomorrow I’ll check that there are no signs of infection."
Lucas looked at her tenderly.
"You must be very tired ..." he said softly.
Aurora nodded without answering.
"I asked for your room to be prepared... I mean, what was your room when
we were sleeping apart," said Lucas.
She smiled, "Thank you."
Lucas opened the door letting Yolanda in. She ran to Santos’ bedside and
stroked his face with tears in her eyes. Aurora ordered her to check that
Santos’ temperature did not go up and that if there was any change she should
wake her up.
Aurora left the room while Lucas followed her with his eyes. Then he turned to
Yolanda, "Father Julian may also arrive, make him comfortable in the guest
room. I'm going to rest for a few hours."
He stopped to drink a glass of tequila in the study pondering what to do. The
explosion had caused many casualties and unfortunately some deaths. He was sure
that the accident had been intentional, he had to find out who was behind all
this even though he harbored suspicions.
Before he went to his room, he knocked on Aurora’s door, she opened it a few
minutes later. Her hair was loose over her shoulders and her bodice was
slightly unbuttoned.
"Has something happened?" She asked worried.
"No," he said, staring at her with longing. "I just wanted to
know if you need anything."
She looked at his broad chest through his unbuttoned shirt, a hot flush heated
her cheeks.
"Thank you, everything is fine, I don’t need anything," she said in a
faint voice, closing the door.
She rested her head against the door ... He was standing on the other side, it
was enough to make her want to open the door and let her passion guide her for
once and not all her elaborate thoughts. She wanted to abandon herself in those
arms, to still be his, once again...
She struggled with her whole being not to turn the handle. She went back to bed
thinking that she could not become vulnerable again, at best if what Yolanda
had hinted at was true he had already found somebody to console himself with in
her absence, if not with Marisol, with someone else and perhaps Yolanda
herself. She had difficulty getting back to sleep, but eventually exhaustion
prevailed and she succumbed to a restful sleep without dreams.

When she awoke at dawn,
Aurora rushed to Yolanda’s room, where she found her asleep on the bed while
Pablo sat next to her stroking her thick hair.
Pablo jumped up when Aurora entered.
Aurora said to him with a smile, “She looks like an angel ... when she’s
asleep. "
"Yes," said Pablo red in the face.
"How is Santos?"
"The same." Replied Pablo.
" And Lucas? "
" He's gone to the mine with Father Julian, he told me to accompany you as
soon as you are ready. There is some hot coffee and sweet bread if you want to
eat something before you go."
" I'll be ready in a few minutes," said Aurora leaving in a hurry.
She prepared for the long day and ate something. Then she called Pablo who
accompanied her to the collapsed mine.
They arrived as the sun was peeking over the horizon and the first rays of dawn
tinged the mountains a deep red.
The scene that Aurora found in front of her was bleak, the mine had been
completely destroyed and from the tent agonizing screams of pain echoed in her
ears.
She quickly put on her apron, gathered back her hair and went directly to Dr.
Peron.
"Doctor, go and rest, I’ll take over now."
"Good,
Doña
Aurora," the doctor said in a tired voice. "I
would recommend frugality with the morphine because there is not a lot
left."
The doctor wiped his forehead and said goodbye to Aurora before going to bed.
Aurora rolled up her sleeves and began to check the first wounded. There was
still so much to do! Wounds to medicate and suture, broken bones to splint and
unfortunately she was forced to amputate a poor miner’s leg that had been
crushed by rubble. She worked continuously until sunset, and only when Father
Julian handed her a cup of steaming coffee, did she agreed to take a short
break.
She sat down to exchange a few words with him outside in order to breathe a bit
of fresh air and to rest her eyes, that had seen endless pain on the faces of
the injured.
"What a terrible accident, Father Julian," She exclaimed dejectedly.
Father Julian coughed, embarrassed.
" Yes, but it seems that it wasn’t exactly an accident. Lucas suspects
that someone intentionally blew up the mine."
Aurora's eyes widened, staring at Father Julian’s face.
"Who?" Aurora asked distressed.
" We don’t know yet, Lucas was here a little while ago, they’ve finished
excavating and found traces of sticks of dynamite.
Aurora shook her head, upset.
"Are there other survivors?" She asked worried, but Father Julian
shook his head.
"It seems that there is no one else under the rubble."
Aurora took a sip of her coffee thoughtfully.
"I'm going back to the
hacienda
daughter, get ready, we'll go
together."
" But Father, I’m still needed here," she protested.
" You've done enough for today, Dr. Peron has already arrived and you're
too tired to continue."
Aurora nodded. She took another sip of coffee and silently admired the last
rays of sun as they disappeared behind the green mountains.
Then, accompanied by Father Julian, she returned towards the house.
When they reached the house, they found Yolanda waiting for them at the
door." Help me Santos is very ill," she said frightened.
Aurora and Father Julian followed her quickly without taking the time to ask
questions.
Santos in a pool of sweat was delusional, his temperature was very high.
In an instant Aurora felt her weariness and discouragement disappear, while the
cold determination of a doctor engulfed her.
"I’ll make one last attempt, if it fails I'll have to amputate his
leg!" She whispered sadly.
Yolanda screamed and put her hands to her face and began to sob. At the same
moment Lucas arrived with Pablo who gave Yolanda, who was crying in despair, a
hug.
Aurora unbandaged the leg and cleaned it again, the wound was festering, the
disinfectant had not been enough. She shook her head exhausted and dejected
.
I must do something, I can’t amputate his leg, he's so young. I have to try
some other remedy.
Then she turned to Pablo: "Try to cool him down by
sponging him with water and alcohol. If we can lower the fever maybe I can save
his leg."
Pablo nodded and ran to take a seat at Santos’ bedside.
Aurora thought of the old remedies that the American Indians had used for infections.
Her father had never approved of them and at the faculty of medicine they were
considered witchcraft. Yet they could be the only hope for Santos. Driven by
desperation she asked Yolanda to go into the kitchen to look for some moldy
bread and honey.
Yolanda looked at her as if she were crazy.
" Trust me, I know what I’m doing."
I hope so
... "Also
go to the herb garden and get some thyme, the best and most fragrant that you
can find, then please make a very strong tea with it."
Aurora looked at the faces of those present where she read consternation and
doubt. She smiled sadly and said, “Sometimes traditional medicine is powerless,
I know some ancient remedies, it’s my only hope."
She made a thick paste with some water and bread and smeared it on the infected
wound. Then she spread the honey over everything and bandaged the leg again.
Aurora wiped her hands and as she was leaving she turned to Yolanda." Once
cool, make him drink the tea, even a few sips at a time. I’ve done my best, now
we can only pray. I'm going to look in the garbage for fly larvae ... for the
gangrene ... I hope we don’t need them ..." She said with a shudder.
Yolanda looked up and wiped her tears with a corner of her apron.
"Thank you," she said warmly.
Father Julian stroked Yolanda’s head and said, "Pray daughter!"
Yolanda nodded and clasping her hands to her chest followed Father Julian’s
words.
A little later, Aurora sat down for a moment to rest on the couch in the
enormous living room. Weariness overcame her with all its strength and she
thought she was about to faint.
"I’ve had something to eat prepared," said Lucas approaching Aurora
who awoke from her thoughts.
" I'm not hungry," she said without looking at him.
" You have to eat something or you’ll not be able to stand up. Father
Julian will join us in a moment as soon as he’s finished the prayers."
Aurora sighed. "Alright, I’ll be there in a moment," she murmured.
Lucas parted his lips to reply, but then decided to go towards the dining room.
Dinner was very quiet, they were all too tired to talk, especially after having
seen so much suffering.
How could someone have caused all this, just to hurt
Lucas?
Wondered Aurora to herself,
all that death, that destruction...
Father Julian, as soon as he had finished eating, asked to be excused and went
immediately to bed.