Chapter 5. The Brothers Romero
“I got my own mind, thanks. Don’t need someone or somethin’ else ta’ tell me what’s right.”
– Scribbled in the Margins of Lorena Agramonte’s Book of Prayers
Lorena parted the blankets that draped the doorway to the old church as she stepped inside. The building was clearly old, probably the oldest in town, though that didn’t say much. Taking small steps, she wasted no time in kneeling before the altar at the front of the chapel. She lit the few melted candles and hummed a small hymn to herself in the ill-lit room. She found herself solitary, but that was hardly unusual. She alone maintained the small shrine. She was no maiden, but she could play the part.
She thumbed through her worn prayer book to the pages she’d read too many times before, ignoring her notes in the margin, and began to read.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Lost in prayer, the strong scent of dirt and life—horses—overwhelmed her as another suppliant took his place beside her. Having not yet finished her prayer, her curiosity got the best of her as she began to steal glances at the newcomer.
“Pay me no mind. Just come to pay my respects.”
Lorena quickly averted her eyes. The stranger lit a small stick of incense, leaving it on the altar. Catching the exotic aroma now curling off the font, Lorena couldn’t help but lift her head. She had to catch a glance of the stranger, who traveled far enough to carry incense with him. The small shop they had carried only the necessities of life.
“Where didja get that?” Lorena spoke softly, her eyes leading back to the altar.
“The incense?”
Lorena nodded. The lean man rose. Though no great giant, or even much taller than Lorena herself, he stood more resolute than his kneeling posture implied. He turned and walked back toward the door.
“You aren’t gonna tell me?” she called out, turning her head toward him.
“You don’t want to know,” the stranger stated coldly before walking out.
Sunlight found its way into the sweltering chantry before the blanket covering the doorway fell back into place. Lorena drew a breath, trying to finish her hymns. Starting over from her hymnal, she reached the second verse for the third time, unable to focus on anything other than the stranger. Her concentration was gone.
A resounding yelp came from outside the church. Lorena broke her meditation, put out the candles, and ran into the street to see the town dog on the ground panting heavily. The dog tried to move, but could do little more than wince at the slightest effort. Beside the dog was a large, badly bruised bandito, and next to him, the somewhat smaller stranger who had just left her side. The dog tried to climb back up to its feet when the injured bandito dropped the heel of his boot into the dog’s rib cage, making an audible cracking sound throughout the street.
“Stop! Perrito didn’t do anything!” Lorena shouted at the larger bandito as she ran up to the dog. “What’s wrong with you? Why would you hurt—”
The bandito grabbed her throat and lifted her into the air, pulling her face close to his. He stunk of dried blood.
“Do I look like I’ve had a good day to you? Shut your mouth, little bitch, before I stuff it.”
Lorena gasped for air, looking for help from the stranger standing next to the bandito. He returned her glance disapprovingly. Lorena flailed, clawing at her neck, trying to break free.
“Alejandro…” the stranger sighed, with despondent command authority.
Choking, with darkness closing on her, she launched her desert-hardened foot into the bandito’s groin. He dropped her, giving her an opportunity to catch her breath as she lay on the ground next to the dog. Reluctantly looking up, she couldn’t keep from trembling, seeing the malice on the bloodied bandito’s face as he began to recover. She tried to scramble away, but his boot came down, crushing her ankle. The scream fought its way up her aching throat, but she refused to let it out. She maintained defiance.
“Alejandro!” the stranger lost his patience.
The bandito, continuing to ignore his comrade, was lifted off his feet and dropped onto his back with the full weight and fury of Adelais finishing the job he had earlier started on the bandito’s face. Though smaller than the bandito, but by no means small, Adelais displayed no trouble in dominating his larger, injured opponent. The stranger kicked Adelais off the bandito, dragging Alejandro back to his feet.
“That’s enough! My brother’s caused enough trouble for one day.” The stranger looked down to Lorena, discontented. “I’m sorry about what he did to your dog.”
The stranger wrapped his brother’s arm around his neck and proceeded to a horse tied up just outside town. Adelais sprung to his feet, ready to chase after them.
“Ade, let them go.” Siggy ran up to Lorena and knelt beside her, motioning for Adelais to help.
“Sig, after everything we went through ta’ get that bastard, you wanna let ‘im walk?”
“More important things right now, Ade.”
Siggy tried to help Lorena up, but she refused his assistance, turning to the sickly, dirty dog lying on the ground with flies nipping at its ears. She grazed the dog’s underbelly gently with the soft of her hand, causing it to flinch and yelp out. She tried to comfort it as she looked up.
“We can’t leave him here. No one takes care of Perrito anymore,” Lorena reminded them.
“We ain’t got food or nothin’ else for it, Lore,” Ade responded.
“Ade! Please.”
Lorena let out a labored cough, red hand mark still fresh on her neck. Ignoring Siggy’s outstretched hand, she took to her feet, wrapping her arm around Siggy’s shoulder as they both stood staring at Adelais. They remained for a moment, deadlocked. Lorena’s ankle began to give way, forcing Siggy to lean to carry the bulk of her weight. She couldn’t walk, but she refused to be carried. Siggy turned away, forcing Lorena to hobble along with him back to the bar. Adelais snorted, picking up the bleeding dog and carrying it closely behind them as he watched the banditos mount their steed and ride off into the desert.