Fourteen

 

 

A myriad of ramilletes, or candleholders with ornately designed punched-tin shields, illuminated the entire length of the patio walls. Casey found the ambiance quite romantic and had to know what they were called. She was still accompanied by Juana, and all her questions were gladly answered or translated by the kind woman. Hanging from the huge cottonwood tree were larger lanterns filled with oil, and towering torches surrounding the area provided additional light. A five-piece mariachi band played stirring traditional music and, between songs, strolled about the crowds of guests to different locations. Aromatic scents of spicy food drifted through the evening air, making Casey's mouth water. They walked beside a long table that was piled high with colorful displays of Spanish cuisine. Juana pointed out and explained what each dish was made of as wine and tequila flowed amid everyone's laughter and celebration. Casey thought the scene was incredibly lovely as she shyly smiled and made her way through the courtyard, looking around for another familiar face.

She didn't see him.

She didn't even see Rosa. Casey smiled at Marguerite and her husband as she walked further into the crowd. She spied Manuel talking to another man and turned to Juana. "There's your husband. Go to him and enjoy yourselves tonight."

"I don't want to leave you," the woman answered. "Let us find Señor Luke."

"No, that isn't necessary, Juana," Casey said. "There's no need to find him. He's here. He'll find me. Now, go… celebrate with your husband."

"Bueno, I will go to my man as you ask," she said, moving slightly as a woman's full skirt brushed past her. "You will remember the magic of this night?"

Chuckling, Casey nodded as she looked up to the full moon. "Kind of hard to forget it, Juana, but I promise I shall remember that tonight is magic. Now… go! And tell Manuel I said the musicians are very good, but they aren't as gifted as he is."

"Muchas gracias, Señorita Casey. He will be touched by your compliment," Juana said with a smile. Patting the pouch at her side, she whispered with a sly grin, "Tonight there is magic. I can feel it."

"Hmm…" Casey murmured with a smile. "I think you are right. Tonight life does seem magical."

Juana nodded, squeezed Casey's hand, and then slipped into the crowd. After a few moments of feeling lost, Casey smiled into the faces of more strangers as she walked toward the garden and found a place to observe the activities without getting in the way. How odd to be here in this place, in this time, and finding herself falling in love with it all. There was a charm here that she had never felt anywhere else when she had traveled in the States, no matter what the year was. But here it felt… different.

"It is a beautiful night, is it not, Señorita O'Reilly?"

She turned, slightly, startled by the voice, and smiled back at a grinning Don Miguel. "Sí, señor. It is very beautiful. Rosalinda is very blessed to be highly respected and loved by her family and friends."

The man, formally dressed in a Spanish costume of a dark suit with a short jacket, adjusted a ruffled cuff and again smiled back at her. "The d'Montoya family is respected around the world for its integrity in business. This is the first time I have enjoyed their hospitality, and considering this backward country, I must say they have presented themselves well."

"Backward? I'm afraid I see nothing backward tonight, señor," Casey answered, smiling out to the crowd. "I see people who are enjoying themselves. They could be in any country, in any time."

"You must come and visit my country, Señorita O'Reilly, to see there is a difference."

"Thank you, Don Miguel, but I haven't yet finished exploring my own yet. This really is such a beautiful country." Casey didn't care to be around the arrogant man, yet didn't know what she could do without appearing rude. She also didn't want to say anything that might ruin Rosa's party and her own evening.

The music suddenly ended and a man announced something in a loud voice. It was in Spanish and Don Miguel was kind enough to translate what was happening. "The honor court is being introduced."

She clapped along with everyone as each couple made their entrance. All the girls had lovely dresses in the varying shades of the rainbow. Their escorts, the young men, looked very serious in their formal suits. Standing on tiptoes, she could see that as the announcer introduced each couple, the dama dropped her handkerchief and then her escort lowered to one knee, picked it up, and remaining in the humbled pose, offered it back to her. When she took it, he kissed her hand, rose, and led her into the courtyard. Casey thought it was very much like a wedding reception, that same kind of romantic and joyous atmosphere with all its traditions.

Suddenly, across the sea of people, she spied Luke speaking to a woman as the last of the honor court was being introduced. He was dressed in a black suit, with silver studding on the short jacket. Even across the space of at least a hundred people, Casey felt the surge of love well up in her breast as she looked at him. It wasn't that he was so handsome. He was so wonderful, so—

As she was thinking he was just about everything she'd ever wanted in a man, he turned his head and looked straight into her eyes. Stunned, Casey could only stare back as he smiled at her and nodded his head slightly. He said something to the woman at his side and then bowed before moving away. She watched as he made his way through the crowd to her. Her heart was beating so hard that she barely heard Don Miguel's conversation.

"And now the quinceñera presentation will begin…"

"I'm sorry," Casey muttered. "I… I wish to be closer to see Rosalinda. Excuse me, Señor Miguel. Enjoy your evening." Quickly Casey left the man's side and began walking toward Luke. The very last thing she wanted was for Don Miguel to be with her when she finally got to speak with the man who now occupied her mind and her heart.

"Hola, hello," Casey kept murmuring politely to those she passed. She saw Luke's dark hair and knew they were closing the distance. Within a few moments he stood in front of her and, after staring into her eyes, smiled softly.

"Soy muy seguro, tú eres la angelita mas bonita que todos aquí esta noche, Señorita O'Reilly."

Casey let out her breath and smiled back. "What?"

"I was complimenting you, telling you how beautiful you are."

She found herself blushing like a teenager and tried to accept the compliment gracefully. "Thank you, Luke. And may I say that you look very handsome tonight. It's a beautiful suit."

He smoothed down the jacket that ended at his waist and, still smiling, accepted her words. "Thank you, señorita. Don Felipe was very generous to share his wardrobe."

"We're both wearing borrowed clothes," Casey said with a grin. "The d'Montoyas have been very gracious to us. Thank you, Luke, for bringing me here and allowing me to meet your friends. I like them very much."

"Yes, so do I."

"How…" She leaned closer to him to continue, "How is your project coming along?"

Looking down to her, he winked. "Very nicely. It should be ready in a day or two, maybe a bit longer if I am able to put up a railing."

She didn't have time to answer as a great buzz started in the courtyard and the announcer introduced Señorita Rosalinda Maria Theresa Concepcion d'Montoya.

Luke tilted his head to be heard over the intense applause. "Rosa is soon to be officially presented as a woman."

Casey thought surely she was applauding the loudest. She wanted to whistle and throw out a few shouts of congratulations, but restrained herself as this wasn't a crowd to get too rowdy. This was a ritual that all honored. Rosa wore a gorgeous creation of white tulle and satin, with layer upon layer of ruffles that reached the floor and thousands of seed pearls sewn onto the fabric in a design of tiny flowers. She still wore Marguerita's mantilla, studded with pearls, attached by an elaborate comb nestled atop her dark curls and—

Casey sucked her breath in surprise.

Around Rosa's neck was a long thin chain of gold, and the clover pendant dangled to her waist as she moved to her place of honor. Casey felt tears coming to her eyes. "She's wearing my gift," she whispered.

"Your gift?" Luke asked with a perplexed look on his face.

"Yes, the pendant around her neck. It's a four-leaf clover, permanently sealed in glass. My mother had given it to me years ago, but I wanted Rosa to have it." Casey didn't want to explain anything further about why she had given it to the young woman. There were just some things women held privately, especially when it concerned destiny.

Luke smiled and said, "Then you should be honored. For her to wear it tonight means Rosa thinks of you as family."

"I think of her as my little sister," she said, watching Don Felipe escort his daughter to a decorated chair, behind which he stood as the honor court gathered in front of Rosa. Doña Isabela moved to stand beside her husband. Everyone pushed back to make room for the honor court, and soon the courtyard became a dance floor. The girls formed a semicircle in front of Rosa, and Casey watched as her young friend rose up from her chair and joined her damas, all fourteen of them, one for each year of her life. The music began and soon all the young girls were dancing together in a playful mood. It seemed to signify that her time of childhood was at an end. Casey watched with a twinge of sadness that the impish Rosa was now supposed to be a grown-up. Somehow she hoped Rosalinda wouldn't lose her curiosity and become too serious.

At the sudden end of the dance, all the damas scurried back to their escorts waiting for them behind the chair of honor, leaving Rosa alone on the dance floor. Immediately the musicians began another waltz as Don Felipe slowly extended his hand to his daughter and then swept her up in his arms. Together father and daughter glided across the tiled courtyard floor. He was presenting his daughter to his guests as a woman.

Tears came into Casey's eyes at the touching scene as she witnessed the love of this man for his child, the father for his daughter.

"The music is a very important transitional part of the quinceñera." Luke whispered to her as he offered a handkerchief. "First Rosa playfully danced with her friends as a young girl, and now she dances with her father as a young woman."

Dabbing at her eyes, Casey sniffled with emotion. "It's just beautiful." She had never danced with her own father. He had died of a stroke when she was a teenager. She didn't know if she was crying for Rosa, for herself, or what was happening inside of her. She wanted Luke to put his arm around her, to hold her close and let her get this emotion out as she continued to watch father and daughter gracefully waltz.

When the dance ended amid great applause, Don Felipe escorted his daughter back to her chair. Soon a woman, one of Rosa's godmothers, came to stand before the teenager. The woman knelt down and removed Rosa's flat childish shoes and replaced them with chunky high heels. Then Marguerita came forward and stood behind her sister as she removed the mantilla and placed a jeweled tiara upon Rosa's dark curls.

The transition had been made.

Looking like a regal princess, Rosalinda Maria Theresa Concepcion d'Montoya was now officially a woman.

The young girls came hurrying back onto the dance floor and stood in another half circle while their escorts returned and stood in front of their partners.

"This is la bailar un vals, a waltz. They have been practicing for weeks."

Nodding, Casey said, "Rosa has told me about it." She was so glad she'd moved away from the garden area and now had such a great view, especially since Luke was next to her. Putting aside her own emotions, Casey clutched the handkerchief in her fist and watched as the girls curtsied to their escorts and were swept up gracefully in the arms of the young men. It was another lovely waltz and the young people dipped and swayed in time to the soothing refrain. Casey thought it was beautiful as all that fabric in all those shades, billowing out like clouds of pink, violet, green, and yellow, passed in front of her. The girls' faces were radiant, as though all the practicing had finally paid off. Casey felt shivers run up her arms, signaling that she was viewing something she would always want to remember.

"Are you cold?" Luke asked as he bent his head to whisper in her ear.

Great! Now she really had shivers! Something, some instinct, made her turn her head slightly and whisper right back in his ear, "And if I was? What would you do?"

She saw him stare straight ahead as though startled by her words, and then a slow grin spread over his lips. Without looking at her, he straightened and said, "Why, I would be a gentleman, señorita, and offer you my jacket."

Casey smiled and turned her attention back to the dancers. "Refuse no sincere offers, I say," she answered with a chuckle. "Especially if you're a time traveler. Ya never know when or where you'll get another."

He had to hide his chuckle, but she saw his shoulders shake and she knew she had scored a connection. Yeah… she thought, watching the couples wind down the dance…he's the one who had taught her about electricity. Maybe she didn't remember everything perfectly, but she did remember that for a circuit to exist, it must have three things. A source. Her. An output device. Him. And a connection between the source and the device. The laughter. It had worked! His entire mood had changed because hers had too. No longer was she nervous and afraid, worrying that he might not want her. Suddenly she remembered, she had promised herself to be herself without any plans!

How could she have forgotten already? She wanted to throw back her head and laugh at her silliness. In fact, the urge was so strong that she had to put Luke's handkerchief to her mouth to cover her giggles. It was worse than being in church because then you could hide behind someone else. Here she just had to get a good view and put herself right in front of everyone! Thankful that the vals was over, Casey clapped so hard she was glad the hankie was still in her hand. She couldn't even look at Luke or she'd start laughing again. He was so right about laughter being a circuit breaker too.

She really had a new appreciation for the gift of laughter, and vowed to use it more often just as he had said. Obviously it made a good connection between them.

The applause lessened while the floor cleared, as glasses of wine were served to the guests and Casey wondered what the next tradition would be. She noticed Rosalinda saying something to her father and then she looked around her at all the nice people having such a good time. Feeling very happy, she turned her attention back to the dance floor as Don Felipe walked to the center, carrying his own long-stemmed wineglass. What a great party, she thought, glancing at the moon and really liking this magic!

"Un brindis, a toast," Luke informed her.

She nodded happily as she held her glass of wine in anticipation.

Don Felipe cleared his throat and looked back once to his beautiful daughter with an endearing smile before turning to the crowd. "Damas y caballeros, Bishop Lamy, honored guests. Tonight I toast my daughter Rosalinda, a young woman possessed of a great heart. Before I fulfill this honor, Rosalinda has made a request, an addition to her court of honor to complete her presentation. She has requested that two of our fine guests honor her by dancing… un fandango."

Don Felipe was actually looking straight at Casey!

Casey immediately felt her soaring, bright mood begin a nosedive, and no matter how hard she pulled back on it, her good spirits threatened to crash.

He couldn't mean her! And Luke?

She felt Luke touch her arm and she immediately pulled back. "I can't do this," she muttered between a tightly clenched smile. "No!"

"Do you not realize what an honor this is?" he whispered, leaning down to her as applause began. There were murmurings amid the applause. "This is a very rare occasion, Casey."

"No!"

Don Felipe raised his glass in their direction and smiled with warmth, as though he were including her and Luke in his family. Casey felt her heart drop. She simply could not dance in front of all these people!

The man turned back to his daughter, and Casey looked at Rosa. The girl was holding the clover pendant up for Casey to see. Rosa smiled with such love that Casey felt tears come into her eyes as her new young sister touched the pendant to her chest for just a moment before turning her attention to her father.

Hope. Faith. Love. Destiny. The words she had whispered to Rosa earlier in the day came back to haunt her. Casey found herself swallowing down the lump in her throat as she listened to Don Felipe begin his toast.

"Congratulations, Rosalinda mía. I raise my glass to the future of this beautiful young person, who is an example to many families and graces mine. You are the pride of my life. I pray to God, to your guardian angel, and your grandfather Francisco, that they guide you with steady hands all through your life and assist in making all your dreams come true. I congratulate your mother, your friends and teachers, everyone who wishes blessings upon you, for you have blessed us all by being on this earth. We are all so very proud of you, no one more than your mother and I. May you always be blessed with life's sweetness, the way you have brought sweetness to our lives. Salud!"

Casey kept swallowing and blinking to hold back the tears. Everyone shouted, "Salud!" She threw back her head and swallowed the entire glass of wine in one huge gulp, as though it might drown the encroaching tears.

"Casey, now is the time. You cannot refuse the honor Rosa has requested of us!" Luke rasped in her ear as he applauded with the rest of the guests.

Watching Rosalinda sip her wine, Casey knew she couldn't either. "This is crazy," she muttered. "How can I do this?"

She watched as Manuel joined the band and she saw Juana standing on the sidelines. The older woman nodded to her and touched her pouch. Sheesh… ! Casey needed some big kind of magic right now to pull this off, and she wasn't sure Juana's little ditty bag contained it!

A servant took their wineglasses.

"Shall we dance?" Luke held out his hand to her, and she couldn't move as he lowered his lips closer to her ear and said in a sexy voice, "I got some good advice earlier. Refuse no sincere offers."

He was throwing her words back at her!

"Is this a challenge, señor?"

If possible, his smile became sexier. "This is an opportunity for a man and a woman to dance… with passion. Do you accept?"

Oh, he was good.

Suddenly she laughed. She couldn't help it, and the tension left her body as she placed her hand in his. Glancing at Rosalinda, she shook her head, as if to tell the imp that she, too, was good. Rosa had promised they would dance and she wasn't kidding! Walking to the center of the cleared dance floor, Casey kept taking deep breaths, telling herself that all she had to do was forget there were more than a hundred people about to watch as she took on Luke d'Séraphin publicly.

The band began playing slowly as they reached the center of the floor.

"Shall I take my handkerchief?" Luke offered.

"You'll need it later," she whispered with a grin of her own as confidence started to build in her body. She had danced fairly well with him before. There was nothing to fear except what she would think of herself when it was over. She began shutting out the crowd, concentrating on the man, and dropped the white cloth as the damas had done earlier. Just like the young men, Luke knelt down on one knee and picked it up. He gently kissed her hand and slowly rose while stuffing the handkerchief into his breast pocket. The edges stood out in sharp contrast to his dark jacket. He then held out his hand to her. She took it and was pulled into his arms.

There had to be some Spanish in her blood, she thought again while remembering Luke telling of all the Spaniards who had been shipwrecked on Ireland… 'cause this just felt so natural to her, to be held like this, with a man staring into her eyes, demanding her attention. Maybe it was just this man who brought it out…

"Trust me?" Luke whispered.

"Yes." She took a deep breath. "With a passion."

His eyes lit with something that Casey would have sworn was passion itself. His smile reappeared and he whispered, "Good," right before holding her firmly in his arms and taking the stance to alert her he was ready.

Never shifting her gaze from his, she straightened her spine and lifted her chin.

He turned her as the music slowly built in tempo, beginning with Manuel's guitar. It was comfortable and familiar and the other musicians stomped their heels to the rhythmic beat. Casey followed easily, focusing all her attention on Luke's eyes. She allowed her feet to automatically move with his. He twisted her at the waist as the other musicians joined in and the tempo increased. Castanets were suddenly added to the already sensual music.

She swore there must be some gypsy in her and for a moment she wondered what everyone was thinking… a blonde woman dancing like this. Almost missing a move and a step, she was glad for the full skirt to cover it.

Stop thinking about them, she admonished herself. Focus on Luke. This is between the two of you, and everyone else is merely a witness now. Somehow it was the only way she was going to get through this, she thought as he twirled her out and then back again to wrap his arm across the front of her waist. With her back to his chest, she could feel his heartbeat against her bare skin. His breath in her ear. It sent chills racing across her skin.

"Ginger would be proud of you," he whispered into her hair.

She grinned widely as all tension left her body. She felt fluid, moving along with him, her steps sure as he abruptly twirled her and then turned her until she was back in his arms, staring into his eyes again.

The crowd cheered and Casey suddenly realized she didn't really care what anyone thought. She was having a great time!

She allowed herself to go limp in his strong arms as he dipped and swirled her out and right back in to him. Recalling the theatrical, pointed gestures, she moved with rhythmic confidence as she felt them becoming one with the music. She stomped her foot at the appropriate beat of the moment. He put his chin to his chest, looked her square in the eyes, and stomped back, displaying his acceptance to her challenge. She felt the dew of her own sensuality rise through her pores as he grasped her waist once more and pulled her firmly to his erect body. Oh, this was passion, all right… passion with a fever boiling between them.

She trusted him completely, accepting his lead without fear or hesitation, and it was magnificent. Never before in her life had she been this reliant on another human being without trying to take some control. Now it was Luke who guided her across the floor with an expertise that was remarkable. If possible, he was pulling out all stops and she was matching him step by step, move by move. The next time she was twirled out, she dropped his hand and stared at him, daring him to take it higher. She slowly lowered her hand to her skirt and lifted the edge of it up to rest her fist on her hip. In one swift move, she stamped out another staccato of deeper invitation.

The side of Luke's mouth lifted in a sexy grin, as the men and women around her shouted out their approval.

He slowly brought his hands up to his hips and answered her movement with a stunning one of his own. Knowing she wasn't practiced enough to match it, Casey lifted her chin, raised her skirt a bit higher, and repeated her staccato… with attitude this time.

The women's cheers were even louder than the men's, and Casey almost laughed at Luke's expression. He looked as though he not only wanted her… he wanted to have her. Bless Rosa's impetuous heart!

He held his hand out to her and she slowly closed the distance between them.

As he pulled her back into his arms, they again resumed the beginning dance steps. She seemed to be floating above the ground as she effortlessly followed him, all the while staring into his incredible soft brown eyes. Yes, there was magic.

It was called love.

When the dance ended abruptly, Casey was so stunned that she could only continue to stare at Luke, gulping for breath and feeling dizzy at the sudden stop.

"Well done, Casey O'Reilly," he breathed into her mouth.

"You weren't bad yourself, Señor Luke d'Séraphin," she said, adding with a grin, "at least we were far enough away from the walls…" She figured he would understand her joke.

He chuckled and spun her out of his arms. When she saw he was presenting her to Rosa, Casey grinned at the teenager and slowly curtsied as Rosalinda stood up and cheered along with the crowd.

Luke turned her around and they slowly bowed to the crowd. Rising, he led her off the floor and back toward the house. Everyone kept applauding, and Doña Isabela seemed to have tears in her eyes. Casey felt a blush cover her skin… from the heat of her body now that she'd stopped dancing, and from all the attention. She wasn't used to it, and it was a pretty heady thing for an accountant to experience. Her job felt like a lifetime away.

Don Felipe patted Luke's back as they passed, and the man's smile was full of approval. Casey couldn't remember a time in her life when she'd felt so alive, and as a servant offered her a glass of water, she gratefully accepted and decided staying in the moment was the only way to go, time-traveling or not.

"You were wonderful, Casey," Luke said, accepting his own glass of water. He sipped a few times and Casey could see beads of sweat popping out on his forehead.

Grinning, she pulled the white cloth from his pocket and said, "Why, thank you. Your handkerchief, señor?"

He laughed and grabbed it from her hand amid the chuckles of those surrounding them. "Touché," he said, blotting his forehead, then added, "I believe I have met my match in you, Casey O'Reilly."

It was her turn to laugh.

Eureka! The connection was made and the circuit complete. They had power.

In that moment she glanced up at the moon and felt the magic of being a woman. She was now fully prepared for the next lesson.

Magnetism…