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What she'd seen of the planet so far was encouraging, although she'd read of many things that were not so encouraging. The Delbosque’s calendar stated today was Saturday, and it was a splendid one. The air warmed up nicely after a frosty morning, and bright white clouds drifted across the sun all morning long. To imagine this beauty possibly destroyed by fragments of meteroroids was a horrible thought.
The children dragged her away from the house and fought for turns to show her barrel cactus, yuccas, juniper trees, armadillos, and longhorn cattle. They seemed to sense that, being a Canadian, their guest needed this basic information.
They were half right, she admitted. She wasn’t Canadian, but she did need information, a lot of it. What to do next was never far from her mind.
The cat from the day before reappeared from behind a barn and began weaving around Darcy's ankles.
"Mami, Mami!" called Clara. "Look! Musi is back!"
Luisa explained that Musi was a stray cat who appeared one day badly hurt, which they nursed back to health. Uncomfortable around people, it accepted food but hissed at everyone and never allowed itself to be touched. Finally, the animal disappeared entirely, until now.
As Luisa talked, Darcy knelt and began rubbing Musi under the chin, to its evident great pleasure. Luisa was astonished it didn't shred Darcy's hand.
After a morning walk, they had a tasty lunch. When the dishes had been washed they walked to the paddock to watch several cowboys working with the horses. The dappled sun and shadow on the large animals were amazingly beautiful, and the sound of their hooves striking the soft earth practically musical. Regularly spaced little clouds of dust followed them around the track where they galloped.
As they returned to the house, Darcy noticed Mrs. Delbosque's husband Gus (he told Darcy to call him Gus) talking to his wife on the porch. As they neared, the concern on both their faces became evident.
"Ay, mija," said Mrs. Delbosque, shaking her head, "there may be trouble."
"Trouble?" she whispered. "What trouble?"
"Gus says there are government men all around, asking people if they have seen a little rubia on the loose. That means a little blonde girl, mija. He figures they are from La Migra, you know, Immigration. He wonders, since you’re from Canada, if you’re here legally. Maybe not. Maybe La Migra is looking for you."
Darcy hugged herself reflexively, her eyes widening.
"Ooooh...."
"Don't worry, mija. We have a lot of experience with La Migra. They’re around here all the time. You will be safe here. The children won't say anything, right, kids?"
"Mami!" wailed Jerry, and wrapped his arms around Darcy's waist. "Don't let them take Darcy!"
Clara and Maria looked stricken as well. Luisa seemed particularly grave.
"Don't worry, Darcy,” she said. “We'll hide you until they go away."
Later that evening, after supper, Darcy relaxed a little. If she could hide successfully, so much the better. If not, if she was taken into custody, surely they would take her to someone in authority, someone she could warn, someone who would listen, and believe her.
Still, she was shaken by the thought of being pursued. Whatever were they worried about, anyway? She was the one bringing bad news they needed, to hopefully save their planet, but she’d been unable to deliver it.
For Darcy, sleep was a long time coming.
