It's Just Lola by Dixiane Hallaj

Pilar had just loaded the chest when Jacoba came running out with her hair flying behind her, wearing a nightdress with only a shawl wrapped around her shoulders.  She began screaming that Juan and Pilar were stealing from the house.  She was wild in her anger and triumphant that all her suspicions had been confirmed.  She refused to let them move from the spot where they stood.   She said they would have to stand there until someone could be sent to bring el patrón .
    The stable hands said he had taken his stallion out as the sun rose.  They searched all of his normal haunts in vain.  It was hours before he reappeared.  All that time Jacoba refused to move or let either Juan or Pilar move. 
    “When your father came galloping up to the house, his face was pale, and I ’ m sure he thought there was some terrible accident that occasioned the frantic call for his presence.  He was enraged when he saw the tableau.  His voice shook with anger as he told her it was unspeakable for her to be outside in her nightdress.  She paid no attention at first and kept on screaming about thievery.”
    Lola shivered as she thought of anyone ignoring her father’s anger.
    “He gripped her arm so tight his knuckles turn ed as white as his face.  He drew his face very close to hers, and told her quietly that if she had paid attention to her true duties and watched his children as closely as she watched his vegetables they would still have both.  His final words were that there would be no more talk of thievery and with that he shoved her toward the house. 
    “So that ’ s why I was very late coming for you.”
    The two rode in silence for a time. 
    Riding through the tunnel of tall trees, Lola felt far from the real world.  Her thoughts wandered over the recent events in a dreamlike sense of unreality .  If Jacoba had really bewitched her father, then perhaps the spell has worn off—like the spell Rudolfo used on her, which was more about fancy talk than witchcraft. 
    “I wonder if he ’ ll ever forgive us,” she said quietly.
    “He already has .  He knew very well that the chest was full of things that will ease your life somewhat—and he purposely left the house so it could be spirited away by Pilar.”  Lola nodded and became lost in her own thoughts about her father and what was happening.  The long hours of walking were finally catching up to her, and she soon slumped against Juan as her eyes closed in sleep.              
    ~ ~ ~
    Enriqueta stirred and Lola opened her eyes.  She sat erect , embarrassed that she had been leaning on Juan.  Enriqueta’s voice startled her.
    “Have I been asleep long?  Are we almost there?”  The sun was low on the horizon.
    “Almost,” said Juan.
    The two girls watched as the outskirts of the city flowed past their wagon. Chickens, dogs and dirty half-naked children seemed to be roaming at will around yards cluttered with bits and pieces of equipment and flapping clothes hung out to dry. 
      The Cholo village on their plantation looked far more prosperous than what they were seeing.  As they drove deeper and deeper into the city, the dwellings became closer and closer together and looked more and more depressing.  Lola’s mouth felt dry .  S he had a sinking feeling that this was going to be far different from their fantasies.
    “It ’ s too late to go to the market today . I ’ ll get a better price at dawn tomorrow, even if the produce is not a s fresh,” said Juan.  “However, I ’ ll go to the station first to check for messages.
    “ C over your heads with your shawls and sit still and quiet.  No one must recognize you.”  They nodded and drew up their shawls.  They had no wish to attract attention.  Juan glanced sideways at them and laughed.   “You still look like young ladies being driven to town.  Look tired and hungry.”
    Enriqueta grinned at him.  “The hungry part is easy.”  The humor of the situation evaporated