Roots of Indifferences

by Terri Ragsdale

  Looting and killing became widespread in southern Texas, causing Governor O.B. Colquitt to send five companies of the state militia and several groups of Texas Rangers under the command of Captain Sanders to the Rio Grande Valley. All of the newspapers were busy with headlines of a Mexican War.

  After reading the news, panic-filled Don Federico wasted no time in riding toward Spanish Acres, ordering Roy with several of his best gunmen to travel with him to Monterrey to get Victoria and Felicia. The train from Monterrey to the frontier had been derailed, and the only way to travel now was by horse. While the men were getting their gear and horses ready, Don Federico decided to pay a visit to La Señora Doña Adela, remembering what the old witch woman had said to him twenty-two months back. You will need my advice and real soon. You will come and pay me a visit, for you will need some answers that only I can tell you.

  Don Federico was amazed at her accurate information, even though he had once laughed and made fun of her prophecies. What the old bruja had predicted for him had all come to pass, especially with guns and ammunition. All of the information was revealed after he had put two and two together on Hanson and Hobbs after returning from the gold mine trip. Soledad had been raped by Hanson and Hobbs. Hanson was a friend of his father. She did have a connection. It was all making sense.

  CHAPTER 20

  The innocent blue skies of spring were coming as the days were getting longer, and after the serenity of the long, dull winter, the convent's landscape brought forth a peaceful blanket of colorful wildflowers into their midst. The buttercups and flowering vines burst with delicate blooms that scented the air and showed their faces throughout the tranquil region. The brooks ran proud with soft rainwater, and the nights were cold and breezy. The season was rapidly changing into one of excitement, and so was the region of Monterrey, Mexico.

  Late in the evening, the peaceful convent had hunched its shoulders after the quiet evening meal. The nuns had settled into their prayer, and students were preparing for tomorrow's lessons.

  The evening had settled softly down for the day, except for Victoria and Felicia and another group of girls washing dishes, pot, and pans furiously in an ancient, iron washtub lavadero that drained its water out into the gardens and acreage. It was a job for disorderly slaves.

  Rosalinda, the ugly Montoya twin, wanting to find favor with Mother Superior, had reported to the head of housecleaning that Victoria had been seen reading devil cards. In a Catholic convent, this did not set too well. Consequently, the head of housecleaning reported it to the head nun, who reported to Mother Superior. All were flabbergasted. The Holy Mother became furious with Victoria and demanded her to turn over the cards. Victoria refused, saying they were hers and nobody else's. To refuse the orders of Mother Superior was like giving two thumbs down to God. It was going to be a painful punishment: one hundred Hail Marys inconsistent order, and walking on her knees from the chapel entrance to the altar without stopping, and praying for forgiveness. This was not exactly Victoria’s favorite pastime!

  And finally, the nastiest demoralizing discipline that every decent girl hated while staying at the convent was: doing double kitchen-duty of the worse kind, and in the evening, which was the heaviest. Felicia threw herself into Victoria's defense and was ordered to join the rest of the "liars' club" in the kitchen. They had to stay until all the pot and pans were completely clean and the kitchen spotless.

  Victoria washed and Felicia and two other girls were drying, putting the pans and dishes in their cupboards. At each doorway, duty nuns hunched like penguins and sat in their chairs, their hands tucked inside their habits, as they observed and guarded the girls at their duties. While scrubbing, Victoria kept thinking of the Catholic nun’s life. They are always going around looking bland, in silence and never allowed to express their true feelings. Their lives never had tragic events or joyous occasions and they never shared any occurrence about their childhood, family or talked directly to the girls. They were like puppets. No excitement. What a boring life!

  Outside, an old peasant man with a cart pulled by a burro, who brought milk, cheese, fresh fruits, and vegetables for the convent, came in hysterical and out of breath. His cry was: "Revolution! The Revolution has broken out! Madero, our savior has been killed!" Instantly, the girls stopped their work and stood immobile, staring at each other, in shock at the old man's announcement. Several of the sisters stood up, and regular workers in the kitchen listened with the utmost surprised interest. "Most all of the haciendas in Saltillo have already been ransacked! Men are taking up guns and rifles to fight for Mexico's cause! Our liberator Madero has been assassinated, and Father Herrera in Monterrey was shot to death, and the nuns were raped and murdered. The world is coming to an end!"

  "Dear God!" said Victoria out loud, strands of damp, matted hair hanging in her face. She turned to Felicia. "With Madero dead, what's going to happen?" Her memory wandered as she stood in a daze, finding time to brush her hair back. Whatever happened to Juan? It was going on two years since she had seen or heard from him, and her heart ached for his presence. Surely he didn't have anything to do with any killing. "I wonder if there has been any word in Mexico City on Grandfather."

  "Maybe he got caught up in a political mess in the capital. He probably got involved in something," said Felicia, shrugging her shoulders.

  There was a frightened commotion in the kitchen as everyone began talking about their loved ones and their families, forgetting their duties. There was another tornado-wind coming down the long hallways. It was Mother Superior, the matriarch herself, who had heard from a tattletale nun of the worldly politics occurring outside. Perhaps Mother Superior had been disturbed in her weekly agonizing flagellation that the nuns performed as a penance and a constant reminder that sins had to be punished, even evil thoughts.

  Regardless of the reason, she was incensed. Her eyes glared like two burning torches, and her white-starched habit cracked like ice when she turned and faced Victoria. She did not approve of Victoria because, on previous occasions, Victoria had interrupted her and spoken out bravely on her worldly views. "Never mind the talk of war!" she declared now. "That doesn't pertain to this convent. This is a house of God, and war should never enter these doors. We do not live outside these convent walls. All of you get back to cleaning this kitchen," she ordered. "And as for you—Victoria, you still have to finish your punishments, and after cleaning this kitchen, you still have homework for tomorrow's lessons." Mother Superior's face was stern with discipline. She turned to address the other girls, her eyes boring into them. "Talk of war is no concern to any of you girls. You are here to be educated." Her words hung in the air and echoed throughout the kitchen. "Now get back to work!"

  The words kept ringing in Victoria's ears. Victoria, you still have to finish your punishments. This did not surprise Victoria, for, during the past nine months, she had developed a repressed hate for Mother Superior, who kept finding fault with her actions, degrading her to do servant's work. She had no palpable evidence, nor could she pinpoint the reason. She only knew that she could not do anything to please her. Perhaps Mother Superior had a dislike for her since she was always speaking out in class on so many injustices on women's issues and giving the other girls bright ideas. This did not set well with the Holy Mother who was in favor of "a man’s world." Women were supposed to keep quiet and obey their husbands, regardless of the circumstances. Victoria kept thinking, Go and beat you some more! Her hateful thoughts led her to visualize like Doña Adela had taught her, using some of the white witchcraft methods of wishing that something terrible would happen to the Reverend Mother.

  Hesitating for an instant, the Holy Mother turned to Felicia saying, "Please, would you go down to the basement and get me three bottles of fine wine for the morning Mass?"

  Felicia nodded obediently and slowly walked down the passageway to the downstairs winery.

  There were more noises coming from outside the walls of the convent, as the thunder of horses, soldiers,
and peasants with rifles began descending upon the quiet, serene house of God. Carts and wagons pulled by horses and burros and loaded with pillaged goods started to close in on the area. Loud sounds of guns being fired into the air began frightening and awakening the convent.

  The sounds of boots with heavy silver spurs rang on the marble floors. A tall, dark-haired, bearded man with dark eyes appeared at the doorway and entered the kitchen. "Who's in charge here?" He spoke roughly, removing his large sombrero, dusting off his woolen trousers, and leggings that came to his knees.

  The kitchen area became like a still night. No one said a word. Each kitchen worker and the attending girls stood frozen and immobile, staring at each other. The nuns stood frightened and began touching their rosaries; some crossed themselves trying to find comfort and solace.

  "Who's running this place?” he repeated. Propping one of his boots on a wooden stool, he began to unfasten the double cartridge belts across his chest.

  From outside the corridor halls, Mother Superior appeared with prideful confidence and stepped into the kitchen. She looked surprised that anyone would dare disturb the peaceful convent. She approached the dusty, rugged character and replied, "I'm in charge of this convent. What can we help you with?" She flinched visibly and touched the rosary that hung at her waist.

  "I'm Luis Del Calderóne, Capitán of this platoon. We are heading for the border. We are all hungry and one of the men has been shot in the chest and needs doctoring, pronto!"

  "Very well, we will see what we can do." Mother Superior hesitated and fumbled for words, then eyed one of the kitchen servants and gestured with her hands. "Have these men fed. I'll send two of the nuns to fetch the village doctor." She turned to Luis in her pride and said, "You may stay here tonight, but in the morning all of you will have to leave and find another place of shelter. This is a convent, a house of God, and we only take care of emergencies. We are not a hospital. We only take care of unfortunate girls who are having babies. And I have a school to run."

  Luis's eyes became like two icebergs filled with hate. He drew his pistol and clicked the hammer back, approaching Mother Superior and pointing it at her chest. There was a long hush and some whispers of "Mother of God!" as the room was now filled with suspense. Everyone was caught in a moment of fright. Several of the revolutionists had started to fill the kitchen, their hands full of guns and rifles, lust in their thoughts, eyeing each girl.

  "We will stay here as long as we want, Señora!" he snapped. "We are at war. And we will take anything we want. Do you understand what I am saying? If my orders are not carried out or complied with quickly, you and your so-called nuns will be put against the wall and shot. Now, do we understand each other?"

  "This is the house of God," she said bravely. "You cannot come in here and order us around. We know nothing about your worldly wars. I should have known who you are. I didn't recognize you with all of the evil ammunition across your chest. I didn't remember you being so disrespectful. You should be ashamed, being the son of El General Del Calderóne, and your mother a great supporter of this convent."

  Luis laughed. "My father and I have not spoken in years. I was able to see through his deception and knew all along what he was doing, especially to this country. He was the main cause of Madero's death, with the help of his friend Huerta, who wants to take over this country for himself. And I will fight to my death for the good and the justice of the poor peóns."

  "You will not get away with this—the Federalists will be coming to get you and your killers."

  "Fernando!" shouted Luis. "Take this Señora and lock her up. I will deal with her tomorrow. Now, I need a full meal and a good rest. And maybe a nice, soft, warm body that will cuddle up with me." He laughed. "I will give the orders from now on!" He grabbed the stool from underneath his boot and sat. "And where is the food? Bring us some food! We are all hungry and haven't eaten since we left the prison in Mexico City four days ago."

  Two of the revolutionists grabbed Mother Superior by her arms and gave her a hard shove. She kept her balance as she was led into the long tile corridors inside of the convent. There were gunshots and screams coming from other parts of the convent. "Pronto, pronto!" they said.

  The sudden cries of anguish were coming from the bedrooms where the nuns and students were being raped, their possessions looted and ransacked, the ruffians taking everything they owned of any value. The crash of axes and crowbars was heard against the wooden doors, along with the thud of furniture being flung out into the halls and patio, and the constant smashing of glass.

  Victoria's blood ran cold. She wanted to run and hide, but where? She turned her head to try and find Felicia, but Felicia was downstairs in the cellar getting some wine for Mother Superior, as she had been ordered. Was this what came with the Revolution? The two of them were caught in the middle of this nightmare with no way of escape.

  The enraged men burst into the kitchen in a reckless fury, grabbing and eating everything that was put in front of them. One of the bandits, with crossed cartridge belts on his chest, grabbed one of the kitchen helpers, an Indian girl about fifteen years old. With his long knife, he slit the front of her white peasant blouse, exposing her breasts. She tried to scream but was too paralyzed. She stood helpless. Like an animal obeying primitive urges, the man advanced toward the terrified girl, then dragged her by her hair across the floor, tearing her clothes, pulling her toward the cellar, where the supplies and wines were kept. He bent her over a barrel and spread her legs. His animal lust could not be held back, and he let his pants down and began mounting her from behind like the bulls do to the cows in the spring.

  Another Revolutionist grabbed Victoria by the left shoulder. With her closed right fist, she hit the man in the face as hard as she could, dropped him against the wall. Everything was happening so fast and all the girls were terrified.

  "Luis!" cried Victoria frightened out of her wits. She hurried past some tables and chairs, as the revolutionist got up and tried to chase her. "Luis!" she yelled.

  "I have found my little turtle dove." The revolutionist laughed, still groggy from the hard blow to his face. He rubbed his cheeks and headed toward Victoria again. "I will not be cold tonight!"

  "Luis!" shouted Victoria, leaning over the table toward him, her face showing terror. "Don't you remember me, Luis? I'm Victoria, your future sister-in-law! You must stop this raping and killing!" she begged. With an unyielding glare, she stared into Luis's cold, angry eyes. "We have nothing to do with the war in Mexico. We are only students, trying to get educated."

  "Victoria?" He paused for a minute, trying to focus on who she was. "Wait a minute!" he said, as he proceeded to stand up, wiping his mouth on his sleeves. "Ricardo's future wife?" He gave out a hearty laugh. "I knew your face looked familiar. I knew I had seen you somewhere, but I have seen so many faces in the last three years that everyone looks the same. Well, well, it's a small world!" He smiled and turned around to get the attention of the other revolutionists. "My future cuñada, sister-in-law, getting educated to please my brother. And I might say a good looking one." He eyed her up and down.

  The dirty, amorous revolutionist approached Luis, hissing and out of breath, shaking his head. "You mean that I can't have this little dove, Capitán?" The others at the table eating, roared with laughter.

  "This one is special," commented Luis making a gesture with his hand. "Find yourself another one. There are plenty in this convent. Get yourself a Nun. They have never had sex. Show them how it works."

  The rest of the starving men laughed, and Luis continued talking to Victoria. "Ricardo will be a very lucky man. But tell me, when is this great day coming? You can bet your boots that I will not be invited!" He laughed again. "Come, sit with me. You'll be unharmed with me."

  "This coming June," answered Victoria nervously, still shaking with fear and making a disgusted face.

  "You're not happy about your coming wedding? Or am I detecting that my brother and my father don't have you fooled?
Ricardo and my father are always scheming, full of deceit and treacherous doings, always thinking of ways of getting more money."

  There were sounds of more shooting, coming from the outside of the patio, and the building where the nuns stayed and worshiped was being burned. Cavalry and horse-drawn cannons were being placed in the middle of the entry way. The peasants living in the nearby village below the convent were being rounded up to join in with the rest of the men for Mexico's cause. The few that refused were shot. There were other men racing up and down the courtyard yelling, "Viva Mexico!"

  "Luis!" Victoria pleaded, trembling. "You have got to stop all of this killing and looting. These girls and nuns are innocent of any wrongdoing."

  "This is war. Blood and suffering come with war. Some have to die so that others may live—brothers against brothers and fathers against their own sons. You can blame my father and the rest of the Díaz regime for what's happening. The peasants are hungry for the land and food. Madero tried but failed, not being quick enough, so they conspired against him and they killed him. It's left up to us to fight for our freedom," he said with a sarcastic tone, narrowing his eyes.

  Luis stood up and addressed the revolutionists. "I know you men have almost forgotten what a woman looks like. Leave the women alone for now. There are plenty of them in Mexico and very willing if I may say, more plentiful in Monterrey. We will take the food and what is needed for the coming battle. All of you men had better get some rest. See that your guns and rifles are in good working order. We are going to use them very soon!"

  Luis sat down and, with a sad face, turned to Victoria. "My mother," he said, with sadness in his eyes. "Have you seen her lately? I haven't seen her in several years, ever since my father found out that I was against his corrupt ways and ordered me out of the house, never to return. I went against his orders, and he sent me out into the cold world. Maybe it was for the best. I have learned a lot about life."