Génesis was grazing near the church steps. Sebastián sighed in relief as soon as he recognized his cousin's silver-colored mare. The presence of the animal meant Amanda was there. He tied his horse and hurried into the temple.
"Amanda!" he shouted, and the few people praying glared at him.He rushed to Father Facundo's kitchen. Finding the door closed, he knocked and entered before anyone responded. He dropped the bag containing Amanda's belongings to hug his cousin, who ran to him as soon as she saw him. He held her tightly. He couldn't understand how their family could have cast her out. He felt a deep hatred for his father more than ever."Are you okay?" he asked as they pulled apart.She wasn't. There was nothing okay about the entire situation."Yes," Amanda lied.Sebastián noticed Julia watching him from the head of the small table and greeted her with a sad smile. She gestured for him to sit and served him a mate and a piece of cake."Thank you," he said, accepting what she offered. He hadn't had a chance to eat breakfast.Amanda sat across from them and explained everything that had happened to her."La Rosa has become hell. Your mother won't stop crying. Sofía helped me pack all your things, and we managed to prevent my father from burning them. He's crazier than ever. He's a monster," Sebastián explained."She can stay here as long as she wants," added Julia."Thank you," said Sebastián and Amanda simultaneously."It's the least we can do. If it weren't for my brother's ideas, none of this would have happened," Julia said with regret."No. Father Facundo did nothing wrong. It's not his fault that my family is so conservative," Amanda said, defending the priest.Julia looked down, ashamed, but said nothing."I'll try to bring you some money as soon as I can. I had a big fight with my father, and he took everything I had. He immediately knew I'd side with you... Diego, on the other hand, well... he's an idiot and thinks you'll come back repentant, but you can't give in. I'll find a way to help you, I promise. They should be the ones coming to get you and apologize," Sebastián added.A look of pain crossed Amanda's face at the mention of Diego. Sebastián and perhaps Sofía were the only ones who hadn't turned their backs on her. The young man took his cousin's hand on the table in an attempt to comfort her."Thank you," she added.They talked for hours about how insensitive most of the Pérez Esnaola family was. Later, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, such as Julia and Doctor Máximo Medina getting married. They had fallen in love while working together as nurse and doctor. Facing the cruel epidemic together had united them. Their love seemed to have emerged like a rainbow after a storm.Sebastián was happy for them, though he couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for his best friend. He knew Pablo would have given up his many conquests just for her. Julia captivated the criollo with her charm in an almost hypnotic way, but she was like a butterfly fluttering just out of reach, and her heart already had an owner.The young Pérez Esnaola bid farewell to Julia and gave his cousin a warm hug before leaving. It was very sad what Amanda was going through, but at least she was safe in the church. Father Facundo and his sister were good people and would take care of her.He would have liked to talk to the priest before leaving, but he wasn't there, and it was better to return to La Rosa early. His relationship with his father was already too tense, and he didn't want to give him another reason to start a fight. He was about to mount his horse but stopped when he saw his beloved Ana walking arm in arm with Magdalena. When she saw him, she froze in nostalgia a short distance from the church steps."Ana!" Sebastián called, feeling his heart race."Sebastián," she whispered so softly it was like the murmur of the wind, and her eyes filled with tears.He hadn't seen her in a long time and longed to hold her in his arms once more. She was thinner than the last time he had seen her, and an irregular scar marred her forehead. It didn't diminish her beauty, but it made a wave of anger toward Mr. Bustamante course through him.He moved toward her and had to restrain himself from embracing her. There were a few people in the street and the church; they couldn't risk it. However, he missed her terribly and needed to make sure she was okay."My days are eternal since I last saw you," Sebastián said, barely parting his lips."I would give anything to hold you again," she confessed, blushing."I'll wait for you outside the town. Come with me," the young man pleaded.Ana looked uncertainly at Magdalena."Go. I'll wait for you here, but come back before nightfall. Remember your husband will send someone to pick us up," Magdalena said."You can take that mare. It's my cousin's, and we'll return it later," Sebastián suggested, pointing to Génesis.Ana simply nodded, and he explained how to reach the grove where he would wait for her. She just had to follow the course of the stream. Sebastián mounted his horse and rode off at full speed. They couldn't leave together, but he was sure she would find him soon.The young man reached the agreed spot and tied his horse to a tree. He sat on a rock and anxiously waited for Ana's arrival. Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long. He heard the gallop of a horse, and a moment later, he saw his beloved's beautiful face.He stood and went to meet her. He helped her dismount the mare and pressed his lips to hers. They were as soft and sweet as he remembered. He had missed her too much and never wanted to be apart from her again. She bit his lower lip and began to kiss his neck. The mere touch of her lips drove him crazy."I love you, my beautiful Ana," Sebastián said sincerely."I love you too," she replied, starting to unbutton his shirt.He untied the lace that fastened her corset and pulled it off completely. The uncomfortable garment fell onto the dry leaves covering the ground, and he lowered the top of Ana's dress. She was so beautiful, and he felt the need to embrace her to feel the touch of her bare skin.A cracking sound made him turn his gaze to the right, and a chill ran down his spine when he saw Juan Bustamante aiming a rifle at him. Ana pulled away from Sebastián and crossed her arms over her bare chest."I knew you were cheating on me, but I never thought it would be with this ungrateful brat," the man said coldly, not taking his weapon off the young man.There was no excuse for their behavior. Ana's husband had found them embracing and half-naked. He had a weapon and was ready to kill them."She didn't want to. I forced her to come with me," Sebastián lied, hoping to at least save Ana's life."Get dressed, whore! I'll deal with you at home," the old man growled.Ana picked up the corset, sobbing, and walked toward her husband."Juan, please! You don't have to do this..." she pleaded."Don't you dare speak to me," he spat.Sebastián swallowed hard as Bustamante tightened his grip on the rifle. He was about to die, and he could only feel sorry for what fate had in store for Ana and Amanda, the most important people in his life. He struggled to keep his eyes open the entire time and fixed them on the angry gaze of his executioner. His father had told him the first time he took him hunting not to look into the eyes of his prey, or it would be harder to pull the trigger. It was all he could do at that moment. He would try to make his death at least weigh on the man's mind.Bustamante fired, but Ana was faster than him. She dropped the corset that concealed the rock in her hands and struck her husband hard on the temple. The man fell to his side, and the bullet grazed Sebastián's ear. The young man, somewhat dazed, ran to where the old man writhed in pain. He had dropped the weapon in the fall, and Sebastián quickly kicked it away.Ana knelt beside her husband and struck him on the head again. Bustamante lost consciousness, and the young lover knelt to check his breathing. He was still alive, but not for long. He placed his hand over the old man's face and covered his nose and mouth, preventing him from breathing. He could feel the warm, damp face under his hand and pressed harder when he felt a slight movement. He held on for longer than necessary until Ana dropped the bloodied rock from her hand."What are we going to do? They'll hang us or send us to prison..." she whispered.Sebastián tried to think with a clear head. Perhaps they could find a way to dispose of the body, and if they were lucky, they wouldn't be caught. He crawled over to Ana and threw the rock that had felled the man into the stream."Come. You need to wash up," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.Ana let herself be guided to the water by Sebastián, who began to clean the blood from her skin and dress as best he could. Her pupils were dilated with fear, and she seemed absent. It was no wonder; they had just killed a man.A child's cry indicated someone was approaching."We need to leave. Someone's coming," Ana said, snapping out of it."Wait!" he ordered, realizing the sound