The small town of Sitalá arose one morning to greet the sun. Noises from the town center echoed into the open bedroom window, distant voices yelling about prices in the market and voices of kids playing in the street . Outside the window, farmers directed their livestock through the town for trade. Familiar voices also made their way up into the room, each chatting about the harvest while tending to the sweet potato and maize gardens.

Sacniete sat at the edge of the bed, listening to the usual morning sounds. More voices snuck in through the thin walls, screaming about preparations. She heard a knock at the bedroom door and without a word, her mother opened the door and walked in.

"Get dressed. Your new husband will be here soon," her mother said, walking to the window and closing it.

Before she could respond her mother bent down to open a faded, red chest that laid at the foot of the bed and pulled out a skirt and blouse. The blouse was white and had multi-colored threads wrapped around the sleeves. The skirt was floor-length and dark red.

Her mother handed her the clothes. "For your marriage negotiations today. Now get up and get ready. There is a petticoat and crimsole behind the dressing screen."

Sacniete grabbed the skirt and blouse and walked to a faded dressing screen. She changed out of her nightgown and into the outfit. Once she was changed, her mother sat her down at the edge of the bed once more.

"Mama, you and Papa chose my husband. Why him?" Sacniete asked, half mumbling her words.

"He has wealth," her mother said, braiding Sacniete's hair. "And status. He will treat us well. You don't want to end up being a bride who gets captured. No status, no wealth. Just worthless to her husband."

"But."

Sacniete heard some male voices from the front of the house. Her mother finished braiding her hair and turned her head so she could see who was there. In a flash, she stood up.

"He is here. Finish getting ready, your father will introduce you," her mother said hastily. "Be good. Do not ruin this for us."

Her mother left the room, closing the door behind her. Sacniete heard her mother greet everyone in Tseltal then rejoice about the gifts the groom brought.

Now clear from her mother's view, Sacniete rolled her eyes at her mother's response. Her parents wanted her to marry someone who would bring wealth and status to her family, nothing more. And God forbid, a bride-by-capture marriage. Brides who were captured were given nothing and were left only with their husband. Their families either decided to give them nothing, or to break contact all together. Sacniete only wanted to find her own husband, regardless of status and wealth, and marry for love.

Sacniete opened the door just a crack. She could hear the clink of glasses, her father was already drinking rum, brought over by the groom's parents. She could just make out that they were asking her mother about her and what she could do to please their son.

As she peeked around the door Sacniete's eyes landed on the groom. He was tall, lean, and looked more European than Native with lighter skin and light brown hair. He looked like he was in his late twenties, almost regal in his posture, and ready for anything, like negotiations were battle. Sacniete noted from his dress that he was one of the nobility, he wore a loose shirt with a dark blue fitted coat above stockings compared to the loose, cotton skirt and black pants that most men wear.

The floor beneath her creaked from her weight and her parents looked up to see her peeking. Her father cleared his throat to call her in and directed everyone to the small living room.
"May I present my daughter Sacniete," her father announced.

And just like that, negotiations started.

Negotiations lasted until late in the afternoon. It was decided that her future husband, Cadmael, would work for 400 days on her father's farm and, with his family's wealth, provide a sum of five hundred pesos to help pay for her.

***

It was late afternoon a few days after the marriage negotiations and Sacniete was walking back to her house. She just left the market to sell a bushel of sweet potatoes and left with some black and red pottery.

As she passed the last road, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned her head and noticed a group of men walking behind her. She dismissed the thought, thinking that they were heading down the same road as her.

The footsteps turned to running. "There she is!"

Sacniete ran. She ran onto the first steps of her family's property when an arm wrapped around her waist and hoisted her up. She screamed, but the scream was promptly muffled by a piece of cloth. She struggled against the arm holding her, but the grip of the stranger's other arm tightened around her waist. She struggled harder but gave up once the grip tightened even more. "Got her!"

The person holding her ran to a dirty, old truck and placed her in. The door was closed and the three men walked around the car, talking in Tseltal. One of them got in the car, sitting next to her.

The person took the cloth out of Sacniete's mouth. "Are you okay? Gabor cannot wait to meet you."

"Gabor?"

"Yes. We were sent to take you to him. He has something planned for you."

The truck door opened and the two other men got in. The person at the driving wheel started the car and they drove up into the mountains.

The three men were talking in Tseltal. Sacniete heard snippets of their conversation and worried about this Gabor person wanted from her.

"What is going to happen to me?" she asked.

"No idea, but I think it involves marriage," the driver said. "We were told to not tell you much."

Sacniete took a deep breath. She understood exactly what was happening. She was now part of a bride-by-capture, a practice where any man can capture a woman to have her become his bride. It happened to a friend of Sacniete's when she was 15 and now it was happening to her.

The men continued their conversation. She decided to tune them out and look out the window, gazing at the landscape passing them.

It was almost sunset when the truck reached the mountains. Once they were away from view she was let out of the car. She looked around. There were a series of caves dug into the mountain side.

One of the men pushed her into a cave. She lost her balance and fell, grunting when she hit the floor. She heard footsteps behind her and turned around to see a guy walk towards her. The guy looked different than Cadmael. He was short, stronger, and was darker than Cadmael. There were scars on his arms from working in the fields. He wore the loose white shirt and black pants and was barefoot.

He pulled her arm and lifted her to her feet. "You're so beautiful."

The guy kissed her hand and bowed. "I am Gabor. It is wonderful to see you."

Gabor led her to a makeshift cot near the back of the cave. Sacniete looked behind her and saw the three men guarding the front of the entrance. He motioned for Sacniete to sit at the foot of the cot. She obeyed with some hesitation.

Gabor sat down next to her. "I know you are scared but this is now the first step towards our life together. It's only going to be a minute."

He pushed her back so he was laying on top of her. He kissed her and started to move his hands up and down her body.

All negotiations went out the window after that.

***

After their first night together, Gabor and Sacniete talked to each other. They were sitting outside the cave, eating dinner.

"Why did you capture me?" Sacniete asked.

"Because I wanted to marry you. When we were younger, I was entranced by your beauty. I just couldn't find the courage to say anything and approach you," Gabor said.

"Why didn't you?"

" I knew your parents wanted someone wealthy to marry you, and my family wouldn't be the right match," Gabor said. "My parents are just fruit farmers. Not what your supposed fiance was."

Sacniete didn't even know what Cadmael did or what his parents did for a living. All she knew was that he was the son of a Spaniard and Native-nobility at the third finest. "So when did you decide to capture me?"

"After your engagement was announced. I met up with some old school friends and we created the plan to capture you," Gabor said. "It was the only way to marry you without any of the negotiation hassle."

Sacniete stayed quiet, thinking of what to say. She had no idea that this person loved her and wanted to marry her. She was taught that prospective husbands for marriage were decided by the parents and the church. The Spanish Crown even issued a decree called the Real Pragmatica, enforcing the rule.

Gabor leaned in and kissed her. "I just wanted you to know."

He stood up and walked inside the cave. Sacniete thought for a moment and then joined him. "Thank you for telling me."

The conversation led to a change in Sacniete. The first few days, she was hesitant being around Gabor and only talked when they were eating and just before bed. Now there was a shift.

The shift started to occur the last night they stayed in the cave. It was just before sunset. Sacnite was packing up the blankets and food into a pouch while Gabor packed the cot onto a donkey. She brought the pouch to the donkey and kissed Gabor on the cheek.

"Tonight, we are going to move to a relative's house," Gabor said, fastening the pouch onto the donkey. "She'll be living with us but will be in the shadows."

Gabor hoisted Sacniete onto the donkey. "You comfortable?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. Let's start our journey."

They made it to the relative's house just before sunrise. The woman, likely his aunt, lived in the outskirts of Sitalá, away from the bustle of town. His relative embraced Sacniete as a daughter and was pleased at how beautiful she was too. The compliment made Sacniete happy.

The relative allowed them to stay in her house until Sacniete was fully comfortable and truly loved Gabor. That happened when she was with him for a week and a half.

It was just after dinner one night when Sacniete realized that she wanted to marry Gabor. She was looking out the window while washing dishes, watching passerbys pass. Some of the passersby were families.

Gabor walked behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist. "What are you doing?"

"Looking outside. A family walked by with their son."

"That's nice. That'll be us in a few months."

Sacniete turned around and hugged Gabor. She looked up and kissed him. "I know."

Gabor picked her up. "You know, we can start early."

Sacniete giggled. Still holding her, Gabor walked to the dining room and spun her around. Sacniete laughed.

"You are so cute," Gabor said, putting her down and kissing her cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too."

And at that moment, Sacniete knew that she wanted to marry Gabor. She wanted to marry for love instead of wealth or power.

At last, it was time for the two of them to declare themselves to Sacniete's parents. Sacniete sent a letter to her parents, explaining her situation and where her and Gabel were and when they would be able to meet and talk.

Sacniete was getting ready in the bedroom when her parents arrived. Gabor let them in with no one saying a word. Sacniete breathed in anticipation. Negotiations after bride-by-capture are harsher.

Her parents waited by the front door, her mother holding a box. Sacniete ran and hugged them. They hugged back with her father giving Gabor a look of disapproval.

"Sacniete," her father said. "We understand that new negotiations must be arranged."

Her mother walked to Sacniete and pulled her to the living room. "I know this must be difficult, but think of your reputation. Our reputation!"

"Our reputation?" Sacniete asked. "Mama, I want to marry him. I have feelings for him."

Her mother sat down on a floor cushion with a huff. Her father sat down next to her mother putting his arm around his wife. Sacniete motioned for Gabor to join them.

"You decided that it would be a good idea to kidnap my daughter?" Sacniete's father demanded. "She is supposed to be married in two months! What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I understand that my actions were wrong," Gabor said. "But I love your daughter. And with all due respect, I am a better match for her."

Her father then turned to Sacniete. "What do you say for yourself? He is nothing. You are meant for men with power."

"He is powerful," Sacniete said. "He's worthy for me."

"Worthy of you? What will he provide for you?"

Sacniete reached over and squeezed Gabor's hand. "He will provide me with everything."

Her mother grabbed her husband's arm. Her father sighed and motioned to the kitchen. "Excuse us."

Her parents stood up and walked to the kitchen. From the living room, Sacniete and Gabor heard the argument.

"Are you okay?" Sacniete asked Gabor.

Gabor wrapped an arm around Sacniete. "Yeah. Just thinking."

Sacniete rested her head on Gabor's shoulder. "My parents want what is best for them, and I think this shook them a little. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. We're going to get through this together. I promise."

"You do."

"I do. I love you."

"I love you too."

The kitchen door opened and Sacniete's parents walked back to Gabor and Sacniete. They both sat down.

"Sacniete, this is unacceptable," her father said. "We will not allow this type of marriage."

Sacniete stood up and faced her father. "Why? Is it because it was not arranged? Because Gabor is not wealthy or powerful? Because my reputation is tarnished?"

Her parents though for a moment. Her mother then spoke, "Our reputation."

Sacniete understood what the arranged marriage to Cadmael was about. Her family wanted power and financial status. They wanted to rise up in the class ranks and their second-born daughter could provide them that luxury.

Until today.

"I want," Sacniete started. "I want to stay with Gabor."

Her father sighed. "You understand that our price, his price, will be lower. You had a better chance with Cadmael."

"I understand!" Sacniete said, grabbing Gabor's arm. "Just because he is not that wealthy or powerful doesn't mean that he can't' care about me. I am not going to marry someone for power. I want to marry for love."

"Sacniete."

"We're going to the church," Sacniete interrupted. "He gave you his promise."

"But."

"No."

Sacniete walked out of the living room with Gabor behind her. Her parents followed behind her, her mother holding something in her arms. "Wait."

Her mother gave Sacniete a box. Sacniete opened the box and gasped at what was inside. Inside was a white dress with rainbow trim. "Even though this is not the marriage we want, this is supposed to be for you regardless," her mother explained.

Sacniete smiled and hugged her mom. A nice gesture despite the screaming match a mere minutes ago.

Her parents walked back into the house. With the box in hand, Sacniete looked at Gabor and smiled. She did it. Although the circumstances were less than ideal, she married for love in a way.

And the two of them walked to the town center, ready to start their new life.