Chapter 12
Vicky
“Folks, you are in for one of my favorite times of the year,” I told the group, walking before them as they sat down on their blankets or chairs.
We were at Red Ridge, the storms rolling in were just perfect timing.
And from what the accounts were saying, it was going to be a beautiful lighting storm.
“Now, do remember, lighting is dangerous, if it gets too close, we will be leaving, but from this distance, you’ll get to see the majestic side of it.
“Remember that the area we are in is rooted deep in Native and Mexican lore and a lot of our legends out here stem from their beliefs.”
I swallowed hard, having to push past this story. A story of love, of finding each other, of being together forever, which is what I thought I was going to have. But then the jerk got in his head, got in his own way, and screwed up one of the best things for himself.
Believe me, I heard the talk around town. Heard how Jose was even grumpier than before and while I’d love to think that was because of me, it was also in part because he was once more alone. Not that he was building friendships, but a lot of people were staying clear of him now.
“What’s the rainfall promise?” a young lady called out, curling up to the man next to her. “Isn’t it a romance story?”
“It is. The princess of a native tribe was set to marry a man she didn’t love but a man that her father chose. He was supposed to be a man worthy of her hand, but her heart belonged to another. A Mexican settler who was trying to live in peace with the natives.
“But her father wouldn’t allow it. He refused to have his only daughter marry anyone who was not of their kind. So, he forbade her from seeing him ever again. Months went by and while the chief thought their love would fade, it didn’t. Their affection for each other only grew.”
I paused, looking at the people, smiling at them, because they were so engrossed in this story.
“One day, the camp the settler was in was attacked by the very man that the chief wanted his daughter to marry.
When word spread around the tribe that the camp was attacked, the princess ran all the way there.
She saw the place in flames and the men scattered around, all mostly dead. But not her love.
“She fell to her knees beside him, her tears coming hard as she pulled his head onto her lap, her hands brushing over his face.
She confessed how much she loved him and how much she longed for them to be together.
He carefully reached up to cup her cheek, telling her that she was the only woman he had ever wanted.
“He also told her that they would always be together, at least in the next life.
A love like theirs could not be contained, could not be hidden.
As her tears grew, so did the rain. It fell as hard as her tears, and the man she loved died in her arms. The chief came, after hearing what had happened and told her his daughter to come, to leave the man there.
“But she refused. She kissed the man on her lap and then turned to her dad.
She raised her eyes to the sky and screamed that she would be with the man she loved for all eternity.
That every time there are two different lighting strikes hitting the same spot, that it would be them coming together, that it would be a soulmate finding its other half.
And the rain that would fall during a storm, like the one raging, would be her tears crying over the love that was brutally taking away from her.
“She made a promise to him that her tears over a union was her blessing, as it would be for all time. So, before his every eyes, she grabbed the arrow that had pierced her love and took her own life, falling on his body as if to protect it.
“The legend holds true to this day. Every time you two see strikes, there’s someone finding their true love. The legend calls her, iluminación, which means lighting. And it’s such a beautiful story. Many other stories are based upon this in fact.”
“You didn’t talk about the kiss.”
I turned out the sound of the voice, my heart jumping in my throat.
“You didn’t tell them that if those two lovers kiss while the storm is raging on, that it’s the seal of their forever love. That nothing will ever separate them.”
“You’re right, Jose, I forgot to mention that.” I turned to face him as he walked over to me, his hands cupping my cheeks. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m waiting for my other strike to hit the land so that I can claim her properly. Here. Where the legend started.”
“Jose, you don’t mean that.”
“Like hell I don’t. Vicky, I didn’t want you.
I didn’t want you to change my life around.
But I figured something out over the last few days.
I was living when I was with you. Even if it was from a distance.
Your smile, your kind words, just everything about you would make my day better.
And not having that for the last few days, made me far grumpier than I ever had been.
“My dad said that living alone isn’t living, that I was just getting by until I died. It struck a chord in me because I didn’t want to die alone. I wanted you by my side, always.”
“Jose, you told me-”
Before I could finish, his thumb was pressing against my mouth, cutting me off.
“I said a lot of dumb shit the other day and I couldn’t be sorrier about it. Because none of it was true. It was me lashing out and I am so sorry. I will spend the rest of my days making it up to you if you let me.”
“I don’t know if I can, Jose. You really are a big fool.”
“Oh, I won’t deny that. Probably will make a crap ton more mistakes.
But let me share something about that legend you just said.
They were fools too. They didn’t fight for what they wanted.
They died when they could have lived. I won’t die without ever telling you that I love you.
That I want you in my life, from now and onto the next one. ”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I wrapped my arms around him, my lips pressing against his, just as the crowd gasped behind us.
“There were two lightning strikes, did you see that?” someone yelled just as the first drops hit my head.
I pulled back slightly; my hands still wrapped around his neck.
“I love you, Jose. I have for years.”
“I still think you’re crazy for falling for me.”
“And I am, won’t deny that,” I told him, kissing him again. “You think she’s helping us?”
“I think she did,” he replied, a grin on his face.
I tilted my head up, smiling as the crowd started to leave but I held him. Letting the legend wrap around us, giving us their blessing.
I cupped his cheeks, pulling him back to my lips, my words brushing over his mouth and floating around us. “I guess we’ll always have their blessing, huh? A Rainfall Promise.”