Conquistadora - Esmeralda Santiago [53]
“He does?”
“Well, yes. He’s … quite entrepreneurial.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, goodness, you must think I’m such a gossip!” Faustina laughed again.
“Not at all,” she assured her. “I appreciate what you’ve told me about don Rodrigo. We had no idea that he imagined Ramón and Inocente living here. Certainly their parents hadn’t heard about that. It’ll make Ramón and Inocente happy to know that their uncle had plans for this place for them.”
“He told Luis several times,” Faustina said.
“And Severo Fuentes?” Ana prompted, her eyes on the frayed cuff she was repairing.
“Well, he is your employee,” Faustina said, and waited for Ana, who focused her eyes on her uneven stitches, to say something. “He’s very good at securing workers,” Faustina continued. “And he has an excellent rapport with the sea captains.…”
“Yes, we know,” Ana said. Severo had already saved Los Gemelos hundreds of pesos in customs fees and charges for the purchase of slaves and other items from ships on the cove south of the plantation.
“If not for his good contacts”—Faustina laughed merrily—“I couldn’t get such fine thread for my crochet.” She raised the intricate lace she was working.
Ana was only mildly surprised to hear that Severo was providing goods for San Bernabé as well, and was sure that silk thread wasn’t the only item he sold to Faustina and Luis. In addition to finding slaves when no one else could, Severo often delivered goods that were scarce even in San Juan. José couldn’t achieve half as much of his carpentry and carving if Severo didn’t provide North American tools for the shop. He delivered a cask of the finest Spanish olive oil, another of jerez, several cast-iron pans for the kitchen, and a new plow, all sold to Los Gemelos at competitive prices.
In addition to the necessities for hacienda operations, Ana’s shopping lists included personal items, like bottles of Agua Florida for her bath and for the men’s aftershave, as well as linen, muslin, and stationery. The first time she gave Severo her list, she told him that she didn’t expect he’d be able to get everything.
“Don’t worry, señora,” he said, “I’ll do my best to get it all.” He did, and from then on she added articles she’d thought she would never use again, like rose-scented talcum and tooth powder. She enjoyed challenging his ability. To the list of the easily available rice, dry beans, tinned sardines, and salted cod, she always added luxuries: hairpins, flat abalone buttons, books and newspapers from Spain. Severo always delivered.
A week after Luis and Faustina’s visit—and probably alerted by them—a Franciscan priest rode into the batey on a donkey. He was young, with strong Galician features and a regal bearing. Ramón invited him to spend the night.
“You’re certainly aware of the slave code of 1842,” Padre Xavier said after dinner. “And your obligation to provide religious instruction in the Roman Catholic faith.”
“They’re all baptized,” Inocente said.
“But the nearest church is in Guares,” Ana pointed out. “It’s impossible to get them there for Mass.”
“The code allows for a layperson such as yourself”—Padre Xavier bowed to Ramón and then Inocente—“to teach them their prayers and the rosary.”
“Our understanding is, however,” Inocente added, “that devotions are to take place after they fulfill their duties.”
“That goes without saying. The code also requires that you separate the sick from the healthy.”
“One of the cottages is an infirmary,” Ana said. “I depend on the elders experienced with herbs and remedies.”
“Yes, I understand. You can only do so much,” Padre Xavier said.
“When we first came here they were dressed in rags,” Ramón said. “Ana has made sure that each received his or her annual allotment of clothes.…”
“They look presentable. Your women, especially, are decently clothed. I hope you’ve taken care to segregate the single women from the men and discourage improper relations.…”
Ana felt Severo’s gaze and she was glad that the candle flame didn’t