Chapter IX

The Reluctant Guest

"The plane is on hold until the matter with the horse is settled. I'm sure it will be there tomorrow when you are ready to leave. At that time it will be released and you may go pick up your other horse. I insist on having you for dinner tonight, Miss McDonald. We never get an American cowboy down here and never have we ever had the honor of hosting an All American Cowboy."

My head snapped around and he smiled a disarming smile. "Someone called in your abduction at the airport. Your embassy called our embassy to inquire about your situation. They said we had the All American Cowboy and it would be in the best interest of both countries if we returned you. I had our ambassador check in your country and it really did seem as we had the All American Cowboy. Only she was a cowgirl. Your country is so strange. Why would they call a cowgirl a cowboy?"

I sighed it wasn't a subject I wanted to explain. "There has been a mistake. I'm not the All American Cowboy, I was nominated as the All Around Cowboy. There is a difference. I ride the rodeo circuit with Bill Randall. I sign in as Jake as that is what I've been called all my life. There were a couple errors in the situation. The cowboys voted me in as the All Around Cowboy because most of them thought I was one. When they found out different they voted me back in anyway. There isn't an All Around Cowgirl so they couldn't vote for me in that category. It just kind of got out of hand."

He smiled. "And I'm so pleased it did. Please dress up for the party tonight. Did you bring any clothes with you?"

Tugging on my shirt I shook my head. "No, what you see is what you get."

"Ah, then we must find something appropriate for you to wear when you meet our Presidenti." He motioned for a woman coming in from another room.

Hours later I was no longer Jake or Katrina. I had no idea who I was. I was wearing long nails again. I was coffered and made up. My clothes were more of a Mexican or goucho flavor. I had a white silk blouse, red leather bolero jacket with fringe, red leather short skirt with fringe, and red boots. Thank goodness the boots didn't have fringe. I didn't think I could stand any more.

The woman who had helped me get ready led me back into a large room where a party was all ready in progress. People turned to stare. I was introduced to a lot of names I couldn't repeat.

I was introduced to Carlos Peron, El Presidenti. He took my hand and held it as he studied me. "So you're the American I have heard so much about today. All my staff is talking about you, I'm getting calls from the American embassy about you. I'm getting calls from Washington DC about you. I was expecting you to be a lot bigger to match the stories I have been hearing."

It embarrassed me. I had no idea what he was hearing about me. "I'm sorry if I caused any problems. It was all a mistake."

Someone off to the side said something in Spanish. I caught the word senorita, cowboy but that was all. The whole room laughed. I knew I was in trouble.

Carlos laughed and smiled. "No, I assure you Miss McDonald you have done nothing wrong. I have heard a hundred stories today about what you did out at the airport when Simon's stallion managed to get lose. Now I would like to hear the story from you."

"Well Sir, I wanted them to…," I spent an hour explaining the story to Carlos and I guess someone was translating it because a man was talking when I did and he would stop when I did. It certainly happened a lot quicker than what it took to tell the story.

After that I was led around and introduced to more people. Mostly I smiled and nodded my head as I didn't understand hardly anything that was going on. An hour later we were seated at a long table. Simon sat at one end. The Presidenti sit at the other. I was seated on Simon's right. The lady who had helped me get dressed was on Simon's left and she had transformed into a goddess. It was then I realized she was his wife. Earlier that day she introduced herself as Lucinda. I tried my best to not make a fool of myself. I had no idea how to act at a social party. It was about five minutes into the dinner when I noticed I was getting subtle hints from Lucinda. She was watching me. If I would do something wrong, she would only slightly shake her head. I finally realized I needed to watch for her guidance. If she gave a slight nod yes when I started to pick up a utensil then it was okay to proceed. If not then I looked for something else.

Those people were party animals. It was two a.m. or there abouts before the party died. I tried to find a phone to call a taxi so I could go back to the airport.

Carlos and Lucinda wouldn't hear of it. He pointed off down the hallway. "No, we have plenty of room for you. You are our guest. I insist you spend the night with us. I'll make sure you get to the airport with time to spare in the morning."

"But…," I was sure I needed to find that airport tonight.

Lucinda took my hand. "No, when Carlos invites you to stay then it's settled. Here, I'll show you to your room."

Ten minutes later I was sound asleep in a huge bed with a canopy over it. I didn't really care what happen the rest of the night. Four thirty in the morning came and I crawled out of bed hunting for my jeans and shirt so I could go help dad milk the cows. It took me almost a minute of searching in the dark before I remembered I wasn't home. I tried to remember what Lucinda had done with my clothes? I couldn't go looking around a strange house in my all together. I slipped on the skirt and blouse along with the boots. I cracked the door to see if anyone else was up yet. Hearing murmurings from down the hall I headed in that direction.

I opened a door at the end of the hall and walked into a kitchen. There were nine people in there eating breakfast. One of the ladies by the stove turned around and looked when she heard the door open. "Ah, senorita McDonald. You ready for breakfast? Si?"

Most of the others turned to look when the lady spoke to me. "Yes, that would be nice. What can I do to help? I can cook my own if you will allow me to use the stove."

"Oh no. It would not be permitted. Our special guest cooking her own breakfast would not be allowed. Do you want to eat in the dinning room?"

"Where? You mean that big room where we were last night? I don't think so. Can I eat in here with you?" That big table we ate at last night didn't impress me. I was thinking a scrambled egg between two slices of bread would be my kind of breakfast.

"Sure if you want." She said something in Spanish to the others at that kitchen table and they made room for me at one end.

Someone dropped a plate in front of me after I sit down. A fork appeared just as quick. The lady slid a couple eggs on my plate. "Would you like bread or toast with your breakfast?"

"Bread would be okay, thank you. I can get it. Where is it?" I was getting up to find the bread when it appeared on the table in front of me.

Everyone around the table was watching me as I ate breakfast. The lady who had spoken English to me was busy gathering up pans, dishes, and a dozen other things. I also figured she was getting things ready for my host, Carlos, Lucinda, and anyone else who happened to spend the night.

I picked up my plate after I was through and carried it over to the sink to wash it. The lady took it out of my hands. "Here let me take that for you."

"That's okay. I can wash it. You have enough to do." I was trying to get it back without any success.

I finally gave up on trying to help as she kept maneuvering me out of the way. "Do you know where my clothes are? I need to change."

She pointed at one of the doors leading from the kitchen. "They are in there. But they are still wet."

"Still wet? What happened to them?" I wondered how they could have gotten wet. I didn't leave them outside and I was sure it hadn't rained anyway.

"They were washed a couple minutes earlier. Is there a problem?" She was looking at me waiting for an answer.

"Yes, there's a problem. I need them now. I have a plane to catch and these clothes were loaned to me. I can't leave with Lucinda's clothes." I was wondering how wet clothes were going to feel this early in the morning. I hated that. I didn't mind getting rained on and getting wet but I sure hated pulling on wet clothes when it wasn't raining.

"I'm so sorry but I was told to clean your clothes before you left." She looked at me apologetically.

"I guess nothing can be done about it now. I need a phone to call a cab. I have to get back to the airport and find out what happened to my ride. We were supposed to leave yesterday evening." I had no idea what I was doing, who I should call to get help, or what I was going to find once I was back at the airport.

"Mr. Simon Pladure, would not be pleased to find his guest gone before he gets up." She was pointing back toward the living room indicating I should stay put.

"Give Mr. Pladure my apologies and assure him I appreciated the supper last night along with the bed and breakfast but I have a plane to find. You people don't seem to understand I have a schedule to keep and it's been trashed. I have to call my employer to find out what I need to do." I opened the door to the laundry room as I spoke. I needed those jeans of mine.

My jeans and shirt were hanging on a line still dripping wet. "Don't let anyone come in here until I'm back out. I have to change clothes."

Pulling the jeans and shirt down off the line I wrung them out as best I could. I slipped off the outfit Lucinda had loaned me and wiggled into my own wet clothes. They sure felt yucky. I wished I had my suitcase. Problem was, it was on the plane which was only God knew where.

After dressing I gathered up Lucinda's clothes and walked out of the laundry room barefooted. My hat and boots were in the room I slept in last night. No one tried to stop me as I walked back through the kitchen. I laid the dress on the bed and slipped on my own boots. I had seen a phone in the hallway. It was back to the kitchen as I had no idea how to dial a taxi from that phone. I collected the woman who knew English. After a lot of protesting on her part, I managed to get her to phone a taxi for me. I left while my hosts were still asleep. That may not have been the right way to do it but I felt more like I had been kidnapped for last night's party rather than formally invited. Thirty minutes later I was back at the airport. I was looking for a plane that last night, Simon Pladure had assured me would wait. It hadn't. My lariat, my clothes, my plane, was gone. I counted money in my pocket. Sixty eight dollars and twenty six cents. My money wasn't going to buy me a plane ticket home, I was sure.

My parents weren't able to do anything for me at this point. They had hardly ever been out of town all their lives. I figured I better call someone who knew a little more about the world. Stopping by the lunch counter I traded American for a hand full of Brazilian currency. It was back to the pay phone and put in a collect call to Leonard LeBo in Atlanta.

It took several tries through several operators before I heard his voice on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Leonard, this is Jake McDonald. I'm…,"

"CAT! Everyone is worried to death about you. The papers up here are running a story about how you were kidnapped. Are you okay? How did you escape?"

I eased the phone back up to my ear. Leo had been screaming into it. "I was kind of kidnapped but not really. Leo, I'm at the airport and my plane is gone. I don't have enough money for a ticket. What do I do?"

The phone was quiet for a few seconds before it spoke to me again. "Stay on the line. I'll do some checking."

While I was waiting, those who walked by me would stare. I don't guess they got a whole lot of cowboys down in this neck of the woods. I remembered what happened last night and took my hat off and put it behind me. Now I hoped I looked like any other dirty tourist.

"Cat, I found you a ride. He'll be there in twenty minutes. Albert was on the other side of town taking some pictures. He is driving a yellow Fiat. Go with him and he will make sure you stay safe. I'll make arrangements for you to catch another plane."

"Thanks, Leonard." I started to hang up and go wait for a yellow Fiat.

"Cat, wait." The phone was still talking.

"Yes?"

"You will be given another job. The horse you were going to transport is already on his way. I'll have information and more instructions waiting when you and Albert get to the ranch."

I thought of something else. "Leonard, my lariat is on the plane. I need it."

I heard him laugh. "So is your suitcase and clothes."

"I can live with what I'm wearing. I need my lariat." I felt lost without a rope in my hands.

"Cat, I thought I understood what a cowboy was after our first day. I was wrong. You aren't all barbwire. I'll see what I can do. Go catch your ride and stay safe." The phone went dead.