[September 5th] [The Alamo (1960)] Diamond in the Rough, 15

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Title: Diamond in the Rough, scene fifteen
Day/Theme: September 5th - Do you know what side of the glass you are on?
Series: The Alamo (1960 film)
Character/Pairing: Emil Sande, Graciela "Flaca", a young Miguel from the Gunsmoke episode Miguel's Daughter (and if anyone knows the in-joke in including him, congratulations)
Rating: T/PG-13

Last segment, save for a short interlude thing I wrote that inserts between scenes 1 and 2. It feels very strange to be done with this project, but satisfying and exciting, too.


By Lucky_Ladybug

Summer was nearing its end. It was harvest season in San Antonio, and the farmers were being kept busy with the abundance of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Although the status of Texas itself had changed, life in the town went on as it always had.

It had been several months since the shooting. Graciela was well again, albeit still slightly weak. Today Emil had brought her to her family’s property outside of town, where they were observing from a distance as the crops were brought in.

“Everything is so different,” Graciela mused. “This was where we played as children, but if I didn’t know the spot, I wouldn’t recognize it.”

“That tree has certainly shot up,” Emil said, nodding towards the tall trunk and the sprawling, leafy branches. “I thought it wasn’t much taller than your father when we first met.”

Graciela regarded him in amusement. “That’s only because you remember it—and my father—from the perspective of a child.”

“That makes sense,” Emil mused. “I suppose.” He drew his arm around Graciela’s shoulders and she leaned into it, resting her head on his shoulder. “Do you think your father would approve of you hanging around such characters?”

Graciela gazed into the distance. “He didn’t like you before he died,” she said. “But if he’d known you as you have become . . . yes, he would have liked you. And he would have approved.”

“Not that you’d need his approval now,” Emil remarked.

“I wouldn’t need it,” Graciela agreed, “but it would be happier to have it. And anyway, it is our way.”

“Ah yes, your family was always strong on tradition,” Emil said.

“And there is nothing wrong with that,” Graciela said.

“No . . . no, there’s nothing wrong with it,” Emil consented. “Only maybe it’s time to make some new traditions instead.”

Graciela quirked an eyebrow. “Such as?”

“Such as you’re never too old to explore the brush,” Emil smirked. “Let’s see how much else we remember.” He stood and took her hand, drawing her up as well.

Graciela laughed, stumbling before catching her balance. “Emil . . . !”

“Come on.” He led her deep into the trees and shrubs as the afternoon sun wore on.

It was difficult to determine exactly where they had been all those years earlier. Each tree seemed familiar, each cluster of bushes a possibility. And when Graciela lost her footing and slipped down a half-hidden hill, taking Emil with her, the hill seemed to be an old friend too.

Graciela yelped as they tumbled to the bottom, where she crashed on Emil’s back. Even so, he was soon out of his daze and laughing at the ridiculous situation.

Graciela swatted him. “And what if you had fallen on me?” she exclaimed.

“That wouldn’t have happened,” Emil snickered.

“And why not?” Graciela retorted.

“Because I wouldn’t have let it.”

Graciela climbed down into the grass. “You couldn’t have controlled it. Do you have any idea how fast we were rolling?!”

“I’m not a scientist.” Emil sat up, looking her over. “Are you alright?”

Graciela glowered. “Yes.” Her irritation fading, she peered at him more closely in the waning light. “Are you?”

“Just fine,” Emil replied.

Graciela relaxed, slumping back against the hill. “. . . I suppose that was amusing,” she said with a chuckle.

Emil smirked, leaning back as well. “I never would have been caught doing that at the start of the year,” he proclaimed.

“No, you wouldn’t have,” Graciela agreed.

Then she blinked. Emil had not noticed, but his tie was undone and his shirt had come open a bit in the fall. She could see a whitish line of pulled skin on his chest. A shiver ran up her spine.

Emil looked at her in confusion. “What is it?”

Graciela shook her head. “Emil . . . I’m so sorry. It’s because of me that happened to you.”

Suddenly it dawned on him what she was seeing. He looked down, quickly closing the remaining buttons over the scar. “It doesn’t hurt now,” he tried to assure her. “Anyway . . . you were right, about everything that’s happened between us coming to pass because of this. You don’t regret being shot. Well . . . maybe now, as morbid as it sounds, I don’t regret being stabbed.” He retied the tie and again leaned against the hill.

As Graciela moved closer to him, he drew his arm around her shoulders once more. The temperature was starting to drop as the sun set.

“I never thought I would hear you say that,” Graciela remarked.

“I never thought I’d hear myself say it, either,” Emil grunted.

“. . . Do you still see spirits, Emil?”

He jumped a mile. “What?!” He stared at her. “How do you know . . . ?”

“Davy told me,” Graciela said. “The night I was shot . . . I saw him.”

“. . . I guess that means I haven’t been out of my mind,” Emil grumbled. “He’s really been here. That sounds like him, to go blabbing about me.”

“You don’t know him well enough to know what would be like him,” Graciela chided. “And he wasn’t saying it for any ill purpose.”

Emil sighed. “No, I suppose he wasn’t. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“Were you ever going to tell me, Emil?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Emil shrugged. “I didn’t even know how to tell you. ‘Graciela, I thought you should know, I’ve been encountering the ghost of your boyfriend.’”

Graciela gave him a crooked smile. “That does sound ridiculous.”

“I know. I guess I would have told you eventually, but I don’t know when. And I don’t know if I’ll still see him or not. I haven’t for a while, but it was sporadic to begin with.”

Abruptly Emil paused, fully taking in what she had told him. “Wait a minute. You saw Crockett? What did he come for—to take you with him?”

“I wondered if he had,” Graciela said. “He said he came to be there for me. It seemed to be at least partially my decision whether to stay or go.”

Emil stared. “ . . . You could have gone with him, but you still came back?”

Graciela nodded. “Davy is a very dear friend. As are you. It’s strange. . . . I never thought I would literally have to choose between the two of you. But I did.”

“And you chose me? . . .” Emil’s voice was hushed and stunned now.

“I chose you.” Graciela was firm and unhesitant.

Emil looked at her in the oncoming twilight. “Graciela . . . do you remember the conversation we had the morning you regained consciousness?” he asked, carefully.

She smiled. “I remember. I’ve been waiting for you to ask about it.”

Emil shook his head. “You were in so much pain that I thought maybe you’d forgotten.”

The recovery process had been long and hard and filled with varying levels of agony, depending on the day. Graciela had been tended to in her home and Emil had sent Anna-Lisa and another of his staff to help care for her. Emil himself had been over every day.

“I could never forget,” Graciela said.

“And what I asked you?”

“Yes.”

Emil hesitated. “Then . . . if you remember, is your answer still the same?”

Graciela sat up straight. “Ask me the question you asked then, and find out.”

Emil straightened as well. “Fine,” he agreed. “Graciela, will you marry me?”

She leaned in and kissed him. “Yes!” she declared. “Of course I will.”

Emil took her in his arms. “. . . Wait,” he suddenly realized. “You deliberately manipulated me into proposing again!”

Graciela smiled. “I manipulated you into proposing in a more normal way.”

“Of all the . . .” Emil shook his head. “Graciela, what am I going to do with you?”

“Kiss me,” Graciela answered. “And walk me back up to the carriage. We still have to set a date.”

Emil was still studying her. “What would you have done if I hadn’t brought it up again?” he countered.

“You would have,” Graciela said. “You were waiting until I was better.”

Emil exhaled. “You’re right,” he admitted.

“You see?” Graciela told him. “I’ve come to know you quite well.”

“You have at that.” Emil leaned in, kissing her on the lips. “Let’s go.”

By now it was nearly completely dark. As they stood and started back up the hill, the moon and the stars served as their light. They stayed close, not wanting to lose each other in the darkness.

“My workers have probably organized a search party by now,” Graciela remarked.

“Then maybe it won’t be long and we’ll see a lantern in the distance,” said Emil.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, looking around in hopes of spying some sign of other people nearby. For the moment, at least, they were still by themselves.

“Emil?” Graciela said at length.

“What is it?”

“I’ve been thinking about Paco.”

“What about Paco?” Emil returned, surprised.

“I’d feel so strange having him work for us, especially considering how he feels about you. Have you ever thought of adopting him?”

“What?!”

Graciela hid a smile. “I take it you haven’t.”

“Of course I haven’t.” Emil shook his head in disbelief. “I haven’t mistreated Paco, and I don’t allow him to overwork himself as his parents did to themselves, but I think of him as something closer to an apprentice or an assistant, not a son. And I wouldn’t presume to try to replace his father.”

“I don’t think he would see it that way,” Graciela said. “But if you’re not comfortable with that, why not have him be more like your apprentice instead of another employee?”

Emil sighed. “I guess when you get right down to it, I do feel kind of responsible for the kid. In some ways I think of him as a ward, although it’s never been official.” He fell silent for a moment, pondering. “I don’t imagine much would really change—Paco enjoys working—but would you like it better if I started referring to Paco as my apprentice?”

“Yes, I believe I would,” Graciela nodded. “And if you told Paco. I’m certain he would be honored.”

“I’m certain you’re right.”

Graciela took his arm, squinting ahead into the night. “That might be a lantern over there,” she said, pointing into the distance.

“I think it is,” Emil agreed.

“. . . Have you spoken with Father Fuentes lately?”

He glanced to Graciela in surprise. “Not lately,” he said. “A few days ago, maybe.”

“You haven’t mentioned much about your search for faith lately, either,” Graciela observed.

Emil gazed into the mixture of trees and stars above them. “No, I haven’t. I suppose I’m more open to the idea that God is real . . . but then again, I’m not sure that was ever the issue so much as whether He truly cares about us. About me. Even if He’s real, and He cares about us mortals, how could He love me after all I’ve done?”

“The same way any good father loves his children, even when one of them goes astray,” Graciela said softly. “And hasn’t Father Fuentes mentioned the scripture about the rejoicing in Heaven over a lost soul who has found his way? Or the Prodigal Son?”

“Yes. But those are words on a page. They’re not proof in the world I know and understand.”

Graciela stopped walking and turned to face him. Confused, Emil stopped as well.

“Alright, Emil.” Graciela released his arm. “It isn’t the same kind of love, but it should prove the point. I am very aware of what you’ve done. And in spite of that, I love you. Before you even began to change, some part of me cared for you, deep in my heart. But my feelings have been and still are imperfect, being those of an ordinary human’s.”

“I must disagree,” Emil said. “You are anything but an ordinary human.”

A trace of a smile appeared and then was gone as Graciela looked up at him, pleading and praying for him to understand. “Emil . . . if I can love you so much when I am not perfect, isn’t it sensible and logical that God, being perfect, loves you far, far more and always has?”

Even with only the night’s natural light, she could clearly see something flicker in his eyes. “Yes,” he said slowly. “Yes, that makes sense. It’s overwhelming to think about. Your love is overwhelming to think about! But it makes sense.”

“I knew appealing to your love of logic should work.” Graciela embraced him now. “Emil . . . when you lay dying, I said that you were without loved ones. It wasn’t true then; I didn’t know about Paco.

“It’s far less true now. You have proven yourself, Emil. And not only to me, but also to San Antonio.

“It’s true, you will likely always be a bit of a rascal. And I don’t know if you will ever care to align yourself in the continuing fight for the Republic of Texas to keep its independence. But . . .” She pulled back enough to look up at him. “I believe that if anyone in town were in trouble, you would go to their aid. You are there when you are needed.

“The town loves you. If anything were to happen to you, the great majority of San Antonio would turn out to grieve. I pray such a thing won’t happen for many tens of years. But what has happened . . . what you have done to turn your life around . . . the fact that your heart was softened to begin with . . . all of that, Emil Sande, is a true miracle. If anyone says miracles do not still exist, they have only to look at your life for that proof.”

Emil had been stunned into silence by her words. He stared at her in the darkness, considering and pondering on her words.

“. . . That’s quite a responsibility you’re placing on my shoulders,” he said at last. “My life is a miracle?” He shook his head. “I never thought of that one.”

“It’s true.” Graciela gripped his shoulders. “And perhaps someday, you will believe it, too.”

“Perhaps,” Emil said. “For now, it’s enough that you believe it.”

“Hello!”

They both started and looked up as the lantern light abruptly swung in their direction. They had become so caught up in their conversation that they had not noticed the approaching beam.

“Hello, Miguel,” Graciela smiled and greeted one of her youngest workers. “You have found us, I see.”

“Yes, Señora,” Miguel said, holding the lantern so it did not shine on them directly. “We’ve all been looking.”

“Well, we’re ready to come back now,” Emil said grandly. “We were heading that way. And Miguel, you’re the first to know—Graciela and I are to be married.”

Miguel blinked in surprise. “Why, that’s wonderful, Señor Sande!” He looked back and forth between him and Graciela. “Señora! May I also be the first to offer my congratulations!” He held out his hand, which first Emil and then Graciela firmly shook.

“You certainly may,” Emil said. “Thank you, Miguel.”

“Yes, thank you, Miguel,” Graciela said.

Miguel started to walk, holding the lantern high and glancing over his shoulder every few feet. “When is the date?” he queried eagerly.

“Well . . .” Emil looked to Graciela as they followed the younger man. “Actually, that’s something we still have to decide,” he mused.

“But it will be soon,” Graciela added.

“Wonderful!” Miguel chirped. He continued to chatter happily while leading them up the path, soon switching to Spanish.

Emil raised an eyebrow. “That’s still talking too fast for me,” he remarked to Graciela.

She just smiled and once again took his arm. “But this time, I don’t think you would mind the translation,” she said.

Emil smiled too. “This time,” he mused, “I wouldn’t.”

Several months ago he never would have imagined such a scene as this. But for the first time in many years, he was happy. And even though a part of him feared it would not last, another part had grasped hold of his sapling of faith. He would cling to the faith and hope that the life that had been given to him, the life he had strived so hard for, would endure.

Thank You, he said in his heart. Thank You for all of this.

It was another step.