Bruno's Daughter

Chapter 44

Kristi's POV:

 It's only a week until my wedding to Andres. I'm so excited, but I suppose I'm a little nervous. This feels so surreal...Like, am I dreaming? Is this real? Part of me is afraid it's all a dream and I'm gonna wake up and realize none of it's real. 

 I am currently waiting for papa by the door. We're going to go horse back riding with Andres. I packed a picnic lunch, so I think we have most everything we need. I hope, anyway....Andres sometimes can be forgetful, so I'm hoping he doesn't forget anything. Like the blanket he said he'd bring, for example.

 I frowned a little as I heard my papa talking to abuela and my tias. Strange...What's going on?

 "Are you sure it's a good idea? What if you have an attack while you're gone?" Tia Pepa asked.

 "I'll be ok, Pepa...I want to spend as much time as I can with my daughter." papa told her.

 "We understand, Brunito. We're just worried.." abuela said softly.

 "Don't worry, mama. I'll be fine."

 "Promise you'll be careful, brother? We already lost you once. We don't want to lose you again.." Tia Julietta said.

 "I promise, sister.."

 Strange...Why are they so worried about papa? He isn't that bad of a rider when it comes to horses. I mean, he's not the best horseman, but he's not the worst either. And besides, I don't think he's going to get a horse that's really spirited and hard to control.

 Andres was also supposed to get the horses. So, if he forgets them, this trip is over before it starts.

 At that moment, papa came walking up, smiling. "Hola, princess. Ready to go?"

 "Si, papa. I'm ready." I smiled, linking my arm with his. "Bye, everyone! We're heading out now! Be back later!" I called out. 

 We walked out of Casita to see Andres walking up, waving. "Hola, Bruno! Hi, mi estrella. Are we ready?" Papa and I nodded.

 "Good. You have the blanket. Did you rent the horses?" I asked my fiancé.

 "Si, Kristi. I did." he replied. 

 "Great! Then let's go!" 

 With that, the three of us headed to the stables for our horses, talking and laughing. We hadn't even started our ride and I was already enjoying myself. I usually always do when I'm with my papa and Andres, though.

 Bruno's POV:

 When we arrived at the stables, the stable manager took us to three horses, each in a stall next to the other. 

 "Andres, Thunder will be your horse. You both get along well together." the man replied. 

 "Gracias, senor." Andres smiled, nodding before going up to the black stallion and petting his muzzle.

 "You're welcome. Bruno, I thought you and Clover here, would be a nice match." he showed me a chestnut mare. She was a beauty. Well, all three are to be honest. "She's quiet and gentle. She likes walking more than running, but enjoys a good run now and then."

 I nodded, giving a small smile, as I stroked the mare. "Thank you."

 "No problem. Kristi, this here is Estrella. She's quite a stubborn horse, but she's gentle at the same time. She enjoys going for a good run. Seems to like the challenge. I thought she would be a good fit for you."

 "Gracias," Kristi smiled, petting a tan horse with a white star-like shape on her head. Estrella's personality reminds me a little of Kristi....She's always been stubborn, but she's strong, kind, and gentle. She doesn't easily give up on people. I guess that's one reason why she got the gift to see dreams...

 Anyway, we got our horses saddled up, thanked the stable manager once more, and headed on our way. It was a nice day out. It was sunny and warm, but not too warm. 

Andres took Kristi and I to a place a few miles away from the Encanto. It was really nice, actually. There was a small stream, a nice spot to set up the picnic, and a place for the horses to graze. We dismounted the horses and laid out the blanket.

 "This is a really nice spot, Andres! How'd you find it?" Kristi asked, as she handed me a sandwich.

 "Well, I found it while I was out riding one day. I like to go riding sometimes. I always ride Thunder. He's fast and likes to run. He's a good horse and a good friend." Andres smiled, looking over at the stallion, who was sipping water from the stream. 

 "He does seem like a great horse." Kristi smiled. "Estrella and Clover seem like great horses too. Right, papa?"

 I nodded, swallowing a bite of my sandwich. "They are good horses. And they certainly are beauties." Kristi and Andres nodded in agreement. 

 We spent a while, talking, eating, and laughing. It was fun. We all enjoyed ourselves. Kristi had brought along her sketchbook and pencil. She sketched the horses and then, Andres and I. Her last drawing was of Andres, me, and the horses. She's a talented girl, honestly.

 By the time it was time to head home, I started getting pains in my head. Not again....Not now...Why now...??? I was hoping Kristi and Andres wouldn't notice...

 Andres' POV:

 As we were cleaning, I couldn't help but notice something seemed to be wrong with Senor Bruno. He looked....like he was in pain.

 I shrugged it off and finished helping clean up the picnic. I loaded the basket onto Estrella for Kristi, strapping it on tightly so it wouldn't fall. I strapped the blanket to Thunder. 

 "Papa, are you ok?" Kristi asked, her hand on his shoulder.  

 "Huh? Oh...Y-Yea...I'm alright..."

 I frowned. "Are you sure, Bruno....?" 

 "Yea, I mean, yes! I'm sure." 

 I nodded slowly, a little unsure. "Ok...Well, if we're ready, then I guess we should get going."

 "Alright. Hey, first one there gets to help Tia Julietta with the cooking?" Kristi smiled, a sparkle in her eye.  

 "Sure, mi amor." Bruno smiled and nodded.

 "Your on, Kristi, mi estrella!" I declared. We mounted our horses. "Come on, boy! Let's go!" Thunder and I reigned and took off.

 "Vamanos, Estrella! Let's go!" Kristi exclaimed. 

 I looked back in time to see Bruno's horse reigning. I gasped in shock. Kristi was watching in horror as he fell from his horse, hitting the ground hard.

 "PAPA!" Kristi screamed, jumping off of Estrella and hurrying over to Bruno.