Las Dos Marias

Chapter 14: The Painter

Isabela's boots sank into the soft ground as she crossed the entrance of the farm. Around her, unfamiliar faces turned to stare, but she paid them no mind, choosing instead to push past the unsettling feelings that stirred within her. After all, she hadn't come here to be noticed.

Clutching her painting materials, she exhaled quietly and slowed her steps, scanning the crowd for Doña Ynez. A young helper soon approached; her voice barely audible above the din of the crowd. "This way," she murmured.

Isabela's gaze flicked over the girl, sizing her up with a glance. The helper's eyes lingered on the materials in Isabela's hands before she nodded without saying much more. The silence felt more comfortable than the small talk that had often filled spaces like these.

"Did Doña Ynez tell you about the scenery I'll be painting today?" Isabela asked, masking the unease still lingering beneath her calm exterior.

The girl glanced up. "Yes," she replied politely. "Two or three paintings will do. It's up to you which specific scene you'd like to paint. It's already busy around here, so just find a spot where you can be comfortable."

"I'll look around first," Isabela said, her pulse quickening at the thought of her task.

Would a day be enough to finish three paintings? The thought nagged at her. She could already envision the sweeping landscapes, the delicate interplay of light and shadow, but capturing them perfectly in such a short time seemed daunting. She didn't want to submit mediocre work—especially not when she was building a name for herself in San Felipe. Competition was fierce, and despite being a woman, she aimed to be one of the best painters in town.

She had been shunned by the other painters, all of whom were men. But as her father had said, she just had to brush off the scrutiny and put herself and her work out there. One day, her creations would finally matter to the world.

Shaking her head, she pushed the doubt aside. No time for second-guessing. She just had to make it work.

She found a spot near the fishpond and started setting up. From here, she had a wide view of the place—the tranquil waters and the busy workers moving about. Isabela settled in, her hand moving confidently as she lost herself in the brushstrokes, colors blending into a vision of life and beauty on her canvas.

As she stepped back to assess her work later on, her gaze drifted across the gathering. There, amidst the laughter and chatter, she spotted Trinidad. A jolt of surprise shot through her, making her heart race wildly. She had not expected to see her here...

Their eyes locked for a fleeting moment, and the world seemed to slow. Neither moved to greet the other, yet the air buzzed with unvoiced words. Isabela found herself smiling, a warmth blooming in her chest as she noticed Trinidad's subtle smile in return. They exchanged glances, and strangely enough, seeing Trinidad from afar was more than Isabela could have asked for.

Suddenly, a group of children scampered toward her. "What are you painting?" one boy asked, glancing between the canvas and Isabela.

"Can we help?" another chimed in.

Isabela chuckled softly. "You can help by telling me what you see. What colors should go here?"

"Blue! Like the pond!" a girl exclaimed, pointing.

"And more colors for the flowers!" another added.

"Is it hard to paint something like that?"

"At first," Isabela replied, "but with practice, it gets easier."

"I want to be a painter too!"

"Then just make it happen," she said with a grin.

The children peppered her with more questions, their eagerness and laughter lifting her spirits. Through it all, she continued to steal glances at Trinidad, who kept returning the same inviting gaze. But soon, the mothers called their children away, their disapproving looks cutting through the excitement. A wave of discouragement washed over Isabela as the children's joy faded.

Just as the weight of it all threatened to drag her down, Doña Ynez approached.

"Isabela!"

Doña Ynez's eyes sparkled as she took in the canvas. "This is wonderful! The colors, the life—remarkable!"

Relief swept through Isabela. "Thank you, Doña," she said with a small smile.

Doña Ynez leaned in, her tone turning serious. "Dear, I'll need you to paint the lunch gathering shortly. It's one of the main things I'd like you to do for me today."

Isabela nodded, her earlier discouragement lifting. "Of course, Doña Ynez. I'll do my best."

"I know you will," Doña Ynez replied warmly. "Keep it up, dear."

As soon as Doña Ynez left, Isabela turned back to look for Trinidad.

But before she could, a twinge of jealousy crept in at the sight of a man already deep in conversation with her.