La Bella and El Bestia

Chapter 6

At the castle Frida couldn't bring herself to stop crying, when she wasn't asleepshe  was bawling her eyes out and it wasn't long before it got Manny really upset.

"When you so eagerly agreed to stay here." He said bursting into her room without knocking. "I didn't expect you to be this upset."

"I gave up my freedom to save my father who I will never see again!" She cried angrily. "Of course I'd be upset you beast!"

"Yes, yes, of course but the crying must stop!" He said not the least bit interested in how she felt. "You been here for what like six hours and all you've done is cry! I mean I can't even hear myself think!...Here." He pulled a silk handkerchief from his sleeve and threw it to her. "Maybe that will help."

"For me?"

"Not so beastly now am I?!"

"Well thank you. Maybe now I can wash my face and wipe up my tears."

"Oh it's not for your tears it's to muffle your cries so I can get back to hearing my own thoughts!"

"Get out of my room! You have no right to be in here!"

"Do so!"

"Do not! Didn't your mother teach you that it was improper for a gentleman to enter a lady's bedroom without permission or at least without knocking first? You did not knock or ask permission so you have no right to be in here. But then again you aren't a gentleman are you? You're just an animal!"

"Why you loud mouthed little-"

"Um sir." T.J whispered leaning over. "I would refrain from finishing that sentence if I were you and then leave her room because need I remind you need this girl to like you."

Manny took a deep breath and cooled off.

"Fine." He grunted. "I'll leave and I'll knock next time."

"Good now invite her to dinner."

"I'm going now but I order you to join me for dinner later."

"You order me?" She said.

"Yes!"

And he left before she could say another thing, slamming the door. Frida quickly locked the door and pushed a chair in front of it. She hoped that would keep him out and if he thought for one minute that she was going to have dinner with him after everything he had done he had another thing coming because there was no way she was going to dine with him. At least not tonight.

Back at the village Django was sulking over his rejected proposal at the local tavern.

"Who does she think she is? That girl has tangled with the wrong man!" Django complained. "No one says no to me!"

"You got that right!" Sergio agreed.

"The nerve of that woman! Thinking she's too good for me! And humiliating me in public like that!"

"More beer?"

"What for? I'm disgraced."

"You know there are other women in the village. Why not marry Zoe, Carla, or Sofia?" Sergio suggested. "They are rather attractive."

The two men turned their attention toward the three young women who fluttered their eyes at him and giggled flirtatiously.

"As pretty as they are Sergio." He said. "They are nothing compared to Frida's beauty besides I'm not one to go for second best."

"I hate to step on your dreams but Frida is a very stubborn girl. Once she's made up her mind about something nothing will change it. I should know, before you came I tried to court her sixteen times and she turned me down each time."

"Well that's different Sergio you clearly had no chance with her or any other woman for that matter while I on the other hand have nearly every woman wrapped around my finger."

"Yeah that's true...Hey!"

"Now I need some way to change her mind and if my looks and wealth won't do it, what will?"

Then on cue Emiliano rushed into the tavern. He was sweaty and as pale as a ghost.

"Help! Oh God please help me!" He cried.

"Emiliano?" Chakal said surprised by his manner. "What on earth happened to you?"

"Nevermind that! Frida's gone!"

"What do you mean?" Tonio asked concerned. "Is she hurt?"

"I don't know! But she's been taken by a beast in a castle!"

Everyone burst out laughing at him and those who weren't just looked at him like he was insane. The only person who didn't laugh or stare was Tonio.

"Don't look at me like that!" Emiliano said. "I'm not crazy! I know what I saw! There was a beast!"

"I'm sure there was." Django faking that he believed him. "And I suppose I could help you track down this beast." He made quotation marks with his white fingers.

"Really? Oh thank you. Hurry! We must go now!"

"Um Emiliano, a word if you please?"

He pulled the man close to him and whispered to him.

"Okay it's clear you've lost you're mind but i'll go along with your little delusion if you give me your daughter's hand in marriage."

"What?!" He shouted horrified. "Why I have never heard of such a disgusting proposition! I am not delusional! And you will never marry my daughter!"

"Very well then. If that's the way you want it." He snapped his fingers. "El Oso! Chipolte!"

His goons then grabbed Emiliano and threw him out in the snow while everyone else continued to laugh at his ravings.

"Crazy old Emiliano always one for a good laugh." El Oso chuckled.

By those words an idea popped into Django's head.

"Sergio I'm afraid I've been thinking."

"A dangerous pass time."

"I know but I think I have an idea on how I can force Frida to be my wife."