| Anita turned the carriage around and rode frantically towards Maria, she was still conscious, but she was in a lot of pain. "We have to get you to a Doctor." Anita said. "Can you walk?" "Not without help." Maria said. Anita helped Maria to her feet and put her inside the carriage, and then was seated beside her in it. Anita tore a long piece of fabric from the hem of her dress and tied it around Maria's waist, tring to stop the flow of blood. "Anita."Maria said softly. "Am I going to die?" Anita looked down at Senorita Alvarado. "I don't know" The ride back into town was hard. Maria had nearly lost consciousness a few times. But she did not. But she was very weak from the loss of blood which frightened Anita. When the carriage had stopped, as soon as they entered town. Anita started screaming. "Help! Help, somebody please!" A couple of young men rushed up to help her. "She's been stabbed." Anita said urgently. "Who did this to you Senorita?" One of the young men asked. "Antonio Reves." She said. "He said....I belong to him." "Don't try to talk." Anita said. We'll get you to a doctor." Maria Alvarado's condition was life threatening. She asked for a priest, and one of the Carmelite father's was sent for. The doctor performed an emergency operation to stop the hemorraging. It was successful. But Maria developped a dangerously high fever. "Send for Macleod." The doctor said. "Senorita Alvarado is asking for him." |