Rodrigo entered, shaking hands, and was followed by his daughter Roxana, a lovely woman who'd really grown into herself over the past four years.Top-heavy, hippy, and demure in the same breath, she occupied very little space in a room, leaving a wide berth for Andres to be himself.Micah had watched them interact over the years and fully understood that it was not the type of relationship he wanted for himself.
Next entered the Venezuelan Lancehead, Guillermo Gutierrez, a slithery character who lived much of his life in San Cristobal, which was right near the border of Colombia.He truly wanted the union between his daughter Lolita and any Delgado who would have her, and he felt Micah would be perfect.
“Micah!”Guillermo said with delight.“It is good to see you again,no?I am hopeful that by the end of the weekend, we will begin the process of unifying our families.”
“Perhaps,” Micah replied, looking over his shoulder at Lolita.Today, unlike when he'd seen her at Perona de la Mar where she had been fully covered, she wore a low-cut dress, which exposed far too much of her breasts.Such tactics didn't endear Guillermo to Micah since the man was pretty much attempting to serve his daughter up on a platter.Instead of eyeballing her breasts, Micah's eyes were focused on her feet, which appeared too large for her five foot five-inch frame.Since she was only sixteen, he prayed to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, that the young woman was still growing and would accumulate a bit more height to balance out the huge feet.
“Señor,” she said to Micah, presenting him her hand.
“Señorita Gutierrez,” he replied, bending slightly, maintaining eye contact, and pressing the hand to his chin.He had no intention of kissing her hand, especially since he didn't know her hygiene habits.
Laura Gutierrez, Lolita's mother, stopped in front of Micah, staring him in the eyes.She waited to see what the young man would do because she also wore a dress cut entirely too low, which Ryanne took notice of as well.Laura remained in front of Micah until he spoke to her.
“Señora Gutierrez, I do hope you enjoy horseback riding,” Micah said.“There is a mount perfect for your disposition.”
He said it with an arched eyebrow.The woman didn't know how to take it and offered a coy smile.He also considered her to be as slippery as her husband, and the idea of having to spend the rest of his life with her as a mother-in-law or a meddling grandmother immediately put him on guard.
In the background, a bell rang to announce that lunch was ready.San Cristobal, in flight time, was only a half hour by helicopter and for that reason, he knew the Gutierrezes would not be staying the night, for which he was eternally grateful.Micah sighed as he prepared himself to get through the afternoon as he took his seat at the table next to Lolita.She gave him furtive glances throughout the meal as he toyed with his food.He didn't have much of an appetite, especially with eyes trained on him.A bout of thankfulness soared through him for Rodrigo Escalante monopolizing the conversation with talk of the wedding.
“Six months,” Rodrigo claimed.“In six months, we shall have the wedding to join our families!Roxana has spoken of nothing else, and the dress, Andres, will bring tears to your eyes.The ceremony shall be amazing!”
Andres swallowed hard as reality began to set in; in six months, he would be a married man.His eyes went to Micah, who simply stared back at him, imagining all the things going through his brother's head.The chameleon in Andres rarely showed, and Micah knew his brother was crafty as well as highly intelligent, although he was rather adept at playing the loveable rogue.
Lolita asked, “How do you feel about marriage?”
“It is how families are made,” Micah replied, saying no more.
Lunch ended, and guests began to gather in small groups for conversations.Lolita couldn't wait for her opportunity to speak to Micah alone.Alita stood a safe distance away, overseeing, but not overhearing.Micah stood, his hands behind his back, bracing himself for a conversation that was more than likely going to make his ears bleed.
“Señorita,” he said as she approached.
“Señor,” Lolita replied.
“Micah,” he said in a lowered tone.
“Michael, a very nice name.”
“No, Micah.”
“Can I call you, Mike?”
“No, you cannot,” he said.“Micah, as in the biblical prophet.M-I-C-A-H.Micah.”
“Oh, okay,” she said, moving closer to him.He took a step back.“I saw you last year at Perona de la Mar, but you disappeared and didn't come talk to me.”
“You were fifteen years old,” he replied, “It would not have been appropriate.”
Her nose scrunched as she asked for understanding, “What do you mean?”
“I would seem like the creeper, seeking out a teenage girl for conversation,” he said.
“You're a teenager too!I mean, really, you're only two years older than me,” Lolita said, nearly whining.
“No, I am a man,” he said.“I walk through this world as a man.I live as a man.I work as a man.I have the duties and responsibilities of a man.”
“I assume, in your phrasing, it means you have the appetites of one as well?”Lolita asked, moving closer.
Micah took a step to the left.His eyes went to Alita.With his left eye he winked twice, then rolled his shoulder, making his guard smile.It was their private signal that a threat was in his presence, and she needed to arrive with force.A look of amusement was on his face as he turned to look at the young woman who was interviewing to be his bride.Thus far, he was ready to yell, “Next!”
