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Helena shook her head. “I haven’t seen her.”
“She probably got waylaid,” Daniel said, settling back down. “I’m sure she’ll join us at supper here in a few minutes.”
But she didn’t. Aaron sat beside her empty seat for fifteen minutes before pushing back from the table.
“I’m going to see if I can find her. She may just be busy talking to someone, but I know she’ll want to hear your speech,” he told Daniel.
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, but go right ahead. I understand.”
Aaron left the raised platform where they were sitting along with several other dignitaries. He had never craved the limelight, but Daniel wanted to introduce him as the man who would take over the Garcia holdings. Daniel wanted to assure people they could come to Aaron as they had him, and Aaron wanted that too. But right now, all he could think about was finding Isabella.
He made his way through the crowds, looking for any sign of her. She seemed to have completely vanished, though. He searched along the line of vendor booths, but there was no sign of her. Retracing his steps from earlier, Aaron had a difficult time seeing in the dim light. He was about to the place where he’d left her when he spotted something white on the ground. Picking it up, he recognized it as Isabella’shandkerchief. He remembered it from earlier when she had been tearful over her father.
Frowning, he tucked the piece of fabric into his coat pocket and continued to search. After twenty minutes, he wondered if perhaps she’d gotten ill and had gone home. It was a long shot but the only thing left that he could think of.
He found the carriage he’d come in with Daniel, but the driver was at the celebration. It didn’t matter. He climbed in, releasing the brake in the same fluid motion. He grabbed the lines and snapped them, taking the horse back onto the road for home.
He found the house empty. Everyone was at the fiesta. Daniel had given them all the evening off so they could enjoy the fireworks and food. Roasted pig was on the menu, and no one wanted to miss that.
“Isabella!” he called. “Are you here?”
There was no answer. A sense of dread began to form in his stomach. “Isabella!”
He searched the entire house and stables. There was no sign of her. He climbed into the carriage and headed back down the dark road. Where was she? Surely she wouldn’t have gone off with someone without telling anybody.
The sense of dread intensified. Had she been upset by their declarations of love? Maybe after he’d left, she regretted what she’d said. Aaron shook his head. No, that couldn’t be the case. She was just as happy as he was.
He made it back into town and parked the carriage where it had been before. For several minutes he just sat and considered the situation. Where could she be?
He didn’t want to upset Daniel and Helena, but the matter was too important to say nothing. Besides, they would expect her at dinner. Aaron made his way back to the plaza and once again climbed the few steps up to the head table.
He sat in the chair that would have belonged to Isabella, and Daniel looked at him oddly. “What’s going on? Where is she?”
Aaron shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve looked everywhere, even the house. I found her handkerchief where I left her when I came for you.”
“Where was that?”
“Third and Washington.”
Daniel turned to Helena. “Did Isabella say anything to you about not being here for dinner?”
“No, of course not. She knows you’re going to speak tonight and wanted to be here. Why?” She looked around her husband to lock gazes with Aaron. “Where is she?”
“We don’t know.”
“I’ll make an announcement,” Daniel said.
“Yes, do.” Helena looked out across the crowd. “It’s possible she’s helping someone with something. A team of women were making last-minute batches of tortillas. Maybe she’s lending a hand.”
Daniel struggled to his feet with Aaron’s help. “Attention, everyone!” The crowd quieted marginally, and he called again. “Could I have everyone’s attention?”
This time most of the partiers fell silent and looked toward the platform.
“We’re missing someone. Has anyone seen my daughter, Isabella?”
There were murmurings and whispers among the people, but most shook their heads. The lanterns that had been lit for the party revealed their faces. No one seemed to know anything.
“Does anyone know where the group of women went who made the extra tortillas? We think perhaps Isabella was helping with that.”
