A day of freedom
Manuela was a little tight in Mariana’s riding clothes. They met Juvencio waiting them with his mug of coffee.
Juliano’s accident, these days in the hospital, those things tenderized the old rancher's heart. Juliano could have died. It could have been Mariana in his place. No, he should never waste another day with small annoyances; these were good to maintain discipline, but whatever.
– Good morning, girls, the New Genoa bachelors, modestly including myself, are still wondering where they got it wrong! Juvencio continued:
– I know, I know! That Ball was slow! Freedom was probably much better. Actually, Freedom Ranch is better than ever. We have another inseminator. Jurandir told me the news.
Mariana – still half asleep – was puzzled, she thought the world was going to fall down on her head, but everything was fine for Juvencio.
And the father continues:
– My daughters, Jurandir’s wife made a fancy breakfast for you, pumpkin pie. Jurandir went up with a few more men to help him. I'll assist the insemination and do the paper work. He wanted me going to the pasture, but, you know, my backbone won’t let me ride. By the way, the horses are ready for you, if you can, please take a look at Jurandir and the cows. Manuela, you are radiant this morning!
The two girls – perplexed – are drinking coffee. Manuela bites a cheese bread, with her head down, looks at Mariana, smiling like "what happened anyway?”.
Mariana, finally awake, notices her friend... God didn’t waste a millimeter when he made Manuela's face. She must have a bit of Moorish, or from where those large and almond-shaped eyes would come? They are clear, transparent and honey colored. Her nose is small, not her mouth. It begins in tight corners and is pulpy in the middle, I think it’s like that to fit in that small face. Her hair was thick and had that little edge coming into the forehead – widow's peak – from this point, her hair swings from one side to the other. The color is the same as her eyes’ with lighter locks.
– You know what? – says Mariana. – My dad is acting differently. He bought me a new dress, that one I used yesterday, very cool to be chosen by himself. He is also well-groomed, nice haircut. I never imagined that he could spend so much time away from here. He loves Juliano, but not that much. There is something.
– A girlfriend?
– Must be.
– Nova Genova singles! Naughty boy, Mr. Juvencio.
– Well, Manuela! Don’t you know men? They are all the same. Juliano and I, we are together since I can remember. In his mind, he is still single. Can you believe it?
– Look Mariana, I have to be honest, when dating, I’ve never stopped looking at the opportunities around me.
– Sure, you are right! A woman knows what she does.
Mariana's horse was her darling, pure Quarter Horse, El Zorrero’s grandson. For Manuela, Jurandir had sealed Jurema, a half blood mare. Mariana had won a few cups in barrel racing with this mare.
They meet the cowboys, Mariana very comfortable, and Manuela watching the scene.
– Good morning, Jurandir. How many cows in estrus so far?
– Good morning, Mariana, good morning, teacher. I found twelve, I think it’s what we have.
– Ok, my dad said he would stay with you for the insemination.
– Do you see? Chic, me, inseminator, working directly with Mr. Juvencio!
– You are a joker, Jurandir, since I am dispensed I'll show the farm to Manuela, the pass towards the lake, is it opened?
– Yeah yeah – Jurandir says and goes to get the cow’s number, Cowboi was there again, on top!
– Shall we go Manuela?
– Wow, Mariana, while you talked I was watching the cowboys dealing with the cows. Their agility with the horses, how easily they do it.
– Well, I'm not bad too, to be honest, the horse does almost everything by himself.
– Seriously? – Manuela questions.
– Horses are simple creatures, like men. Instructions should be simple and accurate.
– Always, Mariana!
– Well, I was watching you riding. I don’t want to bother you, but would you like some tips?
– I am not a man, Mariana! I don’t care about you telling me what to do or how to do. If I like it, it’s ok; if not, I don’t understand it.
Both laughed.
– Look at me, the horse's mouth is sensitive, there is also a lever system inside its mouth, you don’t need much force to stop it. I observed that when your horse runs, you get scared and push yours legs around the animal’s belly before pulling the reins. This is contradictory to the horse. Tightening or poking the belly means that you want more speed. If you want to stop, open your legs a bit and pull the reins to you. You can put your feet forward to support, if you want, look at me. Ok, try it.
Manuela relaxes the reins, slams her feet on the horse’s belly, which ran off. She opens her legs a bit and pulls the reins, the horse stops suddenly, she almost falls forward.
Mariana runs to her, but Manuela is well, she got surprised by the horse, is already laughing again.
– Why haven’t they ever told me this before? This is amazing, please, teach me more.
– Now, the turn. We have agreed that the reins are the brake, right? Okay, if you want to turn right, don’t pull both reins in this direction. Let your left hand relaxed, use it only if you want to slow down during the curve. Just open your right arm to let the animal know where you want to go. Bend your right leg back a little and push your ankle over the horse’s flank to the outside of the curve. Look at me, can you see? Again, the other side. Now you try, be careful.
Manuela repeats what she did. It seems that her leg pushed the mare’s flank, sliding out of the curve. They spin around the axis.
– Wow! This is cool! I want more.
Both run over the green, avoiding trees and imaginary obstacles.
They arrive at the lake, the place is beautiful, the cattail is flowered. Around the water; the grass is greener, and the morning is fresher. They sit in a shade, the horses drink water.
Mariana has a canteen. Manuela takes a sip, some water drips down her neck. She wipes her mouth with her back hand and asks, naughty:
– What a beautiful place, do you come here often, I mean… with Juliano?
– I would love it, my dear, but no. Juliano is so strict, time to work, is time to work, the same for eating, for going out, for… My God, men are so limited. Why they can’t mix things a little?
– I know how it is.
– We work together all the time. Why he never drags me behind one of these bushes, strip my clothes? I don’t know!
Manuela is rolling laugh. Mariana continues.
– Always respectful, he thinks he needs to ask me for sex. I know, he wants to pleasure me, but he doesn’t know how. If I try to do something different, he freezes.
– Maybe he is afraid of you getting pregnant before marriage? You know – Manuela says.
– Impossible, he knows I take the pill, I am a clock with my periods. In fact, for me to have a child, must be with Juliano. He likes me, is trustable, he would never use this child to hurt me. I think he would be a good father, anyway, he and his family has been taking care of us as long as I know; it would be unfair to have a son from another father, as you see, it's all right.
– So?
– So, to have a child, I just need to sleep with him once… What frightens me is sleeping with him for eternity.
– Exaggerated!
At the sunset Mariana drove Manuela home. To get a little more time together, they stop at the sandwich trailer to eat.
– Mariana, you say these things, they are spinning in my head.
– Really?
– That thing about eternally sleeping with the same man, their ignorance about women. Are we doing something wrong, who's is responsible for it?
– Last week – Mariana says – I read an int
eresting article. They showed pictures of naked men and women for a group of men and women.
– Here we go!
– Seriously, they were monitored, couldn’t lie. All the women got turned on by the photos of men and also by women pictures. Most men, only by sexy women photos; few, only by the pictures of other men.
– Wait, Mariana, I'm already getting to know you, are you going to do with me the same you did with the guys at the ball, aren’t you?
– No, silly, come with me back to the Stone Age.
– Oh boy!
– The men fought each other, the stronger got women pregnant. Then they went out for long periods to hunt. They depended on each other, but they were still fighting the beasts and against each other for the leadership. Pure antagonism.
– Men are just like that – says Manuela.
– The women stayed in the cave breastfeeding her kids, the other women’s kids and sometimes themselves. Sleeping all together, no longer they knew where the mother ended and began the daughter; where they ended and the other began. By this time they have learned to like affection, mouth kissing, breasts, caressing, intimacy. Now, these women’s legatees, we are demanding this from men, things about which they don’t even have a clue!
The sandwiches arrived. Mariana put mustard and attacked her. Manuela looked unsure about what to say.