Snippet 3: Searching For The Mystery

Lucio Malaver was the village doctor, but he was also a scheming opportunist that seeks to take advantage of the innocence and vulnerability of blind but beautiful Esmeralda. Esmeralda goes to him once in a while for check ups, to also inquire hopefully if she could see with her eyes. He had always seized the opportunity to tell her that she is his property and belonged to him. He behaved typically like Dr. Alfredo Anzola of La Hija del Jardinero.

Esmeralda told Jose Armando her name. He suspected that she was the strawberry thief. As he made move to squeeze out the strawberries from her hands, she bit his hand and he ran back to Casa Grande.

Esmeralda too ran back to her guardian, Dominga, to tell her of her encounter. Dominga trembled to hear that activities are in full swing at Casa Grande, now that the owners have returned after over 2 decades. Her heart pumped with fear and excitement. Jose Armando told people at home his encounter with a beautiful strawberry thief he caught in the ranch. Crisanta inquired after Dominga and was told by Dionisio that she was alive and kicking.

Fátima was happy in the city when her daughter, Graciela, returned to tell her that Jose Armando promised to seek her hand in marriage anytime he returned from the countryside. Blanca noticed that Jose Armando was not thrilled with Graciela, even as a girlfriend.

Esmeralda went to the cemetery as her custom was, to lay wreath at the grave of the dead. She chatted happily with the cemetery keeper, Fermín, about the moon and the stars.

José Armando became restless and wanted to know more about the mystery lady. So he went to meet the village musician called Adrián, to inquire more about her from him. They both went out in search of the mystery lady again.