Woman of Light

Despite Simodecea’s warnings, Pidre does not believe they are about to lose the amphitheater. When he attempts to buy supplies to reopen the show for a new season, he finds no one will sell goods to him. Simodecea learns he does not have mineral rights to their land, meaning the miners can move in and take over. The morning after learning this, she sees three men and Mickey approach Pidre in front of the house and present him with a document that he disregards. A fight ensues, spurred by Mickey, in which the other men shoot Mickey and Pidre. Simodecea steps onto the porch and swiftly kills the three men. She brings Pidre’s corpse into the house. She gathers Sara and Maria Jose, instructs them what to do if they are separated from her, and they head for the train station in Animas. When Simodecea hears a pistol cock behind her, she yells for Sara and Maria Josie to run.

This chapter is set in 1912, in the small community of Saguarita. Sara and Maria Josie run to Saguarita, where they anticipate finding a distant relative. The relative is long gone, but two benevolent families separate and raise the sisters.