Caray, Caray!

Doña Bárbara tells Arias not to joke with her, that something like that would not be a small thing in her life. Arias tells her it’s not a joke . He asks her if she’s been late on her periods and, after she thinks, she replies: one or two months. Arias says they have to do the test right away.

Gonzalo asks if the par de tortolitos (pair of lovebirds) aren’t happy to see him. They each embrace him. Marisela says she wants to let Andrés and Cosme know he’s there. Gonzalo says there will be time for that. For now he wants to be with the two of them. He says Marisela has changed a lot. He also says he’s come to stay a while. “Say hello to the new special commissioner of the central government of the state!” The old Governor resigned and I’m taking charge. Santos says that this is the way to build a country and congratulates him.

DB starts to believe in the possibility of the pregnancy and looks happy. Dr. Arias tells her that for now it’s only a suspicion and that her symptoms could also be hormonal. He says she should wait until he tests her blood. She wants to know how long the test will take. When she hears an hour, she hustles him out the door to get started.

I did not mention in the last recap that Cosme and Pajarote had come upon a beautiful young girl who has been swimming and wrapped a few things around strategic places. She’s obviously quite taken with Pajarote at first sight. Cosme cautions him that she could have a boyfriend or even a husband. Pajarote says that’s even better. The more risky the lover, the sweeter the pleasure! Suddenly she is grabbed by Leon Mondragon who addresses her as Celeste and says: “What are you doing here, snotnose. Cover yourself up! What are you jerks looking at? Don’t get any ideas. My little sister is not going to get involved with guys like you. Get out of here.” Leon is his usual charming self, grabbing Celeste by the arm and threatening her to ruin every second of her life if she ever talks to these guys again.

Pajarote tells Cosme that Leon messed with one of the terneras, and it wouldn’t be a bad thing at all for him to even the score with this gorgeous young thing. An eye for an eye.

The terneras are discussing the arrival of the mother and sister of Los Mondragones. Gervasia says DB is probably abusing them as she did to her when she lived with Leon. Genoveva is not participating in this discussion. She’s off to one side remembering when Pajarote held her hand and when the other terneras talked behind the sheet of his love for her.

Gonzalo says to those at Altamira that he’s come to put an end to the corruption and despilfarros (wasting of resources). He says there’s been lots of dark deeds and paid-off judges. He’s going to prevent fraudulent elections. They’ve been stealing from the people, and he won’t permit it to continue.

Santos asks about what he learned about Fidel Castell. Gonzalo says he’s an investor who lives abroad. He does import and export businesses under different rubros (titles). He says he could keep investigating. Santos says he’d like this, but understands that he’ll have his hands full with his new duties. Gonzalo says that within months there will be free elections. Santos exclaims that this is what they wanted and that it’s a triumph for Gonzalo. Gonzalo embraces Santos saying that Santos risked himself to save their necks and he hasn’t fully thanked him. He looks significantly over Santos’ shoulder at Marisela.

DB asks herself “Could it be true? Would destiny give me another chance? If it’s true, Santos will return to me.”

Santos wants to have a party and leaves to organize things, telling Marisela to do the hostess duties with Gonzalo. Right away, Gonzalo says that they haven’t had time to talk since she left. Marisela says she’s thought a lot about the way she used him to get away from Santos. She realizes that it was a bad thing to do and begs his pardon.

Gonzalo asks what happened with DB. Because she was Santos’ woman and now you are. Doesn’t this seem ugly to you? I don’t pretend to be a saint, but you used to be very honest and sincere. Aren’t you ashamed of having taken your mother’s lover?

DB is totally flying. She tells Eustaquia: “Haven’t you realized that everything will change if I have a child. Santos will come back and I’ll have the family I always wanted. I can scarcely believe God listened to me. If he’s giving me this child, it’s to give me a second opportunity. I can change, be another."

Gonzalo, seeing Marisela’s stricken face, apologizes and said perhaps he shouldn’t have spoken, but he’s very frank. Marisela agrees that in a way he’s right. Gonzalo says that he’s not there to judge her. What happened happened. But he wants her to know that his feelings haven’t changed. If she changes her mind, she could be the wife of the next Governor and, in a few years, the first lady of the country. She calls him foolish. He says he’s serious. He’s been thinking of her the whole time, he still loves her, and he’s still waiting for her. Marisela removes her hand from him and asks him if he’s forgotten that she’s his friend Santos girlfriend. Gonzalo says he wants to discuss it some more. Marisela says: “No, we aren’t going to speak of this again.”

DB is still talking of her happiness with Eustaquia. She says she can’t wait; she’s going to El Progreso to find out the test results.

Everyone is gathered at Altamira to celebrate Gonzalo’s return. Genoveva is serving drinks and, upon gazing into Pajarote’s eyes, drops the tray. Marisela pointedly kisses Santos before leaving the room, saying: “I love you, I love you, you are the love of my life” in front of everyone.

DB calls for Juan Primito to saddle her horse. E asks if she’s nuts - she just found out she might be pregnant and she’s jumping on a horse. DB insists that she rode all over the Arauca pregnant with Marisela, but E reminds her that she was hoping to lose the baby that time, plus it was long ago. DB acquiesces and asks Melquiades to bring the truck. E decides to come along, either to be a shoulder to cry on or someone with whom to share the good news.

Marisela and Genoveva have a funny conversation in which M is trying to tell her about Gonzalo and Geno is trying to tell M about Pajarote, neither one really listening to the other.

Melquiades hits several big potholes on the road to El Progreso and E jumps on his case. DB tells him that she has a child of Santos Luzardo in her belly. Melquiades certainly doesn’t look overjoyed, but then he never does! As soon as they get out of the truck, Acosta arrests him for killing Balbino Paiba, the guard, and an attempt on Santos Luzardo (I don’t remember the last one??).

DB tells Acosta to Melquiades go. He’s scared, but says Melquiades is charged with a federal crime. Pernalete shows up and she tells him the same thing. P resists for a while, but finally gives in. He tells her she has to keep in mind that there is a new central Government, and that Melquiades has to stay out of sight.

Genoveva tells Marisela she has to put a stop to Gonzalo’s courting because there will be a big mess if Santos finds out. M says Gonzalo makes her uncomfortable looking at her with sheep’s eyes. She suggests going to town to see what Cecilia advises.

At the celebration at Altamira, the guys bring Gonzalo up to date on the birth of the babies and the engagement of Maria Nieves and Altagracia, saying the only one left is Pajarote. Gonzalo asks why Marisela isn’t with them. Santos (oblivious to Gonzalo’s fixation) says that she went to town.

DB runs into Arias office. He chides her for being so loud when there are other patients. He then tells her that she is pregnant. She bursts into tears of joy. He wants to do a complete exam, but she says she has someone to talk with first and runs out. She runs through the streets with Melquiades and Eustaquia trailing behind.

Gonzalo is holding forth at Casa Sandoval, with a baby in his arms, about the wonderful things he’s going to do: education, public health, pensions for campesinos. The guys look pretty bored. They tell him to stop campaigning. And Melesio adds that deeds are worth more than words.

Cecilia is in the church finalizing the arrangements for the baptism of Toñito. DB runs in, not seeing Cecilia, crosses herself and thanks the Virgin for the pregnancy. Cecilia is behind her overhearing her pray out loud. She tells the Virgin that she’s going to have a beautiful child and you can’t even imagine how much she’ll love him. She recognizes that she behaved badly with her first daughter, but now she’ll have a chance to change everything, including making it up to Marisela. She swears she’ll be the woman Santos always wanted. For the child of Santos Luzardo she will stop hating, she will forgive, and she will be good. She hears the steps of Cecilia and sees her leaving.

DB returns to Arias’ office. He thinks it’s strange she hasn’t noticed anything as she’s 10 weeks pregnant. He gives her the instructions about rest. Says she has to avoid unpleasantness.

Mujiquita walks into the Jefatura Civil with Gonzalo. He tries to tell Pernalete about Gonzalo’s role, but Pernalete asks if this isn’t the fugitive, the agitator. Gonzalo says lots of water’s gone under the bridge since then. Mujiquita is still trying to tell Pernalete what’s what. Pernalete roars: Nothing is different! Gonzalo says he’s mistaken. He comes as the Commissioner for the entire region. His first objective is to put into order the various jefaturas; and, because he's so fond of El Progreso, he decided to start with Pernalete! Pernalete looks like he’s going to stroke out again.

DB walks into El Miedo and grabs a cigarette. Eustaquia grabs it out of her hand. DB lets her take it, but tells her not to push her luck. She says she’s going to take a nap. E asks when she’s going to tell Santos. DB says she’s not going to tell him. Let him find out through the grapevine, while I wait here in the shadows. My man will return for his child and for me.

Santos and the entire crew from Altamira are drinking in town, toasting Gonzalo, sure that he’s putting Pernalete in his place. Arias takes Santos aside, telling him he has something very grave to tell him.

Antonio has come to see his son at Cecilia's house, and she is telling him about DB’s pregnancy. Antonio thinks it’s a trick, but Cecilia says he didn’t see her face, crying with happiness, plus she thought she was alone in the church. She says she's sure she’s in that state. Marisela walks in at that moment and says “Who’s in that state?”

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