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Chapters (73)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Epigraph
  4. Prologue
  5. Part One
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Ten
  16. Eleven
  17. Twelve
  18. Thirteen
  19. Part Two
  20. Fourteen
  21. Fifteen
  22. Sixteen
  23. Seventeen
  24. Eighteen
  25. Nineteen
  26. Twenty
  27. Twenty-One
  28. Twenty-Two
  29. Twenty-Three
  30. Twenty-Four
  31. Twenty-Five
  32. Part Three
  33. Twenty-Six
  34. Twenty-Seven
  35. Twenty-Eight
  36. Twenty-Nine
  37. Thirty
  38. Thirty-One
  39. Thirty-Two
  40. Thirty-Three
  41. Thirty-Four
  42. Thirty-Five
  43. Thirty-Six
  44. Thirty-Seven
  45. Thirty-Eight
  46. Thirty-Nine
  47. Forty
  48. Forty-One
  49. Forty-Two
  50. Part Four
  51. Forty-Three
  52. Forty-Four
  53. Forty-Five
  54. Forty-Six
  55. Forty-Seven
  56. Forty-Eight
  57. Forty-Nine
  58. Fifty
  59. Fifty-One
  60. Fifty-Two
  61. Fifty-Three
  62. Epilogue
  63. Author’s Note
  64. Acknowledgments
  65. Discover More
  66. Reading Group Guide
  67. Discussion Questions
  68. ESSAY FROMDIANA GIOVINAZZO
  69. Antoinette’s Sister
  70. Chapter One
  71. Chapter Two
  72. About the Author
  73. Praise forThe Woman in Red

Antonia was distraught over our leaving in the early morning hours, but we didn’t have a choice. If we were there when Moringue came through, the whole village would be wiped out. We needed to lead the Imperial army away, find safer territory.

Santa Catarina had already given up on the rebellion. Rio Grande do Sul still fought with every last resource it had. The Farrapos needed to regroup. I knew this, José knew this; the only question was, did the commanders of our army know? The plan was to meet with the rest of the Farrapos in Rio Capivari. Once there we would reorganize and make a push to expel the Imperial forces from Rio Grande do Sul once and for all.

I could smell the rain in the air. All night I could hear the thumping of fat water drops, and by the look of the clouds that ominously clung to the mountains, it would rain again.

“But I don’t understand. Why must you leave?” Antonia said, fussing with my gear.

I smiled. “Because I am just as much of a danger to you as the army is.”

“That’s ridiculous. You’re only one woman.”

“You’d be surprised how much trouble one woman can seem to stir up. Antonia, I have met Moringue before. He will not be kind if he finds me, nor will he show sympathy to anyone who harbors me.”

She shook her head as tears filled her eyes. “Then we will hide you. Yes, hide both you and the baby. No one will ever know.”

I took her hands in mine. “I appreciate everything you have done for me. You’ve been a true friend to us, but my destiny and my child’s destiny are tied to José and the freedom of Rio Grande do Sul. We have to go where he goes.”

She waved her hand in the air as if my words were an annoying fly. “Destiny is what we make of it.”

“And I made mine a long time ago.” I hugged her. “Thank you, Antonia. You will never know how much you mean to us.”

I climbed on my horse with Menotti tucked in close to me. As we came to the ridge overlooking the valley I dared to look back, just one more time. Golden rays broke through the dark gray clouds, accentuating the emerald-green trees. I knew I would never again see São Simão, my almost home. I kicked my horse and followed José to Rio Capivari.