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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

In my sleep we were happy. We had a little ranch here in São Simão. We owned cows and horses and had a little boy who smiled like his father, but whose eyes sparkled like mine. Who knew, maybe José and I would have more children than the Costas. They would play and tumble over each other like a band of wild puppies, never knowing pain or the sense of struggle as they wandered through the Brazilian wilderness in search of grand adventures.

I reveled in the idea that I could watch the sun set from the same place every day. We could live unbothered by Destiny and her schemes. All I needed was my family and a small house here in São Simão. But as all dreams do, this one faded with the rising sun.

The day was dying when the boats floated down the river. I ran out to shore, eager to see José. My smile fell as the boats sailed closer. There were so many men missing from the ranks.

José’s boat hadn’t even reached the shore when he jumped out, waist deep into the muddy current. He splashed loudly as he awkwardly moved out of the water to me. He wrapped his arms around me, holding on as if he were afraid he would be pulled back into the river. I didn’t ask what had happened. I didn’t need to.

José pulled away as Rossetti finally reached the shore with the boat that José had been in. He held his silence, trudging out on the wet sand and organizing the men. “Did we accomplish anything?” I asked, watching the beaten soldiers and trying to find some hope to latch on to.

“Besides nearly getting killed? We may have weakened their forces just a bit, but I doubt it. Moringue has a grudge to settle.”

I caught myself, freezing midbreath. José noticed my reaction. “Anita, this is not your doing. Moringue and I were enemies long before I knew you.” He shrugged. “He’ll never forgive me for making a fool of him in São Paulo.”

“I know, but I’m sure I damaged his pride.” I rubbed my arms against the gooseflesh that appeared. “A man whose pride has been damaged is a dangerous thing.”

José kissed my forehead. “Moringue is not your concern, tesoro mio.”

*  *  *

It was just before dawn when I woke with the pain. The damp linens clung to me, causing an initial sense of panic. I thought for sure this child was going to claw his way out of me. I called out for Antonia, who ran to my side within moments.