Padre Kino and “The Pulse of the Earth” by Evey Brett

Living in southern Arizona and having done some research into its history, it was natural to set “The Pulse of the Earth” back in the days when missions and missionaries first came to the area, which back then was called Pimeria Alta, or “upper land of the Pimas.” One of the most influential missionaries was the intrepid Jesuit, Father Eusebio Kino, an astronomer and cartographer who started his career in 1687 and traveled over 50,000 miles on horseback, founded twenty-four missions, interacted with sixteen indigenous tribes and proved that Baja, California was not an island by conducting an overland expedition. He brought twenty cattle with him to establish the first of nineteen Rancherias (villages), and the herd eventually grew to over 70,000, essentially making him the first rancher in the area.

Padre Kino also introduced European fruits, grains, and seeds to aid in agricultural endeavors and worked to abolish the slavery forced upon the indigenous people. In my story, Brother Jacinto is a victim of the brutality that festered under Spanish rule. Wounded and blinded, he nonetheless has made a life for himself as a healer priest in a mission using the plant cures he learned as a boy. When the injured trader Andreas ends up in his care, Jacinto is initially distrustful, but Andreas’s kindness eventually wins him over. It’s in Jacinto’s treasured garden where they both find the healing they need.

Many indigenous people weren’t so lucky; disease and slavery ended up killing over two-thirds of the native population. The introduction of livestock damaged the land and forever changed their way of life. Kino’s legacy remains, most notably in the form of the missions, several of which still exist and are active. His remains are located in a crypt in Magdalena de Kino in Sonora, Mexico.

—Evey Brett

Excerpt from Fifty Shades of Green “The Pulse of the Earth”

Of course the meeting had to be here, the one place where Brother Jacinto felt most at ease. From his garden came nothing but love and healing, and Andreas was determined to keep it so.

They sat together on the blanket, the heat of their bodies warding away the chill. Brother Jacinto dipped his fingers in one of the oils and slowly rubbed it into Andreas’s skin. The sharp green scent relaxed him. It must have calmed Brother Jacinto as well, because he began to speak.

“I was apprenticed to be a curandero. A healer. My teacher was known for many miles, and dozens of people came to him for help. When the soldiers came looking for food, we gave it to them. They demanded more than we had, and grew angry when we could not produce it. So instead they forced us to build their forts and roads with almost nothing to eat. When we grew weak they called us lazy and beat us or . . . worse. When I called them ugly, they slashed my eyes. If Padre Eduardo hadn’t arrived when he did and freed us, I would be dead. I was the one who told him which herbs to use and how.”

The tale roused both sympathy for Brother Jacinto and ire against his captors. Andreas struggled against the instinct to take him in his arms and never let him out of his sight lest something terrible happen again. But when he tried to do just that, Brother Jacinto shook his head.

“I didn’t ask you here to be my protector.”

The rebuke, light as it was, still stung. For a long time, Andreas wasn’t sure what his role in this was. “I’m no fighter. I’m just a simple trader.”

“Not so simple. Driven to a solitary, wandering life because you never fit anywhere, but I don’t think you want to be alone any longer, do you?”

The priest knew more than Andreas had ever admitted to himself. Andreas held his breath as Brother Jacinto removed his linen shirt and drawers, leaving him wonderfully, gloriously nude. Lamplight flickered across his body, highlighting both scars and unbroken skin.

“One thing you must understand. I will never, ever belong to a man again. I will let no one but the Creator use me.”

And that was why he’d dedicated his life to the Creator and his garden. It was his choice, and neither would hurt him. In giving himself to Andreas, he trusted that Andreas would respect him and take nothing that wasn’t offered. “I understand.”

“Good.” Brother Jacinto smiled and drew him in for a kiss. Lust jolted through Andreas’s body. As quickly as he could he shed his smallclothes so that he was as naked as Brother Jacinto. He felt no shame, since the priest already knew his body so intimately.

Brother Jacinto urged him down onto his back. His hand flopped onto the dirt. This time, when he touched the ground, he felt the earth throbbing beneath his palm. At his swift intake of breath, Brother Jacinto laughed. “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

Amazing wasn’t enough to cover everything Andreas felt. Life and energy poured through him and he was suddenly desperate to share everything with Brother Jacinto.

Blurb and buy links

Fifty Shades of Green is a garden of naughty delights!
Within our pages you’ll discover:
– Virile gods and their mortal conquests.
– A community garden’s secret (and very dirty) fertility ritual.
– An Edwardian dominatrix living out her sadistic garden fantasies.
– Student/teacher lessons in horticultural hotness.
– Young lovers seeking the help of green witches.
– A beautiful, blind priest who helps an injured traveler.
. . . and so much more.

Peek inside the garden gate.

(You know you want to.)

A dozen racy tales await.

Fifty Shades of Green is a collection of twelve delicious and erotic short stories with gardening themes. What you’ll find in these pages is hotter than the hottest pepper on the Scoville index of heat! And smart, not smutty. Well . . . maybe a little smutty.

To Buy Fifty Shades of Green (it’s on sale, just for you):

Amazon.com UK

Amazon.com US

Author Bio

Evey Brett has numerous sci-fi/fantasy and paranormal romance e-books published with Loose Id, Ellora’s Cave and Carina Press. She also has fantasy and erotica stories forthcoming with Lethe and Cleis Press.

Evey Brett’s website

FREE Sample Stories!

To sample two free stories from Fifty Shades of Green visit our Garden Shorts website.

If you sign up for our newsletter you will be sent “Seed” (our sexy story about a community garden’s secret fertility ritual).

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