It is strange to think about a princess in this context, but in fact there existed a complete “royal family”.
As for the queen, a Mexican girl became a good wife, and somehow succeeded teaching Ben how to behave better or how to manage his thunder-like voice. When the family prosperity arrived to an oppressive point, she quietly abandoned realm and life.
They had a daughter, Josefa, the Princess, who
inherited some positive aspects from her parents, being a mild, beautiful,
intelligent girl. Moreover, she was incredibly skilled with weapons like few men
could be.
An attractive and rich heiress, Josefa was in the
marriage plans of Ripley Givens, an Espinosa’s foreman.
One day, Givens arrived to a place called White
Crossing; he was tired and far away from the Ranch, and he decided it was better
to pass the night there. There was a river with nice water running and great
trees. Near the river banks, it grew suitable grass for the horse to eat, and it
could be a comfortable bed for Givens himself. The rancher had tobacco and
coffee and felt satisfied with his circumstances. Anyway, he laid the pistol
belt on the grass: it was necessary to be watchful about the Mexican lions.
Givens was approaching the river for water, when
suddenly he discovered unexpected presences. There was a side saddled pony, and
rising from the edge of a water hole was Josefa. Not only the pony and Josefa were
there, but, at short distance, a terrifying Mexican lion stay hidden in the
vegetation. Givens had to do something… his six-shooter was not at hand… so,
crying loudly, Givens jumped between the Princess and the beast. At the same
time, the man heard two shots and was flattened to the ground by the heavy
lion.
While Josefa calmly reloaded her silver mounted 38, with
a sarcastic smile in her face, Givens could move from under the dead animal,
feeling a defeated knight, his dream about the girl lost and burnt.
Anyway, he immediately came out with a curious
explanation, and while touching tenderly the dead lion, he exclaimed “poor old
Bill!” Givens version sustained that Bill, his innocent pet, had escaped from
the camp, probably exhausted because a little annoying terrier arrived to the
site and frightened him. And now poor Bill was hungry, and perhaps he expected Josefa
would help him. Josefa couldn’t have known, Givens said, but some reproach
appeared in his face.
Josefa seemed deeply ashamed and guilty, also admired
Givens, who had risked his life to protect his pet. With tears in her dark, sweet
eyes, she asked forgiveness. And Givens yielded.
It was already dark, Josefa should be accompanied to
the Espinosa Ranch; consequently, both rode their ponies side by side, hand in
hand, along the prairie.
The King appreciated Givens courtesy and offered him
to pass the night in the ranch, but the foreman declined and trotted away.
At that point, Josefa proudly referred to her father
how she had set two bullets to that killer Mexican lion, the “Gotch-eared
Devil”; she recognized the animal for the slice on the left ear that old
Gonzales had cut off with his machete. From the dark royal chamber, the thunder
royal voice expressed the sincerest approval to the Princess.
QUESTIONS
-Why did Josefa pretend to believe Givens's lie?
-At the end of the film Speed, after overcoming all the dangers, the male protagonist says to the female star that relationships that arise from extreme situations don't usually last. What is it your view about it?
-According to your opinion, what animals could be treated as pets and which ones not? Do you think animals must have some rights?