Chapter 4 Summary

The group arrives at the Rodriguez ranch to find the wagon Mama has requested hidden in the barn. Its floor has been raised enough so that Mama, Esperanza, and Hortensia can lie down and hide inside. Esperanza is unhappy with the idea of being uncomfortable, but reluctantly scoots into the wagon with her mother and Hortensia. Guavas are packed in after them to hide their presence further. She is told that danger of the bandits is great and women cannot safely travel at night in Mexico.

To quell her fear, Hortensia begins to recall for them a time in the past when she and Esperanza were forced to hide under a bed while thieves stole their silver. When Esperanza began to move and makes a sound, Miguel dropped a mouse on the floor that he had previously hidden to scare Esperanza. The thieves...