Mária is happy to have a woman to talk to, and Antonio's two older sisters are happy to have someone to help with their chores so that they can spend more time playing together with dolls. ... However, Ultima helps him appreciate the beauty of the plains that his father loves so much. ... Part of Ultima's authority in the community and in Antonio's family comes from the fact that even though she is not a member of the Catholic Church, she rigorously follows a philosophy that highly values harmony and free will. ...