The story takes place in a small town in New Mexico where a young girl named Maria lived. Maria was a beautiful young lady who was so full of herself that she thought she was better than everyone else. Maria's parents bought her whatever she wanted, but she was never satisfied. Maria thought she needed better things.

When Maria got older Maria, her grandmother would walk around the village and Maria would say, "When I grow up I will marry the most handsome man in New Mexico."

Her mother and grandmother would tell her to marry a good man with a good heart, but Maria wouldn't listen to them.

One day a man came to Santa Fe. He seemed to be the handsome man Maria wanted. He would ride wild horses and when the horse was tamed he would just jump on some other wild horse and train it.

Maria had it all planned to get Gregorio. Every time Gregorio greeted her she would turn her head away. When he sang at her window she would pay no attention to him, so Gregorio made up his mind that Maria was the woman that he would marry. Maria's parents did not like the idea of Maria marrying Gregorio, but they got married anyway.

Now mothers and fathers tell their kids to come home by sundown or else La Llorona will get them.