Chapter 2
Ramon Escalante proceeded to the entrance of the tavern. The de la Vegas and an attractive brunette were sitting at the table. Don Alejandro and Diego stood to greet Ramon. The older don shook Ramon's hand enthusiastically while Diego hugged his childhood friend warmly.
"Ramon, may I present Senorita Aria Franco," Alejandro said, "She will be staying with us at our hacienda. This is Victoria's brother, Ramon, a very dear friend of ours."
"A pleasure to meet you." He certainly is handsome.
"What brings you back to the pueblo, Ramon?"
"My commanding officer honored my request to come home."
"This is wonderful news, Diego."
"Military life agrees with you, Ramon but Victoria will be glad to have you nearby."
"It is good to be home."
"Ramon, join us for dinner tonight at seven."
"I would like that very much."
The Kitchen...
"Victoria."
"I missed you, Ramon. It is good to have you home where you look wonderful!"
"You are as beautiful as ever."
"I requested a transfer and I am here to stay."
"We have a lot to talk about, big brother."
The de la Vega hacienda...
"Welcome to our hacienda, Señorita Franco."
"Gracias, Senor de la Vega. I am honored." The home was tastefully furnished but it needs a woman's touch.
"You are most welcome,. View this as your home while you are here. Victoria, thank you for agreeing to stay with us."
"I am glad to help in any way that I can."
"Miguel, show the senoritas to the bedrooms at the end of the hall. We shall see you and Victoria in the dining room for supper at seven."
The Dining Room...
"Dinner was wonderful, Don Alejandro."
"Maria does her best to rival your cooking, Victoria."
"Maria is a wonderful cook but Victoria is a wonderful cook in her own right," Diego smiled.
The young don seems quite fond of Victoria. If I were her, I would set my cap for the tall blue eyed caballero. I wonder why she has not...
"Are you enjoying your stay in Los Angeles, Senorita Franco?"
"Very much, Don Alejandro. I want to become a part of the community."
"Senorita Franco, tell us about life in Italy."
"The Santa Maria del Flore cathedral has the largest brick dome in the world and is considered a masterpiece of Italian architecture."
"The museums, the culture…the literature are among the finest in the world," Diego inserted. "I would like to see the famous Mona Lisa."
"My son is a great admirer of Da Vinci…"
"He was a genius…" the tall caballero interrupted.
"It is truly a beautiful place...I miss it…"
"Italy sounds charming," Victoria stated.
"Los Angeles has its own charms. I would like to settle down here, find a husband and raise a family." Aria cast a flirtatious glance at Diego.
"There are not many women brave enough to live in Los Angeles."
"Don Diego, wouldn't you like to marry someday, have a family of your own? I am surprised that you are still single."
"My father would like a hacienda full of grandchildren but I have not met the right woman yet."
I hope she is not getting ready to ask me the same question, Victoria thought. "Before you ask, Senorita Franco, my heart belongs to Zorro."
"Who is this Zorro?" Aria had heard tales of him and was curious about the masked outlaw.
"Zorro protects the people from the oppression of the alcalde," Don Alejandro inserted.
"Zorro? Doesn't that mean 'fox" or 'le Renard' as we would say in France?"
"Exactly, senorita," Diego smiled.
"I wonder if I will get a chance to see this Zorro. What about you, Senor Escalante? I am sure you have a story about Zorro."
"I most certainly have," he stated.
The masked man hid behind a hedge, watching as the soldiers ran by. Suddenly he reached up and grabs a man to his right, flipping him onto his back on the ground. Zorro jumped on top of the man's chest as the fallen man struggled to free himself.
"Ramon!"
"Zorro!"
"Could you remove your knee from my rib cage, amigo?" the masked man laughed. "It's been a long time."
The soldier related how he had gotten into the fortress, what happened when they got inside, and finally finding their long, lost father. Ramon acknowledged his sister with a gentle squeeze to her hand.
"Your father was a good man, Ramon," Don Alejandro and Diego nodded in agreement.
"Gracias, Don Alejandro."
"What about you, Don Diego? You didn't go…It sounds exciting."
"Diego offered to go but Zorro showed up instead."
How interesting, Aria thought. What brought Zorro all the way to Devil's Fortress unless he had tender feelings for Senorita Escalante?
"My son got back safely... The daring exploits are best left up to Zorro."
"Let's change the subject shall we."
"Diego is a bit jealous of Zorro," Victoria remarked, "He prefers more peaceful pursuits."
"I consider sword fighting rather tedious," Diego stated in an uninterested tone of voice, "there are other things that are more stimulating...like art, literature, music, science…"
Diego didn't sound like the same teenager that rode horses…the same teen that toyed with the sword. What had changed since he went away to university?
'I agree, Don Diego," Aria replied, "Dashing about with a saber is quite out of fashion."
"Zorro is a lion amongst a lot of frightened sheep." If I could combine Zorro's courage, elegance and daring with Diego's compassion and dependability, I could create the perfect man...…
"One is quite enough. I am sure the alcalde would agree." Victoria was disgusted by Diego's lack of courage.
"Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valor." Don Diego is hurt by Victoria's remarks but is too much of a gentleman to say so.
"Sometimes, one must fight fire with fire."
"The law is the law. The caballeros are afraid to revolt and I cannot go against the government I served for many years. Let's move on to another topic of conversation and agree to disagree. My son is the editor of The Guardian, our local newspaper."
"I would like to read it sometime, Don Diego. it sounds fascinating."
"I will take you on a tour of the offices, Aria. It is a small paper but it serves the needs of our pueblo."
"I would be glad to show you around the pueblo as well, if that is alright with you, Senorita Franco."
"I accept your offer, Ramon. Please call me Aria. I look forward to it, Ramon."
Our lovely guest has certainly made things interesting around here. I can't wait for the fireworks, Don Alejandro thought.