A/N: These first chapters are short, but they'll get longer eventually.
CHAPTER TWO – Diego – Strike Two
It took Diego about an hour to warm up. He washed up, dried off, and put on a fresh dark blue light-weight wool suit. Felipe built a fire in the Library fireplace and before long, inside a blanket, drinking hot tea, Diego eventually stopped shivering.
"It doesn't seem as though I'm any worse for wear from the near strike." Diego adjusted the blanket. Felipe put another small log on the fire. "Except for a little residual tingling in my left foot."
While Diego cleaned up, Felipe took care of Tornado. "You know what we should do, Felipe?" Diego's face revealed a light bulb moment type of expression. Felipe cocked and shook his head questioningly.
"We should make a lightning rod!" Diego smiled large, his eyes wide open.
Felipe cocked his head to one side and questioned with his hands raised.
"We can make one for the hacienda. It will protect us from future lightning strikes. Americano Benjamin Franklin invented it. He said that lightning is like a huge electrical stab from the sky." Diego saw that Felipe wasn't quite following him.
"Senor Franklin pretty much proved that lightning is electricity by placing a sharpened iron rod in the air during a thunderstorm to draw out the lightning. His theory was that the iron rod acted like a magnet to draw the lighting to it. So if it struck the rod, it wouldn't strike elsewhere in the vicinity. The rod could protect buildings, particularly tall ones, from being struck and burning down."
Diego watched Felipe's hands gesture 'tall' in a questioning fashion. "Yes, Felipe, there are places in this world that have what are called multi-story buildings that are three, four, and even five-story buildings. There are two cathedrals in Europe whose spires reach over 500 feet high. Los Angeles doesn't have any buildings that tall. Maybe in the future we will.
"Now that I'm warmed up, let's go the blacksmith shop and see if he'll make us a lightning rod. It shouldn't take him too long. Then we can mount it. When next storm comes, we can watch it work. It will be a great science lesson!"
Z
Diego and Felipe rode into the pueblo around mid-afternoon. Miguel, the blacksmith, quickly fashioned a rod. While waiting for the rod to cool enough to take home, Diego and Felipe went to the tavern for a snack. Diego caught Victoria's eye and she came over to their favorite table by the thick pillar.
"Don Diego, Felipe, hola. How are you? What can I get you?" Victoria held a tray in her hands of empty glasses. She set it down on the table a moment.
"Hola, Victoria. We are well, gracias. We'd like some tea, por favor." Diego turned his eyes upward as she addressed him.
"Did you hear about the banditos Zorro brought in earlier today?"
Diego looked 'surprised' and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Felipe was also trying to look startled. "No, we didn't. Tell us about it. And please join us."
"Let me get your tea first. Shall I bring honey and cream?" Victoria picked up the tray.
"Si. I think Felipe puts a little of both in his. I like mine with a just a touch of honey only." Diego smiled and followed her with his eyes.
"I'll be right back." Victoria headed to the kitchen.
Diego and Felipe looked around, trying not to be too obvious, but almost every time they came to the tavern, they got into 'spy' mode. What was there to be seen and heard? Right now, however, there were only a couple of other customers, and they were known regulars. There was nothing more for Zorro to learn today. Diego noticed Felipe's expression reflected similar thoughts.
As Victoria brought their tea, Diego saw Sergeant Mendoza enter the tavern. Diego waved him over.
"Buenos Tardes, Don Diego," greeted Mendoza.
"Same to you, Sergeant. Have a seat. Join us. What would you like to drink? It's on me."
Diego noticed Mendoza smile with anticipation, then gratitude.
"I'll have some lemonade, Senorita. And some tamales, if you have any left from lunch." Mendoza looked at Diego, who nodded affirmatively. "Gracias, Don Diego."
"We have some beef tamales leftover, Sergeant. I was saving them just for you. I'll warm them up for you." Victoria placed the tea, then took the empty tray with her.
"Sergeant, I heard Zorro brought you some banditos today." Diego smiled innocuously.
"Si, Don Diego. He brought me the three who robbed the San Diego coach yesterday. They got here just before the big storm." Mendoza's chest swelled. "Of course, I was the one who Zorro brought the banditos to."
"Of course, Sergeant. If Zorro tried to bring them to the Alcalde, he might get arrested. But Zorro knows he can bring in the banditos and you'll be grateful, rather than spiteful." Diego smiled, more inwardly, than what showed on his face.
"How is Don Alejandro these days? I haven't seen him in the pueblo for over a week." Sergeant Mendoza cocked his head to one side.
"He's been away on rancho business, but he's due back early this evening. I hope he makes it back before any more storms hit the area." Diego's brow furrowed a bit with concern.
Z
"Are there going to be more storms?" Victoria brought Mendoza's tamales and tea, then sat down next to Diego. As she sat, she felt something strange come over her, almost like a shadow, but dismissed it. She'd never felt funny sitting next to Diego before.
"Well, it's certainly that time of year when storms can be more severe." Victoria rolled her eyes as Diego began to expound on cloud formations and weather patterns. She tried to give the impression she was listening. She noticed Felipe roll his eyes as well.
Miguel the blacksmith brought the lightning rod to the table. "Don Diego, your lightning rod is ready. And it looks like you'll be able to use it as soon as you get home. I noticed dark clouds are forming to the southwest. They are moving quickly in this direction. We could have another storm within the hour."
Victoria saw Diego and Felipe exchange glances then rose to leave before Diego relayed their farewells. "Well, it's been nice seeing you Sergeant, Senorita Victoria. It looks like Felipe and I better get home. Sergeant, enjoy your tamales."
"Adios, Don Diego, Felipe," said Victoria. Mendoza nodded vigorously in agreement, but his mouth was stuffed with a bite of tamale and all that came out was "uhm-uhm" with his hand to his mouth. Victoria rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Now Sergeant, you know you shouldn't talk with your mouth full."
Z
Diego and Felipe mounted their horses and began the ride home, the lightning rod hung on the left side of Diego's saddle horn. Felipe saw the clouds coming and signed, "I'll race you home!" Before Diego could respond, Felipe galloped away.
"You're on!" Diego got on his 'I love a good horse race' face. His eyes were playfully wide, his mouth in a huge grin. He spurred Esperanza, and the race was on.
The storm moved in quickly. Diego picked up the lightning rod and held it over his right shoulder. If lightning was nearby, he didn't want Esperanza to get hurt.
At nearly the same spot as before, Diego felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up again. This time, everything was closer, louder, and brighter. Then it seemed there was nothing at all.
TBC