Chapter 2
Two weeks later Diego leaned at the bar in the tavern sipping his juice. "What brings you to the pueblo this early in the morning, Diego?" Victoria asked. "Did you run out of books to keep you awake at night?" she teased him.
Diego smiled at her. "No, there are still enough books for me. I'm here to meet with my cousin Ana Teresa. She's supposed to arrive today on the coach from the harbor in San Pedro."
"Your cousin, Diego?" Victoria asked curiously.
"She's the daughter of my father's cousin Esteban," Diego explained. "Though she is already twenty-three she is still unmarried. And because I am still unmarried too..."
"Your fathers expect you to marry her?" Victoria looked surprised. "Do you want to marry her?"
"She is a real beauty. We met during my time in Madrid." Diego shrugged. "I think it's time for me to marry."
Victoria stared at him, stunned. "Are you really considering marriage? I thought you said there was a woman nearby you loved?"
They were interrupted by the opening of the tavern door, and de Soto entered with a young woman, followed by a blast of heat from the outside.
"You must tell me everything about Madrid, Señorita," De Soto talked to the elegantly dressed woman who was half a head shorter than him.
"Ah, Alcalde, I see you've already met my cousin," Diego addressed him, crossing the tavern to welcome Ana Teresa. Victoria thought she had never seen such a beautiful woman before. She had dark brown hair that was pinned up in a bun with some loose strands of hair framing her heart-shaped face in the latest fashion. Her skin, a striking contrast to her brown eyes, was very light, carefully kept out of the sun.
"Cousin Ana, it's been a long time since we met, I hope the journey went well. You are more beautiful than the last time I saw you," Diego took her hand, kissing her knuckles lightly.
"Cousin Diego, it's good to see you again. You're much more handsome than I remember," Ana Teresa smiled at him. "I didn't remember it could get so hot here. I can't wait to get out of this heat after this long journey."
Why in the world had her father decided to send her to this benighted place at the end of the world? She could have traveled through Europe until the scandal with the duel was forgotten, but no, she had to visit her relatives in California. Her father had told her that her other relatives hadn't been willing to take her in because of it, but she hadn't believed him.
Her father was very wrong if he believed she might marry her still unmarried cousin and stay in California. The faster she got back to Madrid, the better. Away from her cousin who didn't appear to have changed during the years she hadn't seen him.
She knew very well that Diego didn't like her at all and the dislike was mutual. Diego might be rich and good-looking, but he had always been such a bore. Always standing up for the good and defending the helpless. He'd been like that ever since they were children. What fun was there in life if you didn't use your wealth and the power it provided? Who cared about some servants or peasants or whatever?
"Yes, after the time on the ship, it takes some time to get used to the heat again." Diego escorted her to a nearby table.
"Victoria, please bring some lemonade for my cousin. It will be refreshing after the heat outside." Diego smiled, but he didn't miss the annoyed look Victoria threw in their direction.
The Alcalde hadn't taken his eyes off the beautiful woman, but it would be very impolite to intrude on her when he wanted to make a good impression.
"Alcalde, please let me introduce you to my cousin Ana Teresa de la Vega," Diego said. "Ana Teresa, this is Ignacio de Soto, Alcalde of our lovely pueblo."
"We have met already, Diego," Ana smiled, "but its nice to be properly introduced." Ana held out her hand for de Soto to kiss.
"It's my pleasure to meet you, Señorita," de Soto bowed over her hand. "You must tell me the current news about Madrid, my beloved hometown."
"It will be my pleasure to tell you all about it. I never expected to find a kindred soul who appreciates the finer points of culture in this backward corner of the world."
Diego ignored the contemptuous remark about California and continued to smile. "Not everyone shares your taste, cousin."
After they had finished their lemonade, Diego and his cousin left the tavern and de Soto returned to his office.
"You didn't tell me you had brought your maid with you," Diego said to Ana as they arrived at the heap of luggage that had been unloaded from the coach that had brought her from the harbor. "Why didn't you invite her in so that she could have a drink too? It's very hot outside."
"And who would have guarded my luggage in the meantime?" Ana replied. "She can have a drink at your hacienda in the kitchen."
"Consuela, put my luggage in Don Diego's carriage." Ana addressed her maid. The woman curtsied and turned to do so, but Diego picked up the heavy luggage and loaded it quickly as most of the boxes were too heavy for the maid. Ana sat haughtily in the shaded carriage, waiting as they finished the job.
Z~Z~Z
"Señorita Victoria, who was that beautiful woman who just left with Don Diego?" Mendoza asked upon entering the tavern.
Victoria could hardly believe it. Suddenly there was this woman in the pueblo and all the men had nothing better to do than trying to find out about her, hopefully to get her attention. Even Diego didn't seem to be immune to her, kissing her hand and acting so interested in her. She'd never thought she'd see that side of him. And on top of that his cousin was going to live at the de la Vega hacienda. Was Diego really considering marrying her?
"That was Señorita Ana Teresa de la Vega, Don Diego's cousin from Madrid." Victoria replied, annoyed.
Mendoza started to grin. "His cousin, you say? I wonder what such a beauty is doing in our little pueblo. Is she going to stay?"
"Why don't you ask her yourself, Mendoza?" Victoria replied. "Are you going to buy a drink or are you just wasting my time?"
"Why are you in such a bad mood, Señorita?" Mendoza asked. "You must admit that she is really a princess. And related to the de la Vegas and the King, too. Have you seen how gracefully she moved out of the door on Don Diego's arm?" Mendoza continued to rhapsodize.
"Are you finished, Mendoza? Such a woman is not in your class. You should know that by now, Sergeant."
"Yes, you're probably right, Señorita, but that doesn't stop a man from dreaming." Mendoza faced reality again. "Diego taught me how to court a woman when Señorita Herrera was visiting. She even agreed to marry me after I saved her from the bandits, so don't write me off so easily." Mendoza sighed. "She probably can't cook anyway."
"Cook? Why are you thinking about cooking?" Victoria asked, irritated.
"Well, it is important for a man," Mendoza stroked across his belly. "There is nothing better than a woman who is a good cook."
"That's so typical of you, Mendoza. A woman can look like a mule as long as she can cook a good meal for you. Men!" Victoria shook her head and vanished into the kitchen with the dishes.
