Alejandro's Memories
The day had started with such normalcy and love. It had ended with such despair.
The trip to the tavern was as it always had been – uneventful. The air was clear, and the sun was shining with such warmth. The mares were frisky and they let them have their heads. Alejandro had hung back, watching his son race his horse over the plains. The delight on his son's face was innocent and carefree, like a boy once more. All those thoughts of his lack of skills on a horse were dispelled in that instant. Alejandro was distracted from his thoughts as Diego shouted a challenge.
"Let's see who is the fastest today!" Diego's words echoed a child's game they used to play when Diego was still a young boy, slowly but surely developing his skills. Most of the time, Alejandro had let the boy win by a landslide, until he truly had the skills to be a match for him. Today he wanted to see what Diego could do, so he pushed him to the limit.
Diego raced enthusiastically until about a couple of minutes out of town. Alejandro had never realised Esperanza was that fast, although she was the mother of several champion racehorses.
On the edge of town, Alejandro noticed a decided shift in Diego's seat, a stiffening of muscles. He easily overtook his son, without even trying. Diego seemed to have pulled Esperanza in, and she fidgeted with the tight reins for a moment. Diego seemed to deflate and he gently patted his mare sympathetically.
Alejandro frowned. His son had gone from relaxed brazen boyhood to elderly gentleman in a few short moments. He needed to speak to his son.
They tethered the mares at the doorway of the tavern.
"Diego," Alejandro began. Diego didn't seem to hear him, and entered the tavern quickly.
"Victoria, how are you this morning?" Diego greeted the tavern keeper. Alejandro glanced at his son. His eyes were so bright, a smile played at his lips. Victoria stopped what she was doing, and waved a little movement. She was busy with customers, but she sent a bright smile his way.
Alejandro unpacked the papers. "Diego, I do need some help here," he said with a smile. Diego turned to him, startled as if out of a dream. His eyes grew serious and his mouth forgot its smile.
"Yes, yes of course." Diego shook himself, and put his mind to the task at hand. Numbers and facts were enjoyable for him, after all. Alejandro glanced at the serious stance of his son, and then at Victoria's busy movements. They were friendly, a little more than friendly. He hadn't noticed it before.
"What will it be today?" Victoria asked, as she hovered near the table. She poured two juices for the men, and waited for them to answer her. Alejandro found himself studying his son's reaction closely. He looked up, but avoided looking directly into her eyes, with difficulty. His son's body tensed but he seemed happy, incredibly happy.
"Chicken tamales will do today," Alejandro answered for both of them. Diego nodded.
"Maybe some beef tamales as well. It looks like we will have a great deal of work ahead of us. These accounts are in a bit of a shambles," Diego said softly. "Maybe a glass of milk."
Alejandro nodded. "A bottle of wine as well."
"Well, sounds like a plan, gentlemen," Victoria said with a smile. She glanced at the bundle of papers Diego was leafing through and grinned. "I don't envy you at all, Don Diego."
"Oh, he enjoys it," Alejandro said dismissively. "Don't worry about him."
Diego sighed and grinned. "Actually the numbers are a challenge I enjoy." Alejandro looked at his son, and wondered how long this lunch would stretch out.
Diego didn't seem too much in a hurry to start, and he spent a lot of time gazing at Victoria from a distance. He toyed with the tamales before eating a few. He played with the pencil in his hand, and the actual work only took a very short time. There were only a few sums that needed doing, and the brain work involved was nothing.
Several hours had passed before Diego declared the job done.
Ignatio de Soto entered the tavern. Diego seemed to flinch before he smiled politely and waved at the man. He sat at his usual table, and ordered something complicated.
A rough couple of men entered. Nothing too strange, there were always rough looking travellers passing through. They seemed to notice Alejandro, and came over to the table. Alejandro glanced up and realised with a thrill of fear that he recognised one of the men.
"Excuse me, Diego, I need to talk to someone," Alejandro said softly. He touched his son's arm as he left the table. Diego looked around curiously, but his father didn't seem distressed or angry, so he relaxed. Packing away the papers, he looked around for Victoria. It was near siesta time, and the tavern would close for the traditional rest. He wanted to chat with her for a while, and he left the table to move towards the bar.
"Is milk too much to ask for?" He asked with a smile. Victoria shook her head at his question.
"In this heat, Diego? Orange juice is better," she answered. Diego nodded, and watched her pour the drink.
"Your father seems very intrigued by what that stranger is saying," Victoria commented, indicating the pair talking in a corner. Diego glanced across as he took a sip from his glass. He couldn't see the men's faces, but they were in a serious huddle. Diego stiffened and downed his drink.
His father noticed him move from across the room.
"Do you understand what I am saying to you? What will happen if you don't do as I say? I could destroy you so easily, Alejandro," the man was saying. Alejandro almost threw the man against the wall. No one threatened him, no one threatened his family.
"I won't even consider the idea. You can't frighten me. We can take care of ourselves here in California," Alejandro said firmly. He placed a hand on his sword hilt, which Diego saw and moved even more quickly to stand with his father.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, yes. We were just finishing our conversation, Diego."
"You have a fine son, Alejandro. The world is a dangerous place. Think it over," the man said with a growl. Then he turned and left the tavern.
Diego waited and watched the man leave. Alejandro noticed the tense muscles on his son's neck contract. His eyes were alert and sharp, the icy steel blue of anger flickered in their depths. Alejandro patted Diego's shoulder gently.
"It's nothing for you to concern yourself about Diego," Alejandro said softly. "Just old men with old problems. No danger there."
"Sounded like a veiled threat to me," Diego murmured. He turned his attention back to his father, and the tavern. Victoria had wandered across behind Diego.
"What a nasty looking gentleman," she murmured softly. "We get their kind regularly, I'm afraid. All bark and no bite, in my opinion."
Diego turned to thank her for the meal. "I'm going to find Mendoza. A bit of gossip will be nice after that turn of the books," he said brightly. His father shook his head and chuckled a little.
"That boy is always gossiping with the soldiers," he said.
"I suppose that's how he gets the news for that paper of his," Victoria answered. "Do you need a room for siesta, or are you heading back, Don Alejandro?"
"I might wait for my son, so a room would be nice. If there is one for Diego, I'll reserve it for him."
The quiet of siesta was broken by yells and the sounds of gunfire.
Alejandro was woken from his light doze by the Victoria's scream, and rushed to the window, thinking to see Zorro fighting valiantly in the plaza. His old 'friend' had Diego at gun point, and was cocking the pistol to be ready to fire it. He was not bluffing.
"Alcalde, do something," Victoria pleaded. She was watching from the doorway.
"At least tell me what I've done to offend you," Diego said, trying to keep it light. Perhaps the man was drunk. "I really have no idea."
"You are the son of Alejandro de la Vega?"
Diego saw movement at the window of the tavern and recognised his father. The man that held him was the man his father was talking with previously. He gazed at his father for a moment, and nodded. He could lie and deny it, but what was the point of that?
"My father is one of the most powerful people in California. You will not get away with this," Diego growled. There were too many people in the plaza, and the gun was too close to his head to try anything to escape the situation.
Alejandro was hoping to see Zorro ride in, whip cracking and send the villains flying in every direction. Not even the soldiers dared to move. The man glanced up at the frozen face of Alejandro and smirked.
"Not so hard to catch your whelp, was it, Senor? You know what I want, Alejandro. I'll be in contact," the man said, using the butt of the gun to knock Diego down into the dust. A cart rumbled up and they were gone in a haze of brown dust.
Alejandro ran downstairs and grabbed the Alcalde.
"Why didn't you do something?"
"What could I do? Don Alejandro, I was not aware of the danger until too late." Ignatio de Soto gazed in the direction the cart had travelled in.
"I am requesting personal assistance from the governor, de Soto," Alejandro threatened. The Alcalde paused in his speech about not having the troops to go after the kidnappers. He was aware of the de la Vegas and their influence at court lately. The governor would take their cause, and run with it. His reputation would once again be tarnished by this darn fool territory.
"No need, of course, Don Alejandro. All efforts will be taken for Diego's safe return," the Alcalde said, trying to placate the anxious father. "Have no fear, I will personally guarantee his safe return."
"Lancers, follow that cart. Hang back a little, we're not sure what they will do with Don Diego if they feel threatened," de Soto ordered his men.
Alejandro watched them go, but fear filled his heart. Victoria looked at him.
"What do they want?"
"Revenge, my dear. That is what it is always about, I'm afraid." Alejandro shuddered. He knew what those men wanted. They had lost too much. He knew they would kill his son, even as he had killed their boys, even though in self-defence. They wanted blood, and retribution. Only the ransom might prevent it.
