Chapter 4

Diego and Aria were enjoying their breakfast at the Tavern as the alcalde entered followed by Sergeant Mendoza. The caballero looked at the alcalde suspiciously. Ignacio will not be pleased when he finds out about Aria's former profession...

"Well, who do we have here?" What would such a beautiful woman be doing in a small pueblo like Los Angeles? And with de la Vega of all people?

"Alcalde, this is Senorita Aria Franco, a guest in our home. May I present Ignacio Desoto, alcalde of Los Angeles?"

"Welcome, Senorita Franco. This pueblo is graced by your presence."

"Thank you, Senor Desoto. You have a charming pueblo." The former courtesan was accustomed to men who hid their emotions behind a mask of politeness and insincerity. This man was dangerous.

"Gracias. Senorita. Welcome to Los Angeles...as a visitor to this pueblo you are expected to pay a traveler's tax. I am authorized to collect it."" The woman was well educated but there was something about her...

"Traveler's tax? This is preposterous! If one refuses to pay such a tax?"

"I become quite angry and it is not a pretty sight."

"I will pay the fee, how much is it?" Aria offered quickly.

"Five pesos. A businesswoman such as yourself understands the importance of making a profit even though your methods differ from mine."

"This is extortion, alcalde and you know it!"

"Stay out of it, Don Diego. I have heard that this lady and I use the term loosely is a courtesan. Los Angeles cannot condone having her living among us... no matter how beautiful she is…She is nothing but a high priced…"

"The senorita want to be judged for who she is and not her past," Diego interrupted before the alcade could finish.

"Spoken like the do-gooder that you are, Don Diego. Senorita, make sure that you do not practice your profession while you are here, comprende?"

"I have no intention of resuming my former profession, Senor DeSoto."

"Good…I am glad that we understand each other."

"Leave the Señorita alone, Ignacio," Diego demanded, "She wants to change her life and you are honor bound to respect that. Senorita Franco is under our protection. As long as she is our guest you will treat her with the respect she deserves…"

"You have no right to tell my how to run this pueblo," the alcalde wanted nothing more than to put the troublesome caballero in jail but the thought of dealing with Don Alejandro was not what he wanted. Desoto had seldom seen Diego show any backbone. What was it about the senorita that brought out such a response? Could he be enamored with the woman? "Make sure, she stays out of my way, de la Vega."

Mild-mannered Diego had actually taken a stand about something… I wanted him to take action so why does his reaction bother me so, Victoria frowned.

ZZZ

Sometime later, Ramon returned to the tavern. Diego and Aria had left. The soldier wanted to see how his sister felt about Aria's infatuation with Don Diego. Victoria was upset by the way she swiped at the tables in anger. "Take it easy, little sister! The table is not your enemy."

"Ramon, you startled me!"

"Were you expecting Diego perhaps? He is giving Aria a …tour of the Guardian."

"Always the proper caballero. Isn't he?" Victoria remarked sarcastically.

"Diego is being a gentleman… What is your problem, little sister?"

"Everyone is so…protective of Aria. She is not as helpless as everyone seems to think…"

"You're jealous…."

"That is the most ridiculous thing that I've ever heard of…me….jealous of Aria…of all people!"

"You, my dear sister, are accustomed to being the center of attention especially when it comes to Diego and he has been spending a lot of time with Aria. Time that he would normally spend in this tavern with you...Aria is a very attractive woman."

"A little too attractive, if you ask me," she muttered.

"I don't think that he is interested in her but she seems quite taken with him."

"What would Aria see in Diego?" She was well traveled and quite elegant but what would she see in the indolent caballero. Aria was a breath of fresh air who could converse with Diego on a variety of subjects...what else could they possibly have in common?

"Don't you know, Victoria?" You have a blind spot when it came to Diego…Our 'friend' is a very good catch…He's a handsome man and his inheritance makes him very attractive to most women…"

"Diego...a good catch? Really?"

"Ask anyone…ask Pilar, for example,Pilar, what do you think of Diego?" he stated as the waitress walked though the curtains.

"Diego is the most handsome man in the pueblo. He is so tall and he has the most beautiful blue eyes…he is very wealthy. A lot of the girls think he would make a fine husband."

"Diego is not the most exciting person in the world not like...like Zorro...Zorro is a hero… He fights for justice!"" I don't care what the other ladies think of Diego...but she couldn't completely ignore the jealousy that she felt.

"Everyone admires Zorro for what he has done but it takes more than romance to make a good husband."

"Thank you, Pilar," Ramon smirked as Pilar returned to the kitchen.

"Don't look so pleased, Ramon," Victoria groused.

"Does it bother you that Diego is attractive to other women? Have you finally realized that he is a man? I don't see sisterly devotion in your eyes when you look at him."

"Don't be ridiculous! It doesn't matter to me one way or the other." Deep down, she knew that Ramon was right but she didn't want to admit it. Victoria didn't want Diego to suspect her feelings for him…I would never hear the end of it from Ramon or Don Alejandro...