Alejandro remained standing in the plaza after the doctor left. He glanced at the gate and the spot where the men had dumped his son. Who could have hated Diego enough to do this? Will they try something again? Alejandro left the plaza and his unpleasant thoughts behind as he climbed the stairs to his son's bedroom.

Alejandro stopped outside of Diego's room. His hand reached for the doorknob but stopped before his fingers clasped the cold iron. Alejandro couldn't help but feel that he had somehow failed his son. Wasn't it his job as a father to keep his child safe?

A nagging question kept running through Alejandro's mind. What if someone went after Diego to get to me? Diego hasn't done anything to make enemies. He is liked by almost everyone in the pueblo. I, on the other hand, have made several enemies in my day.

Alejandro's thoughts were broken as the door before him opened. "Ahh! Alejandro, are you trying to kill me? My heart isn't what it used to be." Fernando said, placing his hand over his heart. He stepped back into the room and gave a slight wave of his hand, "Never mind my heart, Diego is awake and he…"

Alejandro did not let his friend finish before he swept past him and knelt beside his son's bed. "Diego, how do you feel?"

Diego tried to give his father a reassuring smile, but his cut lip only allowed for a crooked grin. Diego's voice came out soft and raspy, "I am fine, father. You do not need to worry about me." Diego paused and looked his father over, "You don't look to good yourself."

Alejandro began to protest but stopped when he looked down at his suit. It was damp and wrinkled. Mud splattered the leggings and the front of his jacket. "I guess you are right, mi hijo. Our good friend here," Alejandro said gesturing to Don Fernando "doesn't seem to be fairing any better."

Don Fernando grinned, "I suppose you are right. If you will excuse me I would like to go change. I will see you soon Diego." Fernando gave Diego one last smile and turned to leave. Before he closed the door he peered back inside, "I will ask Maria to warm supper and bring Diego some broth, as well as the tea."

"Gracias, Fernando. You can use the bath if you wish. I will have Maria bring one of my suits for you to wear." Alejandro told his friend.

"Gracias, but there is no need. I have several suits with me. I wasn't sure how long I was going to stay so I packed a few things. Bernardo has already put my saddlebags in a guestroom. I will be back when supper is ready. Rest easy Diego."

Fernando shut the door and an uneasy quiet settled in the room. Neither man knew where to begin. It was Diego who finally broke the silence. "Lo siento. I never should have left without telling someone where I was going. That was…foolish of me." Alejandro could tell Diego's short speech had taken its toll.

"There is no need for you to apologize Diego. I am the one who should be sorry," Alejandro admitted.

Diego scrunched his brows together and rubbed his temples. "What should you be sorry for?"

Alejandro sighed, "I didn't protect you. You are my child. It is my job to see that you are safe. I should have known something was wrong. I should…"

Diego's firm voice broke Alejandro's confession, "I am a grown man, Father. You do not have to protect me. I did what I thought was best. Do not ever forget that, no matter what happens. I have always done what I thought was right. What I felt had to be done." Diego's voice trailed off at the end, exhaustion overtaking him.

Alejandro wanted to ask his son what he meant but merely said, "Rest now, mi hijo. I will bring you some broth in a little while. When you are strong enough you can tell me what happened." Alejandro stood and gave Diego's shoulder a firm squeeze.

Alejandro emerged from his son's room just as a knock resounded through the house. Assuming it was Sergeant Garcia, Alejandro made his way to the front door to great the corpulent soldier.

Alejandro was surprised to see a tall, dark-haired man standing in his sala. "Who might you be, Señor," Alejandro asked the stranger.

The young man bowed his head slightly, "I am sorry to disturb you and your house but I fear I am lost. I am on my way to Los Angeles. I was told it was only five miles to town, but I seem to have traveled several extra."

Alejandro took in the dress of the man. He wore the clothes of a caballero, a dark-blue suit with silver embroidery down the length of the jacket and pants. His sombrero was also dark blue, the same silver pattern was woven around the rim. Black riding gloves adorned his hands and black polished boots protected his feet.

The man was handsome. He was tall and lean, although broad at the shoulders. His dark, unruly hair fell across his brow and partially hid his light brown eyes. He wore a thin mustache as did many of the young caballeros, and his already tan skin was even darker from exposure to the California sun. The only mar on his features was a thin scar on his face.

"Los Angeles is only a few miles south. If you follow the road you should have no trouble finding the pueblo," Don Alejandro said.

"Gracias, Señor. Again I am sorry for disturbing your house. I will be on my way." The young man turned and left the house. His long stride carried him quickly to his horse. In one smooth movement, he mounted and turned his horse south. He nudged the mare into a gallop and disappeared from sight.

Don Fernando, who had just returned from his bath, turned to Alejandro. "Who was the young man?"

Alejandro shrugged his shoulders, "I do not know. He claims he was merely lost, but something didn't seem right." Alejandro looked out the window and across the plaza, "No matter, he is gone now. Let us go get some dinner."

Don Fernando smiled at his friend, "I was forced to wash before dinner, don't you think you could at least change."

Alejandro couldn't help but smile back. Fernando never liked solemn moments and always had something to offer to change the mood. "Perhaps you are right. I am going to change and check on Diego. Then I will be down for supper."

Alejandro returned down stairs twenty minutes later. "How is Diego?" Maria, the family-cook, asked as she set a plate of steaming paella in front of Don Alejandro.

"He is still sleeping. The tea Doctor Hernandez had Bernardo give him seems to be working. His fever is down, too. Bernardo is sitting with him for the moment." Alejandro replied.

Dinner was almost finished when another knock sounded at the door. A minute later, Manuel appeared in the dining room. "Perdon, señores. Sergeant Garcia is here to see you."

Alejandro nodded, "I will be there in a moment. Give the good sergeant a glass of wine while he waits."

"Sí, I will tell him." Manuel said as he turned to leave the kitchen. He stopped at the wine rack and removed a glass and a small bottle of wine for the sergeant. Everyone knew of Sergeant Garcia's taste for wine. He would often wander around the small inn talking to the occupants in order to receive a little wine. Diego was one of Sergeant Garcia's biggest contributors. The sergeant would always expect some wine and a light-hearted conversation from Diego.

Sergeant Garcia stood when Manuel entered. He was expecting Alejandro, but his disappointment soon faded when he saw the wine Manuel carried. The sergeant took the wine gratefully, "Gracias, Manuel. This is just what I needed after hearing what happened to Diego."

The sergeant uncharacteristically sipped his wine. He gently swirled the auburn liquid as he thought of poor Diego lying in bed, bruised and sore. Like all the others, he wondered who would have done this to Diego. He hadn't known Diego as long as some, but he was almost certain he had made no enemy in California. He had barely finished his first glass when Alejandro strode through the sala door, Don Fernando at his heels.

"Don Alejandro, Don Fernando." Sergeant Garcia greeted each man as he stood and placed his empty glass on a small pine table. "I would have been here sooner, but I wanted to send some men to search the hills. I know they aren't very good and Zorro will probably take care of it, but I had to do something for Diego…"

"That is quite alright Sergeant," Alejandro interrupted the nervous man and indicated he should take a seat. "You did everything right. Diego is still asleep and won't be able to talk with you until tomorrow or maybe the following day."

The usually cheerful Sergeant frowned, his round face wrinkled between his eyebrows and long creases raced down the corners of his mouth. "Diego is always there when I need him," the sergeant began, "and I want to be here now that he needs me. Diego has never needed anyone before, and I don't want to mess up the one chance I have to return all that he has done for me."

Alejandro started. Sergeant Garcia was right. His son had never needed anyone since his return from Spain. He may not be a fighter like Alejandro wanted, but he could never say his son was dependent on him or anyone else in California, except maybe Bernardo. Alejandro spoke quietly, "You are right Sergeant. Diego has never needed any of us until now, and I plan on finding those who did this to him." Alejandro's voice began to rise as a plan formed in his mind, "I am certain the other caballeros will help us look for these men. As soon as Doctor Hernandez returns and allows Diego to tell us who did this, we will ride out to capture them."

Don Fernando and Sergeant Garcia nodded in agreement. They spent the next few minutes determining who they would contact and when they would meet. It was decided that Don Edwardo, Don Carlos and Don Esteban, along with Alejandro, Don Fernando, and an accompaniment of soldiers would meet at Alejandro's after the afternoon siesta.

Alejandro walked Sergeant Garcia to the door. "Gracias, Sergeant. I appreciate all that you are doing. I could send some of my vaqueros to contact the other Dons if you would like."

The sergeant shook his head, "No, I want to do this. I will come back with Doctor Hernandez so I can take Diego's statement as soon as possible." Sergeant Garcia shook Don Alejandro's hand before mounting his horse and heading east toward Don Esteban's hacienda.

Alejandro turned to Don Fernando, "I think I will go relieve Bernardo so he can get some rest. You should get to bed also. Tomorrow will be a long day."

"I believe you are right. That is why I will come and sit with Diego around midnight," Fernando said, cutting off Alejandro's protests, "No arguments. You need your rest as much as I do. Now I will see you in a few hours."

The tall, grey-haired Don turned and headed up the wooden staircase. He briefly opened the door to Diego's room and wished him a goodnight, even though he knew Diego wouldn't hear him.

Don Fernando undressed and pulled on a nightshirt. He felt tired. Despite the morning rain, the day had started out pleasant. Don Fernando's worries about his wife were eased after his talk with Alejandro, but new worries soon replaced his old ones. He could not remember a more stressful afternoon. His aging body felt the results of the adrenaline rush his body received after first discovering Diego. The adrenaline was replaced by worry and anger, which weighed heavily upon his broad shoulders.

Aching muscles protested as he slid between the sheets and blew out the lantern. He stared out the window for a moment. Dark clouds obscured the stars and moon, leaving the earth dark and dreary. Just like today, Fernando thought as he closed his eyes and tried to get a few hours of sleep before he traded with Alejandro.

TBC