Chapter 6

It was just after Alfonso's third birthday when Alejandro began to notice that Victoria was not her usual happy self, that she seemed to be low in spirit. He realised that it had started around a month ago, on his grandson's birthday. A sadness had crept over his young wife and had not lifted.

They were relaxing in the library one evening after dinner when Alejandro had an idea to help her out of her melancholy. "Victoria, why don't you and Alfonso come with me to Santa Paula tomorrow." he offered.

She looked up quizzically from the book she was reading. "What, go with you to the cattleman's meeting and be the only woman in a room full of men, all discussing cattle prices, I don't think so." she chuckled.

He grinned. "You used to do exactly that, whenever we held the meetings in your tavern."

She felt a flush creep over her neck. "That's true and I did enjoy listening to the different opinions about cattle prices, about the running of ranches and other political views but sometimes the conversations turned to other matters and well at least I could escape to the kitchen if it became too well...you know."

Alejandro closed his eyes for a moment. "Oh my lord." he felt his own face burn with embarrassment as he remembered some of those conversations. "I never realised that you heard. I'm sorry Victoria, if you felt offended by our..."

She shook her head and smiled. "It's alright Alejandro, I ran the tavern for many years and had heard worse."

Alejandro nodded. "I guess you would at that." He sighed and ran his fingers through his silver hair, he still believed that Victoria needed a break away from the hacienda, even if only for a day or so. "Well, you wouldn't have to attend the meeting, you could do some shopping or anything else you would like to do."

Victoria sighed. "It's nice of you to ask Alejandro but..."

"No buts. I think a change of scenery would do you and Alfonso some good. We'll be staying overnight at Miguel's and take a couple of rooms." he persisted.

Victoria put her book down on the armrest of her chair and thought about it. Perhaps Alejandro was right, maybe a change of pace would do her good, she had been feeling a little low lately. She had noticed that the years were passing quickly, her son was now three years old and it just hitting home, that in another couple of months, it would be the fourth anniversary of Diego's death and she still missed him greatly. Every year she placed a rose on his grave, as did his father and Felipe.

She shook herself out of her melancholy. It would be nice to see Miguel and his family again. "Okay, we'll go."

Alejandro slapped his knees. "Good, good. We will have to leave early though, to get to the meeting on time." He was pleased that she had agreed to go with him. She might even meet up with some other young people. He knew that she didn't have many friends her own age and being married to an old man didn't help her loneliness.

They had a slight difference of opinion on how they should travel to Santa Paula. Alejandro wanted to take the carriage for the three of them but Victoria persuaded him that she could easily ride and carry Alfonso in front of her. He finally relented with a shake of his head and let her have her own way, as he usually did in most things.

With Victoria's mixed blessing, Felipe had begun giving riding lessons to his younger brother a month ago, on his third birthday. She had thought that he was too young at age three, but Alejandro had told her that Diego had started riding at that age. So in the end she agreed with some trepidation. She had watched from the back of the hacienda, with her heart in her mouth as Felipe lifted her son onto the saddle of a small pony. But she need not have worried as she saw Alfonso's face light up with a cheeky grin, which reminded her so much of Diego that her heart constricted. He held onto the reins just as Felipe showed him and he chuckled with glee as his older brother led the pony around the corral before he left go of the bridle and allowed Alfonso to control the pony for the first time. He seemed so much at ease on the back of the pony that Victoria had no qualms about holding her son in front of her as they rode to Santa Paula.

They left after a very early breakfast at dawn and reached Santa Paula just after 9am, in time for the meeting that was due to start 10am. They went straight to their accommodation to get their rooms organised.

Miguel himself was behind the counter when they entered. "Don Alejandro, it's good to see you again. I knew you would be coming, so I held a room for you."

"Gracias, Miguel, it's good to see you too." he smiled as they shook hands warmly, he had been staying at Miguel's for the last ten years and they had formed a firm friendship.

He turned to Victoria. "Miguel, I think you know my wife, Doña Victoria."

Miguel bowed slightly and kissed her hand. "Si, it's wonderful to see you again Dona Victoria, it's been some time."

Victoria smiled warmly. "It has been several years Miguel, how's your family?"

"They are very well, we are expecting our first grandchild next month." he couldn't stop the broad grin from showing on his face.

"Oh that's great news, you must be pleased." she replied with a grin of her own.

"Very but who do we have here?" he asked as he looked down at the little boy, who was the exact image of Don Diego.

"This is Alfonso, my grandson." Alejandro said proudly.

"Hola Alfonso." Miguel smiled warmly.

Victoria gave her son a small nudge and the little boy held out his hand. "Hola." he said.

Miguel chuckled at his good manners and shook the little boy's hand.

Both Victoria and Alejandro beamed with pride.

"What charming manners in such a young child. You should be proud Doña Victoria, you have a wonderful son."

Victoria blushed slightly at the compliment. "Gracias Miguel."

"Miguel, do you have extra rooms?" Alejandro asked.

Miguel shook his head. "I'm sorry Don Alejandro, all my rooms are taken." he knew of the situation with Don Alejandro and his young wife. "If I had known that you were bringing your family, I would have held back two rooms for you."

Alejandro sighed. "It was a last minute decision." he gave a glance to Victoria, saw her go pale at this news. "I guess that the other taverns would be the same." he said resignedly.

Miguel nodded. "Si, I'm afraid so."

Victoria was a little annoyed with herself, she should have known that all the rooms would have been taken with all the caballeros coming for the meeting. She could return to Los Angeles but she had been looking forward for this little trip and didn't want to go back. She bit her lower lip as she made a decision, a decision that meant sharing a room with Alejandro. "It's alright Alejandro." she gently touched his arm and turned to Miguel. "We'll take the room Miguel."

Miguel looked at both of them for a moment, nodded. "I'll get the keys." he said before he turned away.

Alejandro stared at her in surprise. "Victoria, are you sure? You know what it means; we'll be sharing a room..."

"It's only for one night Alejandro, I'm sure we can work something out and beside I had started to look forward to this trip. Please Alejandro."

He gave a little sigh he couldn't deny her pleas. "Okay, we'll stay here for the night."

Miguel handed them their keys and arranged for a young man to take their bags up to their room. They followed him up the stairs and along the corridor and as they stopped outside the room, Don Alejandro thanked the young man, gave him a couple of coins and opened the door. He allowed Victoria and Alfonso in first, then he followed and closed the door behind him.

Victoria noticed straight away that there was only one bed in the room, a large bed. There was a desk, several chairs and a small lounge under the window.

"Dios, I'm so sorry Victoria, I should have thought more about this. You take the bed with Alfonso and I'll take the lounge." his voice showed his discomfort, his regret that he hadn't thought about the consequences of his impulsive offer for Victoria to come with him.

Victoria looked at the small lounge sceptically but didn't say anything as Alfonso ran around the room, looking into all the cupboards and behind the doors.

Alejandro chuckled at his energetic grandson. "I think he has a lot of energy to run off."

She smiled. "Si, usually he is playing with Felipe about now before he has a nap."

"So what are you two going to do while I'm at the meeting?" he asked as he placed their bags in the corner of the room.

"Well, since it's such a lovely day, I thought I might take Alfonso down to the water's edge, I'll take some bread so we can feed the birds and then perhaps after lunch we will go shopping."

Alejandro nodded and grinned. "Sounds wonderful, much better than sitting in a stuffy room, talking about cattle prices, and politics."

Victoria chuckled. "Really Alejandro, admit it, you love these meetings, catching up with your friends, gossiping."

He laughed and shook his head. "True Victoria, I do enjoy it."

Victoria and Alfonso said their goodbyes to Alejandro and with a small bag of bread crumbs that Miguel had given them, they slowly made their way down to the shore. It was a warm sunny day, but a slight breeze from the ocean kept the temperature at a pleasant level. She had to keep a tight grip on Alfonso's hand for he was excited and kept trying to pull away from her. They finally reached the park that lead to the sandy edge of the water and she let go of his hand and he ran off, chasing after the sea gulls that were standing on the grass. His childish giggles made her laugh aloud as she watched her son trying to catch the birds but they were too fast for him but it didn't stop Alfonso as he ran around in circles.

"Alfonso, come here." she called out as she sat down on one of the many benches that scattered the park.

"Alfonso." she called again and this time she got his attention and he came running up to her. "Mama, can we feed the birds." he asked excitedly.

Victoria smiled warmly at her son. "Si, we will feed the birds." she confirmed as she opened the bag of bread crumbs. "Hold out your hand, and take this over to the birds." She placed a small handful of the crumbs into his hand and he immediately he threw the crumbs away.

Alfonso squealed in delight as a number of birds flew low over his head and began eating the crumbs. "More." he said as he held out his hand to his mother.

Victoria chuckled as she reached into the bag and gave him some more crumbs, which he scattered around them. More birds came and he had to scramble back to his mother as the birds started to fight over the crumbs.

"They won't hurt you Alfonso." she reassure him as she put her arm around his waist and pulled him to her. She gave the last of the crumbs to the birds. They laughed together as they watched the sea gulls fight over the remaining bread crumbs.

Just then a little girl about Alfonso's age ran through the gathered birds and scattered them.

"Imelda, come back here." a woman's voice called out but the little girl ignored her as she ran after the birds.

Victoria turned and saw a Senora about her own age, pushing a pram along the path towards her. "My apologies Senora, my daughter tends to rush around like she's a mad thing."

Victoria chuckled. "It's alright Senora, my son is the same way." she nodded to Alfonso who had joined the little girl in her game. "I think they're at that age where they can't sit still. Would you care to join me, while the children play."

The Senora chuckled. "Gracias Senora, I think I will sit for awhile." She sat beside Victoria on the bench and placed the pram between them. "At least, they will sleep tonight, I only wish I could get these two to sleep right through the night."

Victoria smiled warmly down at the twins in the pram. "How old are they?"

"Three months last week. I'm Jordana by the way, that crazy one over there is Imelda, and these are Sergio and Vivianna." she smiled warmly.

"I'm Victoria and that is my son, Alfonso." she replied with a smile. "Do you have any other children Jordana?"

She shook her head. "Not if I can help it, these three are enough to handle but my husband wants to have another son, to ensure the family lineage is continued. One son is not enough, he says." she snorted. "It's alright for them to say that, they're not the ones who have to carry the little monsters for nine months and go through the pain of childbirth." she paused when she saw the surprised look on Victoria's face. "Oh don't get me wrong Victoria, I love my husband and I adore my children but I just need a break before we have another child. Do you have other children?"

Victoria shook her head. "No, just Alfonso."

"That's a pity, doesn't your husband want other children?"

Victoria felt a small flush rise over her face, she didn't want to discuss her marriage with a complete stranger. "Well my husband is..." but before she could finish her, there was a cry of pain from one of the children.

Both women turned their attention to them and to Victoria's horror they saw Alfonso push the little girl away from him, which caused her to fall down and she started crying.

"Madre de Dios." both women quickly stood up and rushed over and picked up their crying children.

Victoria was horrified that her son had pushed the little girl down. "I'm sorry Jordana, Alfonso is not like that, he's usually good with other children. I don't know why he would do that." she held her son in her arms, trying to stop his crying.

Jordana shrugged. "It's alright Victoria, sometimes children do these things. There's no real harm done." her daughter had stopped crying and was struggling to get out of her mother's arms. "See, she's okay." She paused as they heard the mission bell ringing. "Ah midday, I must be going Victoria, I'm meeting my husband for lunch. It's been nice to meet you and your son. Adios Victoria, perhaps we shall meet up again."

Victoria nodded as she tried to sooth her still crying son. "Adios Jordana." She sat back down on the bench as she watched her walk down the path, pushing her pram in front of her. The little girl now walking along side her mother, no sign of tears. She frowned at her upset son, why was he still fussing? What happened to him, she wondered.

"What's wrong Alfonso...hmmm... did the little girl hurt you?" she kissed his soft black hair in comfort. "Why did you push her Alfonso?" she asked him gently.

He had stopped crying but was sniffling and rubbing his eyes. "Mama, she bit me."

Victoria was startled, this was not what she had expected. "What, she bit you, where?"

Alfonso held out his hand and on his wrist she saw definite bite marks on his tender skin. "Oh Alfonso, my baby, here let me kiss and it make it better." she gently raised his hand and planted a very soft kiss to the affected area. "Is that better?"

He nodded and he buried his face into her neck. As Victoria held her son tight against her, her temper rose. What kind of child bites another? What kind of mother allows her child to do that and not punish her for it? As she thought about, her anger rose even more. Jordana must have seen her daughter do it because she was looking in the direction of the children, no wonder she left so suddenly. Not only had she seen her daughter bite Alfonso but she knew that if she stayed, the bite mark would have been discovered. Oh you wicked woman, she fumed to herself, she didn't even stay to apologise for her daughter's actions.

"We better not meet again Senora or I'll give you a piece of my mind." she hissed quietly as she rocked her son.