CHAPTER SEVEN – The Doctor Meets Diego

As Diego left the alcalde's office after talking with Mendoza, from a distance, he saw Dr. Hernandez greeting Dr. Barton. I'll wait, he thought. I'll wait until later to introduce myself to Dr. Barton…maybe even until tomorrow. I don't want to take any chances that Dr. Barton could connect me with Zorro's rescue of the coach.

Diego sighed, as he walked towards the office of The Guardian. He was going to have to put off Victoria as well. She's watching me like a hawk, like I knew she would. Even though she said I can court her, I'm still nervous about her coming to me regarding Zorro. Part of me wants her to, part of me is afraid she will. Diego shook his head as he thought.

As he entered, he greeted Felipe. "How's the front page coming along?"

Felipe nodded and signed. Diego said, "Tomorrow, we'll do a story about the new doctor. He just arrived on the coach."

Z

The next morning, Diego came into the pueblo alone – in order to officially meet Dr. Barton, and let Victoria 'corner' him, if she had a mind to.

She saw him enter, and smiled to herself. She went to his table. "Buenos Dias, Don Diego. What would you like for breakfast this morning?"

Diego looked up at her and smiled. "Ah, Victoria – you are looking lovely as ever today. What are you serving for breakfast?"

Victoria smiled at the compliment and thought. There he goes again. He's telling me without telling me. 'Lovely as ever – Zorro always says that – and now – Diego says the same thing.

"I'm serving breakfast burritos in cheese, vegetable, chicken, and beef today. What will you have?"

Diego took her hand in his and whispered under his breath about wanting the senorita. Out loud, he said, "I'll have four chicken burritos. By the way, have you met the new doctor yet?"

Victoria nodded. "Si, he came in yesterday on the afternoon coach. He said he met Zorro yesterday! Funny, I didn't see Zorro yesterday."

Diego smiled. "Maybe Zorro didn't escort the coach all the way to the pueblo."

Victoria smiled back, but with an edge to her smile. "I'll get your order Diego, then, can I see you later today? Maybe at siesta?"

Diego gulped, but tried not to show it. "If at all possible, Victoria."

Z

Dr. Barton noticed the exchange between Diego and Victoria as he descended the stairs, but thought nothing of it. A caballero courting his lady, he thought and rolled his eyes. I don't think I'll ever marry. I love my work too much. No woman would probably have me anyway. I'm not refined. I don't have many of the social graces. No women have ever been interested.

Dr. Hernandez entered the tavern just as Dr. Barton descended the stairs. Dr. Hernandez went straight to Diego's table.

"Diego, Buenos Dias." He smiled a warm smile.

Diego rose and shook Dr. Hernandez's hand. "Buenos Dias, Doctor Hernandez."

At that moment, Dr. Barton joined them. Hernandez looked up and greeted him. "Buenos Dias, Doctor Barton."

"Buenos Dias, Dr. Hernandez. And who might this be?" Barton was sizing up Diego with a penetrating gaze.

Diego felt the strong eyes upon him, and put on his mildest expression. "I'm Diego de la Vega – at your service, Doctor." He extended his hand in greeting.

"Diego is my 'amateur' – but very able – assistant, Dr. Barton. He knows as much about medicine as I do." Hernandez smiled proudly.

"Pleased to meet you, Senor de la Vega," Dr. Barton placed his hand in Diego's outstretched hand and strongly shook it. "I'm certain if I might need help, I will call upon you."

Diego heard the 'if' and 'might' in a mighty way. Hmmm, he thought. It sounds like he doesn't think he'll need any help. "I have been helping Dr. Hernandez out the last couple of years – usually only in emergencies. And as far as knowing as much as Dr. Hernandez knows – I doubt that seriously."

Well, at least the caballero is humble, thought Dr. Barton. He may know as much as Dr. Hernandez knows about medicine, but I'm cetain he doesn't know as much as I do.

"Well – should an emergency arise in which I need help, Senor, I will not hesitate to call upon you for assistance." Dr. Barton's smile took on a sneering quality.

"If you will permit me – may I ask, Doctor – could I trouble you some time to discuss some of the newest theories and practices in medicine? I know there is much you've learned that we don't know here. I'm interested in many of the sciences. Medicine is but one of them. And I would be happy to help you, whenever you ask – especially after Doctor Hernandez 'officially' retires." Diego replied in his most congenial tone, catching the sneer.

"If time permits, we can discuss some of the new technologies – new discoveries are being made all the time. I would be eager to discuss them with someone who even had a modicum of medical knowledge." Dr. Barton replied in his most 'congenial' tone.

"You are too kind, Doctor." Diego inwardly bristled at the slights he had been given, but outwardly smiled a winning smile.

Z

Diego spent most of the day at the newspaper office, getting the article ready on Dr. Barton for the next issue. He got so busy; he'd forgotten he'd told Victoria he would see her that day.

At the tavern, Victoria fumed. When I get my hands on him…she thought. Then she stopped and thought for a moment. He might suspect I want to talk about Zorro. He might be nervous and afraid I'll reject him. He's been afraid of that for a long time. I'll wait. He'll come to me. Zorro will come…and when he does, then I'll confront him

Z

It only took Dr. Hernandez a few minutes to show Dr. Barton around the office. There was an examination table, a desk and chair, a guest chair, and in one corner, a folding screen that served as a changing area for patients. In the corner nearest the desk was a bookcase – only half full now, because Dr. Hernandez had begun packing.

"There's space in the back room for a small laboratory. Diego also has a small laboratory he keeps hidden somewhere. He's come up with several pain remedies that are quite effective – if you need them." Dr. Hernandez tried not to brag up his assistant, but he couldn't quite help himself. He was very proud of Diego and what he had accomplished.

"I'm going to need a full laboratory in order to run tests and to perform experiments in an effort to advance medical treatment in the pueblo. Doctor, do you know of any abandoned property in the area that could serve as my residence where I could build a medical laboratory?" Doctor Barton scanned the bookcase. He noticed that most of the books were outdated, but he expected that. He knew most likely that medical practice in colonial California was outdated at best and primitive at worst. He was here to bring modern medicine.

Hernandez looked his direction. "I believe the Carvalho place is still empty – has been for nearly a year…due to chemically tainted water that entered a nearby stream a few years ago. You can see Sergeant Mendoza regarding the property. It was he and Zorro who discovered and fixed the problem."

"I'm sure that will be fine. I'll talk to Sergeant Mendoza tomorrow. I believe you said he's the Acting Alcalde? And gracias, Dr. Hernandez. You're very helpful. I think I'm going to take a siesta now – since it is the custom here, is it not?"

"Si, it is the custom. I think I'll take one myself."

Z

The next day, Dr. Hernandez took Dr. Barton to the cuartel to meet Sergeant Mendoza. Mendoza was sitting behind his desk using the official pueblo stamp to approve documents. Don Alejandro sorted through the pile of paperwork on the other side of the desk. He helped Sergeant Mendoza one day a week.

"Sergeant, how long does the government say we must keep old tax bills? I just found one from Luis Ramone's time. I'm not sure how it got in this pile of recent tax bills."

"Could I see that, Don Alejandro – AAHCK!" Mendoza leaned his head on the desk a moment as he got a pain. He grabbed his side.

"Are you all right, Sergeant?" Don Alejandro jumped out of his chair and ran over to Mendoza, who was already lifting his head, and catching his breath.

"Si, Don Alejandro. I am fine. I have a little pain from time to time in my side. It's – nothing – nothing to worry about." Mendoza was panting a little. He took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly.

They heard a knock at the door. "Come in," Mendoza called out. Doctors Hernandez and Barton stepped in. "Come in, come in! Doctor Hernandez, and who is this?" Mendoza rose and extended his hand. "Is this our new doctor, Doctor Barton?" Mendoza smiled his most cordial smile.

Dr. Barton walked over and shook Mendoza's hand. "Si, I am Doctor Jackson Barton. I hope to get to know you well, Sergeant – and not just professionally, either." He smiled a warm smile.

Mendoza smiled back. "It's nice to meet you, Doctor. I take it you are up on all the latest medical treatments and procedures?"

"As much as I can be," Barton replied, more than ready to show off his knowledge. "We're learning that blood can be transfused into those who have lost a lot of blood, so that serious wounds may not necessarily be a death sentence. A device called a stethoscope was invented about six years ago so we doctors can actually hear the heart beating. That way, we'll know if a patient is alive, dead, or has some sort of heart malady. I am privileged to have one. Research into keeping people from catching smallpox is also being done via vaccination, another new medical term." Dr. Barton felt important when he showed off his medical knowledge. He chest swelled with pride.

"That is truly impressive, Doctor." Mendoza exclaimed. "What do you think of our new doctor, Don Alejandro?"

"My son told me about you, Doctor Barton," Don Alejandro replied, answering Mendoza's question.

"Your son? And who might that be?" Dr. Barton asked.

Dr. Hernandez interjected, "Don Diego de la Vega. This is his father, Don Alejandro. I'm sorry; I thought I had already introduced you. There are so many for you to meet, a few may have slipped through my fingers."

Dr. Barton inwardly bristled at the mention of Don Diego. Oh, that tripe of an assistant, he thought. Amateurs…well; this pueblo has a true professional now. Unless Don Diego gets in my way…these people must be desperate for good medical care to have an amateur caballero helping out…his thoughts were broken off by Don Alejandro's reply.

"That is perfectly understandable, Dr. Hernandez," replied Don Alejandro. "After all, there are probably close to 800 people in the pueblo and outlying areas…We are growing…"

Dr. Barton interrupted with a question for Mendoza. "Sergeant Mendoza, I understand that you are the acting alcalde, is that correct?"

"Si, that is correct." Mendoza replied.

"And as such, you are the government agent who is responsible for the transfer of property, correct?" Dr. Barton was thinking of the Carvalho property. He wanted to move in as soon as possible.

"Si."

"I'd like to purchase the Carvalho property for my residence and laboratory. How much will it cost?"

Mendoza looked at Hernandez and Don Alejandro before answering. "Well – it's a bargain right now – but – well – no one has lived there since…"

Don Alejandro interjected. "Sergeant Mendoza had a trying experience last year when he discovered the two brothers living there were either dead or dying from a horrible poisoning of their water. But as a result, our good Sergeant – and Zorro – together – were able to divert the stream the chemicals leached into. I'll have my son do some water analysis – to make sure it's safe for you to move in."

Dr. Barton replied. "Gracias for your offer, Senor de la Vega – but I have the necessary testing materials. I merely want to get moved in and settled quickly. It's important for me to have a working laboratory as soon as possible. Gracias again."

Dr. Hernandez again felt the slight to Don Diego. His previous remarks when Dr. Barton met Diego came to mind. Without realizing it, Hernandez shook his head slightly, but no one noticed it. I don't understand, he thought. I'd think he would welcome any assistance – no matter what kind. Maybe after he's been here awhile, he won't resent Diego. I think I'll have a talk with Diego and get his take on it.

Sergeant Mendoza replied to Dr. Barton. "I'll have everything ready for you tomorrow if you'll come back then." Mendoza winced slightly and put his hand back to his side. This time, the pain wasn't bad, but enough to put his hand there.

Dr. Barton noticed. "Are you all right, Sergeant? Are you in pain?"

Don Alejandro quickly answered. "As a matter of fact, Doctor, he was having pain when you came in."

Dr. Hernandez interjected. "I believe Sergeant Mendoza has appendicitis, but he's working on it, aren't you Sergeant?"

Mendoza bristled, not meaning to. "Si, Dr. Hernandez. I'm working on it. Dr. Barton, when you come tomorrow, I'll happy to tell you about it."

Dr. Hernandez quickly realized he'd worn out his welcome. "Gracias for your time, Sergeant, Don Alejandro. As we still have a number of people to meet, we'll take our leave, con permiso."

Dr. Barton felt and saw the tension between Dr. Hernandez and Sergeant Mendoza. I can't wait to hear about that tomorrow, he thought. It's a good thing I'm taking over this medical practice. Hernandez is getting old! His medicine and his methods are way out of date – but I'm here now! The people of Los Angeles will know what it's like to have a 'real' doctor here! They'll love me. They'll thank me…and they'll want me to help them. No more problems. No more dismissals. No more misunderstandings… He smiled at Sergeant Mendoza, and bowed very slightly to Don Alejandro.

To Mendoza he said, "Well, Sergeant Mendoza, until tomorrow then. Don Alejandro, it was nice meeting you." And to Hernandez, "Shall we?"

Don Alejandro looked after him with a puzzled expression, raised his eyebrows, then turned back to Mendoza as they continued on with their work.

"Sergeant, what sort of person do you think our new doctor is?"

TBC