Chapter 8 - Discoveries
Alejandro rode to the pueblo to talk to Victoria. Maybe she knew something about Diego that he didn't. He waited until the business had quieted down for siesta and she had time for talking.
"Is there something special you wanted from me?"
"Actually I came here to talk with you about Diego."
"Diego? Is there something wrong with him?"
"Well, I don't know. I'm trying to find out where he is.
"Didn't you say he went to the northern territories?"
"That is what the message said he had left behind, but it has been a lie. Diego never went north."
"But where is he then?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out. I thought there might be a woman he is involved with. Have you noticed someone or something?"
"Don Diego should have a romance? Don Alejandro, you cannot possibly believe that. In all those years I have know him, I have never seen him show any interest in a woman."
"Has he never mentioned someone?"
"Now that you ask me, I remember. He once told me he was in love with a woman who loved another man."
"I never knew that. Do you know who she is?"
"No, he didn't confide that to me. As far as I know he hasn't told that woman either."
"No wonder I could never persuade him to marry. When did he tell you that?"
"It was a year ago when he met his former fiancée. She was still in love with him, but he refused to take her back."
"Diego was going to be married? He never said a word to me!"
"It was in Spain shortly before he returned home. The woman left him waiting at the altar because her brother was dying. He never knew why until he met her again and then she was married to the revolutionary."
Alejandro couldn't believe he was having this conversation with Victoria. Why did Diego never say a word about it? Wasn't this something father and son talked about? Alejandro would have been more understanding about his son's reluctance to get married; first a broken heart and then a woman who loved another. He'd never guessed that. What else had Diego kept to himself?
Returning to his former conversation he asked Victoria, "So you don't believe he is somewhere with a woman?"
"I haven't noticed something, but Diego is a quiet person who keeps to himself. He never tells something unless he wants you to know it."
Alejandro could only agree to that statement after his inquiries of the last days.
"So Diego is missing for some time now? When have you seen him last, Don Alejandro?"
"About four weeks ago. All I have is this note that is obviously false and now I have no clue where he could be. I need to find him, because Felipe is in a state of shock and Diego is probably the only one who is able to help him. Since Felipe is ill, I'm trying to find out where he is, but nobody seems to know. I got the idea he might have a secret romance and I thought you might know something. I have learned something more about Diego, but nothing that helps me puzzle out his whereabouts.
Alejandro sounded angry and a little worried and she was sorry she couldn't help him.
"Don Alejandro, I don't think there is much reason to worry about Diego. In what kind of trouble can he be? He is a peaceful man and avoids trouble as much as possible. He has no enemies and is well liked in the pueblo. If something had happened to him we would have heard about it, wouldn't we?"
"Maybe you are right and I need to be more patient. Thank you for your help, Victoria."
After Don Alejandro had left, Victoria couldn't forget their conversation about Diego. The idea of Diego having a secret romance troubled her and she wanted to get the image of him kissing another woman out of her head. She didn't really believe that Diego was in some kind of trouble. Diego who was always so proper and dignified. Don Alejandro was probably worrying too much only because he didn't know where Diego went.
