Chapter 21

Victoria watched as Diego finished the rest of the meal. He was uncharacteristically quiet…Even for Diego, she thought. I am sure that he turned Zafira down. Now that the two of them were courting, they had been virtually inseparable. How dare that woman come back to try to cause trouble between the two of us? "Can I get you anything else, Diego?"

"No…Do you have a minute?" The caballero bid the young woman to sit down.

"Is something bothering you, Diego?"

"Zafira wants another chance…and I told her that I am not interested in rekindling our former relationship."

"And how did she take it, Diego?"

"I was honest with her…What we had is over," he stated.

"She believes that she still has a chance with you….She made that clear in no uncertain terms, Diego."

The tall caballero lifted his eyebrow slightly. "When did all of this happen, Victoria?"

"She admitted as much when I talked to her yesterday."

"The two of you certainly did not waste any time. Why didn't you tell me all this, Victoria?"

"I was planning to tell you when the time was right. I suspected that she had come back to see if she had a chance with you but I know you, Diego de la Vega. I don't trust that woman...Her husband is dead…His grave is barely cold and she has already set her sights on you."

"She is all alone in the world, Victoria. She has lost her husband...You make her sound so cold and calculating. She doesn't love me. I don't love her. You know that."

"You feel compassion for her and her situation but you have always been a little naïve when it comes to women, Diego. She wants you back. I would not put it past her to try to use this situation to her advantage. She won't give up that easily."

"Zafira is lonely... I am not the man that I once was. We are not the same people we were in Spain. My feelings for her have changed. I don't want a life with her, Victoria. She will find someone who will love her in return but I am not the man for her…"

"It sounds so logical, so reasonable but the heart has a mind of its own, Diego. You know that better than anyone. You loved her once. She believes that you can love her again."

"She made her choice. Her brother was sick and dying…I understand that…I can't do anything about that now and I don't know if I even want to now...What I do know is that I want to go on with my life…Now more than ever. There is no room in my life for Zafira. She will remain a part of my past, Victoria. I have other plans for my future."

"And do those plans include me, Senor de la Vega," she smiled.

"They most certainly do, Senorita Escalante."

ZZZ

Several days later...

The alcalde returned none too pleased to know that a former revolutionary was living in their midst. He was even more disgusted to learn that she was acquainted with the de la Vega family. That family continues to be a thorn in my side. "Mendoza, what do you know about Senora Correna," DeSoto wondered aloud.

"I don't know much about Senorita Havente, as she calls herself, mi alcalde. Only that, she was here several months ago as part of a traveling circus."

"Everyone knows that, Mendoza. There must be something else…"

"She is Don Diego's old schoolmate from Spain."

"Don Diego was the model student. I don't remember much about him other than we acted in a play together. I was Judas and he was Jesus… If she is a friend of that family then she will be a major thorn in my side. I believe that she was more than just a schoolmate. See what you can find out about her, Sergeant…"

Mendoza saluted his commanding officer and walked out of the office. Diego was Jesus…the alcalde, Judas…Somehow that seems fitting….

ZZZ

DeSoto sat in his office wondering what was keeping his inept but loyal sergeant. I wonder if he can discover anything that will be of use to me..."Did you find out anything, Sergeant," the alcalde asked hours later. I am sure that simpleton did not find out anything…

"Not much," he volunteered, "I remember…"

"What…Sergeant…do you remember?" Maybe, he has stumbled on something that I can use…

"The night that the circus came…How Don Diego and Senorita Zafira looked at each other….Don Diego looked like he had seen a ghost. Perhaps they were more than friends."

"Diego de la Vega….has a past…I wonder how close they were, Mendoza. I didn't think the man had it in him," DeSoto laughed, "Diego de la Vega…the pillar of the community…the man with ties to the King of Spain involved with a wanted revolutionary. How ironic…"

"Does that help, mi alcalde? That is all I could think of?"

"Mendoza! Bring this Senora Correna to me, immediately! I mean to arrest her for treason."

"Si, mi alcalde. At once! Come, Sepulveda." I knew that the woman would be trouble. Minutes later the soldiers returned with the young woman who struggled against her bonds…

"You are the wife of Joaquin Correna, the revolutionary," the alcalde sneered, "what brings you to our fair pueblo, Senora?"

Zafira looked at the leader of the pueblo. She was not impressed by the man but she decided it would be better to at least respect the man and his position. "I am not here to cause any trouble, Senor Alcalde. I am only a widow who wished to start a new life…."

"Are you sure you are not here to start another revolution, Senora?"

"That is the farthest thing from my mind…I am merely here to visit my friends…the de la Vegas…Don Diego and I attended the same University in Madrid."

"A beautiful woman such as yourself…Is here to see de la Vega? I did not think he had it in him, Senora…excuse me, Senorita. Be that as it may, you are a traitor to your country and as such, you must pay the price. Take her to the plaza, Mendoza…"