Chapter 25
The stage coach between Mexico City and Monterey continued its drive north after it had stopped in San Gabriel.
"Will you be leaving us at the next stop in Los Angeles, Señor Escalante?" Señora Martinez, an elderly widow, asked the young man on the seat opposite her.
"Yes, I'll be visiting my sister who runs the tavern there. Her food is the best in the area," he smiled in anticipation.
"Are you talking of Victoria's tavern in Los Angeles?" Señor Garcia asked, a middle aged man who had joined the travelers at the last stop in San Gabriel.
"Yes, Victoria, that's my sister. Do you know her tavern?" the young man confirmed.
"You must not be very close to your sister, Señor, that you don't know that the tavern has been closed for about four months now," Garcia stated.
"Closed? For four months? But that can't be!" Escalante said, confused.
"Believe me, Señor, it's true. I take the stage coach regularly from Monterey to visit my daughter who married a farmer near San Gabriel. You can be lucky to reach Los Angeles at all."
"What do you mean by that, Señor? Can you tell me what happened?"Escalante asked, concerned.
"All I know is that the owner of the tavern was driven out of town by the alcalde. Since she left Los Angeles, the tavern is closed, and the stage coach no longer stops in Los Angeles. Without a tavern to take refreshment, there is no use to make a stop and pay the traveler's tax on top of it. The stage coach stops now at an abandoned farm two miles south of Los Angeles to water the horses and give the passengers the opportunity to have a drink too, even if it's only water. But there's no tax on it as in Los Angeles," he grinned.
"The coach doesn't stop in Los Angeles anymore?" Escalante asked, surprised.
"No, you'll have to walk from the farm to Los Angeles while the coach continues to Santa Paula where the next stop is, driving around the pueblo. Depending on where you want to go, Santa Paula might be the better choice to get off the coach. The tavern in Santa Paula is not so bad, with edible food and decent prices. You could hire a horse at the stables in Santa Paula and ride to Los Angeles. That's what I would do."
"Thank you, Señor, for the advice, but I prefer to be closer to Los Angeles. I'm a soldier, and I'm used to walking." Escalante said thoughtfully. "I must admit that you have me concerned. Do you know what happened to my sister, the owner of the tavern?"
"I'm sorry, Señor, but I told you everything I know. I remember her from my previous stops in Los Angeles. She was a beautiful woman with a good humor, and the food was excellent. I heard something about taxes, but I don't remember the specifics."
Obviously concerned about his sister, Escalante stayed silent for the rest of the journey to Los Angeles. The farm where the coach stopped for the horses was an abandoned building that was in a desolate state.
A young woman and an old man who appeared to be her father came out of house to help to water the horses. The woman filled some wooden cups with water from the well, offering them to the travelers.
"Do you want some water, Señores?" the woman asked. "I have tamales, too."
Ramon accepted the cup, and taking a sip, he looked at the woman. "Don't I know you?" he asked.
"I don't know, Señor. I can't remember your face. Have you been traveling here before?" the woman asked.
"What's your name, Señorita?"
"Pilar Rosario, Señor. Why do you ask?"
"Pilar, of course, I should have recognized you! You lived on the same road as my family."
"Your family? Should I know you? Are you from Los Angles?"
"It's been some years since I have been to Los Angeles. I'm Ramon Escalante."
"Ramon, I'm sorry I didn't recognize you earlier. What are you doing here?"
"I'm on my way to visit my sister."
"Have you heard from Victoria? Do you know where she is?"
"No, the last letter I got from her was five months ago. My fellow travelers told me that the tavern was closed. I didn't know that. Didn't you used to work in the tavern with my sister? What are you doing here at this coach stop?"
"I thought you knew where she is," disappointed, Pilar looked at him. "I had hoped you could persuade her to reopen the tavern or sell it to someone else. Have you come to take over the tavern?"
"No, I haven't come for the tavern. I have joined the Mexican Army. Why are so you interested in the tavern, Pilar?"
"I need the money, and it's the only work I know. Since the tavern is closed, and the coach is stopping here, my father and I try to get some money by offering water and tamales to the travelers. It's not much, but I am trying to stay a respectable woman." Her despair was obvious, and Ramon wondered how long she could keep her honor under these circumstances, having noticed the glances of the male passengers and the driver.
"Is there no other work to be found in the pueblo?" he inquired.
Pilar shook her head. "You have been away so long, Ramon, you don't know how much has changed. As long as there was Zorro, the alcalde was held in check. Zorro made him rescind unjust taxes and fought his oppression. But now..," she suppressed her tears, "now there is nothing to save us from the alcalde. The people are getting poorer and poorer because of the taxes, and those who can are leaving the area. Without a tavern the coach won't stop at the pueblo, and without the coach no people are coming to Los Angeles to buy something from the local merchants or the tradespeople."
Depressed, she shook her head. "What can we do? The pueblo is in steady decline for months now. I would leave if I could, but where can I go? I need to take care of my father too. He is too old for heavy work anymore and the old farmhouse offers at least a shelter."
"I'd don't know what to say, Señorita," Ramon was shocked. "I never expected the situation in Los Angeles to be so bad. I'll try to talk with my sister about the tavern. Did she say where she went?"
"No, she said she was going to live with you in Mexico. I'm surprised she isn't with you."
"Didn't she leave any message?"
"I don't know. Don Alejandro might know something. She gave the tavern into his care when she left."
"What about Don Diego? Does he know something? He and Victoria were always good friends and she talked a lot about him in her letters."
"No, I don't think so. Don Diego left Los Angeles months ago, even before Victoria. There is a rumor that he and his father had a quarrel, and that's why Don Diego went to San Francisco. Don Alejandro is always sad these days, and I think he misses his son a lot."
Ramon finished his bowl of water, leaving a tip for Pilar. During his two miles walk to Los Angeles he thought about the disturbing news. Where was Victoria? He needed to find her and talk to her.