Chapter 45

The carriage stopped at the entrance to the de la Vega hacienda. The driver unloaded their luggage while the passengers exited the carriage. It is good to be home.

"I have missed you, son, Victoria," Alejandro embraced them warmly, "Luis! Isabella! Welcome to our hacienda."

"Alejandro, it is good to see you again. This must be Felipe. Diego has told me so much about you."

'It is good to meet you, Senor Cristoba," he signed.

"Come inside. We have much to talk about," the old don escorted his guests into the hacienda, "Maria has prepared your favorite meal, Diego. Victoria, I have missed your presence, my daughter. It is good to have you back."

"Father, I have so much to tell you."

"You two did not go and get yourself married. Did you?"

"Victoria and I would not deny you the joy of seeing us married," Diego teased, "You have waited too long to see us properly married. Besides, I want the entire pueblo to see my beautiful bride when that day comes…."

"Felipe thought that you may have eloped but I set him straight on the matter." Don Alejandro heard a knock on the door, "I wonder who that could be. Are you expecting someone, Diego?"

Felipe opened the door to a distinguished man a few years older than Diego. I wonder who he is.

"Father, may I present Don Miguel Estevez de Montalvo, Emissary to King Ferdinand? Emissary, my father, Don Alejandro de la Vega. Welcome to our hacienda."

"I am honored to meet you, Senor de la Vega. The King speaks highly of you."

What are you up to my son? Is this part of your plan? Well, this will fit in quite nicely with my little surprise..."Welcome, Emissary Montalvo to our humble hacienda. Come in. We would be honored to have you join us for dinner."

"May I speak to you in private after dinner, Senor de la Vega?" What better way to deal with the situation in the pueblo than to speak to the pueblos' leading citizen. He is an honorable man... the leader of the caballeros...

"We can go in my study, if you wish."

ZZZ

"This alcalde…Luis Ramon, tell me about him, Senor de la Vega and about his leadership," the younger man began, "I would like to hear your opinion about the man and his governing of this pueblo."

"Ramon has been a menace since the day he set foot in this pueblo. The peons are taxed harshly while the alcalde spends money extravagantly…four hundred pesos for a pair of boots. Money that could be spent repairing our roads, feeding the orphans and the poor. The pueblo would be better off with another leader."

"He is a representative of the King, Senor de la Vega. You could be accused of treason for saying such things."

"My loyalty is to the King of Spain not to Luis Ramon. If the caballeros had acted like men then there would be no need for Zorro."

"Is Zorro a champion of the people or merely a masked bandit that lines his pocket with the taxpayer's money?"

"Zorro has never taken one centavo for anything he has done, Emissary. He is an outlaw because he is the only man in Los Angeles who protects the poor and the helpless. Whoever he is, he does not deserve to be arrested or hanged. He deserves our thanks, not our censure nor does he deserve the bounty that has been placed on his head. He should be free to live the life he was meant to live. He has fought long and hard for the people.''

"I can see where your son gets his eloquence and passion from. He said the same thing to me. I wanted your honest opinion…"

"The rest of the people share the same opinion. It would be better for everyone if Luis Ramon would return to Madrid…" In irons, he added silently.

"The King never received any of your letters. His Majesty would have dealt with the situation if he had known. The welfare of his subjects is very important to him."

"Luis Ramon has misused the King's trust…Our alcalde would use anyone…man, woman or child in his quest to capture Zorro. Anyone who stands up to the government is jailed or taxed heavily. The caballeros are encouraged to look after their own affairs. No one would dare stand up against his tyranny..."

Except Zorro and the de la Vegas, the Emissary thought.

ZZZ

"They have been in there a long time," Diego stated as he paced back and forth.

"It is a good sign, Diego. Your father is known and respected not only throughout the territory but in Madrid as well," Don Luis counseled, "Emissary Montalvo is listening to your father. He is going to explore every avenue, any information he needs to make a decision. The Emissary seems like a good man. All the worrying in the world won't bring them out any faster…"

"Come sit, Diego. Nothing is to be gained by all this pacing. Be patient, mi amor."

"You are right," he smiled, "and I thought that I was supposed to be the patient one."

ZZZ

"How did it go Father?" The tall caballero stood as his father emerged from the study.

"He listened to what I had to say. I believe he will make the right decision," Don Alejandro began as the door to his hacienda opened forcefully.

"Diego and Alejandro de la Vega. I have a warrant to search this hacienda," Javier was followed by several soldiers including Mendoza and the alcalde.

"You have no reason to search this hacienda," Alejandro thundered. I knew that you were coming. You think that you will capture my son…expose him as the masked bandit…Felipe and I have quite a surprise prepared for you.

"What is the meaning of this?" The Emissary emerged from Don Alejandro's study.

Luis Ramon was stunned by the appearance of Emissary Montalvo. He had heard of the man but he had never met him in person. The man was a loyal supporter of the King. What was he doing here in the de la Vega home? How does he know the de la Vegas? I hope that I have not made an error by searching the hacienda or attempting to arrest de la Vega…My reputation depends upon finding Zorro's hideout and exposing Diego for the fraud that he is…."Emissary I was not expecting you. Please accept my apologies for not welcoming you properly."

"You are the leader of a colonial garrison, Alcalde Ramon. You were too easily surprised, Señor. Such incompetence in the service of the Crown is a felony but I will forgive this little indiscretion this time," Montalvo stated. He is as Don Diego said…obsessed, ill prepared and incompetent…

"May I introduce myself? I am Don Javier Rodriguez," the young man bowed, "We are here on a matter of urgent business."

"What could be so important that you barge into a private residence unannounced and uninvited, Don Javier?"

"We are here to search the hacienda. This man," Javier said as he pointed at Diego, "is Zorro! Before the evening ends, I will prove it!"