Chapter 17

Three days later it was market day. The alcalde had strolled his round over the market to inspect the goods that were for sale. Threatening some sellers, making sure they were going to be fair about the amount of taxes they needed to pay.
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Zorro had not been seen in these last couple of days. But early this morning, two men who were wanted for murder had been found tied to the gate at the entrance of the plaza. It was Zorro's job this was affirmed by the bandits and the Z's visible on the backside of the trousers of the men.

The alcalde had, against better judgment sent a patrol of four soldiers, in search of the masked man. They returned, not having found a single trace.

It had taken over two full days before his intestines had calmed down enough, not wanting to be further away from the latrine than a couple of yards.

So this was the first time, since Zorro had escaped the gallows de alcalde entered the tavern. Being on his guard for hidden laughters or soft whispers behind hands.
Nothing like that happened. It looked like no one had noticed that the alcalde had a hard time getting out of the courtyard without drawing too much attention to himself.

Seating himself down ordering a glass of wine and a plate of pollo con rice de Soto saw how the de la Vega's walked in and after greeting their friends and people they recognized including himself, seated themselves down at their favourite table.

Shortly after Sergeant Mendoza walked in. who preferred to be invited over to the de la Vega table over the one of his superior commander.

De Soto knew the young don and Sergeant where friends and often Diego offered the man a free meal often. Something his sergeant would never turn down.

Irritated de Soto wiped his mouth to a napkin and got up. Surely the sergeant knew the stage to Monterey was due to arrive any moment. And the sergeant was to make sure the travels tax was collected.

"Sergeant Mendoza. What are you doing here? When you are supposed, to collect the travels tax." the sergeant was just about to take a bit of his just served fresh tamales.

"Buenos días Alcalde, the stage was early and no one was on it." The sergeant was in a good mood. He always hated having to collect the tax. People often had not heard about a travels tax. And if often took a lot of effort to convince travels it was better to pay the few pesos than to spend a night in jail. Not having seen nay travels meant that he could have an afternoon of. And don Diego had offered him a free meal. So the day was only getting better and better. The alcalde however looked furious at him.
"So I didn't need to collect any. The driver only stopped long enough to change horses and is on his way again. So I thought…" the sergeant realizing this not being the answer the alcalde liked to hear. "I take the… rest of the day….off."

"Mendoza" the alcalde slapped his hand so hard on the table all tableware and glasses on it shakes. "When you have no travels tax to collect you are going to inspect the market sellers. Making sure they don't try to trick me and pay the right amount of tax. On your way sergeant now. Before I cut any missed taxes of your pay."

In a hurry the sergeant got up from the table almost flipping it over. Pulling at the napkin that was tight around his neck of, at the same time trying to make a salute. "Si, mi alcalde."

Diego saying. "Don't be too hard on the sergeant, alcalde. The man has done as you ordered and deserved a rest."

"Don't meddle with matters you know nothing about don Diego." the alcalde did not even tried to sound friendly. Sarcasm was obvious to be heard.

"Oh excuse me." the sergeant stopped when señorita Escalante came out of the kitchen. "I almost forgot. The stage driver has asked me to give you this letter, señorita Victoria. He said it was something urgent."

Victoria placed the tray of clean glasses, she had been carrying on the counter and opened the letter. Start to read what was in it.
Normally de Soto would not have paid any attention to it. Where it not that just when he was to walk out the tavern he heard the upset voice of a woman.

"No" Victoria said "that can not be, Ramón would never do such a thing to me."

"What is it, señorita?" Don Alejandro asked, getting up from his table and walking over to the young woman.
The sergeant quickly made his way out of the tavern, remembering one of the last letters the señorita had received.
The alcalde walked back to the counter, leaning on it. Interesting for what bad news was in the letter.

"My brother, this is a letter from the bank in San Fernando, claiming Ramón has sold his share of the tavern for 5000 pesos! And if I do not want to lose my tavern, I need to buy that share for 6000 pesos before next Monday. Or they sell it to anyone interested." Looking up at the old don who stood next to her. Handing the letter over to him. "Can you believe this, don Alejandro? Can they do this to me?"

"No, of course not." Don Alejandro said sounding very sure of himself. "You are right Ramón Escalante would never do such a thing to you." He started to read the letter. The look on his face growing more concerned the further he read the letter,

In the meantime also Diego had left the table and walked over to join his father and Victoria. Reading over the shoulder of his father the letter that was in the old don's hands.

"I mean I know I also have my mortgage at the bank in San Fernando, but I always make sure to pay in time. They can not just sell the tavern, can they? I mean, most of the mortgage is already paid off.
I can not believe this. What was he thinking! If this is true, I am going to kill him myself." Looking rather desperate to the tall man standing just behind her. "Don Diego, surely this can not be true."

Instead of the old don the tavern owner now put her hope on the young don. Who, as everyone in the pueblo knows had some knowledge of legal affairs.

"Well as far I can see, he did sell his share. This paper is signed by a solicitor in San Fernando baring a seal and all."

Diego glared over to the counter where the alcalde was still standing. Pretend to be more interested in the wood at the top. But clearly his ears wide open to hear what was going on. The man did not try to hide, he was enjoying himself over the despair of the tavern owner.

Diego went on. "As far as I can see, the sale was legit. Ramón was part owner of the tavern, and he had the right to sell his share. I guess, as you want to keep the tavern you need to pay within 3 days, the requested 6000 pesos, or you will lose the tavern."

Diego looked at his father "I do not know much about these kinds of contracts, but it seems authentic and legal as far as I can judge it."
Diego gave his best friend a pitiful look.
"I am sorry Victoria, are you sure your brother never mentioned want to sell his share before?"

Victoria pretended to be thinking, shaking her head. "Francisco sold me his share of the tavern for a fair price when he joined the army. Buying an officers rank.
That is why I am still paying a mortgage to the bank in San Fernando.
Ramón has always said he would come back to Los Angeles someday, to help me run the tavern.
Also, I could never have been able to buy out both of them. So this was something the three of us agreed upon." changing her attention again, this time from Diego to his father. "O Don Alejandro, if this is true, than what on earth am I going to do? I don't even have a quarter of that amount of money."

"Well señorita" de Soto grinned. "I be most willing to give you some remorse on your taxes. No interest charged I promise. Of course, you can also reveal to me the identity of your former lover. Claiming the bounty money. That will please me, yourself and the bank as well" Barely able to hold his laughter.

"Gracias alcalde, for that kind offer and nice idea. But any tax remorse won't be enough I am afraid. And believe me," Victoria tried to sound to pride to even consider the offer, at the same time the famous Escalante temper could not be well hidden as she went on.
"Had I known the identity of that lying bastard. I swear you would have known by now."

Victoria sighed, as she looked around herself, like she was hoping the solution would present itself out of thin air. Or if not that, she was saying goodbye from her lifework. "I will have to sell the tavern I am afraid. I don't have that amount of money and I see no other way"

"Do not worry, Victoria" Don Alejandro said. "You have always been like a daughter to me. I will loan you the money."

Victoria given the old don a friendly smile." That is very kind to offer Don Alejandro, but. I won't be ever be able to pay you back such a big amount of money.
There is still the normal mortgage and all the taxes I have to pay." Giving the alcalde an angry look. "No, I am afraid selling to the bank is my only option."

Diego had been walking up and down in the tavern when he suddenly stood still with the letter in his hands as he said "perhaps not. Let me think for a moment…"

Again crossing the tavern twice. "Yes that's it. Victoria can I have a talk with you…. In private please."
Diego took her arm gentle pushing her in the direction of her storage room, making sure not to close the door, so everyone in the tavern would be able to overhear them.

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"Now where you think your idiotic son will come up now to help her?" the alcalde ask Don Alejandro having a great time.

"I do not know alcalde, but we shall see or hear" as words coming out of the room were easy to be heard by the listeners. For the ones who spoke, it started to sound rather loud.

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"MARRIED?!" was the first word spoken loud enough by the señorita for everyone present in the tavern to hear.

""Listen Victoria" This was Diego saying this.
"You must think of it as a business proposition. You might seriously want to consider. Just think of it. We get married. I give you the money you need, you keep your tavern. And we try to give my father his long wished grandchildren." Diego's voice sounded calm and reasonable

"Married!" Victoria repeated. A little softer this time.

'Victoria, hear me out please. You need money, I am the single heir of my father's estate and fortune. And in need of an heir of myself. So what would you say?"

"That you have lost your mind. I can not marry... you!"

"Why not, we always have been good friends, and there has been marriages started on less.
After you have to give me an heir you can live in the tavern again, or stay in the hacienda. It doesn't matter to me. All I want is be able to continue my studies as normal, finally having my father of my back.
It will be perfect for both of us. We are close friends, and now Zorro has…. eh…. changed his … eh….affections… it can be an acceptable option. Don't you think?
It will be beneficial to the both of us.
You have almost married Juan Ortiz once, so why not me?" his last words were almost a (very loud) whisper and very shyly spoken.

The answer Victoria gave was louder. "Really Diego! You can not be serious! Do you really think I would sell myself to become your... your..." Victoria sounded like she was lost for words.
"BROODMARE! I thought you were smarter than thinking THAT will ever happen!"

"Victoria," Diego still sounding very reasonable. "That is not what I meant. I will never see you as my…" don Diego made a sound as if he was really embarrassed by it. Something the listeners in the main room could not hear was murmured. But everyone had some idea what the young don had tried to say.
The alcalde tried, not succeeded in keeping a laughter hidden behind his hand. Words start to come out of the little room the tavern owner used for storage again.
"...as you put is. But we have always been good friends, haven't we? And this will be a solution that can help the both of us."

"But Diego, marriage is a big step and I planned to marry out of love, didn't you?" She asked him.

"Well" Diego said speaking up just a little more. "I think all these stories about love are grossly over exaggerated. I do not need to be in love with someone to give me an heir.
I have always liked you a lot, and we get along nicely. Besides that, I like reading my books and doing experiments more than having to search for a woman.
Will you please at least try to consider it? I know it would make me and my father happy as things work out."

They went silent for a minute when trying to give the impression Victoria was actually considering the strange proposal.

All this time the persons in the tavern had remained silence, to overhear what the two were talking about.
Till de Soto's surprise the old don's face had first been filled with disbelief then slowly started to shimmer. Like the don was approving on the weird idea of his son?

"Well" the alcalde heard the woman say "I might think about it. I have been longing for a family and no, there is no hope for me either to marry out of love."
She sighed again "maybe you are right Diego, lots of marriages are based on less than friendship. But, I want to keep full ownership of the tavern. You give me the money, and you also sign that paper, that men can, to have a woman keep full responsibility of the belongings she had before she was married. I know such a thing exist."

"Your right and of course, when you marry me you keep full responsibility of the tavern.
As soon as we are married, we will go over to San Diego to visit the de la Vega solicitor and I will sign those martial papers you mean." reassuring the woman.

"And you promise?"

"Cross my heart. We can ask the padre or alcalde to act as witness for it before we get married. So, what do you say?"

Again some silence. The señorita would not seriously consider marry don Diego, de Soto moving over a little closer to the door to hear better what was being said.

Suddenly Victoria started talking again. Very determined this time." Seven thousands, six hundred and eighty-nine pesos."

"What?"
Indeed, what, de Soto also wanted to know why the woman gave this strange answer. Seemed like don Diego was understanding just as much as he did.

"Seven thousands, six hundred en eighty-nine pesos. If... I marry you to safe my tavern, I want also to pay off the full mortgage. Not having to do anything with that bank ever again."

"Well, I am not sure, I need to discuss this with my father…"

"Seven thousand, six hundred and eighty-nine pesos. That is my price, or I won't marry you."

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Alejandro laughed as he looked at the alcalde whose mouth was wide open by amazement. The don taps the alcalde on his shoulder. Looking forward to his part to play, as he walked into the private room

"Well Diego that sounds like a splendid idea to me. Sorry, children I overheard the two of you talking.

Victoria can keep her tavern, I will have my grandchild, and it perhaps is the only chance for Diego to even get married.
Victoria let's round it up on nine thousand pesos for you, to marry my son.
And what do you say about five hundred pin money annual. After my first grandson is born I will triple it, to take care of the child. That is reasonable don't you think, Diego?

Diego?"
Not even giving his son a chance to say anything. "Please say yes my dear. You know I have always wanted you to be my daughter."

"Well" Victoria said "if you are absolutely sure you can approve on a marriage out of convenience, Don Alejandro I will think about it"

"Splendid!" Alejandro said clapping his hands "do not think to long, because we need to get the money together. It is not like I have such a large sum of money in my vault. I will need to go to the bank, and I better hurry, for it is almost siesta time.
You and Diego need to go to San Fernando tomorrow, if you accept. I'll see you tonight in the hacienda with your answer.
Diego! Come with me, I need you to give you, your mother's engagement ring. It will be the perfect for your fiancée to have"

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As de Soto heard the men coming out of the storage room which door was still ajar the alcalde fled the tavern as quick as he could, still laugh his brains out.

The fiery tavern wench and the pueblo's greatest coward, married. That was the best joke ever.
If he hadn't disliked his old schoolmate and biggest know it all better, so much, he might even been able to feel sorry for the poor man, to have come up with such a hopeless and ridiculous plan.
Victoria would be bossing him around all the time. How the alcalde wished he could be a little mouse this evening in the hacienda of the de la Vega's.

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Victoria arrived at the de la Vega hacienda at dinner time. Felipe let her in and greeted her as Diego pulled her in his arms. "Felipe told me, we are the talk of pueblo."

"Yes. The alcalde made sure as many people as possible heard about your proposal in the hope I will turn you down."
She gave him the ring she had been carrying close to her heart the last couple of days. "May I please now start to wear it, for everyone to see"

Diego grinned as he took her hand placing the ring on her finger."N ow this is finally where it belongs, and it will never come off." Putting a kiss on the hand the ring was on now.

She agreed, "Never." Tip toeing to place a kiss on his mouth.

"Victoria, you are here already" don Alejandro walked in the library greeting her.

"Yes Don Alejandro, and it seems Diego's plan is working perfect. It is only to bad we will have to continue doing this for some time to come."

"Yes that is bad. But I am sure it will be worth it. And you promised to call me, father from now on, remember."

Diego agreed. "We can grow closer together on our honeymoon. And we still have three weeks, so the bans can be read, in which we can get closer. So, it is going to
be one or two months tops.
Now, as for tomorrow I will come to the pueblo at six minutes past five precise, to pick you up for our ride to San Fernando"

"Why so early? It is a long ride to San Fernando but not that long." Victoria asked.

"Because querida, at that time the lancers change guard duty and I want to make sure they see us leave together."

Don Alejandro not understanding, "Son, you can not know that. That is secret information of the military and that time changes every day." His father mentioned, as a former officer in the Royal Army he was very well aware of that.

"Well, it should be, but the alcalde has a sequel that he uses." Diego revealing one of Zorro's secrets.

"How do you know that."

"Ahh well there is a lot, our friend sergeant Mendoza is willing to tell you, for a free plate of tamales or some warm apple pie."

Don Alejandro grinned. "And you give him that a lot. You are using him!"

"Use him?" Diego said sounding little insulted "my dear father, sergeant Mendoza is Zorro's most loyal inside informant"

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As said in previous stories and in my bio, English it not my first language. Also, I am not completely up to date for laws as they were in the late eighteenth and early nineteeth century in Spain or in the colonies. Actually I have no knowledge of it what so ever. I just write for fun and because I like reading reviews. In the hope I entertain you and you can forgive me for my mistakes. But just like reading my stories.