Chapter 5

The following morning the de la Vega men were the first to enter the tavern after it opened. Alejandro rushed over to the young tavern owner.
"Victoria, Felipe told us what happened. How dare the alcalde do a thing that. I sincerely hope he did not harm you."

"I am all right, don Alejandro. The alcalde hit me, but only barely. I am just glad he didn't harm Felipe."

"I am furious, you must know. Even Diego was slightly upset when he heard what happened."

Felipe approached her, carrying flowers to hand to the woman.
"Felipe likes to thank you for stepping forward and stopping the alcalde." Diego placed a hand on the young man, his shoulder as Victoria accepted the flowers and admired the beauty of it.

"They are lovely, thank you, Felipe." Victoria tried to make eye contact with the tall man standing behind don Alejandro. Like so many times before, Diego seemed already distracted by something on his mind.

The elder don, not finished with what he had to say.
"The alcalde has not heard the last of it. How dares he tried in public to whip an innocent without even questioning. Felipe did not even have the chance to defend himself. Señorita, I am in your depth for rescuing Felipe."

"It was nothing, don Alejandro. I think I would have jumped in between every other time. Did Felipe tell you why he was in the cuartel?"

Diego was stepping forward. "Felipe told me he was searching for sergeant Mendoza. One of the army horses had escaped. It was not clever of him to look for the sergeant in the weapon room. But the sergeant is one of the few lancers trying to understand him."

"Then it is, even more, an outrage, de Soto tried to harm him. I hope you are all right."

Cutely, Felipe smiled at Victoria to let her know he was doing fine.

"Thanks to you, Victoria, he is." Diego for a second, looking at her.

Victoria uttered, "And thanks to the stranger who did step forward. Can I offer you something to drink or eat?"

Don Alejandro answering. "Three coffee, por favor. And let me only say, I think the alcalde is very grateful it was a stranger stepping in and not Zorro. When he hears what the alcalde has done..."

"Zorro knows already, and he came to me to make sure I am fine. He left soon after, had something urgent to do apparently." Victoria confessed to the man that was clearly worried over her health fair.

Undetected by the people standing at the bar, sergeant Mendoza had entered the tavern and overheard the last remarks. "I wouldn't worry over the alcalde if I were you. He is feeling sick and doesn't want to be disturbed." The sergeant lowered his voice slightly. "I have seen him. The alcalde has red spots all over his body. It looks like the measles or something."

Don Alejandro instantly was alarmed by this news. "Measles? That can be dangerous. We need to consult doctor Hernandez immediately." Before anyone could blink an eye, don Diego had left the tavern.

After the good doctor had declared the alcalde wasn't suffering from anything contagious, don Alejandro went back to the hacienda and Felipe joint Diego in the office to work on the next edition of the Guardian.

"Yes, Felipe, the alcalde was displeased by the visit of the doctor. Better safe than sorry." Winking at the boy. He knew all too well the red spots the alcalde had all over the body was by the result of a visit from Zorro to the alcalde in his bedroom carrying a small amount of some itching powder.
"Zorro had an act of small revenge, and the alcalde again is remembered Zorro can show up everywhere at any time.

A couple of hours later, don Diego happily entered the tavern. He had some good news for her, he hoped.
"Victoria, in all the commotion of this morning, I have forgotten to tell you something. Yesterday, I was in San Paulo for a meeting of editors of the local newspapers. And I think I have good news.
We have decided to place an extra page in all the local newspapers once a month with the most important news from the surrounding pueblo's.

I brought in your idea to place those personal ads you mentioned. And several other editors were positive about it. In other words, with your permission, from next month on, there will be monthly space in all the local newspapers to post some advertisements for people to meet. We have to run over the details naturally but...," This was how far he came. Victoria, throwing the cloth she was holding on a nearby table, making her way over to the caballero to give him a hug to show how grateful she was for doing this.

Surprised by her enthusiastic reaction, the tall man barely was able to keep his balance while the woman spoke full of excitement.
"That is great, Diego. Thank you for remembering and trying. About how many papers are we talking over? The distribution area has increased by dozens of miles, has it not? Can I get some extra space in the next edition to explain the meaning of personal ads? O, and the next edition is only in four days. I have to start right now if I want to get it done in time."

"Well, eh, yes, for the extra space. As for all your other questions, can you repeat them? I am not sure whether I have heard all of them."

An awkward moment followed. Diego, having his hands on her hips. And Victoria, her hands resting on the upper arms of the man. A little embarrassed, Victoria blushed and stepped back from the embrace that had felt too good for her liking.

During siesta time, don Diego explained what the idea was of the newspapers working more closely together. Los Angeles and seven surrounding pueblos working every month on a special edition. Each month a different pueblo responsible for the printing.
Every newspaper was to write an article on what was going on in their pueblo. It could involve a local celebration, a crime, things like that. A part of the page will get used for a different column each time. Such as señor Estomago, dona Corazón, or Diego told her about a pueblo that holds something similar to dona Corazón called questions and answers. Diego told Victoria Señorita Palez wrote that column for the newspaper she and her brother run in their pueblo. And how the señorita had asked, or she could visit Los Angeles to talk with dona Corazón about their columns and how to work together to get more people to meet and fall in love, and how he had promised to ask.

Victoria feeling lucky her idea was to become even better, and how she loved to meet señorita Palez.
Diego promising to write and let the señorita know she was welcome, and dona Corazón looked forward to beneficial cooperation.

Three days later, the alcalde had recovered from his sickness, refusing to tell what had kept him in his bedroom for several days.
Diego came by to inform dona Corazón, in a week time, señorita Palez was to arrive in Los Angeles.
Victoria had finished her column, this time, not a question or romantic poem but an explanation of how dona Corazón was to bring people from different pueblo's closer together and encourage people to write an ad.
Before he left, Diego also handed over another envelope that had familiar-looking handwriting on it.

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