AN: Dear readers, I know the instalments for this series are rather far apart (it takes a while to write them, I'm afraid) but I hope you can still follow and enjoy them. I hope you like the new story!
It's rated T for several adults themes referenced although not exactly described as I am trying to keep it as close to a K+ rating as possibly.
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With D'Artagnan finally gone, Ignacio de Soto was in a very good mood for a couple of days. Nobody in the pueblo was able to miss the sincere smiles he gave freely whenever he was addressed, nor the amusement on his face when he stopped to watch some children playing a new game in the plaza, called 'Zorro and the bandits', which very much resembled their former favorite 'Zorro and the lancers' in that one would put on an improvised mask, then alternatively chase or get chased by the others around the fountain.
His mood changed one early afternoon, though, just a little after a courier arrived from San Pedro.
The man had brought with him a message from the Viceroy, one which was of a nature to change everything for the white-haired man. If it was a good or a bad change, though, De Soto couldn't immediately decide.
He read the document three times, then went to check his safe. After the wedding, the honeymoon, and the investments he had to make for his new winery, his financial reserves were considerably reduced. That was not fortunate under the present circumstances.
After calling Mendoza to him and instructing his man to organize patrols south and be especially vigilant against possible revolutionaries and rebellious actions, he headed home.
Once there, as only he and two servants were in the house, Jessie having left to check on a patient, he started pacing for a while, repeating in his mind the arguments he was going to make to his wife.
The Viceroy's message had stirred up a large array of conflicting emotions within him. It was not long, but it stated quite clearly that Spain was no longer in charge of New Spain, which had become Mexico after claiming its independence. Consequently, California was lost, no longer under Spanish rule, thus his mere presence there was neither necessary anymore, nor advisable since the new troops were soon to be dispatched from Mexico City to replace all officials and even part of the lancers, unless they willingly switched sides.
On the one hand, that meant that he was finally going home. On the other… On the other, he had a wife who had willingly come and settled in Los Angeles and a hacienda he had just begun enjoying. His life was finally on a good course and now everything was to radically change.
As the sun was already setting, Ignacio took a walk through the vineyards and imagined, once more, as he had done for a couple of months already, raising a family in that place. He had never before truly desired one. Certainly not before having met and married Jessie. As she entered his life, though, so had a multitude of new dreams, aspirations, decisions and fears.
He had decided to become better, to be worthy of the most wonderful woman who had ever lived and who, as unlikely as it still seemed, had chosen him as her husband. On the other hand, that place, and more specifically, a resident of the pueblo – whom he had reluctantly realized was far more suited for Jessie than he was – meant he lived in constant fear of losing her. Still, rationally, he reminded himself his wife loved him and Diego was much too honorable a man to try and do anything that meant separating the two of them.
Putting his fears to rest by remembering he was finally to return to Madrid, he glanced around as if for a last time. In his mind, he saw a little blonde girl running and hiding among the vines, while a smaller boy chased her around, and their mother smiled at watching them, while offering Ignacio a grape. It was a nice image, and part of him regretted it could no longer come true.
He wondered what to do with the vineyards and the only answer he got was to give them back to the De la Vegas. It was the right thing to do, and Jessie would have wanted him to do the right thing. It was also an unfortunate thing, since he knew he could get at least 12,000 pesos if he sold the property in its current state, double what it was worth when he had received it. Granted, Diego de la Vega had also been responsible for most of the improvements, yet it wasn't like he had done everything by himself.
De Soto's biggest regret, though, was not that that beautiful blonde little girl and her brother were not to one day run around those vineyards. Nor was it that he was to leave California with almost just as much money as he had upon arriving there, for, even if he wasn't rich, he had the best wife he could have hoped for, and he knew he could do anything with her by his side.
His greatest regret was not having discovered who was hiding behind that black mask he had so hated for the last few years. It was his dream to rip it off and stare into the face of the man beneath it. That was not going to happen though.
He had lost the game he played against Zorro, probably, since the very beginning. Truth be told, he didn't even want to see the man dead anymore, a fact he had already realized for a while, but that had not stopped him from trying to get him, anyway. What he truly cared about, though, was winning, and winning meant unmasking that fiend, revealing his true identity.
He had once believed he had done it, when Don Alejandro, for some reason, went temporarily insane and put on the mask. That moment when he took the mask off the old don gave him a strange sense of satisfaction he still remembered. Indeed, something had seemed off to Ignacio, but the idea of vanquishing his enemy had taken precedence over his common sense, as it usually happened when it came to Zorro.
Yet, his stay in Los Angeles was nearing its end, and he was soon due to leave the pueblo. As things stood now, he was quite certain he'd not get to witness the outlaw's unmasking before that.
After spending some time deep in thought, Ignacio resolved that he'd ask Diego to write him, revealing Zorro's identity, should the outlaw ever be unmasked.
"Buenas tardes, mi amor!" Jessie interrupted his train of thought at finding him sitting on the back porch.
"It's no longer afternoon, Jessie! I was worried about you. I don't think you should be traveling alone at such hours!" He replied as he went to kiss her.
"I wasn't alone, Ignacio! I had José accompany me. Or did you not even notice he was not at the house?" She answered, pointing towards their third servant, a man in his late 50s, who was just stabling two horses.
"No… I hadn't noticed…" He replied, looking towards the man. "But, please, sit down! There are a few things we need to talk about. Have you already had dinner?"
"No. Have you?"
"No." De Soto answered. "I was waiting for you to arrive. Perez made some rather decent-looking tamales."
"Great. Then you can tell me whatever you want to tell me over dinner." Jessie stated and headed towards the dining room.
About ten minutes later, they were eating in silence, as Ignacio didn't dare open the subject he needed to discuss with her. Truth be told, he dreaded that conversation.
Frustrated and realizing something was clearly bothering him, Jessie let down her eating utensils and leaned back in her chair.
"It must be pretty bad if you don't dare open the subject…" She stated with a cautious grin, trying to get him to relax.
"Not bad… Just… I received a message from the Viceroy today. The former Viceroy I should say, considering the information in it. This territory, together with the rest of New Spain is now officially Mexico. The Mexican Empire, to be more exact. Consequently, all Spanish-appointed officials were informed that we have the choice to either risk remaining in our positions until the Mexican forces take over or… well… quit. I am not exactly comfortable with this choice, but I have been thinking about this for several hours already, and I do believe quitting is my best option at this point."
"I agree." Jessie stated with a broad smile.
"You do?" Ignacio asked her dumbfounded. He had certainly not anticipated that reaction from her.
"Of course!" she answered.
"It's settled then!" He uttered enthusiastically as he stood up and went to take his wife into his arms. "Oh, my dear, I have to say… I was afraid we might not see eye to eye on this. I'm so glad we do! I am so looking forward to introducing you to my friends in Madrid!"
"What friends in Madrid?" She asked as her face literally fell.
"My friends… They aren't many, but -"
"We're not going to Madrid, Ignacio!" She interrupted him as she pushed him back a little and he was able to see that her smile was completely gone.
"But you just said… You agree I need to quit my position as Alcalde of Los Angeles. We'll embark as soon as I do."
Jessie shook her head. "No! I'm not leaving. I barely got here. My work is here… we have our house… friends... I want to raise a family in Los Angeles."
"But, my dear… If we stay, those rebel Mexicans will take over, and who knows what those savages will do? We have an opportunity to return to Madrid. You… You can't tell me you don't miss it at all! You spent a decade there. You went to the university in Madrid."
"I don't miss Madrid! I don't miss the Old World, Ignacio, or I wouldn't have left it. Don't you think I tried to make it as a doctor in Spain after I finished my studies at the university? Have you any idea what I had to endure for the mere fact that I was a woman? I was the first in my class, I was younger and better than any of my colleagues, but, after I graduated, everyone thought I had gone to medical school because of a whim. They expected me to just get married, and forget all about the idea of actually being a doctor. Had it not been for one of my professors, I would have never stood a chance of practicing. And when he died, I had to go to the States to get another chance at it. But nowhere, not until Los Angeles, have I felt so accepted and respected in my life! By everyone… from peons to dons, everybody cares about me, and everybody accepts and trusts me. I am never leaving this place!" She stated.
"But, don't you understand that we are in danger if we stay here? I am a Spanish official in a territory which has claimed its independence from Spain. The Mexicans might try to take it by force. They might commit abuses… there might be a battle. With 20 men, I stand no chance to defend the pueblo, or you if they come in with an army. And I can't just quit being Alcalde and stay here… It would… It would mean someone else would be Alcalde… and I'd have to give up everything I have built. My career... The army is my calling…" He stated, clearly dreading some of the awful images in his head and somewhat fearful of Jessie's reaction.
"Calling? Have you suddenly forgotten all the mistakes you've committed? Zorro would make a far better Alcalde than you, Ignacio!" Jessie shouted, enraged.
De Soto stood up infuriated at her words, and started pacing the room for a while. His wife's words stung, even if he had known for a while that was how she felt. Inwardly wondering if he was ever going to be good enough for her, he opened his mouth a few times to retort, yet back down on each occasion, fearing the words which would come out might take away any chance for a future with her, in California or anywhere else.
"We'll talk about this tomorrow, after you'd have had the chance to calm down and think things through." He ended up stating, then left the room, heading straight for their bedroom.
Neither Ignacio nor Jessie spent much time sleeping that night, both tossing and turning in bed and thinking about a future that looked nothing like they had imagined. Towards morning, exasperated about being unable to sleep, Jessie asked her husband to make love to her, and he eagerly complied, both, eventually, falling asleep after that. They woke up three hours later when the sun was already up in the sky, and the clock indicated 9 a.m.
After washing and eating a light breakfast in complete silence, they returned to the subject already discussed the previous night.
"My dear," Ignacio started, "I know this is painful, but I am sure that, by now, you must have reached the same conclusion as I have…"
"I am not changing my mind, Ignacio." She answered coldly.
"But… you must have… You can't believe I will quit my office and live off the vineyards! I… I can't even imagine being in Los Angeles if someone else is Alcalde."
"I'm afraid you don't really have a choice," Jessie replied coldly.
"I am your husband. It is my decision to make, and you shall do as I decide! And what I decided is that we are leaving on the next ship bound for Spain!" De Soto stated somewhat severely.
If Jessie tried to control her temper before, his words made her turn red with anger.
"You can't possibly be serious, Ignacio!" She shouted at her husband. "This is where our lives are! I have no interest in leaving this place!"
"But dear, you can't expect us to spend the rest of our lives in Los Angeles!" He replied, aghast, realizing he had made a mistake and trying, rather badly, to correct it.
"Ignacio de Soto! Listen to me, and listen well! This is where we belong. So you will quit the army, you will quit the office, and you will become a haciendado! It is either that or going back to Spain without me!" She threatened.
"You must be reasonable, my dear! I have dedicated my life to the Army. I am the Alcalde of Los Angeles, the most powerful man in the territory, and a soldier of the King of Spain. You can't ask me to give it all up in order to become a winemaker in the colonies!" He begged.
"That is exactly what I want, Ignacio! And, sure enough, it is exactly what you're going to do! And this conversation ends here. I have to go to my office!" Jessie said, slamming the door as she left, mumbling to herself.
That infernal woman will be the death of me! De Soto told himself as he watched her saddle her horse and leave at a gallop, then followed her, at a slower pace, towards the pueblo.
ZZZ
"Holá, Diego!" Jessie greeted at entering her office and finding her partner examining a child with a dislocated shoulder.
"Jessie, it's so good you've arrived!" He exclaimed. "You are much better at this than I am. Can you take a look?"
"Yes, let's see!" She said smiling at the little frightened boy with tears in his eyes. "Do you like candy?" She asked and his eyes sparkled. Taking advantage of his distraction, she put the arm in position making the child scream a little and then stop, realizing the pain was almost gone. Jessie signaled for Diego to bring a piece of candy she kept for her best patients, as she continued her treatment by putting a sling around the injured arm and neck so that the child would keep the arm in place.
"Make sure he keeps it on for at least 5 days!" She advised the boy's mother, indicating the sling. "You don't have to pay anything, Señora!" She added as the woman was taking out her purse. "Have a nice day! Now," she said, turning towards Diego as the grateful woman exited the office, "I really need to talk to you!"
"Is something the matter?" He asked.
"Ignacio! He wants us to move to Spain. He says the… former Spanish Viceroy has informed all the officials that Mexico is now an independent state and they can no longer count on any military support, thus advising them to withdraw from California."
"Then the rumors are true." Diego affirmed pensively.
"I don't want us to go to Spain, Diego! Please, there must be something to be done!" She pleaded.
"Well, Ignacio can quit the military. The vineyards should be able to support you financially since you refuse to take money for most of your services." He suggested.
"I cannot ask those poor people for money, Diego! Plus, I have enough! My parents left me rich! Not that I would ever tell Ignacio that! The problem is he doesn't want to quit his position."
"He is in quite a pickle, as they say. He can't continue as Spanish Alcalde if Mexico is taking over, he can't stay here unless he swears allegiance to the new state, and he can't stay in the Army if he becomes Mexican, nor will he be able to return to Madrid if he does that." The caballero answered pensively.
"I know he loves Madrid, but I don't think that's it. He has nothing there and everything here. His mother and grandmother – if she's still alive – are in Cadiz, and he can support them just as well as a haciendado as he does as Alcalde. My personal feeling is that he is really afraid of becoming a don if someone else becomes Alcalde. But why? Others here would be certainly more qualified for the job." Jessie remarked. "Zorro perhaps! He would make a much better Alcalde than Ignacio!"
Diego smiled and cast his eyes down thinking that he already had enough jobs and had no intention of becoming alcalde.
"Because he knows how he's used the office? If someone he's caused problems for takes over, that someone might seek revenge." Diego eventually answered her question, inwardly happy it was De Soto, not Luis Ramone Jessie's husband and the pueblo's alcalde.
Unlike his predecessor, at least, De Soto, even if he had committed his own misdeeds, had never stolen money from the people and even did his duty on most occasions. It was why, when Gilberto had tried to have him executed, most people, dons included, had been enraged by the man's actions and sided with the Alcalde. It was also why, during those useless elections held a couple of years earlier, even if most Los Angelinos voted for Victoria, 98 people had voted for Ignacio. He was not hated or feared. Disliked by many, yet respected and certainly an improvement on his predecessor.
True, there were a few who he had mistreated, and several dons who hated him for the damages his men had cause to their haciendas when looking for Zorro on a couple of occasions.
Mendoza had every right to hate him, even if he didn't know, and was too good a person to feel hate for anyone.
He, as the man Ignacio had tried to catch and hang for years, whose father he had almost executed, and who knew most of his worst actions, had every right to hate him. Yet that was not who he was. He didn't even resent him but was hopeful at seeing the man was finally changing, and still grateful for having saved his life when his own twin brother had tried to take it.
Other than that, just the bandits who he had flogged or imprisoned could harbor some resentments against him, but there weren't many of those, in truth. Zorro had always prevented him from harming innocents, and the guilty hardly ever had anyone who cared enough to risk their lives by striking against the man who had ordered the execution or the imprisonment of their former family members or cohorts.
"You think he is afraid the next Alcalde might use his power against him?" She wondered.
"There is always that possibility," Diego admitted.
"Can't it be prevented somehow?"
"I don't know, to be absolutely honest. I think it would mostly depend on who would be the next Alcalde. But they are normally appointed… If a good man would take the office, he would not seek to harm anyone. However, we would need a lawyer's advice on how to make that happen." He replied.
"I thought you were one! What was that list? Newspaper editor, doctor, engineer, musician, painter, poet and… lawyer, I believe?" She asked a bit sarcastically.
"I am afraid I am no more a lawyer than I am a doctor." He replied humbly.
"You, my friend, are one of the best doctors I have ever seen, so you must be a very good lawyer," Jessie assured him.
"I guess I can take a look at my law books and write to our lawyer for his opinion. But I cannot promise you anything, especially since these are very troublesome times. The birth of a new state is never an easy process..." Diego tried to avoid raising her hopes. After all, if there was anything he knew about the Alcalde, it was that he was a stubborn man.
ZZZ
Considering their quarrel, Jessie called a lancer and had him deliver a message to Ignacio asking him if he preferred that she remained at her office or if he'd rather stay in his old quarters at the garrison since she had no intention of seeing him until she would have the chance to calm down.
De Soto decided he also had enough reasons to be upset with her, so he informed his wife, via the same lancer, that he'd be staying at the hacienda, but she was welcome to come home whenever she wanted because he wasn't upset with her.
Jessie, thus, waited for her husband to leave on patrol, then went to the hacienda to pack enough clothes for the following two weeks, although she was certain Ignacio would crack long before that.