Rejection

DISCLAIMER: this story is based on the NWZ series. It is a non-profit project intent for entertainment purposes only. All copyrights on the characters belong to Zorro Productions Inc. except the new originals created by me, i.e Esteban de la Vega and Don Emilio.

Chapter 1 – The Arrival

Don Alejandro was proud of his geraniums. Thanks to his efforts and good care they had blossomed particularly well that year, and the patio looked beautiful with the huge amount of plant pots of different sizes hanging off the walls, and also on the floor. All the visitors to the hacienda had complemented him for the spectacular arrangement of the different colours and varieties, and the patio was an endless topic of conversation for him that summer.

One morning, when he was busy tending for his precious plants using of a long pole to reach the higher ones, patiently watering each individual pot with the right amount of water according to its size, Diego approached him from behind.

"This patio could compete with any of the most famous ones in Sevilla," he said, patting his father's back.

"Of course it could, Diego. For sure, my geraniums are the best in California," Don Alejandro said proudly, turning to look at his son, not catching his ironic tone.

"Of course," Diego said, trying not to chuckle. He noticed his father's gaze looking over his shoulder then, frowning, and he turned around to look behind him.

"Look, somebody is coming," Don Alejandro said, pointing at the approaching coach with the small watering can he was holding. "Who could that be?"

"It looks like one of the coaches from San Pedro, doesn't it?" Diego said while looking at the distance using his right hand to cover the sun glare. "Are you expecting something from Spain?"

"No. I haven't ordered anything for a long time. Have you?"

Diego shook his head. Don Alejandro left the watering can on the ground and the long pole resting on the wall, and they both walked to the entrance to wait for the coach. It stopped by the gate, and a young man jumped out of the carriage's back door almost immediately.

"Diego! Uncle Alejandro! How good to see you!"

"Esteban? What are you doing here?" Diego said.

Esteban hugged his cousin enthusiastically, patting his broad back.

"I can't believe you are here! What a pleasant surprise!" Don Alejandro said, also hugging the young man. "Emilio didn't tell me you were coming."

"It was my father's idea: a surprise visit!" Esteban said, looking back at the carriage. Then, another man came out of it, blinking for a moment under the blinding sun.

"Emilio! My goodness! Is that really you?" Don Alejandro exclaimed, hurrying to greet his younger brother. "How are you? I haven't seen you for ages!" he cried, embracing him tightly. When they parted, Alejandro looked inside the carriage, but it was empty. "Where is Elena?"

"She had to stay at home. She is sorry she couldn't come this time."

"Is she all right?"

"Oh, yes, yes, she is, don't worry. It's only that we decided to travel as such short notice she wasn't ready to leave Madrid. You know how busy she always is with her charity projects. She sends her apologies, and she promises to come the next time."

"She is a saint, your wife. But I can't blame her for not coming, because this is such a long journey for a vacation. How long are you planning to stay in California?"

"I don't know," Emilio said, and then he whispered quickly when he saw Diego approaching. "That's something I need to discuss with you in private."

"Uncle Emilio! How good to see you!" Diego said, hugging him as well. He had not seen his relatives since he returned from Spain, when he was studying at the Complutense University in Madrid.

"Nice to see you too, Diego. You look like a grown-up man now. How long has it been since you were at Madrid?"

"Four years."

"Gosh, time flies! I'm growing old so quickly."

"Come on, let's get inside. I can't wait to know all the gossip from Spain," Don Alejandro said, inviting them in.

"Wow. Look at that wall. That's stunning, Alejandro. I didn't know you had a green thumb," Emilio said when he got to the patio and encountered the colourful display.

"No, I didn't know either. Gardening is a newly found passion of mine. I'll show you the rest of the garden later," he said, guiding his brother towards the door. He addressed then the servant who came out of the house. "Manuel, por favor, can you get the luggage? Thank you."

When he was about to get into the house, he paused for a moment, thinking, and then turned to Diego.

"Diego, you were about to go to Los Angeles this morning to the newspaper office. Do you want to take Esteban with you and show him the pueblo while we old geezers catch up here?"

"Oh, yes, of course. Should we go now, Esteban? Or do you need to refresh yourself, or have a drink or something before we go?"

"No, don't worry; I'll be fine. Let's go."

"We can have a drink at the tavern then. Come on, I'll show you our stallions. They are magnificent," Diego said, taking his cousin to the stables while the older men walked into the house.

"What is that so important you must tell me in private, Emilio?" Don Alejandro asked when they were alone at the library. "You got me worried."

"First thing, I'm sorry I didn't send you a letter before showing up here, but I didn't have the time to let you know we were coming. It was such a rushed decision I didn't think it through very well."

"What's the matter? Is there anything wrong?"

"You could say so, Alejandro."

"What happened?"

"I was worried about Esteban. He is so… how can I put it? Spirited, maybe, or should I say troublesome? I don't know how he does it, because he is otherwise an intelligent, highly educated and nice young man, but he always manages to get in a pickle somehow, involved in fights and arguments, sometimes brawling like a low-life thug, even using his naked fists to make his point. On top of that, he has become quite a ladies' man lately, to the point of obsession, and he has caused a lot of trouble for himself in Madrid. He even took part in a couple of duels to fight the offended lovers when he got involved with their fiancées. The last one to be offended for some obscure reason, as I still haven't got to the bottom of it, is the heir of a very influential man, the Duke of Cádiz, so I decided to get Esteban out of the city, away from the temptation, and even out of the country to allow matters to settle down. Otherwise, I'm afraid he may get killed at an early age. I thought a long vacation in the country side here in California, away from the busy social life of Madrid, would be perfect for him, if you don't mind, Alejandro. I also hope that spending some time with your sensible son will help him to mature and gain some perspective and common sense."

"I think you came to the perfect place for that. My son is exactly the opposite of yours. It would be great if some of that passionate spark could transfer onto Diego in return for his sedative effects," the old don said, laughing. "Gosh, for a moment I thought it was something serious. You got me worried for nothing!"

"This is not a laughing matter, Alejandro. You'll see."

ZZZ

"So, how's life in Madrid? What am I missing?" Diego asked on the way to the pueblo. As they were in no hurry to arrive there the horses were trotting lazily, allowing an easy conversation between the two men.

"Not much. Although my father would probably say differently."

"I do wonder why you are here without letting us know you were visiting. You have to agree it is odd for both of you to come all the way here, in a journey that takes many weeks, without a word in advance. As it is leaving your mother behind on her own in Spain."

"Your over-worried uncle thinks I'm in trouble. For that reason, he rushed me out of Madrid with the excuse to see your father. My mother couldn't find a substitute for her role at the orphanage at such short notice, so she decided to stay. She thinks the children would get very upset otherwise, feeling abandoned again. And my sister María is pregnant with her first child, so understandably, she wants to stay close to her and not in California when she becomes an abuela."

"Congratulations! That's nice, you are going to be an uncle then."

"Yes, thank you."

"Now, are you really in trouble?"

"Nah, only the usual."

"Come on, tell me about it."

"I have the rare ability to get involved in all sorts of arguments, Diego, as if I could attract trouble from miles around. My father thought I could get killed if I'd stay in Madrid another summer, but I think I can take care of myself pretty well," he said defiantly, placing his hand on his sword's pommel.

"I noticed you have a nice Toledo sword there. But I don't think you'll need it in Los Angeles."

"Why is that? Is it because Zorro takes care of everything here?"

"Maybe. Or maybe because the Californians enjoy the peaceful, quiet life as opposed to the busy, chaotic life at Madrid."

"Do you know Zorro?"

"Everybody knows Zorro. Well, I mean, we don't really know him. Nobody knows who he is under the mask."

"Is he as good with the sword as they say? I wouldn't mind engaging in some friendly bouts to practice fencing with him. Maybe he could teach me something new."

"Maybe. You can ask him when you see him."

"And what about you? You studied with Sir Edmund Kendall, didn't you?"

"No, I didn't. You are mistaken."

"No, I am not. I remember one afternoon I went to see you at the Complutense and you were having a fencing lesson with him, practicing in the patio. You weren't bad, you know?"

"Well, I had the occasional lesson with Sir Edmund, yes, but I wasn't really interested in fencing, and I wasn't very good with the sword," Diego said, uncomfortable, dreading the possibility his cousin could blow his cover.

"What a shame, because I heard he was the best. I wanted to take lessons with him, but he had left the university accused of treason when I started my studies. I heard he died, shot down by a bounty hunter."

"Yes, he died, unfortunately, two years ago," Diego said, relieved because they had reached the pueblo and he could interrupt such disturbing conversation. He had always feared someone from Madrid would come along and reveal Diego was Sir Edmund's most gifted pupil, and as such, a master with the sword. "Here we are. Let's go to the tavern for a drink first, shall we?"

ZZZZZ

A.N – I told myself I wasn't going to publish this story until it was finished, but… who am I kidding? The thirst for reviews is too strong, so as soon as I had a complete first chapter (which is never the first one to be written, as I write chaotically, and I always start building my house at the roof) I was lured to the dark side of "incomplete, in-progress stories." Sorry.

I hope you like the premise and where this story can go, so you keep reading and reviewing it, thank you!

I can promise lots of angst for Diego, the same as in previous stories. Poor man. He is always trapped in the same loop, leaving a trail of dismembered daisies behind: she loves me/she loves me not. LOL.

* Fear not: I will try to reduce the maiming (really, this time I will. However, as the story is not written yet, don't shout at me if it takes a turn to the gory side later on. After all, I am only human, and some habits are hard to eradicate.)

** Maiming Update in June 2021 – in order to finish this story that I left hanging unfinished for nearly two years (I apologize for that), I had to re-read it from the beginning. I'm amazed how the plot went in all sorts of directions with twists and turns that I didn't have in mind when I started writing it, so, don't pay any attention to that initial, innocent "I will try to reduce the maiming". That was a wishful thinking that never happened, sorry.

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