Chapter 3. Rumors.

Diego continued with his meal, wishing to leave the tavern as soon as possible. Don Aurelio came over to greet Don Alejandro.

"If you have time now I would like us to discuss a little more about your idea of taking the cattle to market at the same time. I still think that although it is safer, taking so many animals together to the same market may reduce the selling price."

"I don't think that's going to be a problem, sit down and we'll have a coffee while we talk about it." replied Don Alejandro motioning to Pilar to serve them drinks.

"I'm going to continue in the newspaper." said Diego getting up from the table. "Nice to greet you, don Aurelio."

The interpellate extended his hand to Diego to greet him, to immediately resume his conversation with his father.

Diego entered the newspaper and continued where he had left off. Reading the articles he had selected from other newspapers he lost track of time, and when his father entered the office he was surprised.

"Have you two finished arguing about the cattle?"

"Don Aurelio is as stubborn as I am, we weren't really finished, but Victoria has thrown us out to close for the siesta."

Diego looked at his watch in surprise. "I hadn't realized it was so late."

"If you don't mind I'll stay here, it's too hot to go back now, the sun is beating down." said Don Alejandro as he stared at his son intently, although Diego didn't notice because he had looked back down at his papers.

"Of course, stay, I have water in that pitcher if you want some." he replied looking up again for a moment.

Don Alejandro poured himself a glass and stood thinking while Diego continued reading.

"Maybe we should take the opportunity to talk." said Don Alejandro.

Diego looked up from the papers in his hand. "Sure, I could use a break."

His father looked at him speculatively. "About what the alcalde said earlier, is there something you'd like to tell me?"

Diego looked away slightly and tried to dissemble. "You know how he is about, he's eager to embarrass us."

"That may be, but we both know that you didn't get that mark you have from an insect."

For a few seconds they both remained silent. "Am I going to have to ask you directly? Who is she?" asked Don Alejandro very seriously.

Diego continued to remain silent.

Shortly before, in the tavern, Victoria entered the kitchen after asking don Alejandro and don Aurelio for the second time to leave because she had to close.

"They have finally left. When they start talking there's no one to shut them up." said Victoria.

"Yes," said Alicia. "Then they say we women are talkative. Men are worse than us."

"Except Don Diego, who didn't say a word when the alcalde asked him. You won't believe what de Soto said" Pilar interjected.

Victoria let out a small laugh. "You're right about that, I'm not going to believe it, because the alcalde lies more than he talks."

"Well, I think he got it right this time, because Don Diego was hiding it well, but he seemed a little nervous."

Victoria looked at Pilar. "Come on, spill it at once, you're eager to tell us about it."

Pilar needed no further invitation. "De Soto saw a mark on Don Diego's neck, and then a scratch under the collar of his shirt. He says he had to have it done last night by a woman." the girl said lowering her voice and with a mischievous smile.

"Don Diego doesn't have a girlfriend." said Alicia thoughtfully. "You know him best, Victoria, do you know if he's courting anyone?"

Victoria looked at her somewhat confused. "No, but even if he were I don't think..."

"If he was courting me I would have done more than kiss him and scratch his neck." said Pilar with a suggestive look.

Victoria was startled as she remembered what she had been doing the night before with Zorro, and nearly dropped the dish she was washing. Luckily she managed to keep it from breaking.

"Who would have thought it of him. He seems so formal and gentlemanly." said Alicia, realizing that Victoria looked nervous.

"The alcalde said that explains why he's not married, why settle for one woman if he can have many." added Pilar.

"We shouldn't give credibility to what the alcalde says." said Victoria disguising her discomfort without quite succeeding.

"What long words you use. You have to see how well you speak, I can tell you spend time with Don Diego. In fact, you are the only woman he talks to regularly, aren't you his mysterious girlfriend?" said Pilar.

"Enough gossiping, you'd better go home, this is ready," said Victoria putting the dish to drain.

"Fine, but if you want to tell us something you know where we are," said Alicia.

"And if you don't want to tell us we'll make it up and it will be worse." said Pilar laughing.

Both girls went to the kitchen door, just before opening they turned and stared at Victoria; she couldn't help blushing but when she was about to say something the two girls looked at each other with an accomplice look and burst out laughing going out the door at full speed. Victoria, quite annoyed, kept thinking about what they had said, and decided to go see Diego at the newspaper. It could be a coincidence, but... What if it wasn't?

The square was deserted at that hour. The heat was pressing hard, luckily the newspaper was right next to the tavern. As she approached the door and raised her hand to knock she heard Don Alejandro's voice.

"...we both know that you didn't get that mark you have from an insect."

Victoria hesitated for a few moments, not wanting to interrupt their conversation. Don Alejandro spoke again. "Am I going to have to ask you directly? Who is she?"

Victoria was taken aback to hear the discussion, undecided about whether she should knock on the door.

"She's not married, is she?" said Don Alejandro indignantly. "Because I want to have grandchildren, but legitimate de la Vega grandchildren, who can carry our surname with pride."

"I wouldn't have an affair with a married woman, you should know that." said Diego in a much firmer voice than usual, which to her sounded more like the like Zorro's voice than Diego's. That made her freeze, listening.

"Then you're going to tell me who she is, because it better be just one, and you're going to ask her to marry you and make a decent woman out of her." said Don Alejandro who accompanied each sentence with a gesture pointing to his son, whom he suspected was acting like a scoundrel. "Is that what you do at night when you're away and then tell me you've gone out to look at the stars or look for rare plants?"

Victoria made up her mind to call. She needed to see Diego immediately and confirm or rule out her suspicions.

Author's note:

How's the story going? Please give me feedback, I love comments, they make my day. I personally love it when Don Alejandro jumps to conclusions.