Chapter 15

The next morning, Alejandro and Diego had a late breakfast in total silence.

The servants came in and out of the dining room, feeling the strange tension in the air between the two men. The talk in the servants' quarters had been so joyous the night before that it was odd to see the atmosphere so different at the breakfast table. Their own Don Diego was going to marry Señorita Escalante! But instead of a happy household this morning, the mood was somber instead.

Perhaps Don Alejandro was not pleased at the prospect of having the señorita for a daughter-in-law? All through the meal, the servants silently did their duty, but they watched for any clue that might tell them what was so wrong between their two patrons.

But neither of the men gave a hint as to what the problem between them was. After a very uncomfortable half hour, they both went out to their saddled horses and rode away toward the pueblo.

It took a while before the conversation started up between them. Finally, it was Diego who broke the silence as he rode up to ride side by side with his father..

"Father, tell me first that you are pleased I am marrying Victoria."

Alejandro looked over at his son in surprise. "Of course I am pleased. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You are awfully quiet this morning. I was beginning to wonder…"

"Victoria has nothing to do with my mood. It is you who has me worried!"

"Worried?"

"Yes! If I have put this puzzle together," he shot Diego a harsh look, "and you might as well admit it to me, then there are others who will —"

"And what did you put together, Father?"

"That you, Son, are Zorro." Alejandro could not say the words without feeling and showing a swell of pride that was not lost on Diego. Then he continued. "I must admit that the idea has occurred to me on several occasions, and then something you did or said convinced me otherwise. But this time, no… you would not be so bold as to court Victoria when the pueblo is filled with other señoritas already fighting over you."

"Oh, Father, those girls —"

"Those girls are seriously looking for husbands. They have left their homes and families, crossed a couple of oceans and settled in a new land to do just that. Those girls saw in you a wonderful prospective husband. You had only to select one. But the first señorita you are seen in the bushes with is Victoria! You might as well have announced you are Zorro in the Guardian!"

"I was not 'in the bushes' with Victoria. We were just —"

"Oh, yes. You were just talking. Yes, Son. say that often enough, and people will still not believe you. Especially after that Señorita Espinoza went around spouting off about Victoria and her brazen behavior."

"Brazen behavior?" Diego pulled Esperanza up short in his surprise. "Andrea said that?"

"Yes. She said a great deal to anyone who would listen." Alejandro pulled up his own horse to wait for Diego. As his son allowed the horse to move forward once again, Alejandro looked over to see Diego's whitened knuckles grasping the reins. Alarmed, he added, "There's no need to worry about it though. The entire pueblo knows Victoria, Diego. They know her very well. They will not believe —"

"She does not deserve this kind of talk about her," Diego said sadly. "This is all my fault."

Alejandro laughed. "Last time I checked. It took two in the bushes to create such a stir!" At the agonized grimace his comment elicited, Alejandro softened. "Oh, Son! Do not be so hard on yourself. We just need to figure out how to smooth this situation over." He ducked his head down comically trying to catch Diego's eye and was rewarded when Diego lifted his head and gave him a crooked smile. "There! That's better. You've faced far worse things than this, and you did it all alone. Now, you at least have me to help and one or two less people to fool while you do it!"

"Father, I did want to tell you. I just couldn't risk —"

"But you were willing to risk Felipe's safety." Alejandro said sternly, pointing an accusing finger at his son. "Don't think I haven't figured that one out as well."

"If I had thought too much about it at first, perhaps I would not have."

Alejandro looked ahead to see the gates of the pueblo looming into sight. "Well, Diego, you have a lot of explaining to do. I won't deny that I want to hear it all from you. But right now, we have to figure out some way to get suspicion off of you. I barely slept last night thinking of the alcalde's gallows. After I see the blacksmith this morning, I think maybe you and Victoria and I should have a picnic or something. Some reason to ride out of town together, away from listening ears, to work through all this. Hmm?"

"I will ask her, Father. We could —"

Diego lost his trail of thought as they passed under the gates, and they could see an excited frenzy of activity going on in the plaza. With long-practiced ease, he leisurely reined in his horse as he allowed his father to ask those running to and fro what was the matter.

"One of the señoritas is missing!"

"She hasn't been seen since late last night!"

"Who? Which one?"

"Señorita Espinoza!"

"Why, that's terrible!" Diego exclaimed half-heartedly and then turned to his father. "Why don't you let me do your business with the blacksmith, Father. You just go along inside and I will join you later."

After an instance of momentary surprise, Alejandro agreed quickly to his son's request, dismounted, and tried his best not to watch his son canter off down the street toward the blacksmith's, weaving in and out of the people rushing about looking for the missing señorita.

Zorro was needed. And his son disappears. How often had it happened and he had not even noticed? A tickle of fear traveled up his spine as he turned and stepped heavily up the steps to the tavern. A missing señorita. That wasn't so frightening. Zorro would find her. But how many times had Zorro rode into great danger? Dangerous situations that could have resulted in his death?

Alejandro sighed as he walked through the door of the tavern like he had done hundreds of times before today. From now on, when Zorro rode, Alejandro would be anxious until Zorro rode home. Perhaps Diego had been right not to tell him, after all.