Chapter 6. Setting the trap.
After debating for the entire nap time the plan was set.
"Are you sure you want to do this? The women in town might throw it in your face later." said Diego worried.
"It's the only plan that can work. It's either this or keep waiting indefinitely to get married, and I don't want to do that, especially now that I know how to find you." Victoria stated. "I have to get back to the kitchen. I'll see you later."
"See you later." said Don Alejandro.
Victoria returned to the tavern and Diego followed her with his eyes. "She is a brave woman."
"Try not to argue with her when she has something in her hand." said Don Alejandro with a laugh. Diego nodded.
"We have time until dinner time." said don Alejandro looking around. He pulled up a chair and pulled it close to his son's desk. "You are going to tell me what you have been doing since you came back from Spain."
Diego poured himself a glass of water and sat back down, indicating to his father to do so as well. "When alcalde Luis Ramón imprisoned you I went to demand that he release you, and you can guess what he told me."
Dusk brought a breeze off the sea and cooled the atmosphere a bit. Victoria opened the doors and windows of the tavern hoping the draft would ventilate the interior. The soldiers were just finishing dinner when Diego entered carrying a newspaper in his hand.
"Do you have anything left for dinner?" he asked Pilar.
"Yes, Don Diego, we have some carne asada left."
"Good, I'll take a ration."
"Right away."
As Victoria left the kitchen to wait on a table she saw Diego, who was pretending to read the newspaper he had brought. Diego glanced slyly at the alcalde, and realized he was watching them. As Victoria set the dishes down on the table she was heading to, she approached Diego. "The alcalde is watching us." said Diego in a voice low enough that the other occupants of the tavern could not hear him.
"So. Shall we get started on the plan?"
"Let's see if we can get his attention." said Diego, and gave her a seductive look as he held her hand for a moment and nodded his head. Victoria smiled at him and retreated to the kitchen, turning to look at him with a smile just before stepping through the door.
The alcalde couldn't resist curiosity and approached Diego, who turned his attention back to what was in his hand.
"Why, Don Diego, looking for a new victim?"
"I don't know what you mean, señor." said Diego indifferently.
"I'm not saying that señorita Escalante is not beautiful, but she has two serious drawbacks."
Diego didn't react.
"Aren't you going to ask me what they are?"
"I'm not interested in your opinion of the señorita."
"I'll tell you anyway. They are her character and her suitor."
"If you mean Zorro it is clear that he is not her suitor."
"You think so?"
"Yes, I'm sure he can't marry her, therefore he can't aspire to her hand."
"And that is what you want?"
"I'm not going to confide in you, we are not friends."
Pilar brought Diego's plate and he began to eat ignoring the other man, who returned to his table to have dessert. Instead of leaving he continued there for a while longer, until the girls began to announce that it was almost closing time.
The alcalde got up from the table and walked over to Diego's, who had finished dinner and was again reading.
"I'm afraid we have to go."
Diego gave him an irritated look, and decided to get up and leave the tavern without a word. He headed for the office, which caught the alcalde's attention.
"Aren't you going home?"
"No, I still have something to do."
"Alone or accompanied?"
"Good evening." was the only answer from Diego who entered the office.
The alcalde returned to the barracks and called one of the soldiers who was not on duty.
"I want you to go out there and watch the door of the newspaper office. Watch for when Señor de la Vega comes out, and when you see clearly if he is leaving town or entering any building let me know."
Sí, señor alcalde."