Don Fernando looked into his drink. A hand worked its way through greying hair before he finally answered. "It is Feliciana. I am afraid she may not return. She has never loved California like I have. She wants to stay in Spain, I think. That is where her family is. Where she thinks she belongs," Don Fernando sighed. "I don't know what I will do if she doesn't return. I can not go to Spain. I have worked too hard for my land."
Don Alejandro smiled sympathetically at the don. "She loves you very much Fernando. I am sure she will come back." Alejandro tried to reassure his friend.
Fernando shook his head slightly and frowned. "I hope you are right Alejandro, but now that the kids are grown, she has nothing here but me."
"That is the only reason she needs," Alejandro told his friend.
"Lets pray you are right." Fernando forced a smile as he stood and motioned for his friend to follow him, "Now let's go have dinner."
The two dons left the inn and headed into the drizzle outside. The plaza streets were a thick red mud and little streams coursed along the outer reaches of the pueblo. The sky was grey, dark clouds loomed to the west threatening still more rain. Alejandro glanced toward the approaching downpour. "We had best hurry if we don't want to get caught in that storm."
Don Fernando followed Alejandro's gaze to the west. "Sí, I believe you are right. I don't think it would be a good idea to get caught in that storm. It looks like it is going to be a bad one."
The two friends mounted and rode toward the hacienda. The ride home took longer than they had expected. The road was muddy and almost washed away in areas from the previous rains. Debris lay scattered across the road forcing the two men to carefully navigate the trail. By the time the two friends made it to the hacienda the first drops of rain had started to fall. The wind howled savagely at the doors and windows of the hacienda. "It is good to be home." Alejandro remarked as he took his hat and gloves off.
"It looks like we made it just in time." Don Fernando said as he pointed to the window. Alejandro turned to see a steady downpour. The wind drove the small trees that lined the patio to bend over nearly double, some of their smaller branches snapping due to the onslaught of wind and rain.
"Sí, I believe you are right." Don Alejandro agreed. He walked into the sitting room and offered his friend a drink. The wine was from his orchards and Alejandro was proud of it. It was considered to be one of the finest wines in California. The two dons seated themselves and talked of old times as they waited for dinner.
The two men had just finished their drinks when Maria walked in to announce that dinner was ready. "Gracias, Maria. Do you know where Diego has gone?"
Maria shook her head, "No, I am sorry Don Alejandro. I have not seen him since he told me we would be having a guest for dinner."
Don Alejandro smiled, "That is all right. I am sure he is in his room. I will go and get him." Don Alejandro turned to Don Fernando. "If you will excuse me. Help yourself to another drink. I will only be a minute," Alejandro said as he made his way to his son's room.
Alejandro knocked on the wooden door. "Diego, supper is ready." Alejandro waited for a reply but none came. Worried he knocked again. "Diego, are you in there? Diego!" Alejandro opened the door to his son's room. The room was empty. Alejandro glanced into the darkened area.. A single candle burned on the dark mahogany desk and the bed was made. Books lined the numerous shelves that lay against the far wall. Seeing nothing that looked out of place, Alejandro closed the door and went down stairs.
Where could he be? Alejandro thought as he walked into the front room. Don Fernando looked up to see a worried expression on Alejandro's face. If the furrow of the old Don's brow was any indication the man seemed to be in deep thought.
Afraid something was wrong Don Fernando walked over to his friend. "What is wrong Alejandro?"
Alejandro looked at his friend and shook his head. "Nothing I hope. It is just that no one has seen Diego and he isn't in his room. I don't know where he could be." Suddenly Don Alejandro smiled. "Bernardo will know," he exclaimed as he went to search for his son's man servant.
Alejandro found Bernardo in the kitchen helping one of the cooks. Alejandro walked up to Bernardo and tapped his shoulder to get his attention. Indicating Bernardo should follow him, Alejandro headed into the library. It took several minutes for Alejandro to get his question across. When Bernardo finally understood he simply shrugged and indicated that Diego was probably asleep. Alejandro shook his head no and thanked Bernardo.
Bernardo watched as Alejandro left. He did not know where Diego was and decided to look in the cave. Slipping quietly through the entrance near the fire place, Bernardo entered the cave. A quick glance around told him Diego was not there, nor had he been recently. Bernardo headed to Tornado's stall and rubbed down the black beast. Refilling his water and feed, Bernardo gave Tornado one last pat and left the cave. Bernardo was now worried. He had no idea where Don Diego was. He had not told him he was going anywhere. Especially in the storm that was now raging outside. Bernardo slipped back through the entrance in the library and made his way to the sala, hoping to find Diego there.
Alejandro apologized to Don Fernando. "Lo siento. It seems you will have to dine alone tonight. Diego seems to have gone missing. I just hope he isn't caught out in the storm." Alejandro said as he looked out the window. The storm was in full force. The plants on the plaza swayed violently and water ran in tiny rivers along the gate and walls that surrounded the plaza. Lightning lit the sky, followed closely by the loud clap of thunder.
"Do not worry about me, Alejandro. It is Diego we need to worry about. I am not going to dine until both you and Diego are here to dine with me," Fernando reassured his friend.
"Gracias. I am going to gather a few of the ranch hands and we'll meet back here. Let Maria know what we are doing." Alejandro asked as he went onto the patio. Rain drenched his face and ran down the back of his coat. The wind whipped about his body and he stumbled. Catching himself on a tree, he stopped to look around. Limbs lay scattered across the plaza and the fields. The trees groaned under the onslaught of rain and wind. The clouds were a deep purple, and flashes illuminated the sky every few seconds. By the time Alejandro had reached the vaqueros, he was soaking wet.
Juan, a tall dark haired man, looked up to see the door open. He quickly jumped up when he saw who stood in the doorway. "Don Alejandro, what brings you out here at this hour and during a storm like this? We have taken good care of the horses..."
"No, it is nothing like that. I just need your help. I am afraid you will be wet, but it can't be helped. Diego is missing. We need to look for him." Don Alejandro interrupted. His answers came out in one long string as though getting it over quickly would make it less real.
"What! Don Diego has not returned. He said he would not be more than a quarter hour. He should have been back." Juan said. His face was creased in worry as he looked behind Don Alejandro to the storm outside.
Confused at what Juan said Alejandro asked, "What do you mean he should have been back? Where did he go?"
Juan shrugged his broad shoulders, "I do not know. A messenger came shortly after Diego arrived. When Diego read the note he seemed upset or maybe angry. He had me saddle his horse, and he said he would be back before you and Don Fernando arrived."
Alejandro paced as he listened to Juan. What could the note have said? Where was Diego now? Alejandro questioned himself as Juan finished. Alejandro's pacing quickened as a thought came to him. What if Diego was injured?
Alejandro stopped in front of Juan. His face was creased with worry and Juan could see he was afraid for his son. "Juan, do you know what the note was about?"
Juan sadly shook his head no. "Perhaps if I had asked we would know where Diego was. Something in the letter upset Diego. I have never seen his mood change so quickly. He almost seemed like someone else."
"What do you mean he seemed like someone else?" Alejandro questioned.
Juan wasn't sure how to explain it to Alejandro. He rubbed a hand through his dark hair before continuing. "It is hard to explain. Instead of asking me to saddle his horse, he told me to saddle it. He moved different. Like he had a purpose and knew what it was." Juan sighed, "Like I said it is hard to explain."
"Gracias, Juan. We will have to find out what the letter said after we find Diego. Would you gather a handful of men to help me look for Diego? When you have the men gathered meet me at the hacienda." Don Alejandro turned and left the shelter. The storm seemed no better. Alejandro quickly made his way to the hacienda and shook off his gloves and sombrero. He didn't bother going to his room to change. He knew he would only get wet again.
Don Fernando met Alejandro at the door. He now wore his sombrero and gloves and stood pacing the floor of the sala. "Are the men ready Alejandro?" Fernando asked as Alejandro came in out of the storm.
Alejandro smiled appreciatively at his friend's concern. The number of friends Diego had always amazed him. Class did not seem to matter to Diego. Dons, soldiers, peons, Indians, and clergyman all numbered among the throng of people Diego considered his friends, and Alejandro had no doubt that he would also find the same to be true in Spain.
Alejandro shook his head, "Almost. They are gathering the horses now. When they are ready they will meet us at the gates." Alejandro stopped for a moment and ran a hand through his steel grey hair. Water ran down the back of his neck and dripped to the floor. He turned back to his friend and briefly smiled, "You don't have to go. I will understand. It isn't pleasant outside and the trip may be long and hard."
Don Fernando met Alejandro's brown eyes, "I consider Diego to be a good friend. I could never forgive myself if he is hurt and I did nothing to try to help him. So yes, I am certain I want to go."
"I thought as much." Alejandro turned to peer out the window at the sound of horses. "Ah, that must be my vaqueros. Let's go."
Don Alejandro and Don Fernando stepped out into the storm. As they made there way across the plaza half a dozen riders stopped at the gate. A tall dark man dismounted and moved to what Alejandro and Fernando assumed was a pack horse. The man pulled a knife and quickly cut the strings that tied the bundle to the saddle.
Alejandro had nearly reached the gate when the man tossed the bundle to the ground. Much to Alejandro and Fernando's surprise the bundle groaned on impact. The rider mounted once again and turned his horse. Alejandro cried out for them to hold, but the men were already gone, quickly disappearing in the downpour. Only the horse remained, its golden coat splattered with mud.
Don Alejandro and Don Fernando ran the short distance to the gate. They knelt in the mud beside the blanket. Don Fernando reached for the corner and carefully pulled back the fabric. His startled gasp caused Alejandro to turn.
TBC