"Madre de Dios, quick we must get him into the house." Alejandro grabbed Diego around his broad shoulders as Fernando positioned himself at the man's feet. Just as they were ready to lift Diego, Juan and his men rode up.

"What has happened?" Juan asked as he caught a glimpse of the man in the blanket. In the same breath Juan turned to a young man beside him. "Quick, go get the doctor. Tell him to hurry. We will be at the hacienda." A nickering caught Juan's attention. He turned to the sight of the tired horse. He instantly recognized it as Diego's palomino. "Take care of Diego's horse," he instructed the youth, who stood with wide-eyes staring at the battered form of his master and friend.

Juan didn't bother to make sure the young man did as he was told; instead he knelt and took Don Fernando's place so he and Alejandro could carry their bundle into the hacienda. Bernardo met the men at the door and quickly guided them to Diego's room. Alejandro was surprised to find that Diego's bed had been turned down and that several lamps were strategically placed to allow the most light into the room. Alejandro smiled at Bernardo—he seemed to have a sixth sense about his master.

Bernardo began to remove the blanket from around Diego. A knock sounded at the door and Fernando rose to open it. Maria stood nervously before the door; Fernando took the basin of clean water and the bundle of rags and thanked Maria. She looked at the still form on the bed and crossed her breast, uttering a small prayer for the man she considered a friend.

Fernando turned back to see Alejandro helping Bernardo roll Diego over and pull the blanket from beneath him. Alejandro was surprised at how heavy Diego felt. He knew part of the weight came from the wet clothes but not all of it.

When Diego was free of the blanket, the three men began to clean the mud off his body. Bernardo left the room to replace the now dirty water. Alejandro looked at Diego and noticed a growing red spot on his shirt. "Fernando, will you help me take off Diego's shirt?" Alejandro asked as he began unbuttoning the once white shirt.

"Sí, I will lift him up and you can take off his shirt," Fernando said. He moved behind Diego and gently sat him up. Diego moaned at the motion, his face wrinkling with the pain it caused.

"Easy, mi hijo. It will only be another minute. Doctor Hernandez should be here soon." Alejandro finished his work just as Bernardo returned. He took the cloth offered to him and began to wipe at the dirt and blood on his son's chest. He wondered at the muscular physique of his son, and what seemed to be several old scars.

I don't remember Diego being hurt this many times, Alejandro thought as he traced a long thin scar on his son's shoulder. A small, circular wound on Diego's arm caught both Alejandro and Fernando's attention. Alejandro turned to Fernando, "This…this looks like a gun shot wound," Alejandro said his voice shaking a little at the knowledge. "But when was Diego ever shot? How did he get all these scars?" he asked his old friend, knowing he would get no definite answer.

Fernando shrugged as he glanced at the scars that adorned Diego's upper body. "Maybe in Spain. You said he never told you much about his time there," Fernando suggested.

Alejandro shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, "Some of these scars are only a few years old." What secrets are you keeping from me, mi hijo? Do you not trust me?

Alejandro rubbed a suddenly heavy hand through his hair trying to clear his thoughts. He sighed and returned his attention to the long, shallow wound that ran across Diego's clearly defined chest. The skin around the cut was red and angry. Alejandro dipped the rag in the water and used it to loosen the dried blood. Diego tried to turn his body away from Alejandro. "No, mi hijo. I must do this," Alejandro said as he placed a reassuring hand on Diego's shoulder.

Alejandro finished cleaning the wound and placed the bloodied rag on the nightstand. He took a clean rag and dipped it into the water, wringing out the excess moisture before placing it on Diego's forehead. Diego had begun to run a slight fever and Alejandro wanted to keep it from rising. When the cloth began to get warm Alejandro would wipe the sweat from his son's face, rewet the rag and place it back on Diego's forehead.

Don Fernando remained behind Diego, adding support to the young man's body. He could see several large bruises beginning to appear. A dark line ran across the left side of Diego's jaw, and disappeared into his hairline. Diego's bottom lip was split open and had already started to swell. Fist sized areas on his chest and stomach were beginning to turn a dark purple, and while not deep, the wound on his chest still oozed blood. Fernando did not envy the pain the boy would feel later. He had taken a beating once and he had never forgotten the stiffness and soreness that accompanied it.

Fernando pulled out his watch and tilted it to catch the light of the lanterns. "Doctor Hernandez should be here…" Fernando stopped when he heard footsteps outside the door. He watched the handle turn and said a small prayer when he saw a grey haired, aging man enter the room.

Alejandro stood and offered the man his hand. "Thank you for coming. It seems," Alejandro gestured to the moaning figure on the bed, "that my son is in need of your care."

The doctor glanced at the young man before responding, "Yes, I believe you are right. Could you have Bernardo get me some boiling water and a cup? Some fresh rags, too," Doctor Hernandez said as he moved across the room to Diego's side. He felt Diego's forehead and looked into each hazel eye before examining the injury on Diego's chest. Doctor Hernandez could not help noticing the number of wounds on Diego that he had not treated. Some appeared to be several years old, while others only months old.

He shrugged his shoulders and returned to his examination, he would have to ask Diego about them later. He removed a small vial and placed a cloth over the opening. Tipping the bottle on edge, he let several drops absorb into the material. He gently wiped the laceration on his patient's chest. Diego's muscles tightened at the burning sensation, and a moan escaped his swollen lips when the doctor moved the rag across his chest. Doctor Hernandez smiled at Diego. He doubted Diego saw the gesture, but the doctor knew Alejandro did. "It will be over soon Diego," Hernandez assured him. When he finished, he took out another cloth and folded it twice, creating a thick bandage. He wrapped the bandage in place and stood straight.

Tired muscles protested from being in the same position far too long. Doctor Hernandez placed his hands on his hips and stretched his back before addressing the three men in the room, "The wound shouldn't need stitches. Keep it clean and replace the bandages every day. When Diego wakes up have him drink the tea I brought. He should wake up soon, but let him sleep as long as possible. He is exhausted and his body took a beating, sleep is the best thing for him.

"He will probably be stiff and sore for a few days, at least until the bruising goes down some. If you can, let him soak in warm water with some salts I will give to Bernardo. Just let him rest and if his fever goes up just send someone for me. I will be back tomorrow to check on him." Doctor Hernandez gathered his supplies and left the bedroom.

Don Fernando waved his hand toward the door and nodded. Alejandro managed a small smile and followed the doctor, shutting the door behind him. When the two men made it to the bottom of the steps, Doctor Hernandez turned to Alejandro, "Do you know what has happened to him? Someone beat him badly." Doctor Hernandez knew Diego since he was a child and could think of no one who would wish Diego harm. He was a friend to almost everyone in the pueblo, from the Dons to the vaqueros and peons and even the Indians at the mission. Doctor Hernandez hated to see Diego hurt, and he wanted to know what had happened to the young man.

"I do not know. I sent him home to tell Maria to expect a guest for dinner. When Fernando and I returned home we thought Diego was in his room. When dinner was ready I went to tell Diego, but was unable to find him." Alejandro stopped for a moment and glanced at his son's door.

"Not even Bernardo knew where he was. When I went to gather some vaqueros, Juan said Diego had received a message and immediately left. He did not know where he had gone. Just as we were about to go looking for him, several men rode up and dropped a bundle wrapped in a blanket. It was Diego." Alejandro finished and wiped a hand across his brow. He pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to will away the headache that was forming.

Doctor Hernandez noticed Alejandro's frown, "You need to get out of your wet clothes, and have Don Fernando do the same. Then I want both of you to get some warm tea and food down you. There is nothing you can do for Diego, and getting sick will not help him. I will send Sergeant Garcia over as soon as I get back to the pueblo. We will straighten everything out. Diego has too many friends; someone will get those who did this." Doctor Hernandez stopped for a moment before continuing, "That reminds me. For now I don't want anyone to disturb Diego. You can tell the sergeant what you know and give him a description, but don't let him see Diego. I will check on him tomorrow afternoon and if I think everything is fine I will let the sergeant return."

Alejandro smiled at his friend, "Gracias. I appreciate all you have done. If you like you can stay for dinner. There is plenty. You can let the road dry before you leave." A sudden thought occurred to Alejandro, and he voiced it before the doctor could reply to his first question, "Why Sergeant Garcia? Where is Captain Monastario?"

Doctor Hernandez shook his head, "The Captain has left for Monterey. He should be back in a month or so. Now for your first question, as much as I would love to stay, I need to get back to the office. I will see you around two o'clock." Doctor Hernandez clasped Alejandro's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze and shake before heading into the humid evening.

The doctor climbed into his carriage and set his medical bag on the seat next to him. He turned to look at Alejandro, "He will be fine. Just do as I said and don't forget to take care of yourself." Doctor Hernandez flicked the reins and got his team moving before Don Alejandro could reply.

TBC