The week passed slowly and Diego soon found himself bored. With Sergeant Garcia as acting Commandante, there had been no real need for Zorro. Except for one late night ride on Tornado to look for Diego's assailants, Zorro had remained out of sight. Zorro's outing had tired Diego immensely, and for the first time, Diego realized how injured he really was. His other injuries had not left him feeling so tired and weak, and Zorro had never suffered because of his injuries. Diego was suddenly very glad that Monastario was in Monterey.
Not only had Zorro's activities been limited, but so had Diego's. His father, as well as Bernardo and Don Fernando, kept Diego within the confines of the hacienda even though Diego was almost fully recovered. The cut on his chest was slowly disappearing, and soon only a thin scar would remain. The bruise on his jaw was faint, and his cut lip was mostly healed, the swelling was almost gone, but the cut was still clearly visible. Walking quietly, Diego maneuvered through the sala. He slipped on his hat as he opened the front door. The cool morning air felt good against his skin. He cherished the feel of the sun of his face for a moment, before turning toward the stables.
He had left a note for his father telling him he was going into town. He knew his father would be angry but Diego was tired of being inside. The ride into town would do him some good.
Diego had barely reached the gate when a firm voice stopped him, "Diego, what do you think you are doing?" Alejandro asked.
Diego turned to look at his father framed in the doorway, his hands on his hips. "I am going to the pueblo Father. I need a change of scenery, and the fresh air will do me some good."
Alejandro's face was firm. "Diego, you are not fully hea…" Alejandro began.
"I know Father, but some bruises have never stopped you. I will be fine. I am hardly even sore anymore." Diego said. A sudden smile spread across his face, "If you think I am not well enough to go on my own, perhaps you and Don Fernando would care to accompany me. Neither of you has set foot outside the hacienda since I was injured. Bernardo should come also. I know he would enjoy the trip as much as the rest of us would."
Alejandro's adamant expression remained for a moment, but he could not resist Diego's light-hearted smile and soon found himself nodding, "Just wait for us Diego. We will only be a moment." Alejandro said as he went inside. He stopped in the door and added as an afterthought, "It would be nice to eat in the tavern."
Diego's smile broadened. It was good to see his father smile again. The last week had been hard and Diego could tell his father had not been sleeping well. With a smile still on his lips, he continued toward the stable and instructed Juan to saddle four horses.
Juan smiled, "It is good to see you better. You had us all worried for a while," the loyal vaquero confessed.
"It is good to be better," Diego replied as he clasped the man on the shoulder.
A few minutes later, Diego found himself riding at a slow pace toward the pueblo. He wanted to urge his horse into a run, feel the wind on his face, the rush it left in his ears. He had not felt such exhilaration in weeks and Diego missed it immensely. He had gone down to the cave on several occasions to see Tornado, but had ridden him only once at a slow gait while looking for his or rather Diego's assailants. Tornado was as anxious to run as Diego. Tonight mi amigo, we run.
Diego was brought out of his thoughts by a laugh. "That was the last time he tried that." Diego turned toward his father and saw a glint in his eye he hadn't seen for a while. Alejandro was smiling and his body shook with laughter.
"Father, I seem to have missed what you were saying. I am afraid to ask, yet I must. Were you telling Don Fernando a story about when I was young?"
Alejandro laughed even harder, gripping his side as he rode. "Not just any story. The story," He wheezed between chuckles.
Diego sighed. Would he ever be rid of that moment? He was only five. How much should a man suffer for his reckless childhood? "Father," Diego said exasperated.
"Now Diego, you know that it is a wonderful story to tell. The look on your face…I shall never forget it. You must have been blue for a week. I never knew berries could stain you for that long." Alejandro said between soft chuckles. Alejandro looked away for a moment lost in thought. He wished life was like it used to be. Things were less complicated when Diego was young.
"Father that was not necessarily my fault. You said you wanted the grapes smashed, so I smashed them. You never specified how you wanted them smashed for the wine." Diego said indignantly.
"Verdad. You were quite intelligent even at five. Still, who would have thought you would decide that it would go quicker if you just rolled over the grapes, instead of using your feet. Maria never did get the stains out of your clothes, and your arms and face…,"Alejandro could not finish as both he and Fernando fell into another fit of laughter.
Diego looked to Bernardo for help, but even his mozo was chuckling. Diego lightly slapped his friend before kicking his horse into a trot. The other three looked at Diego's retreating back and laughed even harder. After a moment all three men were able to stop laughing. Alejandro spoke to his friend and waved to Bernardo, "Come let us catch up with Diego."
The pueblo was bursting with activity as the four men rode through the gate. Vendors lined the plaza and dons, vaqueros, and peons meandered around the tiny shops. The men carefully worked their way through the crowd and stopped in front of the inn.
Many of the peons stopped and stared at Diego for a moment. His bruised face, though almost healed, was still visible, as was his cut lip. Some came to him, wishing him well and hoping the men would be caught. Diego took the well-wishers in stride and nodded politely to each, thanking them for their concern.
Even at the early hour the tavern was full. The men found a corner table and seated themselves. A young woman came to their table, her long hair pinned back from her face. Diego smiled, "Buenos dias, Pilar."
The beautiful woman smiled back, "Buenos dias, Don Diego. I am glad you are feeling better." She turned to the other men, "Buenos dias, Don Alejandro, Don Fernando, and you Bernardo," She said acknowledging each man with a slight nod of her head. "What would you like to eat this morning?"
Alejandro looked around the table and ordered for all the men, "Eggs and a plate of fruit, por favor. And orange juice," Alejandro told her.
The smell of steaming eggs wafted through the tavern. The serving girl placed a plate of freshly scrambled eggs in front of each man, and a platter of mixed fruit in the middle of the table. "Gracias," Alejandro replied. His stomach grumbled at the smell and he looked around to see if anyone had heard. Alejandro smiled to himself when he noticed that no one had. He picked up his fork and took a bite before his stomach could complain again.
Throughout their meal many of the Dons in the tavern came to the table voicing how glad they were to see Diego about. Don Carlos, an old friend of the family, looked Diego up and down, "You look much better Diego. Your bruises are barely visible. I am glad you are doing better. I just wish I had good news about the men who did this, but I am afraid they are long gone. We have not been able to find any sign of them."
"That is all right Don Carlos. You and the other Dons did enough. I did not expect you to find them. They did not seem like men who would stay near the pueblo and chance getting caught," Diego told the older man.
Don Carlos merely nodded his head before bidding the men goodbye. He headed to his own table where two other Dons waited, each sipping a glass of juice. The other two men were also close friends of the de la Vegas. Don Armando and Don Rafael both owned land that was adjoined to the Vega holdings, and Don Alejandro often invited the men to dine at his home when they discussed various business propositions.
After the food was finished Don Fernando leaned back in his chair, "It is good to finally relax."
"Sí," Alejandro replied. "It has been a long week for us all," Alejandro looked at his son and smiled, "Especially Diego. I can not recall a time since his return from Spain when he wanted out of the hacienda so much."
Diego's soft laughter filled the table, "Me neither, Father. Me neither."
Alejandro looked at his son and smiled. It was good to hear him laugh. Alejandro looked at the light streaming in through the tavern's small windows. They had been here a couple of hours and Alejandro felt it was time to go home.
"I am really enjoying myself, but I think its time to head back home," Alejandro told the others at the table. He saw the disappointed look on Diego's face and added, "Don Carlos has some horses he said I could look at. I thought we could stop and look on the way to the hacienda. I will go and ask him."
"Sí, that sounds fine." Diego smiled.
Alejandro turned to Fernando before standing, "And you, Fernando?"
Fernando looked at the men for a moment, his mouth drawn tight, "I don't think that would be a good idea," he said, watching the disappointment wash over Diego's face for a brief moment, only to be replaced with an unreadable expression. Don Fernando smiled, "Actually, I think it would be an excellent idea."
Alejandro smiled in return, "Then it is agreed. Shall we go?"
The men pushed their chairs back and stood. The three caballeros and Bernardo maneuvered through the crowd until they were standing next to Don Carlos and two other Dons.
"Buenos dias," Alejandro greeted the men before focusing on the only white-haired don at the table. "Don Carlos, how is your family?"
"Bien, gracias." Don Carlos replied.
"Do you think it is possible for us," Alejandro swept his hand in a semi-circle to include Don Fernando, Diego, and Bernardo, "to come look at the horses you were telling me about. I would love to get a look at them and if they are as good as you say, perhaps we could settle the deal over dinner tomorrow night," Alejandro asked his friend.
Don Carlos nodded, "Sí that sounds fine. I am almost finished with breakfast and then we can leave."
"That is fine. We will be outside when you are ready." Alejandro turned to the other men at the table, Don Armando and Don Rafael, "Buenos dias, señores."
The tavern door squeaked open, light streaming through the opening, and a tall, well-kept man stepped into the dim room. His eyes squinted against the gloom as he searched the tavern for an empty table. His clothes identified him as a caballero; he wore a dark blue suit, gold stitching decorating the sides of his pants and jacket. A matching hat hung loosely at the back of his head and rested against broad shoulders.
The men around the table turned to look at the man entering the tavern. Alejandro made a move toward the door but stopped when he heard an almost inaudible growl from his son. Alejandro threw Diego a quick glance, his mind faltering at the anger that seethed behind his son's hazel eyes. Taken aback by the unexpected emotion his son wore, he did not notice the stranger walk toward where they stood.
Alejandro, and every other caballero at the table, felt Diego stiffen as the man drew closer. The stranger wore a tight smile on his face. Something about him unnerved Alejandro and he had to force his legs not to take a step back as the man approached. Alejandro cast a glance at his son. The anger he saw in his son's eyes earlier was now clearly displayed on Diego's tan face. Diego's handsome features looked dark as he watched the man approach. Alejandro had a sudden feeling that he had met this man before, but could not place where. He looked at Diego again, shocked at the anger his son radiated, especially toward what Alejandro perceived as a stranger.
TBC