CHAPTER FOUR
The next morning when Lucinda woke up she was sore all over. Her muscles screamed as she threw her feet over the side of her bed and stood. Dragging herself over to her burrow she poked threw the drawers until she found a decent dress to wear. The back of her neck was already starting to perspire as she threw on her clothes. It was going to be a warm day out she thought as she grabbed her brush and stood in front of her mirror. Pulling her hair off of her neck and starting to brush she stopped in mid stroke. Her neck was bare. Rushing over to her dresser she flung open her jewelry box top and rummaged through it. After that she ran to her bed and threw her covers off. Finally in a last attempt she grabbed her covers and shook them. Nothing.
"I can't believe I lost it!" She groaned. She should have taken the necklace that Diego had given her, off last night before she forgot. Too late now.
"I tell you that Monastario is the main reason that this pueblo is suffering!" Don Pedro said slamming his fist down on the wood table the Dons including Diego was sitting around.
Alejandro nodded in agreement.
"He may be the problem, but just saying that doesn't get rid of him," Don Marcelo said.
Diego shook his head. Don Pedro directed his stare at Diego.
"Are we a group of foolish old men to you?" His voice was cold.
Diego stood up, "I think that you are going about this all wrong. If you do anything rash, you or your loved ones could end up hurt or possibly even dead."
"What do you suppose we do about it?" Alejandro said his face turning red, "read Monastario a poem and hope that he understands how we feel?"
Diego gritted his teeth. "No, but I would suggest that you think before you act. Doing so will prevent you from ending up dead!" His voice had risen and he looked at each and every Don in turn. There were twelve of them not including Diego. They all stared back at him like stubborn mules.
"Who do you think you are talking to your elders like that," Alejandro said rising from his seat. "Leave and don't come back if you can't talk to your elders respectfully."
"Don Diego!" Sergeant Garcia called across the tavern. It was busy but not too busy that Diego didn't hear him. Diego dropped his fork onto his plate and waved Garcia over to his table. Diego had decided to cool off his temper in the Tavern. He knew that his father would ride home without him and he didn't care. He would be happy to ride home alone, Diego thought to himself.
"Hello Sergeant," Diego said standing up and offering him a seat.
"Thank you Diego," the ample shaped Sergeant said as he dropped down onto a chair. "My feet have been taking a beating ever since Capitan Monasterio made the new schedule." Garcia wiped his brow with his blue uniform sleeve.
"The new schedule?" Diego asked.
"Yes, this marching up and down the plaza night and day is going to be the death of me." The Sergeant shook his head despondently and looked at the bare table space in front of him, "It makes a hard working man thirsty."
"Where are my manners?" Diego signaled a waiter. "Please get some wine for the Sergeant."
The waiter bowed and hurried off.
"Gracias Diego!" Garcia beamed in anticipation and pleasure.
"You deserve it Sergeant! You work very hard to keep this pueblo in order," Diego said.
"Yes, but the Capitan doesn't see it that way," Garcia said.
The waiter stopped by the table with a glass of wine in one hand and the wine in the other. Diego nodded and the waiter put both down in front of Garcia.
"Why has the Capitan ordered you to march up and down the pueblo?" Diego asked as he pushed his plate to the middle of the table.
"Have you not heard?" The sergeant leaned forward.
"Heard what?"
"About what happened at the jail last night."
"No what happened?"
"A female bandit let a prisoner go."
"A female bandit?" Diego said acting surprised. "What is this world coming too?"
"Just what I am asking myself," Garcia said.
The doors to the tavern burst open and almost came off the hinges. A tall and heavily muscled lancer strode through the front of the tavern. He was holding a large rolled up parchment and a hammer.
"What's this all about Sergeant?" Diego asked in a whisper.
"I don't know Diego," Garcia said standing up. "Soldier what are you doing?"The soldier stopped and turned. " I was ordered by the Capitan to hang this poster on the tavern wall for all to see."
Garcia nodded, his stubbly chin wiggling with the sudden facial movement. "Proceed then." He sat back down.
Once the lancer hung it up he stepped back to see if he had put it up straight. Diego's eyes widened and he bolted out of his seat. The wooden chair fell back with a clatter.
"What is the meaning of this" Diego said making his way over to the poster.
In bold black letters it read, "Don Pedro, Don Alejandro and others to be tried for conspiracy to murder, tomorrow at noon."