Chapter 15
The following day prior to the lunch rush, the tavern was packed with the citizens of Los Angeles and its surrounding area, as well as all the lancers were in attendance. Everyone wanted to know and see what the Alcalde was going to do and say. There was a lot of speculation, a lot of gossip and many felt trepidation for the memories of de Soto's past behaviour was still very fresh in their minds.
Ignacio crossed the dusty plaza with Carolina and Juanita at his side and entered the crowded tavern. The people parted for them and with an encouraging smile from his wife, Ignacio moved to the front of the crowd and called for attention.
"Thank you all for coming today, I know it was short notice and I acknowledge that you have taken this time away from your busy lives." he paused and gazed around at the people he was appointed to rule over. He felt guilty at how he had treated them in the past and hoped to make amends. "I have called this forum together to discuss the best way we can all work together to build this pueblo into something we can be proud of. To that end I want to ask for your opinions, your suggestions on how to do this."
"The best solution would be for you to leave de Soto, we won't accept your oppression of the people anymore." called a loud angry voice from the back of the crowd.
A rumble of agreement circled around the room.
Ignacio raised his hand. "I understand your feelings senor, and I don't blame you for thinking that way. But I have the best intentions of the citizens..."
"A leopard doesn't change its spots." called another male voice.
"We don't trust you de Soto." called a third.
"You never cared about us before, why should we believe you now?" A woman called out.
Diego exchanged a worried glance with his father at the growing hostility in the room and spoke up. "I, for one, would like to hear what the Alcalde has to say."
"So would I." Don Alejandro added.
There were more murmurs at the quiet authority in the de la Vega's voices and the citizens quickly settled down. Everyone respected them and their opinion was valued.
Ignacio nodded his thanks to his former rival, he knew that this meeting could bring out bad feelings and he had no desire to turn it into a public disturbance, where he would be forced to arrest the citizens.
"I understand your anger, of your disbelief that I could change. All I can do is show you how serious I am about making this community better for all. First and foremost, is the safety of everyone. To that end I will be putting our lancers through a rigorous training program to ensure their fitness for duty. It will entail their general fitness, riding, the use of firearms – both muskets and pistols. I intend that all lancers can shoot straight and hit their targets each and every time they fire their weapons. And to help me with this training schedule, I have requested a drill instructor from the garrison at Monterey to provide the training. Sergeant Major Condolez will be arriving tomorrow."
There was a buzz of mutterings at this news. "What about Sergeant Mendoza? Will he have to do this training too."
Ignacio nodded. "All lancers will go through the training and if any of them don't pass muster, then they will be out of the military."
The buzz became louder. "But you can't do that!"
"Yes I can." Ignacio raised his voice sternly. "These lancers are in the Spanish Army and are required by law to ensure a certain level of fitness for duty. Perhaps you are not fully aware of the requirements of the military but everyone is expected to be fit for duty and punishment is strict. I should know, as I was in the Army myself for almost nine years and I can tell you that none of our lancers would have passed muster at any other posting. They have had a very lax time here in Los Angeles, which is my fault and I accept that but it is time to change. I will also start recruiting, for the garrison is under strength by at least half the amount of lancers required for our area." He paused to let everyone chatter for a moment.
"Will you be forcing young men into the Army."
Ignacio shook his head. "No, it will be voluntary and will open for men from age eighteen and older."
Diego was pleased by this news, he had longed for better trained lancers, so that they could take over the job of catching outlaws and not leaving that job to Zorro, which he occasionally still did. Although he no longer appeared in the pueblo, he would capture and leave the bandits, thieves near the wooden sign, for Mendoza and his lancers to pick up. The citizens were aware that Zorro was still protecting them..
Ignacio continued "I would like any and all suggestions from you. Tell me what you need, what would you like to see happen."
Everyone glanced at each other warily, they didn't feel confident to speak their minds.
"I'm sure you all have opinions. If I don't know, I won't be able to fix it." he urged them to speak.
"Well, I would like to see the streets are better maintained, there are too many ruts in them and when it rains, the puddles are deep and dangerous." Victoria spoke up.
Ignacio nodded. "I agree completely Senorita. I would like to fix the roads but also the public buildings that are in need of repair. I believe the walls of the mission chapel needs patching in several places and from the looks of it, the stones along the well in the plaza, needs replacing."
There were many nods of approval.
"We need a new teacher." called a senora sitting behind Don Alejandro.
"Si, we do, we haven't had a teacher for months now." a gentleman called out.
"Yes, our children need to learn to read and write so they can better themselves." a third voice called out.
"And the school isn't big enough now, we have a growing community."
There were many agreements to this and Ignacio was pleased as he held up his hand for silence.
"That's a very good suggestion, we will make that one of our priorities. I will send a letter to the Monterey newspaper and advertise for a teacher to come here..."
"If I may Ignacio, I have a suggestion." Carolina spoke up.
He nodded as Carolina stood up and turned to the gathered crowd. "I know how important education is for our children and future children. We have a tutor that travels with us for Juanita and Senora Torres will be arriving tomorrow. Perhaps she would be willing to take up the position as teacher for the entire pueblo and not just for Juanita. I can ask her, if you wish."
Again there were murmurs of agreement. "Thank you Senora de Soto, that would be wonderful of you to do that." a senora called out.
"De nada, senora, I wish to help where I can." Carolina smiled.
Ignacio felt a rush of pride at how his wife handled the crowd. He shouldn't be too surprised by her ability, after all Vincente had been the Spanish Ambassador and she would have hosted many parties on behalf of her husband.
Don Alejandro spoke up. "We could use another doctor Alcalde. No offence Doctor Hernandez."
Doctor Hernandez chuckled. "None taken Don Alejandro, I could use the help of another doctor, I'm not as young as I once was."
There was laughter at this as Ignacio nodded. "Good suggestion Don Alejandro. Anything else?"
Some silence followed when someone at the back said. "What about a new sign? We lost it last week in that wind storm."
"And what about new paint for all buildings."
"What about the stables, that's common property, it needs a new roof."
Ignacio nodded and took note of each of the comments.
"Who is going to pay for all of this?" Diego spoke up and almost immediately the crowd became silent, all wanting to know if de Soto would be raising taxes.
Ignacio hid his smile, trust Diego to get to the heart of the matter. "You ask a good question Don Diego and it deserves an honest answer. The works for the military, including extending the barracks, will be paid out of the military budget. The repairs to public buildings will come out of the public purse..."
"Will you be raising any taxes?"
He shook his head. "Not unless I have to. Each quarter, we received funds from Monterey to run the pueblo and I can use these funds as I see fit. I agree to fix the public buildings, roads and the mission chapel, but I require something in return..."
"Ah, here it comes." a male voice called out.
Ignacio shook his head and grinned. "I see you are sceptical about my intentions senor."
The man snorted. "Of course. What do you want from us?"
"I will provide the materials to fix these and other items, as long as you provide the labour."
There was stunned silence in the tavern.
"You want us to work Alcalde." Diego said.
He nodded. "Si that is what I want. The budget that I receive isn't large enough for all these public works and to cover labour costs at the same time. It's either that or I will be forced to tax the citizens to pay for labour."
Everyone started talking all once and Ignacio let them talk, he gazed at Carolina and saw her warm smile. She was proud of him, he had changed so much from the time they first met. He was no longer the arrogant, ruthless man, who had only thought of himself, just as she had once done. They both had changed, they put the needs of the community ahead of their own ambitions.
Don Alejandro stood up and the crowd hushed. "I agree in principle to your plan Alcalde, and believe it will bring our community together like no other gathering could do. We would be all helping to build Los Angeles into a stronger place to live. I would be willing to let any of my vaqueros help build or repair public buildings, as I would be, along with my son."
"You would personally help Don Alejandro?" Don Ricardo asked.
Don Alejandro nodded. "Si, I would. Of course I don't have any experience with masonry but I can put together fences and even lend a hand painting."
The crowd considered the older man and his approval for the plan and they began to talk about amongst themselves once more.
"Thank you Don Alejandro." Ignacio said. He knew that if he didn't get the approval from the de la Vegas, he would have no real hope of getting through his plan.
Don Alejandro nodded. "As long as you live up to your side of the bargain and to pay for the materials without taxing the people."
"I will. I have to prioritise which item is more important." he replied thoughtfully as he turned to face the crowd once more. "You don't have to decide right now. I will call another meeting a week from today and together we will decide on the future of our puebl.o" he paused, turned his gaze to Victoria. "Thank you, Senorita, for the use of your tavern."
"De nada." she replied, still shocked at his consideration.
"If you have any questions or have other suggestions, my door is open to you." he bowed slightly to the crowd, gathered up his wife and daughter and left an astonished crowd behind as he walked out of the tavern.
The citizens were silent as they all stared at each other in disbelief, no-one could believe what they had just heard, nor could they believe that de Soto was serious about his plan for the pueblo. They all wanted to know what the catch was. Then suddenly everyone started to speak and the tavern erupted into loud chatter as they expressed their opinions of de Soto's strange behaviour. In the end they decided to wait and see.
To their amazement and delight, Ignacio de Soto kept his word and over the following weeks and then months, the pueblo of Los Angeles came to life. The streets were levelled out, the buildings were repaired and new paint was applied, a brand new sign was raised over the main entrance. Senora Torres had agreed to be the new teacher for all the children in the district and the schoolroom was extended. He recruited a young doctor to help Hernandez with his practice and a number of new families moved into the area, including a blacksmith who took over the shop left idle when Senor Gomez died, some three months prior.
The lancers had been trained by Sergeant Major Condolez, with only the loss of three lancers, including the popular Sergeant Mendoza. It had been a hard decision but the good Sergeant had not passed the training, so de Soto had to retire him out of the military. The citizens did not like this decision and many grumbled that it was unfair but Mendoza accepted the judgement with good grace and in fact, he had been offered the management of the tavern, since Victoria was soon to be married. In the end it had worked out for the best.
The citizens had come to realise that their Alcalde had indeed changed and that he only had their best intentions at heart, he worked hard for them, any issues they had, be it small or large, he was always available to resolve them. The people saw the love he had for his beautiful wife and stepdaughter and in the end the citizens of Los Angeles came to respect him.
Ignacio never felt so contented in his entire life. His love for his wife and daughter and their coming child was boundless. He never knew such a life of peace could exist. All his life had been about him, about his ambitions, about his needs. He never cared about anyone's feelings except his own and therefore he never realised what he had been missing for all his thirty-seven years. He had craved power at any cost but what he really craved for was respect.
He realised that respect doesn't come from bullying or from being selfish and callous but from consideration for others, for their needs and their concerns. He noticed that the de la Vegas were highly respected by, not only the entire community but also by well connected people in Madrid. The de la Vegas received that respect, not by harassing the people or by oppressing them but by showing that they cared for the people, that they treated everyone the same, whether they are poor peasants or wealthy caballeros.
He knew the old saying was true - to have respect you have to show respect. And in showing respect to the citizens of Los Angeles, he gained their respect. It was slow at first, for he had to gain their trust and once he had gained that, the respect came.
Now as he walked across the plaza, he was greeted with genuine smiles, not the guarded looks that he once received and it lifted his spirits, it gave him a sense of purpose in life. And it all had started the moment the Emissary came to Los Angeles and he saw the monster that he could become.