Chapter Sixteen: Soldiers in Love (Part 2)

"Alicia de la Cruz…yes, I've heard of her husband, Samuel de la Cruz," Alejandro nodded, sipping his wine as he and Diego sat in front of the roaring fire in their sala. Bernardo came in with another bottle of their vintage wine and began to pour it generously into the glasses. "He was a general for the King's army, a very generous and brave man. I heard that he passed away over a year ago, about the time you were in Monterey, Diego…I believe it was an old wound he received while fighting before he retired. He was much older than Alicia when they wed. That poor woman…only thirty and all alone."

"Well, she's making sure she's not alone," Diego informed him. "She already has a set of servants ready to do her bidding in the new hacienda, and I heard that she wants to throw a grand party by the end of the week. Gracias," he thanked Bernardo, accepting the glass before motioning for him to join them and sit down with his own wine, which the servant obliged readily. Stroking the rim of the glass, Diego voiced his concerns, as well as Lolita's. "Father, today Lolita and I saw a stranger enter the pueblo, go to the cuartel, and then emerge, seemingly exhausted. He collapsed right in front of us, and Señora Alicia insisted she take care of him. I heard from Garcia that she hired him as a servant there…and I'm concerned for her."

"You think this man works for Riviera?" Alejandro asked, raising an eyebrow as he saw Bernardo nod his head vigorously, as well as gesture that this newcomer was taking something. "…and he is a thief?"

"Sí, I'm afraid so," Diego nodded. "But Lolita has pointed out that the party would be the perfect opportunity to catch him in the act, possibly Riviera, too-"

"So now Lolita Pulido has gotten Diego de la Vega scheming and plotting, getting him into trouble," Alejandro laughed in mirth, slapping his knee. "Diego, you must woo this woman right and win her heart, so that I might have her for a daughter-in-law with sharp, fine grandchildren, and quick!"

Diego chuckled sheepishly, bashfully shrugging before his father and Bernardo, who waggled his eyebrows at him knowingly. "Believe me, Father, I want to…but I don't want to risk her getting killed with Riviera so close and still at large."

"I know, son," Alejandro sighed. "Still, one must move onward and do his best…keep trying, Diego. I am certain you will win her soon enough."

~Z~

Miguel Elvarez poked his head into the library, peeking over his shoulder before entering. He was certain he had seen something important being stowed away in this part of the house, he just had to figure out where. It had been nearly two days since he was taken in and hired by the woman, and yet he found nothing of value! The finest thing he had seen was her silverware, but even that was pitiful – there was only enough for one person! If he took anything like that, it would not go unnoticed.

"How can such a prestigious woman have nothing lying around?" he moaned, running over to the desk placed by the window in the room. No sooner had he begun to rummage through the drawers, the door opened and he jumped to attention, pulling out his feather duster that he had strapped to his apron.

"You'll find an assortment of books here on the meanings behind flowers, Don Diego…ah, Miguel!" Alicia smiled warmly at the servant, nodding her head in acknowledgement as he bowed to her. "Hard at work, I see."

"Senora, Senor," he greeted them politely, bowing to the pair.

"This way, Don Diego," Alicia motioned, guiding her guest to the bookshelf closest to the desk. Diego obliged, trailing behind her while feeling the servant's eyes on his back. Acting as though he could not sense it, he casually stuck his hands into his pockets and allowed Alicia to prattle on about which book would be better and for what reason. After a time, he glanced over his shoulder, catching a peek at Miguel, who grinned as he quietly tugged out a fine fountain pen from under a stack of imprinted paper. It was an elegant trinket, with an engraving in gold and a shimmering ruby placed atop the pen.

"It looks like you were right, Lolita," Diego smirked, leaning back casually and waiting until Miguel came within range before faking a yawn and stretching out his arms. His fist made contact with Miguel Elvarez's nose, knocking the man down. "Oh dear! Forgive me, señor! I am so careless!" he cried, falling to his knees and dusting the servant off, gripping his arm to help him. "Oh! What's this?" Piciking up the fallen pen, he noticed how the servant paled at being discovered. "Is this yours, señor?"

"Oh! That's my husband's fountain pen," Alicia exclaimed, taking it from Diego. "Gracias, Don Diego…this is very dear to me. It's one of the few possessions I still have of my husband."

"You mean to say you did not keep all your trinkets and gifts from your husband?" Diego asked curiously, rising to his feet.

Shaking her head, the widow answered, "No…after Samuel died, I gave most of my extravagant items away to the church to provide the poor with money and materials. I only stayed with some small, sentimental gifts. I plan on purchasing some local merchandise to match this new home, and my new life."

"That's a very generous and thoughtful thing to do," Diego remarked, bowing his head to the woman in acknowledgement. "Oh!" he added, pulling a battered old pocket watch from his sleeve. "I believe this is yours, Miguel." With an innocent smile, he tossed the watch back to the bewildered man, who thanked him uncertainly before excusing himself.

Miguel shut the library doors after he left, his mind racing as he remembered how the supposed, clueless don caught him and swindled from the expert swindler. "He's not as dumb as they say…I'd better watch myself around him," he muttered, pocketing his prized possession. "Still…" The words of his patrona echoed in his mind, as well as Riviera's stern order and threat. "…within the week, during the party, there will be plenty to steal," he reassured himself. "Until then, I must be patient."

A pang of guilt passed through him, however, as he remembered how kind she was, how she offered him a chance to stay even though he was a total stranger. Shaking his head, he forced himself to return to his quarters and push his thoughts of the woman away. He had received orders from the Commandante, and he knew how ruthless men like that could be. He would need to be careful and exact an escape route, should things go south. He would not be mistreated again.

~Z~

Days flew by, and before Diego knew it, Alicia had sent them invitations to attend her fiesta. He was certain that both Elvarez and Riviera would be there, and trouble would be afoot. Recalling what happened the last time Bernardo had brought him his costume, he decided he would simply have to wear his costume beneath his fine clothes to avoid losing time. There was no telling what this magician would try to pull off, and he was worried that if Miguel vanished, he would not be able to pinpoint his whereabouts. Arriving at the bustling hacienda, filled with paper lanterns, music, food, and people, Diego entered the building with his father and Bernardo, already stiff from the many layers.

"Are you certain about this?" Alejandro asked, motioning with his eyes at his son's clothes.

"I can't afford to lose time, and I certainly don't need another servant or guest walking in on me," Diego whispered. Fixing his cravat, he glanced around the room, seeking out the shifty manservant. Instead, his eyes landed upon the familiar form of Lolita, clothed in scarlet and gold, her hair filled with rosebuds. The moment their eyes met, the two of them smiled and waved to one another. "Excuse me, Father," Diego said vaguely, not even looking at the old man as he squeezed his way through the crowd. Alejandro watched and shook his head with a grin, optimistic that tonight would be most fruitful for both of his son's personalities.

"Buenas noches, Lolita," Diego greeted her, kissing her hand at once.

"Buenas noches, Diego," Lolita smiled back. "You look dashing in black."

"And you look regal," he grinned. "May I have this dance?"

"I'd be delighted," she curtsied, letting him take her into his arms and guide her towards the center of the grand sala. Placing her hand on his shoulder, she let him twirl her around, leading her in the dance. "I don't suppose you've seen our light-fingered friend?" she asked, her eyes remaining on his face.

"Not since I walked in…I've only had eyes for you, to be perfectly frank," he confessed, enjoying how she gaped and blushed at his comment. As he turned about, his eyes strayed and landed on two men speaking in a corner. "Huh…your father seems to be considering some sort of offer from Capitan Fernandez," he noted, causing Lolita to turn and see what he was speaking about.

"They've been like that since we've arrived," she answered, cocking her head at the men. "I can't imagine what Fernandez would need to discuss so seriously with my father, but it looks important. I thought he would be busy with Yolanda…speaking of which, I haven't seen her since we walked in together." The couple paused in their dancing, the two of them looking around the room. "How strange…well," she shrugged. "Perhaps she's just talking to Carlotta."

"But Carlotta is over there, dancing with Ricardo," Diego pointed out, seeing the pair twirl in time to the guitars.

"Odd…Diego, I must find her. I feel as though something's not right," she insisted.

"All right, you search this side, and I'll try that side of the house," Diego suggested. Agreeing, the two of them split off and began to push their way through the crowd. Returning to Bernardo, who was sipping punch while listening to Consuela's hopes for Lolita, he waved at the two to follow him outside. The servants immediately did as they were told, calmly trailing after the don.

"What is it?" Consuela asked, her brows furrowing. "Where is Lolita?"

"Lolita has gone to search the other side of the house. Yolanda has gone missing," Diego informed them. "I think I'd best change now, just to be safe. If anyone asks, I had to ride back to my hacienda to check on some pressing matters for my father. Bernardo, go and keep an eye on Lolita and make sure nothing happens to her in the meantime."

The two servants nodded, taking off in search of their mistress. They only hoped she couldn't have gotten into trouble so quickly.

~Z~

Yolanda felt her throat go dry as the servant known as Miguel Elvarez pulled out a gun on her. She was never one for parties, so she went in search of solitude in the library. She never expected to find him with small sack in his hands, admiring the few trinkets he had been able to snatch during the commotion since the party started nearly an hour ago. Having caught her peeking in, he cornered her and brought her into the library, now keeping her hostage.

"Why are women so curious?" he mused, sincere in his question, never showing any malice or anger. He seemed tired as he sighed and shook his head. "Really, Señorita, you should have kept out of this. It's hard enough for me as it is."

"Why…do you do this, if it pains you so?" she dared to ask, her back pressed to the wall.

He shrugged in reluctant. "It's all I can do. Ever since I was a boy, I was always very good with tricks and making things disappear. For I time, I worked in the circus that traveled through the United States…but things got, shall we say, heated, when I bested a man at cards who had been tormenting me since I joined. That's why I've resorted to pick-pocketing."

"Why are you telling me all this?" she asked softly, fearing the worst.

"Partially because I need someone to talk to…partially because…please do not take it personal, Señorita Pulido, but my employer does not want any mistakes. I can't have you going around telling any of the soldiers present…I don't want to do this, really-"

"Then don't."

The two of them whipped their heads around to see Señora Alicia enter the room, shutting the door after her. Her eyes remained on Miguel, disappointment shining through and penetrating his heart so strongly that he had to turn away. "You don't have to do this, Miguel. I know you are a good man-"

"You know nothing," he shook his head. "I never chose this life, but it chose me. No matter how many times I try to go the straight and narrow, I end up coming back. It has always been this way. And now with Ri-…erm, my patron, I have already failed." His eyes reminded her of a blood hound that she had rescued as a child – sad and apologetic. "I admire you greatly, Doña, I really do. You have been so kind to me…the last time I remember feeling so secure and at home was when my madre was alive and well when I was just a boy."

"You can still be that way," she insisted. "This house, this land, my life…that is why I came to Lost Angeles. To start fresh and have a second chance at life. You can have that, too."

Shaking his head, Miguel's brows knit together as he forced himself to become hard-hearted. "Those are pretty words, Señora…but pretty words cannot help me, or save you now." Holding up his pistol, he withdrew a length of thin rope from his pocket and tossed it to Yolanda. "Tie her hands," he ordered. "Or I'll be forced to do something none of us will enjoy."

With her hands shaking, Yolanda whispered apologies to Alicia whilst she tied her wrists behind her back. Alicia did not speak and held her head aloft, noticing how the door of the library silently cracked open, a large brown eye gaping at them. She said nothing, hoping that this curious soul would get help. Sure enough, the eye disappeared moments later, but it gave her very little relief. Once Alicia had been bound and gagged, Miguel swiftly did the same to Yolanda. Stuffing the bag of loot into his pocket, he remembered Riviera's cold eyes and silently cursed him. "You may threaten me all you like, and I may be a thief, but I shall not let you harm these women." He figured once her rode out far enough, he could leave these women in the carriage her planned to steal and ride out of Los Angeles with the trinkets, never to be seen again. Poking his head out of the library, he made sure the coast was clear before making the women tiptoe down the hall towards the stables. With a little luck, he would be able to make it out and vanish into the night…

~Z~

"Capitan, Sergeant, may I have a word with you?" Lolita asked coolly, gesturing for them to walk with her.

"Oh, but of course, Señorita Lolita!" Sergeant Garcia nodded, quickly swallowing a rather large pastry much to the capitan's embarrassment.

Fernandez checked to see Riviera, who remained talking to some of the dons in a most amiable manner that made the capitan shudder. He did not trust Riviera's pleasant attitude, not for an instant. Walking out with Lolita, he exited the house and followed her, with Sergeant Garcia hot on his trail. "Is something the matter, Señorita?" he asked when she finally came to halt, standing by the parked carriages before the fine hacienda.

"I have just seen Miguel Elvarez in the library, holding a pistol to Doña Alicia and my sister, Yolanda," she confessed, watching as both men gawked at her in shock and horror. "I heard him say he was working for someone, and I believe that someone is the Commandante."

"The Commandante?!...why does that not surprise me?" Garcia groaned.

"What did he say?" Fernandez demanded, reaching out and placing his hands on the young woman's shoulders.

"I didn't hear much of what he planned to do. All I know is that he stole what little Señora Alicia brought with her, and he kept both women as hostages in case he was caught. I image he went to the stables to find a carriage or horse to leave," Lolita informed him seriously. "I have to help my sister, but I can't do it alone."

"And you shan't, Señorita."

All three spun around at the sound of the new voice, their eyes widening as Zorro came forth and bowed, saluting them merrily.

"Zorro!" gasped Garcia.

"I knew you'd come," Lolita whispered, accepting his hand and blushing as he kissed her.

Fernandez offered his hand to the outlaw, shaking his heartily. "What shall we do, amigo?" he asked, ready to run through fire for the innocent señorita.

"I have just seen a carriage pull out of the de la Cruz stables," Zorro informed him. "We must ride after them as quickly as possible. I shall need your help, Capitan, to corner this thief and capture him. Lolita, you and Sergeant Garcia must stop the carriage and make sure the passengers are unharmed." Taking the young woman's hands into his own, he gazed into her eyes as his voice deepened. "This could be dangerous-"

"I would do anything for my sister," she insisted.

"You are not afraid?"

"If you are with us, then no."

"If you got hurt-"

"I won't."

The corner of his lips turned up as he shook his head. "You are a stubborn one…but you are loyal. Very well, pequeña. You will ride with us." Lifting his head, he motioned for the men to follow, keeping Lolita on his arm. "Let us hurry, my friends, before it is too late."