Chapter Twenty-Two: The Fox and the Snake (Part 4)
"Buenos dias, Don Carlos!" Diego greeted the elder as he tugged his horse, Viento, to a halt. Behind the young man were his faithful manservant and his father, the two of them tipping their hats to the man.
"Buenos dias, Don Diego, Don Alejandro, Bernardo," Carlos smiled, rising from his rocking chair on the verandah of his hacienda. Setting his book down, he stood up to greet his guests, shielding his eyes from the late afternoon sun. "I don't suppose you're looking for Lolita?"
"Actually, I'd like to speak with you and Doña Catalina first," Diego answered, dismounting his steed.
"Is it serious?" Carlos asked, his brows furrowing.
"Oh no! Not in the manner you're thinking," Diego said, holding out his hand as if to signal he came in peace. "It has to do with your daughter's…future," he said, wincing at how his words came out. "…I can explain it better, but not out here. May we come in?"
Something clicked in the back of the old man's mind, Diego's friendly approach reminding him of just a few weeks before when Capitan Jorge Fernandez had approached him about his youngest daughter. His eyes lit up at the realization, his mood changing at once. "Certainly, amigos! This is your second home," Carlos beamed, waiting for the men to join him on the verandah before ushering them inside. "Consuela!" he shouted. "Consuela, get my wife and tell her to meet us in the library."
"As you wish, Don Carlos," the woman answered, winking at Bernardo as he waggled his fingers at her.
"Ah, would you mind if Bernardo waited out here in the sala?" Diego asked, grinning at Bernardo's gleeful face.
"Oh, of course. Consuela, keep him company, won't you?" Carlos waved them off.
Bernardo took this opportunity to stand still and wait until the middle-aged don let his guests into the private room. "So…what's on Don Diego's mind?" Consuela asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she raised an eyebrow at the man. He gestured with his hands that they wanted to speak about something important. "If it requires both the master and mistress, I have feeling it has to do with Lolita." Consuela's face lit up when Bernardo nodded the affirmative with a great big smile on his face. "Oh, how exciting!" she squealed, hugging the manservant. When at last she pulled back, she watched as Bernardo asked her a question. "Oh yes, Lolita knows that I knew and she knows you're not deaf now. She was rather peeved at me, but all is forgiven now. Oh! I need to get Doña Catalina!" Running off, Consuela took the stairs and hurried to the woman's room, where she sewed complacently at the window. "Pardon me, Doña, but Don Carlos requests you join him and the de la Vegas downstairs in the library."
"The de la Vegas? Both of them here?" Her lips pursed as she saw Consuela nod the affirmative. "I see…gracias, Consuela. I will be down there shortly." Taking a moment to fix her hair into its usual bun, she exited the room and hurried down the stairs, smirking as she caught sight of Consuela spending time with Don Diego's deaf and mute servant. Knocking on the door, she waited until he husband called to her to enter, curtsying to the men before shutting the door after her. "Good afternoon," she greeted them cordially, accepting a kiss on the hand from both father and son.
"Sit down, my dear. Don Diego wishes to discuss…Lolita's future with us," Carlos said, his eyes trained on his wife. He allowed himself a small grin as her eyes widened, an elated smile appearing on her face.
"Oh…I see," she answered, tapping her cheek as she feigned wonder.
Receiving a nod from his father, Diego stood before the couple and said, "Don Carlos, Doña Catalina, I realize this must be too soon, seeing as how Yolanda only married about a week ago, but I feel that I must at least state my plea to you." Feeling their eyes on him in expectation, he began, "I love Lolita, and I ask for your permission and blessing to marry-"
"Yes!" Don Carlos declared suddenly, surprising everyone.
"Carlos, dear!" Catalina whispered, struggling not to laugh at his eagerness.
"Carlos, I had no idea you wished to marry your daughter off so quickly," Alejandro jested.
"Oh, Heavens! Forgive me, Don Diego, but you have no idea how delighted I am to know that you are truly in love with my little girl and she means that much to you!" Carlos said in response, his eyes tearing at the thought of giving Lolita away, but his heart swelled in pride that the de la Vega family would be taking his child into their family. "How soon were you thinking of asking her?"
"Oh, not right now," Diego chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "But, soon…very soon. I need to find the right moment."
"Such a romantic caballero," Catalina laughed, embracing the young man and kissing his cheek. "We're delighted, Diego."
"Of course you have our blessing and permission!" Carlos added quickly, shaking hands with the young man and afterwards clasping Alejandro's arm. "To think…we'll all be family now!...ah, I should warn you, Lolita will most likely want Consuela to come with her once you are married-"
"Bernardo will be wanting the same thing," Diego grinned, causing the others to laugh. "Of course Consuela may come to the hacienda if she wishes it, with your permission."
"Certainly," Catalina agreed. "She'll be lifeless without Lolita-"
"Papá? Mamá?"
The sound of Lolita's voice made the group hush, listening for her steps as she walked down the stairs. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to ask my beloved on a ride into town," Diego whispered, winking at the elders before excusing himself and slipping out of the room. His eyes shone as he caught sight of the girl talking to the servants, slipping behind her stealthily before wrapping his arms around her. A rather unladylike squeak of surprise echoed in the room, making him laugh. "Surprise."
"Diego!" she scowled, smacking his arm. "You scared the daylights out of me!"
"I'm sorry," he apologized as she turned to face him, though his tone was still teasing. Her pout was irresistible, drawing him in. "Say you'll forgive me?"
"No," she refused childishly, a smile working its way on her lips as he kissed the corner of her mouth. "No," she repeated, this time sounding more like a sigh when he kissed her briefly on the lips. The third "no" died on her tongue as he claimed her mouth, holding her hostage in a passionate kiss. Seeing this, Bernardo and Consuela arose from their seats and walked away, the two of them fighting not to laugh as well as offer some privacy.
Pulling away, Diego smiled as he saw her smirking at him. "Am I forgiven?"
"I haven't decided yet," she shrugged.
He laughed, making her heartbeat race. "Perhaps you'll accept my apology after a ride into town. I promised Sergeant Garcia I would visit him today and speak with him about a matter that's been bothering him."
"Oh?" she asked, curious.
"I'm not sure what it is, but I know I'll find out soon enough. Care to join me?"
"Well…only if you give me one last kiss," she teased. "I may be persuaded to join you and forgive you."
"As you wish," he murmured, pressing his mouth to hers once more. This was something he was certainly getting used to, and he hoped it would never end.
~Z~
An unsuspecting fly landed at the foot of the cot, buzzing loudly, when a heavy boot crushed the miniscule creature out of existence. Riviera glared at the mess he had created, his mind filled with fury and hauntings from his past. "You're a failure," he hissed at the dead insect. "…just like me…" Sweat trickled down his face as he continued to endure the heat of the late afternoon sun. He felt as though he could scarcely breath in his little cell, where another damned 'Z' had been carved into the wall about two years before, when another failed Commandante lost to Zorro.
"Zorro…" The black-clad bandit's laughing face continued to flash in his memory, along with the agonized faces of those he had tormented on the field. He could hear Zorro's taunting laughter as though he were standing before him, as well as the shouts and snarls of hate he had received so many years ago from his vicious, drunken father. The large brown eyes of an Indian woman took over, making him grasp at his hair. "No…go away…!" he whispered, remembering how her smile turned into a look of horror when he came back covered in blood…her family's blood. He remembered her terror as he approached her, ready to rip out the growing child that remained within her womb, only to be stopped by a reckless Indian brave who had heard the commotion.
"You betrayed me…you all betrayed and deserted me in the end," he murmured, his eyes large and bloodshot as his mind swam with visions of the people of the pueblo cheering as Fernandez came back into town, dressed in a Commandante's uniform. He realized that ever since he came to Los Angeles, Fernandez had always been the one to win the love and respect of the people. "He's been undermining me this whole time…"
"All right, here's your meal." The guard on duty took no care in shoving the food tray under the bars to his former leader. He was exhausted from caring for the horses and eager to head to the posada for a drink. He did not see the wicked gleam in the prisoner's eyes when he collapsed and began to choke. Turning around, the soldier raised an eyebrow in suspicion and approached the bars. "Now what is it?" Riviera did not answer him, gasping for breath and clawing at the dirt floor, knocking the tray over and spilling the food. "Good Lord!" the guard yelped, opening the cell at once and rushing in. In his hurry to open the door, he failed to see his commander take hold of the knife on the tray and hide it in his sleeve.
Rushing inside, the unsuspecting soldier came to his aid, lifting him up when a sharp pain filled his chest. A horrified gasp was trapped in his chest as he stared at Riviera's eyes, suddenly cold and narrowed. "It's nothing personal," he hissed, yanking the blunt knife quickly before snatching the man's pistol and smacking hitting his head with butt of the gun. As the man lay unconscious, bleeding slowly, Riviera arose to his feet and peered around the cuartel. Some soldiers were off by the barrack rooms, talking amiably and unaware of the murder that had occurred. Stealing the man's hat, he placed it on his head and ripped the chains that displayed his rank, tossing them to the floor without a second thought. Slinking towards the stables, Riviera untethered the closest horse that was already saddled, taking a moment to adjust the gun in his belt and the hat on his head before mounting the steed and urging it to move slowly. Riding up to the gate, he held his breath but kept his head held high as to avoid suspicions, tugging the collars of his jacket up to shield his face long enough to get out.
Coming up to the gate, he felt a crooked smile grow on his lips as the guards posted outside did not even both to look up as he rode out. He remained quiet, his eyes scanning the perimeter when a carriage came to a halt by the posada with a white horse tethered to the back of the carriage. Squinting, he could see the door open, three figures emerging in the sunlight. His eyes widened in horror and fury as he saw Fernandez and the youngest Pulido girl standing there, along with an elderly man who he knew at once had to be the Governor from Monterey. "So that's why he only kept me hostage in that cell…he really was trying to undermine me this whole time!" His hand twitched as he moved it to his belt, the urge to kill Fernandez overwhelming. His career and reputation would be ruined once the Governor declared it.
A charming laugh made him stiffen, his head turning to see Diego de la Vega walking alongside Lolita Pulido, the two of them smiling as they gazed into each other's eyes. "You…" he breathed, the woman's face replacing Lolita's for an instant. His mind felt as if it had snapped as he kicked the horse's heels and ran for Lolita. Extending one arm, he gave an angry yell as he snatched her off of her feet, crushing her against his chest as she screamed and thrashed against his iron grip.
"Let go!" she demanded. "Let go of m-!" Her eyes became large as she saw his face, paling at the sight of his crazed eyes. "You!" she gasped. "Diego! Diego, help me!"
Turning the horse around once he was a fair distance away, he saw the young don, the stupid sergeant, and the traitorous captain all gathered in a cluster, watching him sneer at them. "Just try to follow me! I want you three to try and stop me. Come to the eastern mountain ledge at sundown, the one by Rattlesnake Ravine. Bring anyone else and the girl dies!" A wicked cackle filled the air as he rode off, looking ahead while Lolita felt despair fill her heart. Looking back to them, she knew that Diego would find her…she only hoped he wouldn't get caught in the act as Zorro and revealed to all. Knowing there was no point in screaming for help, she closed her eyes tight as the tears began to spill onto her cheeks, praying to God that all would be well. "Take care of those men, Lord, don't let them die because of me…spare me from this awful man…God help us all!"
~Z~
"Oooh, this is all my fault!" Sergeant Garcia wailed, shaking his head miserably. "If only I had taken more precautions-"
"Sergeant!" Corporal Reyes called, running as quickly as he could. "Riviera's escaped – he killed Calvo and stole one of the horses…did I miss something?"
"Good Heavens!" the Governor frowned, watching the trail of dust subside. "This was worse than I thought! Capitan, you were right – I'm only sorry we didn't come sooner."
"Don Diego, I swear to you, I will bring her back safely-" Jorge Fernandez vowed, his heart breaking as he heard his wife weeping as she stood paralyzed by the carriage. He was stunned when Diego grabbed his arm and looked at him, his eyes blazing.
"No…you will not do this alone," he said, his voice deep and husky, growling in anger. This behavior shocked Fernandez, for Don Diego had never shown such emotion before, with the exception of when Lolita was being harassed. "I'm going to get my horse. I shall meet you on the mountain trail." His voice had dropped to a low whisper at this, something in his presence making Fernandez's blood chill. There was something in de la Vega's determination and anger that reminded him of someone else…someone who fought for justice under the cloak of night.
"No…it can't be," he thought, shaking his head to rid himself of his preposterous assumptions. "It's not possible…" Seeing Diego run back to his carriage take off without a second glance, the capitan realized if his thoughts were true, he would find out shortly. "Corporal, take the Governor inside. Sergeant, gather a small team."
"But Capitan-!" Garcia protested.
"They will follow us at a distance, just for safe measure," he insisted. "I will not risk my wife's sister's life to that maniac, no matter what his demands." Looking back at the disappearing carriage of Don Diego, he added softly, "Besides, I have a feeling Zorro will hear of this and come to our aid at once."
A/N: I'm sorry it's so short but I hope you enjoyed this part, the climax will be revealed next time, I promise! Thank you all for your wonderful reviews and support, it keeps me going! I'll see you all next time! (PS - If you're looking for some more good WD Zorro reads, check out JuliaBC's profile!)