Chapter 16

It was shortly after noon a few weeks later that Ramon Escalante knocked on the door of the hacienda. After he had received Victoria's letter with her request to come to Los Angeles to get back her tavern, he had come as soon as he could.

"Buenos dias, I'm Ramon Escalante," he introduced himself as a servant opened the door to let him in. "I'm here to visit my sister."

The servant led him into the parlor. "I'll tell Doña Victoria of your arrival." The maid returned a few minutes later. "Doña Victoria has already retired for siesta and Don Diego has ordered that her rest isn't disturbed. Do you want me to wake her, Señor?" Her manner showed that she had great respect for her patron and didn't want to go against his orders.

"My sister is sleeping at this time in the afternoon?" Ramon asked, surprised. "Is she ill?"

"No, it's just the baby, Señor," the maid explained.

"She's having a baby!" Ramon grinned, surprised. "And Don Diego? Where is he?"

"Don Diego is riding out with the vaqueros to track down some cattle that has gone missing. I don't know when he'll be back. Maybe after siesta. Do you want to wait, Señor?"

"Don Alejandro, is he here?" Ramon asked.

"No, Señor, he has left for Europe with Don Felipe," the maid explained. "Do you want some refreshments, Señor, while you wait?"

"In Europe?" Roman was confused. "I think I'll return later. Please tell my sister of my visit."

Z Z Z

Ramon returned to the hacienda after siesta a few hours later and he was in a sour mood.

"Ramon, you have come! It's good to see you again."

The greeting with his sister was a bit reserved from his side while she was enthusiastic.

"Ramon, what's wrong?" Victoria asked. "Are you angry I didn't see you when you came earlier? I must apologize, but my maid didn't wake me and she only told me after you had left."

"No, it's not that, Victoria. I understand that you need much rest while you're with child. My congratulations on your pregnancy." Ramon held her at arm's distance to look her over. "Are you alright, Victoria? What I heard had me concerned."

"What did you hear?" Victoria asked suspiciously, sitting down on the couch opposite of him.

"I was in the pueblo, met with friends and had lunch with them. They told me everything about your wedding and all the gossip. I wanted to have lunch in the tavern, but they warned me that it is not very good and quite expensive. Many of the guests are complaining about the food, wishing you were back in charge."

"Yes, I heard that too, but I never had a meal there," Victoria explained, distressed. "The new owner never let me inside again, not even to get some of my belongings I had forgotten the day he threw me out."

"From the talk I heard, the events were quite spectacular. You weren't a happy bride and Diego forced you into it. You never wrote about that in the letter you sent me after you got married." Ramon accused her. "Why did you lie to me about your marriage?"

"I didn't lie to you, Ramon. I'm happy with Diego."

"I can't really believe you, Victoria. When I read your letter, I was never so surprised. I couldn't believe that you suddenly gave up Zorro for Diego, but after I heard about the circumstances of your wedding I know that you didn't. How could you allow Zorro to visit you in the middle of the night? Didn't you ever think of your reputation? I understand that you married Diego because you had no choice! Can you truly be happy with him after he made you give up the love of your life?"

"Ramon, please. I don't want to discuss this anymore. I love Diego now and Zorro is past. I want you to accept that. Diego nearly died and I realized that I can't live without him." In her memory she relived the moment when Alejandro told her that he had shot Zorro and that he was dead. She began to shake and she heard Ramon speaking to her, but she was unable to concentrate on what he was saying.

"Victoria, are you alright?" she heard Ramon say, as she came back to her senses.

"Yes, Ramon, I'm sorry... what were you saying?"

"I don't know what happened, Victoria, but for a moment you scared me. You nearly fainted!" Ramon said, concerned. "Tell me what happened to Diego that you can't stand the memory. You said he nearly died? Is it true that Zorro shot him?"

"Please, Ramon, I don't want to talk about it now. Instead of questioning me, you should rather explain why you and Francisco gave away my tavern! How could you do that? You and Francisco left me to cope on my own and then you take away my only means to provide my living. If not for Diego I would have ended on the street. Did you for a moment think about me? You have no right to criticize me or Diego or anything! If it weren't for you none of this would ever have happened!" Angrily Victoria glared at him.

"You had the right to be angry at me if I did sell your tavern, but I didn't. I never signed any document. I know how important the tavern is for you." Ramon replied, angrily as well. "How could you even think that of me?"

"I saw the document with your signature and I lost the tavern! What else should I have been thinking?" Victoria shouted.

"What's going on here?" Diego interrupted the argument, coming in from the stables.

"Ramon, what surprise to see you. Welcome to Los Angeles," Diego greeted him. "I should have guessed. Having two Escalantes under one roof must lead to an argument. Sometimes it only takes one Escalante to start one," he grinned and Victoria glared at him.

"Victoria," Diego took her hand and kissed it lightly, causing Victoria to continue glaring at him. She didn't like that he hadn't shown her his affections as he usually did because of Ramon's presence. "It's good that you feel better today," he smiled, well aware of her glare.

"Ramon, you must tell me about your travel and hopefully you can enlighten us about the tavern ownership. Feel at home here during your stay in Los Angeles. Has the servant made a room ready for you?"

"Of course his room is ready, Diego. I already saw to it earlier," Victoria threw in.

"Then we can spend the time at dinner with pleasant talk, I hope." Diego smiled at the siblings who both glared at him. "But if you excuse me now, I need to change after spending the day in the saddle."