Chapter 17
At dinner Ramon told them that it had taken quite long for Victoria's letter to reach him in Venezuela and that he had left for Los Angeles immediately.
"Victoria, you must believe me that the letter was a complete surprise for me," Ramon assured her. "I never signed any document that transferred the ownership to this Gonzalez. I never met that man or his family before I saw him in the pueblo today!"
"Did you talk to Señor Gonzalez today, Ramon?" Diego inquired.
"No, I didn't. I thought it might be wise not to reveal my identity to him, so I can swear that I have never talked to him before." Diego nodded in agreement.
"But if you didn't sign that paper how did both yours and Francisco's signature end up on it?" Victoria asked, puzzled. "I only had the chance to look shortly at the document and the signatures looked like yours and Francisco's!"
"Well," Ramon swallowed, taking another sip of wine, "now we come to the unpleasant part of our conversation.
"What is it?" Victoria urged him to continue.
"As soon as I got your letter I traveled to Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, where Francisco's regiment is stationed, to speak with our brother."
"And? What did he say? Why didn't he accompany you?" Victoria wanted to know.
"Francisco couldn't travel with me because he was in prison!"
"In prison? What happened?" Victoria was shocked.
"I was able to visit him and talk to him. He had gotten in wrong company and with some 'friends' he got drunk and went into a bar in the wrong part of town. His friends coaxed him to drink more and play cards with them. After some initial wins he lost everything he had to one of the men. Francisco didn't remember what he had done that night after he woke up in prison, because the night ended in a brawl and among them were some officers. He was shocked when I told him that he had signed over your tavern."
"Francisco actually got so drunk that he signed over my tavern? And now he is in prison?" Victoria was in tears. Diego, who sat beside her at the table, soothingly rubbed her back.
"He should be released by now, but he got demoted and will be transferred to another garrison in a small town on the border to Colombia. He promised me that it will never happen again and he was very remorseful about what happened." Ramon grabbed for his vest and took out a letter that he handed Victoria. "Francisco gave me this letter for you. He told me he wanted to apologize to you and tell you how remorseful he felt."
"But that doesn't change the fact that he gave away my tavern. He had no right to do that! It was my tavern and if it hadn't been for Diego I would have landed on the streets!" Victoria was beside herself with rage.
"Let's get this clear," Diego intervened. "It was only Francisco who signed the document and not you, Ramon?"
"No, I didn't do anything!" Ramon declared. "I was as shocked as you, Victoria!"
"But the document Gonzalez showed you had both signatures, Victoria?" Diego questioned and Victoria nodded.
"Then the one from Ramon must be forged," Diego concluded. "I wonder why ..." Victoria knew him well enough to see that he was figuring out something when Diego continued to question her brother.
"Ramon, you're one year older than Francisco, aren't you?"
"Yes, that's true. Why do you ask?"
"After your father died in Devil's fortress the tavern fell to you as the oldest brother according to the law here in California. I think in South America all brothers inherit the property and not only the eldest." Diego stood up and began pacing the room, stopping again in front of the table.
"So I bet that Gonzalez didn't know who of you is the elder brother and if both brothers inherited the tavern or only the eldest. To make sure he'd get the tavern in any case, he must have forged your signature on the document."
"What does that mean for the tavern, Diego?" Victoria questioned him.
"It means that we have a very good chance to get your tavern back, Victoria. But the main problem is to prove that Gonzalez did in fact forge Ramon's signature."
"I am here now," Ramon added. "I can swear at court that I didn't give my signature."
Diego shook his head. "Unfortunately, that won't be enough. It's your word against Gonzalez! Just give me some time to think about it. I'll send for our lawyer in Santa Barbara and inform him about the new development."
"But I may get my tavern back!" Victoria beamed at the prospect.
"We will see, Victoria. I don't want you to be disappointed," Diego dampened her expectations.
"What would you do with it if you got it back?" Ramon inquired.
"I don't think I'll work there again. At the moment the pregnancy tires me too much and after the birth I'll be too busy with the child and the tasks here at the hacienda. I'd need to find a manager for it and only oversee it."
"Would you accept me as manager?" Ramon asked.
"You? As manager of the tavern?" Victoria asked, surprised. "According to the law the tavern belongs to you. Why do you want to be the manager?"
Ramon started to explain his plans to Victoria to return to Los Angeles and take over the tavern. He had found out that army life wasn't for him and though he liked Venezuela he longed to return to Los Angeles. Leaving the siblings to their conversation, Diego slipped away from the table, murmuring that he had to look something up.
Z Z Z
Diego headed for the library and slipped into the cave. It was still dinner time in the tavern and the Gonzalez family should be very occupied now – the best time to sneak into their room and have a look at the document in question.
Quickly, Diego changed into his Zorro outfit and tackled Toronado. "We won't have time for a longer ride, Toronado. We have to return before we are missed by Victoria." Zorro encouraged Toronado into a gallop as soon as they were out of the cave. Leaving Toronado at his usual hiding place in the shade of the tavern, Zorro used his whip to climb onto the roof. Crossing it, he reached the window of Victoria's former bedroom. As he had done so many times before, he slit his knife between the wings to lift the locking mechanism and open the window from the outside. To make sure that the room was unoccupied this time, he scanned the bed and the rest of the room for any movement. When he was sure that the room was empty, he climbed inside. As a precaution he locked the door from the inside and closed the window, drawing the curtains closed so no light could be seen from outside.
Illuminating the room with the lamp on the nightstand, he began rummaging through the drawers until he found the document he had been searching for, hidden under some clothes.
He unfolded the parchment and examined it closely, holding it against the light, paying special attention to the signatures on the bottom of the page. He removed his gloves and felt the paper under his fingers on both sides. Comparing both signatures he found what he had been searching for.
There were slow heavy steps on the stairs and someone was approaching. Quickly, he put back the document to its hiding place and turned out the light. He put on his gloves again before he unlocked the door and hid behind it, holding his breath. His hands were on his saber, ready to draw it the minute someone opened the door. The steps stopped in front of the door before they continued further down the hallway. Probably it had been only another guest on his way to his room. Relieved, he breathed out again. Quietly, he crossed to room to the window, climbing out and closing it behind him again. After a quiet whistle for Toronado he jumped from the roof and was back on his way to the cave.
Z Z Z
"Where is Diego?" Victoria asked, suddenly aware that she hadn't seen him for some time and that he had not returned to the table. "Did he say where he went?"
"He mentioned looking up something," Ramon shrugged.
"Wait here," she commanded. Victoria rushed in to the library and pressed the secret lever. As soon as she was inside the cave she saw her suspicions confirmed. Diego's suit was hanging on the rack and Zorro's clothing and Toronado were missing. Diego was riding out as Zorro!
She returned to the library, closing the entrance behind her before she sank down on the couch. Unable to hide her anger, she balled her fists.
"Victoria, what's wrong?" Ramon had decided to come after her.
"Diego, he.. he.. How can he do this to me!" she pressed out angrily.
"Do what?"
"Leave like this!"
"You are angry because Diego left without telling you?" Ramon asked, surprised. "He's a grown man and I think he can leave once in a while without always telling you! I think he'll be back soon. He would have told you otherwise."
"Yes, you're probably right." Victoria tried to hide her feelings. "Would you mind leaving me alone while I wait here for Diego?"
"Of course not. I don't want to be witness when you unleash your fury on your husband. I still remember how it is when you are angry at someone." Ramon grinned, reminding her of her outbursts as a child. "I'd rather enjoy some peace and fresh air in the garden."
Z Z Z
Victoria didn't have to wait long for Diego to come back through the fireplace and as soon as he emerged, she stood up and attacked him.
"Diego, how could you do that to me!" Victoria angrily tried to hit his chest with her balled fists, but he caught her hands in time and held them in a firm grip away from him. "I know where you have been!"
"Everything is alright, Querida," Diego kissed her hands. "I am back home!"
"Please, Diego, I can't stand it anymore!" Victoria no longer tried to hit him and was in tears instead. "Thinking of you, riding out as Zorro, is something that scares me to death now. I keep thinking of you lying there in the canyon, not knowing if you'd survive the next day or even the next hour." Victoria began to cry hard, wetting his shirt with her tears.
"I'm sorry, Victoria," Diego sighed, holding her tight. "I didn't think it would affect you so much. Sneaking into the tavern as Zorro was the best way to have a close look at that document. Nobody saw me. I was careful."
"But you could have been killed if you had been spotted by one of the lancers! Please, Diego, promise me you won't ride out as Zorro again." Cramping her fingers around the ruffles of his shirt, Victoria looked at him pleadingly.
"Not even if I do it for you and your tavern?"
Victoria shook her head. "The tavern isn't worth your life! Please, Diego!"
He sighed, unable to stand her tears. "Very well, Victoria. I promise."
"Thank you, Diego. You don't know how much that means to me." Victoria smiled again and drew
his head down to kiss him. Relaxing, she felt exhaustion sweep over her and she reached for his support.
"Are you alright, Victoria?" Diego asked, concerned, holding her tighter.
"I'm only very tired and need to lie down again. It was a lot of excitement today, Diego. Will you make my apologies to Ramon?"
Diego nodded. "I'll send the maid to help you undress." Surprising her, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to their room. "I'll be coming soon, too."
"Then you can tell me what you have found out about the document," Victoria yawned.
"We'll talk about it tomorrow when you're less tired, Querida." Realizing she'd fall asleep as soon as she was in bed, Diego tenderly kissed her goodnight.
Z Z Z
"So have you solved your differences? What was it all about?" Ramon asked when Diego met to him in the garden. "Where is Victoria?"
"Oh, it was nothing important. As her brother you know her temper." Diego shrugged it off. "You must excuse her, Ramon. She has already gone to bed. All the excitement today has exhausted her," Diego explained a bit absentminded, thinking about the implications of giving up Zorro as Victoria had made him promise.
"But I also know that she doesn't get angry about nothing, Diego. I think you have a lot to explain. All the rumors I heard in the pueblo..."
"Ramon, you know how people gossip. Victoria is a well-known person in the pueblo and the events that led to our marriage were a bit unusual. But I can assure you that we are happy together."
"Yes, I can see that. Victoria seems to be very dependent on you. But what about the rumor that you were shot by Zorro? Is it true? Are you really the owner of the de la Vega hacienda? Why did your father sign it over to you?"
"It doesn't matter how I was shot. It was simply an accident that I don't want to talk about. And my father wanted to have everything in order before he went to Europe. The trip around the Horn is quite dangerous and he also thought that I'd keep better care of it if I owned it already." Diego explained.
"But that's enough for today, Ramon. Now that we have cleared that, we need to talk about getting back the tavern. But I want to wait until tomorrow because it concerns Victoria as much as you!"
Z Z Z
After breakfast they discussed their strategy to get back the tavern from Gonzalez.
"I will inform our lawyer in Santa Barbara to come to Los Angles to represent us in court and once he has arrived we will have the alcalde set up a formal court to decide who is the rightful owner of the tavern." Diego informed them of his plans.
"What chances do we have to get back my tavern?" Victoria inquired.
"I think we have good chances, now that Ramon is here and can testify that he hasn't signed the document. But Don Cristobel can tell us more."
"Ramon, I think you should stay away from the tavern and out of Gonzalez' sight, so he doesn't meet you until the court hearing."
Ramon nodded in agreement. "I understand. He won't recognize me as Victoria's brother until then. And Gonzalez will think himself safe, believing we won't act against him. How long do you think it will take until the hearing?"
"It depends on how fast Don Cristobal can come here. Hopefully in a few days."
Ramon planned to spend the days outside the pueblo, saying that he wanted to meet with old friends. Victoria had thoughts of her own when he asked for a picnic basket for two in the kitchen.