Chapter 6

Late afternoon when Don Pedro Gonzalez and his daughter arrived at the tavern, Victoria had just reopened after siesta.

"Señor, Señorita what can I do for you?" Victoria addressed them upon entering the tavern.

"I'm looking for rooms for my daughter and me," Don Pedro addressed her. "I heard this is an excellent tavern."

"You'll be satisfied with the rooms, Señor. I'll have them ready for you in a few minutes."

"Pilar," she addressed her helper, "please get the rooms ready."

"Who recommended it to you?" Victoria inquired.

"Don Diego de la Vega. We met him during his stay in Monterey when he visited his cousin. We're relatives of his cousin's wife. When he invited us to visit him here in Los Angeles we didn't want to obtrude on him though he offered us to stay at his family's hacienda." Don Pedro explained.

"Is Don Diego back in Los Angeles? That would be nice to hear. Are you having dinner here or at the de la Vega hacienda?"

"We were planning to have it at the hacienda, but unfortunately Don Diego fell ill during our trip back from Monterey, so we'll have dinner here."

"You were traveling together?" Victoria's curiosity rose by the minute. Who were these people that they were accompanying Diego to Los Angeles? The daughter was really good looking and dressed elegantly in the latest fashion, not hiding the fact that her father was a wealthy caballero. If she didn't know that Diego wasn't interested in marriage she would be worried.

"Dinner will be available from six o'clock on. But, your rooms are ready now. Pilar will show them to you."

"Thank you, Señorita. We will have an early supper and rest from our journey." Don Pedro announced.

"I heard that you're a friend of the de la Vegas." Maria addressed her. "Tell me why is such a charming man as Don Diego still unmarried?"

Victoria only blinked at her. Diego? Charming?

"And could you please bring us a bottle of wine like the sort Don Diego favors? I think you know what I mean."

"But Diego never drinks wine," she stuttered.

"Of course he does. Even I know that from the short time I know him." Señorita Maria replied.

Victoria looked at her, confused. Were they talking about the same person? What had happened to Diego while he was in Monterey?

Z Z Z

"Diego, you're back. It's nice to have you back home. At dinner you must tell me everything about Rafael and his family," his father greeted him when he entered the parlor. "You don't look well, my son."

"It was a long ride and I may have gotten a cold. Father, Don Emilio visited me two days ago in Monterey and told me that the alcalde was planning to hang Victoria today. I couldn't come back earlier, but I rather came here than talk to the governor. What happened here? Were you able to change the alcalde's mind? "

"There is nothing more to worry about. Zorro came last night and freed Victoria from jail and then he hung the alcalde with a rope around his chest in his nightshirt from the bell tower. There was great laughter today when he was discovered in the morning." Diego suppressed his grin when he heard of the reaction his little lesson to the alcalde had created.

"So Zorro has saved the day again. Then I assume my legal help will no longer be needed. But, you must excuse me now father. I really need to go to bed now. Tomorrow we will have guests, Father."

"Guests, Diego? Do you want to invite Victoria? That would be a good idea. She could use some distraction after all she's been through.

"No, not Victoria."

"Who did you invite?" Alejandro asked curiously.

"I met a beautiful señorita in Monterey. She is a relative of Rafael's wife and she and her father came here for a visit of Los Angeles on my invitation."

"On your invitation, Diego? Don't tell me you have suddenly changed your mind about marrying?"

"Maybe I have, Father." Diego was serious.

Alejandro looked at him, surprised. "You never cease to amaze me, Diego. Next thing, you'll tell me you're Zorro." Alejandro shook his head in disbelief. "That would be even more incredible. - I can hardly wait to meet the woman who managed to interest you, after all these years you never wanted to consider the idea of marrying."