Chapter 6: Miscellaneous reactions.
But before Diego opened the door, Salena restrained him.
"Diego, you risk to draw attention on you with this dried blood on your cheek. Let me take care of you."
"I'll go check who it is. Go with Salena." Smiled Don Alejandro.
Diego nodded and dragged Salena with him.
"Capitán Toledano, buenos días." Saluted Don Alejandro while the officer came in the patio.
"Buenos días, Señor De la Vega. I don't disturb you I hope."
"Disturb me? Of course not! What brings you so far from the pueblo, alone?"
"Sergeant Garcia came back from patrol with a prisoner. Now, it proves to be that he is in reality a bandit apprehended by Zorro."
"By Zorro? What did the bandit do?" Interrogated Don Alejandro.
"I am coming to it. This man wanted to trap Señorita De Castillos in an ambush. Zorro, it seems, intervened in time. The fact is that the Fox would have told the sergeant that he sent the señorita by your home where she would be safe. I'd like to interrogate her to learn more about this criminal."
Diego, Diego, you were reckless by talking with the sergeant. Thought Don Alejandro.
"Is she well in your home?" Interrogated again the capitán. Visibly, Don Alejandro didn't hear the first question.
"Oh... Forgive me. Yes, she arrived here not long ago accompanied with Miguel."
"Miguel?" Interrogated Toledano.
"Yes. But let's not stay here, come in please." He invited him inside. "We were going to sit down for a meal, would you honor us with your presence."
"I thank you, Señor De la Vega, but I wouldn't like to impose."
"Come now, Capitán, you don't impose."
"In this case, I thank you."
Once in the salon:
"Please take a seat, I will seek Salena and I'll give some extra orders."
"Gracias. Oh, is Diego here?" Asked the capitán.
"Of course, yes." Answered Don Alejandro, surprised by the officer's question. "This clumsy one didn't find better than to hurt himself just when Señorita De Castillos arrived."
"Oh... Nothing serious, I hope?"
"No... Would you excuse me a moment, please."
A short time after, Don Alejandro came back and took a seat next to the capitán.
"Without wanting to mix myself with things that are of no concern to me, Don Diego and the señorita seem to be rather close."
"Their reunion, eight months previously, brought them closer but... what happened to Diego six months ago must have been the trigger of a friendly relationship turning more serious."
"What happened?" Asked Toledano intrigued.
"He..."
"Buenos días, Capitán." Saluted Diego by interrupting his father as he came in the salon, arm in arm with Salena.
"Buenos..." Began Toledano. "Well, Don Diego, we could believe that you have been hit by a door." He exclaimed then using a joking tone by discovering the young De la Vega.
"But it's unfortunately the case." Affirmed Diego with a sheepish look. "Thank you again, Salena." He said then releasing her arm enough to kiss her hand before release her completely. "What's your visit for?"
To think that I nearly got the same black eye. Realized then the officer.
"I came to have some news about Señorita De Castillos. But sit down, please."
Diego pulled a seat for Salena and sat next to her, both of them facing the capitán.
"First, Señorita, I wanted to assure myself that you would be here for real. A few minutes before I decided to come, Sergeant Garcia came back from an exercise and made me his report. You would have been taken as a target... Is this correct?" Interrogated Toledano while Bernardo was arriving with a bottle of wine and glasses.
"To be frank, I didn't think that Sancho was leading me to a trap... But rather to Diego."
Toledano frowned.
"Explain yourself, por favor."
"I was home, reading in the garden when Sancho arrived in a haste. He told me of having seen Don Diego in trouble. I soon called Miguel in order that he comes with me."
"Who is Miguel?"
"He is a vaquero who has worked in my family for a long time... I must have been ten the very first time I met him."
"What happened next?" Rushed the capitán.
"We followed Sancho who, I think about it now, seemed reluctant that Miguel came with us. After having ridden a good time, we met Zorro who saluted us. We talked for a while and Sancho suddenly ran away when the Fox assured us that Diego wasn't in the vicinity. Miguel chased after him and since Zorro didn't want to let me alone, we rode after Miguel together. Then, when I joined Miguel, who had stopped, we went to the De la Vegas where Zorro recommended us to go."
"You often follow the advice from an outlaw?" Interrogated Toledano, cunning.
Under the table, Diego took Salena's hand in his and squeezes her, making her understand so she mustn't hesitate answering. In the meantime, Don Alejandro observed the reactions of Toledano and his son.
"Señor, this man saved my life eight months ago to the detriment of his. I don't know who he is, but I owe him all."
Eight months? It's interesting. Smiled the capitán.
"This Sancho, when and how did you meet him?"
"It must be two or three months ago... I met him by accident. He was with his son and was looking for work. I hired him and I never had to complain about him."
"Two or three months and you believed him on words?" Astonished Toledano.
Salena felt reddening and looked for help in Diego. Feeling the unease of his friend, Diego squeezed again her hand.
"Capitán, I presume that you would worry if a friend of yours was in trouble, wouldn't you?" Intervened the young De la Vega.
"Indeed, but from there to believe an unknown... Could you know a person named El Lobo, Señorita?"
"El Lobo?" She repeated with surprise.
"Who is he?" Inquired Don Alejandro.
"That's well what I would like to know... Your vaquero, Sancho, is scared stiff of him."
"What do you want to say?" Asked Salena.
"I'm afraid that those aren't words for the ears of a señorita." Underlined the capitán.
"Señor... Don't be afraid about words with me... I... I saw my parents being murdered; I lived as a vagabond for many weeks... So, those aren't some words I will be scared of." Salena said taking offence.
"Please excuse me, Señorita. I didn't know it." He said by bowing his head.
"Please, Señor, get up." She said ill at ease.
"Your vaquero doesn't stop imploring to be killed, because according to him, he will die."
"You don't even think to..." Intervened Don Alejandro.
"No, of course not... I think to a set up. However, alone, I can't do anything. The sergeant is agreed with me on the principle, but thanks to him I could see that it was lacking one element so as to not get attention."
"Oh... What is it?" Asked the young De la Vega.
"You, Don Diego!" Affirmed the capitán.
"Me?" Interrogated Diego, surprise.
"Yes, you! I heard tell that you remain on good terms with Padre Felipe."
"Indeed, I visit him regularly, but why this sudden interest?"
"I'd like your cooperation on this case. I'm conscious that for a man like you it's a lot to ask, however, I can't do in another way... I would have asked the Fox for help, but I don't know how to get in touch with him." He half joked by observing Diego closely.
It was Salena's turn to squeeze Diego's hand who she felt tense under the words of the capitán.
"Can I learn more?" Asked Diego while servants brought the meal.
"Here is my plan..."
…
During the same time, in the bandits' camp:
"El Chivo!" Called El Lobo.
Monastario hid the rage he felt to this nickname and went closer.
"What is it?" He asked harshly.
"Yago just came to inform me about your fight... Why didn't you finish off Zorro?"
"His horse was furious. It would have been difficult to get closer without risk."
"As you're speaking about risk, don't forget the one which hangs over your... family."
Monastario's jaw clenched of anger.
"Your heart is in your throat, Señor. You're scared to imply personally." He dared to say to his interlocutor.
"How dare you!" Cried out El Lobo before hitting him to his face.
Monastario stayed impassive, proud in spite of all and hid a smile.
Nothing hurts like the truth. He thought by turning his face again towards El Lobo
"Señor, again another word like that and you could say farewell to your niece and her son. Moreover, I can assure you that you would be in the foreground to witness their deaths." Explained El Lobo with a devilish smile.
Let's hope that Don Diego understood my message. Monastario thought clenching his fists with rage.
"Señor." Called out a horseman when arriving.
"El Chivo, for today again, live! But for tomorrow... I want results." Whispered El Lobo harshly. "What is it?" He asked then tuning to the horseman.
"It's about Sancho."
"Come in the cabin, Pedro." He ordered him, making him sign to follow him.
When they entered, Isabella took her son in her arm and felt a cold shiver within her whole body.
"Don't worry, Señora, I'm not here for you... today." Said El Lobo ironical with a mocking look before sitting down.
"Please, Pedro, take a seat."
"Gracias, Señor."
"So, what's new?"
"Sancho got caught."
"How's that?" Astonished El Lobo.
"I ignore the details... From afar, I saw Zorro talking with the fat sergeant."
Isabella listened attentively by hearing the name of Zorro.
Diego. She thought with hope.
"He gave him Sancho which was tied up on his horse, and unconscious."
"What a fool... What did you do then?"
"I followed the lancers to the pueblo. They put Sancho in cell. Then the capitán went away after having talked with the prisoner."
"Where did he go?"
"He went to the De la Vegas." Affirmed Pedro.
"De la Vegas... It's been too long that they are in my way... Particularly Diego De la Vega... Thanks for all, Pedro. You can go out."
Pedro saluted him and went out of the cabin.
Discreetly, Isabella observed her jailer lost in thoughts.
"De la Vega." She heard him whispering. "I don't know if he is worse than Zorro to mix up with other's affairs... Maybe it would be easier to eliminate him first."
Isabella hid a smile. If this man thought that Diego was weak, he will have a good surprise. Suddenly the man rose up, and getting out of the cabin, went to find El Chivo, calling Pedro in the same time and Yago too. Puzzled, Monastario went again closer to El Lobo.
...
As soon as the meal was over, Capitán Toledano thanked his hosts and went away. Then Don Alejandro interrogated his son, coming back on the earlier talk.
"What did you want to say about Señora De la Cruz?"
"Monastario advised me to visit her. This is somehow astonishing, because, if I believe Sergeant Garcia, she would have left for a journey with her son and her uncle."
"We'd better go and see, Son." Don Alejandro said gravely.
"Señores." Came forward Salena.
"Father, maybe could we go all together. I didn't do the introductions yet."
"I don't know if it's a good idea." Answered Don Alejandro thoughtfully.
"Father, I'd prefer knowing Salena is with us instead of alone in the hacienda, although she doesn't risk anything here."
"Very well." The old hidalgo surrendered by sighing.
