Chapter 9: Establishing the scene.
"Diego!" Exclaimed Constancia by discovering him.
"Constancia." He said with surprise as he stood up under Salena's jealous and curious look.
He saluted her by kissing her hand briefly.
"Don Esteban." He said then.
"Don Diego, Don Alejandro, Señorita De Castillos." Saluted the viceroy. "Do you know what just happened?"
"Alas no, Don Esteban. However, Don Sebastián often has sudden moods swings." Underlined Diego.
Salena slightly cleared her throat, making react Diego.
"Oh, how stupid of me... Doña Constancia, let me introduce you to Doña Salena De Castillos; Salena this is Doña Constancia. She is the viceroy's daughter and the sister of Marcos whom I studied with in Spain."
"Pleased to meet you." They said in the same time.
Constancia discerned something in Diego's look which she didn't manage to specify.
...
Outside, the talk between the dons continued.
"Wounded, you say! What happened?"
"A bullet ricocheted."
"And what is this about our guest?"
Hernando turned his head toward the tavern before answering.
"He took a branch in his face."
"He must be used to it." Said Don Sebastián ironical by noticing then Bernardo and Miguel on the other side of the place.
And then he observed the alcalde arriving, a scroll under his arm and next to him was Sergeant Garcia, which was holding a hammer in his hand. Both men entered in the tavern.
"Let's see." Asserted Don Sebastián.
"Si, Señor."
...
When the alcalde entered, followed by the sergeant, the silence was again in the tavern. Next, only blows of the sergeant's hammer were heard, and as soon as he finished hanging the message, it was the melee around this last. Diego remarked Don Sebastián coming back, and without thinking to it, he got close again to Salena. The move didn't escape Constancia who knew what she couldn't specify before.
"Alcalde." Saluted Don Diego.
"Buenas tardes, Don Diego."
"What did you post?" Questioned the young don.
"The pueblo is invited to a meeting which will take place on this Saturday, so in five days. Everyone is expected to be in attendance at eleven o'clock. What happened to you?" He asked then.
"Clumsiness from me. I knocked myself into a door."
The alcalde raised his eyes to heaven, Diego was beyond redemption.
"Father, I remember having a book I must drop to Padre Felipe."
"We're going home together, Diego."
The De la Vegas and Salena stood up then to exit, Diego proposing his arm to the señorita. Don Sebastián was reading the post and was turning his back to the door. Don Hernando, still next to the main door, noticed him and prayed within him that he didn't turn back. He let pass Don Alejandro, and then made a slight move in order to jostle Diego and Salena on their way, slipping surreptitiously a note in the young don's vest.
"Please, excuse me." Stammered Hernando by addressing Don Diego.
Salena stiffened to the sound of his voice. The imploring look of the don, which ensued in order there would be no scandal, didn't escape Diego.
"It doesn't matter, Señor." He said to him in a whisper and squeezing Salena's hand to reassure her.
Hernando went off the way and let them pass by, bowing slightly to thank the young De la Vega. Don Sebastián turned back, a smile lit up his face.
"Hernando." He called. "Let's join our friends. It's not good to make them wait a long time."
Toledano looked at him with puzzlement, and then the viceroy arrived to his side.
"Viceroy." He saluted by standing up. "Señorita."
"Please sit down, Capitán." Said Don Esteban.
"Let me introduce you my wife, Señora Toledano." He said politely.
"Señora." Saluted the viceroy.
"Señor, oh... Buenas tardes, Doña Constancia." She said with a smile.
"Buenas tardes, Doña Raquel."
"You know each other?" Surprised both the viceroy and the capitán.
"We made acquaintance in the stagecoach that led us to Los Angeles." Explained Constancia.
"Let's sit down." Proposed the capitán.
That's how the four found themselves talking.
...
A long time after, to the De la Vega's hacienda.
"You must bring a book to Padre Felipe?" Asked Don Alejandro, by finding his son in the library.
"Indeed, Father. But the book I have to give him is found here. Moreover, I have to check information."
"Don Sebastián has still not understood that his behavior will end up playing tricks on him."
"I won't tell you otherwise, Father. His friend appeared to be afraid of him." Underlined Diego.
"I didn't pay attention. What are you looking for exactly?" Asked Don Alejandro in front of the scheming of his son.
"Othello from William Shakespeare."
Don Alejandro frowned.
"Is this really a good time for reading a Shakespearean drama?"
Diego smiled to the comment.
"I just want to check the characters in the play... Ah, I'm on it." He said by finding the book he was looking for.
One of the first pages of the story listed the main characters of the play, and Othello's ensign was called...
"Iago." Diego said harshly by closing the book firmly.
"What is this Yago?" His father is astonished.
"Don Sebastián hit the table after his interlocutor said that Othello's ensign was wounded while hunting."
"Othello's ensign?"
"Father, the man was talking by using a code... In the play from Sir Shakespeare, the ensign of Othello is named Iago."
"You want to say that Don Sebastián is related to this man?"
"Exactly, but I ignore in which measure." Explained Diego by taking another book. "That one is for the Padre. I won't be long."
"Be careful, Son."
Quickly, Diego was ready and set off like the wind, not hearing the call of Salena. She sighed, piqued, and noticed suddenly a sheet of paper folded in four which was on the ground nearby the place where her friend just left. She went to pick it up, puzzled. Curious, she unfolded it and read: 'Señor De la Vega, don't trust Señor De Otsoa. He will attempt again to abduct you... or worse.' It was signed 'A... friend.'
"Diego." She blew with worry, while he already was a point in the distance.
In haste and fear, she ran to the hacienda, bumping into Don Alejandro in her haste.
"Well, well, well, Doña Salena! What is happening?"
"Diego... He is in danger."
"Come now, he doesn't risk anything."
"You don't... Read!" She said handing him the sheet of paper.
"Where did you find this my dear?" He asked after reading.
"At the stables, just after Diego's departure."
"If he dropped it, he must know who gave him this message."
"He's gone in spite of this."
"I doubt there is any danger." Underlined Don Alejandro by keeping the message with him. "Nonetheless, we're going to chase after him if it will reassure you."
"Gracias." She blew with relief.
Shortly after, they left at their turns, under the puzzled look of Bernardo.
When they arrived to the mission, they saw Diego's horse and Salena sighed, quieting down.
"You see, my dear, Diego did a good journey."
"Thank God." She said.
"Are you feeling well?" Asked Don Alejandro seeing her suddenly swaying while he just dismounted off his horse.
Salena couldn't answer and fell all of sudden, worrying the old hidalgo. Fast, he was however not as quick as his son who caught her before she hit the ground. Diego winced; the movement didn't please his left arm.
"Father?" He questioned with surprise.
"Diego, get her inside." Intervened Padre Felipe as surprised as the young don.
Shortly after...
"What message?" Inquired Diego as soon as his father related him the facts.
"This one." He answered, handing him the sheet of paper.
"I ignore how this message was found in your hands, Father. Besides, I never read it before now... Gracias." He said then to a native who just came bringing some water and clean linens.
With delicacy, Diego began to refresh Salena, under the kindly look of the Padre and his father.
"According to Salena, this message would be found on the ground after your departure."
"Even so, no one has..."
"What is it?" Asked Don Alejandro.
"When we went outside of the tavern, the man who was with Don Sebastián jostled us."
"Do you think it was voluntary?"
"I don't know... On the other hand, Salena tensed when she heard him speaking and I don't..."
"Diego." Whispered Salena by regaining consciousness.
"I'm here." He said by putting again a linen on her forehead.
"Gracias a Dios." She cried out by launching in his arms.
Surprised, Diego didn't have to search a long time to return her embrace. Don Alejandro cleared his throat while Padre Felipe stifled a little laugh. Diego felt observed and relaxed his embrace.
"Salena, is everything alright?" He asked in a whisper and barely stepping back.
Salena realized her gesture and reddened by moving back at her turn.
"I... I'm terribly sorry, please excuse me, Diego."
"You don't need to apologize, Salena... Are you alright?"
"Si... Gracias."
"Well, my girl, what happened to you?" Inquired Padre Felipe.
"I believe that the events of the day have had reason of my emotions." She admitted with embarrassment.
"Don't worry for this." Smiled the Padre. "Diego got the time to explain to me the request of Capitán Toledano. Therefore, as you are here, I ask you, Señorita, do you know what's become of Sancho's son, your vaquero?"
"Three weeks ago, I found Sancho in the stables, terribly downcast. I asked him the reason. His son Francisco had disappeared... I went to the pueblo, asking help from the sergeant, but the searches were fruitless."
"And before you ask it, the Fox didn't find him either." Sighed Diego.
"But what's the connection with the request of the capitán?" Questioned Don Alejandro.
"I am simply trying to understand what could have spurred on Sancho to harm the señorita and why he is in a hurry to die." Answered the padre by observing a halt before pursuing " Diego, tell the capitán that I will be ready to receive everything tomorrow morning."
"Very well, I will bring you all of this myself." Argued Diego.
Then, he helped Salena to stand up.
"Gracias, Diego."
"Are you feeling better?"
"I think that after a good rest night I will be fine."
Me too. Thought Diego.
Padre Felipe observed his friend. He was radiant, but he also seemed elsewhere in the same time.
"Diego." He called him.
"Yes, Padre."
"Can I see you a moment?"
"Of course. Father, Salena, go, I'll join you quickly."
Don Alejandro nodded affirmatively and went closer to the exit's door. Salena was more reluctant but Diego managed to find the words.
"Salena, I promise that nothing will happen to me today. I made this same promise in the past, did I break it?"
"No, Diego."
He knew he was observed, but nonetheless and without thinking, nor with an ulterior motive, he hugged Salena and gave her a sweet and tender embrace which she gave him back.
"My sweet, Salena." He whispered to her ear. "Go home and rest. I'll quickly be at your side."
Well, well, well, what impetuousness! Thought Don Alejandro.
"Diego?" Interrogated Padre Felipe.
Diego relaxed his embrace and stepped back slightly.
"Go, Salena." He said by kissing her hand.
"Si." She answered, dazed, before going out accompanied by Don Alejandro, who nodded to his son.
Diego sighed, looking at them going away while the Padre caught him by his left arm, making him wince very briefly. He dragged him from his retinue.
"What is it, Padre?" Asked Diego after some steps.
"You seem preoccupied, Diego."
"This case drags on... El Lobo seems elusive."
"El Lobo?"
"Si... That's what the man behind all of this is named... To the last news, he abducted Señora De la Cruz, Diego and Señor Monastario."
"Monastario? Abducted?" Astonished the padre.
"Si... At least, he works unwillingly for him. I met him three times, he asked the Fox for help."
"He must really be in the impasse." Said the Padre with gravity.
"I think so too."
"Tell me, Diego, Señorita De Castillos is very fond of you."
"Yes, and I care for her." Retorted Diego by smiling but slightly embarrassed. "She has spent a lot of time at my side lately. But, Padre, we didn't sin." He added under the suspicious look of the missionary.
"I trust you on this point, Diego. If you have worries, or if you need to speak, don't hesitate to come find me."
"Gracias Padre."
"Be careful."
"I certainly will."
