Chapter 20: A moment's respite

Don Alejandro turned towards Bernardo, ready to ask him to go and look for Don Hernando, but he changed his mind. Bernardo wasn't aware of the situation. The manservant noticed Don Alejandro's behavior and remained intrigued. The old hidalgo made a sign to stay next to Diego before disappearing.

When Don Alejandro came in the guest room, he found Crescencia close to Salena, soothing her. It was true that Salena didn't have good memories about Don Hernando.

"Salena, how are you feeling?" Señor De la Vega asked.

"Don Alejandro!" The housekeeper exclaimed.

"Gracias, Crescencia." He said then.

This latter went out of the room discreetly.

"What is happening?" Hernando asked in front of his gloomy face.

"We need your service in the sala. Take your belongings, I beg you."

Hernando stood up in a hurry, worrying Salena.

"Don Alejandro." She said with anxiety.

The old man looked away in order not to betray his emotions.

"Rest, Salena." He said with difficulty and making sign to Hernando to get out.

As soon as he was out of the room, Don Alejandro closed the door. Her heart palpitating, she observed him; something grave had happened.

"Salena, I beg you to remain calm as for what I'm about to tell you."

"What is happening? ... Diego?" She interrogated, her voice tightening with fear like she'd guessed.

Señor De la Vega bent down his head again, briefly.

"Diego was wounded... I ignore the details. The fact is that his state seems to me to be worrying." He explained, struggling not to break down.

Salena rose up even more. Except for a pain in her shoulder, she didn't feel too weak.

"Salena!" Don Alejandro exclaimed as he saw her standing up.

"I want to see him." She said with emotion.

"You're not in state to do such an effort." He remarked.

"Por favor, Don Alejandro." She said imploringly.

He sighed and agreed to her demand, and then he offered her his arm to help her walk.

When they arrived in the sala, Don Hernando and his wife were locked in a tender embrace.

"Gracias, Don Alejandro." She whispered by letting go of his arm.

Nodding to Bernardo, she stepped towards Diego and both men near him made her a place silently. When she put her gaze on his soaked vest, what struck her was the red stain on his white shirt collar.

"Señores, help me to undo his vest and shirt, please." She said in an unsteady voice making react Hernando.

Señorita De Castillos has stood up! The doctor realized by letting go of his wife.

After a silent exchange with her, he took back his bag and went closer to the young De la Vega.

"Señorita?" He interrogated.

"Diego... He is hurt... He has to be treated." She explained, her throat tightening.

Toledano and Monastario just came to remove his clothes, exposing his recent injury.

"I didn't think that Diego had such scars." Toledano astonished by noticing the diverse marks more or less old.

"The mark of a cut on his left arm and the bullet wound on the same side, he owes me. As much as the first is voluntary, the second is accidental." Monastario explained. "But his two others marks..."

This man must be Señor Monastario. Señorita De Castillos realized.

"Lay him down on his stomach, por favor. The scar on his right side is old... eight months... Diego was wounded by protecting me during the hearing of a trial. As for the one on his left... He was attacked by bandits, three months ago."

The left mark is really nasty... It's neither a blade nor a bullet which left him such a scar... What happened, then? Toledano thought.

As soon as Diego was positioned in another way, Salena hastened to wipe the blood on his back to better localize the wound. Bernardo, next to her, had given her a linen and was now holding a bowl of water.

"Santa Maria." Hernando whispered by finally noticing the wound. "Señorita De Castillos, above all, don't strain yourself. You were also seriously wounded... You should return to rest."

"I thank you for your solicitude, Señor." She said with bitterness. She had no confidence in him.

"Salena." Don Alejandro intervened.

"It doesn't matter, Señor De la Vega." Hernando said by opening his bag.

Salena noticed then the several instruments in it and she opened her eyes wide.

"You're a doctor?" She asked.

"Si."

Without a word, Salena stepped back and let him the place, observing him.

"His wound is sharp... It's quite a stab he received." He whispered.

Stab? Could it be possible that? No, it's impossible; it could only be a coincidence. Zorro still had Don Sebastian's weapon in his wound and it would have been madness to take it out without assistance. However...His injury seems to be at the same place...

Under the attentive look of each, Hernando treated Diego's wound and put a bandage on the injury after having closed it.

"Doña Salena, go back to rest." Don Alejandro suggested by seeing her unsteady on her legs. "I will come to inform you as soon as there is news."

"Si." She answered as she was helped by Capitán Toledano.

Señora De la Cruz stood up then and went closer.

"Con su permiso, Don Alejandro." She said by arriving next to Salena.

The old hidalgo nodded positively.

"Gracias, Doña Isabella." He said by bowing and permitting her to lead his ward in the guest room; little Diego, behind them, cast a worried and sad glance at the young De la Vega.

Don Alejandro suddenly realized that his guests weren't really at ease in such an environment.

"Señoras, please excuse me, I am neglecting my obligations. I will ask the servants to prepare a good hot bath and make you comfortable in one of the rooms where you can rest." Don Alejandro explained by clapping his hands. "Furthermore, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask to Crescencia."

"Señor, you're forgiven." Angela retorted as she shivered in spite of herself.

"Patron?"

"Crescencia, please lead the señoras in one of the guest rooms and prepare what they need to warm up and change."

"Si. Señoras." She said by inviting them to follow her.

"Señor De la Vega, my wife and I thank you for your offer, but we will go back to the pueblo as soon as the thunderstorm dies down. I will go and inform Doctor Avila about the situation... My fellow member certainly knows other remedies to improve his state. Your son seems to be resistant. In spite of the severity of his injury, he should recover quickly... If everything goes well."

"In this case, I beg you to wait in the library."

Hernando rose and bowed.

"Gracias."

"No, Señor, gracias." Alejandro repeated.

Angela followed Crescencia silently, not without beforehand having thanked the hacendado.

"Señor Monastario, Capitán Toledano, you should go and change also... Follow Bernardo."

"Señor De la Vega, we don't..." Arturo was interrupted by Enrique who put a hand on his shoulder. "Gracias." He said then.

Don Alejandro made sign to Bernardo, indicating the señores's clothes and his. Bernardo approved with a nod and with a gesture of his hand, he invited Arturo and Enrique to follow him.

Alone, Alejandro let his heart speak.

"What the devil happened to you, Diego?" He interrogated out loud and next to Diego who had again been positioned on his back.

...

When Toledano, Monastario and Bernardo came back in the sala, simply dressed, Bernardo made signs to Don Alejandro to go to change. The don nodded and Bernardo noticed then the reddened eyes of the proud hidalgo. When he stood up, Diego winced and whined.

"Diego." Don Alejandro breathed out as the thunderstorm was going away.

"Salena." The young don whispered, astonishing his father which smiled at this simple word.

"Salena is fine, Son. Don't get agitated too much... Señores, I'll be back. Take good care of him." He said then speaking to both capitáns.

"You can be sure of it." Toledano sustained.

When they entered in the guest room, Isabella helped Salena to settle down on the bed.

"Diego, sit down in a corner, please?" Señora De la Cruz said.

Surprised, Salena looked at the child obeying his mother.

"Is this your son?" She asked.

"Si, Diego is all my life." Isabella underlined with a beaming smile.

"Diego?" Salena couldn't help to repeat.

"Yes... It's in honor of Don Diego... He was always present in spite of difficulties. And you, where did you know him?"

Salena summarized her childhood memories and recounted their reunion, hiding nonetheless the double identity of her friend.

"Diego didn't really change." Isabella said smiling.

Salena realized then that Señora De la Cruz knew more and interrogated her at her turn.

Without getting into the details, Isabella narrated her misadventure with El Diablo, beginning in Spain and finishing in California.

"As for his other him, I admit to having used my charm to unmask him."

"What do you mean?" Salena naïvely asked.

Isabella's silence and her red cheeks answered at her place.

"Oh... So you and Diego..." Salena began, her heart heavy.

"Oh no, Señorita... It was my way to thank him... Your relationship seems to be, on the contrary, more serious."

Surprised, Señorita De Castillos reddened to the comment. Señora De la Cruz made sure that her son was far enough away and that the door was closed before continuing on her topic.

"When he came to free you, and in spite of his wound, his behavior was speaking for him... I interrogated him about it, but his answer remains enigmatic." She whispered.

"What did he said?"

"He answered me, I quote: I think that my father is right."

Salena reddened furthermore, knowing perfectly well what Diego was alluding to and a smile lit up her face. Seeing the señorita's reaction, Isabella thought to understand and smiled at her turn. But the state of her friend came back in her mind and she lost her smile.

...

Installed in one of the guest rooms, Angela was feeling a little lost.

"Señora, do you need anything else?" Crescencia asked.

"Would it be possible to have some ink, a feather and some writing paper, por favor? I have a message to send on."

"Of course, Señora. I will look for the necessary items... You seem to be quite tired. Don't hesitate to take benefit of the bath. The water is very hot, it will soothe you."

"Gracias, Señora."

"Por favor, don't call me Señora but Crescencia." She said ill at ease.

"Very well... Crescencia... It's agreed. But in this case, call me Angela, I beg you."

"Si, Doña Angela." The maidservant saluted before going out.

Alone, Angela observed the room. The decoration was simple and of good taste. The bedding was luxurious and seemed to be comfortable. A shiver ran through her and she went closer to the water. A sweet fragrance titillated her nostrils.

The señora is right; a good bath will be very beneficial. She thought by undressing herself. I wonder all the same who this mysterious black rider was; maybe Crescencia would be able to answer. She reflected by going in the water.

Angela took advantage of the water's benefits then, after having dressed, she laid on the bed where she ended to fall asleep.

When Crescencia came back, she found the señora like this and put the necessary writing utensils on the little desk next to the bed. Then, she put down a fruit basket and a pitcher of lemonade and took back the still wet clothes of the señora before going out silently.

...

In the sala, Don Alejandro just came to leave his son. This latter felt the agitation around him. He was expecting to find Doctor Avila next to him; however, the first person that he saw was no one else than Bernardo. This one hastened to prevent him to speak, making him understand that they weren't alone. Diego blinked and sat up wincing, a sharp pain in his right shoulder.

Capitán Toledano went closer of him while Monastario observed. Who between the Fox and the capitán will be more cunning?

"Don Diego." Arturo saluted.

Astonished, the young don turned to him and was even more surprised to see him dressed with one of his suits.

"Capitán!" He said puzzled.

"What happened to you?" Toledano asked by sitting next to him.

"I... I was attacked when I wanted to go to the pueblo." Diego explained with a hoarse voice as he raised his left hand to his right shoulder. He felt a dressing under his fingers; he had been taken care of, but by whom?

"Did you see your aggressor?"

"Alas no... After the attack, my memories are hazy... It seems to me that a man came to my help... I don't remember arriving at the hacienda."

"Your attacker also hit your head, De la Vega?"

This voice...

"Capitán Monastario?" Diego interrogated even more astonished.

"In the flesh."