Chapter 18
Ramon could see the wheels turning in Don Alejandro's brain. The older man was definitely up to something. "Diego's idea was not a bad one, Ramon. A night in jail would have done wonders for those two! It certainly would have been more peaceful around here!""
"Is that the only way to get them to see reason?"
"Nothing else has worked. Maybe we should lock them in Victoria's storeroom is the perfect place. They will need extra provisions if the two of them are especially stubborn…Felipe will secure the storeroom. Something has to be done!"
"Knowing Victoria it might take days. I am not sure that this will work, Don Alejandro."
"If they don't kill each other first."
The Tavern...
Ramon unlocked the back door. Victoria was taking inventory so he went in search of Aria to put the first step of Don Alejandro's plan in motion. "I am a little early, Aria..Would you go down to the storeroom and get one of Victoria's special wines for dinner tonight?"
The Storeroom...
"Aria, What are you doing here?"
"Ramon sent me to get the wine for dinner tonight."
"I gave Don Alejandro a case of wine earlier this week," Victoria replied suspiciously, "Madre de Dios! The door is locked..Help! Let us out!"
"Don't you have a key?"
"Of course I do...Don't just stand there…do something! What is so funny?"
"What do you want me to do? Knock it down!"
"You are no help at all!"
"Apparently, we are trapped here," Aria's stomach growled, "I am going to see if I can find something to eat."
"At a time like this?"
"Do you have a better idea? What do we have here?" she discovered a basket partially hidden in the far corner of the storeroom. "No sense in letting this food go to waste. Maria has prepared tortillas, Queso con higos, fresh fruit and mantecados de aceite cookies. I don't plan on starving to death...Being locked in a storeroom with you is not the way I thought this day would turn out but there is nothing we can do about it. All that pacing will not accomplish anything…."
"I need to do something while you just sit there."
"I threaten you, perhaps, that is why we rub each other the wrong way."
"I am looking out for my brother's best interests…"
"I make him happy. Trust me."
"I'd sooner trust Mendoza with a plate of my tamales."
The Tavern...
"Felipe told me to meet you here for dinner. Something strange is going on...What are the two of you up to? Where are Victoria and Aria?"
"Sit down, Diego. I will explain everything….Now sit down. We could be in for a long evening."
"So you locked the two of them into the storeroom? This will make matters worse!"
"They cannot possibly get any worse, son."
Hours later...
"Still waiting, gentleman,No truce in sight, Eh?" DeSoto smirked.
"My plan will work. It is just a matter of time."
"Don Alejandro...Those two are like oil and water. You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink? Good night, gentlemen. I will see you in the morning."
ZZZ
"You are not exactly innocent yourself consorting with those two busybodies," Aria said as she took another bite of her cookie. "I guess you are not as smart as you look!"
"I would expect that remark from someone who made her living on her back!"
"What does Diego see in you? I would have made him a more suitable wife! You are only one step above a courtesan in many social circles. Don't be so proud of yourself, my dear!"
"At least, my profession is an honest one! Do you love my brother or is he your second choice?"
"I love Ramon but if I wanted Diego, I could have him just like that!" she stated with a snap of her finger.
ZZZ
"What was that?" Ramon almost ran into Diego as they headed toward the storeroom.
"It sounds like Father's plan is not working, Ramon," Diego grimaced. "Locking them up has not succeeded obviously, we may have to come up with another solution."
"I am at my wit's end, Diego." Ramon quickly opened the storeroom door. Bags of flour were torn open and a small shelf was down. The two women were covered with flour from head to toe...
"What is going on here, Diego?" Don Alejandro asked followed by a startled Felipe.
"Whose ridiculous idea was it to lock us down here," Victoria responded angrily.
"Actually, Diego's but Ramon and I engineered this hoping that the two of you would reconcile."
"I don't believe that the two of you took me seriously. You should not have interfered!"
"Come, Felipe! I can see that my help is not wanted or needed!"
"Aren't you going to stop him, Diego?"
"He should have let them settle their differences or at least given me a chance to try to work things out! How could you and Father do such a thing?"
"We took action instead of standing around hoping that things would work out for the best!"
"There is no reasoning with you, Ramon. I better leave before I say something I regret."