CHAPTER THREE

The funeral of Don Alonzo Montoya was sparsely attended. Don Miguel was there, of course, along with de Soto, Alcalde de la Roca, and two elderly widows who made it a point to attend every wedding, funeral, and baptism in the pueblo.

Don Miguel also had expected a low turnout but it still infuriated him. If they had been in Spain, it would have been a large funeral, with all of his friends and acquaintances there as well as the people with whom Alonzo had associated. They would have held it at the Cathedral and his son would have been interred alongside his mother. Instead, it was this tiny Mission church and a windblown cemetery in the middle of nowhere.

He sprinkled a handful of dirt onto his son's coffin and stared at it for a moment. Then he turned to de Soto, who stood a respectful distance behind him.

"When is this so-called trial going to begin?" Montoya demanded to know. "I have no desire to remain in Los Angeles any longer than I have to."

The alcalde was taken aback. "But Don Miguel, what about your plans to invest in this pueblo? I will be foreclosing on the businesses by next week. You are supposed to purchase them from me." De Soto immediately became concerned. If this scheme fell through, he would be stuck with a lot of worthless property.

"I have changed my mind, Alcalde," his erstwhile partner declared. "This pueblo has lost its appeal for me."

"But you cannot change your mind now, Señor," de Soto whined. His brain feverishly searched for a reason to get the other man to remain in Los Angeles. He smirked wickedly. "Just think of the revenge you can exact upon these people if you stay. Snatching their businesses and homes away from them, making them become your tenants. You would be in a position of great power. They would have to depend on your benevolence."

Don Miguel considered the Alcalde's statement. It was true, he would wield much influence and authority over the citizens of this pueblo if he was their landlord. It would be like it had been back in Madrid when he had been a formidable man, with access to the King's ear.

And he would be near Alonzo's final resting place. Even though his son was not a very likable person, he still had been his flesh and blood, his heir. Montoya had already decided he would remarry and beget another heir. His holdings were too important to him to be reverted back to the Crown. He closed his eyes.

"Alcalde, you are right," Don Miguel finally responded. "I will stay. I have realized that there are certain issues I need to resolve yet here in Los Angeles."

"Bueno, bueno," de Soto said with relief. Then he remembered the don's earlier question. "De la Vega's trial will start on Monday. I don't see the point of wasting any time, do you?"

"No, Alcalde," Montoya agreed. "The sooner I see that boy hang, the better I will feel."

"If you will excuse me, Don Miguel," de Soto began, "I have other concerns to attend to." He bowed politely and headed back toward the pueblo. Montoya turned and stared again at the coffin bearing his son.

Z Z Z

It was nearly noon the next day when Don Alejandro returned home accompanied by his lawyer, Don Ernesto. They found Diego in the library, reading one of Felipe's legal tomes. He thoroughly briefed the attorney on all the background and evidence of the charges against his son.

". . .and I just learned yesterday afternoon the trial is to begin on Monday," Diego advised. "That doesn't give us much time."

"Monday?" queried Don Alejandro. "That's Felipe's birthday." The de la Vegas stared at each other in alarm. What with all the drama of the past few days, they had forgotten all about it.

"Well, let's make sure he will be able to celebrate again next year," suggested Don Ernesto solemnly. "I must admit to looking forward to meeting the young man," he added, "I just wish it could be under better circumstances."

The housekeeper, Maria, entered the room then, signaling to Don Alejandro. "Ah, lunch is ready," he announced. He graciously led the lawyer to the dining room. Diego followed behind them, a grim expression on his face.

Later that afternoon, the three men rode into Los Angeles. Calderon and Diego immediately headed for the cuartel, intent on filling Felipe in on the strategy they had devised over their midday meal. Don Alejandro made his way to the pueblo's bank.

He had finally scraped together twenty-five thousand pesos. By cleaning out both his accounts here and in Santa Paula and calling in a few debts owed him, he had raised half of the bail money. Now the elder de la Vega needed to find out if that would satisfy the alcalde's greedy soul.

With the promissory note safely tucked into his vest pocket, the old don strode forcefully to the garrison. After a cursory knock on the office door, he barged right in.

"Don Alejandro, what can I do for you?" de Soto snarled ungraciously. He was seated at his desk, a quill in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. "The prisoner already has two visitors. You will have to wait."

"That is not why I am here," declared the caballero. "Although I do wish to see Felipe later." He extracted the note from his vest and ceremoniously placed it on the desk. "Twenty-five thousand pesos, Alcalde. I know it's not the full amount but I hoped. . ."

"I would release the young man anyway?" Ignacio finished for him. He chuckled fiendishly then his expression became very serious. "I said bail was fifty thousand pesos. No more, no less." De Soto glared at the man before him. "I don't trust you and Diego not to spirit the lad away somewhere so he can escape justice."

He held up his hand to stifle the old don's objection. "I know you all contend the boy is innocent. That is why he is not leaving my jail until I have fifty thousand pesos as a guarantee he will not flee."

Don Alejandro's temper had reached its boiling point. The honor of the de la Vegas was being disparaged by this overbearing jackass. Putting a bullet or blade through de Soto would have felt extremely gratifying. Only the thought of making things worse for Felipe kept him from calling out the other man.

"Very well, Alcalde," the elder de la Vega ground out acrimoniously. He plucked the promissory note from the desk, securing it once again in his pocket. He spun on his heel and marched from the office, slamming the door as he left.

De Soto leaned back in his chair, a smug smirk on his face. So the high and mighty de la Vegas were having trouble raising the bond money. Life was getting better and better, he thought as he drained the last of the wine from his glass. Checking his watch, he arose from his seat and walked over to the door that led to the cell area. The half hour was up. Time to chase away Diego and his fancy lawyer.

Z Z Z

That evening found the de la Vegas and Don Ernesto dining at the tavern. The restrictions the alcalde had imposed on visitation were getting wearisome. The three men had spent the better part of the afternoon speaking with Felipe in thirty minute intervals, trying to discuss his defense. Ana Maria and Victoria had wanted to spend time with him as well, drawing out the process even more.

Don Ernesto and Felipe got along quite well. The lawyer remarked to Diego while they were waiting to see him, that the young man had an astute mind and a firm grasp of legal matters. It would not surprise him if the younger de la Vega passed his bar exam with flying colors. Diego's fatherly pride was very pleased at the high praise of his son.

"Hola," Ana Maria greeted the men at their table. She was followed by her mother and Sergeant Mendoza. The young woman had just come from visiting her sweetheart. "Can we join you?" she asked excitedly.

Don Alejandro gave his consent and room was made so the trio could be seated. "Where is Señorita Escalante?" Ana Maria queried as she glanced about the tavern. "She needs to be in on this too."

Diego looked at his father, who shrugged. Victoria was summoned over to the table, taking a seat next to Diego. She practically had to sit in his lap as there was not much room left.

Everyone turned their attention to Ana Maria. There was a sparkle in her eyes that had been missing the last few days as she began to speak. "Monday is Felipe's birthday," she announced. "I think we should throw him a party."

They all looked at each other, nodding their heads and smiling. Don Alejandro was the first to frown. "But Señorita, the trial starts that day. And I seriously doubt de Soto will allow us to hold such an event at the cuartel."

"You leave the alcalde to me," Mendoza advised boldly. "I know how we can distract him for an hour or two."

"We can hold the party on Sunday," Victoria suggested eagerly. "One day early wouldn't hurt."

"That only gives us two days," Ana Maria cautioned, glad to see her idea turning into reality. "We will all need to work hard to pull it off."

"Don't worry, my dear," the elder de la Vega replied. "Diego and I will do whatever we can to help. Won't we, Diego? Diego?"

Diego startled from his thoughts. And such impure thoughts they were, too. Victoria's body pressing against his plus the scent of her hair filling his nostrils had driven everything else from his mind. Dios, what little self-control he still possessed was rapidly disappearing. He did not know how much longer he could wait to claim her as his.

If only he had declared his intentions toward her as soon as he had arrived back home from Spain. But he had been swept up in fighting the oppression of the pueblo by Luis Ramone almost as soon as he had set foot in Los Angeles. Zorro had entered their lives before he had even had a chance.

Diego could feel everyone staring at him. Nodding his head, he smiled insincerely. "Of course, Father," he pledged, not quite sure as to what he was agreeing with though. He had heard the words 'birthday' and 'Felipe' and so imagined it must have something to do with that.

He glanced over at Victoria who was gazing at him with an odd expression on her beautiful face. He realized then he was holding her hand under the table, out of sight from the others' view. Attempting to relinquish his grip, she stopped him by grasping his hand tighter. The pair of them stared at each other, trying to read the other's eyes and oblivious to the conversation of plans for the party going on around them.

Z Z Z

Felipe was lying on his back on his cot late Saturday afternoon. If he closed his eyes and imagined, he could almost pretend he was not locked up in this cell, accused of murdering another man.

The young man was growing concerned his steady stream of visitors had dwindled down to almost no one. It was true they had busy lives, but. . . Most likely it was the alcalde's fault. He had ranted and raved the day before about constantly tripping over people coming to see him. De Soto really blew his top last evening when he had stumbled upon Sergeant Mendoza teaching him to play poker.

It was a blessing the commandante hadn't appeared about an hour earlier. The stout soldier had offered Felipe one of the alcalde's cigars and a glass of his brandy. He tried to refuse but Mendoza had been insistent. The first few puffs had made him cough and gag, as had the first sip of the brandy. But eventually his eyes quit watering, his throat stopped burning and he actually began to enjoy them a little.

Felipe knew Diego would strongly disapprove but that really didn't bother him. He was a man now and it was time he made his own decisions. Besides, despite everyone else's optimism he would be found innocent, he thought darkly, these might be his last days on earth. This might be the only chance he would have to smoke, drink, and gamble.

He groaned softly as the other thing he would never get to do if he were hanged came to mind. Ana Maria had been in to see him early that morning. She couldn't stay long so their visit consisted mainly of soul shattering kisses and her whispered endearments that left him yearning for more.

It would not take much to persuade her, Felipe thought. If it came about he was to die, he could get the sergeant to arrange for the couple to be alone for a few hours. . .

He moaned again as he mentally slapped himself. How could he be so cruel to Ana Maria? Abusing her love and trust just to fulfill his own selfish pleasures. She would be devastated enough as it was without adding that sin to her troubles. And what if she became pregnant? Tears came unbidden to his brown eyes.

Dios, he wanted to be the only man to ever make love to her, to be the father of her children. Hold her hand when they were both old and gray, surrounded by their grandchildren. He wanted to see his father and Victoria together, married and happy at last with the hacienda full of kids. He even wanted to be there when Don Alejandro breathed his last, enveloped in the love of his family.

Felipe regarded it an honor and privilege to be a part of that family, to be considered a de la Vega. He would never do anything that would dishonor their name. He rejected the idea of a last minute marriage. It would be even more unforgivable to become husband and wife, knowing Ana Maria would be a widow within hours.

Wiping the dampness from his cheeks, Felipe diverted his thoughts in another direction. Like the peculiar behavior displayed by Diego and Victoria the previous afternoon when they both came to visit. It was obvious they hadn't planned to be there at the same time by their reaction to the other's presence.

They had kept giving each other glances when they thought the other wasn't looking. Victoria had touched Diego's arm several times. And Diego had been decidedly uncomfortable. It was Felipe's opinion the pair of them had been engaging in some very awkward flirting.

Had Victoria finally realized that Diego was a man worthy of her attention, of her love? Felipe fervently hoped so. Diego deserved to be with the woman he loved.

He closed his eyes, getting as comfortable as he could on the narrow cot. He sighed as he supposed everyone forgot about his upcoming birthday as they seemed to have forgotten he was here in jail. Oh well, he thought pessimistically, there was no reason to celebrate anyway.

Z Z Z

The conspirators were all up early the next day, eager to put their scheme into motion. Mass seemed interminable that morning. After the service was finally over, Mendoza scurried off to prepare the distraction he had in store for the alcalde. Everyone else headed for the tavern where things for the party had been stored.

On the tavern porch, Diego snapped his fingers absentmindedly. "I forgot my present for Felipe," he announced. "I need to go home and get it."

"Well, don't take too long, Son," Don Alejandro advised. "We only have about two hours."

"I'll hurry," his son replied. "Adios." He mounted his mare and rode off toward the hacienda.

His ruse was twofold. He really had not forgotten Felipe's present. It had just been impossible to bring it with him. The second reason was to insure de Soto was truly diverted away from the cuartel for several hours.

Alcalde de la Roca had agreed to preside over Felipe's trial, but his daughter wanted to returned home. Her father and the alcalde were to escort her to Tres Equinas from which four lancers would take her the rest of the way to Santa Barbara.

Mendoza was going to intercept the entourage and inform de Soto Zorro had been spotted nearby. It was hard to imagine the commandante would not seize the opportunity to chase after the masked outlaw just to impress the de la Rocas.

Diego thought an actual appearance by the man in black would guarantee the hunt would last long enough for the celebration to take place without detection.

And it worked perfectly. Zorro ambushed the travelers at the junction, informing Alcalde de la Roca he would be watching the trial closely to make sure it proceeded fairly. Then he turned on de Soto, warning him he was under scrutiny as well and unless his new tax scheme had a valid reason, he should consider it rescinded.

The alcalde sputtered furiously as the masked bandit sped away. He and the two of the soldiers took up the pursuit immediately. Zorro led them on a merry chase for about half an hour before covering his tracks and losing them.

Z Z Z