Happy Sunday, everyone! Glad you all have been enjoying this.
Enjoy!
Linny
Chapter Three
The plaza was filling with people. Caballeros and señoritas celebrated alongside peóns, drinking cool wine and making merry. The entire pueblo was covered with decorations; flowers draped around every pole, and festive lanterns and Spanish flags were littered all around. The Capitán was expected to arrive within the hour and it looked like the entirety of Los Angeles had crowded into the streets in anticipation.
It was quite a disgusting sight to see. This was not an event to be celebrated. Estevez, with his ideas of hope and prosperity for the city, was exactly what California did not need. That kind of ideology was like a poison. It slowly seeps in until it overtakes everything.
These people—those who called themselves Californianos—were weak, and only when men like him were taken out would the territory show its true potential. He could already imagine it. A new order was coming, and no one would be able to stop it.
Impatiently sighing, the lone man perched inside of the sniper's nest he'd constructed inside of the balcony of a deserted house which would give him a clear view of the entire square. He'd covered the railing with an old quilt, leaving just enough room at the bottom for the barrel of his gun to stick out. From there, he could see the entire plaza, but they couldn't see him.
He pulled his watch from his pocket to check the time. The minutes ticked by so slowly, but he knew it would all be worth it in the end.
Checking once more that his rifle was loaded he hunkered down so that the barrel sat on the base of the railing; using it to steady his aim to take the perfect shot.
Now, all he had to do was sit and wait.
The garden terrace outside of the tavern was deserted and a welcome reprieve from all of the excitement occurring in the plaza. Diego sat with his father, both of them enjoying the sight of so much merriment.
"I don't think I have ever seen the people so happy," he commented over his glass of wine. His countenance seemed to give away his own excitement. He had to admit he was anxious to see how things progressed in the pueblo once the new Comandante was in command.
"I know I have, my son," Don Alejandro responded with a grin of his own. But, it wasn't directed toward the people or even the events of the day. No, it was the smile of a proud father looking at his son. "Every time Zorro rides, I see that very same gleam in their eyes."
It was almost too much for Diego to see his father look at him that way. When he had returned home from Spain, he'd been met with great disappointment from his elder. The façade he'd put in place had almost been too good, and while he'd been able to fool everyone else in the pueblo, his father had still been able to discover his secret.
Looking back on it, Diego could believe that he'd purposely slipped up in his role so he would not have to hide any longer.
Yet, when Don Alejandro had discovered the truth, he hadn't come right out to his son and told him that he knew. He'd allowed his son to continue lying to him, hiding the truth to protect his home and the people he cared for. It was only when it had become necessary that he reveal what he knew that he finally did so.
"Yes, but with Capitán Estevez in charge, do you really think there will still be a need for Zorro?" A double life could take its toll on a man and now there were times when Diego found himself lost and confused. He'd gotten the opinion of his mozo and now he hoped his father could shed a few words of wisdom.
Alejandro sighed as he mused the thought over. California had changed so much since Diego was a boy and, with that change came new dangers. "Unfortunately, Diego, I feel there will always be a need for Zorro. For, where there are good, noble men like Capitán Estevez, there will also be dozens like Monastario and the Eagle to act against him eager to make his own way into power."
Diego sighed dejectedly but nodded in agreement. It was the same conclusion Bernardo had drawn. And while he'd hoped his father could have come to a different conclusion, Diego didn't argue. "That is what I most feared." A cool breeze blew through the patio, ruffling his hair but bringing with it the sweet smell of flowers.
"What troubles you, Diego?"
Sipping from his glass, Diego wondered the same thing. He should be happy that there would still be much work for the Fox. But, he wasn't. "I think it's just because I have been running this masquerade for so long that I'm not quite certain where I should go." He downed the rest of his drink and juggled the empty glass across the table between his hands. "I want to live up to all of the dreams you had for me growing up. Perhaps settle down and start a family."
"My son, you live up to my dreams every single day. I may have been blind when you returned home from Spain, but now my eyes are open. I could not be any more proud of the man you have become. You may be living two lives at the moment, but it will not always be this way. And, while I do hope that you will find the woman you are meant to be with, I do not believe you will ever truly settle down."
Diego found himself chuckling at his father's sage words.
A year ago, he had thought he'd found that very señorita—Anna Maria Verdugo. She was brave and beautiful and extremely stubborn. Diego had fallen in love with her immediately. But, then Zorro had entered the scene and captured her attention and had practically absconded with her heart, the rogue. Yet, it was only the idea of the outlaw that had taken its hold on the señorita. Diego knew that now.
She had fallen in love with the man in the mask, not the man underneath. Despite what she might have once told him, he did not believe that she could ever love him for just being Diego.
"The problem is finding a señorita who will accept that."
"Yes, but while you are looking, you can at least enjoy the fun of it."
"Believe me, father, it is only fun for the people not involved." Diego rolled his eyes which caused his elder to burst with laughter.
But Don Alejandro sobered quickly. "Really, Diego. There will be a señorita who will care for both you and Zorro. It may just take some time to find her."
"But, hopefully, sooner rather than later so you can get those grandchildren you are always pestering me about, eh?"
Diego knew his father too well and knew that was exactly what he had been thinking. There was no use in denying it, so Don Alejandro merely shrugged and sipped his wine.
The two fell in companionable silence for a few moments as the sounds of music and laughter filtered in from the plaza. Diego refilled his glass and drank half of it before rolling it between his hands. The moment was a comfort. After so long, it was pleasant to sit back and enjoy the day.
"I was unaware that Don Alfonso had returned home," Diego spoke up after another moment.
Just mentioning the boy's name seemed to ruffle his father's feathers. "Bah! Don Cristofer and I had lunch the other day. His son got expelled from the university in Spain."
"That's odd. While rambunctious as a child, Alfonso was always quite studious."
"Sí, but a year or so ago, he met that payaso(1), Gilberto, and he drew the boy into something he was involved in."
"Yes, I met him as well." Gilberto. Now, Diego had a name to put with the person since he hadn't been able to see his face clearly.
"He seems a shady character, my son. I would be careful of him if I were you."
The younger man shrugged at the advice. "You make it sound as if he's dangerous."
"For all we know, he could be."
"Bernardo had the same suspicion and as I told him, there just wasn't any evidence to the fact."
"What more evidence could you need? Alfonso was-"
"A troublemaker long before going off to Spain," Diego reminded his father, whose ire he could see rising. "There wouldn't be a force in the entire world that could ever change that." Alejandro opened his mouth to protest, but Diego quickly shut him down. "There are more important matters that must be focused on. And, until I know for certain that man, Gilberto, should be a worry, I will keep an eye out for him." That seemed to quell his father's anger, yet it didn't dispel it completely.
Don Alejandro huffed out an exasperated sigh but relented. "That is very wise, Diego."
A trumpeted alert sounded, drawing the attention of both father and son. "It sounds like the Comandante's envoy has been spotted. Shall we go join the festivities? Sergeant Garcia has requested that we join him in greeting the Capitán."
"And, naturally, you accepted if only to keep a closer eye on the Capitán, eh?" The older man grinned at his son. He truly was as sly as a fox.
"You know me too well, my father."
Gathering their hats, the two men walked side-by-side, sharing a silent chuckle between the two of them as they moved toward the plaza. They quickly caught sight of Sergeant Garcia as he waited outside of the cuartel gates, his lancers flanking both sides as they patiently waited.
"The Comandante is almost here!" he crowed with delight. "Don Diego, Don Alejandro, thanks to you for both agreeing to stand here with me. I know the Capitán would find it most comforting to be greeted by one of the most highly-respected families in all of California."
"It is our pleasure, Sergeant," Diego clapped his good friend on the back.
"Sergeant," Don Alejandro spoke up over the loud cheering of the crowd. "My son and I are arranging a welcoming party for the Capitán at our hacienda later in the week. We would be honored if you and your soldiers who are not on duty would join us as well."
"Oh, gracias, Don Alejandro!" Of course, the Sergeant would use every opportunity to celebrate as long as there was to be an ample supply of wine. And, it just so happened that the de la Vega rancho had one of the best vintages in all of southern California.
There was a roar of excitement as two men on horseback rode into the plaza. Both were dressed in military garb and rode large warhorses as they pulled in front of the cuartel gates.
This was not exactly what Diego or his father had expected. Glancing at one another, they were both confused, and Diego began to fear that something had happened.
Riding a great, white Andalusian, the first man paused in front of the gates, his deep blue eyes scanning the pueblo with a calculating gaze. He was a young soldier who wore the scruff of a few days from not shaving. His shoulders were broad, and his back was rigid in the saddle. "I..." he began to address the crowd who fell in silent awe to hear him, sitting rigid in the saddle. "...am Capitán Julio Ramon Estevez, Comandante of the Pueblo de Los Angeles."
"Oh! Lancers, attention!" Garcia commanded, shocked by the sudden arrival of the Capitán. The lancers stood at attention and saluted their new Comandante. "Forgive me, Capitán, but we were expecting you to arrive by carriage. Or at least with a larger caravan."
"Yes, well, that was originally the plan, but I believed we would draw less attention if we were to arrive by horse." He glanced behind him and nodded to the soldier who had ridden in with him. "May I introduce Lieutenant Jorge Allende, my second in command?"
Diego and his father looked toward the Lieutenant. He was a well-built man with light brown hair and a thick mustache. He had one brown eye and one that was pure white. The white one had a long, jagged scar running through it. It was quite disturbing to see, but he didn't bother to hide it.
"I am Alejandro de la Vega, and this is my son, Diego," the elder de la Vega said after a stunned beat. "We warmly welcome you to Los Angeles, señores."
The Capitán eyed the old man, silently judging him for a moment before he had decided that his words were true and honest. "I have heard a great deal about Los Angeles and let me reassure all of you that from here on out, things will be different." He turned his attention back to the crowd, knowing that they were eager to be addressed. "My arrival shall bring with it a new Los Angeles. Law and order will prevail, I assure you. And the need to rely on outlaws will no longer be necessary. I understand a great deal of corruption has taken place in this district, but that shall be no longer. My office shall be run honestly and fairly. I am here for the good of California. And I hope that all of you will help me succeed in my endeavor."
The deafening sound of a gunshot echoed through the air. Diego found himself throwing his body over that of his father, ducking them both out of the way of the bullet. There was the sight of pandemonium as those in the plaza scrambled to get to safety. Capitán Estevez remained aloft his steed. The shot had gone wide and missed the Comandante by mere inches. Diego could see the bullet hole in the wall at the same eye level as the officer's head.
His eyes scanned the entire area, his gaze freezing momentarily on a figure perched high on the rooftop on the opposite side of the plaza. He glanced down at his father whose expression of confusion matched his. And they were not the only ones to notice.
"It's Zorro!"
(1) payaso- Clown