I apologize for neglecting this story. The story is clear in my head, but I'm struggling to put it on paper the way I want to. I've even thought about deleting it from Fanfiction, but I don't want to. I really want to try to finish it.
I haven't made any progress with it in the past month, maybe because the characters seem to be taking it in a different direction than I had planned. Knowing my schedule for the next two months, I'll probably have little to no time to work on it. Hopefully, this will give me the time to shape the storyline in the direction I originally intended when I started.
I promise to give this story another chance and not abandon it.
Chapter 14
A couple of days later, Victoria was surprised to see don Alejandro entered the tavern, looking exceptionally cheerful. After exchanging greetings with some acquaintances, he sat down at a table. Victoria approached him and asked, "Good morning, have you recovered from our adventure?"
"I have, Victoria. It's been a long time since I've felt this good. Please bring two daily specials with lemonade. Also, do you have time to make a flan for me today? I'll come pick it up around five," Don Alejandro requested.
Slightly flustered, Victoria stammered, "That should be possible. Is there a reason for such a celebration?" She was quite curious about the sudden change in don Alejandro's mood, as he had been quite downcast in recent weeks.
Relaxing back in his chair, Alejandro winked at her and said, "More than one reason, actually. But let me not distract you from your work. You'll find out soon enough."
Victoria went to the kitchen to fetch the order that had just been placed. When she returned with two plates, she noticed that don Diego or the man posing as him had entered the tavern.
Alejandro, who seemed even more pleased than before, was engrossed in conversation with the man sitting opposite him, while the younger man seemed bored.
"Ah, there's Victoria. It looks delicious, gracias," Alejandro said as she placed the plates on the table.
She noticed Alejandro had a glass of lemonade, but the man had exchanged his drink for a large jug of red wine.
"Don Diego just informed me that he was celebrated in Spain for his swordsmanship. He has promised to give a demonstration in the plaza tomorrow. Will you come watch?"
"Um, yes, of course," Victoria reluctantly agreed. Anything different from the usual routine in the sleepy town garnered great interest. There was no doubt that the rumour that Don Alejandro's son would give a sword demonstration spread quickly, ensuring that the plaza would be full of onlookers the following day.
"We just need to find a worthy opponent. Twenty years ago, I would have offered my own services. Unfortunately, my bones are not as young as they once were," the elder don joked. Alejandro raised his voice slightly. "It's a shame we have no idea how to contact Zorro. That would be a spectacle, wouldn't it, Diego?" Alejandro jovially slapped his son on the shoulder, emphasizing the last word.
Victoria was puzzled by how don Alejandro suddenly seemed to have changed his mind and was now explicitly calling the man he had previously called a fraud by his name. Just to be sure, she asked, "Are you sure everything is okay? I mean, you seem so excited."
"Victoria, don't worry your pretty little head about it. Here." Alejandro emptied his purse and handed her at least forty pesos. "A round for everyone."
"I'll have a whiskey," Gilberto eagerly chimed in as he pushed his plate forward.
A hint of disapproval crossed Don's face, which then cleared up when he spotted Sergeant Mendoza.
"Sergeant, my good friend." Alejandro amiably gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "Tell me... who is the best fencer in the garrison?"
Mendoza puffed out his chest. "Well, it is me, of course."
Alejandro looked pensive. "I actually meant the very best. The one who can face my son in a friendly duel. Or no, wait, I have a better idea." Alejandro raised his voice, ensuring all eyes were on him. "Gentlemen, tomorrow my son will take on each of you willing to give it a chance in a fencing duel. Whoever manages to defeat him will be rewarded with a thousand pesos!" Cheers and applause erupted.
Felipe, who had been busy in the kitchen, heard it all and ran outside. He jumped on his Pinto and rode towards the hacienda.
.
Alejandro felt better than he had in weeks, months, maybe even years. That evening, after a mediocre meal and a delicious dessert, he advised his son to go to bed early with a heavy wink. Tomorrow would be a tough day.
He himself also went to his bedroom, waited for half an hour, and then sneaked back to the library. He walked to the fireplace and ran his fingers along the mantelpiece. His heart raced with excitement. He hadn't gone into the cave for years.
Behind the hacienda was a cave. When the house was built, his father had deliberately built it against a large cave. The idea was that in case of an Indian attack, the people in the house could disappear invisibly and escape through a second exit. However, the Indians near Los Angeles had turned out to be not hostile towards the white men. In the past, his father and he had even maintained good relations with the three Indian tribes living in the area. So, the cave had never been used for that purpose. As a child, Diego had known about it and had always had a strange kind of fascination with it. Besides being an escape route, it was also an ideal hiding place.
Alejandro's fingers found the handle, and the secret door slid open noiselessly. The don took the candle off the fireplace and slipped through the door.
The end of the narrow passage connecting the hacienda with the cave revealed an orange glow, indicating human presence. Don Alejandro began to grin broadly. So, it was true. The glow confirmed that he was right. For a brief moment, Don Alejandro took in the sight of his son reading. He took a deep breath. He coughed softly.
Diego looked up, startled. He had been reading and heard a suspicious sound. For a moment, he thought it might be Felipe. Then he realized it was his father who descended the three steps and entered the cave. Diego jumped out of his chair.
His father walked up to him with his arms outstretched. "Son, you make me proud."
Diego was surprised when his father came almost running towards him and embraced him tightly. Air was slapped out of his lungs by the force his father slapped him on his back. "Father?"
Alejandro had tears in his eyes. "Diego, my son, you actually thought you could fool your old man? I wasn't born yesterday. However, I would have preferred had you trusted me from the start. Imagine, my son is Zorro."
.
.
Getting to know the series better, it surprises me don Alejandro didn't know about the cave. It was claimed to be built by his father, so why did that man never tell his son about it, yet his grandson did know. And why didn't don Alejandro ever recognized his son?
I have a daughter, and I can pick her easily out of hundreds of children in busy crowds.
So that is why in this story Alejandro knows Diego a bit better.
