by Denise Scott
Part One
With a snort of displeasure, Alejandro tossed the letter onto the desk in front of him. He shook his head at it, tempted to get up and toss it into the fire instead. “Aiy, yi , yi,” he muttered.
Diego looked up from the book he had been reading. The hacienda had been blissfully quiet since his uncle Estevan had left several days ago and he had finally been able to relax instead of following his erstwhile uncle around trying to keep him out of trouble. Even Zorro had been able to take a few days off.
“Something the matter, Father?” he asked.
Alejandro snorted again. He took off his reading glasses and tossed them onto the desk, too. “He’s done it to me again, Diego.”
Diego waited for his father to go on, but when he said nothing more, Diego got up and went over to the desk. “Who has done what again?”
“Estevan.”
Diego glanced down at the letter his father had been reading. “Uncle Estevan is back?”
“No, with any luck at all, he is on a ship back to Spain.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Diego leaned against the desk. “You aren’t making any sense, Father.”
Alejandro got up and began pacing. “This is the second time he’s done this to me, Diego, and there won’t be another. Why, if Estevan de la Cruz ever sets foot in this pueblo again, I’ll...I’ll...”
Diego was amused watching his father pace and fume. With a small smile he asked, “You’ll what?”
Alejandro stopped pacing long enough to glare at his son. “Well, I won’t be responsible for my actions, that’s for sure. Family or no family, Diego, I’ve had it with him!” He resumed his pacing, his hands clasped firmly behind his back.
Straightening up, Diego went to the table and poured his father a glass of wine. With a firm hand on his father’s shoulder, he guided him back to his chair at the desk. A hint of a smile still playing at his lips, he gave the wine to the older don and watched as he drained the glass. It seemed to relax his father somewhat.
“Now, why don’t you calm down and tell me what has you so...aflutter,” Diego said with a wave of his hand.
“Aflutt-” Don Alejandro choked off the word in disgust and shook his head again. “That man is impossible,” he said as he handed Diego the letter that had set him off in the first place.
Diego let his eyes scan the letter. It was signed at the bottom, but Diego did not recognize the name. With a quick look at his father, he began to read. As he did so, he tried to resist the smile that came to his lips, knowing that his father was watching him.
The letter was from a small trader near the mission church that Estevan and Margarita had gone to in the hopes of being married. He was claiming that Estevan took one of his horses giving the trader a small gold coin in exchange, a ‘Florentavo’ Estevan had called it. But the trader quickly realized that the coin was worthless. Through some questions and digging around, he had found out that Estevan was a guest of the de la Vega’s and as such, the trader felt that the de la Vega’s should pay for the horse. At a slightly inflated price, Diego noted.
Diego had to put a hand over his mouth to stifle the laugh. He handed the letter back to his father and when he was sure he could speak without laughing, he said, “I wonder just how many of those...Florentavos...Uncle Estevan has.”
Alejandro could see the struggle Diego was having not to laugh. “This is no laughing matter, Diego.”
With effort, Diego turned serious. At least outwardly. “Of course not, Father.”
Alejandro gave a little grunt as he once more picked up his glasses and perused the letter. “Well, I suppose we will have to pay this man before he calls the de la Vega honor into question. I will send one of the vaqueros over with the money tomorrow.”
Diego watched his father shake his head in frustration. A thought suddenly occurred to him and he cocked his head slightly. “Father, what did you mean when you said this was the second time he has done this to you?”
With a quick look at his son, Alejandro cleared his throat. “I...er...meant that he...well-”
Diego grinned at his sputtering father. “Come on, out with it. The second time he has done what?”
“You know your uncle, Diego!”
“Si, I do know him. Which makes me believe there is an interesting story here.” Diego sat on the edge of the desk with arms folded across his chest. “Now what is it?”
For an instant, Alejandro was tempted to put off Diego with some excuse. But he knew that once his son’s curiosity was peeked, he would not let it go. With a deep sigh, Alejandro removed his glasses and sat back in his chair.
“It is an old story, Diego. From long before you were born, before your mother and I were even married.” His face wore a slight frown as his eyes took on a glassy, far away look. He had been young back then. Younger than the son that now sat so close to him with rapt attention. And naive, too. He had been young and naive and had let Estevan get the best of him. Oh, how he would like to have those days back.
Young Alejandro de la Vega strode through the market place with his shoulders pinned back and his head held high. He wore a foolish grin on his face, but could do nothing to make it go away. With effort, he had been able to eliminate the bounce to his step that had been present a few minutes earlier, though he knew the silly grin alone was enough to give away his happiness.
The market was starting to swell with people as the city began to awaken. Vendors were laying out their wares and early morning shoppers were already browsing. Alejandro gave a friendly nod to the strangers and offered a greeting to those he did know. He had only been in Spain for little more than a year, but his natural charm had helped him to easily make friends and it seemed that many of them were also in the market this morning. It slowed his progress to his destination, but he couldn’t help but try and share some of the joy he felt on this fine, beautiful morning.
When he had finally made his way through the plaza, he headed down a side street to a small but familiar shop. The door creaked as he pushed it open and stepped into the darker interior. It took his eyes a moment to adjust from the bright morning sunshine to the dim interior, but when they had, he spotted the man he was looking for standing behind the counter perusing his books. Alejandro shut the door behind him and saw the man look up.
The older man looked at Alejandro for a long moment before speaking. When he did, a slow smile came across his face.
“By the smile on your face, Alejandro, I would say your long awaited letter has arrived.”
Alejandro felt a slight warmth in his cheeks. “Si. I have it right here. Would you like to read it?” he said as he reached into a pocket.
“No, no. That is between you and your father.” The shopkeepers smile did not fade, but his eyes turned serious. “Besides, I can see that the answer was positive.”
“He and my mother are pleased with the news,” Alejandro said as he stepped up to the counter. “My father knows of your family and speaks very highly of them. They are both very excited,” he added a little sheepishly.
The shopkeeper nodded his head slowly, looking down at the floor. When he turned his gaze back to Alejandro, the young man could see that the smile now looked forced and a little sad. “Then you have come to...”
“Si,” Alejandro said a little too eagerly. “You said as soon as I had my father’s permission-”
“Si, si, I know. Elena has been waiting for that letter as anxiously as you have.” He came around the counter to stand before the young man. “Of course I give you my blessing, Alejandro. It will be a pleasure to welcome you into the family.” He drew Alejandro into an embrace, as much to congratulate him as to hide the tears that were threatening to fill his eyes.
A surge of joy filled Alejandro once again and as soon as the embrace ended, he felt himself begin to bounce on the balls of his feet. “Gracias, Senor de la Cruz. I will do everything in my power to give her lifelong happiness.”
“I know you will, son. You have already filled her with much joy.”
Alejandro could sense the older man’s hesitation and felt his own smile begin to fade. He gave his future father-in-law a questioning glance.
With a sigh, Enrique de la Cruz returned to his familiar spot behind the counter. “Do not misunderstand my sadness, Alejandro. I am delighted that you and Elena will soon marry. But...you will be returning to California soon afterward, no?”
Alejandro blinked in surprise. In his own joy, he hadn’t realized that by marrying Elena and returning to his home in California, he would be taking this man’s only daughter away, possibly for good. He swallowed hard as he nodded. “My father mentions in his letter that he is in need of assistance. He thinks it is time I returned to California to help with the rancho.”
Enrique nodded. “I suspected as much,” he said softly. Finally, he pushed his sadness aside and gave Alejandro another half-hearted smile. “I am happy for you both, but I will miss my daughter terribly.”
Before Alejandro could speak, Enrique went on. “Especially since she is the only one that seems to be able to keep Estevan out of trouble.”
The tension suddenly eased, and the two shared a laugh.
“You will ask her today, I presume?”
“Si. We are going on a picnic later on. I will ask her then.”
The older man eyed Alejandro warily. “A picnic? Imelda will accompany you?”
“Of course,” Alejandro said quickly. “I wouldn’t dream of going out without Elena’s duena present.”
The humor returned to Enrique’s eyes. “Bueno. You are an honorable man, Alejandro. I could not ask for a better husband for my daughter.”
The heat once again came to his cheeks as Alejandro looked away. “Gracias.”
When he left the shop not long after, Alejandro felt a sense of relief. It had taken many months for his letter to his father to get back to California and as many more for the response to arrive in Spain, but finally he had permission from both sets of parents to marry Elena. It was the dream he had been waiting to come true for almost a year and now it was finally here. He felt the silly grin returning to his face as he rounded the corner of the shop, anxious to get to his next destination which was a surprise he had planned for Elena.
Alejandro stopped dead in his tracks as he saw what awaited him around the corner. Standing before him with an amused smile, his arms crossed over his chest, was Elena’s brother, Estevan. Alejandro had to stifle a groan.
“Ah, young de la Vega. So you are finally going to ask my sister to marry you.”
Alejandro guessed that Estevan must have been listening in on his conversation from the back of the shop. “Si,” he said as he tried to go around the taller man.
Estevan grabbed his elbow. “What is your hurry, Alejandro. You just told my father you won’t be seeing my sister until later.”
“I have an errand-”
“An errand? You would rather go on an errand than rush over to see my sister?”
Alejandro pulled away. “It is for your sister!” he insisted. “I want to look for a gift for her.”
“A gift!” Estevan rolled his eyes. “More jewelry, I suppose? You have already given her more than she knows what to do with.”
“Women like jewelry!”
“Women like originality!” Estevan pursed his lips. “I truly do not understand what my sister sees in you, Alejandro.”
Rather than let his anger get a hold of him, Alejandro tried once more to get away, only to feel Estevan’s arm go around his shoulder and steer him down the street in the opposite direction he had been going.
“I will tell you something, Alejandro. I like you. Despite what my father thinks of you-”
“I am a de la Vega! Your father thinks very highly of me. Why he even said as much just now.”
Estevan brushed off the comment with a wave of his hand and an exaggerated sigh. “I am willing to help you despite your precious de la Vega blood,” he said in a mocking tone, smiling as he saw Alejandro’s neck turn red. “Give me your money pouch and I will go find a gift for Elena for you.”
“You?”
“Si, no one in the world knows my sister as well as I do. I will find the perfect gift for her.”
Alejandro shook his head. “No, thank you. I will find a gift myself.”
“Nonsense, Alejandro. I will do this for you,” Estevan said as he pulled away from the other man. “In fact, you just keep your money and I will find something and you can pay me back later.” He hurried off leaving a sputtering Alejandro in his wake.
“I will find my own gift!” Alejandro yelled after Estevan, but the older man had already disappeared around the corner. With a shake of his head and a sudden sense of uneasiness, Alejandro continued on his way.
Part Two
Diego sat patiently waiting for his father to continue. After a few moments of silence, he couldn’t take the suspense any longer. “Well?” he said. “What did he get her?”
Alejandro started at his son’s voice, his mind was so focused on those events from long ago. “What?”
0 Diego couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped. He could almost see the interaction between his father and Uncle Estevan. His playful uncle had a habit of getting his father quite riled when he wanted to.
“Uncle Estevan. What gift did he find for mother?”
Alejandro shook his head. “Ah, that man!” he said as he reached for the flask of wine. He had been talking so much that his throat was parched. After a sip of wine, he sat back in his chair, ready to continue the tale. “He picked the one gift he knew would be the most troublesome for me. And what’s worse, he didn’t even pay for it!”
Diego, too, settled back in his chair. He was enjoying this rare glimpse into his father’s youth and wished they could have had more discussions like this one when he was young, especially after his mother had died. It would have been a good way to keep her memory alive between the two of them. Unfortunately, back then, his father spent more time working the rancho than he did reminiscing. Still, it was nice to hear the story. It served to remind Diego that though he had inherited many good things from his father, his sense of humor and playfulness came from his mother’s side of the family.
“I should have trusted my instincts and kept an eye on Estevan, but I was so happy...I suppose I just forgot all about him,” Alejandro began again.
Almost a week later, Alejandro was once again strolling through the market place. This time, however, he was not alone. On his arm was the most beautiful woman on the earth, or so he believed. They talked quietly as they walked around the market, stopping occasionally to admire some of the wares. While Imelda still accompanied them wherever they went, she was granting them more and more space now that their engagement was official.
Sunlight glinted off of the ring Elena wore on her finger, the engagement gift that Alejandro had finally found for her. It was an elaborate piece of jewelry, much more so than anything else he had given her thus far. It was a rather large center set ruby surrounded by much smaller ones on a ring of gold. As soon as he had spotted it, he knew he had to have that ring for Elena. His father, he also knew, would protest at the price he had paid for it, but Alejandro did not let that stop him from purchasing it. It was a beautiful ring meant for a beautiful person.
Their quiet morning walk was suddenly interrupted by an angry voice behind them.
“De la Vega!”
Alejandro stopped and looked around for the source of the voice only to see a short man in dusty riding clothes push his way through the crowd with a finger wagging in Alejandro’s direction. Alejandro recognized him as a horse trader from near the edge of town. The two of them had done business not too long ago when Alejandro was in need of a new horse.
“De la Vega,” the angry man repeated, “I want my money!”
As the finger continued to wag in his face, Alejandro blinked back his confusion.
“What money?”
“The money for the horse you bought. My best one, too”
Alejandro and Elena exchanged confused looks. “You mean the one I bought last month?”
“I mean the one you bought a few days ago! Or perhaps I should say stole?”
With the heat rising in his neck and cheeks, Alejandro struggled to remain calm. Several bystanders were beginning to gather around them, curious as to what the uproar was all about.
“Senor, you must be mistaken. Alejandro would never steal a horse,” Elena said heatedly.
With a pat on Elena’s hand which was still tucked in his arm, Alejandro took a step forward, keeping himself between the horse trader and his future wife. He could hear the murmur of voices around them, most of them shocked that a woman would speak up so. Though he appreciated Elena speaking on his behalf, he did not want it known that he allowed a woman to defend his honor.
“I assure you, Senor Alonzo, I have not bought one of your horses since the one I purchased, and paid for, last month,” Alejandro said.
“Oh, yes you did. You bought a horse from me not a week ago. She was my best horse, too. The fastest horse for miles around.”
The wagging finger was beginning to grate on Alejandro’s nerves and he had to resist the urge to reach out and grab it.
“I saw the horse not an hour ago in her stable,” Senor Alonzo went on, shifting the pointing finger to Elena. “Just as I knew it would be.”
“My stable?” Shock registered in Elena’s voice.
“Si. He told me the horse was a gift for you.”
“I never said that!” The anger was beginning to show in Alejandro’s voice.
“Not you. The man you sent to buy the horse for you. Your friend.”
“What friend?” Alejandro and Elena said in unison.
Senor Alonzo put both hands on his hips in exasperation and Alejandro was relieved that the finger was finally gone. “The one who took the horse and said you would be by later to pay for it,” the horse trader said through clenched teeth.
Alejandro felt Elena move forward, but stopped her with a firm hand on her elbow. “Senor Alonzo, I swear to you on my honor, I did not send anyone to buy this horse you speak of.”
“Then why is the horse in your future wife’s stable?”
Alejandro opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly stopped. Something at the back of his mind began to push forward and he couldn’t stop himself as he groaned, “Estevan.”
“What?” he heard Elena ask.
For the moment, Alejandro ignored her question. He was all too aware of the growing crowd around them and wanted to take this discussion to a much more private place before his honor and name took anymore of a beating than it already had. “Senor Alonzo, I think there has been a misunderstanding. Perhaps if you could show us the horse, we could work this out?”
His face still angry, Senor Alonzo hesitated. Finally, he gave a curt nod and the three of them made their way out of the crowded market. The ride to Elena’s family home was made mostly in silence, Alejandro and the horse trader both stewing in their anger and Elena wondering what on earth was going on.
As they reached the stable, a familiar figure was standing at the stable railing. He turned to watch as the little procession made it’s way over to him.
“Ah, Alejandro, you have finally come to present your future wife with her gift,” Estevan said with a smile.
“That’s the friend!” Senor Alonzo said.
“He’s no friend,” Alejandro said tightly as he got out of the carriage. He was about to approach Estevan when he remembered his fiancé and turned back to help her down.
“Friend or no friend, he bought that horse for you and now I either want my money or my horse back.”
Estevan’s face fell slightly. “You mean to tell me that Alejandro has not paid you for the horse yet?” At the trader’s angry nod, Estevan turned to his brother-in-law. “This is a very bad habit to start, Alejandro, not paying one’s debts.”
Before the red-faced Alejandro could speak, Estevan went to his sister and put an arm around her shoulders. “So what do you think of your new horse, Elena?”
“My horse?”
“Si. Alejandro asked me to find you the perfect gift, and that’s exactly what I did.”
Alejandro stepped forward. “I did not! And what makes you think a horse is the perfect gift?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? Elena has always loved horses.”
“But-”
“Oh, I think she is a beautiful horse, Alejandro,” Elena interrupted. She could see that Alejandro was very close to losing his temper and knew that her brother would be the most likely target for that anger. She gave Alejandro a knowing smile and went to the railing to get a better look. Alejandro followed along, but not before shooting Estevan an angry look.
He could see that, indeed, it was a very beautiful animal. Her white body and gray mane and tail was a sharp contrast to the other horses in the stable. With her long legs and strong shoulders and hindquarters, it would be no surprise if she really was the fastest horse around.
“Well, are you going to pay me or not?” the impatient horse trader asked.
Alejandro felt another flare of anger, but as soon as he caught Elena’s eye, he pushed it back down. While it was not the kind of gift he would have chosen, he could see that Elena really did like the animal. And after the ruckus in the market place, if he did not pay for the horse, the de la Vega name would be forever tarnished. He glared at Estevan a moment before he nodded at the horse trader. “Si, I will pay for the horse,” he said quietly. The two of them walked away to try and settle on a deal.
Elena smiled after them. Alejandro would talk the man into a good price, she was sure. She knew she was marrying a very shrewd businessman.
Estevan came over to her and leaned against the railing. The two of them shared a conspiratorial look.
“She really is very fast,” Estevan finally said.
“She looks like she could win a few races,” Elena answered.
Estevan reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small sack. He bounced it in the palm of his hand and Elena could hear the jingle of coins. Her eyebrow shot up in question.
“In the last three days, she has taken on all comers, and won every time!” Estevan said happily.
Elena stifled her laughter to keep from drawing Alejandro’s attention. “You know, by rights, that should belong to Alejandro.”
“No, I think it belongs to you. It is your horse.” He held the bag of money out to her.
Elena curled her hand around her brother’s, the money bag still clinched in his fist. “You keep it, Estevan. You can use it to buy Alejandro a wedding gift. A nice gift, Estevan,” she said sternly. “And promise me one thing.”
Estevan looked at his sister.
“Please stay out of trouble when I am gone,” Elena said.
Estevan swallowed hard. He did not like to think of the day when his sister would leave for California, knowing he may never see her again. For once, he did not speak, merely gave her his charming smile and nodded his head.
The horse trader was leaving when Elena turned her attention back to the two men. Alejandro was coming back over to them, his face red and angry.
“I can’t believe how much you told him I would pay for that horse!” Alejandro yelled.
Estevan looked shocked. “You mean you did not even try to bargain with him?”
“He said that is the price the two of you agreed on and would hear of nothing else.”
With a shake of his head, Estevan moved away. “Ah, Alejandro, I truly do not see what my sister sees in you. Paying such an exorbitant price for a horse, without even bargaining.” He continued to mumble as he left the young couple alone.
Alejandro moved to go after him, but felt Elena put her hand into his and his anger began to fade somewhat. “No horse is worth that much,” he mumbled. “And I will have to pay even more for the passage to California.”
“Thank you for the beautiful gift, Alejandro,” she said softly. Her smile caused the last of the anger to fade from Alejandro’s features. She held up her hand, the ring once more glistening in the sun. “And the horse.”
“Of course, she didn’t tell me about Estevan’s winnings until we were on the ship for California, two days out from port,” Alejandro said before he finished his glass of wine. “I suppose she thought I would order the ship back around if she told me any sooner.”
Diego smiled, knowing his father probably would have done just that. “And did he get you a nice wedding gift?”
Alejandro blew his breath out. “That is another story altogether,” he said under his breath. He rose and stretched. He hadn’t meant to spend the day telling stories, but had to admit it had been a nice afternoon with Diego, something they didn’t do often enough. As the smile continued to play at his son’s lips, a thought suddenly occurred to Alejandro. “That story reminds me of something, Diego. Wait here a moment.”
Diego watched his father disappear out the sala door, wondering where he was going. As he waited for his father’s return, his mind returned to his Uncle’s recent visit. Zorro had his work cut out for him, keeping Estevan out of trouble, but Diego had to admit that it had been a lot of fun, too. He wondered if his mother had gotten that much enjoyment out of keeping her brother in line.
Alejandro returned with a triumphant look on his face. “I wasn’t sure I remembered where it was.”
Diego gave him a curious look and Alejandro held out his hand. “Your mother wanted you to have this someday. To give to your own wife.”
Slowly, Diego reached out and took the ruby ring from his father’s hand. He twirled it between his fingers, awed by the way it caught the light. “Gracias, Father,” he finally managed to say.
Alejandro turned back to the letter on his desk. He shook his head as he remembered his wife. “She really was the only one who could keep Estevan out of trouble.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that, Father. Zorro managed to keep him in check.”
Alejandro looked at his son’s face and not for the first time, saw his wife reflected there. “Si,” he said quietly. “Yet another trait inherited from your mother.”
Table of Contents
Second Short Story Table of Contents
