Sergeant Garcia joined the ranks of the many well-wishers in the days that followed the birth of Pilar Isabella de la Vega.
“Look Sergeant, the baby is here.” Diego lead the Sergeant to where Cresencia was seated on the patio under the tree. She was bending over the beautifully carved cradle, gently rocking it in the shade.
“Don Diego, we are so very happy for you. And what a beautiful child. Never mind that she is not a boy. It is a proud thing to become a papá, eh my friend? My wife baked this for you. Pardon this small piece that has unfortunately broken off.”
“Thank you, Sergeant. Small piece! It looks as though almost half of the cake is gone.” Diego threw his head back and laughed. Life was so good these days. The Sergeant was the acting comandante once more. What few prisoners there were had been well cared for and fairly treated. There was little cause for Zorro to ride these days and for this Diego was grateful. He longed to be with his little family and lamented the times when he had to leave the hacienda for business, especially now.
“Do you see this cradle? It is from Spain. My mother slept in it, my Uncle Estevan too and of course, so did I. Now there she is, my child. Is she not a princesa, Sergeant?”
The Sergeant looked at his friend. His face was glowing with the warmth and love he felt for his baby. Sergeant Garcia had seen the look before when Diego looked upon the face of Anna Maria. He remembered his own wedding day with Don Diego as his best man not long after his marriage to Anna Maria. He knew what his friend felt for his wife and he knew the pride of becoming a father. His own wife had given birth to their son only two months before. It was embarrassingly close to their wedding day. At least more than a year had gone by since Diego and Anna Maria were married. No one would be counting on their fingers for them.
“The name, Pilar, Don Diego – how did you come to this?”
“It was the name of Anna Maria’s grandmother who helped to raise her when her mother became ill.”
“It is a beautiful name, Pilar. A pillar – it has fuerza, strength. The name is both beautiful and strong.”
“Sí, Sergeant. She is my strength, she and her mother.”
After many months the household was finally returning to normal. Anna Maria’s father had come to visit her again and when he left this time he took her cousin Milana back with him to Monterey. She missed Milana’s companionship but there was much to keep her busy these days. Anna Maria knew how difficult it was for her father to leave his new granddaughter. Diego and Anna Maria assured him that they would make frequent trips to Monterey and that Señor Verdugo was always welcome to visit them when time and opportunity permitted.
The pueblo was quiet except for minor brawls in the tavern and an occasional dispute over a land issue. The pueblo of Los Angeles had taken on the look of a peaceful town. There was a military presence but there was only an acting comandante and he did not appear threatening.
Diego had made another of his frequent trips to town. As was often the case, Anna Maria and Pilar were with him in the carriage. Bernardo slowed the carriage near the marketplace and Diego hopped out to help his wife while Bernardo extended his hand to help Cresencia.
“Querida, while you are looking through the marketplace I have business to do and then Bernardo and I will go to the tavern. You two are all right with the baby?”
"Fine. We will see you later.”
Diego watched his dark haired wife turn away. Over her shoulder little Pilar was looking at her papá and smiling. She was already eight months old and never had any period of time in his life seemed to pass so quickly. Smiling broadly, he raised his hand and waved to his tiny princesa. Then turning to clap Bernardo on his back, they walked away.
The slight breeze caught Diego’s silken banda, a wagon passed in front of them. All around were busy people going about their business on a peaceful summer day.
Shortly after they were seated in the tavern, Sergeant Garcia came in on one of his inspection tours.
“Come, Sergeant, join me!” They whiled away the time, talking as easily about local politics as they did about their babies. After a second small glass of wine, Diego rose to see if his little family was through at the market.
He squinted into the afternoon sun and slipped on his hat to shade his eyes. Across the plaza he saw his young wife. When his eyes focused against the bright light he saw two men behind her. One nudged the other and pointed to his wife. In spite of the warm sun, Diego felt a cold chill down his back. He felt the hair rise on the back of his neck. He took the distance across the square in long, brisk strides as he marched toward his little family. He did not take his eyes from the two men.
“Well, my dear, are we ready to go home?” He kissed his wife and still his eyes were on the two strangers. Diego did not say Anna Maria’s name but he had the feeling they already knew who she was.
“Diego, I will be gone for several days.” Don Alejandro was busy packing papers into his leather pouch. “I will stay in Santa Barbara at the inn as usual. I hope this will not take long. The baby is growing so fast. I will miss her. I hope she does not forget her grandfather in these days that I am gone.”
“Do not worry, father, I am sure she will not have forgotten you, although she is becoming afraid of people she does not know. Is it early for that? Perhaps she is very advanced, do you think?”
“Diego, my son, she is a de la Vega, of course she is advanced.” He laughed and clapped his son on his back. “I will leave early tomorrow so I will say good-bye now. Ah, wait, I must go upstairs and kiss my little one. Good-night, Diego.”
In the morning the house seemed very quiet. Diego looked up from his book at his wife. “You seem restless, querida.”
“Sí, Diego. I do not know why.”
“Perhaps we can do a picnic … just the … two of us?”
Anna Maria looked at her husband. A small devious smile lit his face.
“Well, perhaps that would be nice, Diego. I will go arrange it and tell Cresencia.”
Bernardo helped Anna Maria into the carriage and then moved to take his place at the reins. Diego turned to him.
“No, Bernardo. You may have the day off. I will drive the carriage myself.”
Soon Diego and Anna Maria were on their way to a quiet spot, far from the hacienda where it was sheltered by rocks and shaded by trees.
Bernardo waved to them and turned back to Cresencia. He gave her a knowing smile. Cresencia tried not to smile but could not help herself. She ducked her head and nestled against the baby’s cheek.
It was a soft, warm day. The warmth of the sun was tempered by a cool breeze. Diego stretched his long legs out on the blanket. He popped a grape into his mouth and turned on his side. The remains of the lunch had been put away, an empty wine bottle lay next to the picnic basket. The wine and sun warmed them, peace overtook them. Diego reached for his wife and drew her close.
Table of Contents
Part One
Part Three
