PART THREE
Monday, August 7
Two weeks have now passed and this particular day’s ride took Toni to the lake. She liked to come to the lake and sit by the water's edge and just listen to the morning come awake. Each time she was at the lake, the beauty of the area never seemed to change. The peacefulness and serenity were always welcome as she tried to cope with her ever-growing love for Diego. She contemplated If only his Father’s words would not haunt him so. And…as for Zorro (Diego doesn’t know that I know Zorro’s identity), I would never ask him to give up his way of helping those in need. After being in California for sometime, I know what he does is for the good of this country.
An hour has passed since she arrived and she knew she had better return. What she didn’t know was that crouching low behind some rocks a short distance away a Lancer was watching her every move. He followed her from the hacienda to the lake. He has followed her to the mission as well, and will follow her back to the hacienda. He also reported these morning rides to the Commandante on several occasions as he had been ordered to do.
When Toni arrived back at the hacienda, Diego was nowhere to be found. Everyday since she starting riding again, he had always been on the patio waiting for her return, but today was different. She went in search of Bernardo to inquire where he might be. She found him in Diego’s room brushing Diego’s boots. Facing him, so he could read her lips, she inquired, “Hi Bernardo, have you seen Diego?”
He nodded his head ‘yes’ and signed, //He went into the pueblo on an errand and should be back soon.//
“Thank you Bernardo, I’ll change and have some breakfast before I begin grooming Amigo.”
She left Bernardo to his chores and returned to her room. After breakfast she headed to the stable. While she was grooming Amigo, a carriage arrived. An old friend of the de la Vegas, along with his Daughter Magdalena and her Aunt Inez, had just returned from Mexico and stopped by for a visit. Not wanting to intrude, Toni finished grooming Amigo and then went to the Library to find a book.
While she was in the Library, Diego arrived home to find his Father had guests. He went to his room and asked Bernardo whom the guests were. Bernardo signed, //There are 3 people, 2 are women.// His Father then knocked on the door and entered.
“I thought I heard you come in,” his Father said and then announced who his guests were.
“Diego, please be attentive to our guests. Why don’t you take Magdalena and her Aunt on a tour of the area!”
“Now you want me to do this?” Diego asked. “I just got back from the pueblo. Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”
“No, Diego, it cannot. Where are your manners, Son? Magdalena is a very beautiful woman. I wouldn’t mind seeing grandchildren running around the hacienda.”
Diego reluctantly agreed, “Very well. I’ll change my clothes and be right down. Oh, Father, don’t count those grandchildren too soon.” His Father glared at him as he walked out the door.
He then turned to Bernardo and commented, “Father can be difficult at times, but I will abide by his wishes this time. Oh, by the way, where is Toni?”
Bernardo signed, //I think she is in her room reading.//
“Good,” replied Diego. “There is no need to cause another argument with her.” Bernardo gave Diego a puzzled look. He didn’t know of the incident that took place two weeks ago. Diego then commented, “While I was in the pueblo, there was a murder in the plaza. A man was killed with an arrow. He also had an Eagle’s feather on him cut in a strange way. I have no idea what it means, but the situation bears watching. Now I had better get downstairs.”
Toni was not in her room, but still in the Library and was unaware that Diego had returned home and that his Father had persuaded him to be attentive to Magdalena and her Aunt. Toni finally decided on the book she would like to read and was about to open the Library door when she heard Diego’s voice. He was talking to Magdalena and Inez as they were leaving the sala for their tour. Again, not wanting to intrude, she decided to wait until they left the house. As soon as they closed the door to the sala, Toni left the house by the kitchen entrance.
Once outside, she turned her direction toward the stairs to the second floor. As she reached her door and began to open it, she heard conversations in the patio and returned the top of the steps leaving the door ajar. She saw Diego with Magdalena walking toward the gate arm in arm. As she stood there watching them get into the carriage together, a spark of jealousy caused her heart to flutter.
She waited until the carriage departed. Then, instead of going back to her room, she went to the patio and sat at a table under a tree. She put her head down on her folded arms—tears came to her eyes as she thought that maybe Diego really didn’t have any feelings for me even though he called me sweetheart two weeks ago. Toni was becoming very jealous of Magdalena.
Bernardo found her sitting at the table and tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped at his touch since she didn’t hear him approach. As she looked up at him he signed, //Why are you crying?// and offers her his handkerchief. Toni told him, speaking slowly so he can read her lips, that she saw Diego with Magdalena. Bernardo now understood. He signed, //No need to be jealous.// He tried to explain but could not find the right gestures. He held up his finger as to say, //One minute, I’ll be right back.//
He went to the Library and returned with pen and paper. He proceeded to explain, on paper, that Diego’s Father insisted he be attentive to Magdalena, but Diego didn’t want to do so.
Toni understood his message and dried her eyes, and said to Bernardo, “Oh, Bernardo, I feel so foolish. But, I wish Diego would find it in his heart to tell me his feelings.” Then she gave Bernardo a big hug, faced him, and said “I think I’ll just sit here a little while longer, then return to my room.” After a few minutes, she decided to go to the stable instead, leaving the book she had chosen on the table.
While on the tour of the area, Diego chose to stop at the pueblo to persuade Sergeant Garcia to accompany them. They proceed out of town and made a stop at the lake.
“Why are we stopping Don Diego,” Sergeant Garcia asked.
“This is one of my favorite places. I thought we would get out and stretch for a bit.”
“Yes, it is a pretty spot for a picnic, but we don’t have any food,” commented the robust Sergeant.
Diego helped Magdalena out of the carriage. They walked to the large tree by the water’s edge (the same tree where Toni had undressed for her swim) and engaged in casual conversation.
Diego, forgetting about Toni, attempted to kiss Magdalena, but Sergeant Garcia interrupted them when he said, “Don Diego, I think it is time we get back to the pueblo.” And so, on that note the tour came to an end.
Diego was greeted by his Father when he returned to the hacienda after the tour. Don Alejandro announced to the Montezes and Diego that he would like to host a fiesta to honor Magdalena’s homecoming on Saturday night and hoped the Montezes would be able to attend.
A short time later, after the Montezes left the hacienda, Bernardo went in search of Diego. He found him in his room. Diego was aware that Bernardo had a problem on his mind. “Bernardo, what is the problem?” Bernardo reminded him of Toni and that she saw he and Magdalena leave together. Bernardo then signed, //Do you really love Toni?//
Diego said, “Yes, I do, Bernardo.” Then Bernardo signed, //Go to her and tell her so before you lose her.//
“Ah, Bernardo, now I see why Father was pushing me toward Magdalena. He still has doubts about Toni and wants me to lose interest in her. Bernardo nodded in agreement. He signed to remind Diego, //Toni loves you very much.//
“Yes, Bernardo, I know. Is she in her room?” Bernardo nodded ‘yes’ thinking that she was.
Diego attempted to do as Bernardo suggested. He knocked on the Toni’s door. There was no answer. He knocked again—still no answer. I hope she isn’t mad at me again and being stubborn he thought as the door suddenly moved. He slowly pushed it open and was concerned that there wasn’t anyone in the room. He returned to his room.
“Bernardo, Toni wasn’t in her room. I wonder where she could be.” Bernardo then remembered the new horse and then signed, //Maybe she is in the stable with Amigo.//
“Yes, that could be. That’s just where I’ll go,” Diego said. Sure enough Toni was found in the stable with Amigo. Diego stood in the doorway watching how gentle she was with Amigo. Toni then caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned and saw Diego watching her.
“Diego I didn’t hear you come in. Is there something wrong.”
Diego started to say the he loves her but couldn’t bring himself to do it. Although he has begun to trust Toni and loves her as much as she does him, his Father’s words are so deeply embedded in his mind he still cannot let go of them.
Instead he said “Father is hosting a Fiesta on Saturday evening in honor of Magdalena’s homecoming. I would like you to attend the party so you can meet the people of the area.”
Toni exclaimed, “Diego, I can’t attend a party, I haven’t any clothes with me suitable for a party.”
Diego happily remarked “I insist you attend and don’t worry about the clothes. We will go to the pueblo and purchase new ones. Besides there is a saddle I’ve been considering as well. We’ll all go and make it a day.”
“Diego that is not possible either. I haven’t any money to purchase expensive party clothes.”
“That’s no problem. This is my treat and don’t give me an argument about it.”
“I will argue about it. I can’t accept your…”
Her sentence was not finished. Diego quickly pulled her to him and staring eye to eye he leaned down and kissed her. Toni said trying to catch her breath after the kiss ended, “How can I refuse your offer when I love you so much.”
Table of Contents
Part One
Part Two
Part Four
