PART FIVE
Sunday,August 13
Toni was sitting on the patio early Sunday morning. Today she didn’t take her morning ride—she wanted to attend Mass with Diego, although he doesn’t know this, yet. As she was sitting at a table thinking about her surroundings she didn’t hear Don Alejandro approach. Don Alejandro was surprised to see her there as well and joined her at the table.
“Buenos dias, Toni,” Don Alejandro said. “Good Morning to you too,” Toni replied.
“Did you enjoy the party last night?” he asked.
“Oh yes, very much, Don Alejandro.”
“I’m glad you had a good time. You looked ravishing.”
“Thank you, Señor,” blushes Toni as she lowers her eyes to the table.
He took her hands in his and began, with a smile on his face, “Toni please look at me,” he said. “I watched you carefully last night and I must admit that I might have been wrong to mistrust your intentions. I must also apologize for my behavior when I tried to push Diego into a relationship he didn’t want. I can see now how very much you love Diego. I hope you will forgive me.”
Toni’s heart was racing so fast it made her speechless. She stammered “I…I’m…so glad you feel that way. I so…so...desperately hoped you would change your feelings. I really want us to be friends.”
“I, too, my dear. Now if you will excuse me I must get ready to go to Mass.”
“Don Alejandro, would you mind terribly if I joined you.” Don Alejandro looked at Toni with surprise. “Why of course not. We would be delighted to have you join us.” They both rise from the table and hug one another affectionately.
Diego had been standing at the foot of the steps watching from afar. He was overjoyed when he saw Toni and his Father hug each other. What a nice sight—Father’s concerns must have disappeared he commented to himself.
Diego approached the table where Toni and his Father were standing. “Buenos dias, Father.” Diego beckoned. “What have the two of you been plotting?”
“Nothing, my Son. We were just having a little conversation. Toni is joining us for Mass. We had better get a move on or we’ll be late.”
Earlier Sunday morning, Capitan Monastario ordered Sergeant Garcia to bring two prisoners from the jail cells to his office. He ordered Sergeant Garcia to leave and turned his attention to the two prisoners.
“If the two of you cooperate with me, I will rescind your jail time.”
“What is it you want of us?” one of them asked cautiously.
I want you to rob the jewelry case at the dress shop. There is a valuable necklace in it.”
The two prisoners looked at each other in dismay and apprehension. One of the prisoners said, “Let me get this straight. You want us to rob the dress shop and you will let us go free. What’s the catch?”
Monastario laughed, “There is no catch. I need someone to perform this task for me. I surely can’t do it myself. You see I am hatching a trap for Zorro. Now this is what you will do. After it gets dark, and the shop is closed, you will go to the back door, break in and steal the necklace. Then you will return here with the necklace for the rest of your instructions.”
When it was completely dark the two prisoners commenced their act of thievery, without a hitch, and returned to the cuartel. When they arrived back at the Commadante’s office, Monastario proceeded with the rest of his instructions.
“Tomorrow morning you will take the necklace and put it into Señorita Austin’s saddlebags. She is the Americano staying at the de la Vegas. Tomorrow being Monday, I know she will take an early morning horseback ride to the lake on the de la Vega property. You will be there before she is and when she isn’t looking you will drop the jewelry into her saddlebags. Do you understand? Once you do that you are free to go wherever you want.”
“Si, Commandante, we will do as you wish. We will go now and camp there so we will be sure we don’t miss her.”
“Remember you cannot be seen. No campfires.” The two prisoners departed the cuartel and headed to the lake.
Monastario was now beaming with joy at the prospect of capturing Zorro. He even had a statement against Toni already written so the shopkeeper could sign it in the morning.
August 14, Monday
As dawn is near, Toni was approaching the lake as she usually did on Monday mornings. She dismounted Amigo and ground reined him. She walked over to her favorite tree and sat on the ground under it with her knees drawn up to her chest and her chin resting on the top of them. She was thinking about the party of last Saturday and was fully unaware of two strangers silently approaching her horse. They accomplished their task of dropping the necklace into her saddlebags and quickly made their getaway. Suddenly, Amigo nickered loudly, as the two strangers slipped into the shadows of a large rock.
Hearing Amigo nicker, Toni quickly got back on her feet and looked around. She went to Amigo, “What’s wrong Amigo? What frightened you? I don’t see anything or anyone around. You must have heard the wind rustling in the trees.”
Amigo nickered again and shook his head. “Well Amigo, the sun is coming up. I think it’s time we return home.”
When Toni returned to the stable, no one was around. She decided to leave Amigo saddled and come back later to attend to him. Once again Diego was not waiting for her when she returned. She decided to sit in the sala and read.
Diego was with his Father in the study going over some paperwork. When they finished, they also went to the sala to await the call to breakfast. When they arrived in the sala they saw Toni asleep in the chair. They looked at each other and smiled. Alejandro left the room, but Diego stayed. He gently shook Toni’s shoulder to awaken her. When she felt his touch she
let out a little shriek as she opened her eyes. Surprised to see him there she said, “Diego don’t startle me like that. I must have fallen asleep.”
“You did. I hated to wake you—you looked so peaceful—but breakfast will be ready shortly.” He helped her to rise, then put his arms around her, and planted a sweet, gentle kiss on her mouth.
Back at the pueblo, Monastario was aroused from sleep by the shopkeeper. Monastario, pretending not to know the problem, yelled, “What is the meaning of this intrusion so early in the morning.” The shopkeeper told Monastario that he had been robbed.
“What do you mean you were robbed?”
“It was a jewel theft. A valuable necklace is missing.”
“Are you sure you didn’t misplace it.”
“Si, Commandante. It was there when I closed the shop.”
“Well, go back to your shop. Let me get dressed and I’ll be there shortly. You can then sign a statement to that effect.”
Monastario appeared at the shop a few minutes later. He spoke to the shopkeeper, “Here is the statement I want you to sign.” The shopkeeper took the statement and read it. He complained to Monastario, “I cannot sign this. You are accusing the Americano Señorita of this theft. I do not know that it was she.”
“Wasn’t she looking at the same necklace when she was here several days ago.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean she stole it!”
“It doesn’t matter,” bellowed Monastario, “You will sign it or you will spend time in jail. What will it be?”
Fearing Monastario, he signed the paper knowing full well that if he didn’t Monastario would carry out his threat of jail time.
“Gracias, Señor, Buenos dias,” stated Monastario.
Capitan Monastario is secretly applauding himself for a task well done. Now, he thought, All I need to do is have Sergeant Garcia collect the Señorita. Then I will soon have Zorro in my clutches. I’ll be waiting for his arrival.
Then Monastario summoned Sergeant Garcia to his office. “Sergeant Garcia you have heard about the jewel theft this morning.”
“Si, Commandante.”
“Good. I have in my possession a signed statement from the shopkeeper implementing the Americano Señorita as the person who stole the necklace.”
“The Americano Señorita! You mean Señorita Austin who is staying at the de la Vegas.” Sergeant Garcia commented in puzzlement.
“Yes, that is who I mean.”
“But Commandante, she wasn’t anywhere near the pueblo last night.”
“Silence,” yelled Monastario. “Regardless of what you think, you are ordered to arrest her and find the evidence. I don’t care if you have to turn that hacienda upside down. Bring both the evidence and the Señorita back here. Take some Lancers with you if you need too.”
“Si, Commandante.” But the Sergeant is slow in moving.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Get on with it.”
Sergeant Garcia came to attention, turned on his heels, and departed through the office door. He then rounded up two Lancers, Corporal Reyes and Corporal Ortega (who had been following her) and headed to the de la Vega hacienda.
After breakfast, Diego, Toni, Bernardo, and Alejandro are gathered in the sala. Diego and his Father were discussing the sale of their cattle when they heard horses approaching. Diego went to the window and saw Sergeant Garcia entering the gate and noticed that two other Lancers were waiting inside the gate.
Sergeant Garcia was about to knock on the door when Diego stepped out. “Buenos dias, Don Diego. I come bearing bad news. May I come inside please.”
What is so important?” Diego said.
“Please, Don Diego, May we go in. What I have to do I don’t want to do, but I have my orders. They entered the sala and Don Alejandro asked with curiosity on his face, “What is going on, Sergeant?”
Bernardo was standing near Toni and was also watching and listening to what was happening. Then Sergeant Garcia reached into his hat and pulled out a sheet of paper.
“I’m most sorry to do this, but this is a warrant for Señorita Austin’s arrest.”
Toni’s jaw dropped and her heart started racing while she was listening to what was said next.
Diego was furious, but kept his calm. “Sergeant Garcia, this is absurd. What are the charges?”
“Did you know about the jewel theft early this morning,” asked Sergeant Garcia.
“No! What jewel theft?”
“It seems that a valuable necklace was stolen from the dress shop. The shopkeeper has accused the Señorita of stealing it.”
“Diego looked sideways at Toni with disbelief in his eyes. She was shaking her head ‘no’ with fright in her eyes. She was also thinking Oh God this can’t be happening; I just gained Don Alejandro’s trust. Now it is being shattered. His misgivings will surely come back.
Toni was also feeling very light headed and her knees are shaking. She was trying to conceal her emotions. She didn’t want to appear guilty. She knew she was not.
Don Alejandro hadn’t said a word but had been carefully listening and watching every response to every question. Finally, Sergeant Garcia declared, “Don Diego, I must search the hacienda for the necklace. I’m sorry I have my orders.”
“Be my guest Sergeant. I’m sure you won’t find anything. Go! We will wait here until you are finished.
“Si, Don Diego. I truly am sorry.”
The Sergeant motioned to the two corporals to begin the search.
“Sergeant, would you please wait outside. I’d like to talk to Toni for a few minutes. Rest assured she will not be going anywhere.” The Sergeant obliged and went outside to help with the search.
Diego approached Toni, who had her head down on her knees. He cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her head to see her face. There were tears in her pleading eyes and running down her face as she looked up at him.
Alejandro got up from his chair to leave the room, but Diego said, “No, Father, stay!” He turned his gaze back to Toni. “Toni, did you do this? I must know.”
“NO! Diego. Please believe me. I did not steal any necklace.” Diego wanted to believe her, but as he looked at his Father, his Father’s cautions once again clouded the issue.
“Diego, I love you, please trust me,” cried Toni.
Diego angrily said, “I don’t know what is going on, but I will get to the bottom of this.”
Table of Contents
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Six
