LA DONA NEGRA - PART TWO
THE NEW ARRIVAL
“Hasta la vista!“ Zorro saluted the trussed up bandito as he sped away on his swift as the Santa Ana winds horse, Tornado. Santa Maria, he was tired!
‘Dios! I am getting spoiled and soft. I have been riding over four years as The Fox. Diego, retirement is not an option for you at least in the near future!‘ He confessed to himself that the new comandante, Capitan Gabriel Juan Sobre Guiterrez, was, except for Monastario and that depraved dictator Señor Varga, who had nearly conquered all of California, a most cunning and elusive adversary as those two evil men had been.
He had been trying to locate Capitan Guiterrez’s base of operations, which involved trading with the current enemies of Spain: England, France and the Netherlands for nearly six months. Not even the Eagle’s brood had vexed him so thoroughly. The Capitan had continuously spirited his camps from arroyo to arroyo. Zorro was very frustrated as he had difficulty-finding witnesses whom he could question about Guiterrez’s secret missions. It seemed that the local Indians whom the Commandante had “acquired” disappeared at an alarming rate.
This Capitan wanted to leave California a rich man, and he would brook no opposition to his plans, regardless of social position or rank, not even from the esteemed members of the gente di razon class. Guiterrez loved publicly flogging recalcitrant taxpayers, drunkards, and anyone else who wanted to question his authority.
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Diego de la Vega was sitting in the cool shade at a mahogany table in Los Angeles’ only inn. While it appeared as if he were idly passing time smoking a cigarillo and drinking a small glass of Madeira, his honey-hazel gaze swept the plaza that lay before the Mexican government’s military post. Strange, yet another whip-wielding soldier was driving two more Indians into the cuartel.
'That’s the sixth one this past week. Our new comandante Gabriel Juan Sobre Guiterrez has wasted no time in showing his true colors. The poor Indians!’ He thought sadly. ‘Everyone exploits them - even the Church does. Diego sometimes wondered if the Indians had been treated with respect rather than “uncivilized savages,“ how different the history of California would have been! He sighed. ‘I had better find Bernardo so I can prepare to do a little midnight investigating as Zorro tonight! Madre di Dios!’
He stubbed out his cigarillo and motioned to his ever-present servant, Bernardo that they would be leaving. But he was momentarily distracted by the arrival of the weekly carreta from Santa Barbara. Then he saw the redoubtable Sgt. Garcia scurrying as best as he was able to question the new arrivals to Los Angeles.
Sgt. Garcia was quite taken aback when he opened the carriage door, as he found himself staring into an intense pair of deep purple eyes.
“Sí? What seems to be the trouble? Ah, I believe that you are a sergeant---
“Sí, señorita. I am Sergeant Demetrio Lopez Garcia at you service.”
She waved his comment aside with her lace handkerchief. “It is Señora Carmen Alcazar Sanchez Roberto y Rodriguez. Can you, por favor, tell me why I am not permitted to travel straight to my new home here in Los Angeles?“
Diego de la Vega had already positioned himself just within earshot of their conversation. His smile vanished. ‘So, this is the infamous Carmen Roberto y Rodriguez. How very interesting that she chose Los Angeles as her new home! I had always thought that she preferred the gay life of the Spanish court rather than this little placid colony. This new visitor interests me. The last time I saw Senor Luis Roberto y Rodriguez was when I was introduced by uncle Estevan at King Ferdinand VII’s court in 1820.’
“Senora Rodriguez, please,“ Garcia said in his best wheedling tone of voice. “Captain Gutierrez's orders are that we are to inspect the luggage of everyone who enters the pueblo of Los Angeles. You must submit to the inspection of all luggage and all other personal items.”
“What seems to be the trouble, sergeant?” Diego’s rich baritone interrupted the proceedings. “Perhaps I can assist the senora in some small way?”
“If I could only be permitted to--“ the words died in her throat. She found herself staring at the handsomest caballero she had ever seen. His eyes were a rich caramel color and the buckskin suit, which draped and emphasized his tall and lean frame, was expertly tailored. Carmen continued to boldly assess the young man standing before her and smiled broadly.
‘What a fine specimen of noble Spanish blood we have here. Madre di Dios!! If only my recently buried husband had been as one-tenth as attentive and attractive as this young senor.’
Diego reached out to help her leave the carriage. “I am Diego de la Vega, Señora Carmen Alcazar Sanchez Roberto y Rodriguez.” Then he lightly grasped her hand and kissed it.
“You knew Señor Rodriguez?” She glanced slyly in his direction.
“While I saw him at court I never had the pleasure to have been properly introduced, señora. Come, while the soldiers are sorting through your belongings, we can adjourn to the tavern's patio. I recommend it because of the heat.”
“Gracias, Don Diego, I appreciate your kindness. It is muy caldo, aqui.”
Diego gazed down at her while walking over to the tavern. ‘She is rather pretty. I do hope that appearances in this case are not deceiving!’ He guided her to a comfortable seat in the cooling shade. “Innkeeper, two glasses of your finest Madeira.”
“Señora Rodriguez, although or pueblo is tiny, you will find that the people living here have very large and generous hearts.“
While waiting for their refreshments, Doña Carmen amused herself by concentrating her gaze on his sensuous lips and those haunting hazel eyes.
Diego recoiled inwardly. 'It appears that the court rumors were true. Dõna Carmen Alcazar Sanchez Roberto y Rodriguez is the worst possible sort of flirts.' He admired strong-spirited women, but her frank manner annoyed him.
“Don Diego is something wrong? You seemed so distracted. Have I given offense in some way?”
'Of course you have, Doña Carmen, and you damn well know it.' He raised his Madeira and proposed a toast. “To your new life in Los Angeles, bienvenidos.” Don Diego inquired about her family and then they discussed mutual acquaintances they had in Madrid. Dona Carmen also remarked that she found her stay in Madrid lonely, especially while visiting King Ferdinand VII’s Royal Court.
He continued to listen to Dona Carmen’s sarcastic comments regarding the number and extravagance of King Ferdinand VII’s parties and balls. “I felt as if I did not deserve to be socializing with royalty, Don Diego! After all, I was barely eighteen years old. Everyone and everyone was so sophisticated!"
‘That is very odd,’ Diego thought. As a member of one of the oldest families in the gente di razon, her disliking of life at Court was strange indeed! Diego shrugged his broad shoulders. “Dona Carmen, most people would be thrilled to even receive an invitation to attend the Royal Festivities.“ ‘I do not know whether or not you are telling the truth, Señora Rodriguez!‘ He frowned and did not realize that Doña Carmen noticed his negative reaction.
Señora Rodriguez realized that he had judged her wanton and reckless in less than five minutes. It was her turn to scowl. She mumbled that she was fatigued (which was the truth), and called for her maid.
Diego raised an eyebrow at her abrupt change of mood. One minute her manner was charming and in the next breath, the look in her eyes was distinctly cold and distant. He sighed inwardly. ‘Madre di Dios! Women!’
Dona Carmen nodded to her maid. “Come now, Maria Lolita, I am in a hurry to sleep in a goose feather bed this evening. Don Diego, I thank you for your hospitality, you are a most gracious and charming host.”
Sgt. Garcia chose that precise moment to enter their subtlety antagonistic conversation. As she was donning her suede riding hat, the sergeant informed her that Comandante Guiterrez wanted to see her as soon as possible.
Carmen shrugged. “I hope that this meeting will be brief, sergeant.”
“Then I am afraid you are in for a disappointment, Doña Carmen. Our comandante is most...thorough with his questioning of new citizens in our pueblo.” Diego de la Vega said. He searched every inch of her face for an expected display of petulance. To his utter surprise, she actually smiled at the sergeant.
“Don Diego, it seems that I require your assistance once again.” She held out her hand and after the slightest of hesitations, he gently grabbed her by the elbow and led her toward the cuartel.
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Back at his hacienda, Diego paced the entire length of the sala three or four times before his father told him to keep his concentration on the game of chess they had started two hours ago. Finally, he started to rub his chin self-consciously. “Oh, I am sorry, father, I did not hear you!“
“Obviously, or you would not have placed your queen in such a treacherous position. Checkmate!”
Hs son continued to scowl.
"All right, Diego! Out with it! Now!”
“Father,” Diego said quietly. “You would not believe who has come to live here in our peaceful little pueblo!”
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