Anna rode Lady to the stables behind the tavern and dismounted as Matthew took the reigns.
"See? I made it all by myself."
"A quite grown lass aren't ya!" Matthew laughed. Anna blew him a kiss and began walking toward the kitchen.
"Oh, Anna!" Matthew called.
"Yes?"
"Rosa wishes to see you in her room before you begin your chores."
"Oh, thank you… Eh, where is Roberto?"
"He's in the quartel. Martinez, the alcalde and he are plotting their scheme." He took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them. "Are you really okay?"
"Yes, I am. Are you?"
"I'm controlling my temper at this point, but I swear, one more act like this morning and I will kill him myself."
"And they would kill you. Then where would I be? It's better for us to just lay low until we get back to Europe."
"Well, you'd better get upstairs." Matthew took Anna's hands in his. "Call for me if you need anything."
Anna smiled up at him. "I will." The English girl turned and walked into the tavern.
[end English]
The kitchen was bustling as usual, and Victoria was running about skillfully balancing trays and steaming bowls in her arms. Laughter and loud voices came from the dining hall— a busy lunchtime, indeed. Anna pulled the curtained doorway aside and trotted up the stairs to her mistress' room. Glancing down at the tables, she saw Alejandro and Diego sitting down to a meal together.
Suddenly, Martinez swept into the room and stalked up the stairs, mumbling to himself. The girl stepped back and let him pass. He huffed into his room and began noisily searching through papers on his desk. Anna quietly crept to the door and peeked in. Most of the papers were handwritten documents—she could not make out what exactly they were. A paper fluttered to the floor unnoticed to Martinez: a diagram of a rifle. Anna eyes grew wide. What serendipity!
"Aha!" cried Martinez as he snatched at a parchment on the left side of the table. He shoved the paper into his jacket and stormed from the room, stopping briefly to lock the door behind him. As he rushed toward the stairs, he failed to notice Anna walking into Rosa's room.
"There you are, Lazy!" Rosa exclaimed as Anna entered the room. The girl could tell from her mistress' tone that she was not impressed. "I want to wear the pink chiffon to Mass tomorrow, make sure that it is ready," the woman signed "pink," "dress," "tomorrow," and the message was conveyed. Rosa turned back to her task, dismissing Anna with silence.
The girl walked down the stairs, scanning the room for Diego. He and Alejandro were still eating lunch and chatting with everyone around them. How do I get him the message without revealing it to everyone? Anna could think of no place where she could find paper and a pen to write a note. She could not just walk up and tell him; that would be too obvious and there were class differences that she must respect. But signing! If she could get into Diego's line of sight and then somehow discreetly use signs to communicate. It might work. The girl walked down the stairs observing where Diego was looking. She saw that he paid little attention to his eating and a lot of attention to the speaker. His father was talking at the moment. Diego's eyes shifted; Anna followed them to Victoria. It seemed that Victoria captured his attention even more than politics did. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Anna maneuvered her way across the dining room, around chairs, and tables, and people, and children flinging potatoes. Victoria was refilling a customer's lemonade glass, Diego's eyes resting on her comfortably. Anna walked to her side and timidly touched her arm.
"Oh, Anna! Good to see you again! Do you need something?"
Anna couldn't risk a glance in Diego's direction; she counted on the fact that he would still be watching Victoria. The girl began signing rapidly about an iron and starch and various articles of clothing. She knew that Victoria wouldn't understand a bit of it, and she counted on that fact.
"Anna, wait, I don't understand. Here, follow me."
The beautiful innkeeper, took the bait beautifully, placed the pitcher of lemonade on the counter and clasped Anna's hand. She led the English girl through the crowd to the table where the de la Vega's sat.
"Diego, I simply cannot understand her. Will you please translate?"
"Of course, my dear." Diego lifted his right ankle onto his left knee, leaned back, and gave Anna his full attention.
"+Now what do you need, sweetheart?+"
"+Well, I need the iron, and there is a diagram of a rifle on my master's desk, and the starch, I need the starch, too." The girl said quietly, looking into his eyes to make sure that the message went across.
Diego reached for his glass and took a sip. "She needs the iron and the starch." Diego said to Victoria.
"Oh! Come with me, child." She said and led Anna back into the back room.
Alejandro looked at his son. "I'm so glad you remember more English than I do, son!"
"Why is that?"
"Because I thought she was talking about a rifle and a desk,
not starch and an iron!" Alejandro guffawed.
Night crept silently into the pueblo. The small town slowly drifted into sleep. The lancers on the night watch leaned against the walls of the quartel—nothing to watch but empty streets and dark buildings. Undetected by the soldiers, Zorro reigned in Tornado behind the tavern. Carefully he climbed a lattice onto the balcony and ducked in an open window. Victoria sat at her dressing table, slowly combing her hair, deep in thought. Zorro stood next to the window and watched the woman who had captured his affection.
"You look as beautiful as ever, Victoria."
The woman turned, startled. "Zorro!" she exclaimed, and rose to her feet.
The masked man stepped forward and took her hand. "An honor to be in your presence, my dear." He said and pecked her hand.
Victoria tilted her head with a disappointed pout until Zorro smiled, swept her into his arms, and kissed her passionately. Relaxing her head onto his chest, Victoria asked, "Why did you come tonight?"
"Do I need a reason?"
"No," she giggled, "of course not. But usually there is one."
Zorro sighed. "Yes, I must pay a visit to Martinez tonight."
"Oh? Why?"
He placed a gloved hand on her cheek. "Nothing to worry about, my dear, just business."
"Can you stay long?"
"Alas, I cannot, but I wanted to catch a glimpse of your beauty to sustain me until our next meeting."
"When will that be?"
"Not long, my dear. Not long." And Zorro swept from the room.
The hallway was dark, and Zorro walked carefully, as the boards always tended to creak louder when was trying to be quiet. He crept to the door to Martinez' room, and slowly opened it. He could not see Martinez in the darkness, but he could hear him. Snoring racked through the room. Zorro wondered how anyone could sleep in the inn at all.
From his many visits to the tavern, Zorro knew that the desk was right next to the door. He placed his hand into his pocket, removed a small match, and struck it. He remained still for moment, analyzing Martinez' breathing to see if he had been disturbed. The man's breathing remained even, and Zorro cautiously continued his quest. Slowly, he passed the flame over the papers on the desk. No diagram. The match burned to the tip of his fingers and he shook it out. Zorro reached into his pocket again and pulled out his last match and struck it. Holding the flame steady in one hand, he rifled through the papers with the other. Quickly. Quickly, he thought. All too soon the match burned low and Zorro was forced to shake it out. Feeling a bit perturbed that he had not found the diagram of the gun, Zorro began to wonder if Anna had led him here on purpose, and if he was in danger. He turned and made his way back to the door. In the darkness, he did not see the parchment on the floor, and stepped squarely on it. It crinkled loudly. Martinez stirred. Zorro scooped up the paper and slid it into his sash.
"Who's there?" Martinez called, reaching for the lamp. He fumbled with the glass chimney and then dropped all of his matches on the floor. "Halt where you are!" he commanded the darkness. Zorro drew his sword, the sound of which made Martinez draw in his breath to call for the lancers. Zorro carefully judge the distance between he and the voice. The tip of the blade pricked at Martinez' throat.
"Do not call for lancers, senor, or you will have no voice to
command them."
Martinez was silent.
"I am Zorro. I know why you are here, and I am not impressed. What I recommend, senor, is that you pack your bags and return to Spain immediately. That, or we shall meet again." He withdrew his sword.
Martinez regained his composure, "Lancers! Lancers!" he shrieked, "Zorro!"
Zorro sighed, "I wish you hadn't done that." Zorro lifted his sword and traced a Z onto the man's nightshirt. In an instant, he was gone, the curtains billowing in the breeze.
Lancers ran from every direction, and lights throughout the town began to blink on. Victoria ran down to the porch to watch Toronado race away in the moonlight. She was joined a minute later by a yawning Anna, awakened by the tumult. Victoria glanced over at her; she seemed a mere slip of a creature in her thin white night shift and her shawl wrapped tightly around her. They exchanged smiles, a bond growing between them.
Boots clumped overhead as Martinez hurried down the stairs, his clothes askew. He raced out of the door, past the women, and towards the quartel. Boots again sounded on the wooden floor. Anna turned to see Matthew, his hair rumpled, coming out on the porch with them. She smiled at his pants thrown hastily over his long underwear, the one suspender strap on his left shoulder and other dangling at his waist.
"Wha' `apened?" he asked scratching his head.
"Zorro paid a visit to Senor Martinez." Victoria replied proudly.
"The same Zorro?" Matthew asked Anna.
"Yes, the same Zorro that he is trying to capture, and the one who was here the other night." She answered, shivering in the night chill. Matthew said nothing.
Slowly, lights began to turn off again. Soldiers returned to their posts, and Victoria and the two Englishers returned to their beds.
Anna draped the black lace mantilla over Rosa's head and pinned it securely. She felt that the black clashed dreadfully with the pink chiffon dress, but perhaps it was Rosa's intention to attract eyes. When all the ruffles and frills were in their places, Rosa stood, pinched her cheeks to bring a blush into her face, and swept from the room.
Anna was left in the silence looking at her own brown homespun in the mirror. She tied her short white bush veil onto the back of her head and followed her mistress down the stairs. While Rosa went through the tavern and out into the street towards the church, Anna ducked into the kitchen to the stables. Matthew was throwing new straw from the loft down to the horses.
"Are you coming to church?" Anna asked.
"Anna, we are not Catholic!"
"I know that, but it is the only church in town."
"You go then, but sit in the back by yourself. And none of that odd ritual stuff."
"Of course not. You can come with me."
"No, I'm a good Christian, not a Catholic."
"Matthew, it's the same God!"
"I don't know about that."
"Well, you can come just the same. I'll be back soon."
Anna walked to the church. The mass had begun, so she quietly slipped through the door and perched on the very back bench. She could see everyone from the back. Rosa had attached herself to Diego. Martinez looked stately as usual. Roberto was nowhere to be found.
The de la Vega's sat next to Dr. Hernandez and his daughter, Maria. Anna thought she was so beautiful. Maria's skin was a lovely olive tone and her hair was shiny and black with the perfect amount of
curl. Her black mantilla draped becomingly over her head brushed
delicately against Felipe's shoulder as he sat next to her on the pew. Anna felt the same twinge of jealousy she had felt the night of the fiesta when she saw them dancing together.
The English girl huffed at herself. She and Felipe were from different worlds; he and Maria were so similar, even with the huge class difference. Anna could see that she was fond of him. Did he love her? She wondered how class differences were handled here in Alta California. In England, a servant would never marry a lady of the upper class. It was probably the same here. The only way that Felipe and Maria would be able to marry, would be if Felipe became a de la Vega, or something similar to that. But what were the chances of that?
Anna traced the stitches on her dress with her finger while the padre spoke on in Latin. She understood even less Latin than she did Spanish. Her mind drifted back to the young man a few rows in front of her. Even if the rose was from Felipe it was probably just in welcome. I bet all of the visitors and their servants received one. Yes, that must be it; I'm just fooling myself. Matthew and I will go
back to England, and I will marry someone there. Someone like me, who understands me. Anna's mind wandered through random thought after random thought. The congregation stood and sat and stood again. The girl followed as best she could, not knowing what to expect.
Soon the padre raised his hands in benediction and the congregation dismissed. The people broke into chatter as they gathered their things and greeted those around them. Anna stood quickly and hurried to the door. Several people stood between her and the porch, but she slowly moved her way around them and into the open air. The tavern was quickly filling with people. Victoria ran into the kitchen, threw off her mantilla and began cooking furiously. She didn't like working on Sunday, but someone had to feed the people who came to Mass from the outlying farms.
Anna chose to stay out of her way, and returned to the dining hall. Rosa and Diego appeared at the doorway. Anna walked over to Rosa and the woman turned to her servant and dipped her head. The girl pulled out the straight pin and gently removed the mantilla. Rosa continued chattering as she and Diego moved toward a table. Anna folded the lace and walk up the stairs to put it away.
As the girl walked back down the stairs, she surveyed the dining room. Many families were enjoying lunch. Don Alejandro sat next to Martinez and the Alcalde, with Diego and Rosa across the table. Felipe sat behind Diego at a smaller table, which he shared with a peasant family. Rosa's hand was still on Diego's arm. She batted her eyes and flirted so obviously that for a moment,
Anna was
embarrassed for her. Dr. Hernandez, Maria, the young Don Alanzo, and his father were sitting at a nearby table. Alejandro motioned to Felipe for a refill on his drink, and the young man stood and walked toward the kitchen. Anna reached the bottom of the stairs at the same awkward time.
Felipe reached out and pulled the curtain door back for her. The girl stopped and looked up at him. Felipe glanced away. Anna looked at the floor, walked through the door, and the curtain fell behind them both. The entire de la Vega table had watched the scene.
"How sad." Diego commented.
"What is this?" Martinez asked.
"Matthew will not allow Felipe to court Anna." Diego replied.
"I sensible decision, I say." Stated Martinez. "Courting among servants is a waste of time. I make sure that I arrange all of their marriages."
"Besides, she is my handmaiden and I have the final say on her courting, not Matthew." Rosa said.
Diego rolled his eyes. Alejandro spoke first, "Isn't that type of attitude bad for morale among your workers?"
"Does morale matter as long as work is done? It has always been done that way, and I have found it to be efficient. Why change? You honestly don't believe in all that new love stuff do you?" he scoffed.
"I loved my wife deeply. I wish no less for anyone else." Said Alejandro.
"I, too, will marry the woman that I love, and I would like to think that my servants will have the same opportunity." Diego said, hoping Rosa would get the hint.
"Oh, surely not!" Martinez exclaimed, "You should marry someone for their place in society. Someone like my Rosa. How else will you assure your social standings?"
Felipe returned with the pitcher and began filling the drinks. Anna, too, walked from the back room carrying her mending basket. She walked across the dining hall and sat in a small chair, next to the window, that was near Rosa, yet far enough away that she would not have to pay much attention to those at the table. The breeze was comforting as it played with a few strands of her hair,
soon she was lost in thought as her needle repaired one of Roberto's
shirts.
Time past quickly as Anna sat and stitched. Families finished their meals and left to travel home. Don Alanzo left with Maria Hernandez on his arm, her father following close behind. The alcalde and Martinez returned to the quartel, deep in conversation. Dons Alejandro and Diego broke out the checkers, with Felipe as an audience. Another group of men were playing chess. Victoria even had a chance to sit down with the de la Vegas and chat. Altogether a lazy afternoon.
