Beta’d by Jim.

Prologue

The bright afternoon sunlight beamed through an open window as Marta walked down the hallway to Tessa’s room and knocked on the door.

"Entrada," replied Tessa as Marta opened the door.

Tessa sat at her dressing table and continued to comb her hair as she watched Marta standing in the doorway.

"You had better get out here," said Marta with concern in her voice, "This is starting to get out of control."

Tessa laid her hair brush down and replied as she continued to watch Marta’s reflection in the mirror. "Not more Dons arriving?"

Marta replied, "Even worse, musicians!"

Tessa raised her eyebrows and turned around on the seat to face her friend and said, "I can't believe it! How did I let Don Gaspar talk me into this? He asked me to host this meeting at my hacienda because it wouldn’t attract attention. At first it was only to be a few Dons to discuss, in secret, what to do about Montoya raising the taxes. Instead, he's invited all of them, along with their wives, and now he’s turning it into a party."

Standing up, she started towards the door raising her hands into air in frustration, "Montoya is bound to find out."

Opening the front door to the rose garden Tessa's mouth dropped open for a second. Her eyes grew wide when she saw the size of the crowd gathered there. She noticed several men wearing dark green uniforms and carrying muskets. A few of them she recognized as being rancheros from several different haciendas.

The musicians were at the entrance to the garden and began to play as she stepped outside. Don Gaspar was facing away from the front door leaning over a podium that he must have brought with him. Huddled on either side were Don Ventura, one of the oldest Dons and on his other side, Don Rameriz, the newest of the Dons. He had purchased the former Reyes hacienda less than two months before.

This was only the second time Tessa had seen him. The first time, the Queen had watched him from a distance through her telescope as he was moving in. She was impressed by how, in such a short time, he had befriended Don Gaspar. The three men were so engrossed in their conversation that they did not hear her walk up behind them.

"Gentlemen," she said, as she cleared her throat. They all turned around and, before any of them could speak, she said, "Don Gaspar, may I have a word with you, in private?"

He nodded, with a smile, and she walked back to the hacienda with Gaspar following. Once inside, she closed the door and ushered him into the front room. She turned to him and said, "I thought you said that this was to be a small and private gathering. From what I see, it is neither."

A broad smile came to his face as he stood there with both hands holding onto the lapel of his jacket. "Ahh, Señorita Alvarado, Tessa, you are about to witness a most important event today. The most important thing to happen in the history of Santa Elena since it was founded."

He turned to look at Don Rafael's portrait hanging on the wall and said, "I just wish your father were here to see this."

She placed her hand on his arm and he took his gaze off the portrait and turned back to her. "Please, Don Gaspar," she asked meekly, "explain to me what you are talking about?"

He placed his hand on hers and said, "First, my apologies for not keeping you abreast of recent developments. True, we originally had planned to once again petition the Viceroy in Monterey in an attempt to halt the tax increases. We have tried this several times before and Montoya has always managed to stop us by his divide-and-conquer methods. This time, we have decided to eliminate the problem at its source."

She interrupted and said, "I don't understand. What are you planning to do?"

He continued, "Today I will officially announce the formation of the Council of the Dons. Our purpose will be to stand united against Montoya's iron-fist rule and to eventually replace him with a civilian government. It will only succeed if we all work together. You are your father's daughter. I know we can depend on you."

She asked, "What about the men in the green uniforms?"

Turning to look out the window at the crowd he said, "Ahh, they are part of our new police force and are here to protect us."

She became very concerned. "When Montoya hears of this he will be furious. He won't give up his authority without a fight. You are talking about starting a revolution."

He turned back towards her and for the first time for as long as she has known him she saw a spark in his eyes. "Why yes, Señorita, you understand correctly, that’s exactly what we are going to do. Now, if you will please excuse me, I must return to the others." He turned and walked to the door and before leaving he turned back to her and said, "Please come and join us."

Tessa just stood there in silence trying to figure out how she got herself in the middle of this, when she noticed Marta standing in the doorway.

"Well, did you hear any of that?"

Marta walked over to her and they both stood and watched the crowd through the window.

"Yes, I did," replied Marta. "It looks like real trouble."

Tessa narrowed her eyes and placed a hand under her chin. "Although we have not been introduced, there is something about Don Ramirez that I do not like. He has mean eyes, very much like Montoya. From what I have heard, he has never been to Santa Elena in the two months he has been here. No one knows anything about him, but yet, he has obviously become very close to Don Gaspar."

Marta turned to her and said, "From what I hear, he considers himself quite the ladies' man. My friend Rosa had to quit working for him after only a week because of his unwanted advances towards her. Although he puts on a good show in public, I understand he's a pig in private."

Tessa replied, "He seems to have somehow charmed Don Gaspar. I wonder how much of this 'Council of the Dons' idea is really his? Montoya agreed to the Council, but not on this scale, I think."

Marta paused, "I've just learned something else that may be of interest you."

Tessa gave her complete attention to Marta as she said, "The Colonel is sending his nephew Carlos away. I heard he has been reassigned to the Monterey Garrison."

Tessa was shocked at hearing this, "No, really! I thought the two of them were very close. Now, that is very strange. I wonder if it has anything to do with --"

Before she could finish, they heard Don Gaspar hitting a gavel on the podium.

"I had better get out there; they look like their about to begin," said Tessa as she again headed for the door.

The musicians stopped playing and the Dons and their wives became quiet. Don Gaspar looked out at the audience, "Today, I am proud to announce the founding of the Council of the Dons. Our first goal is to unite the Dons in the common cause to put a stop to the ever-increasing taxes imposed on us by Colonel Montoya. Then, after accomplishing this, we will unite the people with us to replace the military government with a civilian one. We will then elect a mayor by popular vote from our own ranks."

Someone in the crowd began to applaud. Several others joined him until everyone was applauding. Then, over the applause was heard the mournful tune from a violin.

Act One

Don Gaspar's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open as he stared at the arched entrance to the rose garden. Everyone stopped applauding when someone shouted out, "It's Colonel Montoya!"

The crowd separated as Montoya, accompanied by Grisham, walked towards Don Gaspar and his podium. As they neared, Don Gaspar shouted to them, "How dare you interrupt this meeting? You have no right being here."

Montoya came closer and pointed the bow from his violin a few inches away from Gaspar's chest and said, "What right indeed! I have the law; that's what gives me the right for being here."

He handed his violin and bow to Grisham, who in turn handed him a large, red-leather binder containing old, yellowed documents. He neared Don Gaspar and gave him a hard look, making him back away from the podium. Stepping behind it, Montoya held up the binder for all to see.

In a loud and stern voice he said, "This is the charter for Santa Elena. It is signed by King Ferdinand. It states that no meeting of a political nature can legally be held without the presence of the military governor. In case any of you have forgotten, that happens to be me. It also says that any attempt to undermine my authority is to be considered sedition, and is to be treated accordingly."

In a sudden move, Don Rameriz grabbed the Colonel by the sleeve of his coat. Immediately, Captain Grisham had his pistol out of his belt and pointed at Rameriz's head. A green-uniformed ranchero then leveled his musket at Grisham and cocked back the hammer.

A sergeant standing at the entrance to the garden made a motion with his hands and a dozen garrison soldiers began pouring through the narrow entrance with fixed bayonets on the ends of their muskets. They then formed a firing line pointed in the direction of the Dons. Everyone became silent.

"How about everyone waiting one moment, all of you?" shouted Tessa Alvarado, her face turning red as she forced herself between Don Rameriz and Montoya, breaking the hold on his arm. Then, she reached out and pushed aside Grisham's hand holding the pistol.

Now standing behind the podium, she shouted to the audience, "You have all seemed to have forgotten that this is still my hacienda! If you want to start a war, I suggest you go somewhere else to do it."

Montoya was very surprised at this, and the expression on his face showed it. After a few seconds, he turned to Grisham and nodded. Grisham turned to look at the ranchero with the musket pointed at him. The ranchero looked at Don Gaspar, who also nodded. He then lowered his weapon. Grisham made a hand signal to the firing line and they all lowered their muskets.

Gaspar got close to Montoya's face and said, "This is an outrage! I have friends in the Spanish Court."

Montoya countered, "Not for long, not when they learn of your treason against the Crown."

Tessa said, "Colonel Montoya, you said that no meeting of a political nature can legally be held without the presence of the military governor. This is a party, not a political meeting, although politics is a normal topic of conversation at a party. So this is not illegal and you were not invited to my party. Am I not correct? Now, vayase!"