Part Two of Five
In the predawn darkness, a lone soldier led his horse to the fountain in the center of the square in Santa Elena. A crescent moon hung over the sleeping pueblo. While his horse drank, he took one final look around and stared for a few moments at Montoya's balcony. Checking the straps on his saddle, he took hold of the reins and mounted. He trotted his horse once around the fountain and then galloped away, heading out of town.
Wearing a house robe Montoya walked across the hall from his quarters and into his office. He quickly crossed the room, not noticing the figure standing in the shadows. He threw open the French doors and stepped out onto the balcony just in time to see the rider disappear into the darkness. He leaned on the railing and lowered his head.
A figure stepped out of the darkness and onto the balcony behind him. "Too bad, Uncle Luis. You just missed cousin Carlos by only a few seconds."
Staring into the darkness, Montoya gritted his teeth for a second and replied in slow and precise words, "Don't you ever address me as Uncle Luis again."
Turning around to the man standing behind him and giving him a hard stare, he continued, "Do you understand me, Miguel?"
The man was taken back a bit by his attitude and replied, "That's Don Miguel Rameriz if you please."
Walking past Miguel and back into his office Montoya turned up the flame of the oil lamp on his desk. "I told you to use an alias, which you didn't do, and not to come here unless you had something important to report. This had better be very important."
Miguel followed him into the office. "I had to leave France in a hurry. There wasn't enough time to acquire another identity. Besides, I thought you would have gotten rid of Carlos long before I arrived." He sat down in the chair in front of the desk."
"How many fathers were after you this time?" asked Montoya.
"Four," replied Miguel.
Montoya sighed and shook his head.
"You were very right, though, about Don Gaspar. He was easier to influence than I thought. But, I am sorry to say, our well-fed patriot is starting to get cold feet. When you crashed the party, it kind of put the fear of God into him," said Miguel.
Montoya sat at his desk, narrowed his eyes at Rameriz and said, "I could not let a large gathering such as that go unchallenged. Now, about your cousin Carlos; I would sooner lose the chance of acquiring control over half the land in Alta California if it meant having to harm him. Your concern has nothing to do with Carlos, but everything to do with concentrating on your mission. You must, at all cost, keep Gaspar and his followers inspired in their cause at least long enough for them to commit an act of sedition. I need something that I can take to the Viceroy to make my plan work."
Miguel smiled, "I tried to force the issue at the meeting until that spoiled brat, Señorita Alvarado, interfered."
Montoya made a waving motion at him and said, "You're an idiot, just like the whole side of your family. The Señorita saved your life. Captain Grisham knows nothing of our plan. If she hadn't stepped in when she did, he probably would have shot you."
Miguel's face turned pale. "You would have done nothing to stop him?"
Montoya countered, "Like you said--you tried to force the issue."
He stood up and pounded on the desk, which startled Miguel.
"You will follow my orders to the letter. I have tried to tax the Dons off their land and have failed again and again. Now, they are about to walk into my master stroke of a trap. As soon as I can show treason against the Crown, the Viceroy will send in the entire garrison from Monterey and put it at my disposal. Together with my forces, we will arrest those involved in the conspiracy and confiscate all their properties. At that point, not even the Queen of Swords will be able to help them."
Miguel interrupted, "But they all have powerful friends back in Spain."
Montoya replied, "I don't care who their friends are in the Spanish Court. No one will stand up to defend a traitor."
Again, Miguel interrupted his uncle; "I am rather looking forward to meeting the Queen. I hear that she is quite lovely."
Enraged, Montoya shook his fist at Miguel, an honor he usually saved for Captain Grisham.
"I've heard the rumors about you. If you are unfortunate enough to meet the Queen, I highly suggest that you keep your pants on. She is not some poor peasant girl and will not give it a second thought about castrating you. If you somehow ruin my plan, Miguel, I give you my word I will personally saw off the limb of the family tree that you are hanging onto. Do I make myself clear?"
Miguel swallowed hard and replied, "Yes, perfectly clear. It sounds like you respect her a great deal."
"Only a fool does not respect his enemy. I may want to see her destroyed, but yes, I do respect her abilities," replied Montoya. Too bad she is against me; she would be a capable ally.
As his house-robe-clad uncle continued to rant and rave, Miguel thought to himself, Now probably would not be a good time to inform Uncle about my indiscretions with Senora Hidalgo.
The eastern sky was beginning to brighten as Lieutenant Carlos Montoya rode the trail along a ridgeline. He was so deep in thought that he did not notice the rider approach from behind him until he heard a woman's voice say, "A reale for your thoughts?"
Startled for a second, he turned to see the Queen of Swords, on Chico, riding along side of him. A smile came to his face.
"Buenos Dias, Reina! It nice to see that someone came to see me off."
He then laughed, "It's quite interesting that you were the first person I met when I came here and now it looks like you are going to be the last when I leave"
He pulled on the reins, bringing his horse to a halt. The Queen did likewise.
"I was surprised when I heard you were leaving. I am also very sorry that things didn’t work out between you and Catalina."
"Well, those things happen. I do love her very much and I think she loves me. We found that we were too much alike to stay together. Who knows, someday," he left the rest unsaid.
Even in the dim light, she could tell that this made him feel uneasy.
"I thought maybe that was the reason for your uncle sending you away," said the Queen.
Carlos dismounted and took his horse by the reins. The Queen did the same.
After a few seconds, he said, "At first that’s what I believed also."
Letting go of Chico's reins to allow him to graze, the Queen walked over to Carlos.
"You did good, Carlos, watching over your uncle, but I am afraid he's up to his old tricks."
Patting his horse on the forehead, Carlos replied, "I am afraid you may be right, and that’s the real reason for him sending me away. No witnesses."
From the tone in his voice, she could tell that he was very saddened and her heart felt for him. He led his horse to the side of the trail and stared off into the East as the sunlight was breaking over the mountains. The Queen walked over and stood alongside of him.
"What are you looking at?" she asked.
He replied, "Dawn. This is my favorite time of the day. It's going to be a very nice day."
She said, "Si, but it is going to be another hot one."
Without looking at her, he said, "Reina smells very lovely for so early in the morning."
She chuckled then nudged her shoulder against his and replied, "The truth be known it's just a cheap perfume that the Queen wears. It beats the hell out of smelling like horse sweat."
He then took hold of her hand and turned towards her. "You know, I never properly thanked you for saving my life when I first arrived here."
She then became puzzled by what he was doing. He removed his tall hat and placed it on the horn of his saddle. Then he began removing her glove. She thought about stopping him but did not. Once her glove was off, he dropped to one knee and kissed her hand. As a Doña her hand has been kissed many times, but she never felt a rush as she was feeling now. Maybe it was because of the uniform. Whenever one of Montoya’s soldiers was this close to her and on his knees he was usually bleeding all over her boots rather than kissing her hand.
He stood back up and looked into her eyes, her heart began to pound in her chest. Before he could say anything she moved forward and wrapped her arms around him, pushing him back a few inches. She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.
He held her in his arms and spoke softly into her ear; "Hmm, Maybe I have a reason to return someday."
"Maybe you do, Carlos," she replied and winked an eye. "That is, unless you and Catalina come to your senses."
He finally released her and she took a step back. He retrieved his hat and placed it on his head. Then, taking hold of the reins he remounted his horse. She brushed her hand through her hair before putting back on her glove.
She looked up at him, "Before you go, Carlos, please tell me what you know about Don Miguel Rameriz?"
He replied, "Not much. All I know is that he is rather odd and keeps to himself. I've never had the chance to meet him." Suddenly, he laughed.
"What’s so funny?" she asked.
He said, "Oh, nothing. I just remembered that I had a cousin by that same name. I was told he died in France several years ago."
"How did he die?"
"Apparently, he was indiscrete with a wealthy man’s wife and he was hung."
He pulled on the reins and turned his horse in the direction of Monterey. "I must hurry, I don't want to be late reporting in and it is a long ride. Whatever my uncle is up to, please go easy on Uncle Luis. Deep down he's a good man."
She smiled and thought, Yeah right, real deep down.
"Vaya con Dios, Carlos." She waved.
"Y usted, mi Reina," he replied, as he galloped down the trail.
She stood in the middle of the road and watched him ride away, as Chico came over to her. She took hold of his reins, "The Colonel's nephew. Gee, I’ll bet Marta didn’t even see that one coming. Two nephews. One the nicest man you could meet and the other a pig."
She patted Chico on the forehead and said, "Too bad Carlos is such a gentleman."
She mounted up and Chico turned to her and whinnied.
"Shut up, Chico," she chuckled, as they galloped off in the opposite direction.
Act Two
The bright morning sunlight shown through the open window as Vera knelt shakily in the bedroom, with her head near the chamber pot as she heaved. From the corner of her eye, she saw someone standing in the doorway.
"Go and get some towels, quickly."
When there was no response, she turned to see her husband, Gaspar, standing in the doorway. He was already dressed for the day. Shaking his head, he said in an unsympathetic tone, "I will send a servant to help you."
As he turned and left, Vera began to cry, and called out to him, "Wait, Gaspar, please don't leave me."
She heard footsteps returning down the hallway as a maid walked into the room. Vera placed her hands over her face and cried harder.
Don Gaspar walked into his study and after a few minutes came out with a pistol in his belt and his sword in hand. He stepped out of the front door of his hacienda where a groom had his carriage and team waiting for him as instructed. He stopped for a moment, removed a handkerchief from his coat pocket and wiped the tears from his eyes. Returning it to his pocket, he continued to walk to the carriage. The groom helped him up onto the boot and in a few moments he cracked the whip and was driving away. Two mounted green-uniformed rancheros with shouldered muskets followed as an escort. A hundred yards down the road, twelve more armed rancheros on horseback fell in behind the first guards, forming a column of twos.
Though still weak from purging her system, Vera exited her bath. Amazing what an hour's rest and a bath can do for a person, she thought as she dressed. The sound of hoofbeats brought her to her bedroom and she looked out.
A few minutes later, a maid entered the room, bringing with her a folded piece of paper delivered by the rider. Vera read the message and crumpled up the paper. She told the maid to go and have the groom prepare her surrey. Ten minutes later, Vera drove the surrey away from the stables and headed in the direction towards the ocean. Riding down the road, she didn’t notice the lone rider following her at a distance.
A few miles outside of town, where the trail dipped into a small ravine, Don Gaspar waited in his carriage. The carriage was stopped in the middle of the road. Two uniformed rancheros sat on horseback on either side of the surrey. After about an hour of waiting, they could see a cloud of dust approaching from the direction of Santa Elena. Shortly, four mounted horsemen could be seen emerging from the cloud.
As the riders came nearer, Don Gaspar could make them out to be three soldiers with Captain Grisham on his white horse, in the lead. Grisham raised his hand as he pulled on the reins, bringing his horse to a stop.The three troopers stopped behind him.
He dismounted and walked the ten yards' distance to the stationary carriage. "Don Gaspar, by order of Colonel Montoya I am placing your uniformed rancheros under arrest."
Gaspar smiled and replied, "You are very prompt, Captain. I am so glad that I didn’t have to wait much longer for you out here in the hot sun. Besides, this is still my property and these men are not under arrest."
Gaspar made a waving motion with his hand towards the high brim off to the side of the road. Grisham turned to look and saw twelve more of the green-uniformed rancheros, all pointing their muskets at the soldiers. One of Grisham's men went for his pistol and was immediately shot out of the saddle by four rancheros firing at the same time. The other two turned and galloped away. Grisham turned and started to run to his horse.
"I wouldn’t try it if I were you."
He turned back around and saw Gaspar standing up in the carriage with his pistol drawn and pointed at him.
"You’re the one under arrest Captain," said an unsmiling Gaspar.
Two of the guards grabbed Grisham and tied his hands behind his back.
"You'll never get away with this," shouted Grisham.
A ranchero tripped him and pushed him down to the ground as they finished hog-tying him by snapping manacles on his ankles.
"By what authority are you arresting me and on what possible charge?" asked Grisham, speaking in a strained voice as he struggled against his bindings.
Don Gaspar replied, "You are under arrest by the authority of the Council of the Dons. You are charged with the rape of a Don's wife. "
Grisham’s face turned white. With eyes wide-opened, he looked at Gaspar.
"What?" He shouted. His question was cut off as a cloth was forced into his mouth, gagging him.
Vera followed the main road for nearly an hour until she turned off onto a side trail. The trail climbed and snaked its way up a rather steep hill, headed towards the cliffs overlooking the ocean. The horse team pulling her surrey strained until the trail eventually leveled out as it neared the top of the hill.
The ruins of an old hacienda that had been destroyed by an earthquake many years before, were located at the top. All that remained of the onc- large building were three jagged walls. The missing fourth wall opened near the edge of the high cliffs. Two green-uniformed rancheros stepped out from behind a tree as Vera got closer to the ruins and stopped her.
One of them helped her down from the surrey as she asked, "Where is he?"
"Inside, Señora. He is expecting you," replied the ranchero.
She walked carefully across the broken mortar and clutter, then through the doorless entrance. Once inside the open-air structure, she saw a man, with his hands behind his back, facing away from her and looking out over the ocean. A stiff ocean breeze blew in Vera's face and she could hear the waves as they broke over the rocky shore far below.
Vera stopped ten yards from the man and said, in a voice that could carry the waves and wind, "I got your message. You said you can solve my problem."
Don Rameriz turned around and smiled." Vera, so nice of you to come. You said I was going to do what?"
While he walked over to her, she pulled the note the rider had delivered out of her handbag and held it out towards him.
Rameriz took it, unfolded it and began reading.
After a second or two, he said, "Why, yes, it does say that," and he then stuffed it into his coat pocket. "How careless of me. I meant to say I was going to solve my problem."
She became angry and shouted; "You pig! You forced yourself on me when Gaspar wasn’t home and now you want to play games?"
"If I remember correctly, after the third glass of wine, I didn’t have to force too hard," he countered.
She went to slap him across the face but he blocked her blow with his hand and grabbed onto her wrist.
"You are hurting me!" She exclaimed, as she twisted her arm until she broke free from his grasp.
"I think I am pregnant, and when Gaspar learns of this he will kill you."
He got an evil look in his eyes that frightened her. "When, indeed," he said in a sinister tone. "As we speak, my dear, your loving husband Gaspar is on his way to kill Captain Grisham. Not only did I convince him that he is Nueva España’s answer to the Americanos' George Washington, but also that Captain Grisham is responsible for your condition, which, by the way. he has suspected for a while now."
Her face turned white. "No, not Marcus! What do you possibly hope to accomplish by doing this?"
He gave her an evil smile. "Actually, two things, my little dove. One, after Gaspar kills Captain Grisham, he will be arrested and eventually hanged for murder. Second, although this might be a stretch, it will be the act of sedition the Colonel has been waiting for. Then, he will be able to legally confiscate all of the haciendas and ranchos. Eventually, he will purchase them from the government for back taxes, for himself and his favorite nephew. Rather clever, don't you think?"
Vera replied, "Not Carlos!"
He lunged forward, grabbed her by the hair and began to drag her towards the edge of the cliff. Vera began screaming. He continued," I meant to say his new, favorite nephew," and started a sickening laughter.
"Come with me, my dove, and let's see if your wings are clipped or not!"
Continue to Part Three

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