Reflections by Toni

Chapter 1

The sun was beginning to set in the pueblo de Los Angeles. Don Alejandro, Diego and Felipe rode alongside the wagon containing the body of Gilberto Risendo. The mood was somber as they arrived in the pueblo. The citizens felt relief upon learning of the Emissary’s death but the revelation that Gilberto was Alejandro’s son as well as Diego’s brother was stunning. Inez Risendo, the woman who had stolen Gilberto and raised him as her own son, was to be sent back to Spain on the next available boat to face the consequences of her actions. The entire pueblo had suffered because of her but none had suffered more than Don Alejandro and Diego.

Don Alejandro de la Vega silently pondered the events of the last few hours. He discovered a son he didn’t know in Gilberto and he was finding that he didn’t know Diego as well as he thought he did. When Diego returned from Spain, his father had expected him to take a place of leadership in the community. His son was passionate about his experiments, his books and his newspaper, but yet it appeared that Diego knew more about sword fighting than Alejandro had been led to believe. The Diego he thought he knew pursued peaceful pursuits instead of violence. Alejandro abruptly realized he had seen a glimpse of the de la Vega temper when Diego had confronted a lancer who had insulted Victoria all those years ago. What other passions lay hidden beneath the surface?

Don Alejandro desperately wanted to figure out what was gnawing at him. So many pieces were starting to fall into place. Zorro’s appearance in the pueblo after Diego returned from Spain...Diego’s skill with a sword …The passion and fierceness he displayed on occasion... Sir Edmund Kendall’s mysterious note… Diego’s absences when Zorro was present …Zorro releasing de la Vega funds from the bank … Diego had played the part of an inept, incompetent man to perfection. He’d fooled his father, Victoria, two alcaldes and countless others. Don Alejandro had underestimated his son’s intelligence and cunning. This led him to one logical yet unbelievable conclusion...Diego was Zorro!!

Don Alejandro felt a sense of pride in knowing that his son was more like him than he had ever imagined. He also felt anger as well. Why didn’t Diego confide in him? Didn’t he trust his own father? What kind of father was he if his own son couldn’t confide in him? Alejandro cringed at the direction that his thoughts had taken. How many times had he labeled Diego a “coward” for failing to take a stand? His son was more of a man than he had ever imagined. Alejandro gained a newfound respect for his son who had endured years of ridicule from those who supposedly loved him and claimed to know him best. Conflicting emotions were running through the old don and his suspicions hadn’t even been confirmed yet.

Alejandro vowed to keep his promise to Elena. He would love the son that he had. He prayed that Diego would forgive him. He could not take back the hurtful remarks that he had made, but he could show Diego that he was proud of him. A day of sadness and regret would also be a day of reconciliation and new beginnings. A talk with his son would settle the matter once and for all.