The Reformation
                                                                       Chapter 10



Licenciado Pina was a lawyer from Mexico City with a long history of corruption.  He had eagerly accepted an invitation from the commandante of the Pueblo de Los Angeles to join forces for the benefit of both.  Together they plotted and robbed both rich and poor in the tiny pueblo until one man had the courage and intelligence to stand up to them.  "Zorro".  With his help the terror and injustice soon ended for the people of the tiny pueblo.  The commandante and Pina were arrested and returned to Spain to face their crimes.  However Enrique Sanchez Monastario, with the help of the "right" people, was returned to Los Angeles a freed man and allowed to resume his position while Pina remained in a Spanish jail forced to face unimagined indignities.

Licenciado Pina was a lawyer from Mexico City with a long history of corruption.  He had eagerly accepted an invitation from the commandante of the Pueblo de Los Angeles to join forces for the benefit of both.  Together they plotted and robbed both rich and poor in the tiny pueblo until one man had the courage and intelligence to stand up to them.  "Zorro".  With his help the terror and injustice soon ended for the people of the tiny pueblo.  The commandante and Pina were arrested and returned to Spain to face their crimes.  However Enrique Sanchez Monastario, with the help of the "right" people, was returned to Los Angeles a freed man and allowed to resume his position while Pina remained in a Spanish jail forced to face unimagined indignities.

On board the ship, Perla de la Mar, Pina slaved away to pay the expense of his passage back to California.  Occasionally he stopped working and gazed out over the water remembering the hardship of his last voyage.  Under guard the commandante and he were placed aboard a ship in San Pedro harbor bound for Spain and punishment.  The darkness, starvation, sickness and chains...even now he shivered looking back.  How did Monastario convince the courts of his innocence and allow the guilt to fall on him.  Poor Pina shouldered the punishment and vowed revenge on Monastario for leaving him behind.

Stepping off the ship in San Pedro Pina made his way to Los Angeles  disguised as an old peon.  There in the tiny pueblo he sought the assistance of Miguel Ramirez, a jailed murderer, who hated Monastario as much as he.  After helping Ramirez escape jail the two men waited weeks to see Pina's plan executed.

Now as Diego and Bernardo rode away from the rancho following the departure of Don Alejandro and the governor, Ramirez and Pina slipped unnoticed to the hacienda. Easily the two men overpowered the household servants and placed them tied and gagged in a pantry.  Cautiously the two men edged their way around the main house, their pistols drawn, until they reached the sala where they heard voices.  Bursting through the patio doors Pina and Ramirez were offered no resistance from the startled people.

"Miguel, I thought I would never see you again...what is the meaning of this?"  implored Don Carlos.  "Have you not done enough?"

"Be quiet old man," laughed Miguel.  "My business here was not complete."

"I should never have interfered with justice," Don Carlos shook his head.  "But I so wished to believe that you were innocent."

"Enough foolish talk," interrupted Pina.  "We must hurry before someone returns.  When Don Alejandro and the governor speak with Garcia they might discover that they were tricked."

"You are right,"  Miguel replied looking at his father and Anna Maria.  "If you do not wish to be harmed then do not interfere.  Our displeasure is not with you but the commandante...and his lady."

The cold, harsh words Miguel spoke brought a shudder to the innocent people held hostage.  Don Carlos could not believe that his son had such cruelty in him but now he realized the magnitude of his mistake.

"Pina, I should have known.  Who else would align himself with the likes of Ramirez?" shouted Monastario.  "Do what you wish with me but leave Leonar alone."

With the pistol in his hand Pina struck Monastario on the side of the head.  Leonar screamed and ran toward Monastario, who slumped over in his chair, a stream of blood running down his face.  Miguel lunged forward and grabbed the young woman by the arm as she struggled furiously under his grip.

Don Carlos stammered, "Please...Miguel release her."

"Take another step old man and she dies," said Miguel raising the pistol to Leonar's temple.

"I am the one you want," said Monastario trying to stand.  "Let Leonar go and take me."

"You are no longer in a position to issue orders, mi Capitan," Pina said sarcastically.  "We are in charge now."

"Si. it is your death we are after," said Miguel.  "However before we finish with you, your lady will meet the same fate as your first love.  Too bad these women used such poor judgement in choosing you."

Leonar squirmed in Miguel's arms unable to free herself.  Don Carlos and Anna Maria could see anger in Monastario's face as his body stiffened and strained.  Pushing himself to a standing position the commandante faced Miguel who then turned his pistol and prepared to fire.  Don Carlos pushed Anna Maria to a side before throwing himself between his son and the commandante as the gun fired.   Don Carlos fell against Monastario and both crumbled to the floor.

"We must go quickly," shouted Pina to Miguel.  "I hear horses approaching the hacienda."

Alarmed Pina and Ramirez fled toward the back of the hacienda dragging Leonar, her cries muffled, with them to the hills.  Once free of danger they would deal with this woman but until then the governor's daughter would remain a good hostage.  Quickly they maneuvered over the rough terrain to their camp where their horses were tied.

Anna Maria ran to Monastario as he leaned over the man whose unselfish act had saved his life.  Luckily the don had only suffered a superficial wound.

"Why did you do this?" questioned Monastario.  "I owe you my life."

"No, you owe me nothing.  It is I, who owe you," he said wincing from the pain.

"Everything will be all right Don Carlos," said Anna Maria looking over her shoulder.  "Someone rides to the hacienda.   We will have them send for the doctor."

"Do not work about me...find my son before he can hurt the senorita," said Don Carlos weakly.

At the gate Sergeant Garcia and his men heard the sound of gunfire and raced toward the main house after dismounting their horses.  Running through the front door Garcia stopped for a brief moment after seeing the blood surrounding the three people.

"Senora, commandante are you hurt?" Garcia cried out.

"No,I am fine," said Anna Maria eagerly.  "Don Carlos has been shot by his son.  Don Miguel and some man named Pina have taken Leonar as a hostage."

Sergeant Garcia gestured to one of his men to fetch the doctor while the rest of his men helped Don Carlos and the commandante to their feet.

"Sergeant have my horse saddled and bring me my sword," ordered Monastario.  "We ride after Ramirez and Pina."

"Si Capitan but are you sure you are well enough," asked Garcia.

Determined to find Leonar before any harm would befall her Monastario replied, "Well enough." 
                                                                                     ~*~