Disclaimers: The characters from the Queen of Swords are copyright to Fireworks Productions. No infringement of copyright is intended or revenue expected from their use. The story plot and other original characters are copyright to the author, Jim Guy.

Infatuation
By Jim Guy

Part One of two

Prologue

"Maria Elena, that lazy child. Just as worthless as that camp following mother of hers." Don Dominguez yelled as he searched for the girl that he had reluctantly put to work after her mother died. The girl's father had been a soldier in El Pueblo de San Diego.

"Hush husband, I told her she could go to the pier to see the supply ship come in."

"How dare you try usurp my authority? You are a woman and nothing more." He backhanded her across her face. Fear showed in the woman's face.

"I will show that daughter of a whore what it means to disobey me." He took his bullwhip down from the wall rack, went out side and mounted his horse. He raced away towards the pueblo.

Maria Elena saw her employer ride into the pueblo and hid from him. She knew the terror that the whip would bring if he found her. She had come to the pueblo, not to watch the ship but to stow away. She knew the ship would be going North along the coast. First El Pueblo de Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Santa Elena, Monterey and El Presidio de San Francisco. She had to leave or she would kill that pompous arrogant pig.

Maria Elena had thought long about running away. She had packed what meager clothing she had and a little food and water. When she had tried to express an opinion or an idea, the Don had put her down telling her she was only a girl. She was worth less than an old cow that could no longer produce milk.

Darkness set in and she knew that the ship would not leave until high tide early in the morning. Stealthily, she crept to the ship and boarded, finding a hiding place in the hold. It may be dark, dank and smelly, but it was safety. The gentle movement of the ship lulled her to sleep.

Several days later, Maria Elena knew that she had to get off the ship. The rats were becoming aggressive and the motion of the ship had already caused her to heave several times. Her stomach was empty and she was weak. She stole her way to the deck and realized that this port had no pier. She couldn't get on a long boat, so she would have to swim. Gathering her belongings, she silently let herself over the port side. The starboard side faced the shore.

She swam for all her worth and was almost at her strength's end when a hand grabbed her. A woman in black and wearing a lace mask was pulling her ashore.

"Thank you for saving me but who are you? How did you know I needed help?"

Act One, Scene 1

"I am the Queen of Swords. I sometimes come and watch the ships unload and dream of far away places. I saw you on the deck and watched you slip over the side. What is your name, girl, and why are you running away from the ship?"

"I am Maria Elena Santiago." She held herself straight and proud. "My mother is dead and I do not know who my father was. He was a soldier. I went to work for a Don who whipped me and punished me for being who I was. He always told me that I was a worthless slut. I am not. I am an intelligent woman and I need no help from others."

"Yes I can see that. That's why I had to drag you the last 100 yards to shore. Look, we can't stay here all day, the soldiers may see me and I can't have that. Come you will ride behind me."

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe for you. I know of a Dona and her Duena who might be able to help you. They are kind people and the Dona does not whip her workers."

"What about her husband?"

"She has never been married." The Queen nudged Chico into a trot and a while later, they arrived at the Alvarado hacienda.

Marta was in the garden and saw the Queen ride up.

'Buenos Dias, Reina, como esta?"

"Muy bien, Gracias, Marta. A donde esta Senorita Alvarado?"

"My mistress went riding a little while ago but should be back shortly. How can I help you?"

"This young lady needs a place to stay and perhaps you can use a helper. She has been on a ship for two days and is hungry, tired and . . ."

Marta sniffed. "And she could use a bath and clean clothes. Como se llama, Senorita?"

"Mi llama es Maria Elena Santiago, Senora. Mi amigos call me Elena."

"Madre Dios, two of them." Marta looked at the Queen who smirked as she turned Chico to leave. "Adios y Gracias, Senora Marta."

Act One, Scene 2

A short while later, the Queen entered the secret passage. "Bless you, Marta," she thought. On the table were her riding clothes. Quickly changing into Tessa, she went back out of the passage and into the stables. Then she proceeded to enter the hacienda.

"Marta, I am home."

"Tessa, we have a visitor."

"Oh is Doctor Helm here?"

"Why are you ill?"

"Marta, someday I may be Senora." \Senora Helm\ Tessa smiled to herself at the thought.

"Not if you can't catch him. The man is standing still and you still haven't caught him." Marta had a gleam in her eye and Tessa gave her a wicked grin.

"Marta, who are you thinking of?"

"Oh, any man."

"If not Doctor Helm, then who is our visitor?"

"May I present, Maria Elena Santiago. Elena, this is Senorita Maria Teresa Alvarado."

Tessa held out her hand. "My friends call me Tessa." The girl stood proud "My friends call me Elena."

Marta groaned. "To see the two of you is like looking at Tessa's younger self. Same hair color, same complexion, same build. Elena, how old are you?"

"I am sixteen, why?"

"You two look like sisters." Tessa and Elena looked at each other. Elena was wearing some of Tessa's clothes. "Marta, you are right, Elena is like looking into a mirror."

"Senorita, Senora, I don't wish to be rude but what can you tell me about the Queen of Swords?"

Marta and Tessa looked at each other and then at Elena.

"I have never know such a strong caring woman. She is confident, the kind of woman I want to be. No man would tell her that she is worthless," Elena declared.

Tessa took Elena's hands in her own. "No she is not worthless. She fights against injustice, yes, but she is always looking over her shoulder. Would you want to be hunted by every bounty hunter for a thousand Reales reward? That is what Montoya has put on her head. I am sure she doesn't like that. Would you?"

"If that what it takes. Now tell me who she is and why she wears the mask and carries a sword."

The three sat down as Tessa and Marta explained who the Queen of Swords was, what dangers there were and why she rode, as far as they knew. Tessa and Marta both knew that Elena was infatuated with the Queen and if she was not taken under their wing, it could possibly present a problem or it could be an advantage. One thing the three of them agreed on was that it would not be a good idea for Senorita Santiago to be seen in town for the time being.

Act Two, Scene 1

Don Dominquez had ridden hard for several days. He missed the ship in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Hopefully he would catch his quarry in this next town. He had been furious when he arrived at home from the pier. His wife chided him for being a fool for chasing Maria Elena. He turned on her and hit her over and over again in the face. He had packed his gear and rode out after the girl.

As he rode along the long trail, he remembered his mother. There had been rumors that she was sleeping with another man but nothing proven, until that fateful day. His father had taken him out riding when he was ten years old. Upon their return, they had found the mother in the arms of a soldier. In the father's bed. The soldier had managed to escape, but his father had taken a bullwhip to the woman as her lover ran her out of the house. The last time Don Dominguez had seen his mother had been an accident. He was sixteen and some friends had taken him to a whorehouse to experience a woman for the first time. Each boy was led to the service room by the madam. Don Dominquez entered the dark room as the whore lit a lamp. The whore turned around and Don Dominquez was looking into the face of his mother. He ran out and never looked back.

Since then all women were whores as far as he was concerned. He made it his mission to punish any woman who crossed him and his whip had bit the back of several during his lifetime.

He saw the outline of Santa Elena in the distance. His horse could make it and then he would have to change horses, as his was almost dead.

Act Two, Scene 2

Two days later, Senorita Alvarado and Marta were shopping in town. Tessa saw Vera and walked toward. Suddenly a whip snaked out and trapped Tessa around the arms.

"There you are you filthy peasant whore. Running away from me, will you? I will whip you all the way from here to San Diego." An angry Don Dominguez strode towards the entrapped Tessa.

At that very moment, Colonel Montoya, Captain Grisham, Doctor Helm and several dons were coming out of a meeting hosted by the Colonel.

"Senor, if you do not release Senorita Alvarado this instant, I will have you shot on the spot," Colonel Montoya snarled.

Don Dominguez wheeled on the Colonel but did not release Tessa.

"This bitch daughter of a whore ran away from my hacienda in San Diego after beating my wife half to death. I will take her back to San Diego today, after all I am Don Dominguez."

"Don Dominguez, you have made a terrible mistake. You have accosted a Dona in public with a whip and your vile tongue. Senorita Alvarado is the daughter of one our most illustrious dons, God rest his soul. She was born here but raised in Spain. She returned nearly a year ago with her duenna when her father died. I can personally vouch for her identity and integrity." Colonel Montoya stared into Don Dominquez's eye.

"Now release her."

"No, you cannot fool me. I know my property when I see it."

"Property? Slavery of a Spaniard in Alta California is against the law. Captain Grisham, if he has not released Senorita Alvarado when I count three, kill him."

Captain Grisham raised his pistol, cocked it and placed it against the don's head.

"One"

"Two"

"Th"

"Alright, but you haven't heard the last of this I can prove that this sixteen year old puta is mine. She has whip marks across her back."

"You have whipped a young girl and are proud of it? Senorita Alvarado is not sixteen."

Don Dominguez unwrapped the whip. Then he tried to backhand Tessa, who ducked. Instead he turned her around and ripped the back of her blouse away. Tessa screamed. Grisham cracked him over the head with his pistol. Don Dominguez collapsed but was still conscious.

Don Gaspar quickly removed his coat and covered Senorita Alvarado. Tessa was embarrassed and furious. She hung onto Gaspar's coat like a robe. She started to faint but was caught by one the Dons.

In her anger, Marta grabbed the whip and tried to beat the unconscious don with the whip handle. Two of the dons took the whip away from her. Marta was still storming and tried to take Grisham's sword out of its scabbard. She was unsuccessful as Doctor Helm wrapped her in his arms. Two of the dons pulled their own swords but were stopped by Colonel Montoya. Loudly, the dons demanded that this pero be hung. Two soldiers pulled up Don Dominquez to a standing position. Don Gaspar pulled his own sword and held it to Don Dominguez's throat.

Montoya put his hand on Don Gaspar's sword hand. "My friend, as insulting as this man's behavior is, do not commit murder in my sight."

Don Gaspar removed his sword. He deftly belted Don Dominquez in the mouth with his sword hilt. Don Dominguez slumped unconscious in the soldier's arms.

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Concluded in Part Two