QOS-VS - 202 - UNFORTUNATE CHOICE

Written by Eliza
elizawpg@home.com

The arrival of the stage from Monterey brings with it new edicts from the new Viceroy and a new resident for Santa Helena. Who will have more to worry about, Colonel Montoya or the Queen?

Synopsis by Jo
EnyaJo@aol.com

PROLOGUE

Tessa and Marta are in Santa Helena and see the stage come. A woman with a lot of baggage steps down from the coach, and Tessa is of course a little trepidatious about who's come to town now. <g> Last week's visitor to Santa Helena (in 201 Mirror, Mirror) was an imposter who staked claim to Tessa's land, and identity. When Tessa welcomes the woman and introduces herself, the woman only wants to know where the military commander was.

When Tessa asks the woman who she is, the woman replies, "Senora Montoya." Woo! We're off to a great start!

~~~~~

ACT ONE

Montoya and Grisham are talking about some missing ladies' gloves, seven in fact, as they walk to Montoya's courtyard. Grisham sees the new arrival with Tessa in the square. He still has his eye on Señorita Alvarado. Will he ever learn?

Eliza gives us an excellent reaction to Montoya spotting the women who had introduced herself as his wife to Tessa, from Grisham's POV: When he opened his eyes to focus again on the mystery woman, the look he sent should have killed her on the spot. The breath was released slowly accompanied by a quiet string of curses, some of which were new even to a career soldier like Grisham.

To Grisham's further surprise, Montoya immediately tells him that she is his wife. He goes to her and welcomes his wife with a kiss on the hand and calls her Sabina.

When Tessa needles Montoya about not knowing he was married, he replies, "Sometimes when one is separated from family, it is easier on the heart not to mention them. Just the memories can often cause pain." Can't wait to find out about this twosome. <g>

Montoya introduces his wife to Grisham as Doña Sabina Ortiz de Montoya. He then tells her: "If you had informed me of your plans, I could have prepared for your arrival. You will find I live the Spartan life of a soldier." To which both Grisham and Tessa rose eyebrows.

Sabina endears herself to all when she says: "As for the accommodations, I am certain I can make them endurable.

~~~~~

Tessa is too intrigued by Senora Montoya to not find out more about her. Where does one start if they want to find out what's going on? Of course, they seek out Senora Hidalgo. <g>

We find out that Vera was not in Santa Helena when Montoya arrived. She and Gaspar had traveled on the next ship. Gaspar and Montoya had briefly met in Spain as they were both going to the same destination. It had been four years since Vera and Gaspar were married in Spain and Montoya had been in Santa Helena.

For once, someone is able to tell Vera some news, that Montoya not only has a wife, but she is right there in Santa Helena.

Vera raised an eyebrow and a slightly smug grin appeared. "Not all marriages are like mine and Gaspar's." Let's hope not Vera. <g>

Montoya interrupts them with an invitation to dinner to meet his wife the next evening. The women waited until Montoya was out of sight before putting their heads together again. <g> Vera can't be silent about a juicy tidbit for too long and goes off in search of her husband to tell him.

Just when Tessa is wondering how to get Grisham to take her home, as Marta had left with the wagon loaded with supplies earlier, without 'encouraging' him, he comes to her at the cantina.

"I was not alone, Captain, at least not for long. It was very strange, but all of a sudden Senora Hidalgo found that she had the strong desire to return home to her husband." As soon as the words left her mouth, Tessa knew that it was the wrong thing to say, for Vera might be the only thing standing between her and a full out courtship assault from the captain. Don't tick off the man you're using...

Grisham asks to escort Tessa to the dinner, and she does need that ride home. "I would like to think about that, Marcus. The trip home should give me enough time to settle the issue, and if you were to drive me then you could have your answer as soon as possible." That Tessa. Gotta love her.

~~~~~

Grisham's thoughts betray his egomaniacal idiocy. Tessa had accepted his offer of escorting him to the dinner. He knew there was passion bubbling below that facade of a decorous young lady. He had seen it for himself. LOL! Yes, he had. While she was wearing a dress, and while she was dressed in black. Too bad Grisham hadn't been paying attention. All he had to do was tap into it and she would be putty in his hands. Not sure he'd know what to do with her if he did get her. <g> He would marry her, get control of the ranch, and then Vera would not be able to dismiss him as just a common soldier. That's why he wants Tessa. Good to know that he does really care about Vera.

Grisham goes back to Montoya and sees the Colonel swamped with paperwork. Montoya explains: "The new viceroy has arrived, and with him a new supply of paper it seems. The man thinks that if he writes enough he will eventually make a permanent mark."

Montoya's also spitting mad about a new 'head tax' levied on the residence without regard to what they can afford. Montoya knows how far he can push them, and thinks this is a preposterous notion from a bureaucrat. He tells Grisham: "At least he had the good sense to send an official notice. Grisham, post this in the square. Make sure to point out the viceroy's seal at the bottom. I would like to deflect as much of the blame away from me as possible."

Grisham still has thoughts of taking over the place: He had to be careful though, to behave too formally would be out of character and draw attention to himself -- he did not want that. It was taking a while, but he was beginning to be able to read his commander.

~~~~~

After Grisham leaves, Sabina arrives. "You have him well trained," she said.

"He is a soldier. He knows his place. You are a soldier's wife..." He didn't feel the need to finish the rest of the sentence. It was a very old argument. Or Montoya knows when to hold his tongue, but still get the remark in there. <g>

They argue about promises made before they were married. We find out that they have been married for eleven years. Sabina didn't come to just see her husband, she has a mission. "We can gain respect, wealth, power, and influence here." We also find out that Sabina has the ear of the Viceroy and that it was she who had suggested the notion of the head tax to him. She can bend the Viceroy because he's her cousin. They argue about whether they are returning to Spain, as she wishes, or staying to consolidate power in Alta California and have the support of the people, as Montoya wishes. This couple is by no means picture perfect. Wonder who will get their way in the end... If we're betting, my money's on Montoya. For the moment, all Montoya could think to do was grit his teeth and bide his time. Hopefully, this would be the only bright idea that Sabina would have for a while. <g>

~~~~~

It's interesting that a couple of important scenes of this story about Montoya and his wife in the Teaser and Act One are told mainly from the viewpoint of Grisham. I like that. It's a way, as if watching the series, we don't have privy to their introspection, only their reactions, as he would see them. And of course, we get Eliza's way of words with his thoughts. <g> The Teaser and Act One were wonderful for setting up the plot and characters: Montoya and his headstrong wife, Sabina; Grisham's continued courtship of Tessa and a bit of historical background for Vera and Montoya. Eliza's writing is full of wit and we're in excellent hands to carry us through the rest of the story.

~~~~~

ACT TWO

Montoya was not enjoying his morning, particularly since the first sight of the day had been Sabina behind his desk going through his records. Fortunately, she had only found the official ones. His first sight of the day wasn't Sabina in his bed? This couple is worse off than we imagined. <g>

She raised her head to stare at him and he almost smiled -- she hated it when he used endearments. If that doesn't tell us a hell of a lot about their relationship, I don't know what does. <g> She's the privileged woman who doesn't have time to suffer fools, or other peoples' wants or desires, lightly. He's probably still, in a small part of his being, trying to appease her, probably so she would be easier to live with.

Montoya was not about to draw attention to his acquisitions. The minerals, the water rights, any aspect of the property that could be turned into ready cash was being utilized. As well, the tenant farmers had remained on the land, so there was little sign of the change of ownership and a steady income was being produced for Monterey -- even if it was reported as less than a third of what it actually was. Of course he understood what Sabina was suggesting, but this was not the right time to show his hand. She never did have any patience. Important paragraph for all who's wondered what Montoya is stockpiling.

The few times Sabina had conceived in the first years of their marriage, the pregnancies had ended before the signs were obvious. If her constitution had strengthened as she moved into her twenties, Montoya had been given no opportunity to test it. He didn't trust her enough to even think about trying now. Ouch!

"You should have more respect for your betters," she snarled at him. Solidifying their backgrounds.

In the past, throwing her status in his face would have guaranteed that he either back down or leave the room to control his anger. Now he only relaxed into his chair and chuckled under his breath as he met her angry stare. Since coming here he had learned how to judge the true value of a person. And she's on his turf now.

~~~~~

Tessa has this thought at the dinner party: To arrive on the arm of a handsome man added a certain charm to the event -- even if that man was Marcus Grisham. LOL Hey, he is handsome.

Fortunately, Colonel Montoya was close at hand and prevented Tessa from giving in to her impulse to poke the captain with something sharp to see if he would deflate. LOL!

Tessa was assessing the Senora Montoya during dinner: She had been optimistic that the colonel's harsh approach in dealing with criminals, particularly minor ones, could be tempered by a woman's influence. Instead, she came to see that Sabina was the more likely of the pair to demand excessive restitution, as she encouraged Juanita to withhold payment from her seamstress.

Tessa's thoughts lingered on the adamant tone of Sabina's counsel. It disturbed her a little. Montoya was always careful to keep is actions within the law, but Sabina might not have such restraint, for she seemed to consider herself above legal boundaries.

Tessa walks to Helm to converse, but it starts with her escort: "Captain Grisham has been attentive of late." She turned to find Grisham across the courtyard in conversation with Don Alonso and his wife. "And he does look very handsome in his dress uniform. A girl could do worse."

"But not much," Helm muttered under his breath. <g>

Tessa turned her gaze to Grisham and brought the handle of her fan to her lips. Grisham caught her look and replied with a nod and a smile, but Tessa didn't see any reaction to her covert gesture. Helm on the other hand took a deep breath and let it out in a soft, disgusted snort. Who here knows fan language? <g> Certainly not Grisham.

If there was any doubt as to whether or not Tessa knows about Vera and Grisham, she has overheard their lovers' spat about his being ordered to kill her in Betrayed. She also overhears Grisham saying his reason for wooing Tessa. "It's Montoya's idea. He wants me to marry her. He worries about her on her own and feels that the hacienda would be better off under the guiding hand of a husband. I tend to agree, but I keep hoping that she'll find someone else so that I don't have to become that husband."

Tessa has a plan: It might be interesting to play this little game a while longer, especially given Doctor Helm's interesting reaction.

~~~~~

ACT THREE

Montoya interrupts Grisham in his apartment: "I have been cloistered with Sabina all morning and had to get out. I thought you would be able to apprize me of the head-tax situation before I go for a ride. If I am lucky, I might get thrown. Maybe fall off a cliff and drown." Montoya carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. <g>

They talk about everyone asking how they're going to pay that head tax. Montoya says that the Dons always complain, but the regular folk never. You have to have them on your side.

Grisham and Montoya have a close relationship in this tale and Montoya tells Grisham the truth about the seeds of his marriage to Sabina: "My father thought that it would be a good idea to marry me to the youngest daughter of an ancient and noble household. They had more women in that family than they knew what to do with so a marriage to a man with some money and a few connections, despite his unfortunate choice of parentage, was considered good business by the head of the family. Sabine was - is - a beautiful woman. At sixteen, she wass fresh and delicate, sweetly shy. I thought I had made a wonderful match and my father was convinced that this was the way to ingratiate his family name into the more illustrious ranks. It had not worked for him, why would he think that it would work for me? This is why I try to convince you to use the head on your shoulders, Grisham. If I had been thinking clearly, I would have seen that in Spain this was an impossible dream. Here, however, society is a little more... flexible. And power can be attained without patronage.

"The first couple of years of marriage were pleasant, but I soon discovered that Sabina was not content to be the wife to a well educated, respected, comfortably wealthy officer. She wanted to travel in the highest circles and she used whatever means ... whatever means -- she could think of to gain favour. My father supported and encouraged her schemes. And, for a time, I allowed them to sweep me along." Montoya rose from the chair and crossed to the door. Grisham was certain that he heard a softly muttered comment, "Stupid."

We also sense that Montoya does care about Grisham, as he says that he wants Grisham to marry Tessa, as she wouldn't be as much trouble as Sabina had been. But then wouldn't Grisham be more powerful than Montoya? Or does Montoya think he has enough respect from Grisham to not have a problem? Or, more than likely, Montoya knows Grisham doesn't have a hope in hell of landing Tessa. <g>

~~~~~

When Hector Domenico comes to tell Montoya that he can't possibly afford the head tax for his seven children, he sees Senora Montoya in Montoya's chair. She appeases him with sympathy of his plight and asks him about the Queen of Swords and why she rides. She bribes Hector to steal gold in a hidden compartment in Montoya's drawer. She had the look of a snake eyeing a chick she was about to devour.

~~~~~

Excellent beginning of a scene here: In Spain she had a number of distractions to keep her occupied, but it seemed that he was her only focus in Santa Helena. He didn't know how he was going to survive ... without eventually killing her. The thought brought a wide smile to Montoya's face, and it was at this moment that his bedroom door opened. The topic of his musings stood at the threshold.

She smiled back. "That is a lovely greeting." I love it!

Montoya tricks Sabina into revealing that she has been carrying on an affair back in Spain.

~~~~~

Montoya had left Sabina, while she was supposed to make him busy so Hector could steal the gold, and found Hector in the midst of the robbery in his office and has him taken away to jail.

~~~~~

ACT FOUR

In a lovely scene Tessa and Marta talk over have Tessa could plausibly go to Hector's wife and pump her for info. Marta comes up with the idea that Tessa just talk to her suitor, Grisham. <g>

~~~~~

Montoya and Hector in jail have a sparkling conversation that gives character to the OMC of Hector: MONTOYA: Theft from the representative of the Spanish crown is hardly a simple matter. And you have heard the expression -- 'the truth shall set you free'.
HECTOR: I fear that it may set my soul free, Colonel.
MONTOYA: That is already your fate, Senor. You cannot make the situation any worse. It would be best to unburden yourself before meeting the hangman. All I ask about is the theft; a priest can help you with the rest.

Hector tells Montoya about his deal with Sabina and Montoya gives him a slight reprieve from the noose and will allow him visitors. He also suggests that one of the visitors be a priest.

~~~~~

In another scene of the delightful, playful relationship that Tessa and Marta have, Marta tells her about her conversation with Hector's wife. Marta knows the whole story, straight from Lucita, who got it straight from Hector. Even though they decided that Montoya probably believes Hector's story, that it was all the plan of Sabina's, he still has to blame someone for it. Tessa decides that it's time for the Queen to ride to the rescue.

~~~~~

The Queen comes to Santa Helena to free Hector and Montoya comes upon her. Cute dialogue.

MONTOYA: I knew that you could not resist such a lure. You are becoming far too predicable.
QUEEN: So are you, Colonel. I can even fight you with my eyes closed and my back turned.

So her eyes hadn't been closed; Montoya didn't know that. Or maybe he did. <g>

Grisham was strong, fast, and dangerous, but he lacked the subtle moves of a skilled swordsman. Subtle was never Grisham's strong suit. <g>

The only down side to their duels was that he really wanted her dead.

It was a new trick she created on the spot that tangled their swords and sent both points into the sand. In the stillness and silence of their abruptly halted momentum they both heard it -- the click of a hammer being pulled back on a pistol.

There she saw a pistol being raised. It looked ridiculously large in Sabina's small hands.

"Her loyalty is touching," Tessa said, trying to sound casual under the sights of a loaded gun.

"It would be, if she was aiming at you," Montoya replied just as calmly, as he straightened his stance.

All very good lines!

Both the Queen and Montoya thinks that Sabina was aiming the gun at them. When a shot rang out, the Queen checks herself over. Grisham holds the smoking gun. Sabina is dead. The Queen hesitated about going after Hector, but decided to beat it and does.

Grisham announces, as the Queen escapes, "The Queen has shot the Colonel!"

This is priceless:

When the area was once again cleared of soldiers, Montoya looked up at Grisham. "The Queen shot me?" he asked, with a look that clearly showed that he wanted to know what Grisham was up to.

"I didn't think that you would want the world to know that your wife was trying to kill you. If the Queen didn't shoot you, then I did. And I have enough problems as it is without shooting my commanding officer."

Good thinking, Grishie.

Grisham helped the colonel get to his feet, and watched as the man walked over to his wife. Montoya knelt down beside her on one knee just as Dr. Helm rounded the corner of the jail. The doctor had his bag in one hand and was still pulling on his clothes with the other. My only question is, "What was Helm doing???" <g>

Explaining how both Senora and Colonel Montoya were shot to Helm, Grisham says, "The Queen had a pistol pointed at the colonel. We both fired at the same time. The colonel must have moved at the right moment, but so did the Queen. I missed her completely. Senora Montoya must have been drawn here by the sound of swords, as I was. The bullet hit her."

"That was excellent aim for an accidental shooting," noted Helm suspiciously, getting to his feet.

"I'll make sure to get my gun rebalanced," said Grisham.

"The Queen doesn't carry firearms."

//Damn it, why can't he just let this go?!// Grisham could feel his temper starting to get the better of him. Because Helm knows you too well, Grisham.

"Maybe she no longer trusts her swordsmanship," Montoya speculated. "I have no idea why she had one tonight. What I do know, Doctor, is that one moment I am looking down the barrel of a pistol and the next my wife is dead." The rare, raw emotion in Montoya's voice rendered both Grisham and Helm speechless. The reader too. Wonderful to see that he had some affection for her.

~~~~~

Montoya goes to the jail and gets his soldiers to go after the Queen.

His confusion must have been obvious, for Montoya opened the door wider. "Understand this," he said slowly and carefully. "The Queen of Swords helped you escape. If I catch you, you will be executed for theft and the slander of my late wife. I suggest you run very far and very fast. Your family can follow you later ... if that is what you truly wish."

Also a wonderful thing for Montoya to do.

~~~~~

EPILOGUE

After Sabina's funeral, Tessa and Marta talk over things.

Tessa stopped, shivering a little at the memory. "I saw the look on her face, Marta. I am certain there was a plan to blame a death on me, but it was Montoya's death that was supposed to be on my head. That might have been what she had been thinking when she pushed Hector into breaking into Montoya's office. Her whole purpose for coming here might have been to make herself a widow."

She took another look toward the church and for the first time felt something akin to pity for Colonel Luis Ramirez Montoya. "I wonder what it's like to be eternally tied to someone who hates you. I remember him commenting once about a man finding out too late that he had made an unfortunate choice in life partner. At the time, I thought that he was just covering his tracks, or being cynical. I never imagined that he might be talking about himself."

"I wouldn't worry about him too much," said Marta as she linked her arm through Tessa's and started them toward the wagon again. But we like worrying about him... "He probably is marking this as a day of celebration, just like the anniversary of his father's death." Good point!

Tessa glanced at the church again over her shoulder. "I can't help but wonder if he might have good reason for celebrating that one, too."

END

Eliza, the mistress of Montoya's thoughts, deeds and wants has done it yet again. This is a magnificent episode to give a glimpse into Montoya's personal and professional life and how he chooses to deal with it. Sabina, his wife, is in town only to make her own wishes come true, Luis be damned. There's a man who was used as a pawn sitting in jail that Montoya must decide what to do with. There's his Captain, who of course, needs some fraternal advice. There's his motivation to kill the Queen. He has to keep the Dons, the peasants, the middle class, and the Viceroy all happy. Montoya's work is never done.

Deal is, in this episode, Montoya deals with each facet with dignity, and also was graced with a spot of luck that came from how he had handled things before.

At the beginning of this episode, Montoya is the man we all knew from the series. By the end, he's a man who has shown us a glimpse of his history, and by turning Hector lose, has shown us that he is not a one-dimensional villain. Sure, he could have released him only because hanging Hector might make waves he doesn't want to swim, but it could also have been because he simply believed the man and wanted to do the right thing.

Sabina is a wonderful original character to have in Montoya's life. Through her we see that Montoya married to step up in the world, and she thought she could use him as well. She's obnoxious, motivated, selfish and condescending, everything we expect Montoya to be saddled with.

In the personae of Hector, we see a man who is devoted to his family and work. He's only trying to make ends meet in a moral way who comes across the barracuda Senora Montoya and her scheme. He is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. He's between a rock and a hard place. He's going to sink or sink. His plight pulls us into the heart of what is the Montoya marriage, who's maneuver is going to out do the others'. Well done.

The final showdown is excellently told. Montoya and Grisham do have a spark of friendship, that comes in handy here, but also resonates through each scene. Continuing Grisham's courtship with Tessa is a good move in my opinion. Montoya wants control of her land and business, but he also might think that Grishie has a chance. Even if Grisham doesn't have a realistic chance (and how would Montoya know that because Tessa is layered so well as to not betray her true self to him), Montoya might genuinely want his Captain to step up in the world by marrying a Senorita such as Tessa, and would more than likely have a better relationship then Luis and Sabina had.

Bravo, Eliza!

~~Jo