Dimitri leaned back in his chair and surveyed the earnest face across from him. "What, exactly, seems to be the matter?"
"Sabotage, senor," Cesar said firmly, his jaw jutting squarely. "It began just after the news came to my father that your mother had died. I believe, as he did, that Don Gilberto and Don Carlos are responsible. It has to have been part of their scheme, you see. They have steadily depreciated the value of the estate by these methods and could offer the governor a much reduced price for the land."
Dimitri's frown deepened. "Sabotage? How did they do it?"
Cesar shrugged. "In many ways. Trains of our hides and tallow left for the Mission for sale and never reached it. They were ambushed on the way. Don Carlos, as the military commander here, was instantly informed but his only answer was a shrug and the comment that the roads were sometimes hazardous because of bandidos. I did not believe that. Bandidos there certainly are, senor, many of them peasants from farms that have failed and the land bought up by wealthy landowners. Soldiers, also. Ones that have left the service of the Crown and could not make a living on their little patch of land given them by the government. They do indeed haunt our hills and menace our roads, but I do not think they were responsible for our losses."
"Why?"
Cesar looked his employer straight in the eye. "Because senor, none of the other landowners in the area suffered constant losses! In fact, none of them were ambushed at all! The only other wagons that were attacked by bandidos were further north! So it was us alone. I don't think bandidos would be that discriminating!"
Dimitri pushed back his chair and prowled the room for a moment. "Neither do I," he admitted. "What else?"
"Several of our grain storage barns were burnt down. It could have been an accident the first time but not the second. Someone deliberately set that fire. Then we've had fences torn down and valuable cattle and horses have escaped and were not found. Constant harassment, senor. If it wasn't one thing, it was another, all costing the estate in monies and in production time. And most of the damage was such it could not have happened naturally. The fences, for instance, were not torn down in a storm. The weather had been dry and clear for weeks."
Dimitri dropped into his chair again and rubbed his jaw thoughtfully, his eyes steely gray. "Is there any particular section of the estate that has been the hardest hit?"
''No, senor. It has been widespread across the estate. Whoever is doing it seems to know where we are the most vulnerable. I have held the last two loads that should have gone to the Mission and stored them in one of the barns closest to the house. I knew, if I sent that load, it would not reach the Mission. Yet, we must get the goods there or we cannot sell them!"
"Then we must find a way to protect the shipments and the estate, Cesar. That, at least, I know how to do," he added, wryly.
At that moment the heavy door of the study opened and Sergei appeared.
"Yes, Sergei?"
"My lord, you asked that I remind you that you are riding with the de Reyes this afternoon and it is nearly time."
Dimitri stood up and looked at Cesar. "Thank you, Sergei. I'll be ready to leave in a few minutes. Cesar, who is my overseer?"
"Andres, senor."
"Have Andres come to me when he comes in for his dinner. You and I will discuss this with him and outline our strategy for combating it. Yes," he added, a slight smile on his face, "I do have a plan! Sergei will send for you when I have finished dinner."
"Thank you, senor."
Dimitri thought over the conversation as he changed and rode to the De Reyes hacienda. He, too, had noticed Don Gilberto's surprise and anger at his appearance yesterday and now he smiled grimly, remembering it. It was clearly the first Don Gilberto had known of his presence in California and it was not welcome news. Senorita Leonor might not have known why her stepfather received him so coldly, but Dimitri knew and the knowledge amused him. He wondered how Don Carlos had taken the news! They both had to know by now that Dimitri had legally claimed the land and their schemes had come to naught. He wished he was as sure of their next move.
Leonor watched the tall, blond man enter the sala and bend low over her mother's hand. Then he crossed the room to her and took her hand in a firm warm grip and pressed his lips lightly to it. To her surprise, the touch of that smiling mouth on her hand sent strange ripples of feeling up her arm and she nearly snatched her hand away.
"Buenas tardes, Don Dimitri," she murmured.
"Cousin Dimitri," he corrected softly.
"Now why," she asked, keeping her voice down so the others would not hear what they said, "are you insisting on claiming cousin-ship? We can't be closely related enough to warrant it, senor!"
"Any degree at all is worth claiming with a beautiful woman like you, Leonor."
No one had ever called her a woman before. She was called a child, or a stubborn girl, but never woman. She realized that he was waiting for a comment so she reclaimed her hand and met his twinkling gaze. "What a gallant you are! Do you murmur sweet words to all of the young ladies you meet?"
"I would be ungallant indeed if I admitted that I do. Instead, I will say no, of course not, just to you, my beautiful Leonor."
She gave an unladylike snort. "I'm supposed to believe that?"
"Of course not," he retorted. "You're supposed to pretend that you believe me. But to answer your question frankly, I enjoy paying you compliments because you are so lovely. Also, I noticed how greatly my attentions annoyed your stepfather, who clearly didn't fall victim to my charm yesterday, and I simply can't resist doing it."
"I noticed that he didn't seem to like you much. I can't imagine why. He doesn't even know you."
He cocked a brow at her. "Are you implying that he would dislike me if he knew me? Unfair, Leonor. You don't know me either."
She blushed and looked away for a moment. "I didn't say that, did I? It would be a very rude thing to say. My mother would certainly not approve."
He laughed out loud at that, attracting the attention of the others. "Has anyone ever told you that you're a flirt?"
She smiled, showing her dimples. "Yes, often," she said coolly. "I wouldn't think, however, that you would object to that, since you're also one!"
"And I was convinced when I arrived in California that there wouldn't be anyone interesting to talk to! You reaffirm my faith, Leonor!"
"And I approve of your reason for flirting with me, Cousin Dimitri. I also derive great pleasure from annoying my stepfather!"
His soft blue eyes lit up as he smiled at her. "I thought you did. Your rejected lover also seems to be glowering at us." He surveyed her riding habit, the twinkle deepening in his eyes. The green gabardine habit had a full, split skirt, after the new fashion raging in Europe, and just showed the tips of her polished black boots. The short jacket matched the skirt and was trimmed with several rows of braid. Her blouse of white had rows and rows of ruffles at the neck and wrists, softening the tailored cut of the habit. Black leather riding gloves matched her boots and a flat, black leather hat was secured under her chin with a strap. She was entrancingly lovely and his eyes glinted admiringly at her. He cast another glance at Pablo, watching them narrowly from across the room, and grinned. "I think this is going to be an interesting ride!"
Leonor followed the direction of his gaze and laughter bubbled in her voice as she agreed. She had not anticipated enjoying this ride but suddenly she was sure that she would. A smile curved her full, warm lips as she led the way out of the sala to the front courtyard, where the grooms held the horses.
It was indeed an interesting ride. Don Gilberto, pressed by his wife into acting the host, led the way, with Pablo, tight-lipped and furious, beside him. Leonor and Dimitri followed, allowing enough of a gap to occur between the two parties so that they could talk without being overheard. Dimitri seized the opportunity to question Leonor about the unrest of the peasants here in the south.
She looked at him in surprise. "Unrest? We've had little trouble here, senor. I have heard of s
ome problems on neighboring estates but my stepfather does seem to keep things tightly controlled here. Too tightly," she muttered, forgetting that she was talking to Dimitri. "My father would never have treated his people like Don Gilberto treats them. Why," she asked, recalling what they were discussing, "are you having trouble?"
"Cesar reports some occasional trouble on the roads. Have you had any problems getting your hides and tallow to the Mission?"
"None that I know about and I think I would. There are always some bandidos but they usually don't bother a well guarded wagon train."
"So I hear. Perhaps that's been the trouble," he added, passing the subject off lightly. "Cesar will just have to supply more guards for the wagons."
"How did you find the estate? Cesar and his father both have always been devoted to the de Corderra's lands."
"They have done an excellent job, I thought. Sergei, my servant, disrupted the kitchen for two days, rearranging it to his satisfaction and upsetting the kitchen servants but peace—at least a truce of peace—has been restored, as far as I can tell. He has been turning the house upside down, saying that it wasn't kept up as it should have been. Of course, no one was living in the house these last years. Cesar, like his father before him, has his own little house and there were things that required attention."
"And your servant Sergei is attending to them? He must be an unusual servant!"
Dimitri chuckled. "He is. He's served the Varanovs since he was born and been with me since I was a boy. He learned to be resourceful when we were campaigning and that has stood us in good stead since. He will not admit it, but I think he is thoroughly enjoying himself in California. When he has finished, you will have to ride over and visit us and inspect the house for yourself."
"I'll do that. I haven't been over since your grandfather died. Are you staying long, senor?"
He glanced at her and then shrugged. "There are many things to do here and I will see to them before I even consider returning to Russia. I have leave to stay as long as I need."
"What is it like there?"
For the rest of the ride, he beguiled her with descriptions and tales of Russia and the Czar's court.
"You will miss that level of civilization," she said ruefully as they returned to the courtyard. "We are not so grand here. There are so few settlers as yet and our commerce is very weak. We are only allowed, you know, to ship goods on Spanish ships and, with the war in Europe and the rebellion in the other colonies, we see few of those."
"It is very shortsighted of Spain to restrict trade here. It makes you be far too dependent on their purse. If your trade ports were opened up, you could soon be self supporting and not such a drain on the Crown's treasury."
"I agree. My father fought hard for that concession but we could not get it. It didn't used to be this way, my mother tells me. Ships called often at our ports. Now we get so few that we don't get many cargos of goods brought in or sent out. Most of us raise what we need ourselves and each estate is nearly self supporting. We have to be. If we can't raise it or make it, we do without."
"Don't you have trouble with smuggling? Surely, with such an open coastline and such tight restrictions—"
She smiled and two entrancing dimples appeared in her cheeks. Dimitri caught his breath and had to make himself concentrate on her answer. "Of course we do. There have always been ships who would slip in to some of our coves and take any cargo they could purchase. The Missions won't sell to them but many of the estates and smaller farm owners will. I wouldn't be surprised if my stepfather did! I know we seem to sell more hides and tallow than our neighbors and I can't believe that they're all going to the Mission for sale. However, I don't have any proof of that. It's just a guess on my part," she admitted, wondering why she was confiding in this veritable stranger.
But Dimitri saw nothing amiss in her frankness and was impressed with the shrewdness of her guess. "I wouldn't be surprised, myself, if you were right. From all I hear, your stepfather has the right connections to do it and get away with it."
"Don Carlos Balsas? He's our commandant here and you're quite right about that. He and Don Gilberto are very friendly. I can't endure the man. He frightens me and he knows it and seems to relish it. You would be well advised, senor, to stay away from him."
He surveyed her thoughtfully as he lifted her down from the saddle. "I will. Anyone who can frighten you, Leonor, is worth avoiding!"
"I am serious!" she said, as she saw the indulgent smile on his face.
He held her shoulders for a moment. "I know. I'll be very careful if I have to have any dealings with him. You do the same."
"Why, Cousin Dimitri, is your memory so short? I told you yesterday that I can take care of myself!"
"So you did. I just wish I could believe it! I wouldn't want anything to happen to the one interesting person I've found to talk to!"
Giving him a scathing glance, she marched across the courtyard, letting him make his excuses to his host and escape before Dona Juana could see him and insist that he join them in the sala for some wine. Dimitri thanked Don Gilberto for the interesting ride, pled pressing business awaiting him at home, and made good his escape, a smile curling his lips as he thought of that little raven-haired coquette warning him not to tangle with the local military commandant. She probably believed her boast, too, about taking care of herself! Having a good bit to think about, Dimitri rode home, mulling over ways and means to protect the estate and his shipments. He also had some questions for Cesar to answer on matters that Leonor had raised.
Dimitri sat behind the massive mahogany desk and studied the young overseer with shrewd eyes. After so many years of campaigning and serving on the Russian commander's staff, he was used to dealing with young men and had grown very good in determining what they were made of. This, he decided, was a very interesting young man, one worth watching. To Dimitri's experienced eye, Andres showed all of the signs of potentially being a first-class soldier. He would judge the young man to be in his early twenties, a young age, surely, for the responsible job of overseer? But if Cesar had given this man the job, and Dimitri was quite sure that he had, then Cesar had seen the same potential as Dimitri was now seeing. A slimly built man, with a wiry strength that reminded Dimitri of a coiled spring. Acute intelligence and passion looked out of those dark eyes and a firm resolution showed in the square jut of the chin. He knew very well that Dimitri was taking his time evaluating him and he resented the inspection and didn't mind letting that resentment show. Indeed, he was returning the compliment, studying that composed face across from him.
"You are Andres?"
"I am."
"Sit down, if you will. You too, Cesar. We have much to discuss." Dimitri returned his gaze to Andres. "You're quite young to have charge of an estate this size, aren't you?"
Andres' chin came up and he met that intent gaze. ''Yes but I am not without experience, and I do my work well."
Dimitri glanced at Cesar and the steward hurried into speech. "He does it well, senor. He was the assistant to the overseer on the de Reyes lands for several years before I persuaded him to come to work for me."
"I see. And what, Andres, do you think of the problems we've been having here on the estate?"
"I agree with Cesar, sir. I think it is deliberate sabotage."
Dimitri liked the straight answer and the steady gaze and nodded. "Do you have any ideas or suspicions of who might be behind it?"
Before Andres could answer, Cesar spoke up. "Señor, I have discussed the problems with him but I did not mention what you and I discussed and the suspicions we have."
Andres glanced curiously from one to the other before answering. "I see that there is someone you both suspect but you have asked me for my opinion and yes, I do think I know who is behind it. Your nearest neighbor, Don Gilberto Ramires."
"You have a reason for your suspicion, Andres?"
"No one reason, sir. I admit I don't know what he would gain by it but, if he's behind it, there defini
tely would have to be a profit. He does nothing, that one, without a profit! But I can't think of anyone else in the neighborhood who would stoop to such depths."
"And you think Don Gilberto would, if the rewards were great enough?"
Andres' face firmed into a cold mask and his voice was biting with bitterness. "He would stoop to anything, sir, if the gain were great enough. And that one doesn't need much to make it worth his while! He'd as soon flog you for a reale as for a sack of pesos! Yes, even without having any idea what he would gain, I would still say he has to be the one behind this."
"And if, Andres, he hoped to acquire this entire estate?"
The young man stared in astonishment at Dimitri and nodded slowly. "I don't see how he could do such a thing, but if it were possible, he would risk much for such a prize. Is that what is behind all of this?"
Dimitri didn't hesitate. "It is. This information is to go no further than this room, Andres. Don Gilberto doesn't know that I am aware of his plot and I don't wish him to find out. But he had hopes of gaining this land, he and Don Carlos Balsas . . . Ah, I see you are acquainted with him, also?"
Surrender by Moonlight Page 5