DEADLY REPARTEE
by
Jo
[email protected]
Beta'd by MnD
[email protected]
Manzana Core - Dr. Helm, the Apple of Our Eye
http://www.geocities.com/manzanacore
RATED: G
Although Helm is my fav character, he doesn't make an appearance
in the very first Queen of Swords fic that I post. Go figure. This little
scene came to me and had to be written so it would go away so I
could resume concentrating on the good Doctor. Hope you like it.
The Queen of Swords series, Montoya, Don Alvarado and Grisham
belong to Paramount and Fireworks Productions, Gord, Abramowitz.
Alas, nothing belongs to me.
~~~~~
"You surprise me, old man," Montoya announced with a tight smile.
The Don was being testy, although in a polite manner that only
made Montoya's blood boil. There they were in his own office, after
having invited the Don to a simple lunch to discuss the little matter
of his paying the taxes owed on his hacienda, and he gets insulted to
his face!
"That is the problem with you, Colonel," Don Alvarado matched the
Spaniard's fake smile, bringing home is point even more. "You have
no surprises left in you."
Montoya's eyes flared, just for an instant, and the Don witnessed it.
Don Alvarado had wanted to jar the commander during the visit and
he had succeeded. He continued in his low, commanding voice, "The
amount of taxes on my land have always been constant. Suddenly,
they're 50 porcentaje ademas. You cannot fool me as you have
fooled the other Dons. You have my answer, Montoya. I refuse to
pay."
Don Alvarado replaced the wine glass, now empty, alongside the
plate of fine cheeses and bread that were set out for them that the
Don hadn't touched. Montoya simmered beneath the cool exterior
he presented. His mind raced for the reason why the Don would
refuse such a thing. Montoya said as if he were talking to a child,
"Then you will lose your land."
"No," Don Alvarado clearly stated so there was no doubt he would be
misinterpreted. "I said I would not pay *you*. California will get its
taxes. I wonder if the Governor knows the excess charge you have
levied on the people. Have you done so in his name... Colonel?"
Montoya grimaced, things would have to turn ugly. Don Alvarado
ran the most successful hacienda in his district and Montoya had just
found out for the first time that he was not a pawn that he could
maneuver on a whim. Then the Don had the gall to stand to call the
end to the meeting before Colonel Luis Montoya did?!
"Don Alvarado," Montoya said as easily as he could in his state but it
came off as a plea to the Don's ear. Alvarado stopped before opening
the door to Montoya's private study and turned back to face him.
Montoya darkened so the Don would have no doubt that he had
gone too far, "I am the law here."
"Si," the Don shrugged. "And we have to deal with that. Believe me, it
is not easy."
"Explain yourself," Montoya crossed the room in a flash.
Don Alvarado knew he had riled a nerve in the touchy Spaniard, and
decided to feed the flame. After all, he was a reputable man who
people looked up to in both Spain and in America. Who was that
little military worm to try to pull wool over his eyes? "Which word did
you not understand, Colonel? 'No'? Or 'Governor'? Or 'excess
charges'? I would be pleased to explain exactly what each word
means to you."
"I could have you put away for speaking to me in such a manner."
"I have no doubt," Alvarado quickly agreed but with a carefree smile.
"And I'm positive that my friend, Governor Pablo Vicente Sola, would
be most interested to know why you had me put away, Colonel."
The way the Don kept saying his military started to grate on
Montoya's nerves as it wasn't used as a designation of respect. No,
not at all. It was like the Don was belittling him and that could never
be allowed. Montoya didn't need one spoiled apple in the barrel and
he wouldn't allow the Don to start talking his friends. To make
matters worse, the Don continued, "I will notify Pablo so we can
explain our differences to his face, mano-a-mano. How would that
suit you?"
Montoya didn't say a word. It was hard to focus as the room started
spinning and blood rushed to his head. The anger of the Don's
attitude and stubbornness along with the deep-seated fear that his
strangle-hold over the county would get back to the Governor made
him glare at his visitor. It was a facial expression that Montoya knew
had caused fear in many men.
Since Montoya hadn't replied, Don Alvarado had his answer. "That's
what I thought, Colonel," he said accenting the contempt in the
salutation and finally opened the door and left. The door was left ajar
so Montoya could see that he had no fear of him as he sauntered
down the hall.
As soon as the Don had to be out of the building, Montoya yelled,
"Grisham!"
Grisham appeared within seconds. If Montoya was using that tone of
voice, it couldn't be good for anyone and he'd better see to him as
soon as possible. Montoya slowly turned to face his underling and
tightly spouted, "It's a shame really, but Don Alvarado is not going to
live long enough to reach his hacienda. Do you understand?"
Grisham was surprised, "A Don?" He had been ordered to kill many
people for the Colonel, but never one with so high of standing on
two continents.
Montoya sat back behind his desk wanting to be officious, dignified,
to his Captain as he said, "You heard me. He is an insect. We can not
allow him to spawn falsehoods."
"I'll take care of it," Grisham announced.
"An accident, Grisham," Montoya commanded. "Don't be sloppy."
Grisham showed a mocking sense of having been offended,
"Colonel, I'm wounded."
Montoya sat back in his chair mentally reciting to himself the
condolence letter he would send to the Governor and his daughter,
Maria Teresa, back in Spain. 'Ah, it was a terrible loss...,' he told
himself. 'A loss we in Santa Helena will not soon recover from... Don
Alvarado was a great man... And so on... and so forth...' Montoya spun
his chair around to gaze down at his roses in the courtyard. They
seemed to be little more colorful that afternoon. The sun was a little
more vibrant. The air was a little more fresh and clean. He would get
the amount he demanded to Alvarado. Since the old man hadn't
been willing to pay, Montoya would see that his daughter would. If
not? Well. He would show the young girl that he felt bad, as he took
over the most fruitful plantation in the area.
THE END
by
Jo
[email protected]
Beta'd by MnD
[email protected]
Manzana Core - Dr. Helm, the Apple of Our Eye
http://www.geocities.com/manzanacore
RATED: G
Although Helm is my fav character, he doesn't make an appearance
in the very first Queen of Swords fic that I post. Go figure. This little
scene came to me and had to be written so it would go away so I
could resume concentrating on the good Doctor. Hope you like it.
The Queen of Swords series, Montoya, Don Alvarado and Grisham
belong to Paramount and Fireworks Productions, Gord, Abramowitz.
Alas, nothing belongs to me.
~~~~~
"You surprise me, old man," Montoya announced with a tight smile.
The Don was being testy, although in a polite manner that only
made Montoya's blood boil. There they were in his own office, after
having invited the Don to a simple lunch to discuss the little matter
of his paying the taxes owed on his hacienda, and he gets insulted to
his face!
"That is the problem with you, Colonel," Don Alvarado matched the
Spaniard's fake smile, bringing home is point even more. "You have
no surprises left in you."
Montoya's eyes flared, just for an instant, and the Don witnessed it.
Don Alvarado had wanted to jar the commander during the visit and
he had succeeded. He continued in his low, commanding voice, "The
amount of taxes on my land have always been constant. Suddenly,
they're 50 porcentaje ademas. You cannot fool me as you have
fooled the other Dons. You have my answer, Montoya. I refuse to
pay."
Don Alvarado replaced the wine glass, now empty, alongside the
plate of fine cheeses and bread that were set out for them that the
Don hadn't touched. Montoya simmered beneath the cool exterior
he presented. His mind raced for the reason why the Don would
refuse such a thing. Montoya said as if he were talking to a child,
"Then you will lose your land."
"No," Don Alvarado clearly stated so there was no doubt he would be
misinterpreted. "I said I would not pay *you*. California will get its
taxes. I wonder if the Governor knows the excess charge you have
levied on the people. Have you done so in his name... Colonel?"
Montoya grimaced, things would have to turn ugly. Don Alvarado
ran the most successful hacienda in his district and Montoya had just
found out for the first time that he was not a pawn that he could
maneuver on a whim. Then the Don had the gall to stand to call the
end to the meeting before Colonel Luis Montoya did?!
"Don Alvarado," Montoya said as easily as he could in his state but it
came off as a plea to the Don's ear. Alvarado stopped before opening
the door to Montoya's private study and turned back to face him.
Montoya darkened so the Don would have no doubt that he had
gone too far, "I am the law here."
"Si," the Don shrugged. "And we have to deal with that. Believe me, it
is not easy."
"Explain yourself," Montoya crossed the room in a flash.
Don Alvarado knew he had riled a nerve in the touchy Spaniard, and
decided to feed the flame. After all, he was a reputable man who
people looked up to in both Spain and in America. Who was that
little military worm to try to pull wool over his eyes? "Which word did
you not understand, Colonel? 'No'? Or 'Governor'? Or 'excess
charges'? I would be pleased to explain exactly what each word
means to you."
"I could have you put away for speaking to me in such a manner."
"I have no doubt," Alvarado quickly agreed but with a carefree smile.
"And I'm positive that my friend, Governor Pablo Vicente Sola, would
be most interested to know why you had me put away, Colonel."
The way the Don kept saying his military started to grate on
Montoya's nerves as it wasn't used as a designation of respect. No,
not at all. It was like the Don was belittling him and that could never
be allowed. Montoya didn't need one spoiled apple in the barrel and
he wouldn't allow the Don to start talking his friends. To make
matters worse, the Don continued, "I will notify Pablo so we can
explain our differences to his face, mano-a-mano. How would that
suit you?"
Montoya didn't say a word. It was hard to focus as the room started
spinning and blood rushed to his head. The anger of the Don's
attitude and stubbornness along with the deep-seated fear that his
strangle-hold over the county would get back to the Governor made
him glare at his visitor. It was a facial expression that Montoya knew
had caused fear in many men.
Since Montoya hadn't replied, Don Alvarado had his answer. "That's
what I thought, Colonel," he said accenting the contempt in the
salutation and finally opened the door and left. The door was left ajar
so Montoya could see that he had no fear of him as he sauntered
down the hall.
As soon as the Don had to be out of the building, Montoya yelled,
"Grisham!"
Grisham appeared within seconds. If Montoya was using that tone of
voice, it couldn't be good for anyone and he'd better see to him as
soon as possible. Montoya slowly turned to face his underling and
tightly spouted, "It's a shame really, but Don Alvarado is not going to
live long enough to reach his hacienda. Do you understand?"
Grisham was surprised, "A Don?" He had been ordered to kill many
people for the Colonel, but never one with so high of standing on
two continents.
Montoya sat back behind his desk wanting to be officious, dignified,
to his Captain as he said, "You heard me. He is an insect. We can not
allow him to spawn falsehoods."
"I'll take care of it," Grisham announced.
"An accident, Grisham," Montoya commanded. "Don't be sloppy."
Grisham showed a mocking sense of having been offended,
"Colonel, I'm wounded."
Montoya sat back in his chair mentally reciting to himself the
condolence letter he would send to the Governor and his daughter,
Maria Teresa, back in Spain. 'Ah, it was a terrible loss...,' he told
himself. 'A loss we in Santa Helena will not soon recover from... Don
Alvarado was a great man... And so on... and so forth...' Montoya spun
his chair around to gaze down at his roses in the courtyard. They
seemed to be little more colorful that afternoon. The sun was a little
more vibrant. The air was a little more fresh and clean. He would get
the amount he demanded to Alvarado. Since the old man hadn't
been willing to pay, Montoya would see that his daughter would. If
not? Well. He would show the young girl that he felt bad, as he took
over the most fruitful plantation in the area.
THE END