Neophyte

Pascual

The sun was slowly setting, and Pascual was in his office, overlooking his profits. He was surprised to see that he wasn't making as much profit as he had for the past couple of years. Word spread that more men from Spain were arriving in Las Californias, especially Alta California. It meant that there would be more competition for profit, and it stressed him. 

What was worse was that he was slowly losing his labor force, and the Tongva were slowly disappearing. Two of his laborers died yesterday from disease, and the stress was slowly getting to him. He remembered the gifts he had given to the Mission and slowly regretted doing so, as he needed the funds to buy more livestock. Pascual was thinking of secretly hiring mercenaries to kidnap more Tongvas to work on his land. 

The problem was that Bishop Victoriano had employed many Soldados de Cuera to keep watch on the ranchero owners. Pascual could pay the Soldados to keep quiet, but since his ranch wasn't doing too well, he couldn't afford to spend more money. Pascual scrunched parts of his face and then thought about what Metztli did to him. He admired her beauty, but what she did to him embarrassed him.

He remembered how Valentina viewed him when the incident occurred. She smiled and laughed to herself. Pascual didn't want to be viewed as weak, and it angered him. 

There was a knock on the door, interrupting his thoughts. "Señor Pascual, ¿puedo entrar?" 

"Entra."

The door opened, and a bulky man entered while holding his hat. "Lamento molestarte, pero tienes dos invitados a quienes les gustaría hablar contigo. (I'm sorry for bothering you, but you have two guests who would like to speak with you.)"

Pascual became nervous; he almost forgot about his debt to investors who had lent him money to build his rancho. "¿Quienes son los invitados? (Who are the guests?)" he nervously asked.

"Dos Padres. Se llaman Padre Federico y Lucas. (Two Padres. Their names are Padre Federico and Lucas."

Pascual raised an eyebrow; the guests were unexpected. He wondered if the Padres wanted to speak with them to gather donations. "Ellos pueden entrar. (They may enter)."

The man moved out of the way and motioned with his arm. Padre Federico and Lucas entered. Pascual noticed that Padre Lucas was carrying bags. His curiosity piqued as he stood from his seat. "Bienvenidos, Padres. Tu presencia fue inesperada. (Welcome, Padres. Your presence was unexpected.)"

Padre Federico smiled as he motioned to his fellow brother to put the bags on the table. "Perdónanos por venir sin avisar, pero hay una razón por la que he acudido a ti. Quería hablar contigo a solas. (Forgive us for coming unannounced. There is a reason why I have come to you. I wanted to talk to you alone.)" He looked at Padre Lucas, who looked surprised and slightly hurt. The young Padre was about to speak, but Padre Federico glared at him as he scrunched his hands into fists. He looked as if he was ready to give him a beating. Padre Lucas relented and walked out of the office, as did Pascual's worker, leaving the two men alone. 

"Vaya. Le diste una mirada que podría matar. (Well. You gave him a look that could kill.)" Pascual chuckled as he motioned for Padre Federico to sit.

The Padre chuckled as he sat on the wooden chair. "No tuve más remedio que traer a ese tonto conmigo. Desafortunadamente, me sorprendió saliendo de la Misión en secreto. No podía permitir que se lo dijera al Obispo. (I had no choice but to bring that fool with me. Unfortunately, he caught me secretly leaving the Mission. I couldn't have him tell the Bishop.)"

Pascual's curiosity piqued more as he couldn't help but notice the bags on his desk. "¿Qué hay en las bolsas? (What are in the bags?)"

"Dinero. Partes de tu dinero, para ser exactos. (Money. Parts of your money, to be exact.)"

"¿Qué? ¿Estás diciendo que...? (What? Are you saying that...?"

Padre Federico smirked as he motioned with his back on the chair. "En secreto tomé algunos para dártelos. Según los documentos que he leído, a su rancho no le está yendo muy bien. (I secretly took some back to give to you. Based on the paperwork I have read, your rancho isn't doing so well.)" He noticed that Pascual didn't look too happy. "Por favor, no lo tomes a mal. Tengo mis razones y por eso vine a ti. Necesito tu ayuda. (Please do not take it the wrong way. I have my reasons, which is why I came to you. I require your help.)"

Seeing Padre Federico calm, mad Pascual felt slightly uneasy. The fact that the Padre secretly took away money, knowing it could lead to harsh punishment or banishment. "No me gusta hacia dónde va esto. (I don't like where this is going.)"

"Tenga la seguridad de que lo que le voy a pedir captará su interés. Encontré información sobre el obispo Victoriano. Información que puede costarle no sólo su reputación, sino también su puesto. (Be assured that what I am going to ask of you will get your interest. I found some information about Bishop Victoriano. Information that may cost him not only his reputation, but also his position.)"

Pascual couldn't believe what he was hearing. Bishop Victoriano had a secret. A smirk crept onto his face. He always hated the Bishop for stopping him from taking Tongvas to work on his rancho. The prospect of ridding the Bishop brought him excitement. He listened as Padre Federico explained about the Bishop's past. Pascual was surprised to learn that the Bishop was once a Soldado de Cuera and that he supposedly killed other soldiers. Such action would likely result in death. "¿Por qué no contarles esto a los demás obispos? Tú podrías- (Why not tell the other Bishops about this? You could-)"

"Los trámites no serían suficientes para condenarlo. Necesitamos pruebas para convencer a los demás obispos de sus actos. Por eso vine a ti. Quiero que vayas a la Misión San Diego de Acala y hables con los Padres allí y veas si hay documentación que indique las muertes o desapariciones de los Soldados. (The paperwork would not be enough to convict him. We need evidence to convince the other Bishops of his deeds. That is why I came to you. I want you to go to Mission San Diego de Acala and speak to the Padres there and to see if there is paperwork indicating the Soldados' deaths or disappearances.)"

"¡Está lejos! Y-! (It's far! I-"

"Deseas a Valentina, ¿no? ¿Y si te dijera que conozco otro secreto que la pone en una posición vulnerable? (You desire Valentina, don't you? What if I told you that I know another secret that puts her in a vulnerable position?)" Padre Federico caught Pascual's interest and continued, "Ella sería toda tuya. Me aseguraré de que le paguen generosamente. Todos tus problemas desaparecerán si haces esto. (She would be all yours. I will ensure that you'll be handsomely paid. All your problems will go away if you do this.)"

The Padres' deal prompted Pascual to reconsider his position. He had always desired Valentina. She had a fire that he always wanted to extinguish. However, he thought of Metztli and the way she embarrassed him. "Yo también quiero esa Mestiza. Y- (I also want that half-breed. I-)"

Padre Federico pounded his hand on the table. "Ella no. Valentina es a quien te ofrezco, y otras mujeres, como desees. Ese mestiza está prohibida. (Not her. Valentina is who I offer, and other women, as you wish. That half-breed is off-limits.)"

Realization set in; Pascual realized that Padre Federico was interested in Metztli. He was amused. "Ya veo. Veo. Los Padres también sufren los pecados de la carne. (I see. Padres also suffer the sins of the flesh.)"

"Es sufficiente. (Enough)." Padre Federico stood. "¿Tenemos un trato? (Do we have a deal?)"

Pascual chuckled as he stood up, extending his right hand. "Lo tenemos. (We do.)" 

Both men shook hands, unaware that Padre Lucas stood outside the small window and had heard everything. He was distraught.