CHAPTER THREE
The sun was starting to peep over the horizon when Diego brought his mare
to a halt in the rear of the tavern. He had rode aimlessly for the past few
hours with no particular destination in mind. He wasn't even sure why he
now found himself in the pueblo, planning to do something rather reckless.
He looked upward, staring at the route he had taken many times before. A
sudden fear swept over him, but he suppressed it. He was tired of being thought
a coward. From now on, he was going to be himself, the man he had hidden
away for far too long. With both hands, he grabbed the top of the door frame
and hoisted himself up.
Victoria had tried to stay awake, she really had. She didn't know if Zorro
would come to her during what was left of the night, but she felt so sure
he would. But it had been such a long and exhausting day, she fell asleep
almost as soon as her head touched her pillow. But a noise roused her from
her slumber, a noise which sounded like her bedroom window was being opened.
"Zorro!" She bolted upright in her bed, excitement bubbling inside her, and
peered into the darkness.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but no," said Diego as he stepped into the pale
beam of light in the middle of the room.
"Diego?" she inquired. What was he doing here? The question had barely entered
her mind when he swooped down and kissed her full on the mouth. A kiss that
drove it and every other thought from her head. A kiss that stirred her like
never before. A kiss that was meant to pleasure, yet also meant to punish.
She gave herself up to it, reveling in its passion. When Diego pressed her
against the mattress, she didn't protest. When he moved from her lips to
her neck, she just whimpered with bliss. When he cupped her breasts, she
moaned with delight. But when his hand began stroking her bare thigh, Victoria
was startled out of the daze she had fallen into so willingly.
"Diego, no," she murmured, trying to push him off. His fingers were moving
slowly up her leg, causing desire to pool low in her stomach. It was so powerful
she almost let him continue, but then his hand touched a place no one had
ever touched before, frightening her back to reason.
"No! Stop!" she shouted, shoving him with all her might, catching him off
guard. He fell off the bed, landing awkwardly on the floor. Victoria watched
in confusion as he stared blankly, almost as if he had no idea where he was.
"Diego?" she queried tentatively. "Diego, is something wrong?"
"It's not fair," he declared as he struggled to stand. "But then life never
is."
Victoria was even more befuddled. What on earth was he talking about? "Diego,
please," she pleaded, as he finally looked at her with a pained expression.
"What is wrong?"
Oh, Dios mio, what had he almost done? Diego covered his face with
his hands. Please, tell me I didn't almost rape Victoria, he begged,
even though he had seen the truth of it with his own eyes.
"Diego, what's going on?" He could hear the concern in her voice, and it
made him sick. He couldn't tell her. He couldn't make himself say the words.
That his father was dead. Dead and gone, without him having the guts to tell
him he was Zorro. Well, he was not going to make that mistake with the woman
he loved.
He turned, stumbling toward the window. He swiveled around to face her, his
eyes meeting hers. "I am Zorro," he blurted out. "Just thought you'd like
to know."
That said, he climbed through the opening and disappeared.
Victoria sat on her bed, shocked beyond belief. Diego was Zorro? How could
it be? She had dismissed that possibility years ago. But, the way he had
said it, and the look on his face. . . She shivered. It must be true. Throwing
aside her bedcovers, she rushed over to the window. "Diego! Wait!"
But she was too late. Diego had already mounted his horse and was riding
away into the dawn light.
Z Z Z
Bringing Esperanza to a halt just outside the de la Vega stables, Diego realized
he could not go inside. He dismounted and led his mare to the wide doorway.
"Miguel?" he called out. "Paco?"
Five minutes later, Paco walked out, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with
one hand while tucking in his shirt with the other. "Si, Patrón,"
the lad said before yawning.
"See to my horse, por favor." He held out the reins and the stable
boy took them, a puzzled look on his young face. He and his father had always
prided themselves on being able to take care of their own stock, instead
of leaving it to their underlings like so many of their peers. But Diego
could not bring himself to step into the barn, the place where his father
had died. He knew he was being foolish, it hadn't been the stables or the
horses which had killed him. But still. . .
Diego strode purposely to the hacienda, which was thankfully void of servants
for the moment. Entering the library, he made his way to the fireplace, punched
open its back panel and ducked inside.
Once in the cave, he scanned the room. There curled up in the hay of Toronado's
stall, just as he expected, was a sleeping Felipe. The youth looked as exhausted
as Diego felt. Deciding to let the lad rest, he turned to leave, but uncharacteristically
tripped over his own feet and fell against on of the laboratory tables, knocking
over some empty beakers. Two of the them crashed to the floor. Felipe sat
up immediately, an alarmed expression on his face.
"Sorry," said Diego contritely. "I didn't mean to wake you up."
Felipe shrugged then got to his feet. With a flurry of gestures, he asked
where Diego has been all night.
"I just rode for awhile," Diego answered nonchalantly. "Then I went to see
Victoria and told her I was Zorro."
The young man's eyes widened in shock. "I don't know whether she believed
me or not," Diego replied to Felipe's new set of signs. "I didn't stick around
to find out." Like the coward everyone thought him to be, he scolded himself,
hanging his head in shame.
Felipe poked him in the arm, forcing him to pay attention as the youth gestured
Maria had kept asking about the funeral arrangements. "I am sorry I left
you in the lurch, Felipe," Diego stated, "but I just couldn't deal with it
then. I'm not sure I can deal with it now. But I really don't have much of
a choice, do I?"
The young man shook his head as Diego sighed. "Come on," he said wearily,
patting Felipe's shoulder. "Let's get this over with."
Z Z Z
The mission church was filling with citizens from all walks of life. Diego
wasn't surprised to see so many people there as his father was a well-known
and respected caballero. From his viewpoint in the back of the chapel, he
scanned the crowd, noting with a bit of shock Colonel Guerrero was in attendance
along with all the garrison's lancers.
Where was de Soto? Diego knew for a fact the alcalde was still awaiting deportation
in the cuartel jail. Surely he could be let out to attend the funeral? Unless
for some reason he had declined. Diego decided he was going to find out.
He strode forward to where the colonel was sitting and tapped his shoulder.
"Where is de Soto?" he asked without preamble. "I insist he be released so
he can be here."
With narrowed eyes, he noted Guerrero's hesitation before the other man motioned
to the nearest two lancers and whispered his instructions. He glared up at
Diego, not at all happy at his request. Diego didn't care. Ignacio had been
his schoolmate, and a worthy adversary who had more or less kept out of mischief
since he had saved Diego's life by shooting Risendo before the mad emissary
could do the same to Diego.
That memory was dispelled by a scuffle at the church doors. The soldiers
are dragging de Soto, whose physical condition was appalling. His hair was
uncombed and flying in all directions. His clothing was stained and crumpled.
And Diego could smell him even though he was several feet away.
Whipping around to face the colonel, Diego was about to unleash his fury
over the alcalde's treatment when he felt hands squeezing both his arms.
Glancing from side to side, he saw Victoria and Felipe both frowning at him
and shaking their heads.
Fine, he would be quiet for now. But later. . . He stared at Guerrero who
had the decency to turn away. Diego then walked up to where de Soto was still
being held by pair of lancers. They dropped their hands and stepped aside
as he approached.
"Thank you, Diego," said Ignacio hoarsely. "You have my deepest sympathy.
Don Alejandro was a g. . ."
"Just behave yourself," Diego replied tersely. He spun around and finally
made his way to the front pew where Felipe and Victoria already were sitting.
Behind him, he could hear people speaking in hushed tones, no doubt over
his outrageous conduct. But he didn't care. The old Diego, the one he had
played for so long might have. But the new Diego, the true Diego, the Diego
he was always supposed to be, was no longer going to be the fool nor act
the coward. Those days were over.
A hard nudge to his ribs jolted him from his musings. Realizing everyone
else had risen to their feet, Diego also stood and turned to watch as six
of the de la Vega ranch hands carried in the casket, followed by Padre Benitez
and four altar boys.
It suddenly became hard to breathe again. He could not do this, he thought
in a panic. He still needed his father, he wasn't ready to let him go. For
a split second, the idea of fleeing crossed his mind. But then two hands
grabbed his, instantly calming him. Once again he looked at Victoria and
Felipe and was extremely grateful they were both there.
Z Z Z
He was tired of playing the gracious host, Diego thought as he surveyed the
people scattered about the hacienda. Of course it was expected he provide
a luncheon for the other caballeros and their wives, and for those who worked
for him and his father. . .
Clenching both his fists and his teeth, he saw another one of Don Alejandro's
friends approaching. Ah, yes, the slap on the back. The offer of condolences
along with the suggestion if he needed assistance with the ranch or anything,
just to let them know. As though they all believed he won't be up to the
task, that he could never fill his father's shoes. And who knew, they just
might be right. It was something Diego had put off dealing with for years,
rationalizing he was needed elsewhere, and there would be plenty of time
to knuckle under and learn how to run the vast de la Vega empire.
He smiled and nodded as Don Emilio clapped him on the shoulder before wandering
off to get another plate of food. Out of the corner of his eye, he could
see someone else making their way toward him. No, he had had enough, more
than he could bear, if truth be told. He slipped away as inconspicuously
as someone his height possibly could, ducking into the kitchen, much to the
surprise of the housekeeper and her minions.
"Is everything all right, Patrón?" asked Maria, wiping her
hands on her apron.
"Si, si, everything is fine. I. . .I just need a breath of fresh air."
"Si, Patrón," she replied as he disappeared through the back
door. With a sad shake of her head, she went back to work.
It was half an hour later Victoria found Diego hiding out in the courtyard.
She smiled fondly as she realized it was the very spot where she and Zorro
had share their first kiss. Had he chosen it deliberately or. . .?
She watched as he aimlessly doodled in the dust with a stick. Was he doing
some sort of mathematics? she wondered as he drew a few numbers and letters
then crossed them out. It was beyond anything she could comprehend.
"I won't bite, you know."
Diego's words startled her. "How. . .How did you know I was here?"
"Your scent. I would recognize it anywhere. It's a mixture of spices, peppers,
onions, and a delicate hint of roses"
"Oh." Victoria sniffed the air around her but didn't smell anything out of
the ordinary.
"Why do you think he brought you roses?" asked Diego. "Where do you think
he found them?" With his free hand, he indicated the roses growing all around
them.
It had never crossed her mind before, but now that he mentioned it, she wondered
why she hadn't been curious about where the flowers Zorro had given her came
from. And speaking of Zorro. . .
"You talk as if Zorro is another person."
"He is. He was." Diego chuckled humorlessly. "I know it sounds insane, that
I must be insane. . . But he had to be an entirely different person, separate
from the person I was hiding behind, so that no one would guess they were
one in the same." He sighed wearily. "It does sound insane, doesn't it?"
He resumed his doodling.
"No, I understand," Victoria replied. "I ought to be upset with you for deceiving
me all this time, and I was, but I understand now why you did it."
"I'm sorry about the other night, or morning, I suppose," said Diego, not
looking up from his sketching. "I didn't mean to. . ."
"Oh, that is quite all right," she said automatically. "I mean, I was. .
. I didn't know about your. . ."
"Yes, well," he interrupted, dropping his stick as he stood up. "I am still
very sorry. I shouldn't have. . ."
"I came out here to give you this," Victoria stated before she lost her nerve.
He seemed so vulnerable, she probably shouldn't do this now. But she needed
to do it sooner or later, preferably sooner. She held out her hand. He moved
closer and reached out with his own hand. His mother's engagement ring fell
into his open palm.
The look of devastation on his face nearly had her snatching the ring back.
She knew what he was thinking, that she couldn't love the man beneath the
mask. She had struggled with his revelation and this was the only way to
set things right between them.
"I can no longer accept Zorro's proposal of marriage," she announced boldly.
"He is not the man I want to marry."
Diego glanced up at her sharply and she saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"The true owner of that ring is the man I love. If he were to propose to
me, my answer would be yes," Victoria said, smiling shyly.
Shaking his head, Diego was having a hard time taking it all in. The new
government's takeover. Zorro's pardon. His father's death. Victoria's declaration
of love. Everything was happening too fast.
"We would not be able to marry right away," he said once his head stopped
reeling. "Everyone would know that I am Zorro and I don't want that." She
opened her mouth to protest, but he held up his hand to stay her. "I want
Zorro to fade away, never to be heard from again."
"I just don't want to wait too long," she said.
"Neither do I," Diego added, thinking of the grandchildren who would never
know their grandfather. Putting the emerald and diamond ring into his pocket,
he then took her hand. "Thank you."
Victoria looked at him curiously as he escorted her back inside the hacienda.
Time to face the music, he told himself. It would be what his father would
have expected of him.