CHAPTER THREE
Diego sat paralyzed in his chair. Why would this woman have a message for
Zorro? And why would she come to him to see it delivered? Shaking himself
out of his shock, he asked her those very questions.
"It does seem odd," Violetta agreed. "But the explanation is simple. Antonio
was on his way to see you when he died. He. . ."
"What?" Diego interrupted, surprised once again. "I had no idea. I hadn't
heard from him since I left university. Why would he come to visit me?"
"I'm not sure," Señora Murillo said. "He got a letter from another
old school friend one day and the next day told me he was leaving for California.
He gave me this to give to you if something happened to him." She reached
into her handbag, bringing out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. "His
ship was lost at sea during a storm near Cape Horn. There were no survivors."
"Again, you have my deepest sympathy, Señora," commiserated Diego.
"It must have been very important for my friend to risk his life to come
see me. Who was this classmate who set off such a tragic series of events?"
"Domingo Maldonado."
Diego had been wrong in thinking he could not be astonished anymore that
day. The name was one he had not heard since he had left Madrid. And one
he had hoped to never hear again. Maldonado had never been his friend. Oh,
no, quite the opposite. The two had been rivals since the first day they
had set foot on campus together.
"Diego?" He snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of his companion's voice.
She was staring at him curiously.
"Um. . .Maldonado?" he queried as indifferently as he could. "I. . .uh. .
.remember someone by that name. He and Antonio kept in contact?"
"No," said the widow. "That's why I thought it so strange my husband would
leave so abruptly after hearing from him."
"Strange, indeed," Diego agreed. "I am guessing you never saw the contents
of the missive from Maldonado?"
"No, Antonio didn't share it with me and he took the letter with him," she
confirmed. She glanced at the envelope in her hand. "I haven't read this
one either."
He could tell she was telling the truth as its flap appeared to be unmolested.
Standing, he extended his hand. "You have my word this letter will reach
Zorro."
She stared at the missive one last time then placed it into his hand. "Gracias,
Diego. I knew I could trust you."
"De nada," he replied, slightly uncomfortable by her admission. "Well.
. ." Another knock at the door saved Diego from having to dismiss the señora.
Diego walked over to the door and opened it. This time the person on the
other side was not so alarming as it was a messenger carrying a suspiciously
long package. "Ah, my order from Spain."
The transaction took mere seconds to complete, the young man sent on his
way with a generous tip. Diego set the parcel aside before turning his attention
back to the beautiful widow.
"So do you think you can deliver the letter to Zorro today?" she asked.
"It's not that simple, Señora. Zorro is highly unpredictable. I really
have no more knowledge of his whereabouts than anyone else in the pueblo."
"Oh, but surely. . ." she began.
"It's true," he interrupted her. "In fact, I have only met him once or twice."
He nodded his head in the direction of the tavern. "You would be better off
leaving the letter with Señorita Escalante. It is rumored he visits
her from time to time. Or the alcalde. Zorro has dropped in on him unannounced
on more than one occasion."
"Oh, but Antonio said I was to give it to you," she replied. "He stressed
that upon me." She glanced up at him with an expression of dismay and added,
"Plus I get the feeling the señorita doesn't like me."
"I'm sure you are just imagining that," Diego declared, not sure why he felt
he had to defend Victoria's hostility toward Violetta. "She's really a lovely
woman once you get to know her."
The widow raised her eyebrows as if she didn't quite believe him. "Of course,"
she said. "It is just I have to admit I am rather interested in what my husband
could have written that made him endanger his life." Violetta took a step
toward Diego. "I miss him so much," she stated in a quavery tone. "He meant
the world to me."
She looked up at him woefully. "I have been so terribly lonely since he.
. . Since he. . ." The widow threw herself against Diego, and began sobbing
on his chest. Lust shot through him like a bullet.
Madre de Dios, he thought as he encircled his arms around her. Here
she was, seeking comfort, and he could do nothing but think impure thoughts.
As he was berating himself for acting like a cad, she glanced up at him through
tear-stained lashes, bewitching him even further. Feeling as helpless as
a newborn foal, he lowered his lips to hers.
Violetta's arms snaked around his neck as she enthusiastically returned his
kiss. Diego brought his hands up to caressed her breasts as his tongue plunged
into her mouth again and again. With a soft moan, she tightened her hold
as he lowered his hands to cup her bottom, pressing her against his arousal.
The loud whinny of a horse just outside the office brought Diego to his senses.
He thrust the widow away, unable to look her in the eyes.
"My deepest apologies, Señora," he murmured as he struggled to regain
control. "I don't know what came over me."
"No need to apologize, Diego," Violetta said demurely. "I. . .I should go."
Reaching for the doorknob, she turned to look at him. "Please, don't forget
the letter," she reminded him.
"I won't," he promised, glad to be given something else to dwell on. He moved
ahead of her and opened the door for her. She stepped through the portal
and he followed her outside.
"Thank you again, Diego," she said before rising up on her toes and kissing
his cheek. With that, she hurried away across the plaza.
Diego watched her go, hypnotized by the swaying of her skirts. Then with
a sense of foreboding, he raised his eyes and saw Victoria standing on the
porch of her inn, a tray with a pitcher and several glasses in her hands.
If looks could kill, thought Diego, he would be lying dead on the ground.
Obviously she had witnessed the end of his encounter with Violetta and hadn't
like what she had seen. She probably would truly kill him if she found out
about the other kiss.
So much for her earlier protestations. She was jealous. Mischievously, he
smiled and waved at her, wondering how he could get her to admit she had
feelings for him. Feelings which went much deeper than just the friendship
she claimed she felt for him.
His lightened mood dissipated as swiftly as it had arrived though as he caught
a glimpse of Señora Murillo as she entered the tavern. Once again
his body reacted as though he had never before seen such a stunning woman.
Vainly trying to clear his mind of her, he vowed Zorro would pay visit Victoria
that very evening. Obviously, he needed a reminder of who truly held his
heart. With a sigh he headed back inside the office. The letter addressed
to his alter ego was still lying on his desk. Deciding he would read it later
in the cave, he tucked it into his jacket pocket before getting back to the
business of publishing a newspaper.
Z Z Z
It wasn't until much later in the evening Diego sat at the carved mahogany
desk in the cavern under the de la Vega hacienda, staring at the still unopened
envelope he held in his hands. His curiosity had tempted him all day, keen
to learn its contents. Yet another part of him restrained itself, worried
opening the letter would be akin to opening a Pandora's box.
Aware he was procrastinating, Diego examined the missive, noting the word
‘Zorro' was scrawled in an untidy and unfamiliar hand. He did not remember
ever seeing Antonio's handwriting in all the years they spent together at
university. His old amigo had not been much of a scholar, preferring athletics
and socializing to academics. In fact, Murillo had also been a pupil of Sir
Edmund Kendall, as had Domingo Maldonado. Praying the connection had nothing
to do with the weathered packet in his hand, Diego reached for his letter
opener and deftly sliced the top of the envelope.
He extracted the single piece of paper and with a modicum of dread, unfolded
it. No sooner than he had done so, he heard footsteps making their way toward
him, prefacing the arrival of Felipe. The lad landed at the bottom of the
stairs and turned toward the stall where Toronado stood, munching on hay
before checking himself. He looked over at Diego with a raised brow and a
nod to the letter.
"It's nothing," Diego lied, not sure of the sudden urge to keep the note
from the youth. "Just a letter from an old friend." He stood up, stuffing
the missive into his desk drawer.
Felipe gestured toward the black stallion, explaining he noticed something
amiss with one of the Andalusian's hooves. With a sigh, Diego rose from his
chair, then walked over to where the youth stood waiting. So much for Zorro
paying a call on Victoria tonight, he thought, wondering why the delay filled
him with relief instead of disappointment. Shaking his head, he examined
the hoof Felipe held up for inspection.
Z Z Z
It was late the next morning when Diego tapped in the last nail of the new
horseshoe. The old one had evidently caught on something and had pulled loose,
damaging the shoe in the process. And since they could hardly take Zorro's
mount to the local farrier, they had to do the work themselves.
"There, that should do it," he said before setting the hammer down. He then
lowered the stallion's leg and let the horse test out his new footwear. "Good
as new, old boy," announced Diego, giving Toronado an affectionate rub on
the nose. Then turning to Felipe, he said, "Well, I'm off to the pueblo with
Father. I should be back before supper and then after we can test our handiwork
here."
Felipe nodded then went to work currying the horse's coat. Giving the Andalusian
another pat, Diego turned and left the cave.
Z Z Z
The midnight black stallion tore up the turf as it headed for the pueblo
de Los Angeles, its black-clad rider leaning low over his mount's neck. The
new horseshoe was holding up well, Zorro thought as they reached the outskirts
of town. Avoiding the plaza, he steered Toronado to the back alleyway which
led to the tavern's rear entrance.
Seconds later, he was standing inside the deserted kitchen where he hoped
Victoria might still be. A feeling of dread went through him as he realized
she must have already retired for the night and he would have to accost her
in her bedroom. Not a good idea, he told himself as he scaled the wall leading
to the second floor, not a good idea at all.
Soundlessly he climbed over onto the balcony and headed toward Victoria's
quarters. Just as he was about to open the door, he heard a soft scuffing
sound behind and spun around to see Violetta there, clad only in a nightgown.
Madre de Dios, its thin fabric hid nothing. His trousers began to tighten
uncomfortably.
"Are you Zorro?" she asked, excitement sparkling in her eyes.
"At your service, Señora," he replied, bowing stiffly.
"I thought I heard a noise," she explained. "I never thought it would be
you." She glanced up at him with the same expression she had used the day
before which had melted his resolve. "Has Don Diego given you a letter yet?"
she asked breathlessly.
"A letter?" he feigned ignorance. "No. Why would he?" He only half listened
as she once again recounted the story behind her husband's curious missive.
He was more worried the longer they stood outside Victoria's bedroom, the
better the chance they would either wake the other woman up or he might once
again lose his head and kiss the beautiful widow.
". . .so you see, it is very important Diego get this letter to you," Violetta
said with a wave of her hand. That action caused her breasts to strain against
the diaphanous gown she was wearing, clearly outlining her pert nipples.
Zorro fought the rising tide of lust which filled him, causing him to harden
even more. He heard someone moan and realized it was him. Maldita sea.
He tried to focus on what she was saying.
"You must go at once to get it from him." she implored.
"Si," he replied, not quite sure what he was agreeing to do. He would
have agreed to fly to the moon if she would just back to her room and out
of his sight, if not out of his mind.
Suddenly the door they were standing in front of flew open, and a tousled
Victoria appeared, wearing a very displeased expression and equally transparent
night attire. Zorro darkly glanced upward for a second before turning his
attention back to his companions.
Victoria could not believe what she was seeing. The man she loved and that.
. .that. . . hussy who trying to get her hooks into Diego, rendezvousing
outside her room. And the widow was only wearing her nightgown and Zorro.
. . She looked him up and down, pausing as her eyes swept over his groin.
A red haze settled over her.
"Get out!" she shrieked. She stepped toward the couple, raising her fists.
Whether she intended to strike him or her, she would never know, because
Zorro grabbed both of her wrists. "Let go of me, you cerdo!" Victoria
struggled as she shouted, "How dare you? I thought you. . . Ooo. . ." She
began kicking at his shins with her bare feet. "Ouch." Pain shot up her leg
as she connected with his leather clad leg.
"Victoria," he said in a low tone, "this is not what it seems." He tossed
a glance over his shoulder at the widow who was standing there, looking on
with wide-eyed innocence. "I came here tonight to see you, not her," he explained.
She didn't believe him, her fear (irrational as it was) the other woman was
not only attempting to steal Diego from her but now Zorro as well, overruled
her common sense. She tried to pull away from him again and this time he
let her go. Taking a deep breath, she realized the three of them were no
long alone, and most of her other guests were peering out of their rooms,
staring in various degrees of shock and fascination. Oh, perfect, she thought,
thinking of the gossip which would spread like wildfire through the pueblo
the next day. A wanted criminal caught with two nearly naked women. . . The
gossips would have a field day with that little tidbit.
"Just get out," she reiterated, all the anger leaving her as she gazed up
at Zorro. She then turned to the señora. "And I want you and your
mother out of here first thing in the morning."
"But we have nowhere else to go."
"Not my problem," said Victoria. With one last look at the man she thought
loved her, she stepped back into her bedroom and slammed the door shut.
Zorro glanced at Violetta apologetically, shrugging his shoulders. Taking
a couple of steps, he hopped onto the balcony railing and leaped forward,
catching the chandelier. He landed on the floor below and disappeared through
the kitchen.
"Well, that was truly a disaster," he muttered as he settled himself into
the saddle on Toronado's back. He nudged the horse and they took off at a
gallop. Not only had he managed to infuriate Victoria even more, he mused
as he sped across the countryside, he had fallen even farther under the beautiful
young widow's spell.
He needed to find out what the letter contained that was so important. And
hopefully by doing so, he would be able to dispel whatever mysterious enchantment
Violetta was using to hold him in her thrall.