Chapter 3
Due to their late departure from Los Angeles, it was already after dusk when Victoria and Juan arrived at the inn north of the monasterio of San Buenaventura. They had not reserved any rooms and the innkeepers hadn't expected any more guests.
"Buenas noches, señora, señor," a woman came out of the tavern. "I'm Anna Guiterrez, my husband and I are the innkeepers here. How can I help you this late at night?"
"Buenas noches, señora" Juan greeted the innkeeper. "I'd like to have a room for my wife and me, por favor. The best you have," Juan smiled at Victoria.
"I'm sorry," the innkeeper said, "We don't have a free room any more. The coach from Monterey broke down on its way and the travelers are staying here tonight. I can only offer you to share a room with the other guests. There is one bed free in the room where the single woman is staying and another with the man I put in the other remaining room.
Victoria looked at Juan disappointed. This wasn't how she had imagined her wedding night. "What do you want, Victoria?" Juan drew her to the side so they wouldn't be overheard by the innkeeper. "Maybe it was foolish to rush to Monterey tonight. I'm sorry, I know you wanted to spend the night differently." Juan tenderly caressed her cheek, but Victoria showed no reaction, only biting her lip. "Do you want us to drive on?"
"I don't know, Juan," Victoria replied tiredly. "I don't know anything anymore tonight."
"Señor, do you want my husband to take care of your horses?" Señora Guiterrez called. "I don't advise you to travel on tonight. The road to Santa Barbara is difficult to drive with a wagon, especially at night and there are also reports of repeated attacks from bandits. The soldiers on patrol do their best, but they can't be everywhere. I wish we had a man like Zorro here in this area who keeps the road free. They are all afraid of him and stay away from Los Angeles, seeking their prey in this area instead."
"I think we'd better stay here tonight," Juan said to Victoria. "I promise I'll make it up as soon as we have arrived in Monterey." He smiled a little trying to cheer her up.
Victoria only nodded. "I'm tired from all the excitement today and I hardly slept last night either. Please do me a favor and don't tell anyone that we married today. I don't want the innkeepers to make any fuss about it. I'd feel embarrassed about it."
"Of course Victoria." Juan nodded understandingly and led her into the house. The innkeeper's husband came out and took care of the horses while his wife had them sit down at a table and brought them drinks and a soup.
"I'm sorry, señora, señor, but that's all I have left from dinner," she apologized.
"It's alright, Señora Guiterrez," Victoria appeased her. "We had a lot to eat before we left."
"You both look tired," the woman liked talking to her guests. "Where are you from? Did you travel a long way today?"
"We are from Los Angeles," Juan said, "we are on our way home to Monterey."
"Los Angeles. I hear many stories from there about Zorro. Did you see him while you were there?" The woman curiously asked them. Her question reminded Victoria of the way Zorro had looked at her in the church and suddenly she felt miserable again. "Did I say something wrong?" Senora Guiterrez asked when she saw Victoria's face.
"No, it's alright. I need to get to sleep and I should hurry before the other señora goes to sleep."
"Si, señora, the other lady just went up to the room. I'll go up with you and show you around. Your husband can bring your things up." The innkeeper took a light and guided her to the guest rooms on the upper floor. "I'll knock when I have your bag, Victoria," Juan looked at her helplessly, not happy either with the way the evening had turned out. He had registered Victoria's face too when she had been asked about Zorro. It couldn't be fast enough they got to Monterey and started their new life.
The other woman Victoria had to share her room with presented herself as a nice older widow. She told her that she was on her way to Mexico together with her nephew who would have to share with Juan.
A few minutes later Juan knocked on the door of the room the women shared and Victoria slipped out into the hall. "I have your bag," Juan put it in front of the door. Then he bent down to kiss her without getting much response from Victoria. "Good night, Victoria. Tomorrow we will start our new life."
"Good night, Juan." Victoria kissed him shortly in return. "It was an exciting day and all I want is sleep now."
Listening to the even breathing of the woman in the other bed, Victoria was restless. She was tired but she couldn't sleep, lying awake in her bed. Only now she had the time to reflect about the events of the day.
Last night, when she had agreed to Juan's proposal, she had been sure she was doing the right thing. She was longing so much for a family of her own and there was no hope in sight that Zorro would ever be able to stop his fight.
But she would never forget the way Zorro had looked at her in the church after she had married Juan. Only then had she realized how much she had hurt him. Would she able to forget Zorro in Monterey when she still loved him so much?
Why had everything turned out so differently from her dreams? Wasn't she supposed to be lying happily in the arms of the man she loved? Then why was she lying alone in her bed on her wedding night, no longer sure if she had made the right decision?
She couldn't hold back her tears anymore and cried herself to sleep.
