Chapter 10
The next day Victoria expressed her wish to accompany him to the pueblo. It was the first time she'd return to the pueblo after the night she ran away from Gonzalez. Only then Diego realized what they had overlooked. Since Victoria hadn't been in the pueblo recently, nobody knew that she had reconciled with Zorro. Zorro had kept his visits private even to the servants on the hacienda. Except for Victoria, Felipe and his father, nobody else knew. And if they kept it private, there would still be a chance for Diego and Victoria. It was Diego who had saved her life after all.
So there was no real need to get rid of Zorro.
Nobody could expect to Zorro to take her back after she had left him, and this would be the chance for Diego to marry her, after all the weeks she had spent on the hacienda. Zorro would merely be a good friend, no longer angry at her, but no longer her lover either.
Now that he no longer had to act in front of his family, life became a lot easier. He no longer had to guard his tongue and act like he didn't care when in fact he was quite angry. When Victoria got to know the real Diego, she discovered how much alike he was to his father. They both had the De la Vega temper and they couldn't stand injustice. But where Don Alejandro acted impulsively, Diego kept his anger in check. He always gave it a thought, before he made his move trying to turn the situation to his advantage. When he acted, he was in control of the situation and he used his opponents anger against them. The only times she had seen him act impulsively was when she or his father had been in danger. But then it had sometimes been Alejandro who had restrained him.
Two weeks later Victoria's brother Ramon arrived at the De la Vega hacienda. Diego had written him in his worry about Victoria and hoping that her brother would be able to help her when he no could reach her. Ramon had been very concerned about Diego's letter, but he wasn't able to come earlier.
He was relieved to see his sister well and happily agreed to give his sister away at the wedding that was scheduled the week after his arrival.
Victoria and Ramon made a decision about the tavern. About all that happened Victoria didn't feel comfortable there any more and after the wedding she wouldn't have that much time for it either when she hoped to have her own family to care for soon.
Ramon was glad to take over the tavern from Victoria after it was reopened. Victoria helped him to set up business again until he was able to manage it himself. Alina and Pilar returned to their job at the tavern and since the De la Vegas were regular customers again, the business improved considerably.
Victoria also had a clue that her brother wouldn't stay alone for long since she noticed how well Ramon and Alina got along after they set sight on each other.