Chapter 10

Victoria decided to talk about Diego's health with the doctor. As Diego's future wife, he would tell her the truth about his condition. Before she could take a closer look at the room, there was a knock at the door, and at her call the housekeeper entered.

"Señorita Escalante, I'm glad you've come," Maria smiled at her. "El Patron has been longing to see you."

"How do you know that?" Victoria inquired, surprised.

"My husband Rodrigo and I are caring for him when he is ill, and he spoke of you all the time during the time he was feverish." Maria explained. "It was very bad this time. He nearly didn't make it."

Victoria was shocked to hear that, though she should have guessed it, the way Diego looked. "How long have you been working and caring for Diego now?"

"It has been almost three years now, since Rodrigo and I came here from Spain. We were very lucky to get to work with Señor Lopez. He is such a kind man, and we are grateful he chose us at the harbor in Santa Monica. Without him our little daughter, Pilar, would be dead, just like her sister before her." Maria turned her eyes up, signing a cross and whispering a small prayer.

"Pilar. That's a nice name, Maria," Victoria smiled at the housekeeper. "How did Diego save her? And what happened to your older daughter?" she inquired, curiously.

"She died when she was less than a year old," Maria explained with tears in her eyes. "When breastfeeding wasn't enough anymore for her, I started to give her other food, and she liked it, but then she got cramps and lost weight no matter what I did. She died because she couldn't keep the food inside her body." Maria wiped a tear away.

"It must be very hard to lose a child that way," Victoria said, compassionately.

Maria nodded. "We wanted to have a new start, since I couldn't bear to pass by the cemetery with her grave everyday. So, we decided to come here to California. My daughter Pilar was born shortly before we went on board the ship. I breastfed her during the voyage, and everything was alright with her."

"What happened when you came here?" Victoria inquired.

"We were fortunate that Señor Lopez hired us when we stepped off the ship and were looking for work. Soon after we arrived, Pilar showed the same symptoms as my first daughter, and I was devastated. I was afraid that I'd lose her, too. Señor Lopez inquired what was going on, and I explained it to him. A few days later he told me he read something in a book from a similar case.

After the wars Napoleon brought all over Europe, there was little food, and the people were starving, without enough bread. A doctor in Germany found out that children who suffered from the same illness as my daughter survived when their parents no longer gave them wheat, as in bread, mainly because they didn't have any."

"What did you do?" Victoria asked.

"El patron told us not to give my daughter any bread and keep to milk and fruits instead. We couldn't believe it at first, but we were desperate and followed his advice. Pilar has grown into a healthy child now, and we couldn't be happier." Maria smiled, gratefully.

"I thank the Lord every day for sending us here, and for sending us Senor Lopez, who helped save our baby. After all that he has done for us, we'd never betray him, and we'd do anything for him, Señorita," Maria declared.

"Thank you, Maria. I'm grateful that he had some help here when he wouldn't trust his family."

"I have kept you long enough with my story, Señorita," Maria said. "I should get back to work now. Do you have everything you need?"

Victoria looked around the room. There was a door leading to another room, and she could hear murmured voices. At her questioning look, Maria explained. "That door leads to the room of el patron, but the door can be locked from both sides. You won't be disturbed, Señorita. I'll take care of your clothes, once you have changed." Victoria was too surprised to say anything.

"Are you hungry, Señorita? Or did you have lunch? Master Felipe went straight to the kitchen upon your arrival and has already eaten. I'll have something for you prepared in the dining room."

Victoria nodded. "Thank you, Maria. Now that you mention food, I feel hungry, and I really could use something to eat. I'm coming in a few minutes."

Feeling the need to freshen up after the long ride in the heat, she was grateful to be able to change into one of the dresses she found in the trunk Diego had mentioned before. They were all the same size, varying in style between normal day to day wear and more elegant ones, including also an evening dress. She picked one of the plainer dresses to change into, carefully folding the old one on a chair.

After some time she heard the conversation in the next room stop, and the door opening. Quickly, she opened the door to see the doctor leaving Diego's room and followed him. The doctor heard her steps and turned around, slowing his pace to have her join him. "How is he?" Victoria asked, walking down the hallway alongside the doctor.

"Ah, Señorita," he smiled, "I almost expected your question. At the moment he's asleep with a sleeping potion I gave him. The additional sleep helps his recovery. What did your fiancé tell you?"

"He told me that he almost died, and that his arm will remain stiff. Is that true?"

"Yes, to both. I have treated him several times before, but this time he nearly died under my hands. You must understand that I did all that I could for him, but the arm was in a terrible condition. All I could do was to set it up as best as I knew. I am only a doctor, and I can't work miracles."

"Thank you, Doctor, for all that you did for him. I know that it's hard for him, but I will do my best to help him." Victoria said, depressed.

"I'm glad that you finally came to see him! What kept you so long?" the doctor inquired.

"He didn't tell me that he was ill, Doctor. He no longer wanted to see me after he learned about his arm." Victoria explained.

"I understand, Señorita. I'm sorry that I had a different impression before I met you. When do you plan to marry?"

"As soon as possible, Doctor. Are there any objections from your side about marrying in a week?"

"Your fiancé still needs to rest a lot, and it will take some time to regain his former strength, even though he was in better condition than most of my patients. I see no reason why you can't marry soon, but I suggest waiting two weeks to give your fiancé more time. I think the bones will be healed enough by then, so I can remove the bandage from his arm before the wedding."

"Thank you, Doctor, for all you did for him." Victoria smiled, relieved.

"De nada, Señorita."

Z Z Z

After finishing the meal Maria had served her in the dining room, Victoria returned to her room, changing into a nightgown that Maria had laid out for her. For the first time in days, Victoria felt safe again as she slipped under the covers. She hadn't been able to sleep in prison, and now she was exhausted.

As she tried to sleep, she became aware of the quiet around her. There were no wagons passing by, no soldiers shouting and patrolling on the plaza. The peace surrounding her allowed her to finally relax after the exciting events of the day, and she began to cry, letting go of the sorrows of the recent weeks.

She hadn't told Diego of humiliating remarks she had to endure, and how the men had tried to grab her. Without Zorro to back her up, she had been vulnerable, and she knew she couldn't stand it anymore.

Calming down, she made up her mind. She would go back to the pueblo as Diego requested, but she would keep the tavern closed until she left Los Angeles and use the time to prepare everything for her wedding. If she found a buyer for her tavern, it would be best, or she would ask Don Alejandro to sell it for her after she left.

Staring at the ceiling, she was unable to sleep in the unfamiliar surrounding. The quiet made her feel lonely, and she longed for Diego's presence. Now that she had found him again, she needed to assure herself that she hadn't been dreaming.

She rose from her bed, and with bare feet, walked quietly on tip toes to the connecting door. Knocking, she waited for a response, and quietly unlocked the door as she heard nothing.

The room was as large as her own, with matching furniture. Surprised, she noticed a portrait of herself hanging on the wall opposite the bed. In the large bed in the center, Diego was sleeping soundly, due to the sleeping potion the doctor had told her about.

In his sleep and covered under the bed sheets, he looked weaker than earlier at the corral, and she understood why the doctor had said that he would need more time to recover. It didn't matter, as long she could be here with him in this room, touching him. He didn't wake up as she took his left hand between hers and sat down on his bedside.

"Diego," she whispered, "I love you so much. I need you in my life." Finally relaxing, she dropped her head next to his on the pillow and fell asleep, still holding his hand.