Chapter 10

The next days were the most horrible ones in Victoria's life and she knew Felipe felt the same. They supported each other, taking turns at Diego's bedside. Victoria was taking care of the house, trying to make it a bit more habitable for the time they had to stay here. The doctor stayed for two whole days, doing all he could to save Diego, before he had to return to his other patients. The three of them talked a lot, since there was nothing else to do when they weren't taking short naps or getting supplies from the hacienda.

"Who shot Zorro?" the doctor inquired. "How did it happen?" He was shocked when they told him that it was Alejandro. "Don Alejandro shot his own son? Didn't he know?"

"No, he didn't." Victoria cried. "Diego wanted to protect him, so that he couldn't be tortured to reveal Zorro's name or hanged by his side. I only learned the truth after we got married."

"So the the only one who knew Zorro's name was a boy who can't talk." Apologizing he looked at Felipe who only shrugged. He was used to being called a mute.

"For how long have you known, doctor?" Victoria inquired.

"I had some suspicions from the start, but I knew for sure after Zorro fell into the same canyon as today. The concussion he had wasn't something you get from falling from an old mare. As a doctor I observe more than just a person's clothing. I consider the proportion of his body and the way he moves, among other things. After reviewing my observations over time, it became obvious to me who Zorro was."

Z Z Z

Diego's condition improved during the next days, but the doctor was against moving him to the De la Vega hacienda. He was also concerned about Diego's lung that would need more time to heal even if Diego recovered from the loss of blood and the fever. He recommended a longer stay at the sea side preferably in Santa Paula which wasn't far away and would provide the right climate for Diego's lungs to heal. At the hacienda there would be too much dust, now that it hadn't rained for weeks and there was the danger of sandstorms. Since they couldn't stay in the house much longer, they had to transport him to Santa Paula as soon as possible. After four days the doctor deemed him fit enough to be transported, and Victoria and Felipe gratefully accepted his offer to accompany them on the journey to Santa doctor referred them also to his colleague in Santa Paula.

With Alejandro's help Felipe organized a matted cart from the hacienda to keep Diego comfortable during the journey. In Santa Paula they took several rooms in a well-situated guesthouse that overlooked the sea.

Z Z Z

After Diego had stayed mostly unconscious, partly due to the medicines, Victoria was overjoyed when he finally opened his eyes again and recognized her. "Victoria," he whispered.

"Oh Diego, you're awake!" She knelt down beside his bed, tears flowing down her face. "What happened? Where am I? How long?" Diego looked around in the unfamiliar room.

"Shh, Diego, don't talk. You need to rest more. You have been unconscious for two weeks now. You were shot, do you remember? You fell down the canyon. Felipe and I found you and took care of you. Now we're in Santa Paula to help your lung to heal."

"There was my father and I wanted to tell him..., there was a shot and then..." Diego tried to remember more, but he couldn't.

"It's alright, Diego. You had a severe concussion from your fall and often it leads to a loss of memory. I think you must have a guardian angel to have survived it." Victoria smiled at him, squeezing his hand.

"A guardian angel," Diego smiled. "There are angels, but sometimes they make your nightmares come true." Diego fell asleep again and Victoria looked at him puzzled. She'd never

thought he believed in angels with his scientific mind.

It was a turning point and the doctor in Santa Paula assured her that Diego would recover again. Diego stayed conscious for longer amounts of time, but Felipe and Victoria still held vigil at his side, taking turns. Once he felt better, Diego started to protest as he wanted them to rest more.

Z Z Z

One night he woke up and saw his wife sitting in a chair next to his bed nearly asleep. She looked tired and exhausted and Diego couldn't bear it any longer. He tugged her at the arm and she became alert. "Diego, is something wrong?"

"That chair looks very uncomfortable to me." He lifted his blanket. "If you insist on monitoring me during the night, you can also do that in my arms." Too tired to resist, she took off her shoes and slipped under the cover. It was wonderful to sleep in his arms again and listen to the constant beating of his heart. Soon both of them were fast asleep.

In the morning, Diego realized just how exhausted Victoria must have been when she didn't wake up from his stirring around in the bed. Victoria wanted to get up when she realized where she was, feeling guilty that she given in to her tiredness and slept instead of keeping vigil.

"Stay, Querida," Diego whispered softly and didn't release her from his embrace.

"But I should..," she started to protest, but he closed her mouth with a kiss.

"I have decided to change the rules a bit," he smiled mischievously. "Being my wife comes with some privileges and I'm going to insist on implementing."

"What are you talking about?" Victoria asked, confused. "Do you want me to spend more money?"

"You can do that too if you want, but I thought of other things," he grinned. "First of all, you're no longer going to sleep in that chair."

"Well, I agree," she smiled. "It is very uncomfortable."

"You're going to sleep in my arms." Victoria let him draw her closer.

"Doesn't it hurt you?" she asked reluctantly.

"No, it doesn't anymore. It has healed enough," he assured her. "And ..."

"What else?"

"You let me show you how I love you."

"You're definitely not healed enough for that, Diego!" she exclaimed surprised.

"That maybe, but I can still make you feel good!" Starting with a passionate kiss, he showed her how much he could do, until she lay completely relaxed in his arms, drifting off to sleep again.

Z Z Z

Felipe was embarrassed to see them in bed together when he came into the room in the morning to relieve Victoria from her vigil.

After Diego made clear that he didn't want them to keep vigil with him any longer, Felipe realized that his presence was no longer required. Somehow relieved that he could pick up his own life at the hacienda, he decided to return to Los Angeles, taking Toronado with him to continue riding and caring for him while Diego was recovering.

"How about you and my father, Felipe?" Diego asked. "Will you two get along after all that happened?"

Felipe nodded and signed. 'He is family and the hacienda is home. Your father cared for me when you were in Spain. Will you be angry at me, Diego, if I forgive him and return home?' Anxiously Felipe looked at him. 'You have Victoria now and I need to find my own life... You and your father are the only family I can remember...'

"It's alright, Felipe, I understand. I don't want you to chose between me and my Father." Diego set his fears to rest. "You have a great heart!"

"Thank you, Felipe, for everything." Diego and Victoria both embraced him as they said goodbye.

"There is no reason," Felipe signed. "You are my family and I love you."

"We love you too, son," Diego smiled.