Chapter 11

Diego awoke later that morning and ate his breakfast. He needed to talk to someone. His father had already left for town. Their discussion last night had helped somewhat but he needed another point of view. He knew he could confide in Felipe. He trusted the young man as he trusted no one else. The bond between them was strong. Even though Felipe was younger than Diego, he knew him better than anyone else..."How are you today?" Diego greeted Felipe as he walked through the sala.

"Quite well, actually," signed Felipe. "And about you, Diego?"

"What did you think of Don Roberto and his daughter"

"Don Roberto and Gabriela seemed very nice. She seemed quite taken with you, I noticed." signed Felipe.

"She seems nice enough but a man and a woman can be friends…Victoria and I are proof of that."

"You love Victoria and you feel only friendship for Gabriella. Victoria didn't like the fact that you spent time with Senorita Gabriela. She is jealous of her and it is not the first time that she has been jealous of another woman. Remember when Senorita Herrera came to visit."

"Alcalde!" Diego walked into the tavern and came up to Ramon. "I hope you're not too angry with Mendoza. He has so little experience in..."

"Experience? The only experience he'll get is foot patrol at dawn." The alcalde then turned, bowed to Victoria, then left the tavern.

"He's moody, isn't he?" Diego watched as Victoria slammed the wine bottle down onto the bar and walked off. "He's not the only one."

"She may have had romantic feelings towards me before I left for Madrid, but we were too young to do anything about it."

"She loves you, Diego. You love her...Do you want to lose her to Juan or some other man?" Felipe paused leaving his friend to his thoughts.

"You sound just like my father!"

"Your father is right...I saw the way you looked at each other," signed Felipe mischievously. "Victoria has feelings for you whether she is willing to admit it or not."

"Let's not spend any more time on the subject."

"Did something happen last night between you and Victoria?"

"We argued…I kissed her… What else do you want to know?"

'How did she react?" His mentor was not acting like his usual self. Something must have happened...

"She knows how I feel about her and she was not exactly immune to the kiss," Diego glanced at Felipe's smug expression and raised his eyebrow in response. What I have gotten myself into now?

ZZZ

Diego and Felipe prepared to saddle their horses as they saw a brown stallion approaching the hacienda. What is Juan doing here? Has something happened to Victoria? Perhaps, it has something to do with last night. "Felipe, would you take the horses to the stable, por favor? Juan and I will need a some privacy."

"Hola, Juan. To what do I owe this visit?

"I would like to talk with you, Diego. It is important."

"Felipe, please take care of the lieutenant's horse, por favor. Come inside. Would you like some refreshments, Juan?"

"I don't plan on staying that long. I have duties to attend to in the pueblo."

"Follow me, Juan. Miguel, we'll be in the library. We do not wish to be disturbed. Gracias, Miguel."

"Si, Don Diego."

ZZZ

The tall caballero prompted Juan to sit in the chair across from him. "What is so important that you came all the way to the hacienda to see me? Is something wrong? Is it Victoria?"

"She is fine. I wanted to talk to you about your relationship with Victoria. I know that the two of you are very close. You have been 'friends' for a long time..."

Diego narrowed his eyes slightly at Juan's comment...the tone and inflection in his voice...Does he know what happened in the garden between Victoria and me?

"Victoria has always thought of me as a brother. We have known each other all of our lives but of course, you know that. It is common knowledge that she loves Zorro."

"Zorro is out of the picture. Victoria is free to accept offers of courtship, even marriage, if she so desires. That is the reason why I have returned to seek her hand in marriage."

"If Victoria has accepted your offer of courtship, then our relationship is none of your concern. Why come to me? You should talk to Victoria."

"Victoria has not been herself since the night of the party and I suspect that it has something to do with you, Diego. She was very preoccupied after she returned from the garden," the lieutenant surmised. "And you were acting very strangely as well. Has something happened that I don't know about?"

"Victoria thinks that Gabriela is attracted to me and that I'm going to marry her," Diego confessed. "I'm not in love with Gabriela and that she had no reason to be jealous. Is that what you wanted to know?"

"There is more to it than that, Diego and you know it."

"I care for Victoria a great deal. Victoria is unlike any woman I've ever known."

"Are you in love with her? I saw the way you looked at her when you were dancing, Diego." The naval officer wanted to hear it from Diego himself...

Now was the time for the truth. Diego could not deny his feelings for Victoria to Juan or himself. "I have loved her for a long time."

"I would do everything in my power to make her happy, Diego. She would never want for anything!"

"Whoever is best for Victoria…well that is for Victoria to decide. I want to make her happy if she will have me."

"I've never been one to back down from a challenge," Juan stated. The caballero would be a formidable rival for Victoria's affections.

"Neither have I, especially where Victoria is concerned. I'm not willing to give up Victoria without a fight."

"I love her and I am willing to fight for her. Even if I had to fight Zorro himself," Juan affirmed. "At least, we know where we stand. I will let myself out. May the best man win."

ZZZ

The carriage carrying Padre Benitez and Victoria Escalante came to a stop in front of the mission. Something was troubling the fiery señorita. The padre wondered if Victoria needed to get away from the constant pressure to find a husband, marry and have little ones. She rarely got the opportunity to come spend time with the children at the mission. The visit would be a welcome distraction for her while the mission children delighted her with their antics. After a delicious lunch, the padre went to the sanctuary for prayer and meditation. Victoria quietly approached the padre. The usual sparkle in her eyes was missing. A woman who was taking steps towards having a husband and children should be happier. "What troubles you so?"

"Juan Ortiz has returned to town. He wants to court me with marriage as the objective. He would be a good husband but all I feel for him is friendship."

"Successful relationships are built on friendship. Love may grow in time."

"I know that, Padre but my parents married for love. I have always wanted the same thing for myself."

"Is there any other single man in the pueblo you would consider? Someone that you could fall in love with... marry and have children. I know of several caballeros, Don Pedro, Don Vicente and Don Diego."

"Senora Gomez introduced me to Don Pedro and that did not work…Don Vicente is a terrible bore."

"What about Don Diego? You are already good friends. He cares about you a great deal. Have you considered him?"

"I...I...Padre, there is something that you should know. Diego told me that he loves me and then he kissed me."

"Diego, Diego de la Vega!" stated Benitez in a shocked tone.

"We were in the garden at the hacienda...We argued…I was jealous of Gabriela…tired of seeing her clinging to Diego making a spectacle of herself…forgive me, padre. One thing led to another and then he kissed me," said the señorita smiling to herself.

I did not know the young caballero had it in him, he thought. "Are you in love with him?"

"I thought that I loved Zorro. Could I possibly love two such different men? Diego is...is so different...It's so confusing!"

"Be honest with yourself, with Juan and with Diego. Search your heart, my child. Do not deny your feelings. It is possible that Diego is the man for you... Let God guide you in your decision."

"Thank you, Padre. I know that he will."