A/N: Many thanks to two faithful reviewers, LaCorelli and DietMJ. I love reading your reviews! But I appreciate ALL of you – truly I do! Some of your suspicions may be correct, but we have many exciting surprises in store! Ponder that insanity is illness in the mind that usually manifests in evil ways. Mwah hah hah!
CHAPTER TWELVE – Courting Trouble
Zorro left the cavern quickly on Tornado. Felipe said there was a carriage accident and that the elderly couple, Senor and Senora Rodrigo Demetrios could be injured – or perhaps dead.
Zorro rode swiftly along the El Camino Real until he found the fork of the road that would take him towards the Demetrios hacienda. Felipe reported that Dr. Barton had been sent for – but hadn't been found yet. The carriage accident took place only about a half mile from their hacienda.
When Zorro arrived at the scene, he saw the carriage overturned. The Demetrios' were both thrown from the carriage. He quickly got off his horse and checked the pulses of both. They were alive, a cursory examination showed cuts, bruises, and possibly broken bones. He knew there could be internal injuries, however. Well, Jackson can take care of that, he thought.
Zorro went to Tornado and took his canteen from around the saddle horn. He knelt beside Senora Demetrios, took out a plain handkerchief from his pocket, wet one end of it, and dabbed her face to rouse her. "Senora! Senora Demetrios!" No response.
He went to Senor Rodrigo. "Senor Rodrigo. Are you all right?" Zorro dabbed Rodrigo's face as well, and he roused. Zorro raised him up a bit, and gave him a drink from his canteen.
"Take it easy. Are you all right? What happened?"
Rodrigo answered, "Someone – came out from – behind the trees – next to the road – about a quarter mile back. They spooked our horse. The carriage turned over – when the shaft – connecting the horse harness broke. Is – is my wife all right?"
"I don't know. I couldn't bring her around. The doctor's been sent for. He should be here soon. I'll help you in any way I can."
"Gracias Senor Zorro." Zorro helped Senor Rodrigo up. He wobbled a bit, but was able to get to his wife with Zorro's canteen, while Zorro went to the carriage to inspect it a moment, before joining Rodrigo with the Senora.
Dr. Barton rode up on his horse. He saw Zorro, but made no comment – only waved. Zorro waved back. Dr. Barton went directly to Senora Demetrios and began his ministrations. Senor Rodrigo hovered next to him.
"Is there anything I can do to help you, Doctor?" Zorro asked.
Dr. Barton cocked his head. "Not unless you can fix that carriage and help me get them home."
"I'll look more closely at the carriage, but it doesn't look fixable. How about I go to their hacienda and send for a carriage?"
Dr. Barton's expression was amenable. "An ex-cellent idea."
Zorro mounted Tornado and slipped away. What are these strange feelings I'm getting around him, Zorro thought. Granted, he doesn't know 'Zorro' – but even though he seemed agreeable enough…something doesn't feel right…
Z
An hour later, after the Demetrios' were safe at home, Zorro returned to investigate the scene of the accident to see what he could learn.
He turned the carriage upright, and examined at it from all angles. He looked all along both sides of the carriage, finding nothing unusual. He looked inside at the seats. Nothing out of the ordinary – he looked – but found nothing. He paid careful attention to the harness shaft. His eyes widened, then narrowed. Sabotage, he thought. Deliberate sabotage.
Z
The next day in the tavern, shortly before siesta, Diego was chatting with Dr. Hernandez. "Are you sure we can't give you a retirement party, Doctor Hernandez? It would give people an opportunity to show their appreciation for all you've done."
"No, no, Diego. People have been showing me their appreciation for the last month – ever since Doctor Barton arrived. I don't need a special party. Besides, I don't want to steal Doctor Barton's thunder, so to speak."
Diego looked curious. "How would a retirement party do that?"
"Oh, I don't know. But it would draw attention away from the new by putting the spotlight on the old – on their way out."
"Would that bother Doctor Barton?" Diego's brow furrowed.
"Let's just say I've begun to hear things."
"What things?"
"Well – it's nothing anyone can put their finger on. Most everyone really likes Doctor Barton. They say his bedside manner is most gentle and kind…but there are a few…"
"Aren't there a few who didn't like you?"
"Si, but this is different."
"In what way?"
"It appears that he's trying to 'drum up' additional work by prolonging things."
"Maybe he's just being overcautious."
"No, that's not it. Like I said, people are beginning to come to me for advice regarding what he told them to do that didn't sit right with them. It almost sounds like he has a vested interest in keeping them sick."
"That's strange."
"Yes, isn't it? Diego, keep an eye on him for me, will you? Let me know if you think he's doing something wrong. I don't know what he'd be doing – but I think he bears watching."
"Certainly, Doctor. I've had a couple of good talks with him. He loves to talk about his work – and he so knowledgeable. He knows about things we haven't even heard of yet. He definitely loves being a doctor and helping sick people – which is why it's strange he would interfere with their healing in order to keep them sick. That doesn't make sense. But – I will – keep an eye on him – although, he hasn't asked me for any real help. In fact he's not asked me to help him at all – except when he needs a third and fourth hand. But I'll let you know if I find out anything."
Diego leaned close in to the kindly doctor. "I did however; hear that Zorro came upon the Demetrios' yesterday."
Hernadez matched his move. "Really? How are they doing?"
"Well, I fear Senora Demetrios may not be long for this world – her injuries were severe. However, I understand Senor Rodrigo is recuperating well. Doctor, Senora Demetrios may have had a concussion, but I heard Doctor Barton say there were internal injuries that may preclude her being able to heal. There's another thing that puzzles me. My investigation of their carriage rod showed it had been sawed almost all the way through in deliberate sabotage. I don't understand it, Doctor."
"Neither do I. Are you saying their accident wasn't an accident?"
"I don't know – but it certainly seems that way.
After Dr. Hernandez left, Diego sat at his table contemplating what he and the retired doctor had discussed. Hmmmm. Interesting, he thought. I wonder what's going on. Why is Doctor Hernandez concerned? And why are people beginning to complain? What's Jackson up to? And why would he say the Senora's injuries are worse than I know they were? And was the carriage really tampered with? It certainly appeared to be.
Z
Diego was in another world with his thoughts when Victoria walked up, and shook his shoulder. "Diego? Diego! Diego de la Vega!"
Diego shook himself out of his reverie by shaking his head. "Oh, Victoria. I'm sorry. I didn't hear you. I was lost in my thoughts."
Victoria smiled. "Well, it is time for siesta after all." She looked at him then, as if trying to gauge what those thoughts were.
"What? Oh, siesta. I really have been daydreaming, haven't I?" He looked around. The tavern was empty. "Have you already locked up?"
"Si, Diego – about five minutes ago. You were so deep in thought. Usually you hear me and know what I've said to you – even if you don't appear to – but this time – you really were somewhere else. Where?"
Diego looked up at her, took her hand and kissed the back of it. "Victoria, please forgive me." Then, with a sudden, quick, smooth lithe movement, he sprang up and drew her to himself and kissed her – on the lips, a long, passionate kiss that left them breathless. Both Victoria and Diego melted in each other's arms. Eventually, Diego sat down on the bench, and drew Victoria to sit on his lap.
Victoria attempted to get back the sense of self-control she felt she'd almost lost. "Diego, that was a move worthy of Zorro."
Saying nothing, he put a hand on the back of her head and drew her in for another kiss…or was it really ten kisses, one flowing smoothly into the next into the next…like a stream with an ever-growing swift current that was nearing a set of rapids – or was it a whirlpool.
Victoria drew away, though she didn't want to. "Diego, I need to talk to you."
Diego smiled, but his eyes appeared glassy. "And I – need to talk to you."
Victoria replied, "Diego, I'm serious. We need to talk…about our courtship…and…possibly – other things."
Since Victoria had given permission to court and – after the breakup with Zorro – it seemed that fate threw just about everything in their way to keep them apart, except for a moment here, a minute there. To Victoria, it seemed nearly identical as her 'courtship' with Zorro.
Victoria continued. "Even though we're courting, I still rarely see you, except for our 'official' duena-supervised times on Sunday evenings. We don't get to talk very much there…and there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about for quite some time."
Diego shook his head again to clear his head. "I'm sorry, Victoria. I – I just want to be with you. I'm not even sure I want to talk. I just want to be near you, hold you, kiss you…"
When he said, "kiss you" he drew her down again, and they kissed again. Victoria pulled her head up again. "Diego, I'm serious."
"So am I." And again, they kissed. Victoria pulled away and stood up. "Diego, I mean it. I really want to talk."
Diego sighed. "I'm sorry, Victoria. I wasn't much of a gentleman, was I? I know better. It won't happen again."
When Victoria looked into his eyes, her frustration melted away. Since she first figured out his identity – weeks ago – she now saw Zorro everywhere in him whenever she saw him…even though she hadn't seen Zorro for weeks. He hadn't been to the pueblo except to drop off bandits a few times. Since their breakup, he didn't come around the tavern. She made a decision – in that split second.
She determined not to spoil the moment by talking about Zorro – at least not yet. There will be plenty of time to talk about Zorro, she thought. I want to know the man behind the mask. I want to see the 'real' Diego, and if all I do is talk about Zorro – well – we won't be talking about Diego. I can wait to confront him about Zorro. He may even decide to tell me himself, but if not – there's no hurry.
"Diego…there's something I've been meaning to ask you – or tell you – for weeks now."
Diego nodded. Here it comes, he thought. He sighed in concession.
"Diego, do you love me? If you love me, why do we never get to see each other – except on Sunday nights?"
Diego let out another breath in a small 'whew, that's a relief' type expression and smiled. "Victoria, I do love you…so very much. I hope you know. There's nothing I won't do for you – I hope you know that, too. If it's in my power to do – I will do – anything. But – haven't we talked about this before?"
"Not this part. Not the part about only seeing each other on a Sunday night."
Diego looked at the floor. "Oh. What can I say? What do you want me to do?"
"Like now, for instance – all you wanted to do during our time together was kiss. I would like to talk a little."
"We're talking now, aren't we?"
"We're talking about talking. I want to really talk."
Diego pulled her back, scooted over on the bench, and drew her down to sit next to him. "There. How's that? What would you like to talk about?"
"Well, you haven't shared any thoughts or feelings with me for weeks. At our Sunday Night Courting Session – that's supervised, you read poetry, you play music, you show me art, but that's all fluff. I want to know how you feel, what you think."
Diego looked at her with a feigned 'hurt' look. "My feelings come out through the poetry, the music, the art. It's not just fluff! But – all right. Shoot. I'll talk about anything you want. But remember, I also want to know how you feel, what you think."
Victoria fidgeted a bit on the bench. "Well, for starters and I know this might sound strange – but what do you think of our new doctor? And – what do you think about Doctor Hernandez retiring? I've seen you with him – Doctor Barton – a few times – and I just saw you talking with Doctor Hernandez, too. How does Doctor Barton strike you? You seem to be friends. I can't seem to break through a shell he keeps around him."
Diego thought a moment. "He is a hard man to get to know. When we talk, it's usually about his medical knowledge. He does love to share that. But his past – he doesn't talk much about that, except a little about where he worked. I do feel he is more comfortable with me now than when he first arrived. He seems more open to my questions about medicine – and freer with his knowledge. I guess he doesn't see me as a threat to him anymore. Although…Doctor Hernandez just told me some disturbing things…"
"Really? What things?" Victoria's face showed her concern. At least we're talking, she thought. We have to start somewhere. He's sharing.
"Well, for one thing, it seems he's prolonging illness in some patients. I don't know how or why he would do that – but Doctor Hernandez said people are beginning to come to him again for medical advice. He gave me the impression that Doctor Barton knows about it – and is not happy."
"Why would he do that? Isn't there something in the oath they take?"
"The Oath of Hippocrates…or the Hippocratic Oath – yes – it states, if I remember right – that doctors will prescribe regimens for the good, never do harm, and give no deadly medicine… So – it doesn't make sense if what Doctor Hernandez says is true."
"What do you think about him as a person?"
"As a person? I don't know anything about him. I've heard he's good with his patients and they like him – I know Sergeant Mendoza does…except for the few who are now complaining about his prolonging their illness."
"Gracias for sharing, Diego. Enough of him. Tell me, and this is what I really want to know – what do you think of marriage?" Victoria asked him with a smile and a twinkle in her eye.
Diego smiled back, and winked. "I'm all for it…I can't wait for it…I long for it…I desire it…but only if it's with – you!" He drew her in with a kiss. She leaned into it this time.
But Diego's thoughts weren't entirely on Victoria. Maybe it was because they had talked about Jackson, but in the back of his mind, his inner sense tingled with warnings of danger.
TBC
