Rafael's Fiancee Part Six

"Margarita?"

Margarita turned to look at Diego.

"Rafael loves you very much," Diego said, his voice gentle. "I think you know that."

Margarita glanced at the floor, feeling a little ashamed of her emotional outburst. She cared for Rafael deeply, but….well, he wasn't Zorro.

"He's a good man, my cousin," Diego added.

"But I cannot marry him," she protested softly, shaking her head. She glanced at the man towering above her. She felt safe with him – he seemed neutral and wise. Rafael would be imploring and yelling by now. She couldn't have faced an angry man at that moment. She would have broken down in tears.

"Why not?"

"I love another man," she murmured, sincerely. She watched as Diego sighed with mild frustration, and was much more comfortable when he left the room.

Zzz

Rafael leant against the wall, trying to control his rising frustration. "Zorro," he said with venom. How he hated that name!

"I know it's hard to believe, but that's what she said," Diego said, with his hands on his hips. The tension was contagious, Rafael noticed. Diego was becoming a little frustrated himself. Margarita – was she worth all this pain?

"If that's what she said, fine. Then, I shall challenge this Zorro to a duel," Rafael said. Killing the man in a fair fight would be worth it. Surely the soldiers in the pueblo were merely dunces, incompetents encouraged by a corrupt governor. Of course Zorro wasn't as good as he seemed, matched with amateurs of that magnitude.

"No…no…you don't want to do that," Diego protested desperately, crossing the room to implore his cousin. Rafael would have scoffed at his cowardice had he been anyone else. His cousin wanted to keep him safe. He could see that well enough in his eyes.

"I can hold my own with any brigand wearing a mask," Rafael complained. "And I won't sit idly by while he toys with my fiancée."

"But you're only a horse rancher," Diego said. "This Zorro is a master swordsman!"

"The choice is clear, cousin. Either I kill Zorro or he kills me," Rafael said, and having enough of the conversation he walked off, leaving Diego to worry on his own. This new Diego was getting on his nerves anyway.

Zzz

Rafael escorted Margarita to the pueblo, in an attempt to turn her attentions elsewhere. What woman didn't like to shop? Perhaps it would keep her mind off Zorro for a few hours, and he could have some peace.

Margarita was pleased when she wandered far enough away from Rafael to go their separate ways. The stalls he wanted to visit were boring – books, and leather goods, and besides he was forever chatting with old acquaintances that were more interested in horse breeding than herself.

She saw a stall full of material of so many variations she had to stop and examine them. One day Zorro would notice her. Every man did eventually. She knew she was beautiful, and she knew how to draw a man's eye. She needed to purchase some materials for a dressmaker to make some fine clothes to attract his attention. She had the money to buy whatever she desired. Her father had seen to that.

She was examining some lace when the tavern keeper bumped into her. Of course she was very apologetic. Victoria was a mere peasant compared to her.

"Oh, a bit provincial, don't you think?" Margarita said, knowing that Victoria loved Zorro as much as she did. "It may not be to Zorro's taste. But this…yes…I think Zorro will like this!" She exclaimed, pulling out a more modern stripped fabric.

"Ah, excuse me again," Victoria said with concern. "Do you know Zorro?"

"Know him?" Margarita said with a smile. "My dear girl, I'm going to marry him!" She sneered a little at the tavern keeper when she responded with raised eyebrows and a shocked expression on her face. That should take the peasant down a few pegs.

"Zorro wouldn't give you a second look," Victoria responded with a hand on her hip. Neither one was aware of the attention they were getting from the small crowd that gathered to watch their argument.

"I'm sure he gave you one, and decided to keep looking," Margarita said with a laugh. "My guess is that Zorro is tired of peasant girls."

"Peasant? Peasant?" Victoria tried to keep a hold of her temper. It wasn't working very well. She could feel steam coming out of her ears. "Well, I'll have you know that Zorro has kissed my hand many, many times."

"Oh, only to avoid those well worn lips, I am sure," Margarita said, laughing a little more. The other woman always walked away. Margarita had always won the day, and she knew she would win this one.

Victoria knew she had lost her temper as she reached for the tomato, but she didn't care. She crushed it into Margarita's face, trying to wipe the snide look off her rival's face.

Reeling back in shock, Margarita wiped at the tomato a little, and reached for the first thing she saw. A large flan sat on the table in front of her. She launched it at Victoria, pushing it down on her blouse aggressively.

Victoria responded by grabbing the other woman's hair, and pulled. Rafael had finally realised what was happening, and leapt in between to lessen the damage the women were doing to each other.

"Margarita!" He protested, pushing them away from each other. They didn't seem to realise he was there, they were still so intent on fighting one another. Zorro had a lot to answer for, he thought, applying enough pressure to keep them a little apart, but not enough to hurt them. It was barely working.

Rafael was too busy to come to the aid of Diego's young servant on the loco horse, but was vaguely aware of the alcalde dealing with the disturbance, as the interference of the man began to distract the ladies away from the goal of killing one another.

The alcalde made his way over to the group, glancing at the ladies with irritation. He turned on Rafael.

"You de la Vegas have a particular habit of upsetting me," he said with annoyance. "Yesterday you obstruct the administration of justice, today – you disturb the peace."

"Now, wait just a moment…" Rafael said softly, holding onto Margarita's arm to prevent any irrational behaviour.

"No, actually I'm prepared to wait two hours – for you to leave Los Angeles – barring that you will have many years waiting in my jail."

"You can't threaten me," Rafael said softly.

"Two hours…no more."

Victoria smirked at Margarita. It was the only time she appreciated the alcalde's interference in any activity of the pueblo. Serves her right, she thought to herself. She started it. Zorro was her's, and no one was going to get between them, especially this spoiled brat of a girl!