Zorro Meets his Match
Chapter 26 – May Day Love Affair
Boudica sighed looking out the window of the Sala. She frowned. It had been raining for three days and she was very bored. At least to the west she could see a break in the clouds that she hoped would come soon. She wanted to ride or as Diego had promised, go to see about mating her mare.
Diego looked at her. "Who are you waiting for?" He asked playfully looking at the back of her dress. This one was new. It was a lovely shade of green. A gift, perhaps. Not from him. However, it was a beautiful dress on her.
He knew full well whom she was play acting for. She had become enamored with the rogue Zorro and made it no secret (to Diego's annoyance) due to him saving her life on more than one occasion, but also a new count had come to Los Angeles from Spain. He had met Esteban at the tavern and had come calling upon Boudica. She found him charming, but watched him like a mongoose with a cobra. Count Jorge had even charmed Alejandro.
Secretly, while abed with her husband, she admitted the count turned her stomach. He thought women should fawn over him for his wealth and his ability to win duels. Boudica tolerated him. Admittedly, she would have a good life if she were not already married. She, however, cringed to think of the wedding bed.
She turned back to him. He was sitting playing chess with Alejandro. Bernardo was standing to one side of Diego. She walked to his other side looking at Alejandro. She stepped back behind her husband and pantomimed a move to him about his queen moving to block Diego's bishop. He did so or so he thought, though he was one space not far enough.
Diego looked up at Bernardo who shrugged. He looked back at his wife. She was sitting on the piano bench demurely reading. He turned back and made his move.
Boudica then moved craning her short form over Diego's shoulder to see. She then nodded and pantomimed a horse for the night and where to go. Diego looked over his shoulder catching on at his father looking up. He quickly shot his hand back catching her side sharply pulling her sharply forward.
Boudica gasped at the sudden sensation and yelped crumbling around the offending hand. Diego smiled half turning to her. "Aha!" He said flexing his fingers tickling her more.
"Diego!" She gasped. She jumped back lifting her hands.
Diego turned back to the game and his father. He moved his bishop down, taking the queen and blocking his father in. "I believe that is mate, father." He said calmly.
Bernardo shrugged and walked by.
Alejandro growled. "I cannot win at this game." He said in exasperation.
Boudica stepped over. Her Manilla had fallen from her thick hair do at the base of her skull due to Diego's antics. She stepped forward and smiled at her father-in-law. "Oh Papa. I can teach you." She said. She growled at failing to put the boned hair adornment back in. Half her thick hair had come loose. She tossed it on the table in annoyance. "How do Spanish lady deal with such hairdos?" She asked. She growled shaking the rest of it out. It fell in a thick red-brown waterfall around her shoulders and back, falling nearly to her hips.
The three men in the room looked at each other in amusement. She growled, flipping it forward over her face as she bent down and then flipped it back up as she brushed it back with her fingers making to start a thick heavy braid, something she was more used to and was more practical, especially for riding.
Diego smiled at her. "Come here." He said patting his lap. She sighed and sat down. He smiled reaching up putting his fingers though her hair, pulling it all out, finding the pins and lying them on the table. She sat patiently as he combed out her with his fingers. He looked at Bernardo and nodded to her hair. Bernardo nodded reaching for the top of a cabinet where she had a hairbrush. He brought it to Diego who then began to comb her hair into sections to reform the hairstyle.
Alejandro watched as Boudica sat still allowing him to do it. "Diego, my son, where on earth did you learn to do that?" He asked. "Don't tell me that was something you learned at the university or court?"
"Countless hours watching Ellie do it." Diego said. "But also, I have known many women, father. You may not know this, but women love their hair played with. Turns them to clay in your hands, without fail." He said playfully combing his fingers through a potion of hair near Boudica's temple. Her eyes closed in pleasure and she sighed a little.
Bernardo and Alejandro looked at each other. Bernardo nodded as Alejandro cocked his head.
He smiled and indicated Bo's look. "It does well to learn a thing or two about it, but also my sweet sister occasionally will need help without a handmaiden in sight." He took a pin his teeth as he twisted two sections. He pinned it and then reached and tugged another section as Bo's head dropped. "Hey, don't go to sleep on me." He growled playfully as he held the hairbrush handle in his lips.
She lifted her head a little. "But you are nicer about it than Ellie."
"Oh, I know." He agreed. "If she pulled my hair like she does yours I would be bald."
She giggled as he continued.
Alejandro sighed. "Last night, Esteban took fifteen pesos away from me. And now you." He said in exasperation.
Diego looked at him. "You certainly did not gamble with Uncle Esteban?"
"Oh didn't I?" Alejandro said leaning forward. "I know, I swore I wouldn't, but the next thing I knew there I was paying out fifteen pesos and he made the whole thing seem like it was my idea."
"He had to win some back after playing me." Boudica said turning her head to smile at him, but Diego turned her head back with his hand and tapped her jaw with his finger to keep her head still.
Diego chuckled a little. "You know, you may have started Uncle Esteban off on his fortune with those fifteen pesos."
Alejandro grunted. "Esteban and his fortune."
"Well that is why he came to California." Diego pointed out as he finished with his wife's hair. He found making the hairstyles was not nearly as fun as pulling them out during a night between the sheets with his wife, but it would do. At least he could touch her. He had not been able to touch her in several hours. He reached for the Manilla and placed it against tight to her skull, the comb making a fan shape at the back of her head. She winced a little as the tines scratched her a little.
"Then let him work for it." Alejandro said rising and leaning toward his son. "I did!" He stepped closer. "There is a fortune to be made in California, even now, but only by good hard work. And your mother's brother does not have that word in his vocabulary."
Diego nodded as he sat forward, pressing a kiss to his wife's shoulder just above the line of her dress. "I am afraid you are you're right." He then gasped. "Oh!" He reached down, shifting Boudica from his lap in a smooth movement. She stood looking at him in surprise. "Reminds me." He continued. "He wanted to be awakened at eleven."
"Si?" Alejandro said.
"He said he had an appointment."
"Indeed."
Diego went to Bernardo. He then began to gesture in a rather laughable way to send Bernardo upstairs. Bernardo grinned at Boudica and Alejandro. Diego smacked his arm in annoyance and continued.
Boudica looked at Alejandro and shook her head as she unfolded her arms. She walked to Bernardo smiled at him. "Bernardo, when you get tired of my dear husband making a fool of himself, can you go wake him, please."
He beamed at her and nodded.
She lifted her head to her husband and smiled playfully as she lifted some grapes from the table and walked back toward the chair Diego vacated. She popped one into her mouth relishing the sweet flesh.
Diego froze and looked over at his father who nodded chuckling. He sighed and shook his head. "I forgot you both know he can hear."
"We must be certain that no one else ever does." Alejandro said even as he watched Boudica's smile as she moved to the chess board looking at it.
"No one will." Diego said. He playfully patted his servant's shoulder. "You play your part well, my friend." He then gestured. "Now go wake him up."
Bernardo went toward the door as the men chuckled. Boudica was eating the grapes. Diego was watching her curiously. It was the first time in some time he had seen her eating fresh fruit. However, perhaps it was just because this time of year they were super sweet and an enjoyable snack with cheese and wine or alone as she was devouring them.
Bernardo returned. He gestured.
Diego looked over. "Oh! Sargent Garcia."
"Oh yes, he has come to get the for the donation we promised him or the charity horserace." Alejandro said. "I will get it for him."
Boudica looked up from where she had dropped into the bowl chair. "Can you double it, Papa? I promised as well." She smiled at him and batted her eyes at him.
He chuckled and stepped to her. He cupped her chin. "I can deny you nothing pequeña Paloma." He murmured. He dipped and kissed her cheek before going back to his strong box.
Diego nodded to his servant. "Show him in." He then leaned down looking at the board.
Boudica popped the last grape in her mouth as she looked up at her husband.
Bernardo opened the door before Garcia could even knock, startling the hapless Sargent. He smiled and walked by him to continue on his other errand. Garcia came into the room and looked back shaking his head.
"Buenas Dias, Sargent." Diego said turning.
"Buenas Dias, Don Diego. Donna Boudica." He said. He looked back and shook his head.
Diego touched his shoulder. "Is something wrong?"
"Don Diego, I know that you have explained to me that the little one can feel vibrations, but this time I did not even knock."
"You know something, Sargent. Sometimes, he amazed even me." Diego said smiling.
Boudica snorted a laugh.
Diego then nodded to Garcia. "My father is getting the money that we pledged. Would you care for some wine while we wait?" He asked looking over at Boudica.
She rolled her eyes and rose to her feet and poured for them as the lady of the house should. "Tell me, Demetrio. Is it still raining outside?"
"No, Donna Boudica." He smiled. "The sun is out."
She handed him the cup and smiled at Diego. "Ah. So I can go riding today."
"Gracias, Done Diego. Gracias." Garcia said. He then beamed. "Oh, Garcias to you as well, Donna Boudica."
She looked up and smiled at him. "Always a pleasure Demetrio."
"How are the collections coming?" Diego asked taking a cup from her.
"Well, Don Diego. We are even ahead of last year."
"Splendid." Diego said.
"Don Diego, do you think your uncle Esteban would like to contribute or perhaps ride in the race?"
"Sargent, somehow I have a feeling my Uncle Esteban is going to become involved in the whole affair."
"Until he realizes it is for charity." Boudica said into her glass at Diego's elbow.
He nudged her in annoyance.
"He is a very remarkable man Don Diego." Garcia said.
"I agree with you there." Diego agreed.
"Especially at playing cupid." Boudica said softly looking at the etched part of her glass.
Diego nudged his wife again, harder this time.
"He was telling me something about his adventures." Garcia said as Alejandro came back into the room. "Just think he had been all over the world."
Diego smiled a little. "About some of those adventures…"
Boudica stepped on his foot. He winced and looked at her smiling over the rim of her glass as she finished her first cup and lifted it to him for more with an arch to her eyebrow.
Alejandro smiled lifting the coin purse. "Here is one hundred pesos. Fifty from me and fifty from my dearest daughter." He said smiling back at Boudica who had her newly filled wine glass before her face looking up at her husband refusing to be contrite. His look was dangerous. A Zorro look of promise and retribution later.
He leaned close as he pretended to look at the table cloth. "Keep it up, Senora de la Vega, and I will take you over my knee."
She arched an eyebrow. "That would be a thrill for the Sargent." She teased.
"Do not tempt me." He hissed.
"You wouldn't dare." She hissed lowly back at him.
He shot her a look that told her quite plainly that he would indeed if they were alone. He straightened. "Behave." He murmured at her as Esteban walked into the Sala.
"Sargent Garcia!" He gasped. "You are accepting a bribe."
"Oh no Don Esteban!" Garcia said.
"What did these two want you to do? Turn your back while they robbed the poor box at the mission?"
"Oh no, Don Esteban. They never told me to turn my back. I…!" Garcia gasped.
Boudica laughed outright.
Alejandro grunted. "All right, all right! You have had your fun with the poor Sargent." He admonished his brother-in-law. "This has gone far enough!"
"Please Don Diego. You are my friend. Explain." The Sargent said helplessly.
Diego was chuckling. "It's all right. My uncle was merely making a joke."
"He was?"
"See what you have done!" Alejandro said. "Sargent Garcia's a friend. He should not be teased so."
"I'm sorry Sargent. I apologize, it was a poor joke." Esteban said. "I know you would not take a bribe."
"Gracias." Garcia said.
"But never the less, there you stand with money in your hand."
"Now please." Diego protested. "Don't start that again. Sargent Garcia was merely collecting the purse for the horserace tomorrow."
Esteban nodded.
"It will be over 1000 pesos this year." Diego continued.
"Oh?" Esteban asked. "What is the entrance fee?"
"There is no set fee Don Esteban, just what everyone cares to contribute." Garcia said.
"Ah." Esteban reached into his pocket. "Here is fifteen pesos."
Alejandro gasped. Boudica dropped a hand to his arm to hold him still as Diego looked back at him sharply.
"That is all I happen to have with me at the moment." Esteban continued pointedly looking back at Alejandro.
Alejandro rolled his eyes heavenward as Boudica dug in her nails slightly.
"Now I am officially a contestant eh?" Esteban asked.
"Si." Garcia said.
"A thousand pesos hum?"
Diego smiled at his uncle. "It is a very worthy charity."
Boudica looked at him startled.
"What?" Esteban asked.
"By custom, the entire purse is presented to the mission." Diego said taking more glee out of telling his uncle than he really should be.
"Well doesn't the winner receive anything?" Esteban asked.
Diego nodded. "Certainly. The honor of presenting the purse." He smiled. "And usually the children make a wreath of flowers for the victor as well."
Boudica smiled at her uncle as she leaned around Diego. "I hope I win. The Padre told me I could have my pick of their library if I did." She said. "They have an illuminated copy of the Bible there written by Ignazio Loiolakoa." She said saying his name perfectly in Basque. She had seen the illuminated text by Ignacio de Loyola when Padre Felipe had shown her. It was the third most valuable possession of the mission and the most valuable book.
Diego looked at her. "All ready bored with our library eh? You have to now collect rare books for elsewhere."
"It would have a good home here." She protested. "It is already 300 years old. A relic." She looked at him. "More than a relic. It is art." She said. "They do not make such texts any more and they are so beautiful the way the vellum and shines with the gold leaf when you read it in sunlight…" She said wistfully.
"Clearly we need to get you outside more." Diego said. "You are becoming a bit of a bookworm." He said folding his arms to regard her. "Is that what you do instead of normal female activities like sewing and embroidery?"
Esteban nodded. "Indeed."
She made a face at Diego. "I hate sewing and embroidery. I always stick myself with the needles and they never turn out right." She said.
"Perhaps you aren't trying hard enough." Diego said.
She elbowed him. Hard. He glowered at her.
Alejandro stepped between them. "Am I going to have to separate you two?" He asked.
She looked at him. "He started it Papa."
Diego snorted.
Garcia smiled. "Now if you excuse me Senores, Donna. I have many more stops to make." He lifted the wine glass he had as Alejandro and Diego moved some feet away. Boudica moved to Alejandro's other side smiling a little as she drank more wine. Diego sat on the edge of the table. Boudica sat in the chair next to him.
Esteban watched Garcia. "A moment. What is that?"
"Wine, Don Esteban."
He took the glass and sniffed. "You call this wine. Well, it isn't even good vinegar."
Alejandro moved to go after Esteban. Diego caught him and held him back shaking his head at him as Boudica caught his arm as well.
"No, Sargent, I cannot permit you to drink it."
"But I like it…"
"Oh no!" Esteban poured it into some flowers Buena had picked that morning. "You will thank me later. Next time you are here we will have some good wine eh?" He said. "Adios."
"Adios Don Esteban." Garcia said.
Diego looked at his father as Alejandro looked heavenward again. Boudica held his hand to her, digging her nails in to keep him still.
"Now, now, papa." She whispered.
Garcia left the Sala.
Alejandro gently removed her hand and then moved. "Esteban!" He growled angrily before either Diego or Boudica could stop him as he advanced on his brother-in-law. "There is nothing wrong with that wine and you know it. That is excellent wine!"
Diego sighed looking at his wife who also rolled her eyes rising to her feet. He shrugged.
Esteban stood near him and smiled. "To my knowledge Alejandro, the only good taste you ever displayed was when you asked my sister to marry you, God bless her soul."
"Why you…" Alejandro sputtered.
Esteban looked at the chess set. "Ahh… checkmate. You were the back no doubt." He said looking up at his brother-in-law.
"Why…"
Boudica stepped forward, lying a hand on her father's arm. "Papa, please, you will give yourself a brain bleed." She said.
Esteban nodded. "I would listen to her."
Alejandro grunted and left muttering the whole way. Diego watched him go and then looked back at Boudica and then their uncle.
"Wonderful man, your father. So even tempered." He looked up at Boudica and smiled. "I wonder how he would be without a woman's influence in the house with my sister so long gone."
Boudica smiled. "Indeed." She said. "I do my level best to keep him sailing smooth." She said.
"Well." Diego chuckled. "He's a..a great admirer of you as well."
"Hummm."
Bernardo appeared at the door with Count Jorge. "Ah, Boudica. A pleasure to see you at home."
She looked up at him. "Ah, Jorge." She smiled straightening. "Where else would I be?"
She moved to walk to him as Diego reached out and caught her arm. She turned to him a little. He leaned close. "I will join you in a moment." He murmured. "I will see you at the stables then sis?" He asked louder.
She nodded. "Of course, brother dear." She said moving to join the count shooting a look back at him.
Diego watched them go nodding to Bernardo to follow them. "So what are we going to do today?" He asked his uncle when the others had gone.
"We?" Esteban asked.
"Si, you, Margarite, and I. We."
"Ah that we."
"Si that one."
"Well it has occurred to me that I have been taking entirely too much of your time. I am sure you have better things to do around the rancho." He looked back. "Like watching your sister perhaps."
Diego smiled. "On not at all uncle. My sole occupation is to make your stay more enjoyable."
"And so you mean to accomplish that by breathing down my neck the whole time eh?"
"Well I was only trying to help." Diego said innocently. He smiled and went picking up some grapes. "As it is, I do have something I need to do. Boudica wishes to have her mare bred to my stallion."
"And…you would allow her to see such a thing?"
"She has helped with the birth of a colt. She named him Colorado." Diego shrugged. "She may as well see how it starts. Brings things full circle. She is old enough now to know and understand what goes on around the rancho, how we keep the herds large, how we make sure our stock is fine quality."
"It might shock her."
"Indeed, it might." Diego agreed popping a grape into his mouth. Actually, he was almost sure of it. Unlike the act with humans that could take a very long time and was often gentle, a bond, the mating of horses was quick, violent, and often far more often in pregnancy, especially when the vaqueros helped by pinning the mare.
Esteban looked at his nephew. "My boy, no doubt you have the best of intentions, but ummm it is I who is trying to help you."
"Oh?" Diego asked eating another grape.
"With Margarite." Esteban said. "Now there if I can arrange would be the perfect marriage." He smiled. "Marry your little hoyden sister to the count, who likes her very much, I might add."
Diego smirked. "Has he spent much time with her? I mean she is a bit like a spirited mare. Fine until one day she decides to throw you into a rattlesnake den." He said eating another grape. "Maybe she will elope with this outlaw Zorro. Though I am not sure he is interested. There are dozens of young Senoritas who would love to welcome him into their beds. She is no exception."
"An interesting opinion of your own flesh and blood, Diego. Do you not want her married off and expanding the family influence and fortune?"
Diego winced. "Please uncle. I appreciate everything you are trying to do for me, but you came here to make your fortune, huh?"
"Uh huh." Esteban agreed.
"Well don't you think you should be getting on with it?"
"Well there is plenty of time for that. But you Diego. You are not getting any younger. You need to find a nice Senorita you can marry, enjoy making love to, and father children on soon. Your father isn't getting any younger and all his hopes for the future are in you."
Diego sighed. "Well I…I worry too much eh." He then put his hands on his uncle to implore him. "Please, Uncle Esteban do not try to help me."
Esteban nodded a little. "Beautiful girl Margarite." He sighed and looked about toward the kitchen. "I wonder if my breakfast is ready?"
Diego took a breath as he left the room and looked upwards before he moved to join his sister, Bernardo, and the count at the stables.
He arrived to find Benito holding Rena. She was prancing a little making high pitched calls. Benito nodded to Diego. Diego took the arm of Boudica and led her to the far wall where they would have a good view, but would be out of the way as Benito tied her to a stand. The count and Bernardo stood close. Diego had a hand on Boudica gently as did the count, but his was tighter.
Inside the stallion stall, Phantom was pawing the earth. The other stallions had been taken out to the pasture for the day to be out of the way. Phantom could smell Rana. His call made Boudica feel the prickle of arousal against her breasts and lower. Rana answered him once more.
Diego felt his wife shift a little. He smiled knowing that it was affecting her as well. He could hear her slight gasp indicating her own arousal. Had they been alone, after, he would have been able to take her to their room and had her in a fierce and turbulent round of sex. It would not be love making. That implied a gentleness to it. The act his mind went to was course, rough, primal and animalistic just as what was about to occur before them. However, that would have to wait.
A vaquero released Phantom. The tall white stallion charged out of his stall with such force that everyone in the yard took a step back to the fences.
Rana squealed in alarm, but he was on her, teeth closed on the sturdy arch of her neck, forcing her head down in submission. Her tail swept high, leaving her naked, exposed to his lust. Boudica gaped seeing the full extent of a horse's member that was longer than her arm as Phantom shifted and plunged it into Rana, eliciting a squeak for Boudica. Diego smiled and tightened his hand at her elbow.
It took very little time, but seemed longer, watching the heaving of sweat darkened flanks and the play of the light on the swirling hair with the sheen of great muscles, tense, straining in the flexible agony of mating.
Boudica was silent as Phantom dismounted. Both horses were shaking, panting, foamy spittle at their mouths from the exertion. She panted as Diego nodded to her. "You did well." He murmured.
Beside her the count gasped. "I…" He then dropped to the earth out cold.
Boudica chuckled as she shivered a little watching her mare as she was put back in her stall with some oats. Benito came to them. He chuckled a little as Bernardo was seeing to the count. "The little lordling could not handle such a display then Patron?"
"No." Diego said. "Donna Boudica is well enough, however."
"She is the Donna of the Rancho de la Vega." Benito said.
Diego nodded. "Indeed."
"Have you seen that often Diego?"
He smiled. "I have seen it a good many times yes, but it a bit strange after your first time. Much like after your first ride, your first kiss…" He leaned close. "Your first time with a man."
She shivered at the lust Diego put into that and nodded. "Like that, yes." She looked up at him his hazel eyes watching her. "And how does it make you feel after all those times?"
"Rather modest." He smiled at her. He moved seeing the count was coming around. "Ah, are you all right?" Diego asked reaching to help him to his feet and helped him dust off a bit.
The count looked at Diego. "You would allow her to see such things?" He said indignantly.
Diego nodded. "Of course. Don Alejandro de la Vega has the largest, most sought after herd in all of California. She needs to know how that herd comes to be."
The count nodded. "I think I should…"
"Have a pleasant journey back to town Senor." Diego said.
Boudica waved at him playfully as Diego saw him on his horse and away. He then turned and they both laughed. He smiled and then pulled her a little closer. "It is well enough there are people nearby." He murmured as he pressed her against the wall beside the gate to the hacienda.
"Oh?" She asked suddenly breathless. She looked about. Anyone could come at any moment. Thankfully, most would be those who knew they were husband and wife and would just smile a the intimate moment they had walked in on.
He dipped his head down. "The things I am thinking about right now to do to you in the hayloft." He murmured. "You on all fours where I could mount you…" He said in a low lustful growl that made her shake. "Stallion to his mare…" He grated, his voice alien to her. This was not even Zorro. This was deeper, even more primal to his personality.
He put his teeth to her neck and sucked and she almost melted against him. He smiled against her flesh as he nipped, sucked, and licked the flesh near her ear, feeling a tensed muscle quiver under his assault.
"Diego…" She whispered, her hands going to his arm wrapped about her, just under her breasts. She was aware of the hard length of him pressed to the small of her back like a weapon.
"Humm?" He asked as he continued marking her as his. A stallion marking his mate on the neck. He had had quite enough of the count trying to court her.
"We could go to the cave." She murmured, clinging to his arm about her as he legs went shaky. "Tornado does not mind the company."
"We would be missed." He said pulling back. He pressed a kiss to her brow. "Come, we must return. Uncle Esteban will be looking for us."
"Old fool." She murmured as he opened the gate for him.
"He is trying to marry me off to Margarite."
"Well you could do far worse." She smiled at him. "Her fortune would have you rivaling your father until you inherited it all." She looked at him.
"Oh? Like take on a spirited flame haired mare." He asked. "Hummm wealth or love." He said lifting his hands like scales. He then smiled. "I know which I would choose.
She shook her head. "I do love you Diego de la Vega."
He smiled. He lifted a hand to brush back a wayward bit of hair in an intimate gesture. One that was seen. Esteban saw the gesture as they stood at the gate looking at each other. He blinked in shock. They were half-siblings. Surely, they would not be…lovers.
They walked back together toward the Sala. He said something and she laughed.
Esteban cocked his head. He walked down to Boudica's room. He opened the door. The room was pristine. The bed looked unslept in, there was hardly any décor, and there were none of the things that would be associated with a woman's boudoir, but he had seen her go to this room a number of times.
He shook his head and opened Diego's door. Puma's head lifted from the bed curiously. Esteban lifted his hand in a non-threatening way and then looked about. It was clearly Diego's room, but there were also several things that could only belong to a woman. On the dresser next to the door was a hairbrush with long red auburn hair stands in it beside a comb.
Torn between disgust and intrigue he decided to keep this to himself as he retreated to his own room to think.