Alejandro found he enjoyed the young widow's company more than he expected. He had hired a nanny to watch over the children, positioning them in the de la Vega nursery where they seemed to do very nicely. It was nice to hear the laughter of children around the hacienda again, he thought.

Pilar had arranged a makeshift menu to account for the absence of Victoria and her amazing cooking. The lunch was appetising, but not on par with the normal fare. Alejandro had ordered a light wine to accompany the meal, and he toasted Isabella's fortitude and courage.

"I am not a brave woman, Alejandro."

"No? You seemed to do quite nicely yesterday," Alejandro said, watching her face. "You spoke up with the soldiers and the officers. A timid woman would not do that."

"They were obviously confused and working ineffectively. I had to say something…"

"Indeed," Alejandro said softly. "There are times when someone has to say something."

"That is not courage, Alejandro. That is common sense and human decency. There is nothing brave about that."

"Common sense and human decency are rare commodities in Los Angeles. It is brave to take a stand, when everyone else is backing away."

"I have never looked at it in that way before. I am only brave when a kind man is at my side, Alejandro. I am afraid I can never be any different," she murmured, sipping some wine slowly.

"I'm glad you see me as a protector, Senora. Whatever you need, I will see that you receive it."

She glanced into his eyes thoughtfully. "I need Francisco back…"

He glanced down. "Unfortunately…"

"It's not always wise to promise without condition."

"I suppose not. Common sense, once more."

"Where do you think Diego slept?"

Alejandro sighed, and stared at his wine. "On a cave floor somewhere."

"Do you think they are alright?"

"The initial cave in caused incredible damage, and blocked all of the known entrances. Then there was minor cave-ins afterwards," Alejandro said with a frown. "However, that particular cave system is extensive, and may have other systems connected to it. There may be other entrances elsewhere."

"They might still be alive," she murmured thoughtfully. "Realistically, could they still be alive?"

"There is every possibility…"

She rose from her seat, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Excuse me, there is something I must do, Alejandro."

He watched as she crossed the road to the alcalde's office, before he leapt to his feet and followed her closely.

She knocked on the door of the office like she was a grand lady.

"Enter," Ignacio said.

She swung the door open, and stepped inside. Alejandro caught up with her, and stood by her side.

"Alcalde de Soto, I must have words with Capitan Destara. Immediately," she said firmly. Ignacio straightened up in his chair, and stared at her.

"I'm afraid, Senora, that the man is incredibly busy and has no time for a social call," Ignacio started. He glanced at the frown on Alejandro's face and glanced away quickly. "However I will check if he is available. Sergeant! See if the Capitan will receive Senora Azarola."

"Si, mi alcalde!"

"Would you take a seat, Senora?" She sat, but kept her eyes on the alcalde.

"What is this about?" Alejandro whispered in her ear.

"It's about standing firm, Alejandro. Francisco would have done it, but he isn't here. He'd like me to do it in his stead."

"He wouldn't wish trouble or danger to come to you, Senora."

The Capitan strode into the office, and glanced at the small lady with curiosity. He approached her and bowed over her hand, and assisted her to stand.

"If you'll excuse us, Alcalde, Alejandro," she began. "I feel the Capitan and I have something to discuss, without interruption."

Alejandro sat on the chair she had just left and glanced at the alcalde. Ignacio lifted an eyebrow with interest, but turned his attention to his paperwork almost immediately.

"You are welcome to remain, Alejandro, of course."

"Of course," Alejandro said softly.

Zzz

Diego and Victoria woke in bright sunshine, and in each other's arms. Diego stretched and looked about him careful not to disturb the half asleep lady lying so trustingly at his side. He shivered a little, and realised Victoria had taken most of the blanket from him in sleep.

"No Diego! Don't kill him!" Victoria murmured in her sleep. "Don't!"

He laid a firm hand on her shoulder, and she gradually woke up. "You didn't kill Destara, did you?"

"Why would I do that?"

"You were going to…"

"It was a nightmare, Victoria."

"No…the other day, the night you were drunk. You would have killed him. Something about Madrid."

Diego sighed, and glanced away.

"Really Victoria. I wouldn't have killed him."

"You were so drunk you didn't even know me. You called me a wench!"

"A wench! What on earth was I drinking?"

"I can look it up later. You would have killed him."

"I have never killed anyone on purpose, Victoria. Why would I kill Destara?"

"I was going to hurt me, I think."

"I would want to kill him for that. Perhaps…"

"Tell me about Destara, Diego. Why do you hate him so much?"

"Hate him?"

"I see the way you look at him, Diego. I see the hate in your eyes."

"Can we eat some bread and cheese? I'm hungry," Diego said softly.

"Talk first…"

Diego heaved himself onto his feet, and winced with a startled cry of pain as the ankle reacted to the movement. He sighed, and went to the bag.

"I thought you said there was a shirt in there," he said, after a quick search. Victoria gestured to the side with her head, and he found the shirt. He quickly put it on, and buttoned it up.

"Max Destara….My first year at University was when I met Francisco and Max, and we were firm friends from that moment since. Francisco was slightly older than us, and wiser beyond his youthful years. I trusted him above anyone else. Max, not so much. We had a lot of things in common, and we are from the same social group. Our fathers had been friends at University before us, the teachers commented on it quite often."

Victoria nodded.

"Max is more my age, and we loved to compete. We raced horses against each other, we played cards and gambled away our allowances, and we went to taverns together."

"Taverns and drinking?"

"The first time I drank copiously I was violently ill," Diego said with a sigh.

"That doesn't always stop people, particularly young caballeros."

"No, Max laughed at me, and encouraged me to try again. He could always drink me under the table."

Victoria nodded again.

"I liked talking to the barmaids at the taverns. They reminded me of you, back home in California. Soon I became aware of Destara's taste for young girls serving at the taverns. He would flirt with them, and seduce them – robbing them of their self-respect and sometimes their innocence. Once he had conquered them, he found another to despoil."

Diego moved around a little, trying to ease the pressure on his ankle.

"I respected him, and we were friends. That's how I saw it, anyway. Francisco cautioned me to watch and wait, and listen some more. Some stories are gossip after all. We kept going to taverns and drinking, but I knew enough to ease up on the alcohol. I react badly to it."

"I didn't know."

"Well, now you do," he said with a smile. "I took to a new barmaid. She had your hair, and your eyes. She looked a little like you. She was very young and completely innocent. I took it upon myself to keep her safe."

"Could you?"

"Destara….it's like a compulsion with him. A beautiful unpicked flower of a girl, and he needs to pluck her and crush her underfoot like a child's toy."

Diego stared into space. "I couldn't keep her safe. I challenged the man to a duel the morning after I found him with her. I almost killed him. I almost killed him with the sabre. I was suspended from University for three weeks, and if he had died I would have been in serious trouble indeed."

"You set out to kill him?"

"No…I wanted to hurt him. I didn't care if I killed him."

"Diego?"

"Yes."

"Did you think he was going to do that with me?"

Diego was silent.

"I wouldn't have let him."

"Sometimes the woman has no real choice in the matter, Victoria. Fear takes over, and …."

"It's over, Diego. It's all over."

"Francisco would counsel forgiveness, and friendship. Do you know how hard that is to keep doing?"

"It's over, Diego," she murmured, and stood to embrace him. She kissed him, drawing him towards her. "I'm sorry," she sighed, as they took a breath. "I'm truly sorry."