It's spring, there are flowers, the birds are singing, and I feel like writing something light. Will it be a reveal with a happy ending? You'll have to read it to find out. Give it a go, it's only one chapter.
I do not own the rights to the NWZ series and characters. I do not receive any money for publishing this story.
The heist.
Victoria walked into the kitchen, carrying some jugs in her hand, she set them down in the sink, where Alicia was just finishing scrubbing the previous ones.
"The main room is pretty quiet, we can go peel the vegetables for the tamale filling." said Victoria. She turned to Alicia. "Come out as soon as you're done with that to tend at the bar."
Victoria picked up several onions and took them to the center table, while Pilar grabbed a knife to go chopping zucchini.
"Well, I don't think Don Pablo is too bad," said Alicia to Pilar.
"Were you talking about men?" said Victoria, deducing the topic of the conversation she had missed. Not that it was very difficult either.
"Well, yes. Although we both still think the most attractive is Don Diego, even if he has his head in the clouds."
"I disagree." Victoria said. "Zorro is the most attractive man I know."
"And how do you know that?" said Pilar with a mischievous smile. "Have you seen him without the mask?"
"And without anything else?" said Alicia laughing.
"No. I've never seen his face, but I'm sure he's very handsome."
"You can't be sure." said Alicia. "Under that mask and hat he could be bald as an egg."
"Or have one huge eyebrow. Can you imagine?" said Pilar with a chuckle.
"What's wrong with you is that you're envious." replied Victoria impishly.
"Wow, you got me." said Pilar.
"And me too." added Alicia.
Suddenly the kitchen door opened loudly, banging against the wall, and a man armed with a pistol entered.
"Let's see, señoritas, put those knives down there. Slow down." he said pointing it at Victoria who had immediately adopted a defensive posture.
Victoria dropped the knife with a grim look on her face and the man gestured towards the curtain.
"Now we are going to meet the people in the main room. Slowly and quietly."
The three women came out of the kitchen and found two other ruffians in the main room threatening the patrons with pistols, while a third searched Don Alejandro and took his bag and watch out of his pockets.
The one who had just left the kitchen took a bag tied around his waist and began to put the money and valuables inside. Then he went behind the counter to look for money in the counter drawers.
The one who looked like the boss turned to one of the men. "Go upstairs and search the rooms. See what you find."
Several minutes later the man who had spoken earlier went to the front door and closed it. He picked up one of the chairs and slammed it to the floor until it was smashed to pieces. He separated the flat crossbars that formed the backrest and walked over to one of the tavern patrons.
"Take this." he told him. The man obeyed.
Then the bandit pulled out a bag of nails and a hammer. He set them down on a table and pointing at the other man indicated, "Take those boards and nail the door. Do it right, because if I try to pull the board off and succeed the first time I'll put a bullet in your belly."
The man nailed the two boards on either side of the door. When the assailant was satisfied he took the remaining nails and the hammer, and he and his cronies headed for the kitchen.
Before crossing the curtain the man added. "The first one who peeks out the back door will take a bullet."
The four crossed the curtain, and no one dared to follow. Several patrons went to the front door, and tried to unlock the boards so they could open the door and go for help. Before they could manage to do so, horse hooves could be heard riding away from the tavern.
"Well, it looks like we've been fleeced," said Don Alejandro. "Are there any wounded?" he asked looking around. He walked over to Victoria. "Are you girls all right?"
"Yes, thank you don Alejandro, a little scared, but fine."
Two men finished unlocking the doors and went out to inform the soldiers, but there was already little hope that they could reach them.
Minutes later one of the men entered the tavern.
"It's the bandits, they come bound on their horses, with Zs branded on their clothes."
Most of the attendees came out to watch, and as the soldiers searched the thieves, Diego approached from across the plaza.
"They have nothing of value on them." said Sergeant Mendoza.
"I know why." said Diego waving a bag in the air. "I was at the newspaper and heard suspicious noises, so I climbed up to the roof and crouched down to avoid being seen. From there I saw them fleeing to the east, but Zorro approached them from the side and fought them. During the fight, one of them threw this bag into some bushes, I suppose with the idea of picking it up later."
The alcalde, who had also left the office upon hearing the commotion, picked up the bag and looked inside.
"All persons who have suffered the theft, go back to the tavern. We will return the possessions to those who are able to identify them to prove they are the owners."
They all went back inside. Diego accompanied his father.
A middle-aged lady was the first to speak. "There have to be my earrings. They're gold, with teardrop-shaped pearls."
De Soto looked in the bag and found them. "Does anyone else claim them?"
"They're hers." said another woman. "I noticed she was wearing them."
"Very well, señora, here you go." agreed de Soto.
Don Alejandro approached him. "My purse has my initials embroidered on it, and my watch has an inscription that says El tiempo se hace corto a tu lado(1)".
De Soto located the objects and gave them to him.
Little by little the bag was emptied, until de Soto took out a ring from inside. It was gold, with an emerald surrounded by small diamonds.
"Wow, this really is a nice piece of jewelry." said de Soto looking at it.
Diego stood next to his father, and heard Victoria gasp suddenly, but she did not speak. Don Alejandro looked at the ring curiously.
"It is my wife's ring. It's been in my family for generations, what's it doing here?"
"Can you prove it's yours?"
"I certainly can, it appears in the portrait of my grandmother in the study, and I also have the matching earrings that I gave my wife when Diego was born."
This time Diego heard Victoria trying to stifle an exclamation. He turned so he could look at her out of the corner of his eye and saw that she was glaring at him.
Diego tried to control his breathing and finally said.
"I brought it a few days ago to... give it to Victoria."
"Diego, it's a wedding ring. Did you and Victoria...?"
"No." interrupted Diego. "Not exactly."
Diego finally mustered up the courage to confront Victoria face to face.
"The other day I finally decided to talk to her, and confess to her that I have loved her for years, and that, even though I know she loves another man, I am not capable of thinking about starting a family with another woman without first knowing for certain that I don't stand a chance."
Victoria looked at him as astonished as the rest of the attendees. Diego cleared his throat a little and continued speaking.
"I was so nervous that I couldn't explain myself well. Now that I have the chance I'd like to add something."
He took a step toward her.
"I know you're waiting for Zorro to take off his mask, but it's very difficult for that to happen. There are always bad people preying on the innocent, and besides, Zorro has so many enemies that he could endanger his family if it became known who he is."
Victoria nodded slightly, and her eyes glistened from the tears she was reluctant to shed.
"I know I can't compare to him, you and my father have reminded me of that on more than one occasion, but. What man of flesh and blood could compete with a legend?"
"I also know you are a good friend. Maybe that feeling you have for me can blossom and make you love me as a husband someday if you allow me to share my life with you and try to deserve it."
Diego turned to his father.
"I gave her the ring as proof that my intentions are honorable, and told her to think about my proposal for a few days. I also said that if she wore it, I would know what it meant, and if she returned it to me, she would still have my friendship and admiration."
Diego approached the alcalde and took the ring. "I guess the thieves found it when they searched her room, because she still hasn't decided about what I said."
Don Alejandro cleared his throat to clear his voice, which was somewhat stiff with emotion.
"Victoria, my child, is that true?"
She nodded, "Yes it is, except for the last part."
She approached Diego, took the ring from his hand and held it for a few moments.
"I have indeed made a decision." she said putting it on the ring finger of her left hand.
The tavern was absolutely silent, until muffled sobs were heard. Pilar passed a clean cloth to Alicia, who was crying emotionally, and took another one for herself. Don Alejandro looked at Diego and Victoria for a few moments before exclaiming.
"This is something to celebrate! I'll buy everyone a round!"
Diego and Victoria looked at each other somewhat tensely, until she decided to walk over to him and hug him. He wrapped his arms around his fiancée's waist and closed his eyes to enjoy the moment.
Victoria pulled away from him a few minutes later. "I think I need to get to pouring drinks." she said.
"We'll have time later. I hope for a lifetime."
"I hope so too." she said.
More than an hour later the mood seemed to have calmed down a bit, and Victoria and Pilar were in the kitchen preparing dinner. Alicia came in with some dishes from the main room.
"Weren't you saying that Zorro is more attractive than Don Diego?" she asked Victoria.
"I've changed my mind. There is NO ONE more attractive than Diego."
Alicia picked up several clean glasses and went out to the bar again without stopping smiling.
After a short while Pilar came out with some drinks and as she passed by Diego's table she whispered to him.
"Victoria is waiting for you in the kitchen."
Diego checked that his father was distracted talking to one of the soldiers and headed for the curtain.
"Well, if it isn't my fiancé." said Victoria smiling. She walked over to him and stopped to stare at him. Diego smiled as well.
Victoria ran a hand behind his ear, stroking his hair.
"I'm glad you're not bald." she said. Diego blinked, confused by the comment.
Then Victoria ran a finger over one of Diego's eyebrows. "I never noticed before. You have really nice eyebrows." she added, making Diego feel even more lost.
Then she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.
At least this I understand. Diego thought.
They were distracted until they heard a throat clearing. They turned to look and saw Don Alejandro with an expression that tried to be serious, but could not hide his joy.
"Since you have known each other since you were children, I propose a short courtship." he said.
"I agree." said Victoria.
"If Padre Benítez reads the banns for the first time this Sunday, you can be married in a month." added Don Alejandro.
Diego nodded.
"Diego, you're coming with me."
Diego let go of Victoria's waist and walked out behind his father, though he turned for a moment to look at her before crossing the curtain.
"Well done, son." said Don Alejandro patting him on the shoulder.
FIN
(1) Time is short by your side
It was indeed a reveal with a happy ending. Surprise!
Thanks for reading my story, and thanks a million if you also leave a review.
04/26/2021 I posted the story yesterday and I can't believe how well it has been received. Thanks for your kind comments, even that one that I only understand this part :)