Chapter 5

Don Diego did this…, don Diego said that…, don Diego thinks…, don Diego suggested… Well, screw, don Diego.
Victoria was happy with her help. Paco was always diligent. Worked hard and brought a cheerful note on Saturdays in the tavern. She had already grown quite fond of the boy. Other than that one incident, many of her regulars had come to appreciate him. The boy's only drawback was that he could no longer say one sentence without the words don Diego in it. Paco adored the man. Not just because Diego still taught at the mission every week. But also because Paco was able to walk normally thanks to don Diego. It was only natural that the man who had given Paco a bit of freedom was admired by the boy.

It shouldn't matter. Were it not for the fact that this kept distracting her from the daily affairs. As if it wasn't bad enough that Diego came to the tavern almost every day. She was now also reminded of him all Saturday long. The caballero had been on her mind more often than she cared to. Sighing, Victoria closed the tavern for the night. There was only one overnight guest who had gone to his room early.
Using the special long-handled candle extinguisher, which she had indeed thanks to don Diego. So that she didn't have to raise and lower the colossus from the ceiling every time, she extinguished the candles of the large candelabra, often used by Zorro to create a spectacular entrance.
Victoria picked up the candle already standing on the counter and went to the kitchen to make sure the back door was closed.

In the centre of the kitchen stood a figure dressed in black, whom she recognized immediately. "Zorro!"

"Señorita" Sounded in a soft, piercing voice.
He opened his arms and delighted at the unexpected late night visit, Victoria stepped into the warm embrace. She threw her arms around his neck and stretched as long as she could with her lips seeking his. The kiss was intense and fiery.

After seconds that seemed to last an eternity, had flown by too quickly for her liking, Victoria stammered slightly out of breath, "Glad you came."

"I missed you, Victoria."

"Can you stay awhile?" she asked, hopefully.

"As always, my time is too short. I came only to see you and present you this gift." A bracelet made of the finest silver dangled from one of his fingers.
Zorro let it slide from his finger to her palm.

Fascinated, Victoria looked at the delicate piece of jewellery that shone in the candlelight.
"It's beautiful. Thank you."

"All the silver, gold and jewels in the world pale at the sight of your beauty. Victoria, may I?"
Quickly, Zorro had taken off his gloves and tossed them on the kitchen table. Deftly, he opened the small lock and put the bracelet on her wrist. After this, her hand lifted, twisted her wrist and pressed a kiss to the vein that throbbed violently on the inside of her wrist.

The touch of his lips on the delicate patch of skin took her breath away. And moments later, his lips had found hers again for a heartfelt kiss.

"Did you come to Los Angeles just to give me this bracelet?"

Zorro shook his head, putting his gloves back on. "I came because I longed for your company. But now, alas, I must go."

"Can you really not stay longer?"

"Unfortunately not. I plan to pay a visit to our noble alcalde tonight. Just to remind him of what we agreed upon about new tax increases."

So duty called. The moments with Zorro were always short-lived. Victoria knows that protesting is pointless. "Shall you… be careful."

"Always. Adios, Victoria."

"Goodbye, Zorro."
Before she blinked, Zorro had hoisted himself up a protruding beam to the first floor of the building and disappeared into the darkness.
Slowly, Victoria caught her breath again. And not much later, she walked up the stairs, wondering what de Soto was up to next.

The next morning, Victoria was busy early. As soon as she woke up, she jumped out of bed and carefully scanned the plaza.
Nothing looked different from usual. Two lancers stood by the fountain to replenish the cartel's daily water supply. She was still thankful that she had a pump in her kitchen since last year. It had been an idea of, how could it be otherwise, don Diego.

He had asked her to close the tavern for two days. He, his father, Felipe, and three other men had spent hours on it. But the result was there. Now, whenever she needed water, all she had to do was walk to the corner of the kitchen. How lucky she was to have such good friends, Victoria thought as she poured the fire and filled a kettle with water for the coffee. Running water was a luxury that few people in these parts afforded.

She heard footsteps on the stairs, and a quick glance over her shoulder taught her that her only guest had got up early too.
"Buenos Días Señor. You are up early."

The man looked into the kitchen through the open curtains. "Buenos Días, señorita Victoria. Yes, I want to leave as early as possible because I have a long ride ahead of me. How quickly can you have breakfast ready."

"The water for the coffee is almost boiling, and the stove is hot. If you have a few minutes of patience, it's done."

The man nodded absently and sat down at a table and began to read a book. Ten minutes later, Victoria served breakfast. "Gracias, señorita."
The man hastily gulped down the food and coffee. Asked Victoria if he could fill his two drinking bottles in the kitchen. Paid his bill and said goodbye.

In the meantime, it was time to open the tavern and as soon as the door was open, her first customers of the day arrived. To her surprise, it where don Diego and Felipe.
Don Diego wasn't exactly known as an early riser.

Victoria greeted the men as they walked in. "Buenos Días, don Diego, Felipe. Don Diego, you're up rather early today too. I'm not used to such early visit by you."

"Buenos Días, señorita Victoria. Yes, the next edition of the Guardian should be ready tomorrow. And since there is still a lot to do, I thought I had better had an early start."

Victoria nodded understandingly. Don Diego was the editor of the local newspaper, and there was very little he devoted himself to more than the local news. "Coffee, then?" she offered the two men.

"Gladly."

Was she imagining, or was Diego looking very interested at her wrist, where Zorro had put the bracelet on yesterday? She had pondered it for a long time yesterday and finally decided to take it off again. Although it was made of silver and not gold, you didn't need to be an expert to see that it was made by someone who knew what he was doing. And that the simple piece of jewellery was of higher value than it seemed at first glance. It was made so fine that she was afraid it might break while working in the tavern. So she took it off and carefully put it away in her jewellery box. Which now, in addition to her mother's simple jewellery, which had more sentimental than financial value, now also contained the bracelet.
Oh, what nonsense. It must have been her imagination. How could Diego know that Zorro had given her a bracelet yesterday.
Too distracted by these thoughts, she hadn't heard Sergeant Mendoza enter, who had sat down at don Diego and Felipe's table and was now complaining.

"I think Zorro could be more considerate of us poor lancers."

Victoria grabbed an extra empty cup from the counter and walked to the table with the cups and pitcher full of freshly brewed coffee.
Zorro, that word always caught her attention. Curious about what Zorro had been up to yesterday, she asked almost nonchalantly. "What has Zorro done now?"
She took a seat with the men at the table. The tavern was otherwise still empty, and she often joined regular customers to have a chat. Victoria filled four cups with boiling hot liquid and spread them across the table.

"Zorro visited the alcalde last night. Probably because he had heard that the alcalde planned to tax the money in the poor box."

Highly indignant, Victoria reacted rather fiercely. "De Soto has no right to do that. That money belongs to the church and is for the poor."

Mendoza, already seeing the storm looming, looked helplessly to don Diego for help.

Who was most willing to explain to Victoria it wasn't how she was thinking. "That's not quite right. The church only manages the money. And from what I've heard there is a regular generous donation in it, allegedly from Zorro, who always donates claimed bounty money."

Mendoza nodding and confirming what the don had said. "Exactly, don Diego, that is true. And about Zorro making donations, those are my suspicions too. In any case, de Soto had thought that it would be better to tax this money before it goes to the poor."

Victoria, her eyes were spitting fire. "So that tax has to be paid twice. It's just outrageous, and no more than logical that Zorro does not accept this and puts a stop to it. I totally agree with him."

Diego grimaced. " And I actually agree with you, Victoria."

Mendoza also agreed with them. "Yes, the money is donated to the poor and should be used for that purpose. God knows we have too many poor people in the territory. But even then, I think Zorro can take us into account a little bit."

"What do you mean, Mendoza." Diego wanted to know.

"Look, everyone knows that the alcalde threatens to go out of bounds occasionally."

Victoria sneered. "Occasionally?"

Mendoza continued his argument. "And to be honest, I don't mind at all that Zorro drops by every now and then and lets the Alcalde know when he threatens to go too far."

Victoria sniffed.

"But why does he have to scratch a Z in everything, every time? For example, our uniforms? Do you have any idea how much time we spend trying to put it all back together properly? I joined the military to protect my country, not to join a sewing party.
And last night, Zorro scratched a Z in the bed of the alcalde. And guess who will be busy sanding it down and repainting the bed. That's why I say, it's not like we lancers choose to do this kind of work."

Diego looked thoughtfully at the sergeant. "I think Zorro is doing this to let you and the alcalde know that he can do a lot more harm if he wanted to. And so that De Soto cannot deny that our fox outsmarts him time and again."

Victoria was occupied by Felipe. He seemed to enjoy the complaints of the sergeant somehow. But also there was a slight hint of guilt. Almost, like he knew something no one else did.

The sergeant grumbled as he took a sip of coffee, "I know that, and the alcalde knows that without Zorro scratching Z all over."

Victoria gasped. "Mendoza, you just have to think like that as long as it is pants, jackets or a bed, the damage is still repairable."

Mendoza finished his coffee and was still grumbling. "Repairable, si. A nice job, no.

He stood up, and Victoria felt a tinge of pity for the man. She knew that deep down Mendoza didn't mean bad and actually saw Zorro as a kind of friend.
"If you want, I can ask Zorro if I ever see him not to do it every time." she therefore offered.

"That would be nice. Señorita Escalante, don Diego, Felipe, adios." And the sergeant left the tavern to go about his duties.

"Hey," Victoria called after him. Mendoza didn't hear or pretended not to hear her. Victoria looked at Diego. "He didn't pay for his coffee. Well, I'll put it on his bill. Not that he ever pays it."

Diego also finished his coffee cup and got up, followed by Felipe. "Don't bother Victoria. I'll pay for this round." The don placed some coins on the table, and together they left for his office.

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