Chapter 21
Don Alejandro breathed a sigh of relief as the alcalde was escorted away by Don Eduardo's men. At last justice for Edmund and not a moment too soon, he thought. I only hope that Diego comes out of this unscathed. The alcalde was enraged about his arrest and would strike out against anyone in his desperate attempt to exonerate himself….As long as this pueblo is free of him, it will be worth it…the man is a pestilence on this pueblo and the people in it…
"Good riddance to bad rubbish," Don Manuel stated, "I had no idea that Don Eduardo was the Deputy Governor, of course, now I know that you knew along…you are a sly fox, Alejandro."
"I knew…we were just waiting for Don Eduardo to execute his plan. Hopefully, Ramon will be out of our lives as soon as possible…this pueblo has suffered under his rule for long enough," the caballero said as he sipped his wine, "it is time for a change."
"After all that he has done to this pueblo…to your friend, Edmund. He deserves whatever judgment the governor has in store for him…"
"I agree, Manuel," Alejandro said thoughtfully, " and the punishment will be swift and just. The deputy governor is a fair man…"
"Which is more than what the alcalde deserves…After all of the things that he has done…"
"This pueblo deserves honest, competent leadership. We as caballeros should have challenged him a long time ago…That is one of my biggest regrets, Alejandro," Don Manuel stated, "Our fathers would have stood up to his vile leadership…they were men of courage and honor…we have nothing to say for ourselves…without Zorro, the situation would have been much worse…"
"Zorro, whoever he is, will be able to live his own life in peace. The people will be able to live their own lives with no fear of repercussion and unjust taxes," Alejandro stated, "but it will be all worth it to see Luis Ramon is out of our lives for good. At last…"
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The de la Vega garden was quiet except for the night sounds made by various insects. The fresh air was invigorating as Diego and Victoria had found a quiet haven away from the activity inside. Diego sipped his wine thoughtfully. Los Angeles is finally free…Sir Edmund's death will be avenged, he considered with a sigh of relief, Hopefully, without repercussions…
"Your mind is a thousand miles away, Diego," Victoria touchedhis arm lightly, "it has been an eventful night so far…especially for the alcalde…it turned out far differently than he expected."
"I know, Victoria…This night will affect our lives for years to come," he stated, "not only the pueblo's but many of its citizens."
"A change that will benefit the people," Victoria sighed, "thank God, that we didn't have to wait years for the alcalde to be removed…"
"What if it had taken years? If you would have had to wait…for Zorro, for years…Would you have been willing to make the sacrifice? What does that mean to you, Victoria? And to us?"
"I don't know, Diego. I haven't thought that far ahead. I don't know if I would have had the patience to wait for his quest to end," she admitted, "I admire his deeds…his passion for justice but I have barely spent more than a few minutes with him. We didn't have time to discuss those things in depth. I spend more time with you than I do with him and we have known each other much longer."
"You make me sound like an old comfortable shoe," he teased, "and I thought that I was the one who was not romantic."
"You are such a tease, Diego. I have never really thought of you that way," she said as he lifted an eyebrow, "I will have you know that I was very attracted to you when you returned from Spain…"
"I was attracted to you but I wanted to act on my feelings but I couldn't…"
"Why not? We were both single…eligible…I don't understand. Was it the fact that we are from two different classes?"
"No. A person's station in life doesn't matter to me and never will," Diego confessed, "this is not Madrid. If class mattered to me, then I could have easily married any of the caballero's daughters. If it were up to my father, I would have been married years ago…."
"You said that you couldn't act on your feelings," Victoria teased, "what could prevent a handsome, eligible man from marrying? Are you leading some sort of secret life, Diego?"
The tall caballero looked at her seriously. Should I tell her or let her guess for herself? Is the time right or should I wait a little longer? Victoria is an intelligent woman… "What would you say if I told you that I was leading a secret life," he replied, "would that surprise you?"
"It wouldn't if it were the Diego I knew before he went to Spain…he was more like Zorro than you are," she teased, "you expect me to believe that you could or would hide such a secret from me…I think that I know you better than that…"
"What if it were true, Victoria? Anything is possible…Zorro would have to be a very intelligent man to fool the people around him and knowing the danger that he was in…he had no choice but to conceal his identity from the people that he cares about," the tall caballero surmised, "he probably thought that he was protecting his family and friends from the alcalde's wrath…"
"I suppose that is true, Diego. His life was in danger and the people closest to him could have hung alongside him…if he is a caballero, then his lands would be forfeit…he put his life on hold to fight for the people and someday he will be rewarded…you sound as though you know how he thinks and how he feels…"
"I know how Zorro feels, Victoria because I am Zorro…"