The next day, Alejandro checked on Felipe, and found Diego resting in the chair near the bed.
He placed a hand on his son's shoulder and roused him from a light doze.
"I am going to town," Alejandro said softly.
"Wait a moment, I will join you," Diego said, stretching long sore limbs. "He'll be alright now."
"No," Alejandro said gently. "I want you to go back to bed, and get some quality sleep."
Diego sighed and glanced down.
"I am letting everyone down. Whatever I need to remember, I can't do it. My head aches and my stomach churns, and I can't do it."
Alejandro smiled. "You are pushing too hard. Let it go for a few days. We can wait."
"You could tell me," Diego said tensely.
"Doctors orders. We aren't supposed to."
"Well, you are going to have to," Diego said, his voice rising in volume.
Alejandro gestured to Felipe, and the two men left the room before they woke him.
"Is there anything I can do in town for you?"
"The newspaper is a lost cause for the moment. Such a shame," Diego said. "Yet another way I am failing everyone."
"You are not failing anyone, Diego. You are alive, and you are recovering wonderfully. Your memory will recover, you just have to be patient."
"It still feels…"
"Frustrating," Alejandro said, helpfully.
"Yes," Diego said with a reluctant grin. "Alright. I will try to get some sleep."
"Good."
"Is Victoria alright? She seems a little upset with me," Diego said.
"Whatever is going on with you two, it will pass."
"I hope so."
Alejandro watched his son walk to his room, before he left the hacienda.
Zzz
Victoria was working in the tavern, after telling Alejandro she could not return to the hacienda until Diego had fully recovered. It was becoming so hard to be near him, with him being so vague and half responsive.
She touched her lips with her finger, as if trying to catch the feeling of his lips on hers. She had missed that so much, and it had felt so familiar, so right. So much like her Zorro was kissing her. Her Zorro who had vanished as if he had never been invented.
She went to the kitchen to try and pull herself together, finding her thoughts straying to Diego. She knew she loved him. Knew it without a doubt. He was half the man he had been, and she had never been able to talk to him, knowing he was the man she loved. She had been in the dark for five years, and now he was in the dark. It was torture, her heart twisting every time she saw him smile at her.
She wondered if he had felt like that. When she had been so blissfully unaware of who her hero was, did his heart twist inside of him when he saw her smile? She felt tears prick her eyes. No, she would focus on her cooking. Her feelings were getting in the way, and her heart would not rule her today.
Her hand slipped, and she dropped the spoon into the soup. She blew on her tiny burn on her finger, and plunged it into a cold pot of water. She was getting distracted.
Pilar came over to her, and examined her hand.
"You need to rest, Victoria. Go to bed. I'll see to this. You are exhausted."
"You have done so much for me, these last couple of weeks," Victoria said. "I feel like I am abandoning you."
"You have done a lot for me, for years Victoria. If you need to see how Diego is, I completely understand. It is obvious you are developing feelings for him."
"He is my friend. He's been my friend since I can remember. He's always been there for me."
"It is becoming more, and you know it, Victoria."
Victoria sighed with frustration, and removed her apron.
"He is so fragile, half of him is not there, you know. His head injury makes him...I don't know."
"You love him. It took this to shake you up and wake you up. Diego is a real man, not a ghostlike Zorro that comes and goes. Diego is solid and steadfast, calm and courageous in his own way. A real man."
"Yes," Victoria said thoughtfully. "He is a real man. Zorro is a legend, a walking myth, a shadow."
"There you are. At least you see that now," Pilar said with satisfaction. "Go and rest."
Zzz
Victoria had a deep and dreamless sleep, the deepest and calmest sleep she'd had for weeks. She woke with more energy than she knew what to do with. Going back downstairs to see her kitchen, she was interrupted by three soldiers on the stairs.
"What is going on here, sergeant?"
"I am sorry, Senorita. You are under arrest," Sergeant Mendoza said, regretfully.
"What have I done now?" She asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"The alcalde is arresting you for colluding with Zorro, a known outlaw, in the kidnap of Diego de la Vega," the Sergeant said. The soldiers accompanying him went to grab her arms.
Her eyes widened with surprise.
"That is ridiculous," someone said. It was Alejandro.
"If you would move aside, Don Alejandro, please," Mendoza said softly.
"This is only a misunderstanding," Victoria said after a moment. "I don't need you to hold me, gentlemen."
Alejandro huffed. "I will not move aside. This is wrong, Mendoza. You know that. Zorro would never hurt my son."
"Don Alejandro, please."
Alejandro crossed his arms in defiance. "Victoria is not going anywhere with you."
"You heard the order, Don Alejandro. Move aside, or follow the senorita to the cells."
Alejandro turned to face the alcalde. "Where have you gotten the information, Alcalde?"
"Your son has amnesia, and thus is not in his right mind. I was informed by a caballero, Senor MacKay. He was a witness to the crime, and he has no reason to lie."
"No reason? I'd say the 5,000 peso reward is reason enough."
"Alright, have it your way, Senor. Sergeant, arrest Don Alejandro."
"What for?" A don watching the unfolding drama asked.
"The obstruction of justice."
There was a babble of voices, but the alcalde raised his hand and there was silence again.
"Pablo, will you please send for the lawyer? I am sure this can be sorted out."
"For collusion with a known outlaw? With a credible witness? I doubt there is anything a lawyer can do," the alcalde said with satisfaction.
"Nevertheless, Pablo. And tell Diego...not to worry."
Zzz
Pablo raced back to the hacienda, sending a messenger immediately to fetch the lawyer. He was pacing back and forth in the library trying to think through an immediate solution, frowning as no solutions came to mind.
Diego ventured out of bed, aware of a commotion. He assumed his father had returned from the pueblo early, and Diego decided he wanted to talk to him.
"Pablo, what has happened? Sit down, I'll get you a brandy," Diego said, moving to the drinks tray. Pablo stayed on his feet, Diego handing him the glass and gesturing to the nearest chair. Diego sat on the opposite chair, and waited for the older man to sit.
"Sit down," Diego said firmly. Pablo sat down, reluctantly, and downed the brandy quickly enough to wince.
"Now, what has happened?"
Pablo was shaking his head slowly.
"I'm waiting, Pablo," Diego said, impatiently. Pablo met his eyes, and swallowed down the lump in his throat. Diego resembled a taller, leaner, younger version of his father when he was agitated. "Where is my father? Is he hurt?"
"No. He's not hurt," Pablo said, finding some words.
"Is Victoria hurt?" Diego said, getting to his feet. "You tell me what is going on, right now, Pablo."
"She's not hurt," Pablo said. "It's alright. I have contacted the lawyer. It's going to be alright."
"The lawyer? Pablo…"
"The alcalde has arrested your father and Victoria, I have sent for the lawyer. Your father doesn't want you to worry."
Diego crossed his arms, and frowned. "Not to worry…"
Zzz
Diego breathed through the anger that flushed through his system. The hide of De Soto. How dare he? There must be something he could do. The lawyer was several days' ride away, and he didn't feel that the alcalde could be trusted not to act before their friend arrived.
Pablo was still pale and slightly trembling. He unfolded his arms, and placed a steadying hand on his friend.
"I want you to stay here. Felipe needs someone to watch over him. Can you do that for me?" Diego said, after reminding himself to ease up on Pablo. After all, it wasn't his fault.
"Of course," Pablo said. "What are you going to do?"
"I will work it out," Diego said, patting the older man on the back gently. "It will be fine, Pablo. You'll see."