Victoria cradled the masked man in her lap, stunned at the blood seeping around the gloved hand pressing against his side.
"Diego," she whispered. His eyes flickered open, and he tried to shake his head.
"No, not…"
"Try not to talk, Zorro," she said, glancing up at Alejandro who was approaching.
The sound of a horse galloping into the pueblo interrupted the eerie silence, but Victoria didn't glance up. Her world was crumbling in front of her, and her mind couldn't work out what to do next.
She felt arms wrap around her, and found her face being lifted up. Her eyes lifted and found themselves trapped in steel blue eyes. Eyes that seemed to belong to Diego. But they couldn't...couldn't belong to Diego?
She was shaken lightly, and the silent mouthing of the man started to make sense.
"Victoria! Are you alright? You're covered in blood? Where are you hurt?" The words tumbled out of the man who seemed to be familiar. "Let me see."
"No, Zorro...Diego...he's hurt. I need to help him. Diego?"
"No, I am Diego, look at me," Diego insisted, shaking her again. She fell against his chest, and sobbed helplessly.
"Was she hurt?" Diego asked his father. Alejandro shrugged, as he knelt by the masked figure.
"What can we do for him?" Alejandro said gently. "The man actually protected Victoria with his own body."
"Did he?" Diego said, directing his action to the man in the dust. One arm held Victoria secure against him, and the other hand was examining the wound.
"I'm...sorry…" The man said with a pained gasp. Diego reassured him softly, before turning to his father.
"Shot would have entered his lung. I don't think he has much time," Diego murmured. "Let's get him into the tavern. A soft bed would offer some comfort at least," he added.
A clatter of hooves brought everyone's attention up. The alcalde had arrived back in town.
"What is this? Zorro is finally bested?" Ignacio said with excitement. "Lancers, take the man to the cells."
"No," Diego said, standing up to his full height.
"No?"
"The man is dying. You have your victory," Diego said. "He can't hurt you now. At least make his last moments comfortable."
"You take yourself too seriously, Diego de la Vega. I am the alcalde here for the moment."
Ignacio turned and glanced around the plaza. "What happened here?"
"You left the pueblo undefended, and it was attacked by bandits," Diego said. "I wonder what the lawyer will say when he returns to the capital? That the alcalde punished one of the only men in town that actually stood up against the bandits, and let him die in a cold cell? Or that Zorro for all his lawbreaking was honoured as a brave man who defended the pueblo against worse men?"
"Diego, you demand too much."
"We stand here, as this man lies dying in the dust like an animal," the lawyer said, approaching the alcalde with a frown. "I have heard a lot about you and your deeds, De Soto. I would be disappointed to find you adding another evil deed to your resume."
Ignacio de Soto sighed, and frowned. "Lancers, help get that man into a bed in the tavern. Fetch the doctor to tend to him," Ignacio ordered, and then glanced at Diego. "Make sure there is a guard posted at his door. If there is any hope of recovery the man will face the punishment owing to him."
"I appreciate your offer of compassion," Diego said, helping Victoria to her feet.
Zzz
Diego led Victoria to her room, and made her sit down on her bed.
"Are you sure you are unhurt, Victoria?"
"I...think...I'm fine," she murmured. She glanced at her hands, and they were shaking almost uncontrollably.
"What were you doing out there with those men?" Diego said softly, pouring her a cup of water from the jug sitting on her cabinet.
"Zorro? Zorro went to rescue me. The bandits were heading towards the tavern," Victoria answered. "Diego, I thought it was you. What happened? Why wasn't it you? That's your costume."
"It was stolen. I haven't told many people about the cave. It can only be one of two men," Diego said, handing her the water. "I want you to drink that."
Victoria smiled slightly. "Of course," she said, and gulped it down. "Did I faint?"
"No, not that I noticed, you are holding up remarkably."
"I don't remember everything."
"I'm not surprised."
"You said he was dying," Victoria said. "Can we see him? To know who saved me?"
Diego glanced away, and then back to Victoria. "It's not me, Victoria."
"I know," Victoria said, squeezing his hand. "Of course it's not you, Diego. I just thought it was for a moment."
"It might make you worse, seeing him. Your nerves are scattered."
"I won't be alone, I'll be with you, Diego. Please."
"If you really need to, of course. There is no hope of recovery. Where he was shot, no one survives that."
"Alright," she said, glancing down. "No hope of recovery. I understand."
"Come on then," Diego said, helping her to her feet. "The moment you get distressed, I am taking you back to your room."
Zzz
Alexander Greyson greeted Victoria and Diego on the landing. "I am a doctor, so I took the liberty of seeing what could be done."
"And?"
"The lung was punctured, and the amount of internal bleeding as well as external bleeding… Well, no hope I'm afraid. He could have survived a lighter injury quite well, he is a very strong man."
"Thank you, Senor Greyson."
Diego opened the door slowly, trying not to disturb the people in the room too much.
Alejandro rose to meet him, and shook his head. "The man only has minutes, I think. It's Luke. Our vaquero."
Luke, Diego thought. He hadn't considered Luke. He sat on the edge of the bed, and reached for the man's hand. Luke's eyes flickered open and he attempted a smile.
"Try not to talk," Diego said gently. He wanted to ask him why he had taken the suit, why he had protected Victoria with his own body. He was full of questions.
"I...was...going to be...your headman," Luke said with an effort.
"You would have been a good one," Diego said.
"I had to protect her...You were...so good...I couldn't let you suffer...like me…"
"You suffered?"
"My wife...she died...I couldn't let...Victoria die...like that."
"Stop talking," Diego urged softly. "Keep breathing. Save your words and breathe."
"Better shot...than...you...I think."
"You've never shot against me," Diego said with a slight smile. "How would we know?"
Luke sighed, and smiled. He squeezed Diego's hand tightly for a moment, and then his eyes slowly closed, from exhaustion. His grip loosened and his hand dropped from Diego's grasp.
Diego bowed his head with sadness for a moment, and then glanced across at Alejandro.
"Who else was hurt?"
"Adriano was shot in the arm, but is rallying, apparently. Marcos was shot dead."
"I'm sorry. If you had included me in this…"
"You could be dead. I am still happy that you were out of this escapade. It was a failure of a plan anyway. It would never have worked."
"Run it by me when we get home, and we'll see. It's a hypothetical idea now."
"Diego, I can't stop crying," Victoria said softly, between silent sobs. Her face was full of tears, and her body was wracked with sobs.
He embraced her tightly, and carried her to her room.
"I'll make some cactus tea, and you'll sleep soundly for a few hours. We will get through the aftermath of this, Victoria. Just as we always do," Diego said, making sure she lay down with the covers pulled up around her. He grabbed her hand, kissed the back of it tenderly, and then stroked it gently.
"I really believed it was you," she sobbed. "That I had lost you. That our future was gone."
"You haven't lost me. Our future is still in motion," Diego reassured her. "That blasted suit has so much to answer for."
"That suit inspired people, protected people. Whoever wore it," Victoria responded. "But please don't ever use it again."
"I can't promise. But Zorro is Luke and Luke is dead, so officially Zorro is dead. The alcalde will declare that with zest."
"We can get married," Victoria said, as if clinging to a positive thought.
"It would seem to be you settling for second best," Diego said with a slight smile. "But it sounds possible."