Sorry, it takes longer than planned.
I forgot that I am in charge of the characters. And no matter how much they like to take over, that is all in my head. And I can write what and how I planned it.
Chapter 10
After a long and tiring diner, Diego had excused himself and sneaked into the cave, where Felipe was already busy with not doing that much. But Felipe had preferred not to eat in the diner room. Don Alejandro did not mind the boy that was partly a member of the family, partly a help choose to dine in the kitchen.
Diego had not that fortunate and had spent almost the entire day in the company of the woman. At the diner, his father had praised the young señorita. And let no doubt he would approve of a studier relation between the two young people.
Annabella had claimed to be tired and retired early, allowing Diego to sneak into the cave.
Felipe helped Diego to saddle Toronado. Zorro was going to patrol tonight. Diego longed for a ride in the saddle after spending most of the day working for the Guardian and showing señorita Annabella how to make blue paint. Even more, did he look forward to going into the pueblo unseen to pay the local tavern owner a late-night visit.
After Zorro had left, Felipe cleaned the stable and did some sweeping. He washed the empty glass flasks. Knowing Diego wasn't to return for at least four more hours, Felipe was now on his way to his Pinto to bring him a late snack.
Felipe was on his way to the stables to check on his Pinto. By the pump, Felipe filled a bucket with water and in his pocket was an apple.
His horse knew his owner always brought him an apple before going to bed and neighs when Felipe entered the stable.
After a final pat on the neck, Felipe wanted to return to the hacienda. Standing in the shadows, he saw something light blue walks in the direction of the gate. It was señorita Annabella. Felipe wanted to walk over to warn her to stay on the property. A man approached Felipe wanted to go inside and get help when he heard Annabella say.
"Francisco, you came. I missed you so much."
In the dark, neither did saw the young boy. The man she had called Francisco embraced and kissed the woman.
"Anna, I could not bear being separated from you a moment longer. Tell me, is everything going to plan?"
"First, you need to kiss me again. I to have missed you. That bookworm is boring."
The two shadows became as one before Annabella continued. "The old fool is a piece of cake, and he would love to see me married to that dull son of his."
"And the idiot himself? Surely, he is impressed by your beauty."
"I do my best. I even start on telling every chance I have how terrific I think he is. Don't worry. I know how to impress men, as you well know. He is not easy to impress, but I have a plan.
Francisco grinned, "Careful, or I might get jealous."
"Francisco, you know I only love you. But I want to marry rich. I can not be simply a vaquero's wife."
"You are going to be the richest dona in the territory, and I have already found work on a nearby rancho. After the wedding, you become a vaquero's mistress."
"And that is all I want. I am yours for all time. De la Vega is handsome, but he is so boring. I bet he has no idea what to do to a woman in bed."
The man grinned. "And you do. One time will be enough, but do it as quick as possible."
"You mean before I am married? What kind of woman you take me for?"
"The kind that knows how to spoil a man. Oh, my love, I want you now."
"Not here, come," Annabella took Francisco's hand and guided him out of sight.
Felipe had seen and heard enough. No matter how much don Alejandro encouraged it, Diego not had even the slightest interest in the señorita. She was wasting her time. And Felipe could not say he regretted it, liking the woman even less after witnessing what just happened, and after he told him what had happened, Diego would like her even less.
.
After closing, doing her last chores Victoria, frantically trying to forget what she had heard and thought. Everyone seemed to assume that Don Diego would be married shortly. She wanted to pretend to be happy for her best friend, but she felt no joy. She could not describe the feeling she did have. It felt like her heart got torn in two. Victoria felt like scratching out a certain señorita's eyes, pulling all those blonde curls out of her head one by one and then knocking that disgusting grin off her face.
Victoria had no choice but to accept that what she felt was jealousy, which was nothing like her. Diego was Diego, always present somewhere in her mind, as a friend. She loved Zorro, not Diego.
A noise made her twist around, the man usual occupying her mind standing in the door opening.
"Señorita, I saw light burning. You are up rather late."
"Zorro," immediately Victoria felt how her heart skipped a beat, and she felt as light as a feather running to his arms for a passionate kiss.
"It has been a busy evening. Is there any trouble in the pueblo?"
"No, I only wanted to see you and Toronado needed exercise."
"I am glad you came."
"So am I, and I hoped to ask you something. I heard rumours someone is looking for me? Do you know more about it?"
Victoria, always willing to help Zorro in any way she could, did not like this question. "The alcalde is always looking for you. Otherwise, I wouldn't know." She could not do it. It felt weak, but she could not lie. "Oh, wait, perhaps you mean that spoiled brat that is staying at the de la Vega's."
"Spoiled brat? De la Vega's?" Zorro asked puzzled.
"Señorita Annabella Palez. She is staying at the de la Vega's. She 'works,'" The tone in Victoria her voice left no space for misinterpretation, "for her brother's newspaper and hopes to interview you."
"And you dislike that idea? It could be in some way beneficial, don't you agree? The more people in the territory know where Zorro stands for. An interview is not that bad idea. I will think about it."
"Everyone knows where you stand for. And if you want to give an interview, I suggest you should consult don Diego. That snake is not to be trusted, I am telling you."
"You dislike her? I heard she is a beautiful woman."
Diego could not help enjoying himself a bit as Victoria raised her famous temper and, he assumed a hint of envy.
"That has nothing to do with it. She..., she..., I don't like her. Alright? Can we please stop talking about her? I spend enough time in her company today already. Our time is always so limited."
Zorro grinned. "You are right, Victoria. Even now, I have to leave you. The lancers will change guard shortly."
"Can't you stay just a little longer? I never know when I will see you again." Victoria felt sad Zorro needed to leave already, worse after most of the time got wasted talking about the snake.
"You are always near to me. Victoria, you live in my heart and my mind. You mean everything and so much more to me.
Forgive me, querida. I must be off."
And after one kiss that passed too quickly, the masked outlaw was gone. Victoria left alone in the kitchen as nothing had happened.
.
Zorro finished his patrol round, glad about the exercise. His father had been hinting at the idea that Annabella would make the perfect wife. He was sure about it never happening. She was very eager to get married. And even if he hadn't met true love, he still would not consider Annabella for his. Her beauty faded in comparison to her character. Victoria had nothing to worry about, and his father should hold his tongue.
The don had not said it, with so many words. His son might have plans for proposing, but he had been hinting on it to his friends.
Entering the cave, he changed clothes and took care of Toronado. A glimpse at his watch told him it was past two o'clock in the night.
If he went to bed right away, he should be able to wake in the morning, at a time his father considered decent and join him at breakfast.
A couple of minutes later, Diego was on his way to the family wing where his room where. Knowing the way and his eyes used to the dark, he didn't need a lamp or candle to find his way.
Diego opened the door to his rooms without making a sound. The light was coming from his bedroom. That was strange because it should be dark. Someone was in his room. Carefully he crossed his small private saloon when the door leading to his bedroom opened en señorita Annabella came out, wearing nothing else than a nightgown.
"Señorita Annabella, can I help you?" Diego first tried like nothing strange had happened. Like there wasn't a half-undressed woman in his room, and it was only normal to have a conversation in the middle of the night.
"Don Diego," She even sounded surprised to find him in his rooms and gave him her prettiest smile. "I was hoping to find you."
"Señorita, what are you doing in my room?"
Diego stopped breathing for a second when the señorita let the nightgown fall off her shoulder to the floor.
Slowly in a seductive way, Annabella approached him, sensually smiling. "I come for you, Diego. I love you, and I am yours for the taken."
Diego turned around, his back to the woman standing naked in the middle of his room.
"Señorita, I am not interested whatsoever. Please, leave my room this instant.
"Are you sure? You don't know what you're missing. I think your father is right, and we can make a nice couple."
"Señorita, please make yourself decent again, and I will bring you to your room. I think you have got lost in the hacienda. And before my father gives you any more wrong ideas, you and I shall never marry."
As Zorro, he was used to fighting the worse kind of criminals. Countless times he had fought the entire garrison, the alcalde and men without any conscience. A naked woman in his room was a kind of trouble he did not know how to handle adequately.
When he felt a hand on his shoulder, he shook it off.
Annabella whispering near his ear. "I don't know about that, my love. All I have to do is scream and wait for help to arrive."
"Señorita," Diego turned around and was now facing the woman, his face full of anger.
"I shall never give in to bribe. Now put on your clothes and leave. I trust you leave the hacienda before noon tomorrow. You have mistaken my father and mine hospitality."
The seductive behaviour she had before melted away, to be replaced by anger.
"What is wrong with you? Any other man would be happy to have me as his wife. I hate you." A false crackle came out of the mouth of the woman. "But no matter, I'll marry you anyway. Tomorrow I go to your father and tell him you have dishonoured me. I bet he will disinherit you unless you marry me."
Annabella took her nightgown from the ground and walked to the door. "You wait and see, Diego de la Vega! I always get what I want. And I want you as my husband!"
Diego grabbed her wrist. "Let there be no mistake, señorita. I don't care what you are planning or why you came to my room. But I shall not give in to bribe. I suggest you go to your room and forgot you came here. Or else I won't be the one regretting it, but you will. You have come to my room, so it is your free will. It is your reputation at stake and not mine. Let that be a warning. I bring you to your room and suggest you not make one sound."
Three minutes later, Diego knocked on the door of his father's room. The old don opened it half asleep, rubbing in his eyes. "Diego, is something the matter, son?"
"I need to sleep in your salon."
"What, why?" Instantly his father was awake, staring at his son in worry.
"Because señorita Annabella thinks I will marry her if she spends the night in my bedroom."
"What?"
"Señorita Annabella tried to sneak into my bedroom. Luckily I was still awake and reading. I have escorted her back to her room, but I think it will be better if I spend the night here just in case she gets lost again. And you believe her when she tells I tried to take advantage of her."
His father was insulted by this suggestion of him thinking so bad of his son. "Diego, such nonsense I will never believe."
"Well, I think we better be safe than sorry. I will sleep on the floor if it is alright with you."
"So you are not interested in her?"
"No, and I will appreciate it if you stop telling everyone in the pueblo she is a good match for me. Señorita Annabella is to leave in the morning anyway. I told her she has worn out our hospitality. Tomorrow night she can stay in the tavern, and the next day she can take the stage back home."
"We can't do that, son. That will cause gossips for why. And I find it hard to believe what you are saying. Perhaps she has gone lost in the dark. She seems like such a kind and beautiful señorita. I doubt she went into your rooms intentionally. It must all be a misunderstanding."
"Father, stop it. I will spare you the details, but she wasn't lost and let no doubt why she came to my room. If you want to marry her, be my guest. But I won't even if she damages her reputation herself at my cost. If you allow her to stay one more night, go ahead. I sleep in the tavern tomorrow. Can I stay in your room, or shall I go to the tavern now? Victoria won't like it, but anything better than risking señorita Annabella getting lost in my room again."
The old don muttered some more. But in the end, he handed his son a pillow and some blankets. Diego, making himself as comfortable as possible on the floor.