Chapter 12

Horrified, Victoria looked up to the roof and saw Zorro deftly running across it, dodging the bullets fired at him by the lancers.
He somersaulted off the roof, landing on his feet, and knocked two lancers unconscious. Zorro turned on his axis, drew his sword, and began to fight the lancers who shot at him moments prior.
After he defeated every single one and slashed a Z in three uniforms. He left the men unconscious on the ground and turned his attention to de Soto.
Just a casual day in Los Angeles flashed through her mind.

Diego had had no choice but to act and let de Soto know Zorro disagreed on his latest plan.
After they had returned five days ago from Santa Barbara, Alejandro had told them the latest plan of de Soto.
At first, it didn't sound too bad and even promising.
De Soto had announced a new school building would get built, and a second teacher hired to improve the education and progress in the pueblo.
The current school was in a small side room of the church. It was too small, too dark and, as the days were getting warmer, the classroom got more uncomfortable with every degree the temperature outside rose.
The dons had offered to donate money for this initiative. To the surprise of everyone, De Soto had turned the generous offer down.
Explaining the build a new school was not only his only desire.

Victoria had trouble holding her laughter when she heard and wondered whether the man really meant what he was promising. De Soto also wished to improve the roads leading to Los Angeles.
And therefore, he had, how could it be something else, come up with a new tax again.
Each hoofed animal, a tax of two pesos, was now due. To a poor farmer, two pesos per animal was a capital sum. Even when the man only had one goat and a mule.
But even for the richer rancheros, the amount could rise considerably.

Don Alejandro, for example, estimated that this tax idea could cost him more than three thousand pesos annually. Depending on how many calves, pigs and foals would be born. The dons were unanimous that this tax was scandalous, and came up with a new idea.
Don Diego had made some calculations and published in the Guardian.
And many people had gathered in the pueblo to protest against the tax and let the alcalde know they favourite the idea explained in the local paper.

While de Soto had been announced to the assembled crowd, the tax would only get used for better education and improvement of the roads around the pueblo Zorro had claimed the attention.
Seemingly, sitting relaxed on the roof of the cartel, Zorro had pointed out the article published by the Guardian written by Diego de la Vega.
Diego had calculated even a quarter the amount of money de Soto wanted to raise would be more than sufficient to accomplish de Soto his plans.
In his article, he had made another suggestion that would raise enough money for the plans de Soto said to have.

Victoria had never realized don Diego was standing up against de Soto by using his newspaper.
Surely, he had written critical stories before, always well-argued and in a way, de Soto thought it's more annoying than a threat.

Meanwhile, Zorro was fighting the alcalde. The grin on his face expressed his amusement, while de Soto's face became more of a grimace every time the swords met.
A sudden movement of Zorro his sword disarmed de Soto, his sword falling to the ground. De Soto had his eyes on Zorro and tried to reach for his sword. Zorro circled de Soto, kicked his butt, causing the man to trumble over.
Three elegant sword slashes made Zorro carve a Z on de Soto's behind. Zorro looked at the result as to give it his approval. "Alcalde, this is truly your best side." With this remark, Zorro had the laughs on his hand. "Do as the dons suggested, and I will agree. If not..., I saw that you have a new painting hanging in your office."

"No, no. Not the new Machiavelli. It is brand new." Stuttered de Soto as he tried to get up in some elegant manner, holding his hands over his behind.

"I know, you had it ordered from Spain. Do remember I am keeping an eye on things. Always, and on everything you do. You promised better education, a new school building and road improvements. Keep to the dons terms, and we have an agreement." Zorro whistled, and Toronado appeared from nowhere. He jumped on the horse and rode over to don Alejandro and don Carlos. The two most important noblemen in the small pueblo. Toronado, eager to take his master to safety, was restless. Zorro held the almost wild stallion under control with one hand. "When there are problems, make sure to spread the word, and I will hear of them." Zorro saluted the crowd and galloped at full speed out of the pueblo.

De Soto had scrambled to his feet and was screaming full of anger. "Lancers, grab him, shoot, fire! Get him!"

The lancers who had regained consciousness tried to reload as quickly as possible. A salvo of shots thundered over the plaza.
Under the gate, the horse and rider came to a stop, reared up, and then disappeared into the distance. It was still an impressive sight that Victoria would never grow tired of watching.

Don Carlos and don Alejandro walked towards de Soto. "Do I understand correctly when I say even Zorro agrees with our proposal?"

After a meeting of the don's two days ago, the proposal had been made of one peso per hoofed animal, with a maximum of ten pesos for the smaller farmers.
Farmers owning more than 50 animals, a tax of half a peso per animal to ask.
Diego had calculated, with these amounts, more than enough money was to be collected to fulfil de Soto's promises.
Provided, de Soto did not withhold any money from himself.

"So my advice is to go on as suggested, before Zorro decides to..., eeh make a stronger point." Don Alejandro really did try to hold his laughter.

All de Soto could do was to accept his losses and growl.

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As usual these days, Victoria lingered in the pueblo for a while. When necessary, she remarked casually, Diego had a horrible headache and decided to keep to his bed.
Naturally, she was genuinely concerned for his well fair. She helped out in the tavern where the dons were sounding off about the victory thanks to Zorro, and after an hour, Alejandro came to ask if she was ready to go home with him.

Once at home, Victoria immediately went to the cave. She had sure Diego was fine and not trying to hide an injury, together they set to work in the kitchen.
At Diego's request, Victoria would make a meal of preserved food today. Diego watched as Victoria stirred the pan containing a stew and in which she added corn coming from a glass jar. "It looks the same as usual, and it doesn't smell rotten." Sceptically, she looked into the pan. To be sure they had a decent meal, Victoria also prepared a tortilla.
But all four of them had to admit this after tasting the stew. Had they not known, they would not have tasted any difference. Victoria began to wonder what other vegetables and fruit would be suitable for this kind of preservation. This could increase the possibilities of the menus in the tavern as well. Diego promised to see whether he could find more information, and together they started to make a list of what foods she wanted to try.

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Victoria was enjoying a nice bath. Alejandro had gone with Diego to a meeting of dons to discuss the new tax plan with the alcalde.
This was the luxury of living in a hacienda with servants. Whenever she wanted to have a bath in the tavern, she had to heat the water herself, carrying heavy buckets to fill the bathtub.
The few times she had allowed herself such a luxury, Victoria had always put the small tub in the kitchen on a night when there were no visitors.
This morning, Maria herself had asked when the new doña might like to bathe.

This tub was bigger than the one in the tavern, and plenty of buckets of hot water had been waiting for Victoria at the time she requested.
The soap she used had been a gift from Zorro, back in the days when Victoria had had no idea who was hiding under the mask. She had always been careful with it. When Diego had seen it in a box where she kept all the mementoes she had once received from his alter ego, he had laughed.
Victoria closed her eyes, sank further into the warm water, and enjoyed the wonderful feeling of being surrounded by warm water.

When the water got too cold for her liking, she got out of the bath and dried herself on one of the soft towels Maria had placed on a rack.
She put on a dressing gown and started combing her hair. As Victoria was doing that, the door opened, and Diego walked in.
Pleasantly surprised, Victoria looked up. "You're back early."

"Yes, de Soto agreed faster than expected. Thanks to don Carlos, he was so kind to offer a piece of his land west of the pueblo for free. Don Emilio has offered to lend three of his workmen to de Soto to help build the school."

"That's nice."

Diego walked over to his wife to kiss her. "Indeed. And then at least we can be sure the new school will withstand the first gust of wind or rain."

"And what has your father offered to contribute?"

"Well, I have offered to be of assistance to the teacher in picking out new school books and supplies, and father has offered to pay for it."

"If you men keep this up, we won't even need a new tax to pay for school."

Diego looked at the bathtub still filled in the bedroom. It had been some time ago he had his last bath.
"De Soto let himself be persuaded by this quite easily. There are still plenty of costs left. The improvement of roads is not cheap, either. And don't forget two pesos or half a peso per animal makes a big difference even to the more affluent." He walked over to the bath and felt the temperature of the water. "Do you mind if I have a bath too?"

"Sure not, go ahead." Victoria got up, walked over to the empty buckets. "Shall I fetch some more hot water for you?"

"I'd rather have your company."

Victoria grabbed the bowl from the washstand set and removed some water from the bath to pour over into one of the empty buckets. To replenish with the warmer water from a bucket that was still full.

Diego touched her arm to stop her. "You don't have to do that."

"But I'm happy to do it. Diego, take off your clothes. Otherwise, the water will be too cold anyway."

"Why do you think de Soto is so keen on these improvements?" Victoria asked as she hung a fresh towel over the rack and got a chair to sit by the bath.

"Mendoza told me that de Soto has been told in Monterey that he needs to do better for the pueblo. It seems that the governor has become aware that de Soto's main priority is Zorro and not the welfare of his residents."

Victoria was surprised by this news. "That is good news, right?"

"Yes, I just wonder where the man got his information from."

Victoria thought about it for a moment. "Perhaps from the emissary we spoke to in Santa Paula."

Diego shook his head. "No, according to Mendoza, de Soto received a reprimand in Monterey. Since we were in Santa Paula at the same time as de Soto's visit to Monterey, that can't be it."

"Then what do you think it was?"

"I have no idea. But it seems apart from my father and me, others are trying to get in contact with the governor, and he does get through to the man. This is good news for the pueblo. At the same time, it could mean bad news for Zorro. When the man was to portray him as a danger to Los Angeles."
Diego leaned his head back against the edge of the bathtub and relaxed for a moment as Victoria stroked the frown from his brow.

Softly, she said to him. "You say this person wants improvements for Los Angeles. So he will welcome Zorro's presence." Victoria reassured him.

Diego grabbed her hand and pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist. "I hope you are right."

Victoria felt the rough hairs on his chin rubbing against her skin.
"You could use a shave. Do you trust me?"

Diego had his eyes closed. "Honey, I trust you with my life."

"But do you trust me with a razor blade? You know what I can do with a broom."
Victoria giggled as she saw the corners of his moustache curling up.

"I am not sure. Last time I saw you cutting those poor onions..."

"Watch your mouth, señor." Victoria acted like she was offended.
She loved the little moments like this. Diego was always so wary.
Only rarely, he was allowing himself to put aside the role he was playing and show his true self.
In the presence of Felipe and in the privacy of the cave, Diego regularly was relaxed and was at ease.
When his father was around, Diego was often still cautious. Probably, just out of the habit of fearing betraying his identity.
In the confinement of the bedroom, or when they were together, the real Diego emerged more and more, and every time he did, her heart leapt, making her love him even more.

Victoria got up to get the needed equipment. When she sat down again, Victoria laid a towel folded half over the edge of the bath so that it did not touch the water and partly on her lap.
Diego laid his head half in her lap so that Victoria could put soap on his face.
She slid the sharp blade over his cheeks to shave off the soap along with the hair.
Diego thought she looked very charming.
A frown was on her forehead from exertion, the tip of her tongue stuck out from between her lips, his eyes wandered further down.

Victoria felt her cheeks redden under the intense gaze which Diego stared at her. "Don't look at me like that. I can't concentrate when you do."

Diego uttered without moving his mouth too much. "Then, how do I look?"

"Like you want me."

"So do I," Diego confessed without hesitation.

"Then close your eyes and think of something else for a while. Otherwise, I fear we are going to have a problem."

"Why?"

"Because," Victoria explained. "You're looking at me like that makes my hand tremble. We can't have don Diego and Zorro show up with the same wounds in the face."

"You told me to trust you, and I wasn't allowed to compare your shaving skills to how you cut an onion." Grumbled Diego lightly.

"Yes, but an onion doesn't stare at me like he wants to devour me." Victoria held the blade slightly in the air and muttered. "So, close your eyes."

"I'm enjoying my view." Diego winked his eyes.

View?
Victoria looked down and saw how the dressing gown had fallen open enough and, indeed, gave Diego probably a pretty nice view.
She put her hand in the bathtub and splashed some water on his face. "Agggrh, shame on you. Close your eyes and let me finish my work."

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