Chapter 15

Diego denied any thought from entering his mind.
He had to.
The second he would start to think of what could have cost the scratchers and bruises that seemed to cover her entire body, he was going to lose it.
There was no doubt that Victoria had fought with everything she had.
For Victoria, his anger and helplessness could not take over.

"It'll be fine." Diego hardly was able to stop his voice from trembeling.
"You're safe, and everything will be fine, I promise."

Victoria tried to say something.
It wasn't until the second attempt that a sound came out of her mouth. Diego listened intently to her barely audible words.
"Diego, there's nothing… I mean…, those men…, don't..., they didn't…,"

Diego gently stroked her hair.
Next to her temples was a deep scratch.
A bruise in the shape of four fingers began to appear on her neck.
And then Diego wasn't even thinking about the marks he hadn't seen yet.

"Are you certain?" He asked, holding his breath while making a silent prayer.

Victoria nodded.
"What you think… it wasn't."

Diego didn't know what he was thinking. He tried to think nothing.
Someone had touched her, for whatever reason.
Someone had clearly tried to force himself on Victoria.
And she had tried to fight. By doing so, she used much resistance. The signs were visible all over her body. Victoria, her words, only allayed his fear of the worst.
Someone had dared to touch his Victoria. After years of training, Diego had taught himself always to keep his emotions under control, no matter the personal cost.
The only time it never worked was if it had something to do concerning Victoria.
Now he must manage to banish his outburst of rage to a place in his mind where it at the moment outwardly had no hold on him.
Inside, he was boiling with anger.
Outwardly, he knew how to be the epitome of peace and tranquillity, only for Victoria.

Diego felt the bathwater temperature, added some cold water and felt again.
"Do you want to have a bath?"

Victoria nodded and tried to get up.

Without saying, Diego carefully removed the blanket he had wrapped around her. At the same time Diego checked her body for more severe injuries, finding non. He picked her up again, carried her to the bath and lowered her gradually into the water.

Victoria cringed as the warm bath water touched her skin. Diego took a cloth and started tenderly washing the dried blood from her face.

Slowly, Victoria seemed to recover little by little. "I'm thirsty." She uttered.

"I'll ask father to bring some tea. I'll be right back."

Diego walked into the hallway. His father and Felipe were waiting for him next to the door. "And?" His father asked before Diego had even time to step into the hallway.
For the first time ever, Diego wished Felipe was deaf. He felt guilty for the thought almost the same moment. Knowing, the boy must have realized something was very wrong.
Not telling him anything would only make Felipe more concerned. He'd seen Victoria when he had carried her in and wasn't crazy. Felipe feared the same things he and his father did.
What to say? His father didn't know where to look. Concerns for his daughter-in-law and not wanting to hear the truth if it was indeed as bad as he feared, obviously fought for preeminence.
"Victoria…, says the worst…," Diego couldn't find the words. That's why he shook his head.

"No?" Asked Alejandro to make sure he understood what his son couldn't tell him as he grabbed his son's shoulder.

Diego shook his head again. His father squeezed his shoulder.
Diego admired how much strength the older man still had in his body, and it felt good. It was what he needed to find his voice again.
"She would like a drink. Could you bring some tea?"

"Yes, of course." His father immediately responded.

"Felipe, go to the cave and bring me the dried cactus leaves. You know which one I mean?"

Felipe nodded and quickly walked away.

Alejandro waited until Felipe was out of earshot. He had to know for certain.
"Son, are you sure?"

"It's what she says.
I have to believe her. I just must."

Alejandro, nodding in understanding, squeezed his son's shoulder again. "Of course. Diego, be strong for her.
You will get through this. Be strong tonight.
Come to me as soon as you can, no matter what time.
Then you may collapse. But not at the moment.
Right now, you must be strong, for her."

Diego grabbed his father by the arm still, resting on his shoulder.
"Father, I don't think I can."

"You can.
Diego, you are stronger than you think. Stronger than you feel right now.
The worst is over. The hardest is yet to come.
She needs you more than ever.
If anyone can overcome this, it is you and Victoria."

How much Diego needed to hear these words, he only was aware of after his father had said them.
His father was right.
He needed to be strong for Victoria.
It was all he could do for her.
"Thank you, father."

"Don't thank me, son." There was awkward silence. "I'm going to get the tea.
And remember, if you want to collapse, wait and come to me."

Diego went back into the room.

Victoria was staring straight ahead.

He knelt beside her and patiently waited for her to make eye contact. "Shall I wash you?"

There was no response.
With a fine linen cloth, he washed her. Her arms, back, torso, legs and so on. His actions were static.
After washing every part of her body and checking again for physical wounds he might have lifted Victoria out of the bath, wrapping her in a large towel.
He needed fresh air and had to wait for it.
It would come later.

After Diego had dried her off and helped her put on a nightgown, he put her to bed. "Victoria, I think the doctor should come and examine you."

"No, I don't want that." she resolutely refused.

"Victoria," Diego begged her. "I really think it's better...,"

"I don't want to. I don't want anyone but you to see me." She sounded panicked. "Apart from a few bruises, I'm fine."

A few bruises? She was covered. There were scratches and marks all over her body. Querida, He tried to convince her.

"No, don't ask this of me. I am fine. Please."

How could she say such a thing? Diego questioned what to do.
He preferred doctor Hernandez to examine her.
Diego had some medical knowledge himself and had to admit that physically he hadn't seen any indications that shouldn't heal in a few days. Victoria was responding to what he said, it was reassuring, she seemed to know where she was. He even could understand why she didn't want anyone to see her in such a state. And felt somehow reassured she allowed him to touch her.

There was a soft knock on the door.

"That's, father. I will tell him and Felipe, everything seems to be fine. And, for now, you don't need the doctor so they can go to sleep. After that, I'll come back for you."

Alejandro walked up and down the corridor, hating himself for being so stupid to fall asleep. If he had picked Victoria up as he had planned, probably nothing would have happened.
"How is she?" Alejandro asked as soon as the door opened.

"I am not sure.
She doesn't want us to get the doctor. From what I can see, the injuries seem superficial."

"Shall I get doctor Hernandez?"

"She doesn't want to at the moment."

His father accepted his answer. By the look on the man's face, Diego could tell his father was thinking the same as him. It would be better if they didn't listen to Victoria. At the same time, she left them no choice.

"Is Zorro going after whoever did this?"
Alejandro didn't only ask out of worry about Victoria. He also worried about his son.

Diego whispered, sounding determined. "My wife needs me more."

"Do you want to let them escape?" Part of him was glad his son had decided to be where he should be. The other part of him needed revenge.

"No, whoever did this, I will find. Tonight I will stay with Victoria."
Diego took the tray off the small table in the corridor. "I want revenge, like you. Please, let Zorro take care of it. And don't try to do anything yourself. I know you want to."

Alejandro was indeed in doubt whether to get the man himself. It was also his daughter who got hurt. His son asked him not to. And Diego was probably even right.
Despite his anger, Alejandro knew Zorro to come after him the mere minuter Diego discovered him gone. His wife needed Zorro more.

"As you wish, son."

Diego opened the door again as he said. "You both go, try to get some rest."

Alejandro nor Felipe responded to the request.

Diego returned with a tray on which three cups, a bowl of sugar, a can of milk and a teapot stood.
"I have tea for you." He poured the tea into a cup, added two spoons of sugar.
Diego sprinkled a handful of dried cactus leaves in one of the cups that only contained boiling water.

While the mixture was infusing on the nightstand, Diego sat down next to her.
To allow Victoria to rest her back against his chest and feed her sip by sip. Her hands cramped into clenched fists.
With his other hand, Diego caressed her as he whispered soothing words.
Halfway through the cup, Victoria succeeded in holding it herself.

Once the cup was empty, Diego asked the most difficult question of his life.
"Can you tell me what happened?"

.

Diego sat next to the bed where Victoria was sleeping. After she had told him what had happened, he had let her a cup of cactus tea. It was an ancient medicine used by the local Indians. In addition to being a painkiller, it had a side effect. A large enough dose caused a deep sleep, even if it was only for a few hours.
He would like to drink it too, just to forget what she had told him. His conscience forbade him to do so. What if she were startled awake, and he didn't notice. He couldn't be there for her when she needed him, just because he was so selfish as to want to forget what she'd been going through.

It was 3 o'clock, and he was sitting next to he, holding her hand.
The wounds were all superficial, and physically she would be healed in no time.
He didn't fear for her life. She still looked frighteningly pale.

Victoria had burst into tears several times, telling him little bits about what had happened.

Victoria recalled how she'd gone to the pueblo to stroll around the market and chat with acquaintances she met on her way. Of course, she had also entered the tavern to greet friends and helpers.
Pilar had been happy to see the owner. Alicia had gone home, sick, and Pilar and Maria could barely handle the large crowds. As Victoria was, she had offered her help. Victoria had prepared and served meals, as she had done for thousands of customers for many years.

It had been a busy evening in the tavern. Despite these crowds, all the guests had gone home in time, and it seemed that there was an option to close the business a little earlier. And because Victoria was there, and the opportunity presented itself, she'd allowed Maria and Pilar to get home half an hour earlier.
Pilar had insisted on staying, but Maria had accepted the offer with open arms. It was her youngest brother's birthday, and she had already stayed two hours longer than planned.
After fifteen minutes of doing the last chores together, everything was ready, and Pilar also went home.
Victoria had started to close up, as she had for years. She had even watched Zorro gallop into the pueblo through the window.
She had considered calling him for a moment but had changed her mind. It would be very unwise to demand the attention of Zorro now that she was married to Diego. Besides, he probably couldn't have heard her anyway.
Victoria had locked the front door and was walking toward the kitchen to exit the back door when suddenly two men stood behind her who suspected Victoria had been hiding in one of the upstairs rooms.

They had demanded the content of the cash.
Victoria had given it at the threat of a knife. The men had opened the cash box and demanded more money. She had said there was no more money, and one of the men had said they wanted the other valuables.
The youngest man grabbed her from behind. And the older man had robbed her of her ring and gold necklace.
Victoria had called for help, which no one heard.
Even the jewellery had not been enough for the older man, whom the other man apparently saw as the leader.
He had punched her in the face and yelled that he wanted more. She got thrown onto the floor, and probably because she was still screaming for help, the older man stuffed his bandana in her mouth, preventing her from making any more noise.
The younger man had held her down as she tried to hit, kick, scratch or otherwise hurt them.

As she got forced to the ground and restrained by one, the other started to pull and rip of her clothes.
The men had made all kinds of insinuations of what to do with her. And Diego guessed Victoria hadn't told him the half of it out of shame.
He had been disgusted listening to the things she did dare to tell him.
He had become nauseous at the idea that the men had touched her and wanted to do to her.
The only reason he'd managed to control his anger had been Victoria's terrifying voice as she curled up in his arms as deep as she could get, shivering all over.
Just when Victoria thought nothing could save her, someone had started banging on the door.

It had been Sergeant Mendoza, returning from a long day searching for the cattle thieves Zorro had caught and moments before delivered neatly to the pueblo. The younger man had become frightened and wanted to leave. The men had started to discuss what to do. After Mendoza banged on the door a second time, hoping Pilar was in the tavern, the men had decided a tavern wench wasn't worth the risk.
The men had taken their loot and smashed a window on the side to rush their way out.

Relieved, Victoria had burst into sobs. It had seemed that the danger had passed. She had tried to warn Mendoza, but the bandana had prevented her from making any sound.
After what had seemed an eternity, in which Victoria wasn't sure she had been in consciousness the whole time. She got wakened by pounding on the backdoor.
Terrified, the men might have returned to get her, Victoria had to wait for what seemed inevitable, praying. She had been waiting in fear when she had heard someone coming down the stairs, and she was sure there was another intruder in the tavern.
The candlelight lit moments later, making enough light for Victoria to make Victoria realize who the intruder was. She'd lost consciousness in sheer relief.

.

After Victoria fell asleep, Diego first went to the door again to tell his father and Felipe they should go to bed. As Diego had expected, both had still been sitting in a chair, keeping watch.
His father had asked him if his son wouldn't rather talk first. Diego didn't want to leave Victoria alone. Not when she was so vulnerable.
Even in her sleep, she held her hands clenched into fists.

Before Victoria had fall sleep Diego had suggested again, or it might be advisable to have her examined by Doctor Hernandez. There was the risk of a concussion, internal bleeding or maybe something else. But Victoria had continued to refuse. She had assured him she had told everything, and she was fine. And he did everything for her. Everything she asked.

The candle on the bedside table slowly shrank and would soon be extinguished. Still, Diego didn't get up to grab another candle. He had put a chair as close to the bed as possible.
He took off his shoes and held her fist, gently stroking her hand.

She'd needed him, and instead of being there for her, he'd rushed home as fast as he could. For the mere reason, he wanted to be with her. He had taken her safety for granted.
At the same time, there was that inner voice that told him he couldn't have done anything to prevent it from happening. He hadn't known Victoria was to the tavern.
He had looked, and the tavern seemed deserted. Still, the questions kept running through his head.

What if he hadn't ridden like Zorro this evening to try to capture some relative harmless cattle thieves.
What if he had checked the tavern better, just to make sure.
What if he'd seen those men as they walked around the pueblo. Would he have mistrusted them?
What if, what if, what if…,
And he couldn't find a satisfactory answer.

Despairing, Diego sat next to Victoria, staring straight at her, rubbing her fist.

Restlessly, she began to toss and turn in bed. Victoria was fighting an invisible enemy.
"Diego, Diego." She called his name, and he leaned over to her, ran his hand over her sweaty forehead.
Feverish in panicked, Victoria rocked restlessly. "Diego! Diego will come. He comes for me!"

"I'm here, Victoria. I'm here. You are safe." He tried to appease her.

The screaming of his name only grew stronger.
"Where are you. Diego...," Victoria cried.

Every time she called his name was like a stab to the heart. That's how Victoria must have felt. She had tried to call him. He should have saved her. Instead, he abandoned her.

Victoria shot upright, her eyes flew wide open, but Diego guessed she saw nothing.

"Victoria, I'm here." Diego tried to reassure her. It was like she couldn't hear him.

Suddenly she looked at him. Her eyes, this time, were wild, darted restlessly from one side to the other.

"I'm here. I'm here." Diego tried again, feeling helpless.

Just as sudden as Victoria had started tossing and turning, she stopped.
"You are here."

"Yes, I'm here."

"I knew you would come for me. I just knew.
Hold me."

Diego hesitated before he gave in and crawled into bed next to her. Gently as possible, he put his arm around her waist. When he tried to make eye contact, Victoria was asleep again.

.

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