Chapter 7

Alejandro froze and resisted the urge to glance behind him. The doctor slowly maneuvered himself in front of the fireplace, hoping that the alcalde had not noticed the panel that they had just walked through.

Felipe skidded to a halt as he heard the door open. He cursed himself for not checking the peep hole before exiting the cave. Now, because of his mistake, the one person who most needed to be kept in the dark about Diego's secret life had just walked through the front door.

The mute stepped back slowly, hoping the bodies of the other two men would conceal the open panel long enough for him to shut it.

"Ah! Alejandro!" DeSoto abruptly turned from where he'd been looking in the opposite direction and strode confidently up to the suddenly very nervous ranchero. "We've caught the other bandit. They shall both be hung at sundown should you wish to attend."

"Ah. Alcalde-"

If the man had been more perceptive, he'd have noticed Alejandro's hands were shaking.

Dr. Hernandez simply lowered his hands, hoping that the alcalde would not be able to see that what they held. Thankfully, he was only carrying the medicinal paste. He could have been carrying Diego's journal. He shifted slightly so that he was partially obscured by Alejandro's body. And he didn't even want to think of where Felipe was. The boy had been behind him.

"Thank you for delivering the news personally. But- I am dedicated to the care of my son." Alejandro's mind raced but he placed his hand on DeSoto's arm and turned him away from the fireplace. "I cannot leave his side."

"Ah, yes. I understand." The alcalde nodded. "Well, I wanted to deliver the news personally, and - to check on how Diego was doing." He feigned interest. His real purpose accomplished, he figured he needed to at least be polite and inquire as to the younger de la Vega's health.

"There has been little change," Alejandro arched his neck toward the hallway door, while he spoke with the alcalde.

The doctor knew instantly the ranchero's intent and he moved slowly toward that door as Alejandro kept the alcalde's attention.

"But please let's go fetch some refreshing juice. The weather is scorching out there and you must be parched." Alejandro hoped he didn't sound too eager. The servant who had opened the door appeared from the kitchen with glasses of juice. The caballero took them from the woman with a nervous smile and nodded appreciatively. "Thank you Maria."

"Juice would be lovely. It has turned out to be a very hot day outside indeed." DeSoto felt a strange nagging at the back of his neck and frowned. When he turned suddenly, Alejandro nearly dropped the two glasses of juice the house maid had just brought for them.

"Alcalde?" Alejandro winced at the nervousness in his voice.

The alcalde's eyes scanned the library. "Oh? Hmm? Yes?" He took the glass from Alejandro with a forced smile. "Oh, thank you." But his eyes swept across the room again and narrowed. "Didn't I just see Doctor Hernandez behind you?"

"Hmm?" Alejandro thought quickly. "Yes, we were searching through some texts for any information that would help in the treatment of my son." At least it was partially the truth. "Forgive him for being rude. But his first task is to care for my son."

"Ah, of course." DeSoto nodded, still a bit put off by the doctor's hasty departure, and an incessant nagging at the back of his mind.

"Now, if you will excuse me, alcalde." Alejandro smiled politely, and hoped the man didn't notice voice shaking. "I really would like to get back to my son." He maneuvered the alcalde to the door and pulled it open. "I hope he lives to properly thank you for catching the men who shot him." Then he ushered the alcalde through the mahogany door and shut it quickly before the man could respond.

As the door clicked shut, Alejandro leaned against it, breathing a huge sigh of relief. He glanced down at his hands, which were still shaking, and clenched them angrily. He could have revealed his son's secret today, and then no amount of medication would save his life from the alcalde's rage. He silently prayed that the Alcalde had not suspected anything. After a few moments, he shook his head and stared at the fireplace. "I don't know how you've done it all these years, my son. " He whispered.

"Out of necessity, of course." The padre rested a gentle hand on the caballero's shoulder.

"I'm starting to understand why there was such a need."

"Don't berate yourself too deeply. Diego will need all of your strength and support as he recovers."

Alejandro searched the padre's eyes. "From your mouth to God's ears, padre."

The friar smiled and led Alejandro back into Diego's bedroom, where the doctor had finished applying the newly made medication.

"Now we must sit and wait." Hernandez settled into a corner and picked up Diego's scientific journal. "In the meantime, I am going to continue reading and see if there is anything else in that may aid in his recovery."

Alejandro set opposite Victoria and reached down to hold his son's hand. "You've got far too much to live for, son. Wake up and share that life with us."

He noticed Victoria had not even looked up when he entered. Had probably not even been watching as the doctor applied the medicated paste to Diego's injury. With a pang of recognition, he stared at the journal that she held. She was so engrossed in reading its pages, she had curled her legs beneath her in the chair and tugged her shawl around her shoulders.

Alejandro could see the silent tears slip down her cheeks as she read and he understood all too well the emotions that must be rushing through her mind at the revelations contained within the journal. Alejandro knew that everything written in there had come from the heart. Was as true as any words his son had ever spoken.

It had broken his heart to read Diego's account of the day bandits had tried to kill Felipe. He'd called his son a coward that day and not until he read his sons account, did he realize the critical error he had made. His son had written that he had never regretted more becoming Zorro than he did that day.

Alejandro closed his eyes at the memory. He could see his son writing in the journal, could see clearly as the words were scrawled over the parchment. He hadn't seen his son cry since his mother died but Alejandro knew this incident had been the cause of tears. The words with which he described how his father had made him feel that day were the most difficult Alejandro had ever read.

When Victoria sniffled, Alejandro glanced across the bed. She wiped quickly at her tears but her eyes were red and bloodshot and her cheeks were flushed. "Victoria, why don't you-"

"No. I need to do this. I need to understand."

"My child." The padre, who had been silently watching from the doorway, knelt beside Victoria. " Often the written word can reveal more discreetly what is in our hearts, what one cannot say with ones lips. The journal may help you understand why Diego felt he needed to keep this secret from you but it won't give you all the answers you seek. "

His kind gaze swept across the prone figure lying so still in the bed. "Do not let the words cause you pain. Think of them simply as things that Diego could not say to you until the time was right."

"And if he dies before he deems that time to be right?" Victoria's voice echoed loudly in the small room and she shrunk back from the sound. "He didn't have the right to make that decision for me." She whispered.

"He didn't have the right to make decisions that impacted our lives." Alejandro added slowly. "But in the last few days, I've come to understand and accept why he did."

"I know why he did," Her voice was barely a whisper. "I just can't accept it."

"Do you accept that he loves you?" The padre asked slowly.

She risked a quick glance at Diego's serene face and closed her eyes. "Yes. I know he does."

The padre gave a small smile. "Then you know that love can make a man do many unexplainable things."

Victoria nodded slowly and even Alejandro had to smile. He'd done many an odd thing while courting his wife and even still after he'd married her. Love so deep and complete was something that everyone wanted and few actually achieved.

"I think he's loved me for a very long time. I - I just didn't realize that I'd pushed away my feelings for him because of - Zorro." Victoria admitted quietly. "He's been my best friend and confidant for so many years."

"Love built on friendship has a very strong foundation indeed." The padre patted Victoria's hand and smiled kindly.

TBC