Chapter 4

The musket ball had struck de Soto in the chest, a fatal wound to be certain. The other musket ball had struck a peasant standing behind Alejandro. The man wasn't injured badly but allowed himself to be fawned over by one of the pretty tavern waitresses anyway.

Alejandro pushed himself to his feet with a grunt and rushed over to where Diego was just getting back to his feet with Victoria, pulling her into his arms and hugging her tightly.

Mendoza, who had been feigning a more serious injury so he would not again be ordered to shoot Diego, was instantly on his feet. Alejandro held him back, murmuring a few quiet words to let the doctor take care of the injured alcalde.

Diego glanced sadly at de Soto as the man sank slowly to the floor, speechless that he'd just been shot by his own men.

"That didn't have to happen." Diego released Victoria and knelt beside his old schoolmate. He ripped open the bloodied jacket and closed his eyes sadly when he realized the severity of the injury.

The two men who had fired the muskets stood still as statues, their eyes wide with fear.

The doctor, who had been watching events unfold from the crowd, rushed to kneel opposite Diego. He checked the wound as well but came to the same conclusion. He exchanged a slight nod and a sad look with the young caballero.

De Soto was already having difficulty breathing and each time he coughed another trickle of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The doctor knew the shot would prove to be fatal. One look into de Soto's eyes and Hernandez knew the alcalde recognized that he was about to die.

"Stay awake, Ignacio." The concern in Diego's eyes was almost believable to the injured man. He wanted to talk to his old schoolmate, to keep him distracted until his time came. It would be soon, the doctor would not have time to get sufficient medication to subdue the pain before the man passed away.

"Your . . . concern is . . . . touching, de la Vega." de Soto breathed.

"Ignacio." Diego stared at his former schoolmate. "If I wanted you dead, it would have happened long ago."

De Soto coughed at the admission. "I've no doubt."

Victoria watched the exchange with misty eyes. She may not have liked the alcalde but she wished death on no one. Life was given by God and it was his duty to give or take it away.

Alejandro wrapped an arm around her shoulders but she found no comfort there.

"You've - won, de la Vega." De Soto breathed, his eyes hard.

Diego shook his head sadly. "No, Ignacio; I never wanted this. This has never been about winning." He tilted his foe's head to make his breathing easier. Diego could feel the man tense at his touch and then relax. His eyes were beginning to glaze.

"Tell my family . . . in Madrid . . . I tried to make them prou -" He coughed, his body shuddering with pain.

Victoria knelt beside Diego and offered him a towel she'd gotten from behind the bar. The gracious thanks and sadness in his eyes tore at her heart. Dios, she loved this man. Even when faced with the death of his greatest adversary, he was still heartbroken. Diego slowly wiped the blood from de Soto's lips with the towel.

"I'll write to them . . . I promise, Ignacio." Diego gripped the man's weakening hand and held it tightly. "I'll tell them that they can be proud of you."

De Soto drew an agonized breath but his eyes conveyed a deep appreciation for the kindness in his enemy's eyes. With a brief flash of coherent thought, he had no doubt that Diego would contact his family..

Blood trickled between his lips as he struggled to find his voice. Pride had brought him to this place. Zorro, and the man beneath that mask, was truly a good man despite his slanderous attempts to convince the people otherwise. "Perhaps . . . I . . . was . . .wrong about . . .you."His hand went slack in Diego's and his head lolled to one side, but Diego held it for a moment before carefully placing it atop his still chest.

Diego sighed heavily before passing his hand over the dead man's eyes, closing them for the last time. When the young caballero bowed his head, those watching knew that Ignacio de Soto had taken his last breath.

Diego remained on his knees for another long minute, head bowed, then slowly glanced up when he felt a solid hand on his shoulder.

"It's not your fault, son."

Diego took a deep breath. "I know . . . but this didn't have to happen, not this way." He slowly rose, then looked at the blood stained towel in his hands.

One of the strangely clad men Victoria had noticed Diego speaking with earlier stepped into the center of the room and asked for everyone's attention.

It took a few moments before anyone complied and soon the tavern was quiet, waiting for the man to speak. "I am Ricardo Montanegro, emissary to Emperor Iturbide of Mexico."

Victoria's gaze flitted between Diego, who seemed not at all interested in Montanegro's words, and this emissary from Mexico.

"You may or may not be aware that Mexico has broken with Spain." The man's eyes settled on the military officers present but glanced around the room as well to assess the people's reaction to his words. "I've arrived recently from Monterey to administer the oath of allegiance to all Spanish military officers."

Mendoza, still distraught over the alcade's death, spoke slowly, his voice trembling with emotion. "There - there are no officers here." He glanced sadly down at the lifeless body of the alcalde. The padre knelt beside him now, taking the place Diego had just vacated.

"This is a small pueblo." The man nodded in understanding. "Of course, you'd have only one officer appointed by the Spanish crown." He took a deep breath and clasped his hands behind his back. "Until such time as the Emperor has made his decisions regarding military appointments to the pueblos in Alta California, I am within my jurisdiction to appoint a temporary commander of the garrison here."

"Then Mexico has made a decisive move on California." Diego looked up and Victoria's heart broke upon seeing the sadness in his eyes. His hands were covered in blood and Victoria knew how hard it had been for her love to sit helplessly by while a man, any man, died. Even the Zorro in Diego could have done nothing to save the alcalde's life.

Victoria pulled out of his arms for a moment and returned with a damp towel to clean his hands. He smiled in appreciation as she finished her task and he wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"Sí, Señor." Montanegro recognized Diego as one of the men he'd spoken to earlier. "The King of Spain has lost interest in this territory, it would appear. So Mexico has claimed it for her own."

He turned to Mendoza. "You are the highest ranked military man here, Sergeant?"

"Si, Señor." Mendoza nodded with a small smile.

"Do you wish to take the oath of allegiance?"

Mendoza shifted an uneasy gaze to Diego who simply nodded. The Sergeant respected Zorro and considered Diego a friend. And the man was incredibly knowledgeable about more things than Mendoza could possibly understand in a lifetime.

"Si, Señor. I will take the oath."

The magistrate nodded appreciatively. "Then until you are notified otherwise, I am charging you with the upkeep and defense of this pueblo."

Mendoza looked frightened. He remembered the last time he was given such responsibility - the months between Luis Ramón's death and Ignacio de Soto's arrival. He didn't have one single fond memory of that time. He was a military man, not a leader. He squeaked out a meek, "Thank you," before he gratefully heard Diego speak.

"Govern the people of this pueblo wisely, and there is nothing they won't do for you." Diego nodded to Mendoza with a small smile and Victoria recognized the statement as one made by Zorro to Ignacio de Soto on his first day in the pueblo. "But you already know that."

The padre, finished administering last rites, stepped aside and allowed the Royal Lancers to pick up the alcalde's body. He said another prayers, involving everyone in the tavern, and then watched solemnly as the lancers, led by Mendoza, carried the body out of the tavern. Montanegro followed them, and it was clear the people were relieved to see them leave.

Diego glanced down at Victoria and trailed the back of his hand down her cheek. Victoria hugged him tightly then pressed her cheek against his solid chest. A long finger trailed beneath her chin and lifted her head. When he pressed his lips to hers this time, there was no audible gasp from the crowd. They simply smiled, happy at last that the great romance of the pueblo would end on a happy note.

But they were in for another shocking revelation.

For the second time in as many hours, Diego gave in to an overwhelming impulse. He never again wanted to be parted from this woman. Ever. When their gentle kiss ended, he took her hands in his and knelt before her.

A ripple went through the crowd at this and some gasped, some smiled, and Alejandro, once again, found himself gaping at the sight his son presented.

"Marry me, Victoria." It wasn't a question. He already knew, he hoped, her answer. "Tonight. Right now."

Their brush with death, the excitement and danger surrounding his revelation, along with the systematic change in government propelled her to act rather than think. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, her eyes wet with unshed tears.

"Yes. Most definitely yes!"

Diego stood and enveloped her in his arms. His eyes scanned the people for the padre, who just happened to be standing next to his father, a knowing look glowing brightly in his wise eyes.

"Padre?" Diego called and the holy man stepped forward with a smile.

"We have an entire tavern full of witnesses." Diego settled Victoria into the crook of his arm and walked toward the friar. "Will you marry us? Right here. Right now?"

Diego could sense his father about to protest but he silenced the elder de la Vega with a wave of his hand. "Father, you can plan as large a wedding as you want later." Diego glanced down at Victoria and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. "But I want to make this lady my wife. We've waited long enough, don't you think?"

Alejandro couldn't find the words to argue. His son was Zorro. And that revelation alone was evidence enough to prove to him how long the couple had waited. He simply nodded silently.

Diego turned to the padre. "Padre?"

The friar smiled kindly but paced the timing of his next words. Even he didn't want to appear too hasty. He'd been waiting for the day when he'd be able to marry these two. And if they wanted the ceremony performed in the middle of the night, he would do it – with a few conditions.

"I will perform a betrothal ceremony until such time as I can post your wedding banns and marry you in an official church ceremony."

Diego exchanged a worried glance with Victoria.

"No doubt you are familiar with such a ceremony," Benitez smiled kindly. "It is no longer a common practice but it will allow you to live from this day on as husband and wife."

Victoria blushed and Diego grinned at the padre. The friar could read his parishioners all too well. A gift from God, he supposed.

Victoria nodded to Diego wordlessly and he enveloped her in his arms. "Yes." He knew Victoria wanted a large wedding. What woman didn't? Well, he would give her one – later. Diego nodded to the padre without hesitation.

"Good, then. Diego, Victoria, come with me and we will make your wishes known to God."

Diego pulled Victoria into his arms and kissed her soundly, passionately. Alejandro cleared his throat like an overprotective father guarding the virtue of his only daughter, and the couple reluctantly parted. The elder de la Vega situated himself between his son and soon-to-be-daughter and took both of their arms.

"Oh!" Victoria turned out of Alejandro's arms and rushed around the bar to grab her shawl. Felipe appeared on the other side of Diego and shoved his long forgotten tailcoat into the man's hands. Diego's smiled gratefully and met the mute's eyes with a knowing grin. "Thank you, hermanito." He felt the hidden pocket, in which he'd placed a recently procured piece of jewelry, to make sure it was still there.

Diego smiled as Victoria placed her shawl around her head and threaded her arm through Alejandro's. Diego pulled on the tailcoat and fastened it as they walked out into the plaza.

Felipe grabbed a bottle of wine and a glass and rushed out the door after them. Teresa grabbed what was left of the freshly baked bread and followed Felipe out the door, grinning happily.

The crowd filed out of the tavern and formed a half-circle around the padre and the couple. They murmured excitedly, waiting for the padre to begin.

The padre stopped before the doors of the church and turned to Diego and Victoria. Alejandro moved to Diego's side and Felipe and Teresa stood waiting beside him.

"Who gives this woman to this man?"

Alejandro stepped forward and voiced a very formal. "I do."

"Diego, Victoria, kneel please."

The padre smiled as he watched people file into the plaza and watch quietly. Proof that this was an eagerly awaited event, regardless of the time of day. "I don't need to ask who will bear witness. It appears we have a plaza full of people."

The padre watched Diego and Victoria carefully and smiled when they joined their hands.

"Diego, what do you bring as a symbol of this betrothal agreement?"

Alejandro winced, cursing himself for forgetting that they'd need rings or some other symbol of the betrothal. Victoria glanced at Diego, a worried look in her eyes.

"I bring this." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his mother's ring. " I offer it as a symbol of my love and devotion and as a promise to love and cherish this woman for the rest of my life."

Alejandro stared at his son and Victoria's eyes widened in disbelief. Where had he gotten it? When did he have the time? Diego simply winked at her and smiled. He was Zorro after all. Victoria was sure he knew where she'd hidden the treasured piece of jewelry.

The Padre blessed the ring and placed it into Diego's open hand.

"Place the ring on Victoria's finger and repeat after me."

Diego's voice was barely above a whisper. As if saying the words were for her ears and her ears alone. "With this ring, I vow to love, honor, and cherish you, for all the days of my life."

Victoria's hands looked so small in his large ones but he held them with such reverence and gentleness that Victoria couldn't help but sob. He slowly slid his mother's ring onto her finger, brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers and then the band.

"Victoria, what do you bring as a symbol of your betrothal to Diego?"

A look of horror crossed her face but Diego smiled reassuringly as if sensing her panic. "We can get one later."

"No!" Victoria pushed herself to her feet. "Just a moment. I have something!"

They all stared after her as she ran quickly into the tavern. Not more than a minute later, she returned, panting.

She dropped to her knees and bowed her head. "Forgive me, Padre."

The man smiled gently and opened his hand to receive the ring.

Diego watched her with a questioning gaze as the Padre blessed the band and placed it back in her hand.

"It belonged to my father." She mouthed and Diego reached up to lovingly trail long fingers down her cheek, clearly touched by the gesture.

"Victoria, repeat after me."

She took Diego's hand and slid the ring onto his finger. It was a bit too small, but it mattered not to him. It could be re-sized later. "With this ring, I vow to love, honor, and obey you for all the days of my life."

The padre's eyes scanned the crowd and he nodded to Felipe and Teresa who slowly approached, eyes brimming with excited happiness.

The padre held out his hand and Teresa placed the bread into it. Benitez offered a quick blessing and then broke a piece, repeating the same blessing with the glass of wine.

"In the name of our Father," The padre raised the bread and wine before first offering it to Diego and then Victoria. Lastly, he took a bite and a sip, completing the ritual sealing the betrothal.

"Let us pray." The padre raised his hands and the assembled crowd bowed their heads. After the prayer, Padre Benitez smiled down at the couple.

"Now join your hands, and with your hands, your hearts." The padre smiled and Diego's eyes flashed with recognition of the popular saying.

To the assembled crowd, he said. "As is customary with such a betrothal ceremony, I now present to you, Diego and Victoria de la Vega."

Diego lifted Victoria to her feet and drew her gently into his arms. When their lips met, the people and the plaza faded away and there was only them. Forgotten were the events of the day, the death of the alcalde, and Zorro's secret revealed at last. Now, they were just a man and a woman who had been blessed with their lives, and the life they could now begin together.

TBC