Chapter 10

It wasn't long before she heard the tell-tale noises of the tavern coming slowly to life. Tina had come in downstairs and was bustling about in the kitchen. She wasn't making much noise, but to one who had trained her body to listen for such things, it was evident.

She checked on her special guest in the bed. He now lay face down sleeping heavily. He'd be fine while she went down to help open up the tavern for the breakfast customers.

The early morning hours always went quickly for there was so much to do. It was almost 9:00 AM before she had a chance to look back in on Zorro. She found him still in the position in which she'd left him. He had not moved. She made a mental note to put a second pot of coffee on, because someone was going to need it. Then she pulled the door closed. The tables outside were her next duty, so she headed back down the stairs to tackle the job of getting them ready for the day.

It was a beautiful, clear morning with not a cloud in the sky, and it was wonderfully cool. She cleared and cleaned off the tables, humming as she worked. It was surprising how good she felt, considering how little sleep she had managed.

When she heard the sound of a horse approaching, she looked down the street to see Don Alejandro riding towards her. Then her eyes drifted to the left and focused for the first time on the horse she had seen when she had first opened the door that morning. For the first time, she realized it was Diego's horse, Esperanza, that stood hitched at the post.

She stood there confused.

Don Alejandro alighted from Dulcenea and tied her right next to Esperanza. Walking up to Victoria, he gave her a most cheerful smile and said. "Hola, Victoria! I hope my son wasn't too much trouble last night for you. He told me he might stay over if his meeting went on too long. I'm so glad warned me, or I might have worried when he didn't come home. Are you all right, Victoria? You look a little pale."

"Oh, I'm fine, Don Alejandro, just fine. And how are you today?" But her cheerfulness had vanished, replaced by the chaos of her thoughts.

"Just wonderful, wonderful! I don't suppose my son is up yet, is he?"

"No…" she faltered, "no, I haven't seen him this morning."

"Well, I'm off to the blacksmith's. I'll be back shortly. Maybe he'll make it down for lunch!" He gave a hearty laugh. "Hasta Luego, my dear."

"Hasta Luego."

She smiled and turned her attention back to Esperanza. So Diego had not gone home! And it was Zorro that had used the room he had rented last night. She could only think of two answers to the riddle before her and they were both equally incredible. Either Diego had spent the night with his mystery woman or Diego was Zorro. The water pitcher tumbled out of her hands and broke into pieces on the wooden planks beneath her feet. She stood and stared at the broken pottery around her feet while her mind reeled. No, there were other possibilities too. There had to be. Diego could be hurt! He could be lying out there somewhere, bleeding! Or he could have been arrested and be sitting this moment in jail!

Sergeant Mendoza broke through her self-imposed trance before she could come up with any other possibilities. "Señorita! Are you all right?" He stooped to pick up the shards of pottery. "You look as if you've seen a ghost." He gave a quick look around, just in case it might be true. "What is it? What is wrong?"

"Oh, nothing…I just…" But everything was wrong!

"Señorita?" Mendoza could not understand the facial expressions on the young tavern owner's face. He looked about again, but no one was there. Just the de la Vegas' horses. Why was she so upset?

But her thoughts sped on in the señorita's mind. If the man upstairs was not Diego, then just where had he spent the night? Her heart sank at the thought and she didn't know which idea was more fantastic - or which one was worse.

She needed to get back up to that room. If she could only look upon his face one more time, she'd be sure. How silly she was being! Diego just couldn't be Zorro. And Diego wouldn't have— And just why did the latter upset her more than the former!

The sergeant helped her gather up the broken pieces and carry them inside for disposal. She looked towards the stairs almost instinctively and saw Lord Hodge coming down to breakfast.

"Señorita, good morning! Lovely day, this morning, isn't it? I do like your weather here. Although, I could do with some quieter nights, if you know what I mean?" He chuckled at his own weak jest. "Would a cup of tea be too much trouble for you this morning?" He bowed slightly.

"Of course, not, Lord Hodge. If you will have a seat, I'll bring you some shortly. And I am sorry about all the uproar last night."

"I understand Zorro was the culprit. No need for you to apologize, Señorita. I gather he got away again?"

"Yes, I think so. They didn't find him here. I'll go get your tea."

She slipped through the curtain, grateful for the distraction. She put a kettle of water on to boil and retrieved the tea tin from the shelf. Every motion she made revealed the anger that was bubbling up inside of her. How could he? Her mind had settled the matter. Diego was actually—. Oh, she couldn't even think the word, much less say it. Oh, that experience of his! Was this kind of behavior something else he'd picked up in Paris! Well, the next time she laid eyes on him, she'd—

"Senorita? Lord Hodge has requested one of those breakfast buns you made for him yesterday. Are there any left?"

"Yes, Tina, over there on the counter. No, behind the uh…yes, there."

"I'll take them to him." Then she caught sight oh her employer's face. "Are you all right, Señorita? You look a little flushed this morning. And tired."

"I'm fine! Just fine!" she answered, keeping her voice calm and steady. Why was everyone so interested in how she was feeling this morning! "Now go take him those buns. The tea will be ready in another minute or so."

She had to get control of herself. What good would getting any more upset with Diego do? What's done was done. Then the picture of Don Alejandro floated past her eyes. This was going to kill Don Alejandro! How dare Diego do such a wicked thing to his father!

The kettle began to whistle and she busied herself with making the tea, and trying to forget the turmoil that raged in her thoughts.

Lord Hodge was so pleasant in the morning. She had guessed that it was his favorite part of the day for he seemed to revel in it. He was much more talkative in the mornings too. Even for him. Her hands shook as she was pouring the tea for him.

"Ah, Señorita! Lovely, just lovely. I suppose it's too early for Señor de la Vega to make an appearance.

"Oh, he's in town already. I saw him arrive, but he went over to the blacksmith's." She was impatient to get back upstairs, but he continued talking to her.

"Oh, you are referring to Don Alejandro. I saw him arrive too, from my window. No, I meant Don Diego. I saw his horse still outside early this morning." He sipped the tea and smiled. "I must say I expected as much."

"You did?" She was not sure how to take the remark.

"Well, yes. I was a bit naughty last night. I encouraged the boy to drink with me." Now he had her attention! He leaned over to her as if to impart a secret. "Between you and me, I don't think the lad's much of a drinker. I could tell it was having quite an effect on him, so I hoped he'd choose to stay in town for the night rather than ride all the way back to their hacienda. It's about two miles, isn't it? Why, I doubt he could have stayed in the saddle!" Her mouth dropped open as Lord Hodge gave her a knowing wink.

"Will you excuse me, Lord Hodge?"

"Certainly, my dear girl! Uh… coffee does work miracles!" he called after her, but she was already flying up the stairs. He made a clucking sound and mumbled under his breath. "That boy's going to have as bad a time today as he had last night. Pity!"

She leaned against the closed door staring at him for several minutes.

"Victoria?" The voice from the bed was the commanding one that could belong only to Zorro. When she didn't answer, he raised up on one elbow and repeated her name louder this time. Almost immediately, he grabbed his forehead with both hands. "Ohhh…"

"Would you like some coffee? It might help." She was eyeing him curiously, still standing at the door.

"Oh, please… not so loud!" He swung his legs gingerly over the side of the bed and she gaped loudly when she saw the pants leg fall away to reveal the deep gash and quite a bit of flesh.

"What?" He peeked at her between his fingers, his head still cradled in his hands.

"I had forgotten that wound." She pointed to his leg. "And I don't think you can walk out of here in those." Crossing over to him to kneel by the bed she began to examine the wound once more. It looked much better than the night before, except for the deeper part of the cut on his hip. That part had become red and inflamed. "I will be back. I need to put something on that."

She returned soon with a small jar of ointment and some strips of clean cloth for bandages. Kneeling beside the bed, she applied the ointment carefully. Their eyes met as they both realized that the bandage could not be fixed in place unless he lowered his pants.

"I think I can manage that while you go get the coffee."

He smiled, and she was once again sure she was looking only upon the face of Zorro. He just couldn't be—

"What's wrong?" he asked, seeing the change in her expression. She didn't answer him. "I am sorry. I was quite a handful last night. I am so sorry." He took her hand and kissed it tenderly.

"Oh, that…that is not what is bothering … it's Diego," she said

"Diego?"

"Yes…he…" She looked up at him innocently through thick lashes. "He stayed in town last night, but he didn't stay here. I'm just very disappointed in him."

He swallowed hard. "Well, I am sure he—"

"His horse was here all night and Don Alejandro said he didn't come home last night." She lowered her head. "There's only one possible explanation."

Oh, why did his head have to ache like this! He couldn't think straight! "And that is?"

"He spent the night with her."

"Her?" Zorro felt something akin to doom hanging over his head.

"Yes. Diego has a secret love. Obviously, he is just not the man I've always thought him to be. It is so disappointing. I was even beginning to think…" She sighed.

"Think what?" The throbbing inside his head increased.

"Well, I had been thinking lately, that he and I …After all, you once even told me to marry someone like Diego! It hurt so much at the time, but lately… Well, it started to make much more sense. He's been so different. So interesting. And you and I…well…you have made your choice, haven't you? You continue to fight. And that doesn't leave much room for us. Your 'calling' won't let us be together."

He felt like explosions were going off behind his eyes. If he moved his head the tiniest little bit, the pain was blinding. This had to be happening now, of all times, when he desperately needed his wits about him.

Having finished replacing the bandage, she had gotten up off her knees. "I'll go get the coffee. You finish tying off the bandage to that wound. And take off those pants. I'll have to mend them. You can't be seen anywhere like they are. I'll be back." She quietly opened the door and went through, but on an afterthought, she slammed it closed. She heard a loud groan a second later and her smile widened.

She was still working through all her newfound knowledge when Sergeant Mendoza came in the door. She indicated to Tina that she would see to him herself.

"Sergeant! And what would you like this fine morning? I can whip you up some huevos rancheros in no time at all. How would you like that?" She smiled her sweetest smile.

"Oooh, that sounds wonderful! Yes, yes. I have worked up quite an appetite tonight. We were chasing Zorro all night long." Then he looked up at her apologetically. "Oh, you know that, don't you? I'm so sorry we had to search your rooms. But the Alcalde—"

"Oh, I quite understand. Although my customers may not be quite so understanding."

"But we were quiet. I don't think any of them woke up. Lord Hodge, maybe. He did talk to us. But the others, we just looked at their faces and they kept right on sleeping." She opened her mouth to ask her question, but the Sergeant kept talking. "And that reminds me, Señorita, I've been meaning to have a word with you." He leaned over and motioned to her to come close, so he could whisper in her ear. "I think you should be a little more careful. You know, if Zorro had been here last night, you would have had a real mess on your hands."

"And why is that, Sergeant?" If he only knew! But she wasn't sure what he was trying to say.

"Well, I have tried to warn Don Diego. But I don't think he ever got the message." Mendoza continued his whispering with an urgency that was intriguing. "Don't you think that Zorro might be a little upset to find that you and Don Diego…" He stretched out the name like he was sure she would know what he meant.

"Sergeant! What do you mean?" She was beginning to be exasperated with the man.

"I saw you!" Her blank face made him have to say what he didn't want to admit. "I saw you and Don Diego in the padre's garden. If Zorro knew…"

"So it was you!" She laughed aloud. "Sergeant, I don't think you understand—"

"Oh, I saw enough to understand. I just don't think Zorro would understand why Don Diego would need to stay in town last night. I know he probably needed to—Lord Hodge certainly had him drinking, didn't he?" Mendoza chuckled. "I have never seen Don Diego drink so much as a tiny thimbleful of wine! And Scotch is—" But the rest of his words were lost for the Señorita had retreated back into the kitchen.

She began preparing the coffee and had to restrain herself from doctoring the stuff to make it even more vile than she intended to make it. "He doesn't like it anyway", she thought to herself as she made sure it was entirely too strong for palatability.

When she opened his door, he was face down in the pillows again. He didn't even open his eyes to acknowledge her presence. But when she set the coffeepot down on the nightstand, his whole body gave a small jump and she heard a muffled groan.

"You're really suffering, poor thing." She poured the cup and thought to herself, "Serves you right!" But aloud, her words were only comforting. "Here, this should help."

He propped himself up on his elbows and took the cup from her. When he sipped, she could see that he fought to keep his face from showing how truly bad it tasted. It wouldn't do for him to criticize her cooking after last night. He swallowed and she could tell the smile that followed was forced. "It is …strong. Just what I need, I suppose."

"Well, maybe not. You could just go back to sleep until the effects of last night wear off. You'd be safe enough. From the talk downstairs this morning, Diego is now the one every one is looking for."

"Diego?"

Why had she never noticed that he always tensed at the name? It was so obvious now. "Yes, Lord Hodge was even wanting him. And it won't be long until Don Alejandro comes back and I'll have to tell him Diego didn't stay here last night. Oh, this is going to kill poor Don Alejandro. How could Diego do this to him?"

"But you don't know that—"

But she barreled on despite his interruption. "I've been thinking all night as to just who this …hussy could be. I think that it just has to be Señora Gomez."

"Señora Gomez!" The name caused him to spill the hot coffee on his bare chest, and he let out a stifled yell. Señora Gomez was the one woman in town with quite a dubious reputation. There had been talk for years that she had once operated a bordello near Monterey, and there was even some speculation that she had poisoned her husband. He didn't know which burned hotter, the spilled coffee or Victoria's eyes as she watched his reaction.

"Surely, you don't think that Diego—" He set the cup down and made a move as if to rise from the bed. Then he suddenly realized he was quite naked and retreated back further under the covers. "Victoria, I think you should give Diego the benefit of the doubt on this—"

"Well, it would explain his behavior!" She was having a hard time suppressing laughter. "Or perhaps you'd like to try this one." She crossed purposefully to the bed and stood inches from him with her hands on her hips. "Just how in the world do you explain the fact that Diego was seen drinking last night by practically everyone in the pueblo. But only I know that it was Zorro who ended up drunk!"

Then she ripped the mask from his face!

There was a long silence.

She turned on her heel and left him. There was nothing he could do. She still had his pants.