Chapter 7
Diego pressed himself against the wall instantly, leaving Victoria standing in plain view of the soldiers. "Tell them to go to the tavern with you. Cook them something!" he whispered urgently and Victoria nodded in understanding.
Three lancers leveled muskets at her as she straightened her shoulders and walked out into plain view, hoping they wouldn't see Diego behind her.
"Sergeant Mendoza asked me to go back to the tavern and make a few more enchiladas." She gave them the cutest smile she could muster.
One lancer looked suspicious. "Where is Sergeant Mendoza?"
"Guarding Diego, of course." Victoria rolled her eyes.
"And he let you out unescorted?" The private asked, eyes narrowing. "I find that hard to believe. You're more capable of escape than Diego de la Vega."
Victoria bristled but forced the smile to remain on her face. She was instantly ashamed at every word she had uttered about Diego and his uselessness. He had so completely fooled her and the entire pueblo into thinking he was something completely opposite of who he was. He had endured a lot of public and private ridicule all for the sake of protecting Zorro's identity. She suddenly wanted to take him in her arms and kiss him madly for that sacrifice.
"Oh, I don't know, private. Diego is bigger and stronger than I am. And I'm sure the sergeant knew you were out here. Where could I possibly go?" Victoria's excellent acting earned an approving nod from the caballero hiding in the shadows.
"I'm not going to keep Mendoza waiting. He asked me to get him more enchiladas and that's exactly what I'm going to do." Victoria began walking toward the tavern, glancing back over her shoulder at the men who carefully watched her. "Well, come on. I'll make some for you as well."
The private turned to two other lancers who had just stepped into the plaza to see what was going on. "Stay here and keep your eyes open."
Diego grinned as he watched Victoria walk toward the tavern, three lancers following after her like lovesick puppy dogs. He easily dispatched the two guards remaining outside and laid their unconscious bodies against a far wall, shadowed by the darkness.
Victoria worked slowly, hopefully giving Diego enough time to take care of the remaining guards in the plaza. Fortunately, the suspicious private had decided that one lancer should wait at the door to the tavern, one just outside the kitchen curtain and, himself inside, watching Victoria's every move.
She heard the commotion rather than saw it and she looked up at the private as he turned toward the curtain, musket primed and ready. Spying a large skillet lying on the table, Victoria grabbed it quickly and cracked it over the private's head. He slumped to the floor, just as the lancer stationed just outside the curtain came sailing through it, unconscious.
"Diego?" Victoria called quietly.
When Diego stepped cautiously through the curtain, he grinned widely at his ladylove. "Well, well. Perhaps Zorro could use a sidekick." He pulled her against his chest and kissed her soundly before moving to the back door. "Let's go. I brought Esperanza around to the back."
Victoria nodded wordlessly as he lifted her into the saddle and then swung up behind her. He trotted the mare out of the pueblo as quietly as possible, hoping the sound of hooves on the dry dirt wouldn't alert any conscious soldiers to their presence.
Once safely away from the pueblo, Victoria asked, "Where are we going?" She clutched Diego as he urged Esperanza into a fast gallop. Her leg was hooked over the saddle horn and his arms were wrapped tightly around her shoulders, keeping her in the saddle.
"Since there are still lancers stationed around the hacienda, we'll need to take the back way in so that they don't see us."
Victoria nodded and rested her head against his chest, closing her eyes against the breeze that whipped around their bodies.
In the darkness, Victoria couldn't tell where they were. She knew they'd taken the north road out of the pueblo but then almost as sharply began to ride east, away from the de la Vega hacienda. After a good twenty minutes of hard riding, Esperanza slowed to a trot as she negotiated unfamiliar rocky terrain.
The mare snorted as Diego pulled her to a stop and slid from the saddle. He reached up and caught Victoria in his arms while the cave entrance swung open. Diego slapped the mare on the backside and said firmly, "Go home, Esperanza." The horse snorted and shook her head before disappearing into the night.
"You've trained her well," Victoria commented as Diego carried her into the cave. "Now I understand why she reared when those men kidnapped me last year."
Diego grinned but said nothing as they came up behind Toronado, who whinnied and stomped as his master approached with his guest. Diego brushed his lips quickly across Victoria's as he set her on her feet.
"Hello, boy." Diego stroked the stallion's neck gently. "Ready for a ride?"
Victoria watched with a newfound knowledge as Diego moved swiftly around the cave. The quiet confidence and strength behind the calm facade of the old Diego, a strength he was so furiously good at hiding, tugged at her heart and she inhaled sharply, unable to cover her mouth in time.
Diego was instantly by her side, gazing down at her with such a concerned and adoring expression that she could only launch herself into his arms and hug him tightly. "I love you so much, Diego."
Diego closed his eyes and held her tightly. He never imagined the intense emotion that would grip his heart when he finally heard those words. "Dios, Victoria. I love you with all my heart. I was so afraid -"
She silenced him with a thought-erasing kiss.
After a few moments, he reluctantly pulled himself from her arms and continued saddling Toronado. Soon, the stallion was ready to ride.
Victoria sat slowly down in the chair behind the large mahogany desk and watched Diego continue to fiddle with things on the laboratory table. Memories of the last time she'd been here flashed in her mind and she covered her mouth to keep from giggling too loudly.
She looked up when Diego set a small corked vial down in front of her with a white rag. "This is a solution called Ether. It's an anesthetic that has been used recently to combat serious illness. It's also got a very convenient side effect." He smiled as she watched him with wide brown eyes. "If you breathe too deeply, it will knock you out."
He knelt at her feet and pressed the vial and rag into her hands. "If you need this, spill a little into the rag and get it as close to the face as possible. The effects are almost immediate."
Victoria swallowed hard and clutched the items tightly. Diego brushed his lips against hers and then moved to the laboratory table and continued to dump a white powder into varying size containers.
Without thinking of his guest, Diego moved to the rack on which hung Zorro's black clothes. Absently, he began unfastening his shirt and not until he had it completely off and had shrugged into the black silk did he remember Victoria. Embarrassed, he turned to find her quietly watching him. His heart thudded loudly in his chest at the longing and desire he found radiating in her eyes.
Propriety spurred him to act, however, and he removed the rest of the clothing from the rack while pointedly apologizing for his forgetfulness. "Querida, I'm sorry. I'm not used to having such beautiful company back here." He chuckled to cover his nervous excitement at her intense gaze.
He was halfway up the steps when he heard her say, "No need to stop on my account."
He cocked his head and regarded her with a devilish grin. "Don't tempt me." Before waiting for her to answer, he continued up the stairs and disappeared around the wall.
When he returned a few moments later, Victoria's breath caught and her heart thudded sharply against her chest. Her legend stood before her once again. She tried to resist the impulse to run into his arms but he knew what she wanted and opened his arms in invitation.
"Querida, you must stay here." He bent and gently pressed his lips to hers. "The alcalde will be upset that you and Diego are missing and you must remain missing until I can find a way to keep him from arresting you again." As an afterthought, he added. "If Felipe comes in, explain what has happened."
At her unspoken question, he smiled. "Yes. He's the only one who knows. And he will help in whatever way is needed."
"I understand." She embraced him tightly. "Be careful, Diego."
"Zorro," he corrected with a smile and a kiss. "I'll be back shortly."
The commotion in the plaza roused de Soto from a sound, contented sleep. He grumbled as he pulled on his trousers and removed his nightshirt. Mendoza began pounding on the door and de Soto lit the lamp by his bedside table as he finished shrugging into a shirt. When he pulled open the door, the murderous look in his eyes gave Mendoza a short pause. "This had better be good!"
"Don Diego and Señorita Victoria are gone!"
De Soto closed his eyes and heaved a deep, annoyed breath. "Zorro, I presume?"
Mendoza hesitated. He hadn't actually seen Zorro, but it had to have been the masked man who had knocked him out. "Sí, Alcalde."
"Assemble the men, we are going to the de la Vega hacienda." De Soto hissed, reaching for his jacket.
The incessant pounding on the hacienda door roused Alejandro and the ranchero stumbled to the door, tying his dressing robe around his waist just as a manservant reached for the doorknob.
Lancers poured into the hacienda, led by a furious de Soto.
"Alcalde, what is the meaning of this?" Alejandro grumped angrily.
"Search the entire hacienda and adjacent grounds and buildings. Leave no room un-searched!" De Soto ordered as he turned toward Alejandro.
"Your son and Señorita Escalante were broken out of my jail this evening."
Alejandro's eyes narrowed. This was news. He thought Diego had gotten home hours ago. "What was my son doing in your jail to begin with?"
"He interfered with official business."
Alejandro crossed his arms as a sleepy-eyed Felipe stumbled into the room. Alejandro turned to the boy. "Did you know Diego was arrested tonight?"
Felipe's eyes widened and he shook his head.
Alejandro muttered to himself. What a fine evening to go to bed early. "Well, I haven't seen him, Alcalde."
De Soto turned to Felipe. "But you have, haven't you?"
Felipe shook his head.
"Mendoza!"
"Sí, Alcalde?"
"Check each and every bedroom. Since Don Diego announced to the entire tavern this evening that he and the Señorita were engaged -"
"What?" Alejandro gaped.
De Soto shot an amused look at Alejandro. "Well, tonight is quite an evening for surprises, eh, Don Alejandro? I must admit I find this entire situation mildly amusing considering you always seem to be quite well informed."
"I have been otherwise occupied, Alcalde." Alejandro snorted in disgust. "I have a ranch to run."
"And a son to see married off."
Alejandro groaned as he remembered the chaperones who had visited during the last few days. It was none of de Soto's business, he decided, and simply stared at the alcalde in seething silence.
De Soto continued, "However, I do find it strange that Zorro hasn't been seen during this entire ordeal. I would have thought he'd have paid your son a visit about moving in on his territory."
"I understand Victoria and Zorro have had a . . . disagreement." Alejandro lied. He had no idea what his son and Zorro's lady had gotten themselves into, but he certainly wasn't going to aid the alcalde in whatever unjust plan he had for the two of them.
"I'd rather believe that he used her for his own purposes until he tired of her." De Soto watched carefully as Alejandro's face reddened at the implication.
"Sir, I do not take kindly to insults against friends of this family."
De Soto chuckled. "Or soon to be members of your family? My condolences to your son if he decides to marry that woman. I'm not a fan of used goods myself."
Alejandro took a step forward, hands clenching into tight fists.
"I suggest you do not move another step, Don Alejandro, or I will arrest you in place of your son."
"You wouldn't dare." Alejandro hissed.
"Not right now, no." De Soto glanced around the hacienda. "But I would impound this hacienda until your son is found. He has now added jailbreak and assault to his ever growing list of charges."
Felipe's eyes widened and he placed a calming hand on Alejandro's shoulder as the man took a step forward, his eyes blazing. "I can assure you, my lawyer will absolve him of any and all of these supposed charges."
"We shall see. Until then, you are hereby ordered to remain in this hacienda. If you set one foot out that door," a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, " you will be shot on sight."
With that, de Soto turned on his heel and strode out the door. Alejandro followed and slammed the door behind him, rattling the walls and dislodging a painting from the wall. When he turned around to address Felipe, the boy had vanished.
TBC