Chapter 3
A soft gasp escaped her but she didn't pull away. Instead, as the pressure of his kiss grew, she slid her hands around his waist and clutched him with all the strength in her slender frame. Never before had she been kissed like this. Zorro, for all his romantic gestures of love, had never, ever, been so bold.
Small sounds escaped the back of her throat as his lips moved down the length of her exposed neck to kiss the pulse that beat rapidly at the point. His hands slid from her hair and down her back now, pulling her against his solid chest.
"Querida," he breathed against her skin. "I love you." He pressed gentle kisses along her neck and up her cheek, ending at the corner of her mouth. "What more verification do you need?"
Her hands slid into his hair and pulled the dark locks through trembling fingers. "Diego." His name was a breathless whisper on her lips.
An insistent pounding on the tavern door drew them apart and they stared at one another breathlessly.
"Do you plan to open?" Diego finally asked after several moments of silence.
"I – I really think I should," Victoria finally answered, shaking her head to clear her thoughts.
"Are Pilar and Celia coming back to help you?" He asked, concerned that she would be overwhelmed by the customers leaving the show.
"I – I don't know, Diego," Victoria admitted reluctantly. The turbulent emotions racing through her mind were causing an unwelcome distraction.
Diego smiled and bent to brush his lips across hers. "Go open. I will assume the part of tavern help for the remainder of the evening." He removed his jacket and began to roll up his sleeves. "What can I do to prepare?"
Victoria swallowed hard and turned to glare out the curtain where the pounding had not abated in the least. She grabbed her apron off the table and pointed to the oranges and lemons in a large basket. "I think I will need more juice, just start squeezing them into one of the jugs over there. I'll be right back."
He grinned as she swept out of the room and opened the tavern door, amidst a few annoyed complaints about it taking her so long.
"Diego!" Alejandro appeared in the curtain not too long after. "Victoria said you were back here. How nice of you to offer to help her, son."
Diego smiled conspiratorially before turning around from his dishes. He procured a towel from the table and began to dry his hands. "So how did the negotiation go?"
Alejandro frowned. "Demetrio won't budge. He absolutely refuses to sell any of those magnificent horses."
Diego nodded somewhat sadly. "I can understand why. They are truly beautiful."
"They've even got another mare and a foal in their herd. Born during their travels." Alejandro held up a hand when Diego's eyes widened. "But they aren't interested in selling either one of them!"
Diego nodded. "Well, I can imagine the price would be quite high if they were to sell."
"I couldn't even get him to give me a quote," Alejandro muttered.
"Well, suppose you let me try, hmm?" Diego finished drying his hands and clasped his father on the shoulder.
The incredulous look on his father's face caused Diego to pause. "You, Diego? You don't know the first thing about negotiating something of this-"
"Trust me, Father." Diego smiled slowly, quickly masking the pain that struck his heart at hearing his father voice his true opinion of his abilities. Over his shoulder, he called, "Please help Victoria until I return!"
"Good evening," Zorro smiled as Toronado trotted around the scrim and toward the makeshift stables that had been erected to house the magnificent white stallions.
Demetrio glanced up sharply at the voice as he brushed the sweat and grime from Califa's still shiny coat.
"Ah, Señor!" Demetrio bowed elegantly, his eyes darting from the masked man to the magnificent steed on which he sat. "What a pleasure to see you again."
Isabella tied Fidel to her post and plucked an apple from a nearby basket.
Zorro smiled down at her as she held out her hand to Toronado and approached the large Andalusian carefully. "Easy boy," Zorro brushed a gloved hand down the black shiny coat. "She won't hurt you."
"He's very beautiful," Isabella smiled as the stallion nibbled the apple right out of her hand. "Pure, and if I'm not mistaken, royal blood line as well?"
Zorro grinned. She knew her horseflesh well.
Thankfully, the de la Vega brand had not made its mark on Toronado, but it might not matter anyway if he was required to provide legitimate paperwork to carry out his plan. Stud papers had been drawn up when Toronado was a colt, signed with the information that would be needed to prove his pure Andalusian bloodline. If his father had recognized the grown Toronado as a colt that had disappeared from his corral mere days after his birth, the elder de la Vega never gave any indication. "His ancestors were gifts from the King, yes," was Zorro's only answer.
Demetrio tied Califa into his stall, swung the gate shut and approached his wife. "Indeed a magnificent animal."
"There are not many in the colonies who can boast of having a pureblood Andalusian in their herd."
"I noticed you admiring him the other day." Zorro ignored the comment and smiled down at Isabella who nodded and continued to appraise the black stallions lithe, agile form.
"You must keep him well exercised. He is in excellent shape." Isabella smiled at the masked man.
Zorro shrugged, a wry smile curving the corner of his lips. "Not as much as I would like."
Demetrio chuckled. "I can imagine a masked man dressed all in black out in the open training his horse would be a rather unusual sight."
"Very." Zorro nodded and dismounted Toronado in one smooth, easy motion.
"I'm sure you have not come to discuss the finer points of training, however," Demetrio led the masked man to the Califa's stall.
"Indeed, I have not," Zorro nodded. "It has come to my attention that you have a mare that has recently foaled."
Demetrio smiled knowingly, his eyes searching the masked man's features carefully. "We do."
"If you can provide the proper papers, I should like to purchase them both," Zorro said suddenly. "Money is no object and I am willing to offer Toronado as stud service in addition to whatever fee you deem appropriate."
Isabella, having heard the masked man's words, joined them quickly, lacing a hand through her husband's.
"A tempting offer, Señor," Demetrio said after a few moments of silent consideration. "But can you provide the necessary papers for this magnificent stallion of yours?"
Zorro's eyes locked with Demetrio's. "I can. I have, however, one request."
"And that would be?"
"The information contained within the paperwork could implicate a family very dear to me. They have no knowledge of my – work, and if the alcalde were to discover –"
"You are willing to risk your identity to purchase two of my horses, señor?" Demetrio carefully watched Zorro's reaction. He knew any stud paperwork would not only reveal the bloodline of the stallion but the legal owner as well.
"My identity has nothing to do with the names contained in the paperwork," Zorro insisted. "The alcalde would arrest those that bear the name simply because he would assume they know my identity - which would be an incorrect assumption on his part."
Isabella's eyes widened at the prospect of breeding one of her mares to Toronado. She squeezed her husband's arm and nodded slightly, but Zorro didn't miss the gesture and hid a smile of his own.
"My wife appears to be interested. Perhaps we should discuss this further." Demetrio gestured to the large wagon the performers had been living in.
Zorro nodded and followed the man and his wife inside, confident that he would succeed where his father had failed.
Diego slipped into the hacienda under cover of darkness. His father was not home yet. He was still at the tavern helping Victoria, he hoped. It would give him the necessary time to complete his task.
He made his way quickly to his father's office and unlocked the safe concealed behind a large painting of his mother. He leafed through the first stack of papers, scanning them for the one that he would need. Diego muttered to himself as he squinted in the candlelight, "Father, you're meticulous about your stud papers. I know it's here somewhere." Diego bit his lip in frustration as he continued to search.
He knew he was taking a chance that his father hadn't kept the papers associated with the young, stolen colt that had grown to be Zorro's most trusted steed. Diego frowned as he reached the end of one stack of papers and searched the next.
"Aha!" Diego clutched a piece of old parchment triumphantly. He quickly scanned the information detailing the breeding of 'Fuego', the stolen de la Vega colt Diego knew to be Toronado. When he read the name of the registered owner, Diego sighed. He was taking a great risk that Demetrio would not divulge the name contained on the royal stud papers.
He was usually a good judge of a person's character and he truly believed Demetrio to be honest and trustworthy. He quickly tucked the Certificate of Registration into his sash and closed the safe. He needed to get back to the tavern quickly before he was missed.
"Where did Diego run off to?" Victoria panted as she walked through the curtain and dropped more dishes into the soapy water.
She watched with wide eyes as Alejandro plunged his hands into the water and began scrubbing her dishes. "Oh, Alejandro, this isn't necessary. Please -"
"Nonsense," Alejandro bushed off her concern. "Diego had an errand to run and asked me to fill in for him while he went to complete it."
"Oh." Victoria's eyes fell and Alejandro didn't miss the disappointed look that passed across her pretty face before she could hide it.
And Victoria knew that he had seen it as well.
"Victoria?"
She busied herself filling carafes of wine and juice from her stock in the back and then ladled some soup into a line of bowls she'd set out on the table. She didn't want to talk to Alejandro about what she thought he was going to ask. Diego was the person she needed to talk to, at length, and in private.
"Victoria? "
"I must get this soup out to my customers, Don Alejandro."
She set as many bowls on a tray as she could fit and disappeared through the curtain before Alejandro could frame a response.
He stared after her, a bewildered expression on his weathered face. She was disappointed that Diego wasn't here to help her. Alejandro smiled to himself, wondering if there was more going on between his son and Victoria than met the eye. He would just have to watch the two of them more closely from now on. Perhaps he should have a talk with his son. No. Alejandro shook his head. Diego was old enough to court a woman on his own. He didn't need any fatherly advice.
Still. Alejandro stared at the kitchen curtain for a long moment before attacking the newly delivered dishes. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to broach the subject with his son. If Diego was going to attempt to woo the fiery señorita away from Zorro, it would be best to have his father's help.
When Diego arrived a few hours later, Victoria was just about to close. She looked exhausted and Alejandro could only wonder what had kept his son away for so long; Hopefully not another one of his pointless experiments. Because if that was the case, Alejandro decided, he would be having a nice, long father-to-son chat in the near future about his priorities.
As Diego walked through the curtain, Victoria leveled such a withering look at him that would have struck a lesser man to the ground.
Diego merely smiled warmly and met her eyes, refusing to look away as he normally did. She knew the truth now, there was no need for him to continue to play the mild-mannered, timid man when in such a private setting.
Alejandro turned back to his dishes and hid a small grin. Good for you, Son! Don't let her stare you down.
"My apologies for being gone so long. The delay was unavoidable." He had already removed his jacket and was rolling up his sleeves to continue where he'd left off.
"Your father was kind enough to take your place," Victoria said somewhat coldly and Diego winced.
"Yes. Thank you, Father." Diego stepped beside his father and rested a hand on the older man's arm.
The resigned look in his son's eyes nearly made Alejandro laugh aloud. At least his son knew that he was in for some kind of tongue-lashing from the fiery tempered señorita.
When Victoria stalked out to procure more dishes and clean the remaining tables, Alejandro turned toward his son with a conspiratorial grin. "Diego, listen to me very carefully."
Diego cocked his head and forced the smile from his lips. "Yes, Father?"
"I haven't gotten much out of Victoria tonight, except this . . .something is going on with Zorro…I'm not quite sure what, but…if she wants to talk, or cry, on your shoulder, let her."
Diego raised a curious eyebrow but his father continued.
"She was genuinely upset when she returned and you were gone." The overwhelming joy in Alejandro's voice could not be mistaken.
"Ah. Well -"
Victoria returned and the men fell silent until Alejandro announced a bit too loudly that he was leaving.
"Diego, stay and help Victoria finish clean up. I'll see you at home later." The older man pulled open the back door and waved to Victoria as she stepped forward. "No, no, my dear. Don't open the front door. I can walk around." He shut the door behind him, leaving Victoria staring at Diego's back.
"Where did you go?" she finally asked, feeling foolish for thinking that she had any right to know his whereabouts. But she wanted to know. It wasn't every day that she found out the identity of the man she loved!
"I had an errand I needed to run," Diego repeated, hiding a smile.
"More important than -"
Her tirade was silenced instantly as he turned from his dishwater and enveloped her in his arms. When his mouth came down on hers, all thought of just what she'd been angry about vanished. His hands, still wet from the dishwater, soaked the back of her blouse.
When they parted a few moments later, they were both breathless. "Come with me?" he asked with an imploring grin.
Victoria rolled her eyes and removed her apron. She tossed it onto the table and pulled open the back door. "As if I would be anywhere else tonight."
"Where are we going?" Victoria asked as Esperanza trotted down the familiar road. She hardly doubted he was going to take her home. Not at this late hour.
"You wanted proof earlier. I am about to provide it." Diego pressed a kiss to the tip of her ear and was rewarded with a tremble that he could feel run the length of her body.
Victoria cocked her head at him and leaned against his solid chest. After a few more minutes of negotiating unfamiliar territory, Esperanza stopped outside the cave entrance. In the darkness, Victoria shivered and Diego dismounted, turning to lift her from the saddle and into his arms.
When the cave entrance swung open, Diego led his lady and his mare into the dimly lit room. He tied Esperanza at the hitching post normally occupied by Toronado and stood back while Victoria glanced wordlessly into the next room.
"Dios," Victoria whispered as her eyes settled on the large mahogany desk and the chair in which she'd sat over a year ago - when Zorro had proposed to her. She whirled on Diego just as he stepped behind her and placed his hands gently at her waist.
He grinned down at her, his eyes betraying the longing, the desire radiating there, that she had never noticed before. "I meant everything I said when you sat there," he said, as if reading her mind. "The man behind Zorro's mask asked you to marry him. And he will ask you again, on his knees if he must."
Victoria's eyes sparkled with mischief and she remained silent until he fell to one knee and implored her with eyes full of such devotion that she couldn't hold back the gasp that spilled from her lips.
"We can get my mother's ring later," he smiled, knowing were she kept it hidden in her room at the tavern. "But for now, will you marry me, Diego de la Vega, the real man behind your hero's mask?"
Victoria lifted her hands to his head and threaded them through his dark hair. This time, she pulled his lips to hers and kissed him with such uncontrollable passion that it was a wonder he didn't lift her into his arms and carry her to his bedroom straight away.
"Yes, Diego. Yes," she breathed with breathless abandon.
He stood suddenly, and lifted her into his arms. Her gasp was swallowed as his mouth covered hers and he moved to the desk and sat her atop it. "You're a bit short," he grinned down at her. "This is much more comfortable, no?"
She silenced any further words with a kiss, returning her fingers to his hair to gently tug at the soft, dark strands.
When they parted, she leaned against his chest and he embraced her wordlessly.
"It's all so unreal, Diego." Her voice was muffled as her cheek leaned against his solid chest. "You're right. If I hadn't seen it all, I'm not sure I would believe it. I mean, I knew it was true, even before we set foot in here but –"
"Can you forgive me for the deception?" he asked suddenly. She'd accepted his proposal, a year ago and again just now, but he wanted to make sure that the acceptance was not just born of tremendous shock. He needed confirmation, just as he always did, that she loved the true man.
The moments of silence that followed were agonizing for him and it took every ounce of restraint he possessed not to prompt her for an answer.
When she lifted her head and looked into his eyes, a small smile crept across her face. She trailed her hand down his cheek, seeing the true fear radiating in his eyes. "You said that day that you – that Zorro, were only afraid of one thing."
Diego nodded slowly.
"I was the cause of that fear," Victoria said sadly.
She pressed her fingertips to his lips to silence his denial when he opened his mouth to speak. "I can't be upset with you for this deception, not truly. I had a lot of time to think during the last half of the show – and while you were on your errand." Victoria grinned wryly at him. "I don't even remember what happened. I was thinking too much about what I'd just discovered. If you'd looked at my face, you'd have noticed every emotion you could possibly think of passing across it at some point."
"Victoria –"
"I'm speaking. Be quiet. You can have your turn in a moment." The words were not spoken with any malice and there was no harsh tone behind them. "Anyway, I remembered the day you brought me here, and what you said to me. I remembered every time I put you down, every time I compared you to Zorro to your face. I realized all of the clues that you'd given me over the years. If I hadn't been so blinded by the mysterious romance of Zorro, I would have known. The tears in my eyes at the end of the show were not for the performance, which I'm sure was breathtakingly wonderful, they were tears of shame, Diego.
"I was ashamed that I'd treated my best friend the way I had, simply because he did not behave the way I wanted him to." Her eyes were moist when she gazed up at him. "You have a lot to answer for, a lot to explain, and I want to hear it all, but I owe you my deepest apology. Can you forgive me for being the cause of your fear? For being the reason that you were afraid to tell me the truth?"
"Ah, querida." Diego embraced her tightly and she relaxed against his chest. "It was the decision I made when I created Zorro. I knew I would have to endure the criticism of my family and friends. I – I didn't realize how hard it would be to continually endure it when I wanted so much for you to know."
"Well, I know now." Victoria smiled against his chest. "But, your father doesn't, does he?"
"No. Felipe knows. He's helped me from the beginning."
A short chuckle shook her shoulders. "I should have known. You two are so close."
"He's saved my life more times than I can count."
"Now you have both of us." Victoria smiled brightly at him.
"Knowing that makes Zorro's mission so much easier," Diego admitted. He searched her eyes for acceptance, permission, before bending to kiss her. As usual, whenever their lips met, the passion that flared between them could not be ignored. He clutched her to his chest, and this time there was no looking over their shoulder, no chance for them to be caught – except by Felipe. "And – that mission is not yet finished. Not until we have a pueblo that is governed by an alcalde that works for the people instead of against them."
"Promise me you will be careful," Victoria whispered as his lips trailed a line of molten fire down her neck. She trembled and sighed heavily when his hand slipped down to brush briefly across the side of her breast before pulling gently away.
Using all of the control he possessed, he pulled his lips from her neck and gazed down her with such an adoring expression, she was rendered speechless. "I won't risk losing you, not now."
Victoria shook her head, her eyes misting with tears. "I love you, Diego de la Vega. Never doubt that again."
"Stay here tonight?" Diego asked softly, his eyes holding an unspoken question.
Victoria smiled knowingly. "It's too late to go back to the pueblo now. It will be dawn soon."
"Yes, in just a few hours," Diego whispered, catching a strand of her hair and twisting it gently around his finger.
"Then let's make good use of that time," Victoria leaned against his chest and raised her lips to his.
"You can use the guest room – next to mine," Diego whispered against her lips.
"Uhm hm," Victoria breathed, sliding her fingers into his hair and losing herself in his tender embrace.
An incessant knocking on the door broke through her pleasant dreams and she rolled over, trying in vain to ignore the annoying sound. She stretched sore muscles and her eyes fluttered open as the first rays of sunlight filtered in through the open window.
Victoria sat bolt upright in the bed and glanced around the room. Where was she? Where was Diego? The last thing she remembered – . She wrapped her arms around herself and smiled warmly at the memory.
Squinting at the door, she realized that it wasn't her room that someone was pounding on. She shook her head to clear it and then let her eyes shift to the window.
Ivory colored curtains draped with fine lace hung from the windows and even the large four poster bed was draped in the color. Her eyes came to rest on a beautifully embroidered dressing gown lying on the foot of the bed. She slid from beneath the covers, groaning as her sore muscles protested, and slipped into the dressing gown.
"Diego!"
Victoria jumped and her eyes darted around the room before she realized that the noise was coming from outside in the hallway! She padded to the door and cracked it open, and found herself nose to nose with one of the de la Vega servants.
"Oh, Señorita! I am Alicia, master Diego asked that I heat some water for a bath for you and –"
Alejandro turned suddenly from where he was pounding on his son's door. He regarded Victoria with a curious stare before turning to Alicia. "When did you see Diego? I must speak with him."
"Oh, patron, It has been at least twenty minutes, maybe more. I think he was on his way out."
"Out?" Alejandro swallowed a chuckle. "That Diego is even awake at this time of the morning is –" He shifted his eyes toward Victoria who forced herself to meet his curious gaze. "Have you seen my son this morning, Victoria?"
"No, Don Alejandro." At least she didn't have to lie. "We were up talking for a good part of the night and he offered the use of one of your guest rooms." Victoria glanced at the floor. "I hope you don't mind."
Alejandro's mood suddenly softened. "Of course not, my dear. I don't mind at all!" He embraced her gently. Good. Good. Something was going on between his son and the young woman. Now, he was sure of it. He was going to have a difficult time containing his elation "Now let Alicia draw you that nice, relaxing bath. It will be a wonder after last night's excitement, I should think."
Victoria's cheeks reddened as she watched the servant disappear into a room at the end of the hallway. "Yes. I think so."
"Well, you enjoy it, my dear. I'll find my wayward son at some point today." Alejandro stalked down the hallway and Victoria heaved a huge sigh of relief.
"Señorita?"
Victoria jumped at the sound and clenched her fists. Where was Diego! She'd have an earful for him when she saw him next. How dare he –
"Your bath is ready. You have clothes waiting for you in your room as well, Señorita."
"Oh, Thank you." Victoria blushed and followed the young girl into the bathing room. She stood gaping at the lushness of the room for a full minute before slipping out of the dressing gown and stepping into the water.
"Ahh," Victoria sighed as the warm water flowed over her aching limbs. She sat motionless in the large porcelain tub simply enjoying the feel of the water until she realized that she needed to bathe quickly in order to get to the tavern in time to open it for breakfast.
With a resigned sigh, Victoria scrubbed herself quickly, washed her hair and rushed back to the guest room. She noticed her clothes lying folded on the bed with a note atop them. Victoria inclined her head and reached for the note, tearing it open.
Victoria,
Rest for the morning. I've taken care of the tavern for you.
All my love,
Diego
Victoria smiled warmly and brushed her fingers over the words. Against her better judgment, she lay back on the bed and slipped into a deep, exhausted sleep.
When Victoria finally made it into the tavern between the breakfast and lunch crowds, she found Diego in the kitchen helping Pilar roll dough for the tortillas. She chuckled when he looked up and she exchanged a chuckle with Pilar, who immediately excused herself to go check on the remaining customers.
"What?" Diego asked, perplexed at what could have amused her so.
"You've got flour all over your cheek." Victoria reached up to brush it away but his hand caught hers and brought it to his lips.
He glanced briefly at the closed kitchen curtains. "I've wanted to do that, and more, all morning."
Victoria blushed and stepped closer, tempting fate. She daringly reached up and drew his head down for a brief kiss, which was executed with such breathtaking precision that it left her dizzy.
"We must be careful, Victoria," Diego warned, his voice low. "If anyone so much as suspects –"
"We will take care of it," Victoria assured as she reached past him to get her apron. "I've suddenly grown tired of waiting for Zorro. I want children before I'm too old to bear them! And – well, being loved by a legend isn't the same as being loved by a real, flesh and blood man."
Diego grinned and resisted the urge to pull Victoria into his arms and kiss her sweet, delectable mouth. Thankfully, too, because Pilar chose that moment to return to refill her carafe of juice.
The young woman gave them a small smile before she disappeared on the other side of the curtain again.
"Do you need any more help?" Diego asked as he dipped his hands into the dishwater to clean them. "I've got a few errands to run today and –" his eyes traveled down her slender form, remembering how wonderful those curves felt pressed against his body last night. "I think we need to spend a bit of time apart."
Victoria frowned at him but knew he was right. "I suppose." She stepped closer, wanting one more intimate moment before he left. She slid her hand into his and pulled him toward her. A sudden thought occurred to her that caused a blush to creep along her neck.
Diego noticed and trailed a finger down her cheek. "What is it?"
Victoria swallowed hard. "Last night. What about the –"
Anticipating the question, he bent to press a swift kiss to her lips. "I took care of it."
"Come to the hacienda tomorrow for dinner." Diego squeezed her hand, and she nodded wordlessly, before he walked out of the kitchen, taking Victoria's heart with him as if it were tied to a string.
A few days later, after another breathtaking encore performance, Zorro paid Demetrio a visit. He waited in the shadows for the crowd to disperse before approaching the man.
"I suppose you'd be wanting your stallion back?" The performer asked with a grin.
"Provided that he has done his duty, sí." Zorro chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "I find it most disconcerting to be stalking through the pueblo without a mount. It's far more difficult to run from the lancers on foot instead of horseback."
"I can imagine."
Isabella led Toronado out of his stall and he snorted at his master. Zorro reached a gloved hand out to rub his snout and the horse rubbed gently against the pressure. "If your – efforts, did not take the first time," Zorro grinned as he brushed his hand across his stallion's neck, "send for me. I will return Toronado to you for another evening."
Demetrio nodded. "Very kind. When would you like to take possession of the mare and foal?"
"They are actually a gift. I would appreciate it if you would deliver them on your way out of town."
Demetrio regarded the masked man with a look of astonished disbelief. "A very expensive gift, Señor. I hope the recipient realizes –"
"Realizes that he or she will be arrested upon delivery of those horses!" de Soto stepped out of the shadows and grinned.
Zorro sighed. "Arrested, Alcalde? On what grounds?"
"If the great Zorro is providing someone in this pueblo with such expensive gifts, it must be for a reason – to keep something a secret, perhaps?" De Soto leveled his pistol at the masked man.
"Alcalde," Zorro's eyes narrowed, "you know very well that I work alone. There is no one in this pueblo who knows my identity."
"So you say." De Soto aimed his pistol and depressed the trigger as Isabella screamed.
TBC