Chapter 5

"I should be helping you in some way," Diego said with a small smile, knowing how absurd it must sound to Kuyuma's ears.

"You must rest and regain your strength."

He squinted at her. In the semi-darkness the hut afforded, he could open his eyes for a few minutes, but if someone came in, the sunlight sent waves of pain rushing into his head. His memory had returned and he just hoped that Luis Cristoba would arrive soon so that he could get word to his father.

Diego had no idea what excuse Felipe would have given his father for his absence. It was possible that the boy had been convinced that Zorro was dead. No doubt, de Soto would have ridden back to the pueblo in triumph after seeing his enemy fall into the ravine. With his current injuries, Diego had no hope of returning home any time soon. De Soto would guess immediately that he and Zorro were one and the same. But, if Felipe truly believed him dead, he may have given out the letters he had written in the event of his untimely death.

Diego shook his head and helped Kuyuma as well as he could as she made baskets to sell to local farmers and traders. He had rarely seen such beautiful craftsmanship. The baskets were unique and colorful, and when woven tightly enough, they could even hold water. They were made of 1-2' dark green upright spiky stems that resembled a broad fan and then they were twisted and sewn together with split strands of the same material. Kuyuma made boxes of all sizes and colors and designs and Diego marveled at the simplicity of life here in the village.

"Juncus rush is the scientific name for the plants you use for your baskets." Diego smiled warmly at the Indian woman.

"You are very knowledgeable about such things." Kuyuma said as she continued to twist the stems into a circular shape.

"Reading is a hobby of mine." Diego smiled. "You speak our language very well." He shifted uncomfortably as his leg began to ache.

"Yes, I was taught at the mission school when Hunata was born. We learned the words together." She smiled up at him through dark eyelashes. "Tonoemu doesn't speak as well. He has worked all his life with no time to go to the mission school to learn."

"It is good of him to be willing to let you and your daughter learn." Diego winced as he leaned back, inwardly cursing his body's weak state. It had been weeks and he couldn't so much as stand yet.

"Yes. I was afraid when I married him. But he turned out to be a good husband."

Diego regarded her with a curious look. "It was not a love match, then?"

"We were promised to one another when we were children. But I have . . . grown to love him, in my own way." Kuyuma said, not looking up from her work. After a few silent moments, she smiled up at Diego. "Do you have a wife and children where you come from?"

Diego smiled at the thought and closed his eyes. "Not yet. I hope to be married soon." His lips twisted into a wry grin. "My accident here has delayed these plans indefinitely, it appears."

"You were badly injured. It will take time to recover." She looked up and regarded him with a warm smile. "You are lucky to be alive, Sanhican. Your blood was poisoned badly by your wounds. Do not fear if your strength does not return as fast as you would like."

Diego smiled at the name they had given him when he couldn't remember his own. It was easier for them to pronounce than his Spanish given name so he didn't bother to correct them. Along the River was quite an appropriate name for him as that was where Kuyuma and her family had discovered him.

"Yes. I know." Diego leaned back and covered his eyes with his hands. He'd held more of a conversation in the last few minutes than he had in the last week. He was getting better, it would just take more time that he wanted to admit.

"Victoria, you've hardly said two words since we left," Alejandro said softly, risking a sidelong look at the young woman who should have been his daughter. Fate was a cruel master, Alejandro had mused more in the last few days than in his entire life.

"I don't know what to say," came her quiet response.

Victoria had changed so much in the days since Zorro's death, and discovering the man she loved had also been her best friend, Alejandro's only son, had caused her to retreat even further into herself. Gone was the fire in her eyes. The challenge in her voice and in her spirit when something happened around her she did not approve. A weary resignation had settled on her slim shoulders and Alejandro didn't know how to help her. He wasn't sure he was able to help himself.

They had not told anyone in the pueblo that Diego was dead. The ruse would continue indefinitely until they could make some kind of decision. Mendoza seemed to think that Diego was involved in a burning romance, which the simple mention of caused Victoria to bristle visibly. De Soto didn't really care, though he had raised a skeptical eyebrow when he realized that Diego's mysterious trip had happened around the same time as Zorro's disappearance.

They carried on in uncomfortable silence, each dealing with their pain in the only way they knew how – in silence.

They reached Santa Barbara a day later and immediately took rooms in the finest establishment. Once freshened up, Alejandro led Victoria to the offices of his good friend, Luis Cristoba, a lawyer whom Alejandro would hire to complete the necessary legal paperwork to officially make Victoria a part of the de la Vega family.

When they arrived, they were surprised to see a Chumash Indian speaking to Señor Cristoba. Alejandro nodded politely and indicated that Victoria and Felipe take a seat. Alejandro could hear his friend interrupt the Indian. "If you will please excuse me. I have a very important appointment and I cannot delay."

The Indian nodded slowly. "Will you come?" He asked as Cristoba led him to the door.

"I do not have any time right now. I need to see my client here. Please return tomorrow and we can discuss this further." Cristoba shook his head, wondering why anyone in an Indian village would even know his name; much less ask for his help. Well, now was not the time, he'd received a letter from his old friend which concerned him greatly. He turned to Alejandro and beckoned them to come inside his office.

"Luis." Alejandro shook his friend's hand. "You already know Felipe, and this is Victoria Escalante."

"A pleasure." Luis took her hand and bowed over it, noting the dull, lifeless look in her eyes.

"You received my letter?" Alejandro asked, dispensing with any further pleasantries.

"I did and I'm quite concerned, Alejandro." Cristoba resumed his seat but leaned forward. "Has something happened to Diego?"

Alejandro looked away and Victoria and Felipe couldn't meet the man's eyes. Cristoba watched them with concern. Alejandro had aged considerably since he'd last seen him and the content of his old friend's letter had Cristoba very concerned. Cryptic was not how he would have described Alejandro but his letter had been just that.

"This is a family matter, Luis. I trust you will keep this information strictly confidential?" Alejandro's voice was low, full of sadness, and the lawyer felt a sudden fear grip his heart.

"Alejandro, you are my friend and my client. Anything you say here will not leave this office."

"Diego is - " Alejandro swallowed hard, knowing that if he said the words, they would make them more real in his troubled mind.

Cristoba gazed at his friend with a compassion born from years of friendship, forcing air from his lungs as quietly as possible. Diego was dead? How? When? He wanted to ask. He had just seen young de la Vega not too long ago. He had been in perfect health.

"Oh, Alejandro. My condolences." Luis said and was suddenly overwhelmed with the amount of grief contained within his office. Silent tears were sliding down Victoria's cheeks and Felipe had turned away, unmistakably wiping away tears of his own. "May I ask how - "

"You need to know how, Luis. But I must ask you, reiterate the importance that this conversation never leaves this office."

"You have my word."

Alejandro took a deep breath and revealed the information Diego had written in his letter.

Luis Cristoba sat stunned in his seat, eyes searching the shattered composure of those sitting in his office for some shred of falsity to Alejandro's claim. He, of course, had heard about the legendary Zorro's demise at the hands of the alcalde of Los Angeles, but he would never have guessed that the man behind that mask was the incredibly intelligent son of his good friend.

"I imagine the look on your face is similar to the look that passed across mine when I read his letter." Alejandro admitted with a sad sigh.

"You believe this letter then?"

"I have no reason to doubt it. My son would not lie about something like this." Alejandro met Victoria's eyes as she nodded.

"I believe it." Victoria added and Felipe nodded.

Cristoba released a heavy sigh. "I will draw up the paperwork you requested right away."

"There is one more change I would like to add," Alejandro looked at Felipe. "I would like to continue the adoption proceedings for Felipe as well." Felipe's eyes widened. Diego was planning to adopt him but the paperwork had never been completed. Why, now, was Alejandro going to do it? Had Diego asked him to in his letter?

"Very good." Cristoba nodded approvingly. "Victoria cannot legally inherit your property upon your death. You can provide for her for the rest of her life, or until she marries, but the lands and inheritance must go to a blood relative or the closest male relation."

Alejandro nodded with understanding. "Making Felipe my son will give him control over my estate when the time comes. And I wish for an additional cause for Victoria's care to be placed within my will."

"I will draw up the paperwork and have it ready for you to sign tomorrow," Cristoba said slowly and Alejandro smiled sadly.

"Thank you, my friend. Thank you for taking care of this so quickly."

"I will do what I can to make this easier for you."

Alejandro nodded and rose. "We will leave you to your work and we will be back tomorrow."

TBC