Chapter 7

"Felipe gave you the letters." Diego said quietly. It wasn't a question. And it was the only explanation that Diego's scattered brain could come up with for Victoria's willingness to marry him tonight.

"He did."

Diego nodded, his whole body shaking with a heavy sigh. With heavily lidded eyes, he turned his head toward Felipe. "Believed I was dead, hmm?" Diego tried to smile.

Felipe swallowed hard and nodded, wiping quickly at a tear that appeared unbidden at the corner of his eye.

"I have too much to live for, Felipe," Diego gripped the boy's hand tightly. "It won't be so easy for de Soto to kill me."

"But he almost did, Diego," Victoria brought his hand to her lips and closed her eyes. "I would never forgive him if –"

"And I would end his life with my bare hands, Diego." Alejandro added with a determined tone to his voice Diego had not heard in a long time.

"And end your lives as surely as he'd ended mine?" Diego offered with a frown. "That's why I never told you. Your safety was more important to me."

"And your love is more important to me." Victoria kissed the fingers she held.

"This isn't the way I'd envisioned our conversation about my secret to go." Diego chuckled softly. "Victoria, at least, I expected to behave like a rampaging lioness. Her eyes glowing with rage, her hair all in disarray. Just the way I like to see her." He admitted with a happy smile.

Victoria grinned and brushed her hand across his cheek. "Later. When you're better, I will fulfill that expectation. You do, after all, have a lot of explaining to do."

Diego nodded and closed his eyes for a moment. "I hope I live to give it to you."

Victoria refused to think morbidly. "It will take a lot more than a little fall to kill you, Diego. Past experience has taught me, us, that."

"Let him rest for a while before the padre arrives." Alejandro rested his hand on Victoria's shoulder. Alejandro rested a hand on her shoulder. "Victoria, dear. Come with me, please."

She was reluctant to leave but Diego smiled weakly and squeezed her hand. "Go, querida. I'm not going anywhere."

Victoria nodded and bent to embrace him tightly, brushing her lips against his before she stood and followed Alejandro out of the bedroom.

Diego sank weakly against the pillows and Felipe simply leaned forward and clutched his hand, willing the tears away. The boy knew Diego needed to gather whatever strength he could before the padre arrived and simply lay his head next to Diego's arm to lend the injured man his comforting presence.

Victoria followed Alejandro into the adjoining room and gasped when he pulled a very elegant shawl from his packed things. "I would be honored if you would wear this as a mantilla for the ceremony."

Victoria gaped at him as he set it over her shoulders. The green embroidered silk and lace shimmered in the lamplight and Victoria instantly knew it had belonged to Elena de la Vega.

"I bought this for my wife after Diego was born. It is appropriate that it should go to you." Alejandro's eyes beamed proudly with unshed tears and Victoria didn't have the heart to decline.

"I would be honored to wear it, Alejandro."

"Father, Victoria." Alejandro corrected and embraced her tightly. It was remarkable how well she fit into his embrace, as if she had always been meant to be there. With a sudden clarity, he realized that this fiery tempered lady had always been meant to be his daughter.

From the time she could walk, her mother had brought her to the hacienda. The Escalante's, even though they were of a different class, had been friends of the de la Vega's for years. His Elena loved the little raven-haired girl from the moment she saw her. Even when she dug holes in his wife's garden or insisted on playing with Diego and her brothers in a most unladylike fashion. Alejandro knew even then, buried deeply in his heart, that she would one day marry his son.

"You must call me father."

"Father." Victoria allowed a small smile.

They returned to Diego's room just as the padre was arriving.

"Good evening, Padre." Alejandro inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you for coming."

Padre Dominguez nodded solemnly. "I understand I have a twofold mission this evening?" He had read the letter requesting his presence carefully, realizing that he was not only performing a wedding but listening to confession as well.

"Yes. My son was badly injured from a recent fall but he wants to make this lady," he indicated Victoria with a small smile, "his wife in case he does not survive his injuries."

"I see." The padre said slowly. This was a most unusual request. "I shall need to verify that your son is coherent enough to understand and repeat the necessary vows."

"Of course." Alejandro led the way into the room and Diego opened his eyes slowly, squinting as the blurry figures moved closer.

After a few tense minutes, the padre was convinced that Diego was coherent enough to take and understand the meaning of the marriage vows.

"I will listen to confession before I perform the ceremony. I wish you to enter into this marriage with clean souls."

Alejandro, Felipe and Victoria filed out of the room so Diego could begin. One by one, they all spoke with the padre privately until they were finished, their consciousness' clearer for the first time in weeks.

Victoria stood by the bed and took Diego's hand. He gently squeezed it, hoping that he would be able to make it through the ceremony without loosing his strength completely. His head was throbbing painfully but at least he could keep his eyes open in the lamplight.

Alejandro's eyes misted as his children repeated the familiar verses, binding them in sickness and in health to one another for as long as they lived.

With a little difficulty, Diego was able to place his mother's ring on his beloved's finger at last and a weak but longing kiss followed, sealing their union.

"I believe this young man needs his rest." The padre touched Diego's forehead and frowned at the warmth he found there.

Felipe hugged Diego and Victoria and left the room followed by Alejandro and then the padre.

"This isn't the wedding night I would have wanted for us, querida." Diego said, closing his eyes as the pounding in his head became nearly unbearable.

Victoria draped his mother's shawl over a nearby chair and sat on the bed, near his head, and began to massage his temples. Her gentle fingers gently kneaded the skin and Diego instantly relaxed, the pain lessening.

"Ah, that feels good." He whispered, sinking his weight into the pillows.

She slid down and pressed her lips to his temple, sliding them ever so slowly to his closed eyes, down to his cheek and finally across his lips. "I love you."

He sighed but said nothing and she knew he too weak to return even the slightest pressure. She stood and slipped off her sandals. Then drew back the covers on the bed and slipped in beside him. She rested her head on the pillow beneath his shoulder and pressed a gentle kiss to the warm skin. She wrapped her fingers in his and settled into the cushions, relishing the feel of his warm body next to hers.

After a few moments, he shifted and she could feel his arm move behind her shoulder and draw her against his side. "At least let me hold my wife on our wedding night." Diego whispered, eyes still closed in an attempt to shut out the unrelenting pounding.

"Sleep, Diego." She whispered and pressed a gentle kiss to his neck. "I will be here when you wake."

When Alejandro woke the next morning, he knocked softly on the door before letting himself into his son's room. He halted in the doorway to the bedroom, a small smile turning the corners of his mouth at the sight before him. This wasn't something he should be witnessing, but it warmed his heart and gave him a small measure of hope for his son's recovery.

Victoria lay on her side, hand flattened in the center of his chest, her head pillowed on his uninjured arm. Diego's hand clearly covered and held her much smaller one as they slept and his arm draped over her shoulder as she pressed against his side.

Another knock on the door startled him and he turned to answer it, admitting the doctor with a small smile. "One moment. I will wake them."

The doctor nodded and took a seat in the sitting room while Alejandro returned to the bedroom to wake Victoria.

Victoria shook the sleep out of her head quickly when Alejandro walked in. She was already fully clothed but slipped from beneath the covers quickly and slid on her sandals.

"He's going to make me leave anyway. I will go wash and be back soon." Victoria brushed a gentle kiss across her husband's lips and trailed the palm of her hand down his cheek before excusing herself from the room.

Alejandro nodded with a smile and summoned the doctor.

"He's got a bit of a fever now which is not encouraging. He didn't have much of one when I examined him yesterday."

Diego was still deeply asleep and this also concerned the doctor. His preliminary efforts to rouse the injured man had produced not more than a groan of restlessness.

"His head wound and now the fever are all that really concerns me. His body will heal from the other injuries, eventually. "

"But if he is too weak because of those other injuries - "

"That is a concern." The doctor admitted with a reluctant sigh.

"So there is nothing to do but wait and pray?"

"Unfortunately, that is all that can be done for him at this time."

Alejandro led the doctor into the sitting room where Felipe and Victoria waited anxiously for news. The grim look on the men's faces caused Victoria to close her eyes tightly against tears she had told herself she would not shed.

"All we can do is wait." Alejandro said with a sigh as he led the doctor to the door.

"I will return tomorrow." Said the doctor before the door closed behind him.

Felipe returned Alejandro's look of despair when the older man turned from the door. Victoria had already gone back into the bedroom and was sitting next to her husband, whispering soothing words. Alejandro stood in the doorway, unwilling to intrude upon the moment. His son was married to this lady now and they deserved some measure of privacy, even with the severity of his injuries.

"After all the time it's taken us to reach this place, Diego," Victoria's small hand rested in Diego's, squeezing gently, "don't expect I'm going to let you go so easily."

"I won't ever let you go, querida." Diego's voice was weaker than yesterday, no doubt due to the fever sapping what remained of his strength.

Victoria stifled a sob and lay her head against his shoulder. When she draped her arm across his chest and set her fingers in his other hand, Diego forced a small smile.

"You read - the - letters." He clearly didn't remember their earlier conversation on the matter.

She briefly wondered if he remembered marrying her. "Yes. We did." Victoria answered truthfully. There would be no more secrets between them any longer.

"Then - "

"There will be time for explanations later, Diego," Victoria raised her head and brushed her lips against his. "I will be very happy to sit and listen to them. But for now, you need rest."

"I will rest." Diego turned his head and with difficulty, opened his eyes and ignored the pain long enough to longingly gaze at his wife. "I love you, Victoria. I have for a very long time. Never doubt that."

"I know." Victoria admitted with a small smile and then pressed her fingers to his lips.

Diego's fever raged uncontrollably for two days causing newfound worry to crease the brows of his exhausted family.

Victoria steadfastly refused to leave Diego's side, even when the doctor arrived to examine him. She was his wife now and she would not be put off like a child. She'd slept little, instead spoke to Diego in hushed tones, murmuring words of love for his ears only. She kept a cool cloth draped over his forehead, doing her best to help his body break free of the fever that had gripped it in a seemingly relentless hold.

Sometime during the second night, Victoria could feel Diego tremble violently. She snuggled closer to him, gathering him in her arms and holding him tight. He whimpered deliriously at her touch but did not push her away.

Victoria woke to a solid, firm pressure wrapped around her waist. She breathed deeply and trembled when she felt warm breath on her ear. With a momentary flash of panic, she relaxed realizing she must have rolled over in the middle of the night. Her back was now to Diego and his arm was draped over her waist, his face buried in her hair.

Without removing his arm, she rolled over to face him and brushed her hand against his cheek. Relieved to feel that his fever appeared to have broken, she trailed her hand across his whiskered chin.

It had been days since he'd been shaved and she couldn't help but think he looked rather roguishly handsome with a few days growth on his chin. She brushed her lips against his and was surprised to feel his unconscious response.

"Diego?" She nuzzled his cheek in an effort to rouse him. All she received in answer was a deep sigh.

Consciousness slowly returned and his mind was clearer than it had been in days. His arm slid from her waist and he rubbed his face with his hand.

Victoria sat up in concern and covered that hand with her own. "Your fever broke in the night."

Diego risked opening his eyes and squinted at the light that filtered in through the windows. He groaned and sank weekly into the pillows.

Victoria pushed quickly to her feet and drew the curtains closed. "Is that better?"

Diego nodded. "Much."

Victoria poured a cool glass of water and lifted it to Diego's lips. "Drink slowly."

"How long was I asleep?" he asked quietly, rubbing his temples. He felt different. The pain in his head was different.

"Nearly two days." Victoria brushed her fingers lightly across his cheek.

"The doctor will be back this morning," Alejandro suddenly appeared in the open doorway. "He will be pleased to see you conscious." Alejandro's eyes narrowed as he watched his son rub his temples. "Your head still hurt?"

"I'm beginning to get used to it."

Victoria stood and kissed Diego's cheek before leaving her husband to speak to his father.

Alejandro sighed deeply. "The doctor won't be pleased."

"There's very little regarding my injuries that he has been pleased about," Diego released a frustrated sigh. He squeezed his eyes tight and then opened them, squinting as his vision cleared momentarily and then blurred once more.

"And your vision is still blurred?" Alejandro asked.

"Yes. Everything is blurry. I can see shapes but that's all."

Alejandro frowned but any response he may have made was cut short when Victoria swept back into the room.

A small grin touched the corner of Alejandro's lips as Victoria set the bowl and brush on the table beside the bed. "Would you excuse us for a few minutes?" Victoria asked with a shy smile and Alejandro suddenly felt like he was intruding on an intensely private moment. Concern for his son and desire to give them some time alone warred within his mind. But after a few moments, he relented and stepped out of the room.

"Plan to take advantage of my weakened state?" Diego asked with a small smile, trying desperately to ignore the throbbing pain in his temples.

"There will be time for that when you are better." Victoria's eyes locked with his and she slid her hand into his and squeezed tightly.

"I may never recover fully, Victoria." He said softly, wanting to share his fear with the woman he loved.

She didn't answer, simply pressed him against the pillows. "Lean back and relax." She refused believe that he would never recover.

A small smile curled the corner of his mouth as she began to brush a creamy substance across his cheek. He sighed at the feel of her fingers on his skin when she snapped open the straight blade.

"Be still."

Slowly, she scraped the blade across his cheek removing the dark hair that had been left untended for the last few days. Her fingers were gentle as she slowly tilted his head to give her blade better access to his whiskered skin.

Diego's heart thudded in his chest and his breathing quickened. Even through the throbbing pain in his head, he relished the feel of her fingers delicately touching his skin. If only his head would stop its incessant pounding, and he was not so weak, he could roll her over and make her his wife in more than name only. But the pain in his head worsened the longer he remained upright and as Victoria finished, he released a deep, shuddering breath born of concealed pain.

Diego covered his face with his hands and rubbed his temples. The discomfort had increased since he'd been awake and now a needle-like pain pricked at his eyes. Normally, he wouldn't show such weakness but he could feel the stinging tears welling behind his closed lids. The pain was growing unbearable and he swallowed a sob-laden breath.

"Diego?"

He barely heard Victoria's concerned question, barely felt her hands pulling his own away from his face. She brushed her thumbs across his cheek, capturing the tears that fell unbidden from his tightly closed eyelids.

"Diego?"

If he weren't in so much pain, he would have been alarmed at the panicked strain he could hear in her voice.

"Dios," he could hear her strangled whisper but could not find his voice to ask what was wrong. Pain so great burst through his eyes and drew his breath into his lungs as he inhaled sharply.

He forced his eyes open but blinked rapidly as the salty tears burned. Diego noticed, with a mild concern, that Victoria must have extinguished the lamp. It was disturbingly dark in the room now despite the fact that he knew it was early morning.

"Victoria? Why did you extinguish the lamp?" He finally breathed when the pain seemed to lessen. He turned his head toward Victoria and heard a strained whisper, which unnerved him.

"I didn't, Diego."

His breath caught and he reached his hands to his eyes just as Victoria called for Alejandro. The fright he could hear in her voice caused him instant concern.

"I can't see." He said swallowing the instant fear that gripped his mind. He clutched at the bedcovers for her hand.

"Victoria?" Alejandro, followed by Felipe, rushed into the room at hearing Victoria's panicked voice.

"What is - " Alejandro stopped suddenly, the question trailing into silence when he noticed Victoria's stunned expression.

Victoria turned tear-filled eyes on Alejandro and held out her hands, revealing the fingers that had wiped away Diego's earlier tears were now covered with streaks of blood.

Alejandro rushed to Diego's bedside, stopping suddenly when he noticed his son's open, unfocused eyes. The whites had turned a deep red and from the corners, where one would expect to find tears, a thin line of blood rolled down his cheeks.

"Madre de dios," Alejandro gasped, his eyes widening in fear.

TBC