Chapter 12

By the next morning, the whole tale of the journey to find him had been relayed to Diego. That Felipe had felt the need to deliver the letters he'd written many years ago surprised Diego the most. At no time during his own ordeal had he himself thought he was near death. His natural optimism had prevented it.

There were many other times in his life he'd felt the cold hand of death more than during all this, but perhaps he'd been very wrong. The signs that his source of water was tainted had been there, and he'd ignored them. It was unlike him not to notice the finest details, especially when it could mean his very survival. He could only hope it was the lack of water in the first place that had caused his misjudgment.

Maybe it was all a warning. Maybe he had been Zorro long enough. Inattention to details could get him killed. It was a pity his voyage had never seen its end, for the pardon for Zorro looked more inviting than ever.

His thoughts raced on even as he tried to focus on Victoria as she spoke. Trying to rein them in, he reached up to touch her face, her hair. Just the feel of her brought him back to the present and stopped the worrying thoughts that hovered at the back of his mind.

"Where's Felipe?" he asked, interrupting her for the first time.

"I haven't seen him yet. Not since we returned. Consuela said he's been in and out so much since you've been away that it's difficult to keep up with him." The slight frown on his face caught her attention. "Do you want me to go look for him?"

"Well, I would like to know about Tornado." He twirled a lock of her hair around one finger and she reached up to close her hand upon his. "But I don't necessarily want you to go anywhere."

There came a soft knock on the door and both hands withdrew guiltily.

"Come in," Diego said hoarsely as he smoothed the covers and Victoria hastily retreated to her chair.

The door opened and Alejandro came in, leaning heavily on Consuela but with a huge grin on his face.

"Ah, Diego." He smiled happily as Victoria rose and Consula led him over to the comfortable chair.

"Now you sit there. And if either of you get too excited, you, Señor, will return to your room. I'll not have both of you having relapses on me!" Consuela fussed with the assurance of a long-retained family servant." She crossed to the bed to feel Diego's forehead before she left with a last stern look to both of the men who just shook their heads wearily.

Victoria could see that the two men needed to talk privately so she excused herself and left them to it.

She needed to find Felipe anyway. Diego had asked about Tornado and he was not going to let the subject rest until he was sure the horse was all right. She had also been wondering why Felipe had not been in to see Diego.

"Consuela!" She caught up to the woman in the hallway. "Consuela, have you seen Felipe?"

"No, Señorita, I haven't. That boy! He's so unpredictable. I don't even think he slept in his bed again last night. If you ask me, they let him get away with far too much for such a young one. In my day —"

"Yes, I'm sure things were very different, but do you know where he might be?"

"Well, he spends far too much time in the stables. Comes in at all hours, smelling of horses." She clucked her tongue at the thought.

"That's an idea. I'll check there." Before the woman could begin her harangue again, Victoria was out the front door and heading for the stables.

But Felipe was nowhere to be found. She had checked just about everywhere she could think of when the thought finally struck her. He's with Tornado. But where was that? Perhaps it was a place not even close by to the hacienda. She realized that there were still many things Diego had yet to tell her.

She was about to enter the house when she turned at the sound of approaching horses. Big Jim and Pepe hailed her as they dismounted.

"And how is the patient, Señorita?" Big Jim asked, shielding his eyes with a hand in the hot morning sun.

"Much, much better!" she was only too glad to reply. "He's awake, alert and after a few more days in bed, I'm sure he'll be back on his feet." She looked up at the big man shyly. "Big Jim, I don't know how I can ever thank you for all you've —"

"No need, Victoria. We were on the same mission. I would like to go in and see him and Don Alejandro before we pack up, and this one," he leaned over to ruffle Pepe's hair, "wants to see Felipe before we leave."

"You're leaving already?"

"Yes, it's time we headed for home. This area is a bit too hot for me and my men, if you know what I mean?" He said as he gave her a wink.

"Oh, yes, I suppose so." She remembered that he was a wanted man in some parts. "Well, Don Alejandro is with Diego in his room, but I haven't found Felipe yet."

"What do you mean?" The pirate stopped abruptly.

"I mean that no one's seen him since…well…I don't exactly know since when." She paused. "He didn't come home last night according to the housekeeper." She watched as Big Jim exchanged looks with Felipe. "You don't think there's something wrong, do you?"

"In this pueblo? Señorita, you should know better than I would. Pepe, do you —"

Pepe was already heading back to his horse. "I'll check around. I think I know the places he might be."

"Be careful!" Big Jim called after his son before making his way into the house after Victoria.

After seeing him to Diego's door, she excused herself and headed for the kitchen. Somehow she felt that the men might appreciate having their conversation without her.

Don Alejandro greeted the big man with a grateful hug. Diego's greeting was more subdued but no less meaningful.

"I owe you my life, Big Jim," Diego declared. "And I'm also in your debt for keeping Señorita Escalante safe during all this."

"Now that was no mean task. Do you know that little lady is just a bit headstrong?" All three men laughed heartily. "My men now think it's quite acceptable to take a woman aboard, as long as she can cook like the señorita."

"The way to all men's hearts, heh?" laughed Don Alejandro. "But you're leaving so soon? Why not stay around for a few days? There's plenty of room here. Even your men could bunk down with the vaqueros. There's really no trouble"

"No, no, I think we'll be going this afternoon. I can't afford the time, though I'd like to." He turned to the man in the bed. "Diego, I'm very glad you came round before I left. I wanted to tell you one thing. That little lady… you know you should go about courting her. She's shown her true colors in going after you like that."

"Yes, Big Jim, I agree." Diego had not missed the slight emphasis on the word "you" and he looked intently at the pirate's face for a moment.

"Well, if you don't, I may come back and court her myself," he threatened with a laugh.

They talked for almost two hours before Big Jim finally said his goodbyes and left with Diego feeling just a trifle uneasy.