Chapter 3
Diego sat stiffly in one of the large sofas a small smile spreading across his face as he carefully watched the reactions of those he loved, as he finished his narration detailing his secret life over the last seven years.
"And you couldn't trust me with this secret? In my own home?" Alejandro stared at his son, unable to truly be upset with the boy. He had his son back from the dead!
"Father –" Diego began as Felipe came in the door with doctor Hernandez.
Diego's eyes narrowed and he began to speak but was silenced by a wave of his father's hand. "Don't even try to protest, Diego."
Alejandro turned to the doctor and began to explain, "I'm sure you have heard the rumors that the alcalde's men killed Zorro last night." He paused while the doctor nodded.
"My son was injured badly last night as well," Alejandro did not directly say the two incidents were related but the tone of his voice implied that they were, "and I need your treatment of his injuries to be completely anonymous."
Doctor Hernandez's eyebrow raised as he glanced at Diego and then shot a look at Victoria, who sat as close to Diego as possible, clutching his hand.
"I –" The doctor began slowly, understanding dawning quickly, "believe I understand."
"He took a tumble off one of our new Andalucian's that he was training yesterday morning and has been in bed recovering ever since," Alejandro explained slowly.
The doctor nodded and stared at Diego as the injured man got slowly to his feet. He swayed and Victoria was beside him immediately, offering a steadying arm around his waist.
"Shall I examine you in your room?" Hernandez asked.
Diego nodded and led the doctor down the hallway.
A little while later, Diego was laying in bed with the covers tucked tightly around him.
"You need to stay in bed and rest. You are lucky that fall didn't kill you." Hernandez reprimanded, and a little quieter added, "and you are lucky you didn't drown when you hit the water."
Diego nodded. "Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate your help."
"This pueblo needs you, Diego," Hernandez smiled and turned to Alejandro. "Make sure this stubborn son of yours follows my instructions or I am going to break his other leg so he cannot walk at all."
Victoria chuckled and Felipe turned away to hide the smile that crept over his face.
"I will make sure he follows your instructions." Alejandro stared hard at his son and smiled.
Diego couldn't complain too badly about how he had spent the next two days – even though he had been confined to the hacienda by an adamant father and doctor. Victoria was staying at the hacienda and he had spent the better part of his confinement talking with her, revealing the feelings he had been forced to keep hidden for so long.
To his delight, she returned those feelings with equal enthusiasm and he knew that their days of separation were over. The only task ahead of them was how to deal with her feelings for Zorro.
The masked man's work was not finished, or Diego would simply let the rumor of Zorro's fall off the cliff at mesa verde be the end of the legend. The alcalde was still as oppressive as ever and Diego would continue to fight that oppression by whatever means available to him.
They sat outside, enjoying the cool autumn air, the soft fragrance of the garden – and a little privacy.
Diego learned from his father that those gold coins that he had found in the half-buried chest were indeed bound for the California Coast and for Junipero Serra. They were specially minted coins that were to be given to each presidio along the coast, indicating their affiliation with the Spanish Crown and the religion of the country. The coins were minted with the image of the king of Spain on one side and the image of the church on the other.
"I think maybe we should just leave them there. As a memorial for those who did not live through the crossing to deliver them to their intended destination." Diego said, after revealing to her what he'd discovered in the cavern.
"Why? The gold could do some good for the pueblo."
"The alcalde would just impound it and use it for his own means." Diego began. "And we would have to explain how we found it. That is just something I wish to avoid."
"Zorro could return with them." Victoria smiled, her eyes dancing.
"I was truly hoping that Zorro could remain dead. But the more I hear about what the alcalde has done in the last two days, the more I realize that his fight may never be over."
Victoria nodded sadly.
Diego turned and took her hands. "Can you settle for marrying me in his place?"
Victoria's eyes brightened. "Diego – Is this a proposal?"
Diego leaned back and grinned wickedly. "Oh, it was just a thought. Perhaps in a few months, when the people believe that you have given up your love for Zorro –"
"Yes!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.
When they parted, long minutes later, Diego's eyes held a spark that electrified the air around them. "You can live with my riding as Zorro? The consequences if I was unmasked?"
"You know I will." She settled against his chest and drew his arms around her. "If it means we can finally be together."
"I can't help but think I am placing you in more danger than –"
"I am in no more danger by loving Diego de la Vega that I was when I loved Zorro." Victoria countered quickly.
"All right, then. We will work on transferring your love to boring old me."
Victoria leaned back and searched his face. "You could never be boring."
Diego grinned and pulled her into his arms, relishing their closeness.
"So, you will go back and get those coins?"
Diego sighed. She just wasn't going to give this up.
"Perhaps if you returned them to the King he would reward you – a new alcalde would be nice –," she chuckled against his chest, "for returning the lost coins to him."
Diego grinned but shook his head. "Victoria, the King of Spain is not in need of a few gold coins minted decades ago."
"Then return them to the presidios." Victoria said simply.
Diego stared down at her dark head. It was that simple. "Zorro could deliver them to their original destinations. The parchment I found inside the chest probably indicated which locations were to receive the coins. I would need to find a way to prevent the water from touching it further. It was already barely readable when I found it."
Victoria lifted her head. "I think it's time to pay a visit to mesa verde. We have some history to dig out of the sand."
Diego tightened his arms around her shoulders. "You are not going out there alone and I am not strong enough to take you yet."
Victoria's eyes flashed. But she acquiesced – For the moment.
After a few peaceful days, De Soto leaned back in his chair, resting his feet casually on his desk, as Mendoza served him his mid-day meal. "Ah, feels so good to know that Zorro will not be interfering in my affairs any longer."
Mendoza didn't say a word. He had been sorry to see Zorro fall to his death at mesa verde and, quite honestly, wished the man had not died. He had been the only one keeping the alcalde from oppressing the people even more than he already did.
De Soto noticed Mendoza's reaction but let it pass. He was no fool. He knew the incompetent Sergeant had admired and respected Zorro. Even considered the masked man a friend.
"The poor señorita is so distraught over her lovers death that she's spent the last few days at the de la Vega hacienda, no doubt crying on Diego and Alejandro's shoulders." De Soto scowled at the thought. "Why, she'll probably be on the search for a husband in no time – now that that bandit is dead."
As De Soto took a bite of his tamale, an idea struck him. It was time the farmers and the landowners paid up on their overdue taxes. He had put off arresting all delinquents, but now, with Zorro gone, he could do so without fear of that masked nuisance interrupting his plans.
"Post a notice in the tavern and in all public places that if all taxes are not paid by noon tomorrow, I will confiscate all property," De Soto instructed Mendoza.
"But alcalde..."
"Do not question my authority Sergeant," de Soto glared. "Maybe you should write this down. I don't want you to forget anything."
Mendoza searched for a quill and some paper and began to scribble the alcalde's instructions.
"Well," De Soto raised his voice as the Sergeant stood there staring at the parchment, "what are you waiting for? Go post it!"
Mendoza hurried out of the office to complete his commandant's order all the while wondering what he had done in his poor life to deserve such a cruel superior officer.
Diego and Victoria rode out to mesa verde a few hours later. Diego knew he would not have been able to slip out of the hacienda unnoticed, not with her fawning over his recovery like a mother hen. They stopped a bit further down where the rocks were not as jagged and it would be easier to climb down the cliff.
Excited, Victoria dismounted her mare quickly and peered over the edge.
"Victoria!" Diego jumped quickly off Esperanza and ignored his injured body's protest at the swift movement.
"What is it about curiosity and woman!" Diego muttered as he reached for Victoria and pulled her away from the edge.
She turned to him, her eyes wide with unshed tears. "I can't believe you lived through that fall."
Diego enveloped her in his arms and whispered. "With such beauty for which to return, I would crawl back to you from the deepest depths of the world."
She lifted her head and he pulled her tightly against his chest after noticing the tears begin to well in her eyes.
"I love you." Diego captured her lips in a gentle caress but as she responded eagerly to his kiss, he groaned and deepened their connection, their mouths clinging for a long moment before parting.
Alejandro's eyes widened as he tore the parchment off the tavern door. He mounted Dulcinea and galloped toward home before anyone could stop him. Though none tried, several wondered where he was going in such a hurry with the alcalde's declaration.
"Probably to gather the caballeros," one of the tavern's patrons suggested. "They won't let the alcalde do this. Even if Zorro is dead."
"Why would the rich bother to help us?" A peasant muttered. "These unfair taxes don't affect them."
"He's right," another peasant added. "As usual there's one set of rules for the rich and one for the rest of us."
"I think Don Alejandro will stand up to the alcalde this time. Especially if Zorro is dead."
"I hope you're right."
"Stay here," Diego ordered as he securely tied the rope around a nearby rock.
Victoria bristled at the command. "I'm going with you."
Diego sighed. He didn't want her climbing down the cliff and he certainly didn't want her swimming in the strong undercurrents of the water either.
"Please stay here, Querida. I don't want you to be injured."
"I can swim, Diego." Victoria countered with another glance out over the water. "The tide is low. It will be easier to find this cavern of yours."
"I would feel more comfortable if you stayed –"
"No." Her tone left no room for argument but Diego was adamant.
For the first time, the two of them stared at one another, carefully controlling their tempers as one warred for dominance over the other. Diego had never found himself in the position of arguing with his lady love and he found the heated emotion stimulating. He would enjoy their argument far more if it didn't have to do with something so dangerous.
"I will not be coddled like a child." Victoria fumed. "I am going with you."
"Victoria –"
"I am not your wife – yet. And if you would like me to be in the future, you will not control my decisions."
"I don't want to control you, Victoria," Diego sighed. "I only want to protect you."
Victoria moved forward and grasped the rope. "Then lets go."
Diego moved forward as she began to shuffle down the rope. "Let me show you how to do it. Please. I will go first and you can copy me."
She watched as he slowly maneuvered himself down the cliff and onto a rocky outcropping below. Victoria did surprisingly well as she climbed down and joined him at the bottom.
The waves crashed into the rocks, spraying them with salty water and Diego grasped her upper arms and pulled her away from the edge. "Be careful, one strong wave will knock you right into the water."
"Isn't that where we need to be to reach this cavern?"
"Well, yes. But I would rather us enter it on our own terms." He turned from her and glanced around, finally spotting the nearly covered, even at low tide, entrance to the cavern peeking out from the rolling ocean waves. He turned pleading eyes on Victoria. "Please let me go. Wait here for me?"
Victoria scowled. "No, I'm going with you."
"Please, Victoria. I don't know what I would do if something happened to –"
But she wasn't listening. She had caught sight of the entrance to the cavern as well and had made her way to the edge of the rock face on which they were standing. It wasn't far. Simply a few strokes in the water and she could reach it. Water sprayed around her body and she removed her outer garments and prepared to enter the water.
Diego shook his head at the strong willed woman's determination. "Victoria?"
She turned at his call and smiled at him. "Lets go. It doesn't look too –"
But a wave suddenly crashed into her legs, causing her to lose her already precarious balance on the moss-covered rock.
"Victoria!" Diego cried as she slid backwards into the water.
She reached for him, calling out his name, but was instantly swallowed by the rapidly deepening water as the tide began to rise.
"No!" Diego cried as he watched her body being swept away by the waves. Without thinking, and without concern for his own healing injuries, he leapt into the water hoping to catch her before the rough waves slammed her body up against the rocks.
TBC
Aurelia30 – Yeah, I think the original version of this story is posted somewhere. I've taken it down from my site and will replace it with this one as soon as I finish it. This chapter has some changes, tho' the outcome ends up being the same.
WolfDaughter – Good Catch! I changed a few words and re-uploaded this chapter. The few days later, should have gone where the alcalde was talking to Mendoza. I like this version far better as well. I'm going away in a few days for a week so I'll try and post the rest of this before then. Sorry, you'll just have to wait for Shattered Dreams . . . Yes, I'm mean and evil and, you know, I really love it that way :)