Note: This chapter has not yet been beta'd. If there are any major changes once she has gone through it, I will make them and post a note. Otherwise, enjoy. This story is done!
Chapter 4
"The people say Zorro is gone." Don Alonzo Camarillo said, sipping the cool water that was offered to him by a maid. He had come to complete a business negotiation that had begun before Alejandro had been shot. "No one has seen him since Alejandro was shot."
"I'm sure the guilt over my father's death has caused him to re-think his never ending fight against oppression in this pueblo." Diego sat at his father's desk, absently glancing over long neglected paperwork. He wasn't in the mood to negotiate the fair price of stud services but Don Alonzo had been waiting patiently for over a week while the family grieved.
"Well, Alejandro's death seems to have tempered our alcalde's need to further oppress the people." Don Alonzo offered, his tone belaying the uncertainty he could not hide.
"I have no doubt that he will return to his old nefarious ways soon enough," Diego pulled out the contract that his father had drawn up and slid it across the table to Don Alonzo. All that was left was to list the price and duration of the stud services two pure-blood de la Vega stallions were to perform. "I believe everything is in order? Please read and sign below."
Don Alonzo scanned the parchment. "Well, if Zorro is truly gone then we need to start standing up to the alcalde." He lifted the quill and dipped it into the inkpot. "If he can get away with killing such a distinguished member of this community," he scrawled his name across the parchment, "then what is there to stand between him and further oppression? With no fear of repercussions." He slid the parchment back to Diego, who immediately signed his name, sealing the agreement. "I find it difficult to believe that the King would so ignore what is going on in his own colonies."
"Out of sight, out of mind," Diego said with an annoyed shake of his head. "He has enough problems knocking on his very doorstep to be worrying about the stability of one small outpost an ocean away. I don't think he will be able to keep control of the colonies for much longer, anyhow. The reports from the south indicate strong, and, in some cases, violent, uprisings against Spanish rule."
"You truly think Mexico will declare independence?"
"It's been a long time in coming."
Don Alonzo sighed. "As much as I detest standing up to governmental authority of any kind, we should, perhaps, begin a weekly or monthly meeting with all of the caballeros. Even if the alcalde does not turn back to his oppressive ways, it would be good to have a plan in place for defense of the pueblo in case this southern revolution makes its way into California."
Diego nodded his agreement. "A good idea. We can meet here. Set a date and I will prepare the house staff."
"Prepare the staff for what?" Victoria entered the room with a tray of fruit, carefully arrayed on a large platter, and a large carafe of juice.
Don Alonzo rose to his feet and bowed slightly, "Señora."
Victoria smiled kindly at the caballero as Diego rose and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, my dear. Join us?"
Don Alonzo's eyes widened at the invitation. Topics such as they were discussing were not normally something spoken of in front of women. But Victoria Escalante, surprisingly now Doña de la Vega, was not a normal woman. Diego gave her far more rein in matters normally discussed exclusively by men than most caballeros in all of Spain. Some wondered if he had not bitten off more than he could control in marrying the fiery tempered woman. But none had the courage to question his motives for such a match after the recent death of his father.
Victoria noticed the startled look on Don Alonzo's face and smiled a bit defiantly. She, too, knew the role women were supposed to fill in positions such as hers. But she and Diego were equals – in everything. He treated her with no less respect than he would anyone else. "I would love to."
Diego pulled over a chair that rested against the wall and waited for her to be seated before returning to his chair.
"Don Alonzo and I were just discussing the growing possibility of Mexico's break with Spain."
Victoria nodded and then added, "I heard something about a meeting and using the hacienda?" She noticed the quickly hidden annoyed look that passed across Don Alonzo's face. It was clear he was not happy to have been overheard. Diego seemed not to notice.
"Yes, the caballeros are going to begin meeting to discuss the protection of the pueblo in case violent revolution makes its way into California." Diego lifted his glass to his lips and took a slow sip.
"As well as discuss ways to stand up to the alcalde should he decide to return to oppressing the people," Don Alonzo added.
Victoria's eyes widened. After all this time, the caballeros were going to stand up to the alcalde? Too bad it took the death of the wealthiest among them to spur them into action.
"I have no doubt the alcalde will soon realize the error of his ways." Diego offered with no further explanation. "I'm quite sure we won't have to lift a finger to stop him from flogging another peasant."
"I hope you're right," Victoria said slowly, leveling her lovely brown eyes firmly on her husband.
He understood her unspoken words quite clearly. She did not want him to have to lift a finger, as Diego de la Vega, or a meter of sharp toledo steel, as Zorro, to defend another oppressed man, woman, or child. Zorro was gone. Alejandro's death had assured that fact.
Victoria remembered her discussion with Diego about this very thing, last night, as the men continued with their own conversation.
They lay in bed, exhausted after spending another evening assuaging their grief in one another's arms. Intense though their lovemaking was, Victoria felt it wouldn't have been any other way – even if Alejandro had not died. They had spent so much time loving one another from a seemingly endless divide. It was not surprising that their passion would be all consuming.
Victoria nuzzled his chest with her cheek, basking in the wonderfully sated and exhausted feeling sweeping through her body. She brushed her hand over the hard planes of his chest and traced small circles along the firm muscle of his stomach. As her fingers slowly moved lower, his hand came over hers, halting her downward progress. A small grin tugged at the corner of her mouth as she tilted her head to look up at him, her eyes dancing mischievously.
"Give me some time to recover, hmm?" His voice was deep, sleepy, but his eyes were strikingly clear and playful.
Shooting him a disappointed look, she sighed, "Oh, I suppose." She snuggled against him as he released her hand and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
With only a sheet covering their bodies, Victoria found herself wanting to explore the muscular form barely hidden from her view. But, there was something else they needed to discuss before she continued her seduction of her husband.
"Diego?" she murmured, pressing a gentle kiss against his shoulder.
"Hmm?"
She steeled herself for what she needed to say. "What are you going to do about Zorro?"
When he didn't answer right away, she risked a glance at him. He was staring at the ceiling, clearly lost in thought.
"I think – I think you should let him go."
It astonished him how alike their thoughts were on the subject. "Why?" he asked.
"The guilt you feel over your father's death will haunt you for the rest of your days." She closed her eyes and hugged him tightly. "You need a clear head to do Zorro's work. I'm afraid, Diego. Afraid that if you continue riding that you will make a fatal mistake." She pushed herself up and stared imploringly down at him, tears in her eyes. "I couldn't bear to lose you, too."
His eyes slowly shifted from the ceiling to his lovely wife's distraught face. "Oh, Querida." His hands slid into her hair and drew her mouth to his. She clung wordlessly to him, keeping the tears at bay. "You won't lose me." He assured when they finally parted.
At her skeptical look, he twirled a finger through her dark curls. "I. I think you're right. I – don't think I could bear to wear that clothing again. Where it once represented freedom from oppression, it now holds only guilty memories."
Victoria snuggled closer, draping one leg over his and sliding further onto his chest. She pressed her lips to his jaw and closed her eyes.
"Zorro's work is done. It's time to teach the people to stand up on their own."
"That could be more dangerous than Zorro's work ever was." Victoria was frightened that if Diego began to oppose the alcalde's oppression of the people, that he, and those he led into that fight, would be jailed – or worse. Her husband was a very passionate man, and he would not sit by and watch an innocent be harmed.
"I won't give up fighting for the people," Diego said firmly. "But I – can't look at Zorro again. Not right now." He stared sadly down at the woman he loved. "I may never be able to again."
A gentle hand on her arm drew her out of her thoughts and Victoria blushed prettily at her husband. At his concerned look, she squeezed his hand and assured him everything was well.
"How like a woman to be bored with such talk," Don Alonzo chuckled, drawing a frown to Victoria's lips. "No offense, Doña Victoria." Don Alonzo stood and extended his hands. He knew, had on occasion witnessed, the lady's fiery temper and he had no wish for it to be directed towards him now. "My wife would be bored to tears."
Both men stood out of respect as Victoria pushed herself to her feet. "Well, then, consider it a blessing that I am not your wife."
Diego hid a grin behind a glass he brought quickly to his lips.
Don Alonzo struggled with a suitable retort but one that would not insult the lady was not forthcoming.
Victoria turned to Diego. "I will leave you two to your revolutionary discussion." Victoria caught a glimpse of the disgust that crossed Don Alonzo's face at the mention of such a thing and smiled smugly at her husband. "Diego will tell me all about it later this evening."
"Yes, indeed." Diego bent and kissed her cheek before she gathered her skirts and swept out of the room.
"I think that woman would be the death of me," Don Alonzo joked, glancing at the door Victoria had just closed, a bit too loudly.
"She may yet be the death of me," Diego grinned at the door, as they resumed their discussion.
Peasants and caballeros alike watched in fascination as a carriage, escorted by royal guardsmen, rolled into the plaza. News quickly spread across the pueblo and soon people filed out of the tavern, the bank, and the church, to watch as the carriage came to a stop before the cuartel gates.
Diego exited the carriage first and held his hand out to help his very pregnant wife. They stood to the side as another elegantly dressed older man stepped down, his eyes scanning the crowd with the experience of a seasoned soldier.
Mendoza quickly hurried across the plaza, his lunch completely forgotten, and rushed into the alcalde's office. Mere seconds later, Ignacio de Soto stepped out into the noonday sun and bowed respectfully to his superior officer.
"Ignacio de Soto?"
"Yes, I am Ignacio de Soto." He warily eyed the de la Vega's before turning his complete attention to the man standing before him.
"I am Luis Castillo de Arroyo, special Emissary to the King. You are charged with the murder of Alejandro de la Vega and are to be remanded into my custody immediately for deportation to Spain."
Mendoza's mouth fell open and murmurs echoed through the plaza. Lancers glanced uncomfortably at one another, unsure of how to react.
"What?" De Soto stared incredulously, his eyes darting from Diego back to the officer. "You can't be serious."
"I am not known to travel halfway across the world to play a joke, Señor," Arroyo said steadily.
The murmurs grew louder, flooding through the plaza as de Soto narrowed his eyes at Diego. "You did this."
"You killed my father, Ignacio." Diego said simply.
"The death of a member of the royal family cannot go unanswered," The Emissary said, glancing at Diego. He knew the letter the young man had sent to the King was the sole reason he was standing in this dusty pueblo now.
"But Zorro is –"
"You will not interrupt me again, Sir." The Emissary leveled a silencing gaze at de Soto. "Government appointed officials are to protect the people whom they govern, not use them as bait to further their own political ambitions."
De Soto's eyes shot darts at Diego.
"You have one hour to pack your belongings. Our ship sails tomorrow afternoon."
"Am I not to be tried?"
"The King has made his decision."
"Based on the ravings of a distraught, clearly delusional, son!" De Soto cried, glancing at Diego.
"Based on multiple letters he has received over the years, many from Alejandro de la Vega himself."
"And he's just now decided to act upon them?" de Soto scowled. "I respectfully request an audien –"
"I recommend you hold your tongue." The Emissary clicked his timepiece open and then continued, "You have fifty-five minutes."
De Soto turned on his heel and disappeared into his office, Mendoza standing still as a post, unable to comprehend what this announcement would mean for the pueblo.
The Emissary turned toward Diego. "Due to the circumstances," his eyes briefly lingered on Victoria's swollen stomach, "your statements on the event in question will be presented for you at court."
"Thank you," Diego shook the emissary's hand.
"Your father was a remarkable man, he will be missed." The Emissary's eyes were sad as he returned Diego's gesture.
"Yes, he was and yes, he will." Diego tightened his arm around Victoria's waist and she leaned against his shoulder for support.
The Emissary inclined his head in respect to the couple and then left them, motioning to Mendoza. "I will take a few more statements before I leave. Yours will be one of them, Sergeant."
Diego turned to Victoria and enveloped her in his arms. It was finally over. Years of oppression silenced by a single, sternly voiced letter to the King of Spain. Why had Diego not thought to do this earlier? But, his father had done this earlier and it had done no good. It took a well-respected man's death to bring such activities to the attention of those with the power to do something about it.
As Victoria rested her head against his chest, and almost as if she knew he was thinking about his father, said softly, "At least he saw his son married."
"Knowing my father, and how long he waited for that very thing," Diego said sadly, "he would feel his death was worth that price."
"Perhaps," she glanced up at the sky, "he will be looking down at his grandchildren as well. Laughing at us and at all of the mistakes we make raising them."
Diego smiled sadly and brushed his mouth against hers. "I know he will."
They entered the carriage again without looking back. Ignacio de Soto's control of the pueblo was now at an end and Diego and Victoria's life could truly begin.
The End
WolfDaughter – Hope you enjoyed it. Even if it was sad.
Trollie – Stunning you into silence…I'm shocked! I like your reviews so keep posting, even if just to call me mean and evil.
Yes, I will go see the movie. As for uploading episodes, I can't do that. I am only on a dialup connection and I don't even want to know how long it would take to do that. I'll check around with some friends and see if they can do it though.
Aurelia30 – Well, de Soto gets what he deserves, but probably not as violently as everyone wants. Diego resisted that urge.
To everyone, thanks for reading, even if you didn't enjoy the subject matter. This story will be posted in its entirety on my site. Some pieces were left out due to the delicate sensibilities of some readers. If you go there, and read that story, don't whine to me about the content. You were warned.