Chapter 2
Diego and the vaqueros searched for hours and found no sign of the stolen horses. Even with Diego's superior tracking skills, which at this point he made no effort to hide, he was at a loss as to where the horses could have been taken, and how they could have simply disappeared into thin air.
Night was falling now and guilt warred with determination for dominance in his mind. He was responsible for the ranch while his father was away. And that was the only thing that kept him from his wife's side now. They'd been married for barely one day. They had the rest of their lives to spend in one another's arms.
Those horses, if they were not found, would severely cripple the de la Vegas renowned purebred horse breeding bloodline.
"I'm sorry, patron," Miguel shook his head, frustration etched into his weathered face. "I don't know where they could have gone."
"Wherever they are, they knew exactly what they were taking," Diego dismounted and carefully examined some tracks. "Which means these are smarter than your average thieves."
Miguel nodded, agreeing with his patron. "And that makes them far more dangerous."
"Yes, indeed." Diego re-mounted Esperanza and wheeled her toward Miguel. "Darkness is falling quickly. Our searching will be useless once the light disappears. We'll go home and start again at first light."
Miguel nodded and raised his arms to draw the attention of the men. "Vamanos, muchachos."
Diego sighed heavily. Victoria was not going to be happy with him. But hopefully she would understand his need to find these horses. He smiled slightly in anticipation. At least they would have the night to spend in one another's arms. His stomach growled loudly and he decided he'd better eat something before losing himself in his wife's embrace.
Everything appeared normal when they returned to the hacienda and Diego immediately went to forage for a quick bite in the kitchen.
The cook smiled as Diego entered. "Good evening, Master Diego."
"Maria," Diego answered and looked over her shoulder to see what she was cutting. He swiped a few slices of cheese and vegetables off the plate and popped them into his mouth. "Has Victoria eaten?"
"I haven't seen her since you left, Sir." Maria smiled widely. "I decided to leave her alone to rest." The longtime housemaid hid a knowing smile behind a well-worn hand. "I knocked a few times, but she didn't answer."
Diego grinned. She probably was resting. They did have an exhausting night, and early morning. Diego plucked another handful off Maria's platter before she shooed him away.
"Would you like me to make you a plate?"
Diego grinned around his mouthful of cheese. "Let me speak with Victoria first. Maybe we'll have dinner in the dining room this evening."
Maria nodded and pushed him toward the kitchen door. "Go, go. You've left your lady alone for long enough today."
Diego popped the remainder of the stolen food into his mouth stalked down the hallway to the rooms he shared with his new wife.
He pushed open the door and walked through the sitting room. The lamps were not lit, in any of the rooms, which meant that Victoria was asleep, and had been for a while.
He removed his jacket and draped it over a chair before stepping into the bedroom. When he slid his hand across the bed, he was mildly surprised to find it empty – and unmade.
Diego's brows knitted together and quickly lit the bedside lamp. Holding it up, his eyes narrowed. She wasn't here. He stalked to the other side of the room and pushed open the water closet door.
Diego grinned to himself. Perhaps she had decided to keep Toronado company until he returned. He knew she liked to talk to the black stallion when he wasn't around.
Diego turned down the lamp and walked into the library. When he was certain no one was looking, he depressed the panel and slipped behind the fireplace door.
The lamps were not lit in the stone tunnel and Diego carefully lit them as he made his way down the walkway.
He stood at the top of the steps and glanced around the room. It appeared exactly as he had left it and Diego's eyes narrowed. Perhaps she had gone into town for some reason. He quickly made his way out of the cave and went to find one of the vaqueros who had not gone on the search for the missing horses.
After questioning the man, Diego became worried. Victoria had not asked for a horse to be saddled and no one had seen her leave the hacienda. But then, most of the vaqueros, not already busy with other chores, had been out looking for the stolen horses.
A stern determination passed across Diego's face as he made his way back into the cave and began undressing. He quickly donned the familiar black clothing and saddled an agitated Toronado.
"I'm sorry, boy. I know you haven't gotten as much exercise as usual. But we have a mystery to solve tonight. My lovely wife seems to be missing and we need to find her." He mounted his faithful stallion without use of the stirrups and carefully guided him out of the cave.
Soon, masked man and black stallion were galloping along the two miles into the pueblo. Perhaps Francisco would know the whereabouts of his sister.
Instead of sneaking along rooftops, as he was, up until a few months ago, used to doing, he simply galloped Toronado up to the alcalde's front door and swiftly dismounted.
The lancers standing guard nodded respectfully to the man who had taken great care in teaching them how to properly shoot and wield a sword.
Francisco stood when Zorro entered, a surprised look on his face.
"Zorro, what are –"
Zorro carefully closed the door so no one could overhear their conversation. No one knew the identity of the masked man and the family had decided to keep it that way.
"What are you doing here?" Francisco asked with a laugh. "Victoria kick you out of bed for something stupid already?" The worried look in Zorro's eyes caused the younger man to swallow his mirth. "What?"
"I don't know where she is. I was hoping she'd have come here for something."
Francisco felt his heart plummet into his stomach. "You don't know where…but –"
Zorro shook his head. "Earlier this afternoon, I was told that some of our pureblood horses were missing. My father and Felipe went to Santa Barbara this morning so that left me to go search for them."
Francisco's eyes narrowed. "Leaving my sister alone . . ."
Zorro bristled at the unspoken accusation. "She should have been perfectly safe with a house full of servants. I don't know how this could have happened, unless she left of her own accord."
Francisco nodded, understanding.
"Francisco, those horses –" Zorro trailed off. An explanation even sounded strange to his ears. He wasn't in the mood to offer more excuses. "If she is not here, and she is not at the hacienda, then where could she have gone? And – why would she have left without telling anyone?"
Francisco immediately fastened his sword belt. "I don't know but I'm coming with you."
"Gracias, hermano." Zorro said. He would be grateful to have his brother by marriage with him during this time. The alcalde was the only one, outside of his father and Felipe, who knew the double life he led.
Zorro and Francisco searched for several frustrating hours. But the darkness hampered their efforts. Even so, there was absolutely no sign of where Victoria could have gone. There were, surprisingly, few tracks to follow, and that, in itself, made Zorro very cautious – and suspicious.
"We need daylight" Zorro exclaimed as he bent low, examining the ground with his lantern. "There are no tracks to follow!"
Francisco glanced over at his friend and brother, who looked unusually distraught. "We have hours before dawn!"
Zorro felt desperation tug at his heart. If there were no tracks, even after having a good number of horses stolen, then how would he ever find his wife? "Although it would be a great loss if the horses are not recovered, I cannot live without Victoria. We must find her!" he lifted a small rock and hurled it into the darkness.
"She can't have just disappeared into thin air," Francisco muttered.
"Our horses did. These two incidents are related." Zorro said grimly.
"You mean – whoever took the horses planned it so that you would be out of the hacienda and unable to protect Victoria?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying." Zorro glanced up, cursing the time of the month that caused the moon to be so thin. "I don't know how they would have gotten into the hacienda with no one seeing them."
"Victoria wouldn't have been quiet about being taken from her home, either," Francisco attempted a feeble smile. "She would have kicked and screamed so loudly that anyone within earshot would have heard."
"Well, my father dismissed most of the house staff for the day to give us some added privacy."
"Ai," Francisco expelled a deep, irritated breath. "No wonder no one knows what happened to her. There was no one there to see her taken!"
Zorro stared into the blackness of the night, hoping, willing there to be a sign.
Francisco stared at his brother. "Perhaps you should go home and wait. I will alert the garrison and we will ride at first light." As an afterthought, he continued, "If this was premeditated, there will be a ransom demand."
Zorro nodded, his mind knowing that Francisco was right, but his heart wanting to do something – now. "I know. I – just can't bring myself to give up just yet. If they hurt her –"
Francisco raised his hand, and interrupted. "– you will leave pieces of them for me and not rip them to shreds on your own, agreed?"
Zorro turned steely eyes on the alcalde. "I can't promise that, hermanito."
"Think we've given them enough time alone, Felipe?" Alejandro chuckled as Dulcinea trotted happily beside Felipe's pinto. Alejandro shifted in the seat. After nearly a day's ride, he was ready to be home.
Felipe smiled widely and rolled his eyes. He dropped the reins for a moment before overdramatically imitating his brother's romantic overtures toward his wife on his wedding day.
Alejandro laughed heartily and shook his head. "Yes, well, they will have all the privacy I can give them. Luis did indicate that I should return Diego's paperwork to him as soon as possible, so, I suppose I'll have to interrupt the lovebirds for at least a minute."
Felipe's eyes narrowed suspiciously and he signed a few slow words so that Alejandro could understand.
Alejandro gasped in mock indignation. "Me? Eager to interrupt them? Heavens no!"
Felipe shot his adopted father a disbelieving look.
Alejandro laughed loudly. "All right. All right. I do confess to enjoying the irritated look on Diego's face when he opened the door yesterday morning."
Felipe laughed silently.
"They need to come up for air once in a while! And – well, we've been gone for an entire day, Diego can come to the door and take this paperwork. It won't kill him." Alejandro glanced sidelong at Felipe, grinning at the color tinting his cheeks. For the first time, he wondered how thoroughly his son had educated the boy on relations between a man and a woman. Reflecting that it might be wise to change the subject, he continued, "I will be happy to be home. These quick, overnight trips are more difficult on these old bones than I'd like to admit."
A concerned look passed across Felipe's face and Alejandro raised his hand. "Oh, no, Felipe. I will be fine. I am looking forward to a nice, long, hot bath, however."
They were home before lunch and as Felipe and Alejandro dismounted, they were met with an agitated stable boy.
"What is it, Pepe?"
"Patron, it's been so terrible. Master Diego has been looking everywhere."
Alejandro felt his heart sink into his boots. "What? What has happened?" he knelt beside the boy and Felipe turned to listen.
"First the Andalusians are stolen and now Doña Victoria is missing." The boy appeared to be on the verge of tears. All of the servants cared for the de la Vega family, and Pepe's grandmother had been in the service of the family since Alejandro had brought his wife and new son home from Spain.
"Missing?"
Felipe hurried into the hacienda without a look back.
"Everyone has been out looking but no one can find them!" The boy took the horses as his father came outside.
"Manuel, tell me everything." Alejandro stared at his foreman.
"You won't get away with this," Victoria hissed at Cordoba as he approached. She stood on shaky legs as the ground moved beneath her. "Who are you and what do you want with me?"
"You look pale, Señora." Cordoba held out a carafe of water. "Drink this. It will help with the nausea."
"I am fine!" Victoria backed against the wall as he approached. "You took the horses to get my husband out of the hacienda, didn't you?"
Cordoba simply smiled.
The door opened and the man Victoria remembered as Paco stepped in, his eyes instantly raking over her body.
Victoria trembled and wrapped her dressing gown as tightly around her as she could.
"They're all loaded."
"Good, we'll take them to our buyer to get them out of the way, and then proceed with the rest of the plan."
Paco nodded, still eyeing Victoria. "Are you sure I can't have just a little taste? She looks so sweet."
Victoria's eyes widened and she backed as far away from them as she possible could, until she was pressed into the corner of the small room.
"I said no!" Cordoba backhanded the man and he stumbled backwards. "You will not touch her. And do not ask again!"
Paco glared at Cordoba and stumbled toward the door. With one last appraising look at Victoria, and a very obvious lick of the lips, he ducked into the passageway and disappeared.
"What do you want with me?" Victoria demanded, her eyes burning.
"I want your father in law." Cordoba said simply, taking another step towards her. "And my – partner, wants you."
Victoria trembled, an icy tendril of fear trickling down her back. The ground beneath her feet rolled steadily, and she slid to the floor, clutching her stomach.
"The seasickness will pass. In time."
"Where are we going?" Victoria asked, once the nausea had passed.
Cordoba grinned. "I am going nowhere, you are going to Spain."
Victoria's eyes widened and she launched herself to her feet. "Not without my husband, I'm not."
Cordoba laughed. "Oh, I'm sure he won't be able to stay away once the letter reaches his father. I would prefer him alive, rather than dead, however. My associate would prefer to end his life personally."
Victoria thought furiously, trying to think of who would want to kill Diego. No one but the family knew that he was Zorro. And Diego rarely did anything to draw the attention of anyone. Victoria turned her attention to Cordoba. "Who is this – associate?"
Cordoba smirked. "He calls himself Judas."
TBC
Smithcrafter – No peace for them. Not for quite some time. Though, there is only one more chapter to this story… have 20 pages written of the next one though, and an outline written for the last one. But I'll need to finish posting Por Ti (it's already done and beta'd) before I go on to the other two stories in this series. And yes – you ARE evil…. I haven't killed Diego yet….and you plan to in your very first story! Pout
Trollie – yes, I'm evil. Smithcrafter moreso….HP was good. Saw it last week.
Classic Cowboy – of course I must end on cliffhangers if at all possible! Life going all easy isn't fun to read about….so, of course they get thrown another – challenge right at the start of their marriage.