Chapter 6

"Do you really think the alcalde will believe us over him?" Mendoza asked as soon as they reached the office.

"We can only hope," Diego answered with a smile, clasping Mendoza on the shoulder.

"How did you know all of those things you said to him?" Mendoza asked, a frown creasing his brow.

"Oh, I have no doubt that the alcalde will make a full recovery."

"But he wasn't awake when -"

"Er, yes; I may have stretched the truth a bit."

"Oh."

"Thank you, Mendoza. For everything you have done for my family. I understand the risk you are taking by keeping your silence."

"I can hardly believe it," Mendoza blurted without thought. "That he was right in front of us all along -"

"And you now know a secret that could end the lives of a great many friends, please remember that."

Mendoza nodded, closing his mouth. "Not another word. Not even to you."

Diego wrapped his arm around Mendoza's shoulders and led him toward the door. "I'm hungry. How about I coerce Victoria into making your favorite for lunch." Not that it would take much. A little kiss here, a meaningful look there. Diego hid a smile as he turned his head to glance at something on the wall.

Mendoza's eyes lit with the very prospect of a personally cooked meal.

As they walked across the plaza, Diego's thoughts turned to the pleasant prospect of "coercing" Victoria. He hid a smile as he recalled how she had pushed him into the storeroom earlier. Yes, pretending to be a friend with the woman he loved, now that she knew his secret, was going to be difficult indeed.

Diego and Mendoza joined Victoria in the alcalde's room just as he was lamenting his confinement. His speech was not quite coherent, due to the cactus tea and the doctor's medication, but it was quite easy to discern what he was saying even though the slurred words.

Victoria scowled at the alcalde and resisted the urge to throw the plate of food across the room.

"My soup is not warm enough, the bread is too hard, and the tamales are not spicy enough!" Victoria shot Diego an exasperated look as she removed the tray that rested across de Soto's legs.

Diego took the tray from her before she flung its contents all over the groggy alcalde and held her gaze for a lingering moment as de Soto addressed Mendoza.

"Good! There you are!" de Soto's words slurred slightly. "I want preparations made for that Englishman to be hung!"

"Sí, mi alcalde." Mendoza nodded and then cautiously suggested, "or would you like a firing squad instead?"

Diego wrenched his gaze away from Victoria and glanced curiously at Mendoza. Apparently the sergeant had decided to take it upon himself to plant another idea into the alcalde's drugged mind.

"I don't know. Perhaps! I want that man to die in the most excruciatingly painful way possible!" To illustrate his anger, de Soto attempted to wave his arms, succeeding only in sinking further back into the mattress with a loud groan.

"I think it will be a few days before you can issue that order, Alcalde," Diego said, quickly setting the tray on the bedside table and helping the alcalde to get more comfortable.

De Soto stared glassy-eyed at Diego for a moment before craning his neck to address Victoria. "Where is my food?"

Victoria inhaled sharply and prepared a curt response when Diego whirled around and took her hands in his. He brushed his thumbs over the smooth skin, attempting to calm her.

"Victoria and I will go get some more food for you, Alcalde," Diego said, his back to the irritated man lying in the bed.

Victoria shot Diego an annoyed smile, snatched the tray off the table and marched out of the room, Diego at her heels.

They could hear de Soto grumbling even through the closed door as they made their way down the steps.

Once in the kitchen, Victoria hurled the tray into the wash basin and whirled on Diego. "Why did you stop me? He deserved to have that soup shoved up his nose and the tamales -"

"Victoria!" Diego slid his hands around her neck and tilted her head so that she would meet his eyes. "He's groggy from the medication. Remember how it affected me?"

Victoria exhaled sharply, annoyed at being treated like some common servant and even further irritated that Diego seemed to know just what to do to stave off her anger.

"Just make him some more and I'll take it up to him."

Victoria's eyes narrowed and she hurled a sharp, rebellious retort. "He can wait until I'm done with the rest of my customers."

A smile tugged at the corner of Diego's lips as he remembered there being only one or two customers sitting in the taproom when they'd just walked by. Pilar had their needs well in hand. Wisely, Diego decided not to mention this fact but Victoria knew, by the look on his face, what he was going to say.

"Well, he doesn't know how many customers I have right now! He can wait!"

"Yes. You're right, of course. " Diego bent so that she could feel his breath on her cheek. "He can wait until I've had my breakfast." He quickly kissed her cheek.

Victoria leaned against him, her anger evaporating as his steady gaze held her willingly imprisoned. Her voice was a mere whisper as she asked, "What would you like?"

"More than you have time to prepare at this moment." His lips brushed across her mouth and her eyes fluttered closed. "But this will do." He brushed his cheek against hers and then dropped his lips to her neck, depositing light, soft kisses along the smooth column before trailing feather light kisses along her jaw. When at last his mouth met hers, he whispered, "For now."

When they parted, Victoria was breathing heavily, though their lips had barely touched.

Diego inhaled deeply and stepped away, lest someone come in and see them standing in one another's arms. "I also told Mendoza you would make him his favorite -."

Victoria's eyes flashed. "Oh? Did you now? And what makes you think I am taking special orders today?"

Diego shot her a typical Zorro grin and Victoria's heart somersaulted in her chest. He could ask for anything and she would give it - and he knew it.

Glancing quickly at the curtain, Diego swiftly gathered Victoria into his arms and kissed her deeply, his tongue tracing the outline of her lips, requesting, no, demanding entrance.

With a groan, Victoria melted against him, curling her fingers into his dark hair as they kissed for a long, long moment.

"Do it for me?" Diego whispered when they parted, breathless.

"Yes," Victoria breathed, momentarily forgetting the topic of their conversation. She shook her head and playfully batted at his chest as he released her. "You tricked me into agreeing to make him a special meal!"

"And you loved every moment of it," Diego leaned down and brushed his lips against hers before turning on his heel and walking out.

Her eyes followed him as she whispered, "Yes, I did."

Later that afternoon, as the doctor examined Alejandro's injuries, Diego and Victoria waited impatiently outside for an update. Diego knew that his father still had a slight fever, but he was conscious and more coherent now than he was even that morning.

"He's suddenly developed a twinge of modesty," Diego grumped, crossing his arms and staring at the closed door.

"Or maybe he just wanted a moment alone with the doctor?" Victoria offered, and then admitted with a wry smile and a gentle hand on his arm. "You've been hovering, Diego."

"I want to take him home. I think he will recover quicker in comfortable, familiar surroundings," Diego said as he paced the hallway outside the room.

Victoria nodded, resisting the urge to tease him about her rooms not being comfortable enough, but she knew he was worried about his father's health and didn't feel it was the right time to call him on the unintended insult.

When the doctor opened the door, Diego moved into the room faster than Victoria would have thought possible if she hadn't known he was Zorro.

"Yes, come in."

Diego was pleased to see his father propped up against a multitude of pillows, even though he winced with each small movement. Diego turned to the doctor, asking, "Can I take him home?"

The doctor exchanged a smile with Alejandro, before turning toward Diego. "I think Alejandro is well enough to move back home, yes." He turned to Alejandro then, "I will be by later this evening to check your fever and injuries."

Alejandro nodded as the doctor took his leave and Diego settled into a chair by the bed.

"So tell me what has happened in the last twenty-four hours?" Alejandro said softly, his voice soft. His injuries, coupled with the fever had sapped his strength.

"How about I tell you after we get you home and you have rested?"

Alejandro shifted his gaze to Victoria, who had come to stand beside Diego. "Will you tell me what my son is so reluctant to say?"

Victoria took Alejandro's hands and squeezed them. "Nothing much, truly." She shot Diego a scandalous look. "I wouldn't let him keep anything from you."

Alejandro smiled and squeezed her hands, noticing something beneath his weathered fingers that he had never felt before. He lifted her hand and inhaled sharply when he noticed the gold band adorning her finger.

Alejandro smiled widely, and slid the ring around so that the emerald rested in its proper place. "I see something has happened while I slept."

"Oh, yes. Well -" Victoria stuttered, glancing back to Diego for help.

She wasn't certain how Alejandro would feel about her betrothal to his only son. She had purposely turned the ring so that the gem faced her palm in case anyone else noticed the band and questioned her about it. But she had been careful throughout the day, and she had promised Diego she would remove it until they could convince the pueblo that she had abandoned her wait for Zorro.

"I trust you approve?"

The smile that reached the older man's eyes brightened the entire room as he squeezed Victoria's hand. "I couldn't be happier. I've always thought of you as my daughter. Now you will be!"

Victoria leaned forward and kissed his cheek before turning toward Diego and extending her free hand to him. He took it and squeezed gently. "As soon as our English friend has been dealt with, we can devise a plan to transfer Victoria's affections from Zorro to me."

Alejandro's expression darkened. "What can be done about him? He will tell the alcalde -"

"I am going to offer him an ultimatum." Diego stated. "He can either leave the pueblo with his tail between his legs, or leave the pueblo with his pride intact."

"What are you planning?"

"He came to this pueblo to regain the honor Zorro took from him when he defeated him the last time. I am going to propose that he duel Zorro - and win."

Victoria and Alejandro stared at Diego as if he had lost his mind.

TBC

Smithcrafter – Mendoza is a good boy in this story. He doesn't tell de Soto. Well, he doesn't get a chance to . . . someone else does it first. :) And where is more of your story, hmm? I'm anxiously awaiting the next chapter.

WolfDaughter – Well, you didn't have to wait long! Hopefully you won't figure out before the story is done how he gets out of it. He just might not.

Jkl88 – Yes, I truly loved that image while writing it. Diego in boots and drawers only…happy smile. Next day, is this soon enough? The story is all beta'd now so I can post the next chapters whenever I want.

MadaMaq – Sorry, this chapter is even shorter. But, as you'll see, I ended it at a good place. Well, for me….hehe

Trollie – Oh, he won't just taunt Thackery. He'll do much more, as you will see at the end of this chapter. But, of course, I didn't end this chapter in a way that you will, er, like. Do you have the series yet? I can't wait to hear how you like the series vs the fic!

Beverly – Thanks for the comments. Glad you've found something you like in each chapter. The real fun comes in the last one . . . well, I think so anyway.

For anyone who happens to care, there are 9 chapters and an Epilogue.