Again, no storyline whatsoever.
The idea came crawling in my mind on what Victoria could be thinking at a random moment sometimes during the series.
Hate and love are two feelings so close to one other.

Chapter 4

Victoria was feeling down and annoyed.
For three weeks, she hadn't seen or heard anything regarding Zorro.
There had been no reason to.
For a change, the alcalde was keeping a pretty low profile.
And it had been so hot the past weeks.
No one did more body movement than necessary.
Even notorious bandits kept a low profile in this heat.
But she missed her beloved hero so much.

Zorro had promised her all sorts of things.
One day, he would declare his feelings out in the open.
One day, they'll be together forever.
One day, he would reveal his identity, and they were going to live happily ever after.
For god's sake, he had even proposed to her!
When was it going to happen?
When the hell was freezing over!?

In the meantime, she got expected to wait.
Wait, be patient and hope to see him every once in a while.
She didn't even know how to get a message to him!

Harder than Victoria intended, she set a glass of juice down in front of don Diego, who had come strolling into the tavern as if he didn't have a care in the world. That being even the real case.
His main concern during the week had been whether the violin strings he ordered were to be arrived during this week or the following.
Or so he had told her yesterday.
Some juice undulated from the glass over her hand onto the table. "Mi excuse, don Diego." Victoria bent further forwards to dab the table dry using a cloth.
Was he peeking at her breasts?
Victoria hoped for his welfare, Diego was not.
She hadn't meant a word of what she said.
Victoria had to control herself from not pouring the juice over his head. Maybe, that would wake Diego up in the real world for five minutes, so she could give him a piece of her mind!
Don Diego smiled politely. "Da nada, señorita Victoria."

The gentle tone in his voice did NOT cause a shiver to run down her spine.
Victoria walked on to the next table to take an order.
As she walked back to the kitchen to pour the ordered coffee, she saw how Diego was staring ahead with his familiar glassy-eyed expression.
It irritated her.

Most men, though, came to the tavern not only to enjoy a meal but mainly to peer at unmarried women undisturbed.
She even had, on one occasion, caught Felipe letting his eyes wander to slightly different places than was seen appropriate.
Women were simply a lot scarcer in this part of the world.
And most men liked to feast their eyes on feminine beauty.
Apart from her cooking skills, Victoria was well aware that she and her female, unmarried helpers were the main reason why men liked to hang out in the tavern.

Of course, Diego had not stared at her breasts.
Any other man might have, but not Diego.
He wasn't interested in any woman, let alone her.
He barely noticed she was a woman and wouldn't even glimpse at her should she dance in front of him bud naked!
Where did that thought come from?

Anyway, Diego was not one of those men.
He was always more concerned with his thoughts than the actual world. It would do his reputation good if he were to show more attention to things going on in the small pueblo.
All the man ever did was sleep in, read books, immerse himself in studies on art, culture, science and what else, and annoy her.

But the fact that people were living in and near the pueblo who had no idea whether they would have enough food at the end of the month to feed their children completely passed him by.

Of course, life was a lot easier if you were born into a rich family as the sole heir and never had to work a day in your life.
Then you could worry about something as ridiculous as whether to wear a blue or black tie to go with your suit today.
Or whether your shoes match your horse's saddle.
To calm herself a bit, Victoria, stirred the pot of stew that was today's menu.

Her mind wandered off from the man who got on her nerves half of the time to the man she loved.
No, then Zorro.
He was a man who did have both of his feet on the ground.

Never unwilling to help.
And always there where he was needed most.
Sometimes arriving just in the nick of time, he got there.
Zorro didn't care about something as trivial as a mud stain on his boot. And, nothing seemed to bother him if it meant someone in need of help benefited from it.
And his outfit breathtakingly matches his horse.
Without anyone had the faintest idea how Zorro did it. The man was aware of the tiniest things occurring in the pueblo.

It could be saving a peon out of the pillory.
To prevent the alcalde from making an absurd tax raise.
Zorro, helping the lancers to catch a dangerous criminal.
Or in any other way required.
Victoria knew the good padre often found money in his church that Zorro had looted from thieves. By doing these donations, Zorro made, for many, the hard life in California a little less difficult.

It was that kind of involvement.
The charming smile.
His meaningful eyes. The mystery of his whole existence. His excellent skills in so many aspects. And his entire physique was the reason Victoria was so in love with him.

But then again, she wanted to see him once in a while.
And preferably more frequently than when the alcalde increased taxes, had some stupid plan or dangerous criminals plagued the territory.
The moments Zorro came riding in were always too short and limited for her liking. When she was fortunate, he did pay her some attention.
He blows her hand kiss or made an expression of his admiration. Always ending with, Zorro had to leave in a rush.
Over the past years, there had been a few rare occasions he had come to visit her, and they shared a few short special moments.
They had some conversations and shared kisses full of passion.
Was it enough? Not even close enough, Victoria longed for more.

Murmurs came out of the main room raised. Something was going on, and Victoria hurried into the room to find out what was causing the sudden change in commotion.
There was a lot of commotion going on in the corner where the stage usually is when there is entertainment in the tavern.
Victoria made her way between a barrier of people. Being petite was quite frustrating at times.
After struggling and well using her elbows, Victoria caught sight of whatever was causing the commotion.

On a sheet of paper, it said in large letters, all men between fifteen and sixty got summoned.
To engage this week to do free labour for the advantage of the liveability of the pueblo.
Whatever that might implicate.
The men present were already discussing what this could mean and whether or not they had to report themselves or their sons.

Out of the corner of her eye, Victoria caught a glimpse of don Diego trying to sneak out of the tavern unnoticed. On the run for trouble.
No doubt to complain to his father. Victoria loathed the idea that anyone could get forced to do anything that would please the alcalde and help his evil scheme.
But a couple of days of hard work might not be so bad for the spoiled inheritor of the de la Vega ranchero.
At least then, he would get to face the facts for once and realize how blessed he should feel being born in his privileged position.

Another thought bubbled up in Victoria's head. Zorro wasn't going to let this pass. Today, tomorrow, or very soon, she was going to him again.

.

.