It was the middle of the night when muffled noises started to permeate through the prison door. The people inside, those who could, stood up slowly, waiting for whatever was to happen, inwardly hoping it was their friends coming to rescue them.
Their hopes crumbled at first when they saw the officer who had captured them come through the doors, then were raised as they noticed he was followed by a beautiful brunette some of them recognized from their time in Los Angeles. To everyone's surprise, the two of them hurriedly made their way to the cells and started opening the doors, urging them to get out.
"It was you who called for Diego earlier, wasn't it?" Zafira asked Victoria with some relief when she entered the cell to check on the caballero.
"Yes." The young woman answered. "How is he?"
"Not well. He received a nasty blow to the head, and, so far, I haven't been able to convince him to stay awake. I have no idea what to do." Zafira informed her.
"We need help carrying him." Victoria uttered, addressing the other men there.
Out of those captured, only two had arrived in Monterey with light injuries. Among the others, most had received deeper wounds but were well enough to escape on their feet – although with some difficulty – except for one who had an injured leg and needed help walking. It was, thus, up to one of the rebels and Juan to carry Diego, while the others helped themselves and their friends.
"You were the one who led the attack to capture us. Why are you now saving us, Señor?" One of the wounded men, called Luciano, who had been Joaquin's second in command, asked Juan as they were heading outside, passing by the sleeping guards who gave no sign that they knew what was going on.
"I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it for her!" He replied, looking towards Victoria. "And for Don Diego, who deserves better than to die a traitor by your side."
Horses were waiting for them right outside the Presidio. Since the injured caballero wasn't able to ride in his state, two of the other men helped lift him on Juan's horse, then tied him to the younger man so that he wouldn't slip during their ride. Some minutes later, they were all hurriedly heading away from Monterey at full speed, only stopping to let the horses rest some seven miles south, where they couldn't be traced at that time of night.
The following morning, just as the Governor was receiving the visit of an outraged Don Alejandro de la Vega, the tall caballero opened his eyes again, looking confused at the black-haired woman who was fussing over him this time.
"Diego? How are you feeling?" She asked with a relieved grin at seeing him look at her.
He opened his mouth to answer, but it was too dry for him to utter a word.
"Here! Have some water!" Zafira, whom, he discovered, was also there, offered him.
He accepted the flask and drank, coughing a few times, just as Juan also neared them.
"You should return to Monterey!" Victoria told the officer, glancing worriedly between him and Diego. "No one saw us escape, so they can't implicate you."
"That you can't know for certain. Some of the men might suspect it was me behind the escape, not to mention that the Governor would probably decide to hang me as soon as he'd be given the news since the prisoners are… my responsibility. I'd rather take my chances with you. At least, that means I can make sure you are safe." He answered his wife.
Zafira was about to suggest that he'd say he had been taken prisoner but wisely shut her mouth just in time, hoping his presence might deter Victoria from pursuing Diego, as her instincts told her the young woman might do. Having Juan leave was not in her best interest, so she decided she had more to gain by convincing him to remain with them. Besides, with the injured and the lancers surely following them, they needed every able-bodied man they could get if they were to survive.
"Who are you?" Diego asked barely audible, addressing all those standing beside him.
"What do you mean who are we?" The taverness inquired dumbfounded. "Don't you know?"
The caballero only slightly shook his head, but the message was quite clear.
"It must have been the hit to his head. Can you remember anything, Diego?" Zafira inquired.
"I remember you…" He said with a smile and the young woman hoped he meant he remembered her from the time they had first met. "I also remember the man I saw with you the last time I woke up…" he continued and she realized he was referring to the evening Joaquin had died. "But nothing else…"
"You don't remember anything?" Victoria asked as she looked at the caballero who was staring at her, doing his best to understand why his heart was beating faster at seeing the woman he had no memory about, and why a whole new set of feelings, ranging from ire to guilt also invaded him.
Almost unwillingly, his hand raised and rested on the taverness' face, his thumb caressing her cheek as his eyes stared straight into hers.
Victoria put a hand on his and allowed his caress, then, remembering Juan, she pulled herself away, wondering what had just come over her. She was a married woman, and the man she had married had just proven himself to her, giving everything up to save those who needed his help.
"I'm Victoria." She finally told Diego. "And this is my husband, Juan. We grew up with you, in Los Angeles. Don't you remember?"
He slowly shook his head, glancing disappointed between Victoria and Juan. "I'm sorry…" He answered, struggling to keep his eyes open.
Victoria nodded, a sense of loss engulfing her.
"And I am Zafira. We were engaged once… Before I married Joaquin, who was with us the last time you woke up. He died that night." The other young woman said.
"I'm sorry!" Diego replied sincerely.
"We need to move. If we stay here, we risk being discovered. Is there a safe place you use?" Juan asked Correna's widow.
She hesitated for just a few moments, wondering how much she could truly trust him. Her instincts told her she was right to put her faith in him. Even though Juan had led the attack in which Joaquin had died, the young officer had avoided killing, stopping his men from executing several of the more feisty rebels when the fight was done, and even stopped one of his men from harming her. The fact that he had betrayed the Governor to save those who had survived, no matter the reason why he had done it, was just one more argument in favor of trusting the young man.
"Some 40 miles southeast. One of the dons and his men are all supporters of the cause. He lets us take refuge at his hacienda, and others loyal to our cause also know to come find us there." She answered.
"Then we need to go there, and make it soon," Juan uttered. "The horses are well rested by now and the soldiers must have already picked up our trail. We must hurry if we are to stand a chance."
Zafira looked worriedly at Diego, then at Victoria. "I'm not sure we can move him right now. He's just woken up... Finally!" She said. "And he's too weak!"
"It's alright," Diego muttered. "You can leave me! If you are in danger, you should save yourselves."
"No. We're not going anywhere without you!" Victoria pointed out. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to endure the ride."
Juan looked worriedly at the tall caballero, wondering if considering his current state, all his efforts had been in vain. All he cared about was finding a way to help the young woman he loved, and the previous night, at least, it had seemed to him that the De la Vega heir was the answer. Now, however, he was beginning to doubt both himself and his actions.
Just as he was about to help Diego up, the caballero suddenly turned to his side and threw up the little food Zafira had been able to feed him during the past day.
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AN: Glad to see the number of people reading this story. I hope you like it! And thanks to those who have taken the time to review and to follow. Each one counts
