Diego was still thinking. He had draped his jacket around the little girl and he thought in the cold, his arms crossed over his chest. They had moved out of the wind, behind a large boulder, and Diego was trying to remind himself about the terrain. He knew there was a cave system somewhere, but he couldn't quite remember where. A cheerful fire was struggling a little but staying lit. He had built it underground to keep it alight, being out of the breeze that had blown it out more than once. It had two openings to channel the air to keep the fire alive. It wasn't very warming, but it was enough to keep the cold at bay.
Clara was getting sleepy, and he wrapped her tighter in the jacket so that the material could shield her from the cold ground a little. He sat with her, letting her lie her head on his lap. She was asleep within moments, and Diego kept watch as long as he could. After a while, the stillness and the calm silence made him drowsy and he drifted into a light sleep.
"Don Diego! Can you hear me?"
"Jose?" Diego startled awake. The fire was almost out and it was still dark.
Jose was standing over him in a few moments, irritated that he had been left behind. He had been sent to keep the still recovering Diego under watch so that accidents could be prevented. He had tracked Ferdinand obviously.
"Don Diego, do you know how long I have been looking for you? Hours in the freezing wind, and worrying that you were dead somewhere."
"I had a slight accident. I'm unharmed, Jose. Just lost my mount."
"Well, I would not have recommended Ferdinand. He may be the oldest gelding in the stable, but his nature is unreliable."
There was a jingle of bridles, and Jose brought Ferdinand into view. Jose's horse grazed nearby, obedient and quiet.
Diego took the hint but shook his head. "The little girl. You'll have to hand her to me once I'm mounted."
"Little girl?" Jose approached Diego curiously and noticed the girl finally. He lifted the sleeping child into his arms. Diego mounted smoothly and took Clara from the man. Somehow she had stayed asleep with the less than gentle handling.
"She must be exhausted," Diego said with concern. Diego decided to stay safe and match the stablehand's horse. Ferdinand had enjoyed his earlier canter that had edged into a gallop. The speed was brisk but not fast. Jose's eyes were more watchful now, knowing now that Diego was likely to outpace him easily.
Zzz
Alejandro had been pacing the floor in the library, trying to think positively. When Diego entered the room, he was greeted by a speechless father, who scanned him for obvious injuries with a deepening frown. Diego could feel the tension building.
"Can we wait until morning for the lecture, Father?"
"What happened? Are you hurt?"
"Tired, but no new bruises. Found a child in the wilds, brought her home with me."
Diego yawned into his hand. Alejandro paused to try to consider what Diego had said.
"You found a child?"
"That's what I said. Let me go to bed, and I will tell you all about my day in the morning."
"We should contact her family."
"Yes, but her parents are dead, according to her."
"It's almost midnight."
"Yes, Ferdinand abandoned me in the middle of nowhere. I'm riding Esperanza next time. At least she is loyal enough to stay with me."
Diego was frowning, thinking about the difference in horses. He had not spent much time with Ferdinand, having his favourite mare. He could have controlled the gelding easily but he had been taken off guard. He should have been more aware, more focused on his environment. The girl could have been a snake.
"Well, are you alright, son?"
"Yes, tired and cold, but fine really. The little girl is sleeping in the old nursery, and Maria knows about her. She'll keep watch over her."
"Well. It will be interesting to have a young child in the house again. Yes, good night. I am looking forward to hearing all about your adventure in the morning."
Diego smiled at the muted excitement in his father's voice and made his way to his own room. He was very tired, a little more than he would have liked or expected. He hoped the problems swirling in his mind would settle and be easily solved in the morning. It seemed very complicated and messy.
Zzz
Diego slept solidly to around 10 the next morning. Feeling like he had overslept, he made his way to the library, determined to talk to his father. Hearing Alejandro laugh startled Diego, and he realised he hadn't laughed like that since Felipe had been small. Diego couldn't help smiling at the memory and savouring the happy sound.
"Hello. You seem to have met each other," Diego said as he walked outside.
"Yes, Clara is a very nice young lady."
"I have to get Charles and Eliza and Maggie," Clara said. "They are staying without Uncle William in the cave."
"What is your last name, Clara?" Diego asked gently. He had heard what she had said, and it was still a high priority but so were other things.
"Oh. My name is Clara Dalton, my father's name was Sir Matthew Dalton."
"Matthew Dalton?" Alejandro said sharply.
"Have you heard of the man, Father?" Diego said in surprise. The sense of coincidence was startling.
"Yes," Alejandro said slowly, as if reluctantly. Sir Matthew was dead, along with his wife. The little girl was an orphan. "Your mother's name was Elizabeth?"
"Yes, Don Alejandro."
Clara was watching them with curiosity, and Diego turned to his father.
"Father?"
"I think I knew their grandfather, Diego."
"How?"
"Charles Dalton was in the English military. His almost grown son's name was Matthew. We knew each other, and we were friends. He talked about his family and his son's plans. We served in a joint operation, in military intelligence."
"Is he still alive?"
"I'm not sure, I haven't heard from him for a few years. There may be family still in England. I can write to a mutual friend and find out. It would be best to get the children back to their own family. If we can…"
"Charlie said we are not going to an orphanage."
"How old is Charlie?"
"He's fourteen."
"What else does Charlie say?" Alejandro asked, considering Clara's offhand comment.
"I want to know something," Clara said as if remembering something important. She didn't realise that she had changed the subject dramatically, or that she had ignored the question.
"If I know the answer I will tell you," Diego said gently, glancing at his father over Clara's head.
"Charlie had to get a letter from the de la Vega house, and we followed him and he knocked someone over with the bust ornament and we ran. Did the man die? I don't want Charlie to be a murderer."
Diego and Alejandro looked at each other and then at Clara. "This is the de la Vega house," Alejandro said, realising that the little girl didn't recognise it in the daylight. They had introduced themselves by their first names, trying to be easier for the child to deal with than authority figures.
"The man that was hurt is alright, Clara. It was me," Diego said. "Charlie is not a murderer. Although Charlie and I need to have a decent conversation."
"Fourteen? Whacking people over the head with busts is not acceptable behaviour," Alejandro said, thinking about possible disciplinary actions suitable for a young boy. A riding crop to a young man's behind would soon drive that behaviour out of him.
"Father, I am sure the boy was afraid. He grabbed the first thing he could find. I'm sure he wanted me to leave him alone. He didn't want or mean to kill me."
"It was wrong. I thought he killed you," Clara said, a tear tracing its way down her face. She sniffed a little. "He could have killed you."
Alejandro looked at Diego.
"Do something," he whispered. "There will be tears and crying." He sounded a little daunted and unsure.
There had not been women of breeding in the hacienda for decades, little or grown. Victoria's visits were few and far between, and she didn't generally dissolve into tears unexpectedly. A show of raw emotion was a lot more frightening than bandits for the older man.
"But, see Clara? I am alright. I am not angry either, although that brother of yours needs some talking to. There's no need to cry. Everything will be alright very soon. You are safe now, and your brother and sisters will be safe too," Diego said softly. He crouched down and offered her another linen handkerchief, aware that she didn't seem to have his other one.
Clara gave a weak smile as she took the handkerchief. She sniffed into it and blew her nose. She tried to hand it back to Diego, but he declined.
"You seem to need that more than I do, Clara. Although strictly speaking I should call you Senorita Dalton."
"I think Eliza gets the title Miss Dalton. Maggie is Miss Margaret Dalton, and I am just Clara."
"Well now. That is very clever. I never would have known that," Diego said with a smile. "Although I am sure that you are Miss Clara Dalton, my dear."
"You can call me Clara if you like, Don Diego. You're nice."
Zzz
Maria took Clara to give the gentlemen some space. Diego was sure the agenda was lunch and a nap. It was a relief to know that sensitive ears were not listening in on their adult conversation, and the two men enjoyed a relaxed lunch in private.
"What would the letter have to do with anything? What would have possessed the boy to burgle our house?"
"I'm sure that this is just the start of something a lot larger," Diego said. "How big was the group you worked with, this joint operation?"
"I'm sure it has nothing to do with that. It was a strange coincidence, but it is only a coincidence."
"How big is an intelligence team?"
"Diego, I'm sure you don't need to worry about such things."
"Father, we should know if someone wants to do us harm," Diego said with a sigh. "This letter, whoever wanted it didn't manage to get it. They may try again."
"Don't worry about this, Diego. I have the situation well in hand," Alejandro said. "If this is significant, then I have the experience and the knowledge to deal with it."
"Father…"
"I think you and Clara need to move somewhere safer until the matter is resolved. I don't want either of you hurt. I'm sure Felipe would like to spend some time somewhere different too."
"Father… I…" Diego struggled to find words to express his frustration and then sighed. He was Alejandro's son and he had a duty to support his father. Being evacuated like a child did not feel right, and the lack of trust in his abilities hurt.
Alejandro put a hand over Diego's hand. "I know," he murmured. "But you can't help me that way, Diego. I need you to keep the children safe, and to keep you safe as well."
"I could…"
"Diego. When you fought Risendo you were fighting for everything you held dear. Desperation made you fight well, but it was desperation, not experience. You would end up hurting yourself."
"Father…"
"I know you are not a coward. I was wrong to ever utter such a word to describe you. You have taken it too seriously, I said it in a temper. I didn't really mean it in the first place. There is no need to prove anything to me. I saw you fight. You don't run when a threat arises, I believe that. Stop trying to prove your bravery before it kills you."
Diego stared at his father in shock. "Father, I'm not a coward."
"I know. You fight differently to me. You fight. I am sorry. I am so sorry. I can't lose you, you need to listen to me."
"You can't fight an unknown enemy on your own," Diego protested. "I can't lose you either."
"I don't think I will be fighting alone," Alejandro assured him. "Zorro will support me, and maybe an old friend will get involved as well."
"I'm sure Zorro will get involved," Diego said with his usual confidence. "What old friend?"