Diego had managed to shake his doppelganger awake and true to his prediction it was a difficult descent. The path that Alonso had travelled was a lot easier than the direct path that Diego had climbed. At times Alonso did pass out, and full body weight of a six foot plus man of seemingly solid muscle was a struggle to shift.
It was just under his promised hour when he stumbled through the cavern opening, almost falling against the worried woman who had waited so patiently for him. He had been mildly surprised that she had kept such a difficult promise. Not that he doubted her word, not in the least, but he had realised the difficulty of waiting.
"Diego!" Her attention was drawn to Alonso of course, not him. He chuckled despite himself, and she glanced at him with annoyance.
"What? Why does he look so much like you? Which one of you is Diego?"
Alonso opened his eyes with difficulty, and gazed unseeing at her for a moment, and then turned to Diego, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Help me with him. We need to get him to the hacienda. It is the closest and safest place, I think."
Victoria took a side and together they helped Alonso to the cart. Diego eased him out of the oilskin, and draped it over the side of the cart. It had done a good job of keeping Alonso dry. It was good quality and seemed quite warm.
Diego spread out the blankets he had brought down, and Victoria tucked some of the ones they had brought for the children around him. She glanced at Diego with concern, aware of the blood on his jacket. She reached out a hesitant hand as if to touch him.
Diego followed her gaze and shrugged. "Not my blood, Victoria."
"I am not going anywhere without the children," Alonso said, slowly gathering his thoughts. Diego gently pushed him back down when he tried to sit, and rearranged the blankets Alonso had flung back in frustration. "They are defenseless and I swore I would find them. I promised…"
"They have lasted this long," Diego said with irritation. He had wanted to find the children and had underestimated the difficulty, disregarding the possibilities of the weather worsening. "A couple of hours won't make much difference." He was just as frustrated as his double. It should have been a simple enough errand.
"I promised…" Alonso protested, and passed out again.
Diego frowned. He was tired, and muscles were aching from the walk down the mountain. This man was obviously some long lost relative of some kind, and he decided that any more surprises in the family tree would not be to his liking. Especially ones that looked like a mirror image of himself.
Victoria glanced from one man to the other. She had automatically assumed the injured man was Diego. The true Diego was beginning to seem more like a stranger. This capable, obviously strong man was so unlike what she was used to. Just how heavy was the other man? Diego looked pensive and irritated, so she was reluctant to ask questions.
She handed him back his pocket watch, after touching his arm in a weak gesture of reassurance. His face cleared and he managed a small smile. He took it from her, savoured the warmth of the metal against his skin, and placed it carefully in his pocket.
"I'm sorry that this got so complicated Victoria. We were talking like old times, and well…"
I had to go and ruin it, Victoria thought. She should never have kissed him like such a forward madam. What had gotten into her?
Why is the universe so against us being together, Diego thought. He thought of the kiss, and smiled reluctantly. Victoria was hot and fiery and such an ardent kisser. She had kissed him as if she was kissing Zorro. He sighed, and turned back to the stranger in the cart. He was too tired to care what it meant, and there were other things to think about, as usual.
"Do you want to drive the cart, or shall I?" Victoria asked, if only to break the strange silence that had fallen over them. "I can nurse him. I used to enough times with my brothers."
"Whatever is best for you," Diego said, wanting her to be comfortable but sounding a little dismissive. He frowned, noticing Victoria's growing discomfort. "I mean, whatever is more comfortable for you. It might be warmer with Alonso."
"I'll sit with Alonso, and the blankets," she said. "What about you? You have never been strong, getting so sick all the time."
"I can wear Alonso's oil skin, and be perfectly fine, Victoria. There is no need to worry about me."
He tried to keep his voice cheerful and gentle, but even he could hear it come out sharp and irritated. Victoria paled, and nodded, biting her lip.
Diego wanted to apologise, but he wasn't sure what to say. Instead he climbed up into the driver's seat and grabbed the reins, and then realised he should have helped Victoria climb into the cart. Or at least offered to. He couldn't do much right at the moment.