Victoria startled awake. The slight noise which had disturbed her was curious, enough to entice her out of her cocoon of warmth provided by the fire and the thick blankets the men had shared with her. She wondered how they had slept in the tent, and hoped they hadn't been cold.
Diego stood in the cave entrance, holding a young girl and leading another. He looked dirty and tired, and distracted.
"I need to leave these with you," Diego said in a whisper. "Don't worry about the bandits. I have dealt with most of them, and I'm going after the ring leaders."
"Diego," she began. The girls stumbled towards her and her soft heart melted easily. She embraced each of them and kissed their heads gently.
"I can't stop, Victoria. Don't stop me."
"Your father...What do I tell him?"
"He can wait. This can't."
"Diego, please…"
"I love you, Victoria. When I get back we need to talk. I have been keeping something from you for too long."
"Zorro…?"
He turned his head as if she had shouted it, instead of whispering it. He left without another word, long legs striding, as if trying not to run but to get away as quickly as possible.
Victoria sighed. She had wanted to say so many things, to reprimand him, to warn him. If he was Zorro, it was all unnecessary. But neither Zorro nor Diego had been so curt with her before, almost sharp with her. It was almost as if he was a totally different person. Someone she didn't know.
She gathered the shivering children to her, and settled them near the fire, wrapping them both up in a thick blanket, while she wrapped herself in the other. No doubt the girls were hungry and thirsty and in need of a bath and a bed. What trials had they gone through? What terrors?
Their eyes were wide and they were very pale.
"My name is Victoria. I'll look after you for the time being. Then we can find your parents."
"My mother is dead," the eldest sniffed. "My name is Elizabeth, or Lizzy."
"How do you know?"
"I saw her. All the blood. I don't know if my father is alright or not. This is Maggie. She can't see. She needs help, not me."
Victoria paled, and nodded. Lizzy was determined and trying so hard to be strong. She reminded her of her younger self. It was her turn to be the protector, just as Alejandro and Diego had stood by her when she had been orphaned.
Victoria put her arms around the teenage girl, and held her. "Then we will both help Maggie."
Zzzz
Alejandro rose at dawn with Sebastian. He wandered into the cave and raised his eyebrows at the two sleeping girls near the fire.
"What's this?"
"Diego brought them in, but didn't stay."
"What the devil is he doing? Zorro or not, the boy is hardly able to take on these sort of people. These are international agents."
"What, Sebastian?"
"The group had found a plan for a new weapon, one that would revolutionise the industry. In the hands of the Americans or the British, it would disadvantage the Spanish control of the colonies. Imagine what would happen if the French got a hold of the blueprints. Reproduced in the thousands, it would cause a bloodbath on the battlefield."
"What happened, why are the children wandering about in the wilderness, without an adult?"
"I believe that their espionage was uncovered. The Americans invented the gun, and would have certainly retaliated. They mustn't have the blueprints or the children would be safe. Maybe the children have the blueprints."
"Maybe the children could identify the murderers of their parents," Alonso added, entering the cave. "They might still be able to be charged with murder. Who knows what the justice system is like here at the moment? Too many national interests too close together."
"Sounds a little like a withdrawal opinion, Alonso," Sebastian said sternly. "Hardly patriotic."
"The Americans are not going to jeopardise their interests by allowing spies to be charged with murder, it's hardly reasonable," Alejandro added. "Nice idea though."
"These children will be hungry when they wake again," Victoria said, crossing her arms against her chest. "What are we going to feed them?"
"I'll fry some eggs," Alonso said, leaving the cave.
"We will need to see what the bandits are doing," Sebastian said, thoughtfully.
"Diego said he 'dealt with them', whatever that means," Victoria said. "I don't know what came over him."
"That could mean several things."
"Mostly that they are no longer a concern," Alejandro said. "I am taking Victoria and the children back to the hacienda where it is warm and safe. You and Alonso can do what you need to, but you are always welcome at my home, Sebastian."
"As you are at mine, Alejandro. It has been too long."
Victoria sighed, and set about making some black strong coffee, to fend off the cold and bolster everyone's spirits. The older men seemed disappointed in the lack of violence, but Victoria was missing her tavern. She could settle the children easily in the back rooms, and care for them as long as needed.
The girls were roused when the eggs were ready, and ate them hungrily. Victoria wondered how long it had been since they'd had anything substantial to eat. Sebastian and Alejandro were silent while Alonso explained to the children that he was their uncle, married to their aunt. The girls accepted it without comment.
"Clara and Charles are back at the hacienda. You will soon be together again," Alonso said. The girls brightened at that. Lizzy managed a half smile, and a nod. A tear ran down Maggie's pale cheek, obviously the relief was overwhelming.