Chapter 7

December 9, Los Angeles, the tavern.

Sweaty and tired, Victoria arrived back at the tavern more than an hour later. She planned to put on the big kettle to heat water. Walking had left her covered in a thin layer of dust and sweat dripping down her back. She was yearning for a bath.
Through the back entrance, she went inside, and to her dismay, there on the kitchen table sat...,
"Zorro!" Victoria cried.

"Victoria, I was hoping you wouldn't be gone long." He jumped off the kitchen table.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Zorro walked towards her, shaking his head. "Just a little while. I was about to head on. I was hoping you would have time for us to be together today."
He came to stand right in front of her, tenderly stroking her cheek. Zorro bend towards her and pressed his lips to hers for a kiss. Victoria let her arms slide around his neck.
Pushed her body against the muscled chest and loved the feeling of being in the arms of this wonderful man.

"Is something the matter? You, um, seem a bit upset. What happened?" Zorro asked her a little later.

That was putting it mildly, Victoria thought. She must look hideous.
Her hair was stuck straight up, and her body was in a thin layer of dust.
Victoria uttered. "It's all de Soto and don Diego's fault." Those men, she thought feeling her anger rise again. Now she had almost missed Zorro because of them! And Zorro saw her while she looked disgusting.
Victoria tried to style her hair back a bit. Zorro gazed at her questioningly.
"The alcalde has come up with yet another idea in the hope that you would fall for it."
She saw that Zorro still didn't understand a thing. Quickly, Victoria explained what had happened. Though, she wisely left the bit about the sonnet to herself. She had an inkling that Zorro would not appreciate it if he found out that she had once spent a night with don Diego.
Even as it happened due to circumstances. There had been a wooden bench separating them, and nothing happened. Just thinking of that night, Victoria felt she started to blush. Something almost had happen. Afraid of the answers when she asked herself what could have happened, Victoria had banished that night from her memories long ago.
Ignoring her thoughts Victoria stammered.
"De Soto doing such a horrible thing doesnt surprise me. But that don Diego is in on it! When I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it."

Zorro stroked his hand over his moustache.
"I don't think don Diego would do such a thing. Maybe, like you, he was fooled by de Soto about his intentions."
Victoria opened her mouth to say something. Zorro pulled her into his arms again and swept a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Victoria, I trust both don Alejandro and don Diego. Both oppose de Soto's policies and have never done anything to harm me." Zorro tried to reassure her and speak up for his alter ego.

"Don Alejandro, yes. But don Diego? What has he ever done? Nothing!"

Zorro gave her a reassuring smile. "If you think that, I suggest you read the Guardian more carefully. Don Diego is still the editor-in-chief, isn't he?"

"Si, but what does that have to do with it?" Victoria asked surprised by what a newspaper had to do with standing up against the alcalde.

"When you read carefully between the lines, you will notice that don Diego does oppose de Soto and his policies. It is a more subtle way. Don't be too hard on don Diego. I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt us or him trying to help de Soto. I thought the two of you were friends."

Victoria nodded breathlessly.
"The best." She confessed, hoping to see a trace of jealousy in Zorro's eyes.

"Well then, show a little faith in what don Diego does. Whatever de Soto was planning hasn't succeeded. Give don Diego some credit. He doesn't deserve your anger."
Playfully, Zorro patted her nose.

"Fine. If you say so." Victoria stammered. "But please, do keep an eye on don Diego. After that business with Risendo, he is on friendlier terms with de Soto than ever before. I know de Soto saved his life and all, but still. Don Alejandro told me that de Soto is teaching don Diego fencing! Surely that can be called suspicious.
Not that it helps." Added Victoria. "The poor man is still clueless about how to use a sword. Nor that it should surprise me, as de Soto is his teacher." Victoria is convinced Zorro could even beat de Soto blindfolded. "The alcalde is not particularly intelligent. But don Diego should not be underestimated. Should he turns against you, don Diego will be more dangerous than the alcalde."

Diego decided to take this insult as a compliment. At least it proved that Victoria thought Diego could think. He took her small hand in his and placed a kiss on it.
"I'll keep it in mind. Unfortunatly, our time is running out. I have to leave you again."

Victoria sighed. "Can't you stay a little while longer?"

"Alas, another time, I promise."

Victoria felt his moustache and mouth gently stroke her cheek. Two seconds later, Zorro deftly jumped onto her countertop, pulling himself up to the railing. He blew her another hand kiss in farewell and was gone.

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December 15, Los Angeles, the plaza.

It was market day, which always brought more crowds to the pueblo.
Many were trying to sell their wares as best they could. While others were looking for the most favourable prices.
Victoria strolled across the plaza, searching for the best fruit and vegetables. This day seemed noisier than other days.

Soon, Victoria got confirmation of this. At the fountain, the Sanchez señoritas stood surrounded by lancers fighting for their attention. She could not blame the men. There were still far more men than women living in this part of the new world. And the señoritas were young, not unpretty and the youngest two, in particular, liked to attract attention.
Victoria saw, across the plaza, de Soto was watching his men. It made her wonder again, was it perhaps one of Sanchez's girls de Soto had hoped to ask for a date?

Alcalde de Soto was leaning against the pole next to his office and watched how his men made fools of themselves. Fools, all of them, every single one of them. Did those men really believe they stood a chance with any woman? The girls laughed cutely and blushed at compliments. At the same time, they thought you were not even worth the dirt under their shoes. De Soto could tell.

Anna Sophia had been exactly like that. She was born into a not-noble but well-to-do family. He had been a young corporal and had been head over heels in love.
Anna Sophia had talked about love. He told her how one day he was to become a captain. He had asked her to marry him. She had promised to wait. And de Soto had done everything he could to make the best possible impression and get promoted as soon as possible.
What an idiot he had been.

He had truly believed at that moment that if he became alcalde of a pueblo in California, his Anna Sophia would accept a marriage proposal.
Instead, she had laughed straight in his face.
Her becoming the wife of an alcalde in some meaningless, dusty mudhole? Anna Sophia mocked him.
No, her ambitions ran higher.
Even when he had explained the capital of California was less than one week's travel from Los Angeles, Anna Sophia had laughed in his face jeeringly.
Love was for fun. Money, nice and expensive clothes, jewelery, and prestige were things she valued far more.
The last thing de Soto had learned through a letter from a friend was that Anna Sophia had married a much older widower in need of an heir. The man was wealthy and a welcome guest at court. Anna Sophia had got what she dreamed of. All the money, prestige, fine clothes and large hacienda she wished for.
Her rejection still hurts. And yet, de Soto also hoped Anna Sophia did not regret her decision and found her happiness.
Again the irony dawned on him. Here was this rich heir. Hopelessly in love with a woman who did not want him because she was in love with a pauper criminal with probably nothing to offer her. Except becoming a young widow.
Since the death of Gilberto Risendo, de Soto felt an increasing need he had to repay a debt.

Don Alejandro barely had half a son he wanted. And it was no secret the man longed for grandchildren. That had given de Soto the inspiration for the perfect way to get rid of this unpleasant feeling of guilt. He had taken the life of one son. Risendo was, in many ways, more worthy of the name de la Vega than that other fool. So, in return, he would help the don to get his grandchildren. It seemed so simple.
Achieving that goal proved a lot harder because don Diego only had eyes for the fiery tavern wench.

De Soto stared at Victoria Escalante. She was lugging a large basket filled with vegetables. De Soto almost felt sorry for Diego for preferring such a woman.
All he had to do was, persuade a female person to choose material over love. How hard could it be? Why had de la Vega chosen just about the only woman on earth where that was not as easy as snipping your fingers?
Maybe he could convince Diego to show some backbone, de Soto pondered. The man was a nitwit, but with some help, perhaps Diego could stand his ground. Women liked that in men. And Victoria Escalante was a woman.
The downfall in the plan was Diego de la Vega was not only a coward. He was also clumsy. The fencing lessons de Soto gave the don had hardly improved his technic.

Victoria bumped almost into don Diego because she was not paying attention. She was busy glaring at what was happening near the fountain.
"Don Diego," Victoria cried, startled. She had not seen him since the picnic. He was seemingly wise enough to avoid the tavern to give her the time to cool down. There was no need for it. As she had promised Zorro Victoria had decided to forgive Diego. Her forgiveness didn't mean she had forgotten what Diego had done to her and Zorro. Victoria was therefore determined to keep was keeping a closer eye on his behaviour.

In a reflex, Diego grabbed Victoria by her shoulders to keep her from falling.

They looked at each other, and Victoria felt awkward and uncomfortable. She blushed when it occurred to her that Diego had wanted to recite her favourite sonnet. She should never have told him she loved such a romantic poem. It was too embarrassing, Diego knowing it was her favourite. In the dark confinement of the mill, it hadn't occurred to her that Diego was ever to take advantage of the knowledge.

"Are you well?" Diego asked as kindly as ever, as nothing had happened.

Victoria pushed the basket a little tighter in her elbow. "I'm fine. Thank you." Without giving him a second of attention, Victoria turned and almost ran back to the tavern, dignified and fast as she dared.
She heard the shrill voice of Doña Francisca echoing across the plaza.

"Don Diego! Don Diego, over here! How nice to meet you again!" The woman waved as she walked from the fountain in the direction of don Diego. Doña Francisca got closely followed by two of her daughters. Lucia and Catharina were walking arm-in-arm with each other, whispering loudly and giggling. Behind them, the two eldest daughters are calm and composed, intending to minimize the damage their mother was to do. The middle daughter was the last in the procession and seemed to prefer to disappear into thin air.
"Don't think I forgot your promise, señor!"

Since everyone on the plaza had heard the woman shouting, Diego had to greet the woman.
"Doña Francisca, señoritas." He greeted the company with a friendly nod.

Doña Francisca held out her hand. And Diego took it to greet the woman politely.
Several people remained standing to hear what promise the young don had made. As soon as Diego showed the slightest interest in a woman, it was food for gossip. And it was well known that doña Francisca had no less than five daughters, all old enough to marry.

"Don Diego, we are at your disposal for the riding tour of the area you promised my girls."

Despite the great distance between Victoria and doña Francisca, it was impossible not to hear the woman.
Victoria was perplex. Diego had promised to take no less than five unmarried women out for a ride?! And Victoria had heard the whole family got invited to the annual Christmas soirée at the de la Vega hacienda. That was information the entire pueblo had heard and gossiped over.
Victoria knew better than anyone that don Alejandro would not miss an opportunity to get a daughter-in-law. But if Diego had invited all for a riding tour, it seemed that at least one of them had indeed managed to attract his attention. Victoria had heard enough. Her day had been sufficiently ruined by what she had heard. Angry, Victoria busted into the tavern and went to the kitchen. She started cutting the vegetables she had bought.

It was a good thing Victoria could blame the onions for the tears she shed.

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