Emotions and Plans

Ignacio stared at her, a little shocked. "I killed him…he's dead," she murmured again. "He's dead…"

"It's alright, Gushing Stream. It's alright, hush," he whispered gently. He kissed the top of her head again, and his arms drew her close.

What nightmares were raging through her head? He could hardly imagine her hurting anyone, and discounted the statement as delirious nonsense.

"What did she say?" Diego murmured, his eyebrows lifting in surprise. "Did I hear correctly?"

"Nonsense, only nonsense," Ignacio murmured, and she sighed in his arms. He felt her thin hands clutch at his shirt, and her head burrow further onto his chest. He would protect her as best he could. Whatever had happened had happened a long time ago. Whatever it was, he would protect her at all costs.

She was so tense against him, and he murmured soothing sounds, and held her. One of his hands began to rub her back, gently and calmly and soon she had sunk into a deep sleep.

She relaxed so completely, he grew a little panicked, and glanced at Diego.

"What happened?" Ignacio murmured. "Is she alright?"

Diego crept forward and felt her wrist for a pulse. His eyes grew thoughtful, and Ignacio shivered a little.

"What?"

"Her pulse is more regular now. Her breathing seems to have calmed properly as well. You need to stay exactly as you are for as long as possible, so she can rest," Diego said. "As for this husband idea, we will take it as it comes."

"If he comes for her…"

"What will you do? He is legally entitled to his own wife," Diego said sternly.

"If he harms her, I will kill him."

Diego was quiet, and stood up. The tall man crossed over to the window, deep in thought.

"You would do the same if it was Victoria," Ignacio said. Diego nodded, staring out the window at the street below.

"Yes, yes I would," Diego murmured. "But Victoria has never been married to another, and she is now married to me anyway…Ignacio, this could lead to violence and the consequences could be extreme for both of you."

Ignacio stared down at the woman in his arms, resting so trustingly against his chest. "The consequences of our love are already extreme…for both of us. How much harder could it become?"

Diego shrugged. He glanced back at the strange pair. Ignacio had fallen for the last woman in the world he expected him to. She was beautiful, but had the definite colouring of an Indian. He had been so prejudiced in the past. Her beauty and spirit had overwhelmed Ignacio's hatred and turned it to love. She was devoted to the man – his evil deeds were nothing to her. She saw through him to something hidden deep within Ignacio, and had coaxed the goodness out of him into the open. Diego had thought it was there, buried deep. He had despaired of ever seeing Ignacio's good side. All it had taken was a heart full of love. It had melted the stone and ice that had surrounded it.

"I don't know."

"As far as we know, she is still dying, as you said. What is that to anything else? My worst fear in the world right now is that. I think I could deal with an angry monster of a husband very easily. He would fall before my sword effortlessly. I would show him no mercy, just as he had shown her no mercy. Someone definitely has flogged her, Diego."

"How do you…? Never mind," Diego said. He frowned at the idea of anyone hurting a woman in that way, especially a woman they had promised to love and protect for life.

He turned away from the window, and sighed. "Ignacio, we have only sketchy information right now. Let's see if we can get further details, before we talk of violence, alright?"

Ignacio sighed as well. Diego had a point, he realised. "Yes, Diego. I am being emotional."

"Emotions cloud reason, they have no place in strategy. That is something you need to learn. Why do you think you never could arrest me and contain me? Anger just makes fools of us all."

"What are we going to do about the pueblo? No one is in authority there at the moment," Ignacio said, suddenly having a thought.

"Mendoza is in charge, remember?"

"As I said, no one in authority is there at the moment," Ignacio said worriedly. "Some of the lancers are improving, but still….Bandits will overwhelm them."

"I can go and inform Zorro that he may be needed," Diego said thoughtfully. "I hate to leave you, you may need me."

"Make up plenty of cactus tea," Ignacio said with a worried frown. "If she drinks it, it will do her good, surely? What else can you really do?"

Diego was nodding. "Victoria needs me, and I've already been gone almost two days. I can do nothing for her, Ignacio. If she lives it will be because of her love for you, and the cactus tea, if she drinks it at all. There is no other medicine I can give her, nothing another doctor could provide." Diego stared into Ignacio's eyes. "Hold her as long as you can. You may not have very long together. If she rallies she may even survive."

"This husband…?"

"Send me word immediately if he presents a problem," Diego said. "I will return as soon as I can."

Ignacio watched as the man fidgeted in the room, and nodded. "Go home to your family, Diego. Tell Zorro thank you for his help with the bandits. I'll be alright."

"If she dies, send me word. I'll ride back with you," Diego said, a seriousness underlying his tone. "Be sure to do that, Alcalde."

Ignacio half smiled, and stared at the wall. "Are you worried about me?"

Diego didn't answer him; he was gathering his belongings and heading for the door.

Zzzz

Ignacio held her for a very long time, and his muscles grew tired and achy. He longed to stretch his arms a little, but didn't dare move. If it was helping her stay calm and safe, if it was helping her breathe, he could stay like that a little longer. He sighed, and breathed deeply, catching a faint smell of lavender on her skin. It was the scent that usually he associated with her, so it was probably his imagination.

"Oh, Gushing Stream. What have you had to go through, my love?" He whispered into her hair. "How can I save you?"

She slept on, and he closed his eyes, trying to block out all the emotions that had started to cloud his mind. Diego was right, emotions were for fools. Only love was worth feeling, he realised. He may have to be armed and ready for battle at a moment's notice. He needed to harden his soul against any other distraction than love and battle readiness. Fear was irrelevant and would not prevent anything really. Anger was going to make him irrational. Hope may even be a wasted emotion when it really came down to it. He thought of his rapier hanging in his guest room, and wanted it close.