Ignacio's Epilogue
Ignacio gazed over his land with pride, and cast his eyes back to his hacienda. Gushing Stream was watching him, he could feel her warm glance on him for miles. Marco was playing at her feet, and everything was right with the world.
He wished he had done something like this years ago. The sense of calm power and control suited him perfectly. Governing on a small scale with a wise and beautiful wife at his side was the life for him. He was getting to work alongside his workmen, and was thoroughly enjoying it.
They were repairing fences today, and tomorrow was time to go out to Monterey to buy some new stock. He was taking his wife and son with him this time, and making a holiday of it. The de la Vegas would be there as well, and while they were firm friends now, he had his doubts about the restless nature of the twins. If he hadn't known Diego's secret already, his sons may have clued Ignacio in to who their father really was. Since they were the spitting image of Diego, no other father could be possible for them.
Marco was obviously his mother's son. He had her soft brown colouring, and her hair and eyes. He was getting more active these days, and they had to keep more of an eye on him. It was good that he had a lot of space to wander in, and that the workmen had adopted him along with their employer.
Ignacio was becoming known as a very fair employer and patron. Diego had taught him well, and he had taken Diego's words completely seriously for once. They were isolated from the dons, of course, because Ignacio would never again accept an invitation to another party unless it was Diego inviting him.
Ignacio wiped some sweat from his brow, and smiled. In his office at the pueblo he had avoided hard work. Here he looked for it, because it furthered his own enterprises on the farm. Everything he worked on personally was completed faster with less expense, and that was always a good thing. He still liked his money.
"Patron," his head worker called. "We are having a break. Go and have lunch."
He waved to him, and headed towards the hacienda. He heard the gentle laughter of his men, and knew that they were shaking their heads at him with friendly amusement. He was the only landowner in the territory who actually rolled up his sleeves almost every day to join the workers. Even Diego de la Vega had other things to do. What would the pueblo be without their local hero?
Alejandro de la Vega had accepted the post turned down by his son. Armand was pleased with the idea and supported the placement with the Governor. The older man was wiser and more dedicated than even Diego would have been. Zorro was still seen from time to time, but not on a regular basis. Diego had taken over the running of his father's estates more and more. The older man did most of his work from his desk, and Zorro had kept up the training and support of the garrison. They now had some of the best men in California, although Mendoza would never be a great swordsman as the sergeant had dreamed. He had improved but the emphasis was slowly changing to that of pistols and rifles anyway. He was a much better shot than a swordsman.
He reached his wife, and swept her up into his arms. She seemed sleepy today, and he looked at her in the eyes, and she blushed a little under his gaze.
"Is there something you should tell me, princess?"
"Maybe, I'm not sure." She looked a little frightened, and he held her to his chest, caressing her hair and waiting for her to calm.
"It doesn't matter," he said softly. He was gazing at his son, who was playing with toy soldiers in the dust. He was a miracle and he was enough. He was content with one child, if that was what he was getting.
She had lost a few pregnancies over the past year, and it was starting to upset her now. He kissed the top of her head, and sighed. He hated to see her frightened or sad. He didn't know what to do for her, but the pregnancies had made her so sick it had frightened him. Perhaps it was better that they were content with their single son.
"I would like to give you a little daughter," Gushing Stream murmured, in his arms.
He knew she was thinking about Armand's daughter. Ariela was beautiful, almost like a little doll, and he adored her.
"I have Ariela to dote on, my princess. I am not going to push my luck. I am already blessed enough."
She sighed, and allowed herself to relax in his arms, melting a little so that her body nestled against his.
"Papa, will you play with me?" Marco said softly. He knelt reluctantly leaving the warm body of his wife, but pleased to be asked. He took the figure of the sergeant and looked at it as he marched it along the dirt path.
"This one looks like your Uncle Jaime," he murmured, stifling a laugh.
"He is too skinny," Marco said, taking the sergeant and looking at it carefully. "Is Uncle Jaime coming to dinner, Papa?"
"Maybe another day," Ignacio said, ruffling his son's curls as he stood up, reaching for his wife again.
"When will I get a pony?" Marco asked suddenly. It sounded as if he had thought about it for a while.
"Why do you ask that, Marco?" Gushing Stream said softly. It sounded to Ignacio that she already knew the answer.
"Ramond has a pony, and so does Carlos," Marco said. "They have ponies, why don't I?"
"They have ponies because they are bigger than you, sweet boy," she said gently. "When you are five you can have one as well," she added, glancing at Ignacio with a smile.
"They got theirs when they turned three."
Here we go, Ignacio thought.
"Their daddy takes them riding every day, Ramon can jump high fences and everything," Marco said softly.
"Their daddy has more workers than your daddy," Gushing Stream said with a patient smile. "Your daddy gets tired. Uncle Diego's daddy was like your daddy. Very busy…We have to look after daddy," she said.
"Yes, poor daddy. You must be very tired. I think you need a nap after lunch, daddy."
Ignacio glanced at Gushing Stream and smiled. "Yes, I think so. I think your daddy needs a nap after lunch, Marco," he said with an exaggerated yawn. Marco giggled, and tugged at his trousers. Ignacio knelt and gave his son a hoist onto his shoulders.
"I am so so hungry, Marco. I wonder what's for lunch?"
"Tamales!" Marco yelled with excitement, and Ignacio chuckled.
"Duck your head, my son," he cautioned as he walked into the hacienda towards the dining room.
He rushed through lunch as fast as he could, playing up the yawns and the hunger, and made his son giggle. He put the boy down to rest in his little bed in his nursery, and waited until the boy stopped wanting to jump up and down and chat, and watched him as he fell asleep. He'd had no idea how perfect his life would become with a young child who adored him. He felt like a king overseeing a kingdom, with a beautiful queen at his side.
He loved siesta. His son slept soundly in the nursery tucked inside a warm bed, and he had his wife all to himself for hours. It was impossible to work in the heat of the day, especially on the land. The only problem was Marco was unlikely to settle down until late into the night, but that was the price Ignacio paid for enjoying his wife in peace and quiet, and the workers were happy to watch his son if necessary.
He made his way into his own room, and gazed down at his beautiful wife. She reached her arms up to draw him next to her, and he felt incredibly lucky. She always welcomed him, and always matched his mood, as if she was made for him. If anything, he tired of caresses before her. These days he worked hard to pursue her needs and interests and was having a wonderful time learning more and more about his wife.
"I may be pregnant again, Ignacio," she whispered softly. He wasn't sure if he was happy about it or not. Her illnesses while pregnant were intense, but maybe this time she would be alright. He looked at her doubtfully.
"Are you happy about it, princess?"
She nodded slowly. He smiled, and held her gently. "Then so am I." He felt her sigh with relief, and he kissed the top of her head softly. "I love you so much, princess."
"We can have a girl," she murmured, as if she had absolute control over the sex of her baby. He laughed.
"How about we have both: a girl and a boy?" She giggled. "Too much? Oh well, just a girl then."