Chapter 7
"STOP THIS, STOP THIS AT ONCE!" a loud, commanding voice came from behind the assembled crowd.
The citizens gasped at the unexpected demand and turned as one towards the authoritative voice. They were startled to see three well-dressed gentlemen riding their horses towards them and as they took in the high quality of their clothing, as well as the purebred stallions they rode, it was obvious to everyone that the three men were of great wealth. One of the gentlemen was Dominic Sanchez and he carried himself with confidence, with an air of authority, that no-one could deny.
Mendoza let out a huge sigh of relief as he quickly removed his hand from the lever, he didn't care who these men were as long as it stopped or at least delayed him from carrying out his terrible duty.
"Madre de dios." Don Alejandro whispered. "I had completely forgotten all about him."
"But Don Alejandro, that's just Dominic, Diego's cousin." Victoria replied.
He gave her a warm, hopeful smile. "It's just not Dominic, he is the only one that can save Diego."
Victoria's heart pounded as she gripped Don Alejandro's arm tight. "What do you mean?"
Before he could reply, de Soto's voice rose loud over the hushed crowd. "And just who do you think you are to interrupt an official hanging." his voice showed his obvious irritation.
But Dominic paid de Soto no attention as he slowly urged his horse towards the gallows, the crowd parting for him. "Really Diego, I leave you alone for a day or so and look at the trouble you're in." he said with amusement, with a tinge of barely restrained anger.
Diego was dumbfounded as he watched his cousin ride up to him, he too had forgotten about this man, the only one who could help him. He shrugged and then grinned. "Well I thought that I could handle this little matter on my own."
Dominic shook his head and chuckled. "Not very well I see. Sergeant Mendoza isn't it? Please remove the rope from around Don Diego's neck."
There was no time for Mendoza to reply, as the distinct sound of a pistol being primed came loud and clear behind him.
"You will NOT interfere in this matter Senor. I don't care if you are his cousin..." de Soto didn't get to finish as the sound of two more pistols being primed came behind him. He turned slightly and saw that the two men who had arrived with Dominic, aiming their pistols at him.
"My men are deadly shots de Soto, so it would not be prudent to tempt fate. Besides if you go ahead with the hanging, you will be the next to hang." Dominic said coldly. "Perhaps I should just do that anyway."
De Soto was livid as he felt his future slip away because of this arrogant man. "Just who are you anyway?" he demanded.
Dominic glanced over at Don Alejandro, smiled and nodded slightly.
Don Alejandro squeezed Victoria's hand. For the first time he knew that everything was going to work out, just the way it should. With a large grin on his face, he called out. "Alcalde, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Juan Carlos Alvarez, Grand Duke of Seville and nephew to the King."
The crowd gasped loudly at this statement.
De Soto sneered. "Right and I am the King of England!"
"Ignacio, I think you should listen to my father." Diego said, he too was grinning. He had eased his head out of the noose but stayed on the gallows, still wary of the edgy lancers.
"Do you have proof Senor?" de Soto asked. He started to feel a little nervous, what if he was saying was true? What if he was a Grand Duke? This would almost certainly mean his recall back to Madrid in disgrace.
Dominic nodded to one his men, who reached down into his saddlebags, pulled out several papers and then handed them over to de Soto.
Victoria was confused, the man she knew as Dominic Sanchez was actually a Grand Duke, nephew to the King of Spain. But how, and why did he go under a different name? And more importantly what did that mean for Diego? Was he free? She didn't dare hope. She didn't want to get her hopes up only to have them taken away from her.
"Is this a joke?" De Soto said angrily as he finished reading.
Grand Duke Seville urged his horse over to where De Soto was standing and said in a clear, loud voice, so that there would be no misunderstanding. "I assure you Senor, this is no joke. I was sent here by the King, my uncle, to ascertain the reason for such unrest here in California in general but Los Angeles in particular. I was given wide ranging powers up to and including authorising an execution, if the situation warranted it. I hereby place you under arrest for abuse of power, of illegal increase of taxes, treason, using innocent citizens in your obsessive pursuit of one man. Need I go on?"
Just then a squad of Royal Lancers came cantering up to them, kicking up dirt along the way.
"What kept you Lieutenant Santiago?" The Grand Duke asked casually as the leader stopped in front of them.
"Sorry, Sire but your horses are faster than ours." replied the officer with a slight smile on his face. He had great respect for the Grand Duke, having served in his household for the last five years.
Juan Carlos grinned. "Remind me to outfit you and your men with better mounts then."
Santiago's smile widened. "Si, Sire, I'll hold you to that promise Sire."
Juan Carlos chuckled and shook his head, he both trusted and respected the Lieutenant. "I have no doubt that you will Lieutenant, but now place Senor de Soto in the cuartel for the moment, while you rest your horses."
The officer nodded. "Si Sire" he turned to the men behind him. "Sergeant, take three lancers and escort de Soto to the cells."
"Si Lieutenant." replied the Sergeant as he ordered three men to dismount.
de Soto fumed at his arrest but there was nothing he could do about it, except hold his head high as he was escorted to his own cells.
Juan Carlos turned to the crowd that was growing louder with murmurs. He held up his hand for silence and then spoke in a clear voice. "Attention everyone, I hereby give a full pardon to Diego Sebastian de la Vega, the man known as Zorro..." He got no further as the crowd erupted into loud cheers and whistles.
Victoria cried out, she couldn't believe it, Diego was safe, he wasn't going to die. She rushed out of Don Alejandro's protective arms, pushed passed the people standing in the way and ran up the stairs of the gallows and threw herself into Diego's arms.
Diego was stunned when Juan Carlos announced his pardon. He couldn't believe that it was all over, the battle was finally over and he was now a free man. Free to marry his lady. Mendoza had just untied his hands when he found himself with Victoria in his arms and they held each other tight, both trembling in shock.
"Marry me querida, now, today." he whispered.
"Oh yes, Diego I will, as soon as possible." she cried with relief and happiness.
"I need to change, let's say two hours."
"Yes Diego that's perfect. I love you Diego."
"I love you too Victoria." He lowered his head and claimed her mouth in a loving kiss.
The crowd went crazy with cheers and whistles at the embracing couple and they pulled apart somewhat embarrassed. "You are all invited to our wedding later today." he announced to the cheering people, before he rushed down the stairs and into the arms of his father and his son.
It was three hours later, that Diego had bathed, shaved and changed into a new dark suit and he was feeling marvellous as he stood next to his lady. Victoria had also bathed and changed into her wedding dress that she had made the moment he had proposed. They were standing in front of the padre, repeating their vows of love and devotion to each other, to a packed mission church. Everyone was so thrilled that these two young people were finally getting married; it had been a long time in coming for them both.
"Do you Diego Sebastian, take Victoria Maria as your lawful wedded wife, to love, honour, and forsaking all others?"
"I do." Diego said in a firm voice.
"Do you Victoria Maria take Diego Sebastian as your lawful wedded husband, to love, honour and obey, forsaking all others?"
"I do." Victoria said softly.
"I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride."
Diego turned and slowly lifted the soft veil from her face, gave her a warm smile and kissed her waiting lips.
They turned and walked down the aisle, accepting the applause and cheers of the crowd before they all crossed to the tavern, where an impromptu party had started. In the three hours since the reprieve of Diego, all the women of the pueblo had cooked up a feast for the double celebration of De Soto's arrest, who was now on his way to Santa Barbara escorted by Lieutenant Santiago, and the unplanned wedding of the most popular couple of the district.
Diego brought Juan Carlos over and introduced him to his bride. "Victoria, may I present Juan Carlos Alvarez, Grand Duke of Seville. Juan, may I present my wife, Doña Victoria de la Vega."
Juan Carlos gave Victoria a deep bow, kissed her hand and grinned. "My congratulations on your marriage Doña Victoria, Diego is a lucky man."
Victoria blushed and didn't know what to say "Gracias...um..."
Juan Carlos saw her confusion and smiled warmly. "Please call me Juan or even Dominic. I had to used a different name in order to find out the truth of what was going on here in California, not many people would be open and honest when speaking with a member of the Royal Family."
Victoria frowned. "But Diego knew you as Dominic too..."
He chuckled. "Si, that's true because Diego helped me to make up the name when he was in Madrid. It was a security measure for the times when I travel outside my little domain. Not everyone has good intentions towards my family and there are any number of ruffians who would love to get their hands on a ransom for the Kings nephew."
She smiled and nodded. "It's just a little overwhelming, Juan... Dios." she looked at her husband as a revelation hit her. "Diego...Madre de dios...does that mean you're related to..." she couldn't finish.
Diego grinned. "Yes, I am distantly related to the King of Spain and now so are you."
For once in her life, Victoria was speechless as she stared at the two cousins.
Diego chuckled, gave her hand a quick squeeze before he moved on, introducing Juan Carlos to several other prominent families of the district.
Several hours later Diego pulled his bride aside and whispered with a wicked grin. "Querida, would you like to find out if my bed is larger than yours?"
He was rewarded by a deep blush to her face. "Shhh Diego, someone might hear you."
"You didn't answer my question." he breathed hotly in her ear, causing a shudder to rip through her small frame.
Victoria held back her moan, she didn't want to disgrace herself. "And what question was that?" she teased him.
He chuckled throatily. "I thought you hated it when I answered a question with a question."
She giggled. "I do."
Diego growled low. "Stop it querida or I might just have to kiss you right now in front of these people."
Victoria shivered again as his warm breath on her neck, sent a hot ache surging through her body. "Oh yes Diego, I want to know how big your bed is." she whispered back.
"Now querida." he whispered.
Victoria nodded. "Yes, now."
They soon arrived back to the peace and quiet of the hacienda and when Diego picked up his bride and carried her inside, she giggled. "Diego...put me down."
"Not until we reach...ah here we are." he kicked open the door of his bedroom and walked several paces inside. He carefully set Victoria down on her feet. "I'll be right back, with your bags." he gave her lips a quick but passionate kiss and left the room.
Victoria slowly sat his bed and started giggling, his bed was larger than hers, she reflected. She found that she couldn't stop giggling, she felt cold and she began to shake.
Diego returned and he quickly dropped her bags to the floor when he saw Victoria shivering, laughing hysterically, the blood had rushed from her face, making her pale as a ghost. He sat on his bed, pulled her into his arms, surprised at the strength of her shudders. He placed his hand on her forehead. "Victoria, what's wrong? You're burning up."
"Oh Diego, I...I feel sick...I...think I'm..."
"You mean...?"
Victoria nodded as she put her hand to her mouth.
"Come, this way." He helped her up and opened another door into his bathroom.
Some moments later.
"Oh Diego, I'm sorry." she wasn't shivering so hard now, nor was she as cold.
"Shhh querida, its okay." he held her in his arms and they slowly walked back to the other room. "Get into bed." he planted a kiss to her hair before leaving the room.
Shortly he came back, found Victoria, changed and in bed. "How are you feeling?" he asked as he started to undress.
Victoria looked away a little shy, but then she shook her head, she had seen Diego naked only that morning and besides he was her husband now, so she turned back as he joined her in bed. "A little better. I don't know what came over me." she leant into his broad chest as he pulled the covers over them.
"Perhaps it was the shock of the last twenty-four hours." he said softly as he gently rubbed her stomach soothingly. "So much has happened to us; from my unmasking, to the arrest and..."
"And my seducing you..." She added softly.
He chuckled. "Yes, and if I might add, a very breathtaking seduction it was too." he breathed hotly into her ear, causing her to shiver.
He shifted to a more comfortable position, his hand still gently rubbing her stomach. "To Juan saving me at the last possible moment, and then our wedding. I'm not surprised, that your body reacted like that." he planted a kiss to her hair.
"Um Diego, can I ask you something?" she said a little hesitantly, she had felt his growing hardness pressing against her.
"Of course you can querida, you can ask me anything." he tightened his arms around her.
"I was wondering...I'm tired and I still don't feel well..." She blushed deeply.
He kissed her hair once more. "Shhh querida, we don't have to make love tonight, if you don't want to."
"Oh Diego...I don't...but you do...I mean you are...well." her embarrassment continued.
He chuckled softly as he gently lifted her face and gazed lovingly into her eyes. "A part of me wants to but I too have been overwhelmed by what has happened to me, to us."
"Dios, I'm sorry. I didn't even ask how you are feeling." She felt a little guilty that she hadn't given him any thought about his feelings of the last day.
He sighed. "I don't know querida, I had accepted my fate but when Juan came back and saved me and now we are married, it's so overwhelming Victoria. It feels like a dream and that any moment now I will wake up and none of it will be real." He sighed once more. "I've been given a second chance of life and I am not going to waste it." he shook his head. "I guess I just want to be held tonight." his voice crackled with his emotions.
"Oh Diego." Victoria felt hot tears running down her face and wrapped her arms around her husband and held him tight.
Diego sank into her comforting embrace, his own tears streaming down his face and together they gave into their fears, their elations, and their shock of all the events of the past day. They grieved for what had almost happened, of what they had almost lost.
After their grief and shock had passed, it took some time for them to find the most comfortable position to hold each other and they ended up with Diego on his back with Victoria snuggled against his broad chest.
"Thank you Diego for not...well you know."
Diego kissed her head softly. "We have the rest of our lives to make love querida."
Victoria snuggled further against his chest, his warmth was making her sleepy. "I love you Diego."
"And I love you Victoria."