Victoria knew Destara was trouble from the first day she saw him. Judging men's characters came with the territory of being tavern keeper. Most trouble makers kept their distance these days, due to Zorro's attentions and quick reprisals, but she'd had problems of one kind or another over the years.

A caballero playing at soldiering, Destara oozed pride. Max Destara was too sure of himself, especially around the ladies. Every soft hearted young girl fluttered her eyelashes at him, and he enjoyed every moment of it. Unlike Diego, he was well aware of his effect on the hearts of females.

Zzz

Victoria had noticed the glances he gave her. Glances that spoke of confusion and of curious interest. She supposed it was disheartening for him to have one lady not fawning over him with fluttering eyelashes and ponderous sighs. She wasn't aware until today that he saw her as a challenge to overcome.

"Senorita Escalante," he said softly. She realised he was standing in her way. She smiled at his audacity.

"Capitan Destara, I am working," she murmured, but didn't lower her eyes. She was no less a person than the man, and she was not going to defer to him in any way, except with politeness to a customer.

"Yes, sorry, excuse me," he said, stepping aside, and sitting down with the de la Vegas, without an invitation. She saw Diego stiffen and move aside a little, not wanting to be touched by the man, and it made her smile a little. Even Diego disliked the man, and Diego tried hard to like everyone. She went about seeing to her customers as she normally did.

As Victoria made her rounds, she neared the de la Vega table eventually. As she glanced towards the table, Diego seemed to be staring at her strangely. She glanced behind her, and realised that he must be trying to see past her. Isabella Azarola had just walked in with her son, and little girl, and glancing back at Diego she realised he had already stood for the lady in black.

Diego left his father's table and went to assist the widow and her children, leaning lightly on his cane, before leaving the tavern. Victoria remembered he had been talking about the newspaper as usual, and realised he was heading in that direction. She hoped he would get more editorial done this week, because it seemed to worry him when he didn't.

Capitan Destara glanced at the widow with mild interest, and then Victoria realised his eyes were on hers.

"Diego is very taken with Isabella Azarola," the Capitan said softly, but he glanced up at Victoria's face as he said it.

"Yes. Perhaps the boy is considering marriage at long last," Alejandro replied.

"Senorita Escalante, perhaps you will show me around the pueblo properly? I have been so distracted with paperwork and meeting everyone…I am still at a loss when it comes to knowing where everything is. My sense of direction is very bad," Destara said softly. Alejandro glanced at him with a vague expression of distrust, but then shrugged.

"It's a wonder that you have made it to the rank of Capitan, if that is the case, senor," she retorted, softly, remembering where she was and who she was with. Destara smiled and nodded slightly. "The amount of times you must get lost on maneuveres…"

"I'm sure that Pilar can manage the tavern for a few minutes, Victoria. I don't see the harm in such a move," Alejandro said gently.

Victoria couldn't see much point in showing the man around such a small town. He probably had gotten his bearings in a few minutes of entering the pueblo.

"I'm sure it will only take a few minutes," Alejandro repeated, with a little twinkle in his eyes. She sighed a little. Maybe Alejandro was trying to match-make her. It had been a while since anyone had tried that move. She smiled at the older man and nodded with a small shrug.

Capitan Destara rose and took her arm, as if she was a proper lady, and escorted her outside gracefully. She glanced around her tavern, and realised most people were well looked after.

It took a little while to walk around the plaza, and after a few moments, she realised there was no one else in the plaza. It was too close to siesta, and most people were eating lunch, either in the tavern or in their homes.

"As you know, the garrison is stationed there, and the Alcalde's office is just across there," she said, pointing to the various landmarks as she tried to avoid Capitan Destara's deep brown eyes, her arm still tucked in his. "Don Diego's newspaper office is just along there…" She moved as if she would return to the tavern immediately, and he stopped her.

His hand reached out and held her chin, gently easing her head up so that she met his eyes. He leant forward, and his lips met hers. She froze with surprise, and he leant into the kiss, taking advantage of her hesitation and surprise. He swept her up in her arms, and she responded a little more than she would have liked, closing her eyes, savouring the feeling of being wanted and needed, just for a moment. She woke up to herself, with a mild sense of horror, as he tried to deepen the kiss, and she shoved him away with both hands. She stepped back quickly, and glanced around her, half expecting to see Zorro standing behind her. It would kill him to see her betray him in that way, even if she hadn't really meant to.

"How dare you?" She whispered, trying to breathe again. She was a little too breathless to react by striking the caballero's handsome face, and she was a little too shocked at herself to think about it. She wasn't as outraged as she should have been, and the sense of guilt hung in the pit of her stomach.

Zzz

Diego frowned, watching Victoria move around the tavern, dodging the attentions of Capitan Destara. She seemed carefree enough, but Diego didn't think she needed the aggravation. He certainly didn't.

He rose, taking the excuse that Isabella needed a hand. He helped her to a table and left the tavern, unable to watch any more of Destara's flirting with his Victoria. His newspaper was suffering from his procrastination. He had been unsuccessful in tracking the robbers as usual. His life was a struggle right now, but at least he was trying.

He sat at the desk, and leafed through the mess at his desk. When he had heard the news of his friend's death everything had been scaled back to allow for his private investigation into the bank robberies. The newspaper had been hardly touched by him, and mainly full of extra recipes and love lorn advice. Editorial had been sadly lacking for at least a couple of weeks.

He sighed, and glanced out the window, towards the tavern. He froze, his mind clouding with growing anger, threatening to turn into full blown rage.

Destara had convinced Victoria to wander about the plaza with him. It was almost siesta so there was no one about in the streets. He had succeeded in isolating her.

Diego rose to his feet, and was out the door in a moment. He paused on the little porch and watched them carefully. Isabella might be right – the man might be innocent. He might just be reading into his behaviour and seconding guessing the man.

It took less than five minutes for Destara to have Victoria in his arms, and kissing her. Diego closed his eyes to the fact that she seemed to be enjoying it for a moment, as he stormed across to the pair.

"Senor, have you no shame?" Diego's deep voice seemed to flood Victoria's senses, and she backed up against the wall, forcing some more distance between her and the Capitan.

"Diego?"

"Keep your hands off her." Diego's voice was a whispered threat, as if he was trying to keep his voice down. Victoria shivered, as Diego came to her side. "This is not Madrid."

"Come on, she had no complaints," Destara said softly. Diego put an arm around her and must have felt the shudder that went through her, because he rubbed her arm gently to reassure her.

"You would seduce Zorro's lady?" Diego said, and his voice seemed harder than she had ever heard it. "You take your life into your hands…"

"Really? I don't see the masked terror out here calling me out," Destara said, spinning around slowly for emphasis. "I see you."

"She is like my sister," Diego said, brushing the query in the man's voice away. "I know what you are like, Destara."

"As I said, she had no complaints," Destara said mockingly. Victoria watched him go back to the barracks and she sighed with relief.

"Victoria," Diego said gently, and she knew he was glancing at her trying to work out if she had been hurt in any way. Victoria sighed again, and realised she had been very stupid. Most people were sheltering from the heat, and not many people were out in the plaza. Alejandro must have thought the man was a gentleman.

"Your father trusted him." Her voice sounded a little weak.

"I don't," Diego murmured. "He didn't hurt you? He didn't frighten you?" There was hardness in his voice, and something in her wondered what would have happened if Destara had hurt her or frightened her. What would mild mannered Diego have done in that case? He didn't seem so mild mannered right then, she realised.

"It was just a kiss, Diego. Some men do try to take advantage. I normally see it coming, and dodge the threat," she said, embarrassed. "He had no chance for anything else."

"Don't go anywhere with that man again," Diego warned, holding her arms and making her look up at him. He shook her slightly, without realising it. "He can't be trusted."

"I understand now, Diego," she said, smoothing her ruffled skirts. "Believe me, I can look after myself. It's alright."

She felt his hands tighten around her arms, before he let go abruptly, as if realising what he was doing. He stared for a moment at the gate to the barracks, and she held her breath. Then he sighed and glanced back at her.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I must have hurt you. I probably frightened you a little too. I know him," he said with another sigh. "He is no gentleman."

"Diego, I am glad that you care enough about me to try to protect me, but really, I can look after myself," Victoria said. She was a little irritated, and confused. "Don't worry about me. I know the man is dangerous now, and can act accordingly."

Diego glanced back at the tavern, and nodded reluctantly.

"Destara has a habit of seducing beautiful women," Diego said softly. "He seeks to win them and casts them aside as soon as someone more beautiful comes near. It's all a game to him. I don't want to see you hurt."

"Zorro trusts me, Diego. I'm sure you can as well," Victoria said, and there was firmness in her voice now. "I have made promises," she added, before she could stop herself. "Promises I intend to keep."

Diego stared at her and then glanced down at the ground. She thought that perhaps he was considering his next words, because surely the conversation wasn't over. Diego seemed to lose some of his height, in a remarkable slouch, and he nodded.

"Of course," he murmured, and he made his way back to the tavern, without waiting for her.

Victoria paused for a moment. Wait… Had Diego come to her rescue? Had he just referred to her as a beautiful woman? Had he really seemed to be on the verge of challenging Destara in the middle of the empty plaza? What was going on?