Alejandro entered the tavern with the sergeant and the new vaquero. The vaquero sat near the doors, and nodded in her direction.

Alejandro looked exhausted, but a sense of accomplishment oozed from him, and hope gleamed in his eyes. He beckoned to the vaquero, but the man shook his head determinedly. The cautious vaquero had no plans to move any closer.

Victoria stared at the hope in Alejandro's eyes, and smiled a little.

"You found Diego?"

Alejandro shook his head. "The tracks are old, but we found some. They are a little blurred but clearly point north. Jack found them."

Zzz

It was late in the evening, but Victoria was still busy in the tavern. Pilar and Clara were both as busy as herself and in between quick trips to the kitchen to catch her breath, she realised that Capitan Destara was staring at her again.

She sighed, as she picked up yet another plate of food, and dashed out of the kitchen again. She should be happy that the tavern was so busy, but all she could think of was her own warm bed.

She blushed as her eyes accidentally met the handsome Capitan's. She knew Diego didn't like him, but he hadn't really said why. Zorro was a dangerous man, and she had no fears in his arms.

Zorro…the man had not come to visit for many weeks. This other man sitting brazenly flirting with her in the middle of the tavern had no fear of anything.

She remembered the strange experience of his lips on hers, and could almost taste them again. Or was that Zorro's lips in her memory? She hated that man sometimes. She hated that she seemed to be the last thing he thought about, and the last person he glanced at. He had been seen, but it was as if he had been avoiding her. The last time he had entered into the pueblo was to warn Destara to watch his step, and that had been weeks ago. She wanted Zorro to want her, and suddenly realised how she could force his hand.

Diego had warned them both of Zorro's potential jealousy. Why not court the jealousy in the man? If he could not respond in jealousy what was the point of him? If he didn't respond to jealousy, then he didn't love her as he claimed. He had rescued her from her own foolishness with the love potion. Was that out of love? Jealousy that the Alcalde was actively courting her? Just because it was a challenge for a brilliant mind?

She hadn't been immune to Destara's interest in her, and she couldn't deny that she had liked that kiss. Diego was a scholar, with no experience in the real world. He had no idea if the man was dangerous to women. It wasn't as if Diego had much experience with women, and the ways of dangerous men. Perhaps he had over exaggerated the dangers.

The masked man…was he in the tavern? Was he already jealous? She gazed out over the crowd, and realised there wasn't an empty seat in the room. She glanced up at the upstairs landing, half expecting Zorro to be standing there agitated, ready to leap down and confront someone.

She moved back to the kitchen, and swayed her hips a little, aware that the man was watching her with appreciation. There, Zorro. I am desired. What will you do? If he was in the room, he would have noticed, and she was safely in the kitchen within moments. If Destara was dangerous she would prepare for trouble, and she had not run a tavern without experiencing some trouble.

Pilar joined her and shivered a little.

"What is it, Pilar?" Victoria noticed that her friend was even a little more nervous than usual.

"There is a tall vaquero, and he gives me goose bumps. He is drinking a lot of strong wine, and he stares at you constantly," the woman said. "He's new, I think. He's sitting in the shadows and he looks like a dangerous man. His eyes frighten me."

Victoria sighed. "The tavern is full. A lot of vaqueros drink, Pilar. We just have to be on guard with him. The lancers will deal with him easily enough."

Pilar nodded.

"He hasn't touched you, or anything?"

"Like Senor Talboa?" Pilar said with a touch of disgust. The elderly gentleman was very fond of pinching soft behinds on a random basis, and had not won their respect. "No, he's barely noticed me. It's you that he's fixated on, Victoria. He's sitting against the wall in the shadows."

"Well, if he's barely noticed you, you are safe," Victoria said. She made a mental note not to approach the area. She was in no mood for any bottom pinching tonight. "I'm afraid you might just have to endure it a little longer."

Pilar sighed and nodded, as she picked up another plate of food and swished out of the kitchen.

Victoria glanced up at the chimney, half expecting her hero to swing down and demand an explanation for her swaying hips. She shook herself, and realised her nerves were on edge.

She went out of the kitchen, and paused in the doorway. The customers were starting to finish up and go home. Less people in the tavern meant bedtime was close, and less people meant more time to think clearly. She was starting to wonder if she had been stupid, she was feeling pretty guilty. Zorro hardly deserved her unfaithfulness if only in pretence.

Destara crept beside her and touched her shoulder. She jumped and spun, feeling like a frightened rabbit for a moment, before she took a deep breath.

"Capitan," she said, softly before she firmed her voice. "Capitan. You startled me," she said a little firmer. He leant towards her a little, but this time she had both hands out to push back at him.

"You liked my kiss last time," he murmured. She could smell alcohol on his breath, and realised that the man had consumed too much wine. She moved back, putting a table between them, and was a little frustrated when the man followed her. Glancing around the tavern, she realised there weren't many people left in the tavern at all. No lancers were staying late.

Don Alejandro was arguing with some friends in a far corner. If she screamed he would come to her aid, but an older man against a serving soldier was probably not great odds. She glanced around at the shadows. The tall man in the shadows seemed to still be there, leaning back against the wall. Obviously a vaquero drunk as usual. They came to the tavern to drink their earnings, she knew that well enough.

She danced around to the other side of the table, and decided to keep it light. "Capitan, I do have some other customers," she said firmly. "If you will excuse me."

He had a strange glint in his eyes, and for once, Victoria felt a bolt of fear go through her. All of Diego's warnings came flooding back. He reached out for her, and she skittered backwards almost into the tall man's lap, and flattened her back against the wall.

Capitan Destara chuckled a little, and she felt trapped. She should have gone towards the tavern doors, and at least had the opportunity to run outside. The Alcalde wasn't very worthwhile, but he at least would see the dangers of a drunken man. Now she couldn't move, and he was so close.