Epilogue - Changes

Six weeks had passed since Montoya's arrest. News arrived from Monterey that the former colonel would be sent on the next ship back to Spain as a prisoner of the crown. No one had seen or heard from Marcus Grisham, not even Vera.

The Queen of Swords made just one appearance in that time, leaving two bandits with their hands and feet securely tied outside the garrison. The soldiers who saw her didn't even try to stop her. One man actually shouted his thanks as she rode off. The Queen was semi-retired and wholly bored.

"Tessa, a letter has come for you!" Marta announced. She found Tessa tending her mother's roses. The small flower garden was flourishing under the lavish attention it had received in the past month. Tessa jumped up and snagged the letter from Marta's outstretched hand, desperate for any excitement. She eagerly tore open the seal and unfolded the letter. Marta watched Tessa's eyes scan the paper and her brow furrow as she read.

"What is it?" Marta asked, becoming worried.

"Uncle Alejandro. He's coming to Santa Elena."

"That's good news...isn't it?" Marta seemed uncertain.

Tessa looked at her over the top of the letter. "He's accepted the position of alcalde of Santa Elena. He is Montoya's replacement."

"Your uncle is a good man. Why do you look worried?"

"I'm not. It's just that-"

"You have become accustomed to being your own woman."

Tessa nodded. "Look at how much we have accomplished." She gestured to the vast land of her hacienda. "Uncle will want me to be a proper lady and get married."

"And you don't want that?"

"I'd have to give up my home," Tessa protested.

Marta eyed her critically. "Not necessarily."

"Well…" Her cheeks flushed. "I do want some of that. But I don't want to marry someone my uncle picks."

Marta smiled knowingly and put her hands on her hips. "Well, what are you going to do about it?"


"Doctor Helm?" Tessa called, rapping quickly on the door before pushing it open. The doctor was seated at his desk, writing notes in a journal and studiously ignoring her presence. This was the third time in a week Tessa had appeared in Helm's office, and she hadn't taken no for an answer yet.

"Doctor?" she asked again. Helm sighed, dropping the quill in its inkwell.

"How can I help you, señorita?"

"I wondered if you might need any assistance today." She folded her hands demurely in front of her as she stared down the doctor, daring him to turn her down again.

"While I appreciate your tenacity—and knocking—I must once again remind you that you are not a nurse. I can't have you making a mess and fainting at the sight of blood just because you are bored." His voice rose as frustration got the better of him.

"I'm not bothered by blood," she replied calmly.

"You have no training, no medical knowledge."

"Then train me!" Tessa's hands flew to her mouth. She hadn't meant to shout, but he could be so infuriating.

Helm's eyebrows rose at her outburst. It was more fire than he normally saw from the señorita—in fact she reminded him a little of someone else. He leaned back in his chair and eyed her critically. She certainly surprised him on occasion. You could use the help, he thought rationally. On the other hand, she might not last a week. Both solutions seemed acceptable. If nothing else, she would stop bothering him if he gave in.

"All right then," he acquiesced. "But," he added at Tessa's self-satisfied smile, "you must take this seriously. You cannot run off to go shopping with señora Hidalgo."

"I won't," Tessa promised. "I am very serious," she added with a small smile. She followed him over to the bookshelf as he pulled out a leather-bound text. She realized it was the same book she'd seen when Helm helped her identify the noxious water almost two months earlier.

"I can't read English," she said quietly, already feeling like she'd failed a test. She glanced up at him, expecting to see disappointment on his face. He seemed to look at her with renewed interest.

"You really want to learn," he stated with mild surprise. "Why?"

Tessa flushed slightly. His green eyes stared a little too intently for her comfort, especially from this distance. "I want to help people."

He smiled at her. "I believe you do." Tessa was about to melt into the floor when he turned away to retrieve a much thinner book from the shelf. Tessa opened the red leather cover and was relieved to find the text was in Spanish.

"I shall expect you tomorrow afternoon, señorita."

Tessa clutched the book to her chest and smiled. "Thank you, doctor." She practically danced out the door—she couldn't wait to tell Marta!


Tessa's adventure continues in Queen of Swords: Revelations.