Chapter 34

Victoria smiled as she wiped the tables in the tavern. All was right with the world and she would soon be welcoming Aria as her sister-in-law. A few months ago, that thought would have filled her with dread but Aria truly loved her brother and the feeling was mutual.

"Well…well….well," the alcalde smirked, "I see that the engagement is on again but for how long, señorita?"

"Not that it is any business of yours but this time it is definitely on to stay."

"You and Diego as husband and wife...He is so mild-mannered and you are so…so spirited…It will be cause for lots of interesting complications, wouldn't you agree?"

"Have you ever heard the old saying that 'Opposites attract.' You should not worry about such things, Ignacio," Diego interrupted choosing to ignore the alcalde's remarks, "you are a life-long bachelor and your career comes first. As long as Victoria agrees and my father does not object, what is the problem?"

"None, I suppose. I would like to have a family of my own someday. I wish you well on your upcoming marriage." You will need all the luck you can get handling that little spitfire.

"He has the charm of a wounded jackal."

"It does not matter what Ignacio or anyone else says. We were destined to be together and that is all that matters...Te amo, Victoria."

"Te amo, Diego." In a few hours, she would be Senora de la Vega. All of her dreams were finally coming true...

ZZZ

Victoria put the finishing touches on her hair and smoothed her hand down the sides of her blue dress. Her wedding day was almost here. She looked out the tavern window to see lanterns lighting the path to the tavern. Normally, they extended from the groom's house to the bride's house but since the hacienda was several miles from the pueblo it was decided that the lanterns would extend from the entrance to the pueblo to the tavern. She watched as Don Alejandro and Felipe brought her wedding chest in the de la Vega carriage. Her future father-in-law was such a traditionalist that she could hardly refuse the gifts he wanted to present to her…. The only gift I really want is Diego…

"Dearest Victoria, I can hardly wait to officially call you daughter," Don Alejandro entered the tavern just as Victoria descended the stairs,"My son has loved you for a long time. I will be surprised if he gets any sleep tonight."

"Perhaps, you should give him some cactus tea," she laughed, "It's very effective…"

Well, I didn't need any doctoring until you came along.

You should have warned me.

I tried but you didn't listen. They would have never caught up with me if you hadn't jumped on my horses like a raging bull...

If they had caught up to you, a damaged ankle would be the least of your problems.

I guess we're having our first quarrel.

We've never had time for a quarrel before.

I'm sorry. I know you tried.

Relax. Don't move.

Cactus tea. Promotes healing and eases the pain. Here, drink this. It will make you feel better.

It smells terrible.

Well, closing your eyes hides the taste.

It is truly awful.

Frequently, the things we like the least, do us the most good.

"You must tell me about all the adventures you had, within reason, of course. I hope he was a gentleman even though he was hiding behind a mask..."

"Diego was the gentleman you raised him to be. We will be happy together."

"That is my fondest wish, Hija preciosa. I wanted the best for my son and he has it."

"Gracias, padre de mi Corazon."

"Good night, Victoria," he whispered.

ZZZ

The sun set at the end of a perfect day. Diego stood tall as he pledged his heart and his life to Victoria. She was radiant in her white gown accented by a lace mantilla worn by Diego's mother. The wedding had gone smoothly even though the alcalde placed several soldiers outside the church in his scheme to trap Zorro. Don Alejandro watched as Victoria became part of the de la Vega family. Life could not get any better than this. Well, a grandchild or two would make it even better...

The de la Vega hacienda...

"A toast to Victoria and Diego!" Don Alejandro said happily. "Ramon. You are officially part of the de la Vega family at last! I have looked forward to this day for some time."

"Gracias. They are finally married. My father wanted Victoria to marry a good man and I am glad she chose Diego."

"Alfonso would be very proud of both of you...If not for you and Aria, none of this would have happened."

"Don't forget the good padre, Don Alejandro. I don't know if we would have succeeded without his support," Aria inserted.

"Ramon, isn't it time we start planning your own wedding?"

"We are going to talk to the padre about posting the banns but we will wait until the newlyweds return from their honeymoon."

"That is wonderful news, Ramon! This hacienda will be filled with children before long!" Life was good.

ZZZ

A few hours later, Diego and Victoria lay nestled in each other's arms. The perfect end to the perfect day. "It was wonderful…wasn't it, husband?" Victoria snuggled closer to the man she loved.

"I have never been happier, dear wife. The only one who could have been happier was my father."

"He is imagining all the grandchildren he is going to get."

"He didn't happen to mention it to you, did he? I wouldn't be surprised if he is getting the nursery ready."

"Your father tried to be subtle but he couldn't contain himself…"

"I hoped that you would be spared for at least a day or two," he smirked.

"He is an old man, he says."

"Old man indeed. He is as healthy as a horse. I would be glad to welcome a son and a daughter."If she is as beautiful as her mother, he added silently.

"I would be more than happy to give them to you."

"Call me selfish but I want to spend some time with my beautiful wife alone."

"Senor de la Vega. You are no gentleman. What would my husband think?"

"I think that your husband would approve and think of all the fun we will have trying to grant my father's request," Diego laughed as he kissed his wife passionately.