Thank you for continuing to read, and especially to those who comment. Hi Cris, I´m also glad to see your reviews ;)
Chapter 10. The end of a romance.
The first light of dawn had barely begun to break when Zorro entered the village leading by the bridle a horse to which two others were tied. On them were three rustlers tied. Two of them were seated, but the third had proved less cooperative and Zorro had hoisted him onto the horse as if he were a sack of potatoes. The first two wore zetas on their jackets, and the third on his pants.
"Good morning." said Zorro cheerfully to the soldier on guard, who blinked trying to clear his head.
The soldier said "Al...ahhh...toooo..." at the same time yawning his mouth wide open. Zorro waited patiently for the man to finish the sentence."...in the name of the law." managed to finish the soldier without much enthusiasm.
Zorro sighed. "Really, we're going to start that so early?"
The alcalde peeked out of the barracks door, still in his nightclothes. "Of course you act at night, hiding in the dark like the criminal you are."
"It's because of the clothes, you know señor alcalde? Dressed like that it's easier to go unnoticed at night, and besides, now in summer as soon as the sun comes out, with the mask, the cape and everything else it's too hot. In midsummer even the rustlers have sense enough to respect the siesta hour."
"Lancers!" called the alcalde.
"I was just leaving." said Zorro touching his hat by way of farewell.
"Aren't you going to greet the señorita?" said de Soto seeing that Victoria, who had risen early as usual, was watching them from the terrace of the tavern.
Zorro turned to her giving a slight nod of his head. "Señorita Escalante. Congratulations on your engagement." he said in an icy voice.
"Thank you, señor Zorro, I hope you understand and respect my decision, I was upset to learn that you had threatened my fiancé." she replied also feigning coldness.
"Don't worry about me. I will stay away from you unless you request my help."
"I hope you find happiness too, sir."
"And that's all?" the alcalde was surprised. "Is that the end of such an... inspiring love story?" he said with derision. "And what about that thing they say about love being able to overcome any obstacle?"
Zorro gave him a hard look. "The young lady has chosen a suitor. I hope he will be good to her and take care of her as I have been unable to do because of the likes of you." He spun Toronado around and galloped out of town before the soldiers got organized and one of them got the idea to shoot him. He wasn't really in much danger, because only two of them had woken up and peeked out of the barracks window, and they didn't look very threatening.
Victoria watched him leave and tried not to follow him with her eyes, reminding herself that he would come later without his mask to continue his courtship. Somewhat more animated she finished shaking out the quilt in her hands and went back into her tavern.
Pilar arrived a little later. "I saw Zorro from my window."
Victoria replied without stopping grinding coffee. "Yes, he brought some rustlers. You know, tied up on their horses with Zs on their clothes. The usual." she said half-heartedly.
"Did he say anything to you?" said the other girl with a curious look on her face.
"Well yes, he congratulated me on my engagement." replied Victoria without losing her cool.
Pilar looked disappointed. "Ah, he already knows, of course."
"Well, yes, and I hope that Diego and he never have any unpleasant encounters again."
"But it's a pity he's left alone." reflected Pilar. "With all he does for others."
"It's the path he's chosen. I suppose it will have its compensations." Victoria replied. Then she was silent for a good while, thinking about what Zorro had said, that he hadn't been able to take care of her because of people like the alcalde. She wondered what it had been like for him to be hiding his true character from everyone, including his father and herself. Maybe if she had shown more interest in Diego everything would have been very different.
"Forgive me for asking, but won't it happen to you like it did with Juan when you go to marry Diego?"
Victoria shook her head. "This time I'm sure of what I'm doing. I want a normal life next to a man who can spend time with me without fear of something bad happening if we are discovered. Besides with Diego I won't find myself in the situation I would have been in if I had gone with Juan, I don't need to give up my tavern or my friends. I know it will work out."
Diego had changed in the cave and checked to see if anyone was in the library. He entered the room through the fireplace and approached the dining room, where Don Alejandro was eating breakfast.
"A coffee?" asked his father.
Diego nodded and don Alejandro offered him the cup with the drink. "Didn't you sleep well?" he said when he looked up at him and took in his tired appearance.
"I got up three hours ago. The cattle that were missing had actually been stolen by rustlers, just as you suspected. I caught them as they were spending the night in the valley that leads into Diablo Canyon. They were trying to take the cattle cross-country, but to cross the canyon they had no choice but to use the bridge, and I don't think they found it in the dark. I've left the cows near the watering trough, we'll have to tell the men to take a look."
Don Alejandro nodded. "It's always the first place we look for them. The other times we've lost cattle and they've turned up there I guess it was you too."
"Yes, if something works why change it." replied Diego smiling.
Don Alejandro nodded his head. "Good thinking, and I was saying you didn't take care of the hacienda's affairs." laughed Don Alejandro. "But you look tired, are you going to lie down for a while?"
"I'm going into town to see Victoria, then I'll take a nap at the newspaper."
"Don't stay alone with her." said Don Alejandro seriously. Diego looked at him quizzically.
"Don't you trust us? You know that last night was a set-up to distract de Soto."
Don Alejandro nodded. "Not that I think you're really a ruffian, but now thanks to him everyone believes it, and I'd rather she kept her reputation. She was already important to her as owner of the tavern, but now that she's going to be family even more so."
"All right, we'll not only be good, we'll strive to look good, too."
"Yes, you better not get any more marks on your neck. I'm a little worried about that thing you said about who wanted to seduce who. We'll have to celebrate that wedding as soon as possible." said Don Alejandro hiding a smile with his coffee cup.
Diego decided not to answer and continue eating his breakfast as if he had not heard anything.