Although this story is not very Christmasy because I started writing it in summer, I take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas. If you feel like giving me a gift, you can leave a review, they are welcome at any time of the year. "Make my wish come true, all I want for Christmas is… a review."

Chapter 17. Some Other Option.

In the middle of the afternoon Diego came through the door, looking for Victoria with his eyes, but señor Guzman came to greet him and stopped for a few moments to talk to him. Seeing him, Victoria had an idea.

She approached Marina to tell her what had occurred to her. "I'm thinking that if there's anyone who can give you advice it's Diego."

"You're not going to tell him."

"By now the whole town knows at least part of your story, and Diego won't repeat anything you tell him if you ask him to be discreet."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. If anyone can keep a secret it's him."

"I thought he was a trickster too." she said without thinking. She immediately turned pale. "I didn't mean to offend you, I'm sorry."

Victoria made a gesture downplaying it. "I have spoken to him and although he has kept things from me he has promised me that from now on he will tell me the truth. I've known Diego since we were kids and he's always kept his word."

"It's all right." said Marina with a worried look on her face.

Victoria smiled at Diego and he needed no further invitation to approach.

"Good afternoon, Victoria, I'm going back to the hacienda now, but I wanted to see you before I left." He kissed her hand. "Starting tomorrow I hope I never have to say goodbye to you again." he said in a deep voice that made Victoria forget everything for a moment as she fixed her gaze on his blue eyes, but after gawking at him for a few seconds she remembered that her friend was standing next to her.

"Do you have some time for us to tell you something? I'd like to get your opinion."

Diego was taken aback by the request, but he couldn't deny anything to the woman in front of him. "Of course I'll listen to you." he said taking a seat at Victoria's prompting.

"You know what Marina's situation is. Her brother thinks her best option is for her to marry de Soto."

"In these cases it's the most common thing, that the child's father takes charge." said Diego cautiously.

"But she's not convinced he's going to be a good husband."

"Actually I..." said Marina shyly, but she didn't dare finish the sentence. Victoria looked at her and took her by the hand. Diego couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

He reflected for a moment before speaking. "I met de Soto in Madrid when I was in college. Although I did not have a very close relationship with him, I can say that he was a very promising student. After having him as alcalde for several years I have seen that he is ambitious, but he is not as mean as the previous one we had. At times he has had some gesture that made me think that if he had more luck in life perhaps he might show himself less anxious."

"I am not too reassured by what you tell me, señor de la Vega."

"I don't like to lie, I'm giving my honest opinion."

"Do you think there is any chance that he could love my son and me?"

"I have noticed that when he looks at the child he seems to be proud of him. I think that's a good sign."

Victoria interjected. "What I wanted to ask you is if there would be another alternative."

"I understand you have other suitors?" said Diego to Marina.

She shook her head. "The man who was interested in me at my aunt and uncle's house was very angry when he found out about the baby. They told me he didn't want to see me again because I was a... I prefer not to repeat that word. I found out that he had proposed to my friend Eloísa a few days later. My brother knows a man who would marry me, but he is not willing to give his surname to my child. He demands that my baby be raised with relatives and then study at a boarding school, and I can't give him up."

"There has to be some other option." said Victoria sadly.

"I can only think of her pretending to be a widow. I know some women have done that, but she would need false documentation to pull it off." said Diego.

"But my brother wants me to go to Spain and without a husband there I would be alone. Besides, my son needs a father, I don't know how to raise a child."

"Maybe you should talk it over with your brother." said Diego gently. The truth was that he didn't know what to advise that girl so young and so helpless. "But I think there is something you can do that would be helpful in protecting you and your child. I'm going to consult a law book I have at home and I'll come by later and tell you about it."

"I would appreciate it very much." she said.

De Soto entered the tavern and saw the girl talking with Diego and Victoria. He paused for a moment to weigh the situation, looking at them suspiciously.

"Do you want me to stay with you?" asked Victoria as she saw the alcalde approaching.

"No, you have other things to do, and I must learn to manage on my own. I owe it to my son."

Victoria squeezed her hand a little trying to encourage her and stood up, while Diego did too. "If I can help you in any way, don't hesitate to ask me."

"Thank you, Don Diego, you are very kind." she replied, and although the sentence was very formal her tone sounded sincere.

On her way to the kitchen Victoria noticed the girl's lady-in-waiting. She usually ate with the servants when the lady was accompanied by her brother and uncles, but seeing that she was left alone and her suitor approached, the stern looking woman stood up and approached the lady keeping at a respectful distance.

Diego lifted Victoria's hand to kiss it, and was reluctant to let go even though he knew he had to leave.

"I'll come by later to talk to the lady."

"All right. Thank you for helping her."

Victoria walked back into the kitchen, where Pilar was busying herself at the stove.

"For the third time, Victoria, I can handle it. Manuela is in the living room and Alicia told me a while ago that she's managing just fine."

"I know she's a good girl, but I see her so young..."

"She's sixteen, and you were fifteen when you took over."

"I guess you're right. It's not that I don't trust you girls, but I've been running the tavern for so long that I get the feeling I'm forgetting something."

"Well, it's not like you're going to Patagonia. You'll be at the Hacienda de la Vega, though I assure you I have no intention of going there to bother you with any nonsense." he looked at her with a sly smile. "When you're alone with your husband I don't think you're going to remember we have to scrub the kitchen floor before we start preparing dinner."