Chapter 13 – All is fair in love and war

Diego walked down the corridor carrying a flickering, small candle. He stopped by Esteban's bedroom and opened the door silently to check on him.

"Who's that?"

"It's me, Diego. I just came back from the pueblo. Sorry, did I wake you up?"

"No, don't worry. I am awake."

"How are you? Do you need anything?"

"Yes, I do need something, actually. I need my leg not hurting this much so I can fall asleep. That would be nice."

"Did you take the bark infusion I prepared before?"

"Yes, thank you, but it's not making any difference."

"Let me have a look at the wound."

Diego came into the room and lit the lamp at the bedside table with his candle to have a better light to check Esteban's leg. The wound was inflamed and the area felt hot, but it wasn't oozing much fluid or blood.

"I think it's quite clean. You'll have to bear with it until the pain settles. Try not to move the leg too much."

When he finished redressing the wound, applying a fresh poultice to it, he looked at his cousin with a serious face. He didn't want to start that conversation that night, but he couldn't help it.

"You are such a fool, Esteban. How could you do that?"

"Do what? Volunteer to be maimed?"

"Yes. That."

"You know why: to impress Victoria, of course."

"Did you tell Cuchillo he should hit you for a more dramatic effect?"

"No. That was an accident."

Diego looked at him with a stern face, not accepting his lie.

"Really? I don't think so. That man hesitated with the last knife, the one that hurt you, while he was pretty accurate with all the others. How come?"

"All right, all right... I can't lie to you. You are too clever. I asked him to hit me with the knife, yes, but I thought he was going to graze an arm or leg in a much lighter way, not butcher me like this! So, it was an accident, really. This should not have happened," he said pointing at his injured leg. "Not like this."

"Well, what can I say? You deserve it for being such a fool."

"I know. What a fool, ah? Menudo idiota."

"It is bad enough you risked your life volunteering to take part in that act as a human target, but to ask that man to hit you with a knife on purpose… That's insane, Esteban. Estás loco."

"Diego, all is fair in love and war," Esteban said, laughing. "I love Victoria, and I wanted to make a dramatic impression in her because she had been abnormally cold with me for the last few days. I think she likes me but she's not willing to accept that fact herself. But I think she will if I persevere without pressuring her into anything. She'll come round, on her own time. You'll see."

"That really bugs me, Esteban. How can you say you love her if you hardly know her? You have been in Los Angeles for less than two weeks, for goodness sake!"

"Before I came to California I didn't believe in love at first sight, you know? Actually, I think I have never been truly in love in my entire life before, despite the fact I have been involved with many women. But now I think that's exactly what has happened to me: she has fried my brain like a crispy tortilla. How idiotic it was to agree to be randomly hurt with a knife just to impress her and have her pity? I know this is exactly what you think, that I am stupid. And I am, so fair point to you. No need to rub it in anymore: I am an idiot, I confess, because I am in love and I would do anything to get her interested."

Diego had to admit he understood Esteban's behaviour and even sympathized with him. It was annoying and inconvenient for Diego, yes, but his cousin was just trying to impress a woman —unfortunately his woman, but the fool didn't know that. Esteban had done so in the most bizarre, crazy way, but despite the deed was arranged in advance, it still took some cojones to stand in front of a knife thrower knowing perfectly well that knife was going to hit him, and Diego admired him for that. And, who was he to scold someone else for using deception? He, the absolute master in the matter, going on for years.

"What about Zorro? Aren't you afraid of his reaction?"

"I don't care about Zorro. He had several years with Victoria already, and he wasted them. I don't think it's fair to keep a willing woman waiting like that, putting her life on hold until he makes up his mind to marry her. Whatever happens from now on, I won't feel guilty about it. If she leaves him it would be his fault, not mine. Actually, she has the right to leave him for anybody, not just me. Anybody, including you."

Again, Diego had to admit Esteban was right: if Zorro was to lose Victoria to another man, it would only be his own fault because he was a coward at heart and he didn't have the balls to let her know it was him under the mask.

"And what about the juggler throwing a club to Victoria? What would have happened if you didn't grab it on time? If you love her so much, how could you endanger her like that?"

"You are absolutely right about that: I should have never agreed to get her in danger. I'm very sorry, but I didn't anticipate the juggler would throw the club at her face at such speed. I'll let you punch me for that when I am feeling better."

"I will, don't worry, but Zorro may do that himself when he finds out what you have done."

"I don't know why he would find out unless you tell him. He wasn't there, was he?"

"He's a very clever man. He may realize your game the same as I did."

"Maybe. Another thing I'm not very proud of is putting the trapeze artist in danger too. I thought it would be easy to catch her, but when I saw her up there she looked so fragile, so far away, and she fell at such speed I thought I wasn't going to get there on time. Thank God I did. But boy, how I smashed my sore back on the floor! Another reason why I can't sleep tonight: because by back is stiff as a board."

"You are unbelievable," Diego said, shaking his head. "And what about winning the prices at the stalls? Did you arrange those too?"

"Oh, no, not at all. I was lucky I got the trinkets for her," he said, winking.

"Sure?"

"Positive."

"All right, I had enough of this. You are giving me a headache. I'm exhausted, and I want to go to bed. Are you sure you don't need anything else?"

"Your forgiveness? You look very upset by the whole thing, cousin."

"We'll see about that. I'll sleep on it and let you know in the morning."

"Diego, all is well what ends well."

"It hasn't ended yet. You may still lose the leg."

"Don't say that, please," Esteban said looking at his leg showing panic on his face.

"I'm only joking. Good night. Try to get some rest, will you?"

"Yes, thank you. Buenas noches."

Diego was opening the door already when Esteban called him back.

"Diego, what about the jockey? What are we going to do about him? He is a pain in the arse, and I can't stand him. I want to accuse him formally of tampering with my saddle."

"I haven't had the time to think about him, to be honest."

"How did you know he was involved in foul play?"

"Felipe told me."

"How did he know?"

"Well, can you keep a secret? Felipe recovered the sense of hearing not long ago. He has been reluctant to tell my father or anybody else because he fears they would treat him differently. He heard them talking about tampering with the girths just before the start of the race. I still don't know who the third man is because I haven't had the chance to talk to him about it. And, because Felipe is supposed to be deaf, we can't use him as a witness."

"Felipe can hear? I'm so glad for him, because he is such a nice boy. I'll keep the secret for him, of course. We can talk to him tomorrow, all right?"

"All right. Anything else?"

"No. That's all. Good night."

"Buenas noches. Rest well, idiota."

"What?"

"That's what I will call you from now on: idiota. Which you are. By your own admission."

"Fair enough. Please go away, smartarse."

Diego left the room chuckling. He didn't want to let him off the hook so easily, but he couldn't stay cross with his cousin for long, even if the fool was really in love with his beloved Victoria. That was going to be trouble for both of them, because someone would be rejected in the end. And that could not be Zorro.

ZZZ

"What are you doing, idiota?" Diego said the next day when he saw Esteban dressing up on Sunday clothes.

"And good morning to you too," Esteban said while adjusting his black cravat in front of the mirror, balancing most of his weight on one leg. "We are going to church this morning, aren't we?"

"Yes, we are, but I don't think you should."

"I asked Felipe what I could use to walk and he got me that pair of crutches," he said, pointing at them beside the bed. "He said you used them for a while when you broke your leg playing with a bull, or something."

"I really think you should stay here resting that leg."

"Nah. I'll be all right. Anyway, we are all going in the carretela and Felipe is driving, so I don't need to ride. I can't miss the big mass today. Victoria said you angeleños go in procession with Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles all over the pueblo. I want to see that."

"Since when are you that religious?"

"Since now."

"All right. Suit yourself. But I still think this is not a good idea. And don't you dare asking for remedies and poultices tonight when your leg is swollen like a pumpkin, because I won't help you."

"I won't ask, but you'll help me, anyway. It's in your nature. You are a softie."

"Gosh, Apollo is a better patient than you! He has got much more sense than you, and he follows instructions so I don't feel the urge to slap his face any time I'm near him."

"I know what you mean. Sometimes, I feel like slapping myself," Esteban said, laughing. "Come on, help me with the boots, will you?"

Diego shook his head, let out a long, deep sigh, and went to collect Esteban's boots. That would only be the first time of many he would like to slap his cousin that day.

ZZZ

In only one day Esteban had become a celebrity in Los Angeles, an over-night sensation. He had won the endurance horse race, donated the prize money for the poor and needy, saved a trapeze artist from a certain death and, as a grand finale, he had risked his life nonchalantly in front of a knife thrower for the public's entertainment, getting dramatically injured as a result. That was the stuff of legends like Zorro. And there he was that morning, attending mass in crutches, as if nothing had happened.

Most of the young women suitable for marriage in Los Angeles and the surrounding villages wanted to be introduced to him. Many of those señoritas had been interested in Diego in the past, but they had left him alone, considering him a lost cause and a waste of time and effort. But Esteban was different. The handsome, young caballero could be considered an excellent marriage material for both: the dons and their daughters.

Victoria had of course noticed the swarm of women that seemed to follow him everywhere he went that morning, and she didn't like it. Despite the fact she was engaged to Zorro, she felt extremely jealous for the attention Esteban gave and received from these women, making her even more confused about her feelings for both: the masked legend and the hero next door. And she could add to the mix her best friend, always lingering there at the back of her mind, who was finally showing an interest in her, at least physically.

After mass and the procession that morning, lots of people came into the tavern for a drink. Watching from the counter, Victoria felt sorry for Diego. Don Alejandro was once again praising Esteban for winning the race and telling everybody how brave he had been at the circus, making a big fuss about it as if the audience didn't know already, while Diego was standing behind them with a sombre, troubled face. He looked genuinely upset and fed up of hearing those comments all morning. Diego had been back at the tavern early that morning to check on Apollo, but she only saw him when he was already galloping back to the hacienda to get ready for mass. She thought it was sad Don Alejandro could ignore his son like that, not appreciating his efforts at all. She got then a few glasses of wine on a tray and a glass of juice for her friend, and got out from behind the counter to approach the group.

ZZZ

Will you ever shut up? Diego thought while listening to his father, aware of the group of disgruntled men at the other side of the tavern already walking towards them.

"Esteban won the race after he fell off the saddle, riding bare back," Don Alejandro said, addressing Don Miguel and Don Alfonso, unaware of the situation. "I am so proud of him."

The professional jockey, the other man Felipe had identified as his accomplice, and two other riders made their way to their table while Don Alejandro talked. But before they got there, Victoria arrived with the drinks.

"Hello, Diego. I didn't have the chance to ask you before at mass. How are you today? How is your shoulder?"

"Much better, thank you," he said, looking over her shoulder to the men approaching. Not now, Victoria.

"Look at this, the famous winner of the race," Manuel said sarcastically, with his thumbs resting on his belt.

"Yes, I am: the winner, because I won," Esteban said, tense, grabbing the crouches tightly.

Calm down, Diego thought. Clearly, that obnoxious man had the sole intention to provoke his cousin, and, regrettably, that would be quite an easy thing to do.

"No, you didn't. I did. You are a cheater. Un tramposo."

"Don't start with that again, please," Esteban said, trying not to lose his patience. "I donated the thousand pesos to the church, so stop accusing me or this village of foul play. If anything, I should wonder why my girth snapped during the race, as it happened to other two riders. I think you know who tampered with them, don't you?"

"No, I don't," Manuel said, laughing. He stepped back ready for a possible punch, and hit Victoria's tray with his elbow, toppling all the drinks. The spilled wine stained his shirt, and he went mad. "Stupid woman! Look what you have done!"

Before she could answer, Diego grabbed her by the waist and pulled her out of the way. Esteban let go of one of the crutches and holding the other one with both hands, he smashed it onto the jockey's face.

"Manners!"

A violent fist fight started then, similar to the one Esteban took part on his first day at the pueblo, only this time Don Alejandro also got dragged in it, besides Diego. Even Victoria got involved when she saw one of the riders savagely hitting Esteban's injured leg with his fist. After receiving a blow which toppled him out of balance, Esteban lay on the floor and his attacker took advantage to hammer his wound, making him howl with the pain, helpless to fight him off. She smashed an empty bottle of wine on that man's head just before the alcalde intervened again.

"Stop it!" he shouted. "I can't believe this. Once again, the De la Vegas in a fist fight. Splendid! But you, Don Alejandro… shame on you, a pillar of this community behaving like a brawler. You'll all go to jail this time. Lancers! Arrest them all for public disorder!"

Victoria tried to hide the remains of the bottle neck still in her hand behind her back, but the alcalde had seen her taking part in the fight.

"Including señorita Escalante. All of them, to jail, now!"

ZZZ

It didn't matter how much they complained about it, especially Don Alejandro, because they ended up in the alcalde's cell all the same. The De la Vegas occupied one cell, Victoria was on her own in the adjacent one, and the jockey and the other riders were in another one at the far end.

"How long is he planning to keep us here? This is preposterous!" Don Alejandro said, furious. He had received a blow to his jaw, which looked bruised, but other than that he was fine, and he looked almost happy and proud to have taken part in that fist fight with the younger men rather than being ashamed as the alcalde had suggested. "Ridiculous!"

"Don't worry, Don Alejandro. Zorro will get us out soon," Victoria said.

"Great. Because I can't wait to get out of here," Esteban said, wincing when he stretched his injured, sore leg on top of the bench. With all the pounding the wound had bled again, and now it was extremely painful, throbbing with pain to the point to make him lie down completely, afraid he could faint otherwise.

This time, Diego had come out of the fight without much damage, other than some bruises, but nothing so dramatic as the black eye he had before. Cross and unsympathetic, he looked at his cousin lying on the bench, blaming him for the situation. After talking to Felipe that morning, finding out who else had been involved with the jockey, Diego had the intention to return to the pueblo later on that day as Zorro to confront the cheaters, and also to visit Victoria. But now, that would not be possible.

"Don't be so sure, Victoria," Diego said. "You can't expect him to get you out of trouble all the time."

"Why not? He always looks out for me. He'll come."

No, he won't this time. And you will be disappointed. And there is nothing I can do, maldita sea! Diego thought, banging on the wall with his right fist, regretting it immediately because it caused a sharp pain in his injured shoulder.

"That won't help, Diego. Calm down," Esteban said.

"Shut up, idiota! This is all your fault!" Diego replied rather too harshly, annoyed as he was by the pain and the whole situation.

Victoria and Don Alejandro looked at Diego then, perplexed by his words and tone. They had never seen him behaving like that in a crisis, because he was usually the calm, collected one.

"Diego, what has come to you? How can you —?" Victoria started, but Esteban interrupted her.

"Don't worry. That's my nickname: idiota. He doesn't really mean it."

"Don't I?" Diego said. "If you only knew, Victoria."

"Knew what?" she asked. Esteban gesticulated silently from the bench, begging Diego not to say anything.

"Never mind. Let's hope the alcalde will let us go soon, because I have to check on Apollo."

"Don't worry. Zorro will rescue us. Yes, he'll come," Victoria repeated, looking into space in denial, trying to believe her own words.

No, he won't. And then you'll blame him for it, Diego thought, slumping on another bench. Mierda.

ZZZZZ