Chapter 49 – Better to be prepared

Damn it! How could you let him get away like this? Zorro scolded himself for being so careless. He got up and ran upstairs as fast as he could, quite unsteadily at first, using the walls for support, recovering from the blow along the way. Carlos had got as far as the horses, and with his hands still bonded at the front, he was trying to free the reins from the tree branch his horse was tied to. He managed to do that and then grabbed the pommel to hop up the saddle, but Zorro caught up with him before he galloped away.

Zorro jumped and dragged Carlos off the saddle along with him, and they both fell to the ground heavily. Carlos tried to fight him off, but Zorro punched his face repeatedly until he knocked him out. Then, he lifted the limp body onto the saddle and passed a rope around his back to secure him to it. With that effort, he felt a sharp pain at his side, at the unhealed gunshot wound that still gave him so much trouble, but he gritted his teeth and ignored the pain because there wasn't much he could do about it right then. The doctor said he should be resting while the wound healed, so it would not come open all the time, but obviously, he wasn't following his advice as he should.

"Your friend gave me a lot of grief," Zorro said when he returned to the cellar, feeling his bruised jaw, moving it to the sides gently. "I should have tied your hands at the back instead, but I tried to be nice. I hope you behave and I don't need to knock you out and tie you to your horse as I did with your boss."

He used his sword then to cut the ropes around their ankles, and made them walk upstairs at sword point, always keeping the distance, fully on-guard now. He made them ride facing the rump of their horses and then removed the stirrups. At last, grabbing all the reins in his right hand, they made their way to the pueblo in the dark, walking slowly, covering the short distance without further incidents.

ZZZ

Corporal Sepúlveda was on duty that night. Annoyed by all that banging at the garrison's gate, he opened it, angry, surprised to find Zorro there.

"Zorro! What the heck! What do you want?"

"I want you to take these three men to jail tonight, accused of abducting and torturing Don Esteban de la Vega and señorita Victoria Escalante. Please, take them into custody."

"I heard we were launching a search party for Don Esteban in the morning," the corporal said, looking confused.

"There is no need for that now. I found him, badly beaten by these men," Zorro said, handing Sepúlveda all the reins. "Don't trust them, especially that one," he added, pointing at the unconscious man lying across the saddle.

"Well, I don't know what to say, Zorro."

"A simple thank you would do."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome."

Corporal Sepúlveda called another soldier also on duty and handed over the reins while closing the door after Zorro left the garrison.

"Good job Zorro sorted this one out. I hate search parties, especially after a night on duty," Sepúlveda said, taking the prisoners to jail.

ZZZ

"What happened to your jaw?" Victoria said at Esteban's bedroom when Zorro returned, because it looked noticeably bruised. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I am, don't worry. My jaw had a close encounter with a boot, that's all."

"There is some arnica ointment left. Should I apply a bit on your face?"

"Do you think that is appropriate?" Zorro said with a naughty smile, enjoying the way she blushed then. "I am only joking, Victoria. Of course you can. That is so kind of you, thank you."

While she fetched the ointment, Zorro looked around. Esteban was still asleep in bed, and he noticed Felipe wasn't there.

"Where is Felipe?" Zorro said.

"He went back to the Hacienda de la Vega to tell Don Alejandro his nephew is safe. They'll be here first thing in the morning with a carriage to take him there."

"Good, I was going to suggest that."

When she finished applying the ointment, Zorro caressed Victoria's swollen cheek gently. Before, she had assured him she was fine, but the few bruises on her face were more prominent now that she had a wash and changed her ruined dress. Despite the ordeal, she was as beautiful as always.

"I should have rescued you sooner. I am so sorry you got beaten up. Does it hurt?"

"They only hit my head once to knock me unconscious and then slapped me a few times, don't worry. And that brute tore my dress to flog me, but he didn't. Don Esteban took the worse part. And you did enough, because you found us before they killed us. I thought I was going to die in that cellar."

Up close to her, he stared at her bruised face with deep sadness in his eyes. It would have been so wonderful if Felipe was right, if she had changed her mind about Diego. But it was all an illusion.

"I'm so sorry it didn't work out for us. I hope you have a happy life with him."

"I am very sorry too, but you see, this is not what you think." She wanted to tell him about Diego, but, was there any point in doing that? It would not make any difference for Zorro, because he would be the one rejected any way she went, with any of the De la Vegas.

"It doesn't matter now, don't apologize. I was selfish keeping you in an impossible relationship. I should have set you free a long time ago, instead of offering you a ring and an empty promise."

Victoria hugged him then, seeking comfort in his arms one more time.

"How can you be so poised and understanding about this?"

Zorro wondered about that himself. He was particularly slow that night, with a misty fog clouding his mind sometimes, to the point of letting that man hit his face, for example, caught off-guard. It was probably due to all the valeriana and St John's wort infusions he had taken during the day to calm down. Otherwise, with his cravings for coca leaves and the bad temper they caused, he should be up the walls, wishing he could beat Esteban to a pulp. But the kidnappers had done that already, and the poor fool had enough punishment for now.

"I honestly don't know how, because I don't want to share you with anybody," he whispered to her ear. He embraced Victoria then, relishing that precious moment: having her in his arms one last time.

Esteban stirred up in bed then, and when he opened his eyes he looked confused to see them embracing like that.

"Zorro, you are back."

"Yes," he said, breaking the embrace slowly, holding onto Victoria's upper arms, reluctant to let her go completely. Why do I feel embarrassed about this, as if I should apologize to you for hugging my ex-fiancée, who has been yours for less than 24 hours? You are the intruder here, not me, he thought, upset.

"Victoria, I thought you were in love with…" Esteban started, but he stopped when he saw Victoria's expression and how she shook her head ever so slightly, while she still had Zorro's hands on her arms. He understood then; he should take the blame and Zorro's potential anger to protect his cousin. It didn't matter to him. "Never mind. I'm confused. It must be all that pounding I got on my head."

"Yes. It must be that," Zorro said, letting go of her arms, holding Esteban's gaze, annoyed at how his cousin had the nerve to nearly reproach Victoria "I thought you were in love with me" in his presence. So did I, you idiot. I also thought she still loved me!

"Your jaw looks sore. What happened?" Esteban said, changing the subject.

"Don't worry about that. It's fine."

"Did you take those men to jail?"

"Yes, I did."

"Did you see the alcalde? What did he say?"

"I didn't see the alcalde. Sepúlveda took them in."

"I don't trust Ramón. I honestly think he is going to let them walk free, without questioning them, and of course, without a trial."

"We'll see about that," Zorro said, setting his bruised jaw.

"I feel a bit better already. The doctor has done a fantastic job patching me up," Esteban said, getting out of bed slowly. When he got up, holding his side, he walked to the window, which faced the plaza, opposite to the alcalde's office and the garrison. "This bandage is holding my ribs nicely now. I think I'm going to watch the garrison, because I know I will see Carlos Berlanga walking free before the night is finished."

Carlos Berlanga? I thought that man looked familiar, Zorro thought. He had also heard that name while he was at University, in Madrid, but he didn't make the connection when the alcalde called señor Berlanga into his office, and when he mentioned the Duque de Cádiz. Of course! That Duke! Damn all those calming infusions; they don't let me think straight! My uncle also mentioned that man when they first arrived in California.

"All night? Are you sure you are going to stand by the window all night, just watching? Please, go back to bed."

"At least I should try," Esteban said, annoyed to be treated like a child. "Or you can stay here with me and we'll take turns, if you prefer that."

"Yes, I can stay. Victoria, I think you should retire to bed now. I need to talk to Don Esteban about a few issues, and I don't think it will be in your best interest hearing this talk."

"I don't know what you'll be up to, but I am tired and my head hurts a bit now, so I'll follow your advice. I'll be in my room, at the end of the corridor, past the debris. Come and get me if you need anything."

"All right, we'll do that. Goodnight, señorita," Zorro said.

"Buenas noches, Victoria."

"Goodnight."

"Wait!" Esteban said, when she was already leaving. He walked to the door and closed it behind him, leaving Zorro alone in the room. "Victoria, do you have any weapons in the tavern? I need a sword and a gun, at least."

"What do you need weapons for? You are in no condition of fighting anyone, don't be ridiculous."

"Hopefully, I won't need them, but if these men are released, I want to be prepared. If they come here looking for trouble again you'll thank me if I can make use of your gun."

"I suppose. All right, I have a gun, and the sword my brother left behind is somewhere in the storage room. I'll get them and bring them to your room. But try not to get in trouble!"

"Of course. Only if I have to. I much rather stay in bed tonight nursing my ribs, you know?"

"Of course. Go back to bed now then. I'll be back in a moment."

Esteban entered his room again, avoiding Zorro's penetrating gaze.

"What's going on?" Zorro said, suspecting a kissing scene behind that door.

"Nothing. She's going to bring me something I may need later. So, what do you want to talk about?" Esteban said, fearing a harsh admonition for stealing his girlfriend, something that had not really happened that way, although he wished it had.

"The Duke of Cádiz. I need to know what happened at Madrid, and why is Carlos Berlanga so interested in you. What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything. The Duke did. And his son," Esteban said, going back to bed.

"And you saw it."

"Yes. And it has haunted me ever since."

"Can you tell me about it?"

"I rather not."

"Why?" Zorro insisted.

"Because it won't make a damn difference, that's why, and knowing can only cause you trouble. I tried to report it, but I opened a can of worms there. Quite a few influential people in Madrid are involved in this shit. They nearly killed me back there, and my father got so worried about me we came here. But he doesn't know what happened. I never told him to protect him. My mother does, though; she is the only one. But she already knew what was going on, long before I did."

"Is your mother safe in Madrid?" Zorro said, worried about his aunt Elena. He was deeply surprised about Esteban's confession. The same as him, he was keeping secrets to protect his loved ones.

"I thought she was. But I am not so sure now. She shouldn't have stayed behind on her own, but she insisted on it."

"So, who knows about this?"

"Only my mother. Although, I told these bastards my cousin Diego knows about it. I lied to survive, and I regret to be such a coward, but now I am worried about him, because he won't stand a chance against them if they go for him. At least I hope he is safe in Monterey for now."

"Don't worry about him. He'll be fine."

"How do you know that?"

"I'll protect him," Zorro said quickly. He would love to unmask for his cousin then, but that would only cause more trouble. "He is my friend, and I respect him."

"Do you? You must be one of the few people in this unforgiven pueblo who have some respect for him. Not even his father does that sometimes, which is a same." And you will not appreciate Diego so much anymore when you find out Victoria left you for him, not me.

Esteban hit a raw nerve there, talking about the lack of respect from his father, so Zorro changed the subject quickly.

"So, how are we taking turns watching the garrison? Who will be first?"

Before he could answer, Victoria knocked softly at the door, stepping in carrying a sword and a gun.

"There. Where should I put this?"

"What are you doing?" Zorro asked.

"He asked for them, for protection in case these men are released."

"You two are killing me, you know?" he said, snatching the weapons. "I'll keep those. Thank you, Victoria. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," she said, leaving the room again.

"Seriously?" Zorro said looking at Esteban, holding the weapons up.

"Better to be prepared," Esteban said, shrugging his shoulders. "Can you take the first shift by the window now, while I rest a little bit more? Thank you," he said, closing his eyes, snuggling under the blanket.

Unbelievable, Zorro thought, leaving the weapons in a corner of the room. He walked to the window then to watch the plaza. Despite everything, Esteban was right: he also had the feeling the men from Madrid would be released soon, and there would be trouble ahead.

ZZZZZ

AN – Well, well, well… A clever reader, DietMJ, mentioned Zorro is not 100%, anticipating my explanations on the rest of this chapter I had to split in two. Well, he is not 100%, obviously. That gunshot wound is still troubling him and he has been taking sedatives all day to calm down and rest. And all those calming, relaxing infusions, had to get him… well, sedated, LOL. And too slow for his own good, not is usual sharp at all.

And, because DietMJ is also very concerned about foul language, she pointed out all those naughty "F" words Don Alejandro let out in his rant, hahahaha. Sorry, that was my insensitive fault. As I said before, we use the "F" word too much in Spain. I changed that for the usual "what the hell". Happy now? ;)