Chapter 76 – Men of steel

Victoria sat by Diego's bed, looking at him with a long, sad face as he ate his dinner ever so slowly.

"Are you all right? Normally, you should have finished that meal by now," she said, suspecting he ate like that because chewing on the soft albóndigas con tomate could be hurting his damaged ear canal, deep inside. At least he had improved a bit in his condition, because now he could hear better with the undamaged one, and she didn't have to shout so much as before. "Does it hurt your ear when you eat?"

"Yes, it hurts, a little. But also, I eat so slowly because I still feel dizzy, and a bit queasy at the same time that I'm hungry. It is a weird feeling, and I don't want to risk bringing your delicious albóndigas back up. It would be such a waste," he said, with a tentative smile, but she didn't smile back.

"And a right mess to clean all that tomato sauce," she replied drily. He continued eating then, while she watched him in silence with that long face, making him uncomfortable.

"How is Pedro?" he said after a while, to break the silence.

"He is not doing well. The doctor thinks it's unlikely he'll survive. His wife is with him now, in the spare room."

Diego shook his head then, with a serious expression, rejecting that idea.

"No, don't say that. He has to make it. He has to."

"We all hope so, but…"

She didn't finish, and she continued looking at him in silence while he forced himself to take another bite of his dish, listlessly, until a stray tear ran down her face. When he looked back at her, he set the fork down on the dish and left the tray on the bedside table.

"Please, don't cry. Come here," he said, inviting her to his arms.

"I've been so lucky I didn't lose you today!" she said with a broken voice, unable to contain the tears anymore.

"Shhh… calm down. Ven aquí. No llores."

She gave in and climbed in bed with him, resting her head on his chest while he passed his arm around her shoulders, kissing her head.

"It's been a horrible day, but we are fine, aren't we?"

"You could be dead! And I can't stand that thought!" she said, clinging onto him while she stared at his shirt.

"I'm sorry if I was rude before, but I couldn't help feeling disappointed. I can see so clearly how worried you are now, and how you dread the possibility of Zorro riding again. I'm sorry. You know I wasn't going to impersonate Zorro anymore, because I had given up on him to live a peaceful life with you, but I have to bring him back. I have to. Now more than ever, as soon as I feel better, to find Toronado."

"I am the one to apologize, not you. You are right: I don't want you to ride, because I don't want to see you in danger. I should be stronger, I know. I should be supporting you all the way, in all your decisions, like a good wife should, but I'm weak, and I can't. Not after today. I would prefer… that happening to me, to see you hurt because of me."

"I'm so sorry for what nearly happened to you today. Do you want to talk about it?"

"No. Not really," she said, shivering at the thought of those men raping her, remembering the humiliation, and the loathsome, revolting feel of that erection pressing against her naked rear end. Of course, she would never give him any details of that, and how close she had been. Ever.

"I won't let anybody hurt you, ever, whatever it takes, I promise," he said, hugging her tighter, protectively.

"You can't promise that, Diego. You are not God, and you can't be protecting me twenty-four hours a day, every day of my life. You can't promise I will always be safe, the same you can't promise nothing is going to happen to you, as Zorro or otherwise. And that last possibility is what makes me so worried. Much more of what could happen to me. Way more."

"I'll die for you if I have to, as long as I keep you safe."

"You are not listening, are you? You'll die for me, and I'll die if you die for me… So, we'll both die."

"Yes, what a pair of idiots!" he said, chuckling, and she also laughed. "That's it. That's better, laugh it off."

"You reminded me of Esteban there. He could always put a smile on my face even in the grimmest moments."

"Yes, he could. He had that quality. I miss him so much."

"So do I."

"He should be here, helping us during this new crisis."

"Yes. He would have tied you to this bed and gone to find Toronado on his own tonight."

"Something idiotic like that, yes." Diego sighed then, and looked at the clock. "It's late. Will you sleep here tonight?"

"No, I shouldn't. You know most of your servants don't know yet we are married. It won't be appropriate. I'll sleep in the other spare room."

"All right. On your way there, can you check if Pedro is awake? I would like to see him. Tell me if he is, please."

"All right. Let me see what's going on," she said, standing up. "Can you walk there?"

"Yes, I think so. It's only next door."

"I'll be back in a moment to let you know."

ZZZ

Pedro didn't look good. He was sweating, febrile, and obviously hurting, because no amount of the painkillers the doctor had provided could take the pain away. He was awake because he couldn't fall asleep, even with the sedatives on the medicine he was taking.

"Pedro, how are you?" Diego said, taking a seat by his side. His wife, María, sent him a grateful look for the visit and stood up to move away from the bed, giving them some privacy, not saying anything.

"Still alive," Pedro said, lifting his eyes to him, grimacing. "I'm so sorry I couldn't help you. And I'm sorry they took Toronado."

"It's not your fault. Don't worry about it," Diego said, placing his hand on his forearm.

"I thought that bastard had killed you when he shot you. I'm so glad he didn't."

"I am a tough cookie, and too lucky to die like that. Like you are."

"Me? Not so much," he said, looking down at his wound, grimacing again. "I regret so much I didn't help your cousin, shooting the alcalde as I wanted to, because he didn't let me. Now I know I should have."

"What are you talking about?"

"I saw Don Esteban when he left the hacienda to confront the alcalde. I wanted to go to the pueblo with him, but he said I had a life, and I should take care of my family and don't get involved with the alcalde or I could end up in jail, or hanging at the gallows. So, I didn't help him. But now I'll die all the same. If I had helped him then, he would still be alive."

"Oh, no, Pedro. Don't do that. It is bad enough that I feel responsible for his death. You don't have to. And you are not going to die. Doctor Hernández will sort you out, don't worry. Hold on. Don't lose hope."

"He tried. And he can't. He couldn't find the bullet."

"He won't if it is already at the bottom of your stomach. I bet that bullet could be already on its way out, and you'll find it in your stools within a couple of days."

"That's wishful thinking, Boss."

"No. And, if that is the case, if you pass that bullet, I think we'll call you Pedro Cagafuegos."

Pedro laughed then, and as Diego had done before when he was injured, he grimaced immediately, tensing and whimpering, grabbing Diego's arm tightly.

"I'm sorry, Pedro. I shouldn't make you laugh. Me, of all people, should know that. But I wanted to cheer you up a bit. Fogive me."

"It's all right," Pedro said after a short while, panting, softening the grip on Diego's arm. "I really need some cheering up."

"I'll let you rest now. No more laughing. If you need anything tonight, I'm in the next room, wall to wall with you, so you only need to tap on the wall over that headboard, and I'll be here, all right?"

"Thank you, Boss."

"María, come and get me if you need me tonight. Anytime," Diego told her as he left, by the door. "The doctor will take much longer to get here, but I'll do my best in the meantime."

"Thank you, Don Diego. That's very kind of you, specially because you are not feeling that well yourself."

"Remember: anytime. Don't hesitate."

"Sí, gracias."

ZZZ

While Diego talked to Pedro, Don Alejandro talked to Sergeant Mendoza at the library.

The sergeant had arrived at the hacienda very late, after hearing the bad news. The garrison's jail was full of thieves, some of them injured. Two of them were dead already, and another one could be on his way. The situation in the pueblo was out of control, and he didn't know what to do, overwhelmed by the turn of events, desperate like a lost child, willing to find an adult to take charge of everything. He looked worn out, because he had been out all day, riding, trying to find the stolen horses, but it had all been in vain, because he couldn't find the animals, or any clues on their whereabouts. The horse thieves were professionals, and they covered their tracks too well.

"Don Alejandro, I heard the bad news. How is Don Diego? Is he all right?"

"He'll live, but I am not so sure about one of my workers, Pedro Sánchez."

"Yes, I heard he is badly injured too. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry the thieves stole your horses. I've been riding all day trying to find Don Ernesto's, but I've got nothing. We need Zorro here."

"Do you? Don't you think this is the soldiers' job, your job, not his?"

"He is much more skilled than we are at tracking, Don Alejandro. Everybody knows that."

"Yes, because your tracking skills are not as legendary as his, are they?"

"No, of course not."

Don Alejandro paced the room, angry with the world. He felt sorry for Mendoza, but at the same time he would like to give him a bollocking and a slap that could wake him up and turn him into a man of action and wit, something he clearly was not. It was obvious the soldiers needed help, but why it had to be always Diego risking his life to sort everything out in that pueblo? Why the soldiers nor the citizens could do anything without him?

"Sergeant, my son is lying in bed, incapacitated after escaping death twice on the same day. He can hardly stand up without falling over, and the idiota is still thinking about helping you, and this pueblo, as if stopping those men is his responsibility! Which is not. He never swore allegiance to the crown and the army, to serve and protect, and to deliver justice. He didn't, but you did. So, grow a pair, and do what you are supposed to do!" Don Alejandro barked. "Without him!"

"But, I don't think I can. I don't know how to—"

"Sergeant, these men are taking our money, our horses, our lives, and even our women now, as they please! What are you going to do about it? Didn't you say before we breed men of steel in Los Angeles? Prove it!"

That comment touched a nerve, and the sergeant stood tall, adjusting his jacket while setting his jaw, ditching his defeated stance.

"Right. You are right. Of steel, we are. I'll be back in the morning, and I'll show you," he said, leaving the house with a determination Don Alejandro had never seen on that face before.

The old don shook his head, and got back to Diego's room, hoping that wake-up call could transform Mendoza's loser's attitude into a winner's one.

ZZZZZ