Chapter 2

The following days passed quietly and peacefully. A patrol did get sent out to look for traces of Joaquin Correna and his accomplices. However, Zorro had skilfully ensured that no trace could get found to give a clue in which direction the trio's escape had been.
De Soto, always convinced of his own genius, was sure that the party had gone north.
So he sent out two soldiers to warn the towns north of Los Angeles that the famous revolutionary could be heading their way, with a detailed description of their striking wagon.

The commotion caused by the small circus was already half-forgotten by the time don Alejandro returned from his business trip to Santa Barbara.
The evening of his homecoming, the don spent hours questioning his son about any peculiarities that might have occurred during his absence. Alejandro reacted disapproved when he heard that revolutionaries had been in the pueblo. The don then often disagreed with the way the alcalde ruled the pueblo. And he was one of the Los Angeles residents that argued with de Soto the most. The fact remained at heart, Alejandro de la Vega was moslty a proud Spaniard, Californian and loyal to his King.

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The following morning, Alejandro was up and about early. He consulted with his foreman on how things stood at the rancho while waiting for his son to wake. The don wanted Diego to accompany him on the round to the tenants.
After Alejandro had ensured himself that all orders he had left had got carried out as ordered during his absence, he returned to the hacienda and had a cup of coffee. It was past eleven before his son finally decided it was time to rise and have breakfast.
Alejandro was slightly frustrated and complained his son had wasted the best hours of the day.

Diego apologized and explained he had some important matters that couldn't get delayed till the evening.
Alejandro got angry and snapped at his son that he was lazy and useless in running a rancho before he left for the stables.

In the afternoon, the don rode his favourite mare Dulcinea across the vast grounds of the rancho and visited some of the tenants. He listened to their newest issues and promised, where possible, to help solve them.

Late in the afternoon, he rode towards the pueblo of Los Angeles. Alejandro planned to quench his thirst at the tavern after half a day in the saddle and many conversations with the people depending on his leadership. Also, the knowledge he would surely meet friends in the tavern to spend some time.
Alejandro wanted to get informed about what had happened in the pueblo during his absence, and his son had forgotten to report. The foreman hardly came to the pueblo. His son had a nasty habit of forgetting to mention matters that did not catch his attention. Those were quite a few.

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That same morning, dawn had brought a pleasant surprise to Victoria.
Victoria had risen at the usual time and started preparing for another busy day at the tavern. While the sun had begun its climb along the sky, she had opened the doors to let in the cool morning air before the outside temperature became too uncomfortable.
She had been just in time to see two lancers standing around marvelling at the sight of two horses, each with a man on his back whose wrists were tied together on their backs, a Z carved in the material of their shirts. Victoria took a moment to laugh. By the looks of it, Zorro had had a busy night and had neatly delivered these criminals to the cuartel. So they could be locked up and put on trial.
Victoria walked back into the tavern quickly. Perhaps she was lucky, and Zorro had decided not only to take the criminals to the pueblo but also to visit her.

Full of expectations and preparing herself for disappointment if it turned out not to be so, she opened the curtain between the main room and the kitchen.
One glimpse through the kitchen informed her she wasn't going to get disappointment. Her feet took wing, and she threw herself in a pair of muscular arms.

Victoria closed her eyes and leaned forward blissfully a little further to be absorbed even deeper into the strong embrace that pressed her against his broad chest. Zorro had come to the tavern to meet her. These stolen moments are so intensely dear to her, and she fervently hopes that this kiss may last for a very long time. Victoria cannot suppress a moan as she feels Zorro slips his hands around her waist. The cold leather sends a shiver down her spine and gives her a pleasant kind of goosebumps.

She loves this man. Every time she momentarily doubted whether Zorro was worth putting her dreams of a family of her own on hold for years, all she had to do was think of how it felt to lie in his arms to vanish all doubts with the force of a hurricane.
It takes a few seconds for her to realize that Zorro gently tries to end the kiss. Victoria tightens her arm muscles, stretches even further, and refuses to reduce the grip of her arms around his neck so that he can end their lips touching. This works for a moment. Until gasping for breath, she herself is the cause for the fiery, passionate kiss to come to an end.

"Victoria." Zorro stammered with a trembling voice, slightly out of breath.

Victoria feels the butterflies continue to flutter frantically in her stomach. Her heart beat like crazy, and she felt dizzy. Zorro's breathing was also heavier than usual.

He took a few steps back, stroking her cheek. "I have to go. I have." He utters. "Already, I must beg for your forgiveness for stealing so much of your precious time."
Zorro turned towards the kitchen table he had used so many times before to climb to the first floor of the tavern.

Victoria could not suppress a broad grin appearing on her face. True, she is busy. The tavern will open in less than an hour, and countless chores need to get done. All those things are unimportant when she can have the opportunity to spend a few more minutes with the man she loves so dearly and saw so rarely. So without even thinking about it, Victoria hurries to say. "Oh, but my time is not precious at all."

To her great surprise, Zorro stopped abruptly, jumped back down from the railing and came towards her. His eyes penetrated right into her soul.
"My dearest señorita." He took her hand and stroked the inside of her wrist with his gloved hand. "For me, your time has more value than all the gold in the world."Then he kissed her hand, spun around his axis at lightning speed and jumped back on the working table to climb up to the balcony before disappearing into the shadows.

Victoria sought support at the large work table.
Her knees buckled, she was spinning on her legs, and her heart was almost pounding out of her chest.
Zorro could say such wonderful, lovely, romantic things.

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Don Diego's casual remark about his love interest only got her curiosity further piqued.|
Victoria was anxious to find out who the mysterious woman was who had managed to do what was considered impossible by many.
It was hard to believe that any woman had the capability of attracting the interest of the territory's most notorious and desirable bachelor.
Don Diego was her friend, and Victoria was eager to help him overcome his shyness. Actually, it was mainly curiosity and perhaps a tad jealousy that it seemed she would soon have to share the don attention with another woman.
Not that she had romantic feelings for Diego. She just liked the man as a friend.

Victoria carried a tray with two glasses of wine outside and set it on the table where two dons were talking. She let her eyes scan across the plaza, noticing Esperanza was standing by one of the beams you could tie a horse to. Due to her rare colour, the golden mare stood out in Los Angeles.
It must mean that don Diego was in Los Angeles as well.
Swiftly, Victoria rushed back inside, took off her apron, grabbed her basket and told Alicia she was out to buy lemons for lemonade.

Scanning, Victoria walked across the plaza. Don Diego was over six feet and was a tall figure who should be easy to find.
Victoria absently greeted a few lancers. She felt a hint of disappointment when she saw a man with black hair and a light blue suit standing by the blacksmith. She wandered around some more, and when Diego came walking in her direction, Victoria reacted in surprise as if she had not been watching him closely for over five minutes.

"Señorita Escalante. Buenos dìas."

"Buenos días, don Diego. Taking a walk?"

"Um, no. Actually, I just went to the blacksmith to make an appointment to shoe Esperanza. I was on my way to the tavern. It's thirsty weather."

"Indeed," Victoria agreed while she swung the basket on her arm to let him know she was out to buy something. "I..., I." Victoria had told Alicia an excuse that she was going to buy lemons to find out whether don Diego might have come to the pueblo to catch a glimpse of a certain señorita. To don Diego her little lie did not hold as the fruit stall was right by the tavern.

The corners of Diego's mouth curled up. "You wanted to escape the crowds and have a moment to yourself." He suggested amusedly.

"Indeed." Victoria sighed with relief at the excuse given. "I told Alicia I needed lemons to make some fresh lemonade."

"Then allow me to accompany you and be of your service." Diego extended his arm to take the basket from her.

Damn. This wasn't what Victoria wanted. She had hoped to catch him while he was trying to get the attention of this unknown woman. "I..., I forgot to bring money. I actually just wanted to catch some fresh air." Confessed Victoria excitedly. In her haste to look for the don, she had not taken any money from the cash box.

Diego nodded understandingly. "Then allow me to lend you some and help you to make sure your helpers won't find out their employer secretly takes breaks."

He offered her his arm. And while chatting, they walked together in a wide arc to the fruit stall. Once there, Victoria carefully selected a dozen lemons. She negotiated over the price, and Diego handed the saleswoman three pesos.
Then Diego accompanied her back to the tavern.

Walking over to the other side of the counter, Victoria said. "Thank you, don Diego. Let me give you your money back." She opened the cash box and took out three pesos.

"Da nada." Diego took the money off the counter and went to take a seat at an empty table. For reasons, she chose to ignore Victoria was feeling warm. She quickly walked to the kitchen. "I'm here again." She informed her helpers.

Victoria waited till she felt she had her feelings in control. Then she cut a large piece of cake, walked to the counter to pour some lemonade and brought it to Diego.

"This one is on the house." Victoria felt her temperature rise again and her cheeks turning red in shame. She had the vague idea that Diego had his own suspicions as to why she had suddenly felt the need for a break at the busiest time of the day.
Without waiting for his reaction, Victoria walked quickly to another table to take an order, her eyes drawn to him every time she forgot not to look for him.

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What had seemed was going to be a boring afternoon turned out to have a pleasant surprise in store for Diego. Often, while he visited the tavern, Victoria was busy in the kitchen. And he did not manage to catch even a glimpse of her. The times she was in the main room, she was often so busy taking care of the other guests that she hardly had time to exchange a word. Able to accompany her on an errand. Which actually turned out to have been an excuse for a well-earned break that had undoubtedly been enjoyable. Diego always enjoyed the rare, brief moments when he had her undivided attention and him not dressed in black.

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Three days later, the stagecoach from Monterey arrived in Los Angeles. Usually, the coachman came straight into the tavern. Victoria's cooking skills were famous and praised far and wide, and riding the coach made any man hungry and thirsty.
Therefore, Victoria was surprised that the coachman chose first to walk towards de Soto's office.

Don Alejandro looked at it with interest. "By the looks of it, something has happened in the north that the alcalde must be informed about immediately," He said.

Victoria made a small prayer it didn't mean Zorro had to risk his life because de Soto had to get pursued to rethink his next action. She uttered. "Let's just hope it's good news for a change."

Victoria had just finished her sentence when de Soto's voice sounded from the doorway of his office across the plaza. "Mendoza!"

De Soto came stomping up and snarled at Victoria. "Where is that lazy, useless piece of crap?"

Victoria snarled. "I have no idea who you mean."

De Soto saw that, for once, his sergeant was not gossiping in the tavern while enjoying his other favourite pastime. He left while again shouting the sergeant's name.

Victoria could take it badly that the alcalde treated the sergeant with such contempt. Despite his flaws, Victoria liked the sergeant. He certainly had his faults. And almost everyone knew that Mendoza was not fit for his position. Still, most people liked the cheerful, pleasant man. His heart was in the right place. Mendoza was dutiful and loyal to his superior. If there ever was to be a fair alcalde who chose the people's interest over his own, Mendoza would serve him wholeheartedly, making every effort to turn Los Angeles into a better place. As long as de Soto was the alcalde, he tried his best to serve the army while, at the same time, trying to cause not too much harm.

Meanwhile, for the fifth or sixth time, Mendoza's name echoed across the plaza.
It was most likely that the sergeant had been napping in a quiet spot somewhere in the shade.
In any case, he came running, half-walking, half-stumbling as he tried to fix his uniform.

The alcalde's screams had alerted many in the pueblo that something was going on, and interested people came running into the plaza to see and hear why the alcalde was making a scene.

"In my office!" barked de Soto at Mendoza as he walked towards the cuartel without giving his sergeant a second glance.

Mendoza hurried after the alcalde. Years of experience told him that when the alcalde displayed this behaviour, it usually did not mean much good for him.
He regretted that he had chosen an afternoon nap over a meal because he did not know what the alcalde was up to this time and therefore had no idea when he would be in a position to satisfy his appetite.

Curious, don Alejandro uttered to Victoria. "Now, what do you think that is about?"

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