Shaken and Stirred
"You came all the way out here just to see me?" Victoria asked, a smile widening her lips.
He nodded, and continued to stir the contents of the pan sitting over the firepit.
"I've closed up for the evening so there will be no one to disturb us," She smiled as she stepped closer to the man in black.
The familiar sombrero was hanging down his back while he worked, his cape slung over a nearby bench along with his gloves. She stared at his back, how the black shirt hugged his body in places and slid loosely in others.
"Talented in everything AND cooking as well?"
"I dabble." Came his quick reply. "You are my first experiment with this dish."
"Well, " she slid next to him and looked around his arm to see what he was doing with her spices," I don't know if I should be frightened or honored."
He turned and she suddenly found herself encased in his strong arms, the scent of the meal reaching her nostrils from his quick movement," Know that I would never endanger you willingly, Querida." he placed a quick kiss to her lips and moved to continue stirring the meal.
She wrapped her arms around his waist preventing any movement, and he turned his head to stare into her lovely brown eyes.
He smiled and brought long fingers up to twist in her hair," How I long to spend every day with you like this." He sighed, his hands sliding through her soft hair, pulling her head closer with each word until her lips were mere centimeters from his.
"I wish for that as well, Zorro." She leaned into his embrace and let the emotions and feelings he was creating within her flow through her body.
When their lips met, a jolt of electricity shot through their bodies, captivating their hearts and souls. His lips sought to taste every portion of her face, leaving nothing untouched. His hands slid over her arms, waist and back, striving to touch and feel her soft, warm body.
When he pulled away, he quickly turned to continue stirring the broth over the fire, muttering a quick, "I'm sorry."
She was flushed by their bold act, they had never been so brazen and desperate in their kiss and caress before. She could feel the tension filling the room and slid her hand up his back to try and release some of it.
"That was wonderful."
"And yet I can't give these things to you as myself. I can't make you feel this way without the mask."
"How do you know?" She questioned, seeing where this topic of conversation was leading. Maybe she could obtain some more clues as to the mysterious man's identity.
"You've never appeared to be any more then friends with me," he lifted some of the warm soup into a bowl and began to set the food on the table. Warm tortillas, bread and fruit were set quickly as he pulled out the bench for her and sat across from her staring into the beautiful, wide eyes. He poured some wine and took a small sip.
"I've never known you to drink," She smiled, taking a bite of the filled tortilla.
"Just a sip on this special occasion," He smiled and toasted her," to our time spent together and our love, may these things only grow over time."
She lifted her glass and a brief clang was heard as the two glasses struck one another.
"I know that will happen." She took another sip and set her glass on the table.
He took her hand and pressed it to his lips as their attention was focused more on each other then the food set before them. She squeezed his hand, staring at the long, muscular fingers, and smiled. "We haven't had a dinner like this since....." She blushed and took a bite of food.
"Since I asked you to be my wife," He smiled slightly.
"Why won't you reveal your identity to me?" She said quickly afraid of what his answer might be," Do you not trust me to keep....."
"Oh Victoria," he moved to kneel beside her, holding both of her hands in his," I trust you with my life, and the lives of my family. Knowing my identity would put you in a greater danger then I am afraid I could protect you from."
He pressed a kiss to each finger and sighed, "Loosing you would destroy me and all that I stand and fight for in this pueblo. Knowing that one day, our future will be together, gives me the strength to go on when my duty as Zorro seems to waver."
She was touched by his words but also caught on to the little bit of information that he had provided about his real life, "Your family?"
He smiled and she squeezed his hands, "So the infamous Zorro does have a family out there somewhere."
"Oh, Victoria, they are closer than you may realize." He leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to her lips, wiping away the need for more questions.
"Ah, how sweet...." DeSoto stepped through the curtain and pointed a pistol at the masked man, "Don't even try and move a muscle." He smiled when Zorro flinched.
"I don't remember inviting you to our evening meal," Zorro frowned, casting a sideways glance at Victoria and past her to where his weapon was lying on the bench seemingly so far away.
"Enjoy it because that was your last," DeSoto motioned for the masked man move and he backed as the masked man stood.
Zorro's mind was racing. How was he going to get out of this predicament now without the possibility of causing harm to Victoria or himself, for that matter?
"Now move!" DeSoto commanded, pointing the pistol directly at the masked man's heart, "And no tricks."
As Zorro neared the alcalde, he lifted his arm for a quick left hook which sent the alcalde sprawling face first into the floor. His pistol discharged into the wall and Zorro raced to get his things off the bench.
A Lancer who had been waiting outside the curtain for the alcalde's orders heard the commotion and stepped through the curtain.
"Shoot him!" DeSoto ordered, rubbing his chin and attempting to stand.
The lancer took aim just as Zorro reached for his saber. Victoria screamed and Zorro flinched as the shot rang out in the small room. Zorro held his arm and turned as more lancers filed into the room, leveling their rifles at the injured man.
"Get down!" he ordered and pushed Victoria to the floor behind the table. He reached for the rail and pulled himself up as shots rang out around his ears. He pulled himself through the window and whistled for his faithful stallion. He slid into the saddle and raced across the plaza and out the gates before the Lancers even made it out of the tavern.
"I will deal with you later," DeSoto pointed his finger at Victoria as he raced out the doors and after Zorro. She raced over to the bench where his weapon, gloves and cape were sitting and gathered them into her arms. She quickly saddled her mare and raced off towards the de la Vega hacienda. She knew Zorro frequently came to their aid and she knew they would help Zorro if they knew he was in trouble.
Diego stripped off the bloodstained shirt and wrapped a clean bandage around his arm to stop the bleeding.
The pain was numbing the inflamed area and he quickly dipped clean rags into a cleaning solution that he mixed, hoping to prevent infection from sitting in. The wound was deep but the ball had gone straight through his arm. Now he needed to stop the bleeding and clean the wound before infection set in and he could not use it at all.
He was startled out of wrapping his arm by a loud knocking coming from the front door. He peeked through the view hole just as Victoria stormed into the hacienda, carrying Zorro's blade, cape and gloves.
Diego's eyes widened as he saw his father, without even hesitating, take the items from Victoria and hide them in a small panel on the other side of the piano. A panel created to hide precious items in should Indians attack the settlers when they first arrived in Alta California.
"I don't know where he went, Don Alejandro, but I know he favors you as a friend and will come looking for these things when he is able," She breathed. "And it is best for you not to keep them for the alcalde to use them as ammunition against you." He nodded.
"Zorro was hit before he escaped," her eyes became wide in fear, "I hope he is all right."
"Come sit," Alejandro led her to the dinner table to sit and relax. Seconds later Diego came around the corner, his hair tousled, and shirt rumpled giving the appearance that he had just awoken.
"What's going on father?" Diego asked, just then seeming to notice that they had a visitor, "Hello Victoria, aren't you out a bit late?"
"Diego, Z..." before Alejandro could finish, DeSoto barged into the hacienda and ordered his soldiers to search the premises.
"What is the meaning of this?" Diego asked.
"How dare you barge into my home like this and.." Alejandro began.
"You are a well known sympathizer to Zorro, I think if he were injured, he would seek out those who supported him for help," DeSoto stared.
Sepulveda stood in front of DeSoto providing the information that he did not want to hear when Mendoza rushed up behind the men and skidded to an abrupt halt. But not before bumping Sepulveda and pushing him into Diego's injured arm.
The tall caballero winced in pain and gripped his wrist, in hopes that if he didn't grab the actual wounded area, it would not stain his white shirt.
"What's wrong with you?" DeSoto eyed Diego suspiciously as did Alejandro.
Victoria's hands immediately covered her mouth to cover the shocked gasp that slipped from her lips. When the men turned to look at her, she immediately lowered her hands and smoothed her dress, flashing them an innocent look that almost convinced the alcalde that nothing was amiss.
Mendoza stood next to Diego, apologizing profusely for bumping into the caballero when he noticed a small red stain begin to spread across the arm of his nightshirt.
"Madre de Diós," Mendoza exclaimed, drawing the attention of everyone in the room to Diego's injured arm.
"Diego what happened?" Alejandro rushed to his son's side, trying to lift the sleeve to get a look at the wound," When did this..." Alejandro snapped his mouth shut as the events unfolding before his eyes became clear. By making a fuss over this situation he may have just signed his son's death warrant.
"Yes, Diego," DeSoto rested a hand on the hilt of his weapon, "Do indeed tell us what has happened?"
"I took a fall and cut my arm earlier today," Diego's mind raced to come up with a believable explanation," Dulcenea was spooked by a rattler and I wasn't paying attention....."
"Let's see the arm Diego, it's clear that it needs to be rebandaged," DeSoto smiled slightly. His mind too was racing with this knowledge that was barely believable. His mind was torn between so desperately wanting to have found Zorro to the incredible news that Diego de la Vega, this studious weak-willed caballero, was possibly Zorro.
"Ah I can take care of it," Diego stammered, "It's a small cut, nothing to worry about."
"I insist," DeSoto began to pull the saber from it's sheath and Victoria's eyes widened.
"Alcalde, just what are you insinuating?" Alejandro questioned," do you not trust that my son...."
"Zorro was shot tonight and suddenly Diego appears with an injured arm," DeSoto stared at the tall caballero," take off the shirt Diego."
"Excuse me?" Diego feigned disgust at being ordered to do such a thing in public.
"You heard what I said, take it off or I will have you shot here and now."
"You cannot threaten us!" Alejandro hissed and Victoria moved a few steps closer to Diego. Her eyes wide with fear for her friends safety and with astonishment that this same friend could be the masked man she had loved for years.
He looked terribly pale, as if he had recently lost a lot of blood and he looked like he would faint at any moment. Her mind could barely comprehend the information assailing it. She wasn't sure if she believed what the alcalde was accusing of Diego. But in her heart, the heart that beat only for the masked man, she could see herself falling in love with Diego...and probably would have had Zorro not entered the picture over 5 years ago. Now the probability was great that this friend was indeed the masked man that so unselfishly risked his life for the people of the pueblo and the señorita herself time and time again.
"I can and I will if I deem it necessary," DeSoto hissed at Alejandro, all the while not removing his eyes from Diego," what will it be Diego? The choice is yours."
"I will not be humiliated in front of your ...."
DeSoto took his statement as a refusal to obey and he quickly unsheathed his weapon and lunged at Diego. It was a beautiful lunge but Diego was still faster and he twisted out of the way in time to see DeSoto's blade embed itself into a plush chair.
Diego stumbled, trying to convince those present that it was luck that had just enabled him to avoid the alcalde's blade.
Alejandro grabbed Victoria and pulled her out of the way as the alcalde turned in rage at missing his injured opponent and swung again at Diego's chest and head.
Diego again dodged the blow and held out his good arm toward the alcalde, "Ignacio, what are you doing?"
This time Diego made sure he stumbled on a table leg and fell to the ground with a controlled descent. He made sure there was plenty of room to dodge another blade if it should be directed at him.
"Arresting the man that has plagued my term here as alcalde since I arrived," DeSoto advanced on Diego but did not swing.
"Why, Ignacio," Diego played up the look of disbelief that crossed his features," you don't think *I* could be Zorro?" Diego laughed, closing his eyes momentarily to rid himself of the dizziness forming in his head. "I'm believing it more and more with each passing second."
From outside they all heard one of the lancers yell out Zorro's name and they all rushed to the door and threw it open in time to see the familiar black stallion ride off into the night. Diego took this distraction and stood, holding onto the edge of the fireplace for balance. Once his head cleared he took a step forward.
"Chase him, men!" DeSoto ordered," run him into the ground!"
"You are absolved for now de la Vega," DeSoto hissed as he ran out the door after his lancers, "But be warned I will be watching every move you make from now on."
The door slammed behind him and Diego reached for the piano to steady himself. Alejandro slammed the lock shut behind the alcalde and turned in time to see Diego stumble.
Alejandro rushed to his son's aid and placed a steady arm under his sons broad shoulders and helped him to sit.
"What's going on, Diego?" Alejandro didn't know what to believe now. He had just seen Zorro ride off with Lancers at his back but his son bore an injury similar to what Zorro received in the pueblo. His mind was whirling and he was going to start demanding answers if none began to flow from his son's lips soon.
"Father I.."
"Diego, no more lies," Alejandro began to remove his son's shirt amidst protest from the younger man.
Diego shot a quick gaze at Victoria, who had just returned with a basin of water and some clean rags to bandage his wound.
Diego tried frantically to find a way to explain a gunshot wound without revealing his identity to his father. "Zorro just rode away from the hacienda, father. It is not possible that..."
"Diego..." The warning look in Alejandro's eyes silenced his son but they softened when he noticed the pain his son was obviously in.
Diego muttered something under his breath as his father slid the bloodied shirt from his shoulders and time froze.
Victoria stared at the wound, so obviously a gunshot wound, and gripped a nearby chair to steady herself. She concentrated on her task as she dipped the rag into the water and then began to wipe off the bloody skin surrounding the wound.
Victoria did not look at Diego but she did cast a few sideways glances at Alejandro.
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as she worked and soon the wound was cleaned and bandaged.
"Thank you," was Diego's weak reply.
"We need to get you into bed to rest," Alejandro attempted to lift Diego and with Victoria's help, they settled him comfortably into bed.
Felipe rushed into his room seconds later and Diego smiled before falling into a deep, medicine induced sleep. Diego reached for Victoria's hand as sleep claimed his body, and she did not refuse such a simple and friendly gesture.
"Where have you been?" Alejandro's voice was probably much more harsh then he had intended. Felipe's eyes widened when he noticed Victoria holding Diego's hand, his shirt was off and his arm bandaged.
"Do you know what happened, Felipe?" Alejandro asked. When the boy did not answer he gripped his arm and turned his eyes to face the confused father," Tell me what happened."
Felipe signed that he would have to wait until Diego awoke to get the explanation he wanted and then the boy firmly planted himself next to Diego's bed and made it quite clear that he was not leaving until his friend awoke.
When Diego awoke the next morning, there was no sign of a fever. Much to everyone's surprise. They were grateful that Diego would probably suffer no ill effects from the gunshot wound.
Other than the questionable looks Victoria and his father gave him when they walked into his room, everything seemed to have returned to normal.
"So, Diego," Alejandro sat in a chair beside his son's bedside as Victoria set a tray of scrumptious food in front of Diego. Curiously, she did not look him in the eyes as she normally did.
"Are you going to explain just what is going on and where you managed to get a pistol ball in the arm?"
His father leaned back in his chair. This was going to be good and he was not going to miss anything his son had to say.
Before Diego could open his lips to speak, Felipe rushed into the room signing so quickly no one could keep up with him.
"Slower, Felipe," Diego asked and Diego began to translate what the young man was saying.
"The alcalde is coming here? With half the garrison?" Alejandro stood up in a huff ready to deny access to his home.
"To arrest me?" Diego's eyes widened. "Well I wonder why?"
"I wonder," Victoria muttered and Alejandro shot a confused look at her.
"Well we have two choices," Diego began, "I can allow him to arrest me on his charge of being Zorro, or I can hide from him. Neither of those choices sounds particularly good right now."
"If you hide," Alejandro began.
"I will never be able to return to the pueblo because he will convict me without benefit of a trial."
Diego translated more of Felipe's signs.
"Yes, I know Felipe. Like he will give me a fair trial now. Even after seeing Zorro last night and me in the hacienda."
"Would his accusation be correct?" Victoria asked, looking Diego in the eyes for the first time since she entered the room.
A loud knock on the door, prevented the need for an answer and Diego stood, bedclothes and all and walked out of the room.
Alejandro and Victoria rounded the corner just as the alcalde burst into the room and ordered Diego to be placed under arrest.
"You know you need sufficient proof of wrongdoing, alcalde." Diego informed the man, allowing the lancers to bind his wrists.
"That wound is all the proof I need to convict you, Diego," DeSoto turned on his heal and ordered his lancers to take him away.
"You will not get away with this, alcalde," Alejandro glared," the governor will hear of this. From my own lips."
DeSoto chuckled," By the time to governor hears of this, your son's neck will be stretched from here to Monterey."
As the lancers took a willing Diego out the door, DeSoto turned to Victoria who stared blankly at Diego's back. "You've been strangely silent, Señorita. Any reason why?"
"You must be crazy to think Diego de la Vega is Zorro!" She hissed," Diego and I have been friends for years. I have kissed Zorro and spent more time with him than any of you! I would know if Diego was the man you accuse him of being!"
"Well Zorro has finally slipped up. No one is perfect." He laughed, turned on his heal and left the hacienda.
Felipe's eyes were wide with fear as Alejandro turned to the boy, Victoria turning as well seconds later.
"You must tell me the truth , Felipe," Alejandro held the young man's shoulders, "There is something peculiar about this situation. I am not going to let that man hang my son."
Felipe nodded and looked around the hacienda to make sure all of the lancers had gone. He went to lock the door and then motioned for Alejandro and Victoria to follow him.
Before Felipe had a chance to press the secret panel on the fireplace, the plates hanging on the walls of the hacienda started to sway. Alejandro looked around to see the furniture trembling as well as the paintings hanging on the walls. When the plate slid off the wall and shattered on the floor, Alejandro gripped the rim of the fireplace to steady himself. Alejandro turned to Victoria and pushed her toward the large ornate wood table in the dining room.
"Get under it, Victoria, Felipe!" Alejandro shouted as they crawled under the table for protection against the falling objects.
Adobe crumbled around them and the sound of the glass and plates shattering sent shivers up the spines of those hiding underneath the table.......
The next day.......
Coachmen brought news of the devastation to the north and south of the pueblo. By some miracle Los Angeles had been spared major devastation compared to the surrounding cities.
Eye witnesses told of the devastation the earthquake caused along the coast. The de la Vegas along with much of the town sat in awe as the man recounted what had happened. The Missions at San Juan Capistrano, Santa Barbara and Purisima were wrecked by the earthquake.
The death toll was estimated from 30 to 45, and many were badly injured. A shock an hour later destroyed what buildings remained. In Santa Barbara, the inhabitants saw the recession of the sea and fled to the hills to escape the probable deluge. The incoming sea then flowed inland half a mile. There had been a series of quakes around the area the for one month preceding the big shocks but none knew that this would lead to a much larger quake.
Alta California had been subject to nearly continuous earthquake shocks for four and one-half months preceding the large one that toppled presidios along the coast. Four days seldom elapsed without at least one shock. The inhabitants soon abandoned their homes and lived out of doors until they felt safe enough to live inside.
This year was called el año de los temblores.......
Few died in the largest quake that shook the pueblo. Most of the inhabitants had been awake and busy tending to their farms and cattle rather than be inside buildings. It was the aftershocks that killed the most. Many came in the night, catching those that still slept indoors, and killing them with falling wood and adobe.
The alcalde was one such victim. He had been writing the orders to hang Diego de la Vega as Zorro when the first shock rumbled over the plains and shook the buildings to their foundations. The large beam over the alcalde's desk split in two and came crashing down on top of him, crushing his body instantly.
Diego had slid under his small bunk for protection as the adobe and beams came crashing down around him. One had struck him in the leg, pinning him beneath the bed.
His heart cried out for those who he knew had to have been killed in the quake. If he was not careful and did not get out of their quickly, he would be joining them, however and he struggled with the beam that held him in place.
Night had fallen over the pueblo and it was dark as he searched for a way to lift the heavy beam off his leg. The pain was finally numbing his leg and he could tell his ankle was broken. His arm was starting to hurt from all the activity and he could feel the blood wetting his shirt where his arm had been wrapped the night before.
Lancers were struggling to put out fires started when lanterns tipped over from the shaking. People were screaming, moaning in their fright. Children were racing along the streets to keep themselves occupied, their parents either wounded or killed in the shocks.
Alejandro leapt off his stallion when he noticed that the jail had collapsed upon itself. "Diego!" He called. Frightened that his son had been killed by the collapsed building.
Victoria chased after Alejandro but Felipe stopped her from following him into the crumpled building. Instead she heard a wailing child and turned to pick her up and comfort her as much as she could.
Alejandro slid through the debris and called again for his son.
He received a weak or muffled response and felt his way through the crumpled walls until Felipe came up behind him with a lantern that illuminated the path if only slightly.
"Diego?!" Alejandro called again until he was standing over the beam that pinned his son to the floor. "Hang on son," Alejandro knelt beside the man and began to pull at the beam, "We'll get you out of here."
"Felipe," Diego instructed, "Get something to brace the beam against so you can lift it better.
Felipe nodded and Alejandro wondered how Felipe could understand without being able to see Diego's lips moving.
He decided to leave the questions until his son was freed and concentrated on finding something that he could brace against the beam. He found part of a wood beam that had split and would be strong enough to hold the weight of the beam pinning Diego for a few moments. Felipe positioned it and Alejandro and Felipe pushed down with all their strength. When the beam did not move, Felipe ran to get some more help.
Moments later a few of the caballeros, who did not know Diego had been arrested, raced in to help Felipe and Alejandro.
The beam finally lifted enough so that Diego could slide from under it. None too soon either, because as soon as he slid from beneath it, the weight of the beam crushed the bed that had been protecting him.
Alejandro helped Diego to stand and he limped over to where Dr. Hernandez and now Victoria were helping with the injured.
"Sit, Diego," Hernandez advised in the dim light. "Let me take a look."
"Dr.," Victoria intervened, "Let me take care of Diego's injuries. Please help the others who need you more."
Diego tried to search her gaze but she kept her eyes averted as she cleaned and rebandaged his arm. Felipe helped with the splint on Diego's leg and he gritted his teeth as the brace was firmly attached to his ankle. "You're lucky you were not badly hurt," Alejandro clasped his son on the shoulder.
"The alcalde was, I'm afraid." Diego sighed, "I heard him cry out just before the beam came down on top of my bed.
"The alcalde is dead," Victoria said unemotionally as she handed a cup of medicine to Diego to drink.
Diego and Alejandro glanced at her and she explained that he had been crushed by the beam over his office.
Diego lowered his head and when he looked up he noticed a woman stumbling out of the stables holding her arm.
Diego slid off the bench, gritting his teeth as he landed on his broken ankle, and limped over to where the woman had finally slid to the ground, pain etched into her dirtied features.
Alejandro and Victoria watched as the normally dignified man, risked his own pain to help another in need. They exchanged looks of surprise and then rushed over to see if he needed any help.
Diego instructed the woman to lay back, and he examined her arm. " I think you have a broken arm, Señora."
She mumbled through clenched teeth and Diego knew he had to set the bone or she would never be able to use the arm again.
"I have to set this," Diego explained to her as Felipe brought two pieces of wood from a crumbled building. Diego gripped her arm and pulled . One quick jerk and the bone was set straight again. The woman's cries echoed around the plaza but were drowned out by those of the other injured.
Diego quickly took the splint and tied it tightly around the woman's arm, preventing her from using it. He explained what to do and apologized for not having any pain killing medicine.
Two children, crying because they could not find their mother, sat against a building, holding each other, their tears mingling.
Diego's eyes softened and Victoria watched as he limped over to the children, took one in each arm and brought them back to where Victoria had returned with the young woman to sit on a blanket, cradling a young child in her arms.
Diego waved Felipe over and asked him to get a flute, a guitar or something that would be able to play a tune.
"I have a guitar and a flute in the tavern in my room," Victoria smiled at the handsome caballero.
"Felipe can you go quickly, I don't want you inside the building for too long, and fetch them?" Diego asked. He would have gone himself but taking the stairs on an ankle that was broken, would probably not have been a good idea.
Felipe returned quickly and gave the guitar to Diego and tested the flute himself. Victoria shot Felipe a strange look and Felipe lowered his head.
"It's okay, Felipe, please play "Todos Años".
Alejandro gasped silently and knelt beside his son , placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. He used to sing that song to a very young Diego after his mother died and he was upset. Alejandro took the guitar willingly and sat on the blanket next to Felipe, pulling delicately at the strings.
As Diego's soft, deep voice soothed and quieted the children, people gathered around the caballero and listened to the melody.
It was a sad but uplifting song, describing loss and loneliness but at the same time giving hope and reasons for living.
Alejandro wiped away a tear and Victoria, remembering the loss of her mother, did not attempt to wipe the tears that flowed freely down her cheeks.
With the children quieted, Diego choose another soothing song that would hopefully put them to sleep.
One child slumbered in his arms as another rested her head on his leg and listened to the melody. Diego brushed his hand through the wispy hair and tightened his hold on the young child that he held.
This time Diego's voice was but a whisper as he instructed Felipe in the darkness. Alejandro and Victoria wondered silently how Felipe was hearing Diego's instructions as well as hearing the melody he so beautifully played. They left their questions for the morning as Diego's soft voice floated into the air.
This song was about love and devotion. No matter what the distance that separated that love, it would always be there and those that could not be with those they loved, would always remember. In that remembrance their loved ones would live again. Those who had left their loved ones would always look after and keep them safe. There were meanings in that simple song for all those present. For the children now sleeping in Diego's arms it meant that their mother, although gone from their lives, would look after them forever. For Alejandro it meant something similar. For Victoria it reminded her of Zorro and her love for the dashing man in black. For Diego, it meant that he would always be watching over Victoria even if they could never be together.
Even that hope was becoming possible. The alcalde had died in the quake and Los Angeles would be needing a new comandante. Diego only hoped that it would be someone fair and just, and the need for Zorro would diminish.
Diego was not going to act like a bumbling fool and not help those that were injured or harmed. If that meant his secret being discovered, then so be it.
One secret had already been revealed, or would be as soon as morning crept over the mountains. He would tell everyone that Felipe could indeed hear if they had not figured it out already. It was possible that his loved ones knew already because of his arrest.
The children were sound asleep as the song came to an end. Their problems and heartaches momentarily forgotten.
Victoria held a sleeping infant and another curled around her skirts to keep warm. Both had been lulled to sleep by the caballero's soft voice.
A young woman came and took one child out of Diego's arms and another took the child Victoria held. Beds had been made up for the children and the injured. The others slept on the ground outside, fearful that another quake would come and cause what remained of their houses to come crashing down on top of them.
When Diego attempted to stand, the child laying on his thigh and his injured leg preventing him from doing so, Victoria reached toward him with a blanket and pillow roll in hand.
He smiled as she set the pillow roll at his head and spread the warm blanket over him and the small child. He took the blanket in one hand and bent down to cradle the sleeping child in the other.
Victoria watched as he cradled the child in his arms and laid against the hard ground. She pulled away from the child wrapped in her skirts and spread a blanket close to Diego. She laid down for a short nap, pulling the child from her skirts to her arms. She held the child tightly as she fell asleep, her face mere inches from Diego's, the children each held, the only things separating them.
Over the course of the next few days, Diego, his father, and the other caballero's set to work rebuilding the pueblo while Victoria and the other woman tended the children, the injured and concentrated on feeding all of the hard working men.
Many of the soldiers, instead of working to rebuild their crumbled jail and quartel, focused on rebuilding the tavern and the surrounding structures.
Dr. Hernandez and Victoria stood talking when the doctor noticed Diego stumble and grasp his leg. Concerned eyes followed the caballero as he moved to a bench and sat gingerly, rubbing the swollen ankle.
Hernandez indicated to Victoria that he would be back and left her in charge of the current patients.
Victoria watched carefully as the doctor sat on the bench beside Diego and began speaking with the handsome caballero.
Victoria had never noticed that Diego was so dedicated to the pueblo . He had been injured in the quake yet he still assisted as much or even more than some of the other caballeros, in rebuilding the pueblo structures.
She admired his resilience and dedication and wondered why she had not seen it before.
One of the patients asked her about Zorro and that turned her attention from the Doctor and Diego.
"I don't know, Mija," She soothed the young child's hair, "He hasn't been seen since the quake."
"But why?" A million questions started flowing and Victoria lowered her head and smiled.
Hernandez helped Diego as he limped over to where the rest of the patients were sitting. Diego sat with a painful sigh, next to the young child asking the questions and turned his attention to Victoria as she guessed at the answers.
"I don't know." Victoria shot a quick glance at Diego and Hernandez, "Maybe Zorro was hurt in the quake and hasn't had time to ...."
"You think he was killed like my mama?" there were tears threatening to spill over the child's eyes.
"No, Mija," Diego soothed, brushing the tangled hair out of the child's eyes, "Zorro is probably helping the people as himself without the mask."
The child's eyes widened and she smiled up at the tall caballero," You think so?"
He pressed a kiss to the child's forehead, "I know so." He changed the subject quickly so that the child would not pursue how he knew such things. He was so used to changing the subject that no one caught on, with the exception of Victoria, who had been listening carefully to everything the young caballero had been telling the child.
"Now do everything Señorita Victoria asks you to do so that you will get better."
He smiled at Victoria and lifted his leg so that the doctor could get a better look at it.
Victoria tended the child, occasionally casting a quick glance in Diego's direction.
"Diego," the doctor scolded as he unwrapped the man's leg, "this is badly broken."
"I was afraid of that. Victoria wrapped it tightly so that I could help...."
"Well you will be doing no more of that for a while."
Victoria looked over from where she had just finished with her young patient and frowned at Diego. "Don't worry. I'll make sure he stays put, Doctor." Victoria smiled sweetly at the doctor and narrowed her eyes at Diego, "He won't be walking anywhere."
"I need to help...." Diego attempted to sit and Victoria held his shoulders preventing him from doing so.
Their eyes locked and Diego froze when she touched him, not realizing how much he ached for her touch.
"Tie him down if you have to, Victoria," Hernandez chuckled," but I don't want him out of this bed for at least...."
Diego relaxed and allowed Victoria to push him against the makeshift bed.
"Good," He turned on his heel and left.
Victoria was still holding his shoulders when the doctor left and when she realized this, she turned away quickly to complete a menial task.
"Victoria?"
That voice sounded so familiar that she froze, her back to him, her heart pounding wildly.
"How do you know that Zorro is helping us as himself and not as....."
"I changed the subject so the little one would not ask me that."
"I know." She resumed mixing the medicine, her ears straining for what he would say next.
"My father has sent a letter to the governor about what has happened here and we are hoping he will send some workmen and...."
"You changed the subject again." She observed, whirling to face him.
"I really don't know much more about the previous subject. I wanted to reassure her that her hero had not been killed in the quake." Diego explained, hoping that, for now, the explanation would be good enough until he could come up with a way to tell her, "Whether I know that is the truth or not."
She nodded and for a moment accepted his explanation. She continued to work on mixing the medicines, taking much longer than she could have to do it.
He stared at her, wrestling with the decision to tell her. His heart cried out for hers and he sat up and reached for her arm.
Just then the bed started to shake and Victoria dropped the medicine she was holding to reach for something to steady herself.
Diego made it to the edge of the bed to grasp her before she lost her balance. She slid into his arms and he held her tightly until the shaking stopped.
She continued to shake even after the earth had stopped and he held her tightly trying to quiet her fears.
She felt safe and secure in his strong arms and was reluctant to leave them once the shaking stopped. She could hear the children wailing and knew she should be comforting them but, just for once, she was the one that needed comforting.
"Is everyone all right?" Alejandro rushed over to where the children were wailing and stared at his son and Victoria. Diego nodded at his father, his eyes indicating that Victoria had been frightened and that she needed comforting.
Victoria pulled out of Diego's embrace at the sound of Alejandro's voice and turned toward a screaming child. Her steps were still unsteady, however, and she stumbled. Alejandro was too far away to catch her and Diego slid off the bed onto his injured leg, catching her before she struck the ground.
Diego grimaced in pain as he helped her to sit on the bed he had just vacated. Alejandro soothed a group of children as they all climbed into a bed to hear him tell a story.
Diego sat next to Victoria as she regained some of her composure . "I'm sorry, I don't know what..."
"The quake frightened you," He held her hand gently, resisting the urge to press a kiss to it as he had done so many times before." There is nothing to be ashamed of in that."
She shook her head but he continued," You've had to be adult and grown up since you were young. You've had no one to depend on to help you." He was silent for a few minutes and then whispered for her ears only," You can depend on me. Never forget that."
"I won't...." She whispered . She was silent for a few seconds and then stared into his eyes. "Was the alcalde correct in his suspicions?" her heart was beating so wildly that she almost missed his whispered response.
Diego took a deep breath and decided it was now or never. He couldn't go on lying to this woman he loved so deeply. Especially when she had come right out and asked him.
"Yes." His eyes never left hers as he whispered the confirmation she was afraid to hear.
He opened his arms and she fell into them, sobbing.
She found herself unable to speak. She wanted to yell and scream at him for keeping this from her for all these years. But at the same time she wanted to kiss him and hold him and tell him that she loved him.
He held her shoulders and limped over to the corner of a crumpled building. They were still outside but were not underneath anything should another tremor strike the pueblo.
"Let me explain." He sat down slowly, careful of his injured leg, and pulled her down beside him.
Over the next few months, the pueblo was slowly rebuilt. Alejandro was appointed temporary alcalde and during his short term the pueblo discovered that California was no longer a territory belonging to Spain.
Alejandro had made sure that the pueblo could run on what little funds it had but as money became tight, Mexican troops arrived and declared their intent within the pueblo.
A Mexican alcalde was appointed and Alejandro took on the task of filling him in on pueblo history and the tyrannical alcalde's who's shoes he filled.
Zorro had not been seen since the earthquake and those involved with Diego's arrest completely ignored the fact now that the alcalde hell bent on capturing Zorro had been killed in the quake.
People took notice that Diego and Victoria had been getting closer but did not question it since they all figured Zorro had been killed in the quake and Victoria was going on with her life.
Many caballeros had been killed and since no one knew Zorro's identity, no one could be sure that he had survived the deadly earthquake.
Soon the pueblo was rebuilt, the pueblo was operating well under it's new government, and Alejandro would soon be hosting a fiesta celebrating the marriage of his son and Victoria Escalante.
The tragedy that had destroyed many lives, brought even more together in friendship and love.
The war with the United States would be the only thing to shake the secure foundations of the pueblo for generations to come ........
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