Chapter 4

Ten days of dubious quiet passed after Diego’s unusual proposal of marriage.  The quiet was really not so quiet at all, but nobody said anything to the couple more than congratulations.  But according to the pueblo gossips, those ten days saw far more activity from the two of them than just planning a hasty wedding.  As it turned out, everything was happening exactly as Don Alejandro had predicted.

In response, the senior de la Vega grew more and more insufferable each time he so much as crossed paths with Diego in the hacienda.  His coy smiles shouted ‘I told you so’ even when not a single word passed his lips.  Diego took to hiding in Zorro’s cave just to avoid his father.

But now, everything was arranged for a quiet and quick wedding.  Since Victoria could never stand through an hour long Mass and wedding ceremony, the two of them sat side by side on one of the mission’s front pews as the rest of the pueblo citizens filed into the seats behind them.

“Have you heard any new rumors lately?” Diego whispered to Victoria as they waited.

        Victoria’s eyes slid from watching the padre half hidden behind the vestry curtains to Diego sitting beside her.  “Nothing specific.”

        Diego indulged a crooked smile.  “What have you heard that isn’t specific?”

        “I’m still pregnant.  But Zorro isn’t… the father.”

“Oh?  Who’s the father this week?”

        Victoria couldn’t quite suppress her smile.  “You.”

        Delighted, Diego couldn’t quite temper his reaction this time.  “People should know better.  If Father was going to be a grandfather, he’d publish it in the newspaper.”

        Victoria suppressed a choked laugh.

        “It’s good that you can laugh at such silly rumors,” Diego said as he leaned in close to her.  “They would have upset you not so long ago.”

        Victoria gave a resigned sigh.  “I figure why should I get… upset?  It’s not like I… can stop these rumors… anyway.  Though I do wish… the people wouldn’t… see Zorro in such a light.  He’d never… do what they’re saying.  You wouldn’t… either.”

        “I wish the people wouldn’t see you in such a light,” Diego objected.  “As if you would ever do what they’re saying.”  Victoria grunted a sound, causing Diego to look at her curiously.  “Would you?”

        A ghost of a smile played over Victoria’s lips.  “Nnnnnno.”

        He chose to ignore her hesitation.  “Of course you wouldn’t.”

        The altar boys lit the candles on the altar before disappearing again.

The candlelight made her face look lean and hollow as she gave a loud sigh.

        “What?”

        “I was just… thinking,” she casually said.  “Maybe I would... do something… like that.”

        Diego’s eyebrows drew together in a frown.  “You would?”

        She hastened to explain.  “Now that I’m sick… I see things much… more clearly.”

Yes, there’s nothing like imminent death to change your perspective.  Diego didn’t dare say this out loud.  “What things, exactly?”

        She smiled a sad smile.  “Putting things off… not marrying… having a family…”

        “But you’ve been waiting for Zorro,” Diego said in protest.

        She smiled at him.  “Maybe I shouldn’t… have.”

        Alarmed, Diego blurted, “What?”

        “Maybe I should… have done this... wedding to you… a long time ago.”  And she squeezed his suited arm.

        Keen to conceal how this thrilled him, Diego righted the way his wedding coat hung on his shoulders as he made his own sound of disbelief.  “Yes, this must come as quite a shock.  No one would ever expect you to marry me.”

        “Why not?”

        Diego shrugged.  “Because I’m not… you know, much like him.”

        Victoria’s forehead wrinkled in thought.  “I’m not sure…  that’s so important… Diego.”

        “Tell that to my father.”

        She gave him an affectionate shove with her hip.  “Don Alejandro blusters… a lot… but he knows… what he’s got.”

        Diego had to swallow a cynical laugh.  “He knows, all right.”

        “Oh, Diego,” Victoria said in exasperation.  “You’re too… hard on yourself.”

        “Not according to Father.”

        Her smile took on a hint of mischievousness.  “Then we’ll just have to... change… his mind.”

“You say that like it’s a real possibility.”

        She gazed at him in wonder.  “I’m surprised at… you, Diego.  When did you… become so --”

        “Cynical?”  He grinned now.  “It took years of practice, I assure you.”

        “I always thought… you were too… lighthearted to be… cynical.”

        “I cover it well, don’t you think?”

        Victoria spurted a laugh.

        Changing the subject to something less personal, Diego asked, “What did you think of the announcement Dr. Hernandez made a few days ago?”

        “About me being… sick?”  Victoria’s lightheartedness vanished.  “I try not… to.”

        Diego shoved her back with his own hip.  “He didn’t say it to embarrass you, Victoria, but to tell everyone what we’re doing so they’ll leave us alone.”

        In answer to his gesture of affection, her tone grew marginally lighter.  “They do start the silliest rumors… don’t they?”

        “And maybe something about the Wasting Disease will come to light,” Diego added, encouraged now by her lightened tone.  “Who knows who else has had it.”  He noticed de Soto standing at the side of the mission.  “The Alcalde, for instance.  I’ve always thought he was a bit on the skinny side.”

        Victoria spurted a laugh again.  It caught the attention of Padre Benites, who drew near enough to whisper, “What has you both so amused on this solemn occasion?”

        Immediately chastened, Victoria muttered, “Nothing, Padre.  We… apologize.”

        “Actually,” Diego quickly said.  “We were wondering about Victoria walking all the way down the aisle.  It’s so far, and seems a silly waste of energy now that we’re facing it.  Is it truly necessary?”

        The priest shrugged.  “Of course not.  Now, I’ll perform a shortened Mass so we’ll still have time for you to exchange vows.”
        “We thank you again for doing this on such short notice,” Diego said to the priest.

        “Not at all, not at all,” Benites assured, smiling.  “Anything to help the Señorita.”

        “Thank you again,” Diego said as the priest hurried away.  When he was sure Benites was too far away to hear, he whispered, “I want to walk down the aisle.”

        Another spurt of laughter burst out of Victoria.  “I dare you.”

        Diego grinned.  “How can I refuse?”

        Victoria’s eyes widened in alarm.  “Diego, you can’t!”

        Diego seemed to deflate.  “You’re right, I’d better not.  We’d never hear the end of it from Felipe.”  Attracted by a noise then, Diego glanced over his shoulder.  “And speaking of walking down aisles…”

Alcalde de Soto and Sergeant Mendoza surged by without stopping.  “I want all the back rooms checked, Sergeant, and don’t forget to look under the beds.  That fiend Zorro has to be here somewhere.”

Mendoza’s eyes scuttled to them in discomfort, but all he said was, “Si, Alcalde,” before hurrying away.  De Soto followed.

“I see the Alcalde has things in an uproar as usual,” Diego noted.

Victoria wasn’t nearly as lighthearted now.  “He couldn’t catch… a fly, to say… nothing of… Zorro.  He won’t come… anyway.”

Diego wasn’t so confident.  “You’re marrying someone else, Victoria.  I’m not sure he won’t show up to cut me into a million pieces.”

“Zorro would never… do that,” Victoria assured.  “Besides… you’re helping me when… he can’t.”  Her smile showered over him.  “That’s how I… know he won’t… come.”

Diego was gratified she had such a positive opinion about his alter ego.  “I wish I had your confidence.”

“I’m right,” she said in utter conviction.  “The Alcalde is… wasting his time.”

Slowly Diego smiled.  “You may be right, Victoria, but it sure is fun to watch him run around like a plucked chicken.”

“Diego!” Victoria spluttered, laughing breathlessly again.  “This is our... wedding.  We’re supposed... to be solemn… like the padre… says.”

“Solemn doesn’t mean we’re dead,” Diego pointed out.  “Let’s enjoy ourselves.  We won’t get to do this again.”  Victoria opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off.  “And don’t you dare say that you won’t, but I will.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Good.  Because if you do, then I will walk down the aisle, and it will be your fault.”

Don Alejandro suddenly appeared at Diego’s side.  “I’m glad to see that you two are already enjoying yourselves.”

“Of course we are, Father.”

Alejandro gave him a look that said he didn’t quite believe his son.  “The Alcalde is causing his usual amount of chaos.”
        “Yes, we saw him earlier,” Diego said.  “Something about checking the back rooms for Zorro.”

Alejandro’s disdain was palpable.  “As if Zorro would hide there.  He’s far too creative for that.”

“Victoria thinks he won’t come at all.”

Alejandro gave an absentminded pat to Victoria’s arm.  “She would know.  Now, Felipe is as ready as he’ll ever be.  Victoria, is your witness ready?”

“She’ll be here.”

“Good.”  Alejandro straightened and smiled at them both.  “This is the right thing to do, you know.”

“Yes, Father, we know.”

Alejandro patted Diego on the shoulder just as he’d patted Victoria.  “Good luck.”  Then he disappeared.

Diego quirked a brow at the comment.  “He thinks I need luck?  It’s not like I’m walking into the lion’s den.”

Victoria quirked her own brow just as Pilar, her witness, slipped into the pew beside her.  “In a way… you are.  Now shh.  Here’s… Padre Benites.”

The padre began the Latin recitations calling them to Mass as the Alcalde crossed behind him, whispering to Sergeant Mendoza, not at all concerned that all eyes were on him as they walked.   The Sergeant, however, looked highly uncomfortable.

Mass proceeded at an accelerated pace, just as the padre had said it would, and before they knew it, the priest was ready to perform the wedding.  “Diego.  Victoria.”  He held out his arms in welcome.  “I invite you to --”

“Surround the mission, men!” de Soto’s carrying whisper interrupted.  “He’s here somewhere, I know it!”

Diego shot a rueful look at Victoria as he stood up to allow both her and Pilar to precede him to the altar.  Felipe stood just behind him.

Victoria’s gate was slow but steady, and she didn’t need to take his hand for anything more than balance.  Diego didn’t leave to walk down the aisle as he’d threatened, but followed Victoria up to the altar.  He appeared calm and unruffled, but inside his heart was banging painfully against his ribs.  It’s not like he got married every day.  And while his mind knew this was simply a marriage of convenience, his heart was much harder to convince.

But it hardly mattered what he thought.  Alcalde de Soto stalked right in front of him, blocking his way to the altar at the last minute.  “Make sure to check the herb garden!” he ordered two lancers at his side.  He turned, but found Diego in his way.  “De la Vega.”

Diego gestured towards the front of the church.  “After you, Alcalde.”

With a nod, de Soto continued on.  Diego joined Victoria and Padre Benites, Felipe at his side.

The Padre smiled at them.  “My children.  We are gathered here to join this man…”  And he waved a hand at Diego.  “... and this woman…” He gestured to Victoria.  “... in holy matrimony.”

“Check the back rooms, Sergeant,” whispered the Alcalde loudly.

“We already checked them, Alcalde,” Mendoza whispered back.

“Well, check them again!”

“Si, Alcalde.”  Mendoza hurried away as de Soto headed for the side of the mission.

Ignoring them, Padre Benites continued, “For the sake of brevity, we’ll move on to the vows as long as you both understand the seriousness of what you are doing.”

“I understand,” Diego said, just as the padre had instructed him to.

“I under… stand,” said Victoria as loudly as she could, and cleared her throat.

Another mark for the gossips of the pueblo.

“Do you Diego Sebastian--”

“No, Corporal, make sure there’s at least ten men guarding the front door.”  De Soto’s strident voice covered the rest of the padre’s question.

So the padre started again.  “Do you D--”

“The curtains are a good place to hide,” the Alcalde absently noted, thoughtfully rubbing his goatee.

An annoyed look crossed the padre’s face, but he gamely began again.  “Diego, do you take--”

“Look in the rafters,” de Soto said to a private at his side.  “We know how he likes to  make a dramatic entrance.”

The padre was definitely annoyed now.  So was Don Alejandro.

Diego, on the other hand, was highly amused.  He whispered to Victoria out of the side of his mouth, “Plucked chicken.”

Victoria coughed to restrain her giggle.

The padre’s gaze leveled on Diego.  “Do you take Victoria?”

The complete question surprised Diego.  “What?  Oh, yes.  Absolutely.”

Benites turned with all the benevolence he could muster and asked, “And do you, Victoria Patr--”

        “I want ten lancers ranged all along the mission,” de Soto said, not even bothering to whisper anymore.  “That way--”

        The padre’s voice got louder.  “Victoria Patrice, do--”

        “Lock the back door!” de Soto called to his men.

        Benites said again, “Victoria, do you--”

“Better lock the front door, too!” de Soto interrupted.

Benites gave a huff and said, “DoyoutakeDiegotobeyourhusband?”

“I do.”  Victoria smiled up at Diego.  Felipe shuffled his feet as if he knew just what her expression was doing to Diego, who ignored him to smile back as widely as he possibly could.

        Ignoring them, de Soto loudly said, “With so many watching, he can’t sneak up on us.”

        “Do you have the--” asked the padre.

        “Look in the--” said the Alcalde.

        “Alcalde!” Don Alejandro suddenly cried.  “We all appreciate your need to capture Zorro.”  He strode to the front of the church and leaned in like he and de Soto were co-conspirators.  “But I have one small request.”

The Alcalde’s brows rose to show he was listening.

Gripping his arm, Alejandro said, “There will be no more interruptions to my son’s wedding!”  And he forced the Alcalde to sit beside him on the nearest pew.  “Padre, por favor.”

        A sigh of relief rose up from Benites as well as the gathered assembly.  All those people had come to see a wedding, not de Soto barking orders to the men under his command.

        Benites switched his glance to Felipe.  “The ring?”

        Grinning, Felipe handed over a simple gold band.  Benites took it, waved the sign of the cross over it, passed it to Diego, who then slid it onto Victoria’s thin, cold finger.  “I now pronounce you…”  He paused lest anybody interrupt this crucial moment.  “... husband and wife.”

        The congregation applauded.  Everyone smiled, including the Alcalde.

        But none smiled so broadly as Diego.  He reached for Victoria, but rather than kissing her, he contented himself with a heartfelt hug.

        Smiling as well, Victoria hugged him back, but when her mouth was next to his ear, said. “I’ll never think… of chickens the same… again.”

        Thunk!

        Thunk!

        Thunk!

        Three more nails found new homes in the wood of Zorro’s coffin.  If only the Alcalde knew, he’d be delighted.