Victoria stood behind the bar in the tavern waiting for the last customers to leave. She wanted to lock up and go to her quarters. Her spirit was heavy with the day’s events. Dr. Hernandez had removed Roberto’s body from the room upstairs. Rosa was weeping in her room, in the dark, as she refused to turn the lights on for herself.
“Buenos noches, Senorita.” Jorge said as he left the tavern to head home.
“Buenos noches, Jorge.” Victoria said, and walked to the door to lock up. With a sigh, she turned and walked towards the kitchen. There were still a few chores to do before bed. Hearing the clumping of boots, the beautiful woman turned to see Eduardo Martinez walk down the stairs.
“Senorita.”
“Si?”
“Rosa and I will be leaving this cursed place in the morning. We are returning to Spain. We will not bury Roberto in this stinking town—we will inter him at sea.”
“What about Anna?” Victoria asked. She had worried all day about the girl. Victoria had seen the blood and knew she was hurt, but she had no idea where the foreign girl would go.
“I have no use for her.”
“You’re abandoning her?!” Victoria exclaimed, but then thought that perhaps that might not be such a bad thing after all. It would be better to be alone in the world than in the company of such people.
“Releasing. I’m releasing her from her service.” he answered, as if it were a noble and benevolent thing to do.
Victoria struggled to control her tongue. “I see. Senor, I will be up early in the morning to see that you leave on time. Buenos noches.”
The woman turned on her heel and swept into the kitchen. She threw a dirty pot into the washbasin with a clang. The nerve of some people! Ooo! Victoria stared at the dirty pot. It would have to wait; she did not think she could endure anything else for the day.
The woman walked to her room and undressed for bed. She glanced out the window at the moon and wondered where Zorro was that night. With a lovesick sigh, she blew out the candle and fell asleep.
Felipe tried to concentrate on his prayers. The young man leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, and dangled the beads of the rosary between his fingers. Thoughts swirled in his head as he tried to make sense of them. Had it been less than a week? Less than a week since she walked into his life? So much joy—so many deaths.
He realized that he had been mistaken to think that Anna was now safe, what with her release from jail and Roberto’s death. The wound on her arm proved otherwise. She was lucky; any longer out in the field and she would have bled to death.
The boy sat back in his seat and ran his fingers through his hair. He wondered what was next. Matthew was to be buried tomorrow, but what about Roberto? Anger coursed through his veins at the thought—let the vultures pick his flesh.
He looked over at the sleeping figure beside him. Anna’s hair was dark and wet on the pillow. Her form melted into the shadows of the dying fire. He remembered the horror he had felt when he realized it was she that Miguel was carrying. Felipe cringed as he also remembered the force he had to use against her so Diego could help her. She had seemed so small and weak, yet the strength she had shown caught them all off guard. She had fight and spirit and a will to live. Even with that, he knew that the next few days would be close.
Victoria was awake before dawn. She had to complete her evening chores before moving on with her opening duties. She heard Martinez and Rosa stirring in their rooms and was relieved that they truly were leaving this morning. Walking to the village well to get the morning’s water, Victoria saw the Martinez’s coachman harnessing the four horses to the large carriage. Good riddance, she seethed. She carried the pitcher back into her kitchen and set it on the table. Her eyes fell on the cot that Anna had slept on and a thought flashed through her mind.
The woman walked over to the cot and knelt on the floor. Sure enough, Anna’s belongings were still there. Victoria reached under the bed and pulled the satchel from underneath. Victoria took the bag to her room and placed it on a chair. Respecting the girl’s privacy, she left the bag unopened.
Victoria walked to the front of the tavern and opened the doors and windows. The sun was just beginning to appear on the horizon. It was turning into a beautiful day. The tavern-keeper went back to the kitchen to begin breakfast; her first customers would be there soon.
Victoria swept through the curtained entrance to the kitchen and almost tripped over a figure on the floor.
“Rosa!” she exclaimed, “What in heaven’s name are you doing?”
“Oh, Victoria! I didn’t realize—I—“ the woman stuttered, then shook herself together. Raising her nose in the air, she rose to her feet, brushed her gown, and said, “If you must know, Victoria,” the woman sneered, “Anna had a few of my own belongings. They are not here now, so I suppose we will have to add theft to the charges on that ungrateful girl.” With a huff, Rosa stormed from the room.
Victoria began to wonder exactly what was in that bag.
The remaining Martinez family left Pueblo de Los Angeles that Wednesday morning, and the town quickly returned to a sense of normalcy. Victoria heard from some of the de la Vega servants of Anna’s traumatic arrival at the hacienda. She sent word of the girl’s “release” to Don Diego.
Thursday came and went. The girl remained unconscious with Felipe, Diego, Alejandro, and Victoria ever watchful at her bedside. Dr. Hernandez had come to visit, and with a brief listen to her chest, has shaken his head.
“Pneumonia.” he had pronounced, “and a bad case, at that.” But there was nothing he could do. There was no cure for it, and the herbs that he thought might help even a little could not be given to one unconscious. He warned of high fevers, infections, and tremors, of keeping her cool, yet not chilled. Inwardly, he worried about coma and death. As he left, he advised Diego to summon him upon her waking. But so far, that had not happened.
The sun was setting on Friday evening when the girl began to stir. Victoria was sitting in the chair next to the bed reading when she heard the girl begin to whimper. The woman reached for the girl’s forehead; it was hot to the touch and her skin was dry and red. Anna’s chest rattled with every breath and her intermittent coughing reminded the woman of a child with croup.
The woman wondered whether she should get Diego or Alejandro. They would want to know that Anna was awakening. Victoria closed her book and as she placed it on the table, the girl began to moan.
“Matthew…”
Victoria leaned over, “It’s Victoria, dear.” she said, brushing several strands of hair away from the English girl’s face.
“No..” Anna moaned, “No, No..” her voice trailed off.
Victoria heard the door behind her open as Diego walked into the room.
“How is she doing?” he asked.
“I think she’s starting to wake up.” Victoria said, walking to the basin to pour out some water.
“Really?” Diego said and he bent over the bed. Anna tossed and turned, her eyes fluttering open and shut. The man could see that they were glazed and glassy, unseeing. He glanced back at Victoria, “No,” he sighed, “I don’t think so.”
Victoria handed him a moist towel.
“Thank you,” he said, and placed it on the girl’s forehead.
Anna brushed it away with her hand, “+Don’t take him.+” she moaned.
“Victoria,” Diego began, concern in his voice, “go get my father and Felipe.” He directed, his voice steady. He never took his eyes off the girl lying before him, but waved Victoria away with a low hand. Victoria left to find the other men, leaving the door open behind her.
“+Not conviction.+” the girl groaned, “+They can’t- Not conviction+.” her voice grew louder. “+Matthew, they can’t!+”
Anna thrashed her head and threw the cloth off. Diego reached for it, and the girl snatched at his arm.
“+Matthew!+” she cried to Diego, “+Matthew they can’t convict him! We’ll be found out!+”
Diego tried to pry the girl’s fingers off of his arm. Her small hands were vise-like under his large one. He pulled, but he didn’t want to break her fingers.
“+Anna!+” he called, “+It’s Don Diego! Look at me! Anna, it’s Diego!+”
The girl fell back on the bed, engulfed in a paroxysm of coughing. Diego lifted her up to a sitting position to help her breathe. As the coughs racked her body, Anna pulled her legs up under her to sit on her knees and lean forward. Diego supported her breath.
As the paroxysm subsided, Anna leaned her head forward onto her arms. She whimpered with every exhalation. Diego reached his arms around her to help her back under the covers. The girl sat up suddenly and pulled away from him.
“+Stay away from me!+” she threatened, “+The council will come!+”
“Anna-“ Diego began.
“+The council will come!+”
Felipe and Alejandro could hear Anna calling out as they hurried down the hallway, Victoria at their heels. They rushed through the door where they saw Anna on her knees on the bed and Diego, his hands up, trying to calm her.
At the sight of the lot of them, the terrified girl flew to the edge of the foot of the bed and slid her feet to the floor. Her eyes were wide with fear and she fought and gasped for every noisy breath.
“+Anna-+“ Diego began, slowly rising from the bed. “+listen to me. We’re not going to hurt you. You’re very sick; come back to bed.+” He held out his hand and took a step towards her.
She started and clasped the post of the bed. “+Stay back!+” she called.
Diego continued slowly forward.
“+Stay back, I said! Stay away!+” the girl cried.
Diego lunged toward Anna and grabbed her wrists, pulling her to him. With a shriek, Anna fought back and raised her arms over her head. She twisted her wrists free and Diego wrapped his arms around her waist instead. Her screams rang in his ears.
Felipe leapt forward to help, as Diego pulled the hysterical girl back towards the bed. He reached for her arms and took her wrists as Diego had done. The girl tried to twist away again, but Diego kept her off balance, her feet off the ground. In desperation she kicked Felipe and her foot met its mark squarely on his chest. He stumbled back against the wall, clutching his shirt and trying to catch his breath.
Alejandro came forward, as Diego threw Anna onto the bed. He leaned his weight onto the thrashing girl and clamped his hands on her arms, pinning them to the sheets. Alejandro controlled her legs and kept her knees from the ribs of his son.
“Victoria, get the wet cloths!’ Diego commanded. The woman quickly did as she was told, grateful to help in some way. Felipe, his chest throbbing, grabbed some of the cloths, as well, and dunked them in the basin of water. Diego directed Victoria to place the cloths on Anna’s face and Felipe to place them under each arm. “We have to break the fever.” he explained sternly.
Anna continued to thrash and cry out, but when more cloths were applied to her neck and stomach she began to calm. As her temperature dropped, so did her agitation. A few minutes later, she relaxed into sleep.
Slowly, the men relaxed their grip. Walking to the chairs in the corner, the four of them collapsed into the welcoming cushions. They sat in the silence and looked at each other.
“That can’t last much longer can it?” Alejandro asked.
“No.” Diego answered, “I think the die has now been cast. Tomorrow she will either improve, or…”
The room was quiet again.
“Victoria, you should ride back to the pueblo. You have a busy day there tomorrow.” Diego said. Victoria acquiesced and left the room quietly. “I suppose that I’ll stay with her tonight; Felipe you can relieve me in the morning.”
Alejandro stood, “I think that would be for the best. Goodnight, Diego, Felipe.” he said and left to go to his room.
Diego sat lost in thought as Felipe rubbed his aching chest. Glancing up, Diego said, “Take off your shirt, let’s see if she did any damage.”
The men stood and Felipe pulled his shirt over his head. As Diego took it from him and laid it on the chair, he saw that Felipe was no longer a boy. The muscles of his chest, arms and back were that of a man, not the rumble-tumble muchacho Diego had convinced himself that he was. With a sigh, he turned back to Felipe and the red and purple mark in the center of his chest.
“She nailed you.” Diego said, with a grin. Felipe nodded sheepishly.
“Anything broken?” Felipe shook his head.
“*Where did she learn to fight like that?*” Felipe signed and then reached for his shirt again.
“You noticed it, too, eh?”
Felipe nodded, slipping his head through the neck hole. After putting his arms through the sleeves, he signed, “*She fights the way you taught me hand-to-hand*”
“I know.” Diego said, concern in his voice, “She kept talking about a conviction and a council. Any ideas what she meant?” Felipe shook his head, “Matthew had mentioned something about their English patron being convicted of…” Diego tapped the wing-back chair in thought, “…espionage.”
“*Spying?*”
“That’s what he said.” Diego shrugged. “Ah, well, she was delusional, it may not mean anything.” Felipe lifted his eyebrows in agreement. “Well, you’d better get off to bed. Morning will be here soon.”
Felipe appeared not to have heard as he watched the sleeping figure on the bed. Anna’s face was expressionless and peaceful; her breathing slow, though still difficult. His heart ached, not only from the blow.
“*Call me if—*“ he began.
“I will.” Diego finished. “Go to bed.”
Felipe walked to the door and, with one last look at Anna, made his way to his room.
