The Secret of Zorro Tornado's Crown Chapter Two by Ella Christian @1999-2002 Contact author at EllaChristian@aol.com Chapter Two The Little Escape Elizabeth had to hurry to keep up with Diego, for he made his way to the stable briskly. Passing the stalls, he strode through the archway. Then he stopped, looked at her, and grinned. Passing him to see the new paddock, Elizabeth saw Padre and the family's prized roan mare, Princessa, saddled and tied to the rail. She looked at the horses and back at him. "Are we going for a ride?" she asked He nodded, waving her towards Princessa. "Oh, am I to ride the pride of the de la Vega herd today?" she asked, walking towards the beautiful red mare who dominated all of the local horse races. He nodded again, still watching her. Elizabeth looked back at the horse, frowning. Then she looked at Diego again. "Is this a new saddle for her?" Diego cocked his head slightly. Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Is it a new saddle for.... me?" He smiled widely and nodded, his arms folded over his chest. He paused and then said, "Actually, it is for Blanca but we will not take her out now, she is too near her time." "Oh!" Elizabeth laughed, adjusting the stirrups happily. "So you got a saddle for my horse on my birthday!" "It did not seem unreasonable, since it is your seat that will be filling it," Diego laughed, coming over to her and giving her a light, playful swat on her behind. Elizabeth yelped and giggled at the same time. He went to Padre and mounted. The tall paint gelding pranced slightly and then stood still. Diego looked at the sky. "It is still well before noon," he said, more to himself than to her. Elizabeth led Princessa to the mounting block and got on, shifting around in the saddle to get the feel for it. "Very nice," she said. She shifted and adjusted more. "Very, very nice." She gave him a sweet smile. "Thank you, darling!" "I shall expect more than a verbal 'thank you' for that," he warned her. Bernardo appeared from the stable yard and looked up at them with a smile. "Ah," Diego said. "I am glad you are here. We are going for a ride...." Bernardo nodded, leaning his head slightly to the east. "Si," Diego said. "And we will not be back for a while, so you must tell Maria to feed Esperanza when she wakes up, she will be hungry." "But, we will be back by then," Elizabeth added. "No, I do not think so," Diego said mysteriously. He guided Padre towards the gate. Elizabeth watched him lead the way and then she glanced at Bernardo. He had a knowing grin on his face. "What?" Elizabeth asked him. "What?" He continued to smile, and gave her a shrug. "I do not believe you!" she whispered at him, guiding Princessa to follow Diego and Padre. He shrugged again, and then waved. As soon as they were on the road, Diego made a turn to the east. "Where are we going?" Elizabeth asked. "Can't we just ride for a while?" he asked back. "This is how I courted you, seņora. Don't you remember?" "I remember," she said, leaning over to pat Princessa's neck. "I remember that our courtship was too short and too strained." "Not at the beginning...." he said, his mind drifting back to the very early days of their acquaintance. How he had loved those long rides with her, watching her learn to manage the rugged terrain, discovering what a fine horsewoman she was, finding out about her without any of the complications that overwhelmed them by the time their engagement was official. "We should ride together regularly now," he suggested. "Esperanza is old enough that you can leave her for longer periods of time. I would enjoy the company. We have some of our best conversations when we are out riding, don't you think?" "I love this saddle! It is so soft!" Elizabeth said. She was only half-listening to him, she was so busy getting the feel for the new saddle and enjoying Princessa's easy, focused walk. The sunshine was warm but not overwhelming. She looked out to see the vista ahead, a long stretch of dry land, mottled by arroyos and sagebrush, a few trees, and the tall mountains in the distance. She wiggled one more time in the saddle. Diego watched this and then said, "I think I have had as much of your wiggling around in that saddle as I can stand, while I am sitting on a horse on the open plain." She looked at him and grinned. "Perhaps we should ask something of these horses, then, to get your mind off your distractions." "But I like the distraction...or at least the ideas it inspires." "You said you had enough," she teased him. "Si, if I am to stay on this horse." He nudged Padre to a trot. "And I am going to stay on this horse, for a while anyway. Follow me." With that he urged the horse to a canter. Elizabeth squeezed her calves into Princessa's barrel. The mare responded immediately, lifting into a smooth canter and following Padre. ****** For Elizabeth, the freedom of riding for no reason other than to do so was exhilarating. Princessa's gaits were a rider's dream, for the mare simply glided across the ground. Because they used her for racing, and Alejandro had big plans for breeding her once the right stallion was identified, Princessa was more or less off-limits for pleasure riding or local transportation. This ride, then, was a rare privilege and Elizabeth knew it. She wondered what Diego had negotiated with his father in exchange for letting Elizabeth have the rancho's treasure for a day. I have the real prize, in Blanca, she thought to herself, but we will never use her for racing so she is of no consequence to Alejandro. And, she had to admit, even Blanca's smooth canter was outdone by Princessa's light, rocking stride. They continued for some time, first cantering, then going back to a walk, then cantering again. Diego led the way on his big paint gelding. Elizabeth had come to adore Padre, despite her memories of the man who first owned him. She considered him a gallant horse, and she was grateful for his loyalty to her husband. Having ridden him, she knew he was truly Diego's horse. Diego's riding was exceptional, and it took an exceptional rider to manage Padre's long, rolling, and bouncy gaits. Diego barely moved astride Padre, his long, strong legs kept such a good connection with his mount. Anyone else who got on the tall gelding was quickly bouncing wildly if the horse was doing anything more than walking. He was faster than Diego's palomino, and much more willing to hurry when asked. At a point in the ride, she noticed Diego squeeze his legs and realized that indeed Padre was being asked to hurry, and so was she. They rounded a bend where the road narrowed, at a clipped canter that was just short of a breezy gallop. Then to her surprise, Diego pulled ahead of them slightly and then veered off the road down a rutted path and into a scramble of brushes, short trees, and rock outcroppings. She followed. They continued for close to half a mile before Diego finally slowed to a walk. Elizabeth did so as well, and looked around. "Oh, we have not been on this trail since before we were married!" she exclaimed. "That is not exactly true, but it is mostly true," Diego agreed. He nodded ahead of them. "Over this rise it flattens out for a little while, and then there is another series of small ridges." "What do you mean, it is mostly true?" Elizabeth asked. He shrugged. "We were on this road...such as it is.... on our wedding night." "Oh," Elizabeth said glumly, not appreciating being reminded of that disaster. "Come on," he said, leading the way again. They resumed their canter, continuing across the flat spot in the terrain and then going up and down the several ridges that finally led to a low section of ground and a grove of live oak trees. Diego stopped, seeing the trees. Elizabeth stopped beside him. "I remember this!" she exclaimed. Nestled deep among the trees was a little stone cabin with a red tile roof. "Is someone living here now?" she asked, nudging Princessa forward. She peered into the trees. "Look, Diego, there are new windows and a door!" Diego dismounted and did an odd thing, by leaving Padre's reins on his shoulders and looping them around the horn on the saddle. Finishing that, he walked over to her, reaching for Princessa's bridle. He led the mare to the hitching rail in front of the little house, tied the reins to it, and helped Elizabeth dismount. "No one is living here," he told her as her feet reached the ground. He looked down at her. "Except us, for a few hours." She looked up at him, a smile forming on her lips. She saw a movement out of the corner of her eye and followed it, to see Padre wandering off into the grass, untied. "Don't you want to catch him?" she asked. Diego smiled at her, shrugging. "He'll go home." "Si," she agreed, shaking her head. He really was living dangerously, to plan on both of them riding the precious Princessa home. "Come," he said, taking her hand. He led her to the door and pushed it open with his free hand. Pulling her inside, they found themselves in the middle of the room that had given them both such a nightmare two years earlier. Elizabeth's eyes went around the room slowly. Fresh fruit, newly-baked bread, a round of cheese, and a decanter of wine with plates and glasses were set out on the small table between the two large chairs that sat before the fireplace. She still remembered how he had sunk into one of those chairs on their wedding night, his long legs stretched out, his heavy boots still on his feet, his misery and exhaustion taking over after their long day of acting happy at their wedding and after-wedding party. She shook her head, remembering her own blind foolishness in those days. Her eyes traveled past the door. A beautiful hardwood dresser was under the window, a white porcelain pitcher sitting in a low matching bowl on top. She knew without looking that the pitcher was full of water. Her eyes traveled to the bed. It was beautifully appointed, its heavy green brocade spread was made, though the top of the spread was folded back and fresh pillows were fluffed invitingly at the headboard. She took all this in and looked at him, overcome anew. "I do not know what to say," she murmured. He went to the table and poured two glasses of wine. He handed one to her and took the other. "To you, Anita E.," he said, touching his glass to hers. They both took a sip, their eyes locked. Elizabeth put her glass down and took a step, to put her arms around him. "Every single moment of this day has been one miracle after another," she said softly. He hugged her back. "I thought it would be nice to have our siesta time far away from everyone else," he replied. "If we are at the hacienda we run the risk of so many interruptions." She laid her head against his shoulder. "When we need our sleep," she said. He ran his hands slowly down her back and squeezed her behind. "You think we are going to sleep?" he chuckled. "Oh, Diego," she sighed. "I was.... I needed you this morning." He tightened his grip on her. "What did you have in mind?" he asked. "I thought you would be there to make love to me," she answered quietly, the loss plain in her voice. The touch of his hands on her backside was making her start to tingle. "I had so many things to do," he told her. "I had to greet your aunts, I wanted to make sure Esperanza was all dressed up for you, and we had to make sure the saddle would work on Princessa, since I ordered it with Blanca in mind..." his head lowered and he settled his lips into her neck. He nuzzled her gently for a few moments, and then said softly, "tell me what you wanted me to be there to do." Elizabeth closed her eyes, enjoying the fact that she had his full attention now. "I thought you would wake me up the way you do sometimes, when you tickle me with the tips of your fingers while I'm still asleep...and then you kiss my neck...." "...like this?" he asked. "Si..." she sighed, "like that.... and then you ..." her voice trailed off. "Oh, that..." he whispered, kissing her under her ear. With one hand he began unbuttoning her blouse. "I am assuming you would prefer, seņora, to take your clothes off for your siesta..." "I would prefer for you to take our clothes off for our siesta," she replied. He laughed softly. "You have been very patient with me today, sweet Liz," he said, pausing his unbuttoning project to hug her against him. "And I have been looking forward to this moment, of being alone with you and...." he resumed unbuttoning her blouse, his voice trailing off. Elizabeth giggled. "Now I understand more why you did not want to watch me wiggling in that new saddle! I thought we were just going for a ride!" "No, no," he whispered in her ear. "We were riding somewhere, to be alone...." he lowered his head and kissed her deeply. "Oh, my," she said, when they finished their long kiss. "I cannot remember the last time we were alone together with Esperanza more than 25 feet away," she said. "I don't think she has been more than 25 feet away from us when we have made love since..." he laughed, "I was going to say since she was born, but it would be more accurate to say, since she was conceived!" They both laughed. "No," Elizabeth said, "I remember a time in Tornado's cave, right before I stopped breastfeeding her," she reminded him. He had left one evening to ride as Zorro, to find his beloved awaiting him in the cave when he returned at a very late hour. Diego chuckled, recalling the night he dismounted from his horse, pulling off the saddle, and on hearing a footstep, whirled around to see her standing there in her robe. The soft lantern light behind her made her silhouette glow. Her hair was falling around her shoulders, her robe just open enough to reveal the absence of a nightgown. He dumped the saddle on the railing to go to her, pulling his gloves off and reaching inside the robe to touch her velvety skin. They did not make it to the stairs, much less up to their room, but instead fell into the straw where El Zorro, still wearing his cape and mask, ravished his secret amour. "You made me very happy that night," he told her. "I cannot recall caring how far away Esperanza was...in fact there were moments when I probably could not have told you who she was..." he maneuvered her to the bed and, lifting her, laid her across it, then stretched out beside her. "You are spoiling me today," Elizabeth sighed happily. "Completely, utterly, shamelessly," he agreed, lowering his head to her shoulder and kissing his way down her left arm. "Mmmmm," she exhaled, relaxing. The thought that Esperanza was not nearby to start crying or otherwise demanding her parents' attention, that they would not have to interrupt a sweet moment to feed her, that no servants would come knocking on the door, that Diego's father would not suddenly bellow something at their window, was impossible to comprehend yet here it was. Time alone with Diego. Her arms came around him and she pulled at him to bring his head back up to hers. Once he did, she began to kiss him joyfully. "I love your enthusiasm darling, but I am nearly halfway through the day and you must let me reach my kissing goal!" he protested, laughing. Then he lowered his head and returned to continue kissing her until he reached her fingers. Then he worked his way back up gently, finally settling over her again. He looked into her face. "Tell me what you want," he said softly. Elizabeth looked into his handsome face and laughed softly. "What?" he asked, smiling down at her. "I am just happy," she said. "No, something made you smile," he insisted. "You," she said. Her arms came around his neck and she pulled him over her fully. ****** Some time later they lay there in silence, still holding one another, gradually catching their breath. Diego moved, keeping his arms around her. He kissed her cheek, nuzzling his nose lightly against her face. She rested her head in the hollow of his shoulder by his collarbone. In no time she felt his breathing deepen. He had dozed off. She snuggled against him, feeling very happy. Letting herself drift, the last thing she remembered was a light breeze sweeping in softly through the windows. ****** The bed jumped twice, once lightly and then again with an enormous jolt. The chamber pot beside the bed clanged, flipping on its side, and all the cutlery, glasses and plates on the table clattered. The pitcher on the bed stand jumped, the water in it sloshing wildly. It was as if the entire house and everything in it had hiccupped violently. Elizabeth gasped, sitting up. Diego sat up too, looking around. As suddenly as the noise and motion started, it stopped. Everything was silent and still, though dust fluttered from the ceiling to the floor. The water in the pitcher continued to slosh. "What was that?" Elizabeth asked, looking at him. Diego frowned, still looking around. He got out of the bed and went to the door, looking outside. Princessa was still hitched to the rail, looking jittery. "Easy, girl, it is all right," he called to the mare. He looked at the sky. It was bright blue. The trees around the house were all standing; no rocks were on the ground. He looked beyond the flat scrub, wondering if Padre had made it home. Most likely, he thought. He turned back to his wife. "I think it was an earthquake," he told her. "An earthquake?" she repeated. "But those are just little things, where everything shakes for a moment." He looked around some more, and then got back onto the bed with her. "Not always, sweetheart," he said. "Sometimes they are very big and very damaging. My grandfather was killed in one. A chimney fell on him. And remember the story I told you, when I was a boy there was an earthquake in the Cahuenga Pass, the one that killed Maria's mother." Elizabeth stared at him. Then she looked at the chimney in the cabin, which was standing undisturbed across the room. She looked back at him. He didn't seem terribly upset, just uneasy. "But..." she started. She pulled the sheets up around herself, suddenly feeling exposed. "I thought those big ones didn't happen very often." "They don't," he said. He looked around again, satisfying himself that nothing more was going to happen. Then he looked at her. "Was that a big one?" she asked. "I don't think so," he answered. "If it were, believe me we would know it! That one was a jumper, not a shaker or a roller. Sometimes you rock as if you are on a ship at sea, other times you bounce around a lot. That one was a couple of little jolts." Elizabeth sat there trying to absorb what he was saying. In her two years in Los Angeles she had felt several small tremors but nothing more significant, and certainly nothing that awakened her from a deep, blissful sleep. "That one made the bed bounce," she said. "Si," he laughed. "Though not for the first time today!" She could not help giggling at him, shaking her head. He pushed her hair away from her face. "I am sure this one was not very big, there is nothing to be afraid of." Her eyes were grey and aqua in the afternoon light. "You think Esperanza is all right? My aunts, at Casa Matteo?" she asked, wanting reassurance. "Si, darling, I am sure they are fine. They may not have even felt it. Sometimes you can feel one in one place but ten miles away no one knows it has happened." He looked out the window to see where the shadows were. "We must have been asleep for a couple of hours, it is well past noon." He looked back at her. "They are all fine. Lie back down. Let us hold on to our little escape just a while longer." Elizabeth laid back down on her back. "I was in the deepest sleep," she murmured. He leaned over her, his weight on one elbow. "Were you having a nice dream?" he asked. She tried to remember. "I don't know," she replied. "I was so asleep I don't know what was going on in my head." She touched his face. He smiled down at her. His free hand went to the middle of her torso and he ran his hand across the sheets over her stomach. "Are you hungry?" he asked softly. "I do not want any food yet," she answered. He leaned over and gave her a long kiss, his hand continuing to move. "Seņora, seņora," he said softly. He continued to kiss her, down the center of her throat and on to her chest. He gently pulled the sheet away and his lips continued moving. ****** "I love being away from everything with you," Elizabeth sighed. Once again she was nestled in his arms, blissful. He half-smiled. "It takes some doing, doesn't it? To get away. I had numerous conspirators in order to get these few hours for both of us. Mostly Bernardo, and my father....but it took some orchestrating." She nodded, shoving away the pillows and moving onto her side facing him. The Princessa negotiation alone had to have been maddening. And he had started on her aunts over a year ago. It had taken a lot of planning and the keeping of secrets within the household. All for this one birthday. "Diego, you are the best husband in the world, do you know that?" she asked him. He laughed softly. "I am glad you think so, at least once in a while." "I am serious!" she said. "And I am not saying it just because it is my birthday and you have been so generous and brought my aunts to Los Angeles and made such beautiful love to me this afternoon. Truly you are the best husband in the world. You were yesterday and you will be tomorrow. I am the luckiest wife in all California." She touched his cheek lightly, feeling a sense of wonder. "Enough!" he laughed, sitting up and looking down at her. "I shall remind you of this little talk you are giving me the next time you are mad at me or trying to kick me out of our bedroom," he warned. He bent over and kissed her cheek noisily. "And you can remind me, when next I am out of sorts with you, that I told you today that you are the love of my life, and you will be until the day I am transported to heaven and have to explain to our Lord the use of those sheaths." Elizabeth burst into laughter and he again kissed her noisily on her other cheek. "Stop it!" she laughed, shoving him away. He kept looking down at her, his eyes twinkling. "What?" she asked. He shrugged. "I am just trying to keep track of what I have kissed and what I have not," he said. "I still have almost half the day left, but I am not sure if I have covered half of you yet." Elizabeth sat up and faced him. "I would say you have covered most of the upper half," she told him. He put his face so close to hers that she thought he was going to kiss her, but he kept it there, his lips close but not touching her. "I may not get to the rest, if we are up late with your aunts tonight," he said. "I do not think they will stay late," Elizabeth answered. "Good." "Diego," she said. "Si, sweetheart?" He turned and put his feet on the floor. "I am hungry, so if it did not get knocked to the floor in the jumping earthquake, could we have some of that bread and cheese before we go back to the hacienda?" Diego chuckled. His dearest was predictable in at least this. She was always hungry after they made love. "Si, sweetheart," he said.