Montoya strutted back to his place, then declared, "I have no more witnesses, Your Honours." He sent a curious look toward the Viceroy, who was sitting at the end of the tribunal table. Then, he smiled at the doctor, "Your turn, Counsellor Helm."

Tessa grabbed Helm's arm and whispered urgently, "Call me as a witness!"

"No!" Helm replied. He stood and said, "I have no witnesses, your honours. The defence rests."

Tessa fumed but there was nothing she could do. If she rose and tried to speak, her remarks would be called 'contempt of court' and she would be silenced. Helm had snatched away her one chance to get Montoya. At that moment, she hated Helm as she glared at his back.

Gaspar hesitated, then said, "Are you quite sure you have no witnesses, Doctor?" Helm nodded, remaining on his feet. Gaspar shrugged slightly and sighed audibly. "In that case, the tribunal will retire to consider the evidence and bring in a verdict. Take the prisoner back to her cell."

Tessa was locked in once more with Helm. She kept a chilly silence as she sat on the cot, flapping her gloves against her palms. In her heart was bitterness, a sense of betrayal. She could hardly stand to look at Helm, much less be in this confined space with him. His presence seemed to be sucking all the air out of her lungs. She could hardly breathe for the anger burning inside.

He stood before her, but she wouldn't look up. Kneeling, he grabbed the gloves to get her attention. "I couldn't call you as a witness. I was afraid you might let something slip that would betray your identity." His voice was low and calm, his eyes searching and a little afraid.

She lurched off the cot and brushed past him. "The Viceroy told me something that I could hardly believe but it must be true. Now, I have to get out of here. The trial has become irrelevant. I've lost my chance to get Montoya legally, but I will get him." She turned to face Helm, holding back the sob that threatened to break through her iron resolve. Hoarsely, she said, "Rodrigues told me that Grisham killed my father."

Watching Helm as she made the pronouncement, Tessa thought she saw a flicker of guilt. Did he already know this? If he did, why hadn't he told her? She immediately discarded the thought. Roberto would not withhold information that he knew she had been desperately seeking, risking her life to find. He could not be so callous as to watch her blindly searching for the truth while he held the knowledge. He could not.

He moved closer to her. "What are you going to do about it?"

She met his eyes and raised her chin. "I'm going to kill him."

Helm tried to take her hand, but she snatched it away. He shrugged and said, "Haven't you had enough killing for one lifetime? Do you think your father would want his daughter to throw her life away on such a useless thing as vengeance?"

Tessa was unmoved, her heart hardened against anything he might say. She took a deep breath and said, "Thank you, Doctor, for your efforts on my behalf. I absolve you of any responsibility for anything I might do from here on. Please go." With that, she turned away and moved to the other side of the cell, facing the wall. She could almost feel his confusion, his anger. It mirrored her own. One thing was not confusing--she knew what she now had to do. Escape! And then....

She heard him move behind her. He gripped her shoulders and he tried to turn her. She could feel the warmth and strength in those hands; memories of those ardent hands awakening her passion flooded her and she shivered, trying to block it out. However much she might try to hate him, she couldn't. She loved him with her soul. Steeling herself, Tessa repeated, "I want you to go. Leave me alone."

He hesitated then dropped his hands, and called for the guard. The iron door creaked as the lock was turned then the door opened. The heavy slam of its closing made her jump and she turned to face an empty corridor. Remorse assailed her as she thought of how she must have hurt him. It was for the best. He would never understand, would try to stop her.

The sound of the lock being turned awoke her. Tessa looked around, disoriented at first, then the pall settled over her once more. The trial was over. The verdict must be ready now. With a weary sigh, she stood and pulled herself up straight as the cell door opened and Dr. Helm, accompanied by four soldiers, stepped in.

His face was sombre, his green eyes dark with pain. In a low voice, he said, "The tribunal is back, and they're ready to give the verdict." Searching her eyes, he took her hand. "Whatever happens, I promise no harm will come to you."

As she marched out between the phalanx of soldiers, Tessa wondered how he could keep that promise. He was even more helpless than she to effect an escape. At least she had the key.

Stepping out into the glare of the Rose Courtyard, she was amazed at how the crowd had swelled. Every inch was filled with townspeople, farmers, dons; most of the citizens of the area, it seemed, had gathered for this momentous occasion. The eyes that met hers smiled with reassurance, with kindness. Somewhat heartened, she stood before the tribunal to hear their verdict. Helm was close beside her.

She wanted to reach out and touch him, to gain strength from him. Her heart was hammering in her ears and she tried to moisten her mouth. If the verdict was guilty, as it must be, would Montoya demand an immediate execution? She had not considered this before, but now it seemed an actual possibility. He would want to take no chance that she might escape if there was any delay. She could hardly breathe as she watched Gaspar's perspiring face. His eyes seemed fearful, apologetic. Tessa swallowed and took a deep breath, pulling herself more erect. She would meet her fate, whatever it was, with dignity and courage. The people of Santa Elena would expect no less of her.

Gaspar looked down the row of dons on both sides, his glance lingering on the Viceroy, then he returned his gaze to her. Standing up, he cleared his throat.

"By the grace of God, and with the authority of the Crown, this tribunal finds the defendant ...not guilty!"

The tumult was immediate. Cheers filled the air. Tessa could see Montoya's eyes bulge and his face redden; he was shouting something but the noise of the crowd drowned him out. She saw her danger immediately as he turned to Grisham, yelling something in the captain's ear. Grisham glared at her then stood up and started toward the soldiers next to her.

Quickly, she shoved the soldiers against each other and bolted down the aisle of chairs and into the crowd. They parted a way for her and she reached the far wall and grabbed a rose trellis. In an instant, she clambered up the shaky structure to the top of the wall and dropped the short distance over to the other side.

She looked for a horse, and saw, to her amazement, Chico standing ground-tied and waiting near the village fountain. His head came up and he trotted toward her, pulling on the long rope. As she vaulted into the saddle, the townspeople spilled out of the courtyard and into the square. The soldiers could not get through; the crowd held them back. With a light touch to his flanks, Tessa started Chico for the outskirts of town. She turned to look back. Instead of a hail of bullets following her, a loud cheer filled her ears. She made Chico rear up and waved, a broad smile breaking across her face. The men threw their hats in the air and the women waved their handkerchiefs. Her heart was filled to bursting with love for these people and gratitude for their steadfast help.

Dropping Chico back onto all four legs, she urged him into a fast trot, then a gallop; it seemed she was riding on air. She was a free woman!

Epilogue

"Marta!" Tessa rushed across the hidden room and embraced the Gypsy woman warmly. "What are you doing here?"

Marta sniffed and pushed Tessa back. "You need a bath. I will see to it."

Tessa grabbed her arm to stop her. "You're not a servant, Marta. I will have Rosa take care of it. I have so much to tell you, but first ...I was found not guilty! I could hardly believe my ears. I was all Gaspar's doing."

Her friend gripped her closely and sighed deeply. "Now, you can quit. Gracias a dios! It is what I have prayed for." Marta moved away, a grave expression in her eyes. "This morning before dawn I woke up. I was so cold that even the heat from Roman's body could not warm me. I was sure you were dead. I sent Rosa and Pablo into town for supplies so I could get some information about the Queen. They told me that the trial was continuing and the Viceroy had arrived from Monterrey."

Tessa looked into that concerned face, so dear and so weary-looking and decided not to tell her about the Viceroy's revelation about Grisham killing her father. She would keep that to herself and not burden Marta with any more worries. With the baby coming, Marta needed to be careful of her health. She was not a young woman to be having a first baby. It could be dangerous for her. Tessa's heart clenched with fear, and a warmth of protective feeling flooded her. Marta must be shielded from now on from the Queen's activities.

Pasting on a brave smile, Tessa asked, "How is Elena? Is Dr. Pirenne still here?"

Marta snorted, "Doctors! They only get in the way. They should leave the birthing of babies to those who know how to do it. Yes, he is gone finally."

Tessa had to laugh. "You never change, Marta, and I hope you never do. Now, I am starving, and of course, I want to bathe. But first, I will see Elena after I change clothes."

A short while later, Tessa closed the door to Elena's room. The younger woman was resting quietly. A servant met Tessa in the hall to announce a visitor. Tessa's heart leapt. Roberto! she thought. He must have come in spite of what I said.

Entering the salon, she was disappointed to see Vera standing by the fireplace, looking up at the portrait of Don Rafael.

"Vera! How nice to see you. I have been confined here with Elena while we wait for her baby. What is happening in town?" She watched Vera's face as it creased with a frown. "Is there something wrong, Vera?"

Vera pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at her moistening eyes. "Everything is wrong, Tessa! The tribunal found the Queen not guilty and the Viceroy was very angry. He called it a mistrial and overturned the verdict. The Queen is still a wanted criminal and the trial was all for nothing." Vera paused and began to cry. Though staggered by the news, Tessa moved quickly to embrace her.

Sniffling between sobs, Vera continued, "Not only that, but Montoya said the dons were accessories to her criminal acts and should be arrested. Gaspar told me all this. But the Viceroy said he would not hear of arresting dons. Instead, he took away their powers. From now on, he said, Montoya was military governor and had power over criminal and taxation matters. The junta could administer the municipal matters such as land registry and titles. When he told me, Gaspar was furious. He said they had been made into little better than clerks. Gaspar and the other dons have gone somewhere for a meeting." Vera turned her tear-filled eyes to Tessa. "I'm so afraid for Gaspar. I have never seen him so angry. I don't know what he will do next."

Tessa patted Vera's shoulder. "Gaspar is a wise man. He would never do anything that would cause you pain. I am sure they won't do anything foolish." In spite of her words, Tessa was worried. The junta, and especially Gaspar, had lost face in the community. She hoped the men would take it calmly and move on. But she shared Vera's fear for Gaspar. Not because of anything he might do, but because of what Montoya might do now that his powers had been almost completely restored.

She compressed her lips and sighed. Vera was right about one thing. The trial had all been for nothing. She had not been able to denounce Montoya and his many schemes, and she was still a hunted woman. Nothing had changed. Nothing except that her relationship with Roberto was destroyed. And that was something she had accomplished by herself.

Vera left shortly after seeing Elena. Tessa had accompanied her to her buggy, then remained outside to watch the sunset. It was usually her favourite time of day, when the work was done and she could find peace in the twilight world. She found a seat on the verandah and dropped wearily into it. She tried to draw in that elusive peace but it evaded her; too many troubles still assailed her thoughts. I have to decide what to do about Grisham. Could I actually kill him in cold blood? No, but in the heat of battle, him against me in a fair fight, I think I could. But do I really want to anymore? Tessa closed her eyes and everything drifted away.

Watch for the next exciting adventure, Venganza - Episode #320 - Season Finale, starting on June 8, 2003.

If you have missed any episodes, you will find them in the Season Three Archives section.