SURPRISE BY DESIGN
By Jo

RATING: G

CHARACTERS: All

UNIVERSE: Alternate. Helm knows Tessa's identity and they're in love. Lucy Spearhawk, again generously on loan from brig, hasn't married Luis yet.

SUMMARY: Vera and Marta decide Tessa needs a little redo for her birthday.

DISCLAIMER: All of the characters except an inebriated aunt and a time traveling lass belong to Fireworks.

~~~~~

Marta had searched all over the hacienda for Tessa; it was late, and since there was no sign of her, Marta wondered if she had decided to ride as the Queen. Just when she was going to give up the search, she noticed Tessa sitting on the back veranda. "Tessita, it is much too chilly to be out here."

"I'm just having a nightcap before bed," Tessa said in a tone that indicated to Marta that she was once again thinking too much. Maybe it was the close call she had just days before when Montoya and his men had almost unmasked her.

"There was a fire in the living room; it would be more pleasant there than sitting out here in the dark."

"I just...," Tessa said, then drew a sigh. "Wanted to look out on what I am responsible for. It is going to be a rich harvest, because of my management."

When Marta sat down in the opposite chair at the wrought iron table, she could see Tessa smiling with pride. "Papa made this land what it is, but it was dead when I arrived. The men I hired, and even your and my bloody hands, made it come back to life. I think Papa would be proud of me."

"Of course he would, Tessita. He always was."

"Not always, Marta, as you well know. Do not tell me things just to make me feel better. I am no longer a child."

"You are not a child," Marta agreed, putting her hand atop Tessa's. "You are an exciting, smart, and intelligent young lady. Not only would your father be proud, but your mother as well." Marta could feel the chill of the night, and stood. "Come inside before you get sick."

"Marta?"

"Yes, Tessita?"

"I just said I am no longer a child, and you agreed with me."

"All right, stay out here, woman. I am going to bed."

Tessa took the last sip from her wineglass and muttered, "I will, too."

Marta held the door open for Tessa, and she could see that there were bumps on her arms. Marta just smiled. The lass would always be her child, and happily, Tessa would always take her advice, whether she knew it or not.

Marta followed Tessa down the hallway, but Tessa stopped by the painting of her mother to straighten it. She picked up a parchment from the small table in front of it and brought it to her father's study. Marta noticed that the room had only been cleaned since their arrival to California, as Tessa had wanted to be as good a businessman as her father, as Tessa had always told her. In fact, nothing of the house had been replaced, save furnishings and curtains in her bedroom. She had gotten the feeling that over time Tessa had wanted to start making the hacienda her home, her true home, that was truly hers, but she had taken only small steps thus far.

Tessa turned on her heel and told Marta, "Good night, Marta," then disappeared into her room, shutting the door behind her.

She was definitely in a state of melancholy as of late. For the life of Marta, she couldn't understand what had taken the spring from her step. Maybe the conquests of the Queen were starting to take their toll. Maybe her romance with Dr. Helm wasn't turning out to be a fairy tale, which Marta guessed Tessa would have wanted. Maybe she was just thinking about another year without her father. Another year older.

"Ah to be so young..." Marta whispered as she tenderly touched the door, as if she were brushing Tessa's head as she had when Tessa was a child, "Good night, Tessita."

~~~~~

Just as Tessa had galloped off for her morning ride on Navarro, Senora Hidalgo's carriage could be seen in the distance. Marta knew that Tessa had to have seen it, yet she hadn't returned in order to visit with the one friend beside herself that she had. Marta stood with her hands on her hips wondering how she could take whatever was troubling Tessa away for her, and also wait for Vera to come to a stop and get out of her carriage. Of course, Vera had only held out her hand, most likely for help to climb down the step.

Marta watched the two men Vera brought with her, one to drive, the other hanging off the back of the carriage, who jumped down and come to her aid. Vera's smile was bright as she greeted Marta.

"What a lovely day for a ride, Senora. Tessa, as you could see, just went for hers. I am sure she will return soon. Would you like some lemonade?"

"I would love some!" Vera announced, then called to the men. "Just bring it inside."

Marta followed Vera into the house as she watched the men take a large trunk out of the carriage. "What on earth is this, Senora?" Marta asked Vera when she walked inside.

Vera said excitedly, "I am actually quite pleased Tessa is gone. I have to talk to you. I just had the most wonderful idea. You must help me."

"Of course," Marta replied quickly, but wondered how much work it would need on her part to accomplish helping her. "What idea?"

"Tessa's birthday is next week." Vera walked to the trunk that the men had set down in the middle of the drawing room and pulled the top open. "Will you sew a ball gown?"

"For you?"

"Well, first things first, Marta. For Tessa. I have some fabric in here that Gaspar bought, and my birthday present to her will be a new dress."

"That is nice of you," Marta said, knowing that fabrics, especially as perfectly woven as the yellow silk inside the trunk, were a rare commodity. "Tessa will be pleased."

Vera pulled out the yellow silk and held it to Marta's cheek. It felt as smooth as the skin of a baby. It had been months since Marta had seen fabric of this quality. "Senora Hidalgo, Tessa will look beautiful in this with her coloring and dark hair."

"Well," Vera sounded disappointed. "This is for my gown, which you will sew, right?"

"Oh, of course."

"I will pay you, do not worry about that."

Vera hunched over and pulled out more yellow silk, then a color of silk that Marta had never seen before. It was a weird shade of pink that Marta didn't think she had ever seen. It was horrible.

Vera fanned it out against the length of her body for Marta to see. It was atrocious, like whoever dyed the silk was color blind, as it wasn't a uniform color. There would be no way she could make a garment out of that, except for a work dress. Or a scarf from one area what was regular in color.

Vera, probably having seen Marta's face, said, "Oh," in frustration. "I thought you'd like it. It's been sitting in the trunk for a couple of years now. Gaspar got it for a song. He did not realize why, poor dear. He knows nothing of fashion."

"It is the thought that counts."

"So, you will make a gown from it?"

"No."

Vera sat dejectedly on the sofa. "You are a marvelous seamstress, Marta, and I would have liked her to wear it to her birthday party."

"She's having a birthday party?"

"Yes. We can make arrangements."

"A party is probably be what Tessa needs, but Senora Hidalgo, I can see you have never actually done the work to make a party happen. With supplies as low as they are, it will be almost impossible to find enough fresh food to prepare for how many you would like to invite. How many would that be, by the way?"

"Only everyone," Vera said nonchalantly with a coy shrug of her shoulder.

"That is impossible. I am sorry, Senora; I may be able to do many things, but I am not a miracle worker."

"You are right, I guess. It would be nice if we could do as we did back home."

"What is that?"

"Everyone brings something for a feast, and everyone shares."

They sat in silence for a long while as Marta wondered how to tactfully tell Vera that taking on the planning of a party that would coincide with Tessa's birthday, only a week away, was close to impossible.

Vera noted, "This is a very masculine room."

"Everything in it belonged to her father."

"I can tell." Vera straightened in her seat and her face lit up when it did when she got a bright idea. Marta cringed, waiting for what had entered her mind to flow out of her lips. It could only mean work for her. "Has Tessa had ever mentioned changing it?"

"She has, but she has been a bit busy; she has not started because she has no idea what to do."

"I think she would like to make it more reflective of herself."

Marta almost laughed out loud. Outfit it in black lace, red sashes, and sword racks lining the walls? She was still so worried about Tessa riding as the Queen, but Tessita had gotten so good at it. Because Helm hadn't told her to stop her double life when he learned the truth, it had only given Tessa more strength and drive. She carried more confidence in the Queen's clothes, so Marta had started to feel that she could handle herself in almost any situation. That was until she had been cornered by Montoya and only because he had demanded the soldiers holding her to not rip off her mask was she able to escape before Montoya had gotten to them. If Montoya wasn't so conceited and want to have the honor of unmasking her himself... well, Marta thought he might have found out her true identity months ago.

"We should redo this room for her," Vera said, jarring Marta from her thoughts of the past.

"Redo it?" Marta laughed. "That would be Tessa's responsibility. It is, after all, her house."

"But she has not done it."

"She has been busy."

"Doing what?"

To ignore that, Marta said, "And scared, I would suppose. These are, after all, her father's things."

"We will put them in the back parlor. We will not get rid of them all together. She will still have them. This room is where she brings her visitors. It should reflect who she is, one of the most giving and beautiful people I have ever met. These red walls are too... racy... for Tessa. She should have a powder blue or bright, sunny yellow walls."

Marta had to agree with her, except for the color of the walls part. Vera walked through the house with Marta trailing behind her as she waxed poetic of all the things that could be done by just removing the oversized, masculine furniture and replacing them with the delicate pieces in the house and adding more feminine fabrics.

"That would be grand, Senora," Marta told her, affected by Vera's excitement and knowing that it would be a perfect boost to Tessa's mood and put her on the path to changing the hacienda to her taste. "But it would be a lot of work, and all hands are needed in the fields during harvest. How could we get it done?"

"I will talk to the other Donas. We can come up with an idea. Each of us could let a hand or two to work on it." Vera excitedly clapped her hands. "Oh! It could be a surprise for Tessa's birthday. Tessa would not have to know anything about it. Can you imagine her face when she walks in to a new room that reflects who she is? I will talk to the Donas. The Dons can buy the paint and fabrics, maybe lumber for new furniture. Maids could sew. You too, Marta. Oh! And you can prepare a schedule of things we need that we will have done before coming here to put it all together for her birthday."

Marta said, "It would be a sparse room if we only have three tables and a chair in here that we found in the hacienda."

"That would be our present to her, Marta. We will have our hands build what we know needs to be done, and all they have to do is bring it here when you get Tessa out of the house on her birthday."

Vera twirled around the drawing room with her arms spread wide and smile on her face. "She will love it. I know her better than anyone, save you, and now maybe the doctor. Oh! Get his involvement. See what he thinks should be in this room that would be perfect for her. Oh, Marta! This is going to be such fun! This pueblo needs a party!"

~~~~~

Marta had to admit she had fun conspiring with Senora Hidalgo about Tessa's birthday over the next few days. It will be a great deal of work, but it would do a world of good for Tessa. With all the people Vera knew would get involved, Marta knew it would happen, too. They had a blast going through the house looking at everything that could be put in the new room and taking measurements of the drawing room so everyone could work separately without Tessa's knowledge.

Marta went into town with a basket of herbs for Dr. Helm and found only Lucy in his office. What a stroke of luck. Marta asked her immediately, "Lucy, would you like to be involved in a secret birthday present?"

"Who's birthday?"

"Tessa's."

"Are you sure she wants a surprise?"

"Why not?"

"Well," Lucy said and paused what seemed to be uncomfortably. Marta took note of the male dungarees and stained shirt she was wearing. Senorita Spearhawk was a strange one, but also one of the best people Marta knew. "When people spring out from behind sofas and doors and yell Surprise!... it's kind of embarrassing."

"Oh, Tessa will love her friends around her, and having done something nice for her." Marta suddenly became worried that this was the best thing to do. Tessa had been acting strange lately, she certainly hoped Tessa wouldn't be embarrassed or overwhelmed by it.

"Ah, sure she will," Lucy said encouragingly. "She isn't shy."

"Oh heavens, that would never be a word to describe Tessa. She is usually more confident, but lately..."

"What?"

"I do not know. I cannot figure it out."

"Must be the same thing that's bitten Robbie. He's either moping around, biting my head off, or apologizing. It's really annoying. Are there bumps in their road to the altar?"

"Altar? They are getting married?"

Lucy shrugged. "I just assumed. Not that I'd talk to Robbie about it, but sure. Why not?"

"Do not ask Tessa that. It would only make her feel worse."

"Hm, sounds like she needs a party then. What can I do?"

"Really? Wonderful. Senora Hidalgo and I are asking Tessa's friends to buy or make something to accessorize the drawing room that we are going to renovate for her."

"You're going to redo a room without her knowledge or input? Wow."

Again, Lucy made Marta nervous. To get the opinion of a trusted friend who just heard the idea and pause like that... "What?"

Lucy shrugged and smiled. "Sounds fun. I'm in. What should I bring?"

"Just bring a gift to put in the room. It will be painted yellow with light blue and green accents and will have almost all new furniture."

"Wow! It helps to be friends with people with dough. I'd be honored to bring Tessa something."

"Can you also bring something to eat?"

"You want me to make dinner?"

"No, just a dish, your favorite dish. Everyone will, and then everyone will share it all."

"Oh, a potluck."

"Hm?"

Lucy shook her head good naturedly. "Never mind. I know what you mean. I'll be there with bells on. When's the big day?"

~~~~~

Lucy walked through the mercantile to see what sort of treasure she could find that would suit Senorita Alvarado's new room before she would ride out to Senora Balizar to see if she was ready to pop yet. Helm had gone to set a broken arm, so she had some free time. As she had just scrutinized a picture frame, there was a ruckus at the door. It could only mean the arrival of a certain old lady.

"Out of my way, you young whipper snapper!" she charged. "Think you are better than me because you do not have to use one of these blasted canes?"

Lucy looked over to see Beatriz clutching the doorframe as she waved her cane at a peasant. She rushed over. "Bea, good to see you," she greeted as she lowered the cane and looked to the scared man with compassion.

"Oh, Lucita. Do I have to talk to you. What luck I found you."

"What is it?"

In a loud voice, Bea announced, "It is Bunkie. He just will not listen to reason."

When Lucy saw all eyes on them and all mouths agape, Lucy knew Luis would drop from a heart attack if he were there. Lucy said loudly, "Don't be so harsh about the Colonel's cat," then rushed, as best she could, Bea outside.

"His cat! Oh! That is another problem. What he sees in cats, I will never understand. Ever since Bunkie was a boy, he owned four of them. He loves cats." Bea smiled and tapped her cane against Lucy's rear end. "Must be why he likes you so much, Lucy. You have feline properties."

"I do?" Lucy grabbed hold of the cane and stuck it in the ground so Bea couldn't use it as a weapon, whether she meant to or not.

"What were you buying?"

"Nothing yet."

"What are you looking for?"

"A present."

Before Lucy knew it, Bea had needled all the plans about Tessa's party and surprise. "But don't tell anyone," Lucy cautioned. "It's a secret."

"My lips are sealed." Bea even closed her lips tightly, which Lucy made her pat her shoulder.

"Do you want to go with me to Senora Balizar?"

"The woman about ready to give birth? No thank you. I have delivered more babies than anyone alive, including that uptight Brit. You have fun, though."

"Okay, I'll see you later Bea. Remember," she warned. "not a word to anyone."

"I will take it to my grave," Beatriz promised as she crossed her heart. "Which I hope I will not need until well after the party."

~~~~~

After checking in with Senora Balizar, who was in a somewhat foul mood being nine and a half months pregnant, Lucy stopped at the Hidalgos to confer with Vera to make sure that she had the plan down straight. From what Vera told her of the plans, Marta had covered it all. She had just thought it would be a quick visit, but soon Marta rode up to confer with Vera about preparations. Vera asked them inside. Soon, wine was poured, and they were relaxing in the drawing room.

"With the tally of the Dons," Vera said, "we will have eight men working on the heavy lifting and carpentry."

"Only eight!" Lucy was shocked. "How many of the Dons did you ask?"

"All of them."

Marta said, "The Dons are not in the festive mood and, present company excepted, are quite selfish."

"They really are," Vera said sourly, shaking her head minutely. "My Gaspar would give the shirt off his back for Tessa, but some of the others... well, I am surprised they are even going to show up with a gift and some food. When I asked if they would bring food, it was like I had asked them to hand over their first born or something. But I was able to remind them of the custom back home. It is amazing how you adapt to a new community so quickly."

"Have either of you told Robert of this yet?"

"Dr. Helm?" Vera asked, fanning herself. Lucy wondered if just the thought of him made her hot and bothered, and the thought amused her. To be a married woman with such an eye for men. "I would be pleased to tell him, but I have not seen him recently. Lucy, you work with him."

"He's been quite busy. I haven't seen him yet today either."

"You have to tell him." Marta gasped. "Dios, when I talked to him today, I just assumed he was in on it."

"What did he say?"

"That he was looking forward to Tessa's birthday." Marta's eyes narrowed. "In fact, he said it in such a hushed tone and when Tessa had left the room, that maybe he has his own surprise planned for her."

Vera exclaimed, "We cannot interfere with his surprise for her, if that is what he has in mind."

"I'll talk to him tomorrow to see if he does," Lucy simple said, which seemed to calm the women.

"Lucy?" Marta asked cautiously. "Have you told Senora Montoya about our plan? I know you two are close."

"I mentioned it to her. She wants in."

"No! She will tell Tessa and ruin our planning," Vera wailed.

"I trust her with my secrets, goddess knows she's kept them and is still keeping Luis'."

"But... I do not know why, but Beatriz loves Montoya." Marta instinctively shuttered.

Lucy ignored that and had come to know the old woman well. Her love and loyalty were unshakeable. Once Beatriz promised to keep a secret, not even a bottle of tequila could make her spill it. "Of course she'll keep the secret."

"But," Vera said, "she does not like Tessa."

Lucy explained, "That may be, but knowing about the party puts her æin the know.' She is æpart of the group, of the planning.' That does a lot for her. It's sneaky to plan a surprise party, and Bea keeps sneaky secrets. Don't worry."

~~~~~

Montoya thought the house was quiet. Too quiet. Knowing that his aunt was in residence, he went to see if she had fallen, was passed out, or had passed away in her sleep. He tapped a wooden table as he passed it to the stairs to ward away the fleeing thought of her death. In her room, he found Bea stooped over something on her bed.

"What are you up to?"

She stepped back in fright, and fell into a chair that was mercifully close at hand. He made sure she was all right, then looked to the bed. Inside one of Montoya's wooden pistol boxes, there was his wine decanter.

"Just what in all that is holy are you doing?" He picked the gold-accented, glass wine decanter up gingerly. "This was a wedding gift from the King of Spain."

Bea stood up with the help of Montoya's arm, who almost dropped the decanter in the process, and snatched it from his hands. "I know. That is why I am giving it away."

"To whom?!" He snatched it back from her.

"Bunkie... that is from your wedding to Sabina. You have no attachment to it."

"It is worth a fortune." He held the decanter close to his breast.

"It now belongs to Senorita Maria Teresa Alvarado." She snatched it back.

Montoya snatched it back. "I will not allow her to sell this to pay her taxes. I want her plantation, and I want it now!"

Bea snatched the decanter back and kissed him on the cheek. "Bunkie, you only think with your pocketbook. Can you imagine her surprise when she sees such an elegant gift as this from you and me? Can we put Jorge's name on the card, too?"

She obviously had emptied an entire flask after dinner.

Bea continued in a conspiratorial tone, "She will see this and flip. All the trying to get her into your good graces are baby steps compared to giving her this. You do not need it. You refuse to drink from the glasses that came with it because they reminds you of Sabina. Wise up, young man. This is the best present for her and now, after listening to me, you know it."

She had a point. He hated that. Ever since Grisham had so totally mucked up the romance, Maria Teresa had been harder to sway. If it wasn't for Lucy, Montoya would have been tempted to woo the senorita himself.

"Besides, when you do get her plantation, you will get this back again." Bea beamed with confidence, as well as a sparkle of love in those old, deep set eyes.

Montoya told her, "Once again, Auntie, you are probably right."

~~~~~

The next morning, Beatriz was on a mission. She toddled through the square from Montoya's to Dr. Helm's office to tell Lucy right away what a great present she was going to give the Alvarado fool, and see if there were more plans she could get in on.

To her chagrin, she was stopped by Grisham, who tipped his hat to her. "Good morning, ma'am," he addressed her.

"Yeah, yeah."

"I hear you have something to occupy your time now."

Bea glanced at him. He said, "I heard about the party."

She surmised that the strumpet told him while they were breaking about three commandments the night before. "You are not welcome to help."

"I am, too."

Bea stretched up to face him. "By whom?" she asked wondering if the Captain would admit he was having an affair to her.

"Montoya."

"Oh. Well, we only want things with good taste for the Senorita, so use your head and not another part of your anatomy when you purchase something."

As she started out slowly again, she heard Grisham grumble something. Because her hearing wasn't what it used to be, she could only imagine what insult he had hurled at her. How dare he! She spun back around, making her dizzy for a moment, so she leaned on her cane. She glared at him as she declared, "I am quite certain you do not want to get on my bad side, little man."

"Good day, ma'am," as he sauntered away.

"You had better run fast!" she called after him. It was a wonder her beloved nephew was still alive with him as his right hand man. "Cannot even catch the Queen!" she yelled. All soldiers in the area turned away and made themselves look busy. She knew she was old and had shrunk a few inches, but because of who her nephew was, she was ten feet tall. Bea savored the feeling as she started out for Helm's office.

~~~~~

Marta hadn't expected Dr. Helm to come calling on Tessa that morning, and Tessa was dressed as the Queen, having said something about wanting to see what was happening on the coast. When he dismounted from his horse, Marta told him that Tessa was out.

"I didn't come to see her. I came to see you."

"Oh?"

"Yes." He took her arm and, looking around, rushed her into the house. "Is anyone here?"

"Why? What do you have in mind?" she asked guardedly.

~~~~~

"You didn't tell me? That old Montoya bat drunk knows before I do that you're giving a surprise birthday party?"

"I knew we should not have told her. I just knew it. She told you?"

"No, Lucy did. Just this morning. Why didn't you tell me? I love her, I should be involved in this."

"When have I seen you? I would have if I had. You must know that."

Helm's shoulders shrank, and he looked so lost, so wounded. "I guess. Sorry."

"What is the matter? Of course, we want you involved in her party, the planning, and the hard work."

Helm offered, "Or, I could make sure she stays away from the house the day of her birthday. I did mention, before I knew of this, that I'd like to take her for a ride. I have to find some more citronella leaves."

"I know. My plants died."

"I hope Antonio will have some to spare. There really is no better cure for stomach ailments and sore throats. I was hoping Tessa would ride with me."

"That would be wonderful. In order to get to Antonio's and back, you would be gone from dusk to dawn."

Helm smiled. "That's what I thought. Should I mention it to her?"

"Yes, of course. Please do."

He looked around the room they were going to update, eyes focused on the fireplace with the painting of a very regal Don Raphael Alvarado on the mantel. "I have commissioned a present for her, and I wonder if she would actually put it there on the mantel."

"What?"

"A painting of Tessa riding a horse."

"Chico? Madre Dios! She cannot display such a pictureû"

"Not Chico. Navarro."

"Okay, but still, Montoya might get a look at it and picture her as the Queen on horseback."

"It is of her sitting side saddle on Navarro, wearing a frilly dress, and her hair done up in curls."

"What a relief."

"Do you not trust me with her secret?"

"Of course I do, it is just that anything can happen so quickly for everyone to find out about her. She is my child. I must protect her to the end."

"We must all be careful. You're doing the right thing. I'm sure with your concern and sharp eye to how anything might be taken, Tessa will remain concealed as a spoiled, rich Dona."

~~~~~

Helm had collected Tessa just before sunrise for their journey, and Marta had asked him to take his time, and "please do not return until well after dark."

"No problem," he had said with a wink. That Englishman sure knew how to use his face, as well as his body and voice, to make a lady swoon.

As they rode off together, Marta fanned herself, hoping her attraction was just the nervousness of the workload ahead of her. Leave it to Vera Hidalgo to make all sorts of plans and rely on her to be the one to make it all happen. Did she think there were house elves in the house or magic dust in her bedside drawer? Marta how felt like she was in the middle of a storm. All around her, Donas and their workmen, as well as Tessa's, were all over the Alvarado hacienda slowly but surely whipping the drawing room into shape. Not only did she have a lot of sewing to do, as she couldn't have done it while Tessa was around, she had to make sure that all the workers would be fed and given refreshments during the day.

Marta had only listened to Donas bark orders for so long before she had to make a stand and suggest alternative plans. She knew that they'd all have their own ideas of how to do everything, mostly what part their workmen would have in the matter. With Vera's assistance, they were able to explain to the Donas that this was Tessa's room, and since they had made all the preparations, everything would function more smoothly if they all work together, according to the schedule that Marta and Vera had planned.

Because Vera was still somewhat looked down upon by the other, more established and wealthy, Donas, and Marta was just a maid, worse yet, gitana, Marta and Vera stood together, hand in hand, as they waited nervously for the Donas' reaction. Dona Bella Ramirez was the first to answer. "Of course. Whatever you suggest, Vera. We only want the best for Maria Teresa." She snapped her still-gloved fingers to her worker. "Paulo!" The man went to her immediately, after setting down the paint bucket he was holding. "Do what they say."

Paulo looked to Marta and Vera, waiting for instruction. He had been preparing to paint, which would have been fine. The workers weren't the problem, but Marta could never say so in front of the one Dona who had given them respect. Vera shoved the parchment with the schedule to her, and Marta opened it to scan everything that hadn't been checked off, meaning finished, yet. There weren't many checks on the list thus far. Marta told him, "Go about painting. You were doing fine."

"Si, senora," he said obediently and then went back to what he was doing.

"Well," Bella said. "You did fine with that instruction."

She had appeared a bit snooty, considering Marta had just altered her command. "What would you like me to do, ladies?"

Vera took her hand and steered her to the kitchen. "I believe there is a nice, big pitcher of lemonade on the back veranda. Why not take a refreshment break? You have been working so hard. We really do appreciate all you have contributed."

"It has been a trying morning," Bella replied, looking relieved to be able to take a respite.

Marta sighed. The day hadn't really yet begun. She looked at the list and took note what all was being done. The curtains were well underway in her bedroom by Rosa and Vera's maid. The painting was started by Paulo and two other men. She looked out the window to see three men shellacking the armoire that Gaspar's right hand man had taken upon himself to build during the week, as well as the two armchairs other Dons had provided to the cause. The old couch was being upholstered with new fabric donated by Dona Escabon by two other workers. One young handmaiden had started sewing a pillow in the kitchen, which was humming with activity by two maids preparing lunch for the crowd with spices and a ham that Marta had and food stuffs brought with maids upon their arrival. All seemed to be going well so far, and Marta felt a bit better after taking another look at the process. It looked like madness, but all was going according to schedule.

The number of pillows that Vera had envisioned needed more than just one seamstress working on them, so Marta thought that was where she would put herself to work. She turned to get more of the velvet and gingham from the bedroom and almost ran into one of Montoya's soldiers. Startled, she responded, "Madre Dios. Excuse me. Is there something wrong?" Nervousness increased within her as she had no idea what a soldier could possibly be doing there.

"Where is Marta?" he asked officially.

"That is me." Marta's guarded response was a surprise to her as she hadn't been sure she could even reply.

"The Colonel told me to come here and do whatever you say I should do for the day."

Vera stepped up to greet him. "That is marvelous. You can carry the table in the hall outside to get a fresh coat to shine it up." As he left to do her biding, Vera turned to Marta and whispered, "Senora Spearhawk must have more of an affect on the Colonel than I had expected for him to be so nice. Was that not nice of him to send a helper?"

"Yes, I just wonder what he has in mind." Marta made a note to watch the soldier closely for the rest of the day, as if she didn't have anything else to do.

About an hour later, she caught the same soldier, who had come to æhelp out' by order of the Colonel, with his hand on the latch of the door that lead to the cellar, where Tessa kept, not only her stash of coins, but her Queen wardrobe and secret tunnel to the stables behind the wine racked wall. "What are you doing?" she asked the soldier before he could turn the latch.

"I... I was..." he stammered.

"There is nothing in the cellar except wine and fruit. Nothing that will be brought into the drawing room. Thank you for your help today. Please, when you see Colonel Montoya ley him know that we appreciate his gesture."

"I will, senora."

"You can go now. There are plenty of helpers here."

"Si, senora," he said dejectedly and walked away. It wasn't until his horse had crossed the vast plain on the way to town that Marta took her eyes off him and went back to work.

~~~~~

As she watching the sun set behind the distant mountains, Tessa enjoyed feeling the breeze on her face as Helm steered horses pulling her wagon. It had been a mostly quiet day between the two of them. It was nice to just be quiet with a loved one, but by now the silence was getting seriously tense. She had been feeling that their relationship was going no where, as he was too proud to admit that he probably thought he was beneath her to marry. She had told him, many times, in a roundabout way, that who his parents were and who her parents were didn't matter in the grand scheme of their lives, that they should just be happy. He had said he was entirely happy with her, but no ring had yet made its appearance. Today was her birthday, and he hadn't even mentioned it once. Maybe he didn't know. Tessa wondered if now was a bad time to mention it. She decided not to as she really didn't want to celebrate the fact that she was another older without a husband and baby. Not that they were requirements for her life, for the moment, but she was sick and tired of people asking her when it would happen. They looked at her like she was an alien. There were many times she would just smile and say, "One day, if the fates are with me," to them and blush, while inside curbing the urge to tell them to take a hike, what's it to them?

She hated having to play down all that she knew she truly was. She was feeling more confident in her business sense to the point where she could probably buy and sell many of her father's peers. While some had bad harvests over the past two years, her crop was thriving. Tessa knew that it was the luck of the land and the stamina of her workers, but she was also the one who made the decisions of when and what to plant. Being the Queen was also a source of great strength and confidence. With every ride, with every duel, with every grateful young face that she helped, she grew more comfortable in the Queen's silk and lace.

The only thing she was still feeling like a little girl about was her love life. Why did she have to fall in love with a man who had many secrets in his past he still refused to share, at times he would look down at her for the Queen's deeds, but at other times, he would look at her with so much love it almost made her heart melt. He had wanted her to come with him for the entire day; she had thought he knew it was her birthday and wanted to surprise her in some fashion. At least mention it. A æoh, by the way, happy birthday, Tess,' would be so hard? Right now, it would mean the world to her.

But it was just another day to him, she had decided. She didn't want to get older, seemingly stuck in a rut. Her life as the Queen would continue as long as there were evils to fight and tyrants in powerful positions. The feeling that others were placating her by grudgingly cheering on her business success wouldn't change as long as she was a single Dona. She knew they probably felt she had a secret male backer who was making all the decisions. It sort of amused her when she would see a Don with a confused look on his face, wheels turning in his head about which one of them was her clandestine partner. One had even accused Gaspar, who had quickly explained that Maria Teresa's success was all her own. At times, she really felt paternal love for her father's friend and her own best friend's husband.

She was also in a rut because of the man beside her. When/if he would ever make the courageous leap of putting a ring on her finger would probably be when she was old and gray and no one, even him, would want her.

Just when she was staring at Robert Helm in wonder if she should start to look elsewhere for romance, he stopped the wagon off the road, in a grassy area where the horses grunted and stomped their hooves.

"What is the matter?" she asked. Looking around, she didn't see any others who might have been a danger.

Even though the sun had just set and they were in the middle of nowhere, she could see his smile when he told her, "Nothing."

When he just smiled looking at her, she had to say, "What? Why did we stop?"

"Because I have a surprise for you."

Her heart leapt for a moment.

"You didn't think I was ignorant of the day, do you?"

"Well," she paused. "Yes."

He did know. He did remember. He did plan something. Tessa grew more ecstatic by each passing second. Not wanting to fight the urge, she wrapped her arms around him and drew him in for a kiss.

He purred as he pulled away and got out of the wagon, telling her, "I have to set this up. Look that way for a moment." He pointed to the darkness out the front of the wagon.

Tessa waited and waited, wondering what he was doing behind her. She could hear him take things from under the tarp in the back of the wagon, and resisted the urge to sneak a peek. He had her present with them all the time? That didn't surprise her, what did was that she hadn't thought to peek under the tarp in a corner of the wagon in the first place.

When his hand appeared at her side in order to help her down from the wagon, she was thrilled to find out what he had done. They walked around the wagon, and she saw a blanket spread out on the ground, an open bottle of wine, strawberries and chocolates, two pillows for them to sit, and two high lit candles flickering. "Roberto! It is lovely."

He helped her upon a pillow with all his gentleman inclination, the took a seat next to her. He picked up one of the two wineglasses and poured her glass first. Handing it to her, he pecked her cheek. After he poured his glass, he held it up for a toast. "To the most exciting, beautiful, maddening, and strong-willed woman I have ever had the pleasure to know."

He clicked his glass against hers, as she asked, "Maddening?"

"The dark lady in you, my sweet."

She shrugged, not being able to argue with that. The Queen's personal did make life difficult for her loved ones at times, but they shouldn't worry about her. She knew what she was doing. "How come you did not even leave me a clue as to what you had planned?" she asked as she took a bite from a large, ripe strawberry. Its sweetness mingled with the tartness of the wine. She put the rest of it in his mouth, and he chewed slowly.

"Didn't want to spoil the surprise."

"Well, I am all for surprises."

She wondered what it meant when his eyebrow rose, and he uttered, "That's good."

~~~~~

Montoya groused as he held Lucy's hand, watching over Jorge commandeering Beatriz through the weeds from where they had hidden the carriage along with all the other guests at the party. "Is there any reason why the driver could not have just dropped us off at the door?"

Lucy said, "Marta thought all the wagon marks would signal something was up to Tessa when she arrives. They made sure all the horse and wagon tracks from today were raked smooth."

"Bah," was all he said. It was such an annoyance that the Dons were going all out for a silly birthday party for a foolish young lady who refused to give in to the Crown. How she always came up with her tax money to save her land was beyond him. He had spied her men working hard on her land over time, and wondered which Don was in her back pocket. Maybe they all were. Gaspar Hidalgo certainly was. All the Dons were fools, easily taken in by a pretty face or a hard luck story. But why wouldn't they do what he wanted, just because he wanted it? It was the law that protected them after all...

"Why did you want to come at all?" Lucy admonished him. "With the mood you're in, you'll just spoil the party."

"Because he has a kick-ass present, that is why," Bea said. She pointed her cane at the wooden box topped with a bow that Jorge was carrying.

"It is silly to make this party a surprise," Montoya said. "Maria Teresa Alvarado is not twelve, is she not? My new shoes are all dusty."

"It's called being nice, Luis." Lucy's glare told him to be quiet. "You know why no one does anything nice for you?

"Why?"

"Because this is how you act."

Jorge said, "I thought it was because of your exalted position."

Montoya twisted back to peer at his aunt's companion. "What do you mean by that?" He was quite used to getting back talk from his aunt and Lucy, family, but Jorge wasn't a part of it yet. He wasn't willing to let such comments slide off his back.

"It is just that you are in a position of honor. People, like myself for instance, would not know what sort of present or gesture to give you as you seem to have everything and need nothing."

"Ah." That was all right then. He didn't know what his aunt saw in the silent wonder, but if when he talks he gives Montoya respect, Montoya could live with the notion of their union.

~~~~~

After going home to clean up and ready herself and Gaspar for the party, she returned to only Marta, who was wearing a pretty new dress, and was in her element. The other Donas had left to do the same earlier, and were now returning with gifts and food for the feast. Marta keep an eye on the horizon for Tessa's return. As Marta watched Vera greet all the guests, suggest where they should wait for the guest of honor, and look proudly upon the renovated drawing room, Marta was so happy that Tessa had such a friend in her corner. The blond had spunk, energy to no end, and had slowly but surely made herself a proud Dona in society over the two years since Tessa had returned to California. Since Vera was the hostess of the party, Marta left her to greet the guests, but was also looking nervously to the horizon for Tessa's return as well. Marta thought the nervousness could be watching that one of the guests wouldn't be her lover. Grisham had not been invited, that Marta knew, but when he did arrive, Marta noticed Vera flush a bit. Marta looked immediately to Gaspar, retreating into Don Alvarado's study with Don Ramirez, so there was no reaction to gauge.

Vera had walked Grisham outside under the pretense of telling him where to keep his horse out of sight, as she had with all the other arrivals, and would have loved to follow to eavesdrop, but Rosa came to her asking what to do with the raw side of beef that one of the Dons had contributed. Marta and Vera had stated plainly that all food should be prepared before bringing to the party, but there was always some nitwit that couldn't follow directions. Marta opened the latch to the cellar, and said they'd have a feast for the Alvarado workers' harvest. Rosa had grabbed two workers to heft it down into the cellar, Marta asking that they not be obvious about it to signal to the guests, and also to get right back upstairs again, no dawdling down there. They'd gone two years with Tessa's secret wardrobe and tunnel; Marta didn't want to let the cat out of the bag at this moment.

She was nervous until the men returned, and Marta shut and locked the cellar door so no one at the party could investigate Tessa's hacienda, as the soldier had tried to under Montoya's orders. She knew that Montoya wouldn't just let one of his men take the day off to paint a room. She spotted him on the back veranda with Lucy. Lord knew what Senora Spearhawk saw in him, but she guessed love knew no taste. To each his own. She just hoped Lucy knew what she was doing getting involved with the Colonel.

~~~~~

"Well, I guess it was just feeling inadequate, unfulfilled, taken for granted..." Tessa told Helm as they edged closer to home. The latter part of the trip hadn't been as bad as the first. After Helm had so thoughtfully planned their escape and banquet in the woods, Tessa felt so foolish for giving life to those sour feelings.

"You should never feel that way," he responded with so much love in his voice, that Tessa couldn't help herself but to kiss him. "I have been a bit unsure of your feelings and future plans as well. Let us make a new pact. If there is anything that needs to be talked about, we'll talk about it, no matter how touchy the subject. Agreed?"

"Agreed. Thank you for today. It was the best birthday I have ever had."

"It is not over yet, Tessita," he uttered.

"We are almost home. Do you have plans to spend the evening?"

"I have plans, yes."

"Wonderful," she purred as she leaned against him for the last half mile from her hacienda.

To her surprise, the whole plantation was dark; there were only some lights on in worker's cabins. She wondered where Marta was. She wouldn't have gone to bed early since it was Tessa's birthday. She might have been upset that Tessa didn't choose to spend the day with her, but she wouldn't just go to sleep without at least seeing her one more time. She was always waiting with a light in the window when Tessa was gone at night. Worry started to gnaw at her stomach wondering what could have happened while Tessa was away.

Helm suddenly put his arm around her. "There's no need to tense up. You're home. Safe and sound."

"But there is no sign of life at home. Where is Marta?"

"Don't worry. I'm sure she's got something planned."

"Like what?" Tessa was feeling better by his assurance, but now was wondering what he had up his sleeve. It was so like him, and Marta, to have cooked something up. The thought pleased her as it was another instance of their love and devotion to her that they had.

"Can you just sit back, relax, and let things happen as they happen? You're not the Queen now, you're Maria Teresa."

"I wonder what she got me for my birthday," she uttered excitedly.

"That's the spirit," he announced with a laugh.

~~~~~

Helm had been surprised that there were no traces of all the people he had assumed was inside waiting for their arrival. The only thing heard were owls hooting and insects buzzing over the prairie grass. There were no traces of carriages, horses, even tracks that they had to have made. Marta was good, Helm had to give her that. She could take the impossible and make it happen. At least, he had hoped the plans had all fallen together nicely for Tessa. Now that she was so excited about the unknown, he didn't want her to be disappointed.

He pulled on the reins to stop the wagon in front of the hacienda, and jumped out, then helped Tessa from the carriage. She immediately called out, "Marta?" to which the only reply was a crow who flew off the roof.

Helm took Tessa's hand and knew that the house could be filled with Dons and Donas, probably the Colonel, and who knew who else. He decided that if she caught a glimpse of the drawing room before Marta and Vera were ready for her to see it, it wouldn't fit with their plans. He took a kerchief from his pocket and stopped Tessa before she could open the door. He tied the scarf around her head tenderly, saying, "There's quite the surprise inside for you, Tessita. Can you see anything?"

"Not one thing. What's inside?" she urged him to tell.

"You will see in a matter of moments."

~~~~~

"They're here!" Vera had announced to the guests as soon as she saw the silhouette of Helm's wagon in the distance. They had extinguished all lamps and candles when everyone had arrived, so it was dark as they all hurried to take their places in the back of the house. She could tell everyone was welcoming of a party, and everyone did as they were asked from day one, and now they all moved silently to the kitchen. Even Montoya didn't seem annoyed when Vera nudged him to move faster. She just so hoped that Tessa was pleased with how her room turned out, and didn't have other plans for the doctor that a crowd of people would ruin.

Well, they have all night after we all leave, she told herself as she waited, gripping Gaspar's hand, in the dark surrounded by people in the kitchen and back veranda. They were taking so long! She hoped they would come in the right door. Helm knew what he had to do, didn't he? She looked over to Marta, who walked to her and gripped her other hand in anticipation. Waiting was so hard!

Then, the door opened, and they heard feet walk in. There was a slight murmur, but it was quickly hushed. They wanted until the lantern would be lit in the other room by Helm, then they were all going to burst out to surprise her as she saw her new room.

She could hear them talking, and then clearly heard Helm say, "Let's get a little light on the subject."

Soon, the lantern was lit, Vera gave the signal, and they all rushed to the drawing room.

"Surprise! Happy Birthday!" they all yelled. Some had glasses of wine in their hands, to which they rose and toasted her.

The first thing Vera saw was Helm's surprised face. He couldn't be that surprised, she thought and looked behind her to see Colonel Montoya's eyes slowly widen in what could be a combination of anger and discovery.

It was then that she realized that there was sudden silence in the room as everyone looked at Helm and Tessa. "What is happening?" Tessa asked eagerly as she held out her hand, more than likely for Helm to grasp. It was then that Vera realized that she was masked.

Marta gasped and looked as if she would falter as Helm twisted Tessa's face away from them all, making her long, straight hair flair out. Montoya rushed past Vera roughly and took a firm hold of Tessa's arm. He grabbed her head and looked at her. Marta looked like she was paralyzed as she clutched her heart.

"Roberto? What is happening?" Tessa asked, as she might have thought it was Helm to handle her so roughly.

"Dios," she heard Gaspar exclaim in a sigh as he stared at her.

It was only when Montoya ripped the kerchief off Tessa's face that it came to Vera. With Tessa's eyes covered and her long, black hair, along with the portrait of her on horseback above the mantel, she realized what had been a mystery to everyone in Santa Helena and beyond. The secret of the Queen of Swords' identity had even reached across the planet to Spain.

Tessa, her friend, Tessa, was the Queen of Swords? It all played out in slow motion as it all came to her. Tessa could not have looked any more surprised that to see Montoya rip off the kerchief and holler, "You! You are the Queen of Swords! You?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Helm stated forcefully. If they had all not seen Tessa's blindfolded, as if she was wearing black lace instead of a bandana, he might have been more convincing.

"Guards!" Montoya called, but there was no response. He never did lose his grip on Tessa as he stalked to the door to look out for his soldiers.

Just as Grisham walked into the hacienda, Lucy ran to Montoya and took his arm. "Stop!"

"Leave me alone!" Tessa ordered as she tried to wretch her arm from the Colonel's grip.

"Never again! You will never be alone again, Queen of Swords!" Montoya trumpeted exhilarated, his eyes flitting between Tessa and the portrait that Helm had commissioned of her on Navarro. "Dona, my back side! You are a thief and murderer! Guards!" he shouted again.

Marta ran to Tessa's side, and with Helm's help, got her free from Montoya's hold. With a swift movement, Helm and Tessa ran out the door as Marta and Lucy stood between it and Montoya and Grisham.

"Under Colonel's orders," Grisham said with a grin. "I don't hesitate to knock over women."

"You have my order," Montoya commanded, and it didn't take long for Grisham to shove them both out of the way as if they weighed nothing. Vera was appalled by all that had happened and ran with the rest outside to see the continuation of the events. As Vera passed the pretty room they had all worked so hard and Tessa probably hadn't seen one bit of, she was at once worried for her friend, but also trying to work out if it could in fact be true that she was best friends with the most notorious rider of all California, if not the world! How could she have kept this from me? How could I have not known? It cannot be true! She wailed to herself as she ran outside and stood beside Montoya, who was watching Grisham ride past on a horse without a saddle from the stables after Helm's wagon in the distance.

"Nice party you devised, Senora. I will be sure to repay your allegiance to me," Montoya said to her.

"My what to what?" Vera asked, still reeling with shock.

"This was not part of your grand plan to fool Marta into helping you set up this glorious reveal? I was under the impression that you would reveal only a new room. You are good, Senora. I never imagined that you had found out that criminal's true identity and would 'reveal' her to me tonight. To think," Montoya said wistfully, full of pomposity and grand air. "I almost talked my way out of being here this evening."

"This is a mistake," Vera told him. "I did not plan this."

"Of course, you didn't," Lucy said as she slapped Montoya's arm. "Great way to ruin a party, Luis. I should have left you at home."

"I found out who she really is. I'm not leaving here because I know she will return."

"You made a leap," Lucy said. "That doesn't mean you're right."

"Look how fast Helm got her away from me. He has been in her good graces for too long. After he started courting Alvarado, I should have put it together."

"You didn't because you're wrong."

"No he is not," they heard a strong, yet old voice behind them. Beatriz stated, "I had a feeling about her all along."

"You get many feelings," Lucy told her.

"You did," Montoya told Beatriz as he patted her tenderly on the shoulder. "I should have prodded you to make that leap before. It is unbelievable that Alvarado had masked the truth for so long."

"Which could mean it is not the truth," Vera urged, a bit scared to see that look on Montoya's face. If it was true, and Vera had a big part in her unveiling, Tessa may never talk to her again. æOh, the horror!' Vera's heart turned cold from fear. æThat is, if she lives...'

"Ah, yes," Montoya said as he grabbed Marta's arm. "I will not leave your sight. As long as I have you, I have the Queen right where I want her." He screamed to Don Ricardo, standing there looking as overwhelmed as everyone else. "Get your wagon, now!"

~~~~~

Helm held the reins tightly as Tessa was holding onto him just as tightly. In fact, her hold was so firm on his arm that her fingernails were biting into him and he feared she was cutting off circulation. "Montoya! I didn't think Montoya would be here!" Helm shouted to himself, mostly. But Tessa responded, "Why was he at my casa? Why was everyone there?"

Helm ignored her as he continued urging the horses on faster. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew they couldn't have stayed at the Alvarado Hacienda. From the looks of it, they might not be able to go back ever. If she did, she might end up in jail on her birthday for no reason other than walking into her own home. Tessa had protected her secret, honed her skills, and kept all three of her identities straight for everyone to not assume she was so much more than what they thought. Now it had been him that had given her secret away.

"Roberto!" Tessa wailed. "What is going on!? Why did you mask me? Why was Montoya at myû"

Just when he thought they were out of immediate danger and he could explain what stupidity he had innocently displayed, he heard an approaching horse catching up to them. He looked behind them to his left and didn't see anyone. Looking back to the right, he saw Grisham bareback reflected off the moonlight. Helm veered the horses off the trail, but then realized that Grisham could easier than two horses and a wagon, so before the horses left the trail, he urged them back upon it. They grunted with what had to be frustration, but never lost their step. The wagon still moved with great momentum.

Grisham had caught up with the wagon and jumped on the back. The horse he had ridden, which Helm recognized as Navarro, quickly drifted back as Grisham stalked his way across the length of the wagon to them. Helm had tried to make the horses serpentine in order to throw him off, but Grisham soon grabbed Tessa's hair and then the back of the buckboard seat.

Helm kept the horses traveling as fast as their legs could carry the wagon as a fast wagon was more likely to make Grisham lose his balance than a stopped one. He looked over to see if Tessa needed any help. She would have done well with her natural instincts to fight off Grisham, but Tessa was wearing a dress and was positioned oddly. She was mostly just trying to fend him off as he had a tight hold of her hair and had pulled her head back over the seat. He would have to help her as he assumed Grisham's intention was to toss her off the wagon. To Helm's astonishment, Tessa suddenly hiked her legs up and did a perfect back flip over the back of the seat; Grisham was the perfect spotter for her as he was still holding her hair, which Helm grinned was probably not his intention. Helm wanted to slow the wagon and watch the fight and maybe join in himself, but knew it would be in Tessa's best interest if the wagon was moving.

~~~~~

How dare he! was all that filled Tessa's head as she stood, feet firmly planted on the planks of the wagon, arms raised, ready for any maneuver by Grisham that she could head off. Sure, her birthday started out badly with all her unsorted thoughts and feelings, but it was just getting good! Leave it to Montoya and Grisham to spoil everything. When Montoya had proclaimed her the Queen of Swords in her own home, as she was surrounded by what seemed at first glance as the entire community, Tessa had been gripped with fear. Every single one of her actions since hearing the ghost of her father and fortifying herself with black lace and a sword had been focused at keeping her identity a secret. It was now all out in the open... HOW? Was that the big birthday surprise Helm had designed for her? Big surprise! Was he was sick of her dueling with two identities that he just decided to bring it all out in the open? Trying to decipher Helm's reasoning were muted by Grisham charging her just as the wagon must have hit a hole in the trail.

Instead of charging full-force at her, the jarring of the wagon made Grisham come at her off kilter, and Tessa used the opportunity to get a good hold on him for once. She didn't mind when she knew her fingernails were digging into the meat of his lower arm as she held onto it for dear life as he fell to his side. In fact, she used more pressure for the squeeze as Grisham howled with either frustration or pain. She squeezed so hard she thought her nails would pop off, but she didn't lose hold of his arm. As he was waving his other to bat her off, she stepped down on his rib cage and pulled his arm out as far as she could. If she could have ripped it off, she would have rejoiced. All the coy lunges and parries, full out duels, and double entendres that they had exchanged since she first ran into him in the jail, which ended with her sword at his crotch, rushed at her, and she wanted to truly hurt that man. Not only for all he had done in the past, but also for ruining this day that had turned out to be going quite well.

Another jostle of the wagon made her lose the firm step on Grisham, and she looked up to Helm to see if he had planned it. She went down on her knee and lost possession of Grisham. She did see, however, with glee, that there were four little blood smatterings were each of her fingernails had clawed into his flesh. With a fierce back hand to her face, Tessa flew back, hitting her head on the side of the wagon. Before Grisham could come at her again, though, she hiked up her foot hard, and her toe connected squarely with his chin.

As Grisham stumbled backward holding his chin with a roar, she scrambled toward him to, if anything else, push him over the side. Another jostle made Grisham fall upon her and soon his hands were around her neck. She well knew that he was trying to choke the life out of her. If she didn't do something soon, he could very well succeed as she couldn't move with his full weight on top of her. Her hands felt around for anything she could use as a weapon and slowly but surely felt no air being allowed down her throat. Damn! Why didn't I take a gulp of air? She clawed at his evil grin and his hands to loosened his hold on her with one hand as her other still searched for anything solid it could get. Another jostle of the wagon made the half empty wine bottle roll right to her. She lifted it by the neck and brought it down with all her strength on Grisham's head. A sliver of glass almost went right into her eye, but she luckily closed them. Glass and wine were everywhere, and she felt the wagon slow down.

Tessa pushed the comatose Grisham off her and got to her feet as Helm shouted, "Whoa," to the horses. The wagon soon came to a stop. She leapt over the back of the wagon and lowered the back end. As Helm had jumped from the seat, she yelled at him, "Get back there. If I need your help, I will ask for it!"

Tessa scrambled back up into the wagon, over Grisham, to the other side of him. She rolled him, and what was left of the snack Helm had brought with them, off the end of the wagon. She felt pain on her knees, and noticed that one of them was bleeding profusely from a piece of glass embedded in it, but she didn't care. As soon as Grisham was on the ground, still out cold, she walked back to the seat, over it, and sat back down next to Helm.

"You have a lot of explaining to do, Doctor! But first, get those horses moving."

"Yes, ma'am," Helm said with a smile. He cracked the reins, and soon the horses were again speeding away from both the Alvarado hacienda and Santa Helena, into the mountains.

~~~~~

After Montoya had shooed all the guests away and made Don Ricardo go into town for his men to start combing the countryside, he had set Vera, Gaspar, and Marta down in the kitchen. Vera was holding Gaspar's hand tightly, but the only thing that was holding Marta were the ropes that Montoya had tied around her to the chair. Her hands were even tied behind her back. It took a great deal of shouting, but Lucy, Beatriz, and Jorge had finally left them. Marta was surprised that the one ally they thought they had, Lucy, would have left them after just a bit of backtalk, which only made Montoya more livid.

Marta had listened to Montoya puff about the kitchen, alternating between hatred at the three of them's assisting the Queen of Swords under his nose and pure ecstacy at finally capturing the Queen of Swords. When Gaspar had pointed out to Montoya that he hadn't actually æcaptured' her, it made Montoya more testy.

He had asked them all very pointed and difficult questions to side-step. After their stony silence hadn't pleased Montoya in the slightest, he told them, "You will all three hang along side the Queen of Swords."

Even though it was extremely hard to do, Marta had to think of the bright side and was glad that she hadn't actually verbalized, "If you can catch her." For all she could hope, Helm and Tessa were long gone on their way to any place but where Spain and Montoya had any control. She worried that Tessa would want to come back for her, but they had made plans if such a day as this would ever happen.

They had taken great pains over the last two years to make sure that if anyone did find their way to the cellar that it would take a lot of searching for the secret latch that would open up the hidden walkway to the stables and the Queen of Swords' artillery and wardrobe. Tessa and Marta could make their way from the cellar door to the stables in about two minutes, but could be safely hidden away in less than one.

If only she could get Montoya's attention off of her, Marta might actually take the chance to make a run for it knowing full well that she was as guilty as the Queen. As Montoya had mentioned many times in the last half hour since the four of them had been alone in the kitchen, "Aiding and abetting is also committing the heinous crimes the Queen has performed."

Vera and Gaspar had been eerily quiet during this whole mess, which Marta assumed was because they were as jarred by the news that meek little Tessa, who didn't ever put a step out of line, was indeed the Queen of Swords. Marta smiled when she remembered Vera saying that red was a color that didn't fit Tessa at all. Red meant racy, and Tessa was no longer untouched. Red meant blood, which Tessa had drawn plenty of from her enemies in the guise of the Queen of Swords. Tessa had even lost a lot of her own blood.

Montoya had been standing straight with his hands clasped behind his back, seemingly deep in thought. Marta assumed he was in the midst of planning the Queen's, and her own, execution. He had to have been looking forward to this day for so long, he may have already planned it already.

Montoya suddenly turned around and pierced the silence when slammed his fist down on the tiled table, making all three of them jump. "I will not accept your silence anymore!"

Gaspar told him, "Colonel. We are as shocked by this turn of events as you." His eyes grew more narrow as he challenged, "Do you really think I would have not told you Tessa was the Queen if I knew?"

"That is a certainty, Hidalgo," Montoya spouted. "You have given me the silent treatment, which only points to your guilt."

"I am sorry, Colonel. I do retreat to silence when I am surprised. This is a big surprise. If it is in fact true, of course, she must be punished for her crimes, but it cannot be true."

Marta wondered what angle Gaspar was playing. If he was trying to curb Montoya's truth to save Tessa or his own neck, she wasn't at all sure. How close of a friend he was to Tessa had always been hazy. What he would do in order to save himself or Vera made Marta even more nervous. He could be selling Tessa and herself out right now. Not that Montoya needed his help to do anything to Marta.

Montoya turned to her and charged, "You! You had to have known all along. You had to have helped her. You have defied the Crown, and for that, you will hang. It is just a matter of when."

Marta looked to Gaspar, and then Vera for a glimmer of hope that Montoya's plans might fail. For the first time, Marta saw that Vera's usually pale face was red and streaked with tears. "Colonel," she spoke softly.

"Senora Hidalgo," Montoya interrupted her. He cupped his hand to her chin and said, "You will be rewarded. Only you could have made Marta fall for your plan. The painting above the mantel, Helm blindfolding Tessa, my being allowed into this home under the pretext of a party when everyone is relaxed and a bit tipsy from wine that you had served a bit too early..." His smile was wide, and more than likely grateful, to Vera as he said, "You played them all perfectly.'

Marta didn't know if Vera moved away from Montoya's hold or Montoya dropped her chin of his own accord, but he continued, "Maria Teresa was good. I will certainly hand her that. She was living right under my nose. She had waltzed right into my office on countless occasions as the silly little girl, and I believed her."

With each word Montoya said, Vera grew more and more affected. "But I did not..." she murmured as she looked straight at Marta. "I did not mean for..." She collapsed into tears and laid her head on Gaspar's shoulder as he patted her hand on the table.

Marta knew it was just dumb luck that it all came out the way it had. If Vera could save herself, Marta didn't know that she could blame her. It wasn't her fault. Marta had been so rapt up on the planning and making sure everyone was doing what they should, and shouldn't, that she didn't see everything with fresh eyes. She had been a bit jarred by the portrait of Tessa on horseback, but Helm definitely did not have it done maliciously. He did it because he loved Tessa and thought her beautiful.

"Colonel," Gaspar declared with more power in his voice than he had used since Tessa was unmasked in front of everyone. "May I have a word with you in private?"

"Why?" Montoya was guarded in his reply.

"Just a moment." Gaspar patted Vera's hand and Marta could swear he winked at her as he rose from the chair by the table and indicated with his outstretched hand for Montoya to step into the other room.

"Not on your life, Hidalgo." Montoya stood firmly planted where he stood. "Which had never meant much to me. I will not let the Gitana out of my sight."

"Why is that, Luis?"

Marta was surprised to hear Lucy's voice behind her, and then the door swing open. When she craned her neck, Lucy was already in the room. She stood close behind Marta's chair as she told Montoya, "You have this one where you want her."

"You were to go home."

The look on Montoya's face was one of fiery anger, which Marta didn't know stemmed from her not abiding by his order, or the attempt by Gaspar to have Montoya leave the room. It had to be Marta's hope that Gaspar, Vera, and now Lucy would help her. By helping her, they were also aiding and abetting Tessa and Robert. Oh, this was a nightmare. Marta wanted freedom more than anything, but the thought that those three could be sucked into the label of æguilty' made her want cool heads to prevail.

"I will when I'm good and ready, Luis," Lucy stated defiantly.

"I am Colonel Montoya," he sneered.

If Marta had ever wondered what such a sweet and wonderful woman such as Lucy could see in that bitter, egotistical crab of a man, that bite made her wonder if Lucy would leave him now. Maybe her better senses would come to fore; lust only lasted so long if there was nothing to back it up.

"You may be, but right now," Lucy said calmly. "You are being a jackass who has leapt to a terrible conclusion."

"Why did Helm get her out of here so fast if I did not finally discover the truth?"

"Maybe because the good doctor knows that if you believe someone is guilty, neither hell nor high water will convince you otherwise. Will there even be a trial, Luis? Will you even consider listening to facts instead of acting on impulse? Come on, Luis," she continued in good humor as Marta felt the ties that bound her hands slowly loosen. "Maria Teresa Alvarado is the Queen of Swords?" Lucy laughed heartily. "That's a good one."

"This is not a laughing matter, Lucy," Montoya said as calmly as he could muster since his face was turning redder by the minute, his gray eyes flashing with rage.

"That little girl, the one criminal you could not catch? My goodness, Luis, I thought you would have been more vain than to admit your inability to catch the woman in front of all those people this evening. What if you are wrong?"

"I am not."

"We shall see."

As Marta felt the ties leave their place at her wrists, she tried to catch them before they felt, but feared that she had moved arms so Montoya might know what Lucy had just done. She hadn't caught them and she also didn't hear the ropes fall to the floor. She could only assume that Lucy had them. She kept her hands tight together behind her and prayed to all that was holy that Montoya wouldn't know that she was no longer bound to that chair, this room, this place. She only needed a few minutes to escape to her hiding place. That was all she needed. Marta worried that Lucy would be in very big trouble, but also hoped that Montoya loved her enough to not blame her for what she had done.

'Madre dios,' Marta's mind moaned. Another person was caught in the web that surrounded the Queen of Swords.

"Do not defy me, woman. How dare you?"

Lucy was just as determined as he when she stepped out from behind Marta's chair to confront him. "How dare you?" she challenged with a rough, determined voice. Marta checked to see that the rope was not in her hand, so she must have either dropped them someplace or had stuck them somewhere on her person. She was wearing a dress, and Marta didn't remember if she had pockets.

Lucy shoved her finger under Montoya's nose and said, "Follow me so we clear up a few things."

She charged into the other room as, amazingly, Montoya matched her stride, yelling on the way, "Never in my life has someone talked to me in such a manner!" then his voice lowered as he said something else to her, but Marta couldn't hear it.

Gaspar hastily motioned to the door. "Go," he whispered.

"You two run in there after a minute or two to say I have ridden off; don't follow me. Thank you, and thank Lucy for me," Marta whispered urgently as she crept to the cellar door and disappeared behind it.

~~~~~

Tessa waited to say another word until Helm brought the horses to a stop. She didn't know where they were or how long they had been riding, but she knew they had to be safe from Montoya's immediate reach. When Helm did stop the wagon, she swatted his arm and jumped off to pace on the ground. Her long hair was over her shoulder, and she held it, seeing how straight it was, lambasting herself for not curling it that morning when she left with him to get some stupid herbs.

"Why are you taking this out on me?" Helm asked as he joined her on the ground.

"Why the hell not?" Tessa moved away from him fuming, and swept her hair back with a vengeance. She twirled back to face him. "Montoya knows who I am! This is NOT my fault!"

"It was a mistake. Vera wanted me to make sure you wouldn't see that damn room before everything was ready!"

"So it's her fault! Wait until I get my hands around her neck!"

"It was no one's fault. For all we know, Marta is talking some sense into Montoya right now."

"Yeah, right! Like he'd listen to her!"

"Would you quit shouting?"

"WHY?!"

"Because you'll rile the snakes, and I don't feel like dodging them as well as Montoya at the moment."

"Snakes. I'm surrounded by snakes! Was this the grand plan? You told Vera and for some reason only the two of you know, you decided to not only invite the whole community, but out me at the same time?"

"It was a party. It was for your birthday. They worked all week to make sureû"

"To make sure I was made a fool of and unmasked? You had to work all week on that?"

"Of course not! That was a mistake, as I said. You may not have heard me because you were shouting!"

"Well, I'm more than a little angry right now!"

"So am I!"

"Good!"

Tessa's righteous anger ebbed a bit when she saw how rattled Helm was, but only long enough to take a bit of a break in the peace and quiet. "We have to go back," she said as she charged back to the wagon.

"Why on earth do you want to go back there now? Wait until it quiets down a bit."

"And when will that be?"

When he had no answer, she said, "If Marta isn't in jail, she's where only I know where to find her. I'm not leaving her behind."

"You don't have to leave anything behind. I'm confident that with Lucy, Hidalgo, and Marta, they could have talked sense into Montoya."

"What sense is that? That I'm not the Queen of Swords? You want them to just lie to protect me?"

"You've done so much for so many. Why not? They would."

"I won't allow it. I have to go back. I have to get Marta, some things I could never leave behind, and then I have to leave, forever."

"What about me?"

"What about you? Do I see a ring on my finger? Have you made any sort of promises to me? Is there any chance for a normal future for us?"

"Do you foresee a normal future for yourself?"

When she didn't have an answer for him, he smiled and touched her cheek. "We can have an abnormal future together."

"Why? You want to be on the run for the rest of your life?"

"You don't think I am now?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You think I just took the position of doctor in the armpit of the world because I love practicing medicine? Or I honor or respect Montoya? Do you think I've stayed in this hell hole this long because I have no ties to anyone and have nothing better to do?"

Tessa didn't know exactly what he was saying, but she was prickled with excitement for him to say more and softened her eyes to urge him on. To her relief, he continued, "I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of in my life, and there are at least three governments who would want my head on a platter. Because I'm with an exciting, beautiful woman such as you would make my life of wandering that much more stimulating."

"What did you do?"

"You want a list now?"

"Sure."

"No time. We have to make it over that ridge at least. I'm thinking we should lose the wagon and go on horseback."

"I'm thinking we need to go back to get Marta."

"I'm thinking you want to hang on the gallows in the square of Santa Helena."

"Well," she spouted as she got back onto the wagon. "I don't."

"We just got rid of Grisham. No one is following us. We're home free."

"Without Marta. She is in trouble, and I can't in good conscience leave her behind. She's everything to me. She's raised me, tended me when I've been injured, and... she's like my mother, best friend, protector, confessor, and nursemaid all rolled up into one, and I will not leave her behind!"

"With you, nothing is ever easy," he muttered as he climbed back up on the wagon.

"I always said that. You never believed me."

"Oh, yes I did."

As Helm made the horses made a wide turn to move the wagon back in the direction of home, she said, "Why have you been so hard on me in the past when you know exactly what I was doing?"

"Because I didn't want you to follow the same path as I."

"You're a good man. I'm a good woman. You haven't murdered without reason, have you?"

"I've done many things."

"Like what?"

"That will be for another time."

"Chicken. It seems like we have plenty of time until we get home."

"And we will have to use that time well to plan how we're going to go back to swarming soldiers, Montoya's fury, and a cocky Grisham to fetch Marta."

"All we have to do is make sure Marta isn't already dead or in jail. If she's not, I know right where she is, and she has plenty of food and water to keep her going for days."

"You've had such a scenario planned? Your identity would be revealed and there's a safe place for Marta to hole up until you could get her and you'll just leave?"

"I am woman, Roberto. Woman plan everything to the last detail. I'm surprised that with all the things you've done, and all the wisdom you have accumulated, you don't know that."

~~~~~

Lucy had quite a row with Montoya, and wondered if she could ever forgive some of the things that had escaped his lips during the heat of their argument. As she was distracting Montoya, she heard a horse pound past the house, then off into the night, just as she had planned. It hadn't taken much to convince Rosa, Tessa's maid, to wait until she heard shouting inside before taking one of the horses from the stables and ride it quickly past the house and into Santa Helena. She had arranged for Rosa to stay the night at the hotel and return to the Alvarado residence in the morning for her trouble. She would get a nice meal, sleep in a clean, comfortable bed, and also help her mistress. Lucy had no idea if Tessa was really the Queen of Swords, but she knew Montoya. He had made that determination and justice may run fast. Innocent heads could be lost if no one reined him in and made sure justice did indeed prevail.

Montoya shot to the window as Rosa rode past on the horse, just as Vera and Gaspar rushed into the newly renovated drawing room. "Colonel, she got away!" Gaspar shouted with sorrow.

"Imbécil! You let her loose!" Montoya charged as he stalked to the kitchen.

"No, Colonel," Vera plead. "She must have gotten free and took the first opportunity to get away."

"Marta shoved my petal, and since I have this bum leg, I could not catch her."

Lucy saw Gaspar smile at her after Montoya had left, and then took off after him to continue the ruse. Vera leaned close to her and whispered, "Marta is eternally grateful to you."

"It had to be done. Luis can't go off half-cocked."

"Do you think it is really true?" Vera asked after a grimace had indicated that she didn't understand Lucy's last comment.

"That Luis loses his head once in a while? Of course it is."

"No, about Tessa."

"I have no idea. She at least deserves a fair trial. Besides, the Queen has done some good things. She's not all bad."

"I have always been a silent supporter of hers. My goodness," Vera said as she fanned herself. "If only I had known... Tessa should have confided in me. This was not my fault. I would have protected her identity to the bitter end if I knew."

Lucy patted Vera's shoulder when it looked as if she was going to burst out crying. "She knows that. Come on, we have to ride through another storm," she said with a sigh when she heard glass crash in the kitchen.

When she and Vera arrived in the kitchen, Montoya had overturned the table and was just bending down to collect the rope that she had tossed under it after untying it from Marta's wrists.

"See?" Gaspar said. "Marta had slowly worked free of them. She just dropped them to the floor."

"That slime Gitana will surely hang when I get my hands on her," Montoya stated with conviction.

"For what?" Lucy stood defiantly between Montoya and the door.

"For escaping when she was under questioning!"

"What questions were you asking her? Or were you just assuming that everything you guessed at this evening was true?"

"Stand aside!"

"Luis, you will not make judgements and allegations with no proof other than she resembles a woman you haven't been able to catch."

"Stop saying that!"

"Why? Because it just proves that you're grasping at straws? You want to finger the Queen of Swords so badly that any woman with long black hair you startle with accusation will do?"

"She is the Queen of Swords. Because they left so quickly, so guiltily, only confirms it."

"What do you expect Tessa to do? Confess to it even if it isn't true? Of course, Robbie got her out of here; you'd have her hung before sun up, even if she wasn't! Listen to yourself! Listen to the names you have been calling me, listen to your not heeding anyone's advice in the matter. How do you think the Crown will react to rashness?"

Montoya stood still and took her and all her words in as he slowly sighed. Because he stopped raging, he might actually be listening to reason. She knew he had it in him. She knew his adrenaline had to have been pumping. Hell, even hers had been. She would be pleased if Luis finally got the irritation of the Queen's secret identity out of the way, and if she was tried and convicted in a court of law, whoever she was, she would be pleased that a criminal was taken care of. That was only if all the crimes she was accused of were found to be true. Lucy knew that Luis had taken liberties with tax money. She wasn't happy about it, but she knew it. She also knew that most of the reales that the Queen had stolen were reales fingered by Montoya to add to his own stash. To her mind, the Queen was righteous in her actions.

Just then, the cavalry showed up as she heard a horses approach. Don Ricardo must have gotten word to Montoya's men that they were needed to comb the countryside for Tessa. Maybe they had found her. Lucy's heart was in her throat as she followed Montoya outside and now realized that if Tessa was the Queen, it affected her. Tessa was her friend and didn't want harm to come to her. She had been able to soothe Montoya's reaction to Marta's escape, but she knew there may not be any way she could fend up an impromptu hanging if they had captured Tessa and Robbie.

"Men are spread out to find her. She cannot have gotten far," the lead soldier announced as soon as Montoya showed his face outside.

"Good, good. Where is Grisham?"

"We have not seen him, Colonel. I would think he is out searching."

"He is. I sent him after them as soon as they got away. I am going back into town." Montoya pointed at two men on the right. "You! Find Marta, she has escaped." They took off without another word. "You," Montoya pointed at one man on the left. "I need your horse. You stay here in case that Alvarado woman returns." Lucy noticed he hadn't used the term, æQueen,' and wondered if she had truly gotten through to him. But then he ordered as he mounted the horse, "Shoot anyone who moves a toe out of line. That is a direct order."

Without another word, Montoya rode off as Lucy stared down the soldier as he climbed the veranda steps. "Stop," Lucy commanded. "The Colonel said nothing about entering the house."

~~~~~

After deciding that the wagon was too cumbersome to ride back to the hacienda, making a larger and slower target, she and Helm had each taken a horse and rode. She knew that Helm was spending more time looking at her legs, as she had hiked up her dress to ride as a horse should be ridden, than the darkness for soldiers, and it pleased her to no end. After the thrill of the discovery and they fight in the darkness, she knew that Helm loved her. They could actually spend the rest of their lives together. But she couldn't think about it now. She needed to see if Marta had been captured. If not, they could wait out a few days until she crept back home so she could collect precious possessions, clothes, and gold in order to start their new life away from it all.

When they had seen some soldiers in the distance reflecting off the moonlight, Helm was ready to go do battle while she was to 'get to safety.'

"Stop right there!" she shouted before he rode off to danger. "You are just as hunted as I am. I want to save Marta, not you as well."

"I can outride them."

"You?"

Helm looked at her wounded. "What do you mean?"

"It is a well-known fact that you and horses do not mix well."

"Since when?"

"Since you fell not long after we met. I know you may not have been paying attention because I looked good dressed as the Queen, but..."

"What nonsense. Horses are the only mode of travel. It was a hot day. So I fell of the horse. He was always cranky. I have ridden from one side of this country to the other. Me and horses are like this," he said with his fingers twisted around each other.

Tessa laughed that they were having such a conversation when her life had fallen apart. Helm repeated before he was rudely interrupted, "I will create a diversion. You go into town, and be careful!"

"Yes, doctor," Tessa replied sweetly. "Meet back at the cave."

"Do not be long," he ordered as he kicked the horse to gallop toward the soldiers in the distance.

~~~~~

For Marta, it seemed like an eternity underground before the secret door to the stables was opened and there were two loud raps, signaling that the coast was clear. Even though only Tessa knew the code, it could have been tortured out of her... Marta giggled as she thought she had lost her mind spending at that time alone underground. She heard Tessa's voice call out, "Marta? Come quickly."

Marta scrambled through the hallway to the stables as Tessa climbed down the wooden rungs, then straight into Marta's arms. "You made it."

"You did, too," Tessa said good-naturedly. "Well done, Marta. Your plan worked perfectly."

It made her feel even better to see Helm come down, and they both seemed to be all right. Tessa broke off the hug and said, "I'm going to collect a few things. You do the same, then we are out of here."

"How long has it been?" Marta asked as she saw the brightness outside after the trap door had been opened. "It has to be at least a week with all the food I went through."

Tessa chuckled. "You must have eaten out of boredom than hunger, because it has only been two days. I hope Navarro can support your weight."

Marta slapped her playfully. "Oh, you." It served her heart well that Tessa was in such a good mood. Why was a reason she was dying to know, but the coast certainly couldn't be that clear if they needed to leave after all.

"Pack your things, and just what you cannot possibly part with, Marta. We have to travel light for a few days. Can you show Roberto where Papa's clothes are? It has been too dangerous for him to go back to his office."

"Lucy might probably bring you some of your things if she knew you wanted them?"

"Lucy?" Helm asked. "Montoya's lover?"

"She was the one who allowed my escape. She did not take guff from Montoya. She was wonderful!" Marta declared, still awestruck by what she had done for her.

"Would you like that, Roberto?" Tessa asked.

He shook his head. "We have no time. Besides, there is nothing there I cannot live without. All I need is right here."

Marta's heart swelled as he collected Tessa in his arms and kissed her. "I will pack, and you not be long," she warned them as she crept back through the hallway to the cellar. She turned back to ask, "Oh, by the way. Where are we going?"

"Mary Rose is taking us on her next voyage."

"Mary Rose!" Marta exclaimed with surprise. "She knows I am coming with? She hates me."

"So do not be around her too much," Tessa suggested lightly. Then she laughed. "Come on. We must hurry."

As they hurried to the house, Marta asked, "So what all has happened? Montoya is still angry?"

"Oh yes. I am sure it will be years before he cools off, but I heard word on the street is starting to shift. Lucy has been telling everyone that we ran that night only because of his accusation, not that it could be true. I hear Hidalgo has been talking to the Dons and none of them believe she's the Queen."

"Then why are we leaving?" Marta asked. If they just waited everything out, things might be okay in the long run.

"Because it is best to let them gossip among themselves and come back only after it is determined that I am too scatterbrained and inept to be the Queen." Tessa put her arms around Helm and said, "This is our engagement cruise, if anyone will want to know where we have been. You and Mary Rose are our chaperones."

"Where did you hear all of this? Had you been in town?"

"No, Vera. I forgot I told her about my cave, and she went out there to see if that was where I was hiding." Tessa nudged Marta up the cellar steps as she said, "It will be all right, Marta. Vera and Gaspar, Lucy, and the Dons will make sure this all blows over while we get some fresh air and sail the seas with a good friend. Mary Rose also said she will be sending correspondence about why she took us on as guests. She can also be very persuasive."

"Not all Dons, I would imagine."

"No. Not all of them. The ones who think I could not possibly be managing my land myself, or those who are corrupt and I have had to deal with as the Queen are not too happy. But they are in the minority. I have confidence this will all turn out fine in the end. We just have to keep up our end of the bargain."

"Which is?" Marta asked as she reached the house and watched Tessa and Helm ascend the cellar steps.

"Act dumb and scared about what would have happened to us if we had not ran. Montoya will love that."

With everything that had happened since everyone did work on the drawing room, Marta had forgotten that Tessa had a newly decorated drawing room and she may not have had the chance to see and appreciate it. It only dawned on her when her eyes widened and giggled with excitement, just as she had when she was a child. The events of the last few days must have been rough on her, and that there seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel made Tessa appreciate the little things in life once again.

"What happened in here?"

"This was your surprise that we designed for you," Helm said, cringing as he peered up at the portrait of Tessa on Navarro.

"It's glorious," Tessa proclaimed as she walked through the room, lifting pillows and opening doors to the desk, the cabinet, and a box that had been in her bedroom.

"I would have preferred this surprise to the one I got," she commented with a light laugh. "You are the best, Marta. I will have to write a letter to Vera. I am sure she had a lot to do with this."

"You can tell her yourself when we can come back here," Helm said lovingly.

When they kissed again, Marta asked, "Were we not in a hurry?"

"Yes," Tessa said a bit swept away, then got back to what needed to be done. "Hurry, Marta. We must leave quickly before some soldier wanting to score points with Montoya comes to snoop."

As if it was all her plan, she made Marta move quickly to show Helm where her father's closet was. He stated that he wasn't happy about wearing Alvarado's clothes, but "I guess I'll live with it until I can purchase new."

"Or I could make them. I'm sure we could get our hands on some fabric."

"No, Marta." His voice was firm when he said, "You are no longer a maid. You are a peer, and you will only make garments for yourself, if that is what you wish."

"But I-"

"Have a new life, just as my fiance and I do."

"Fiance?"

"As soon as I got hands on my gold, I will put a ring on her finger."

"It was not just waiting until it was safe in that cave?"

"Not at all." Helm's calm smile spoke volumes as he sauntered into Don Alvarado's bedroom and whistled as he went through his bureau.

Marta felt lighter than air as she went to her own room to pack a few things. Outside, she saw a horse approach and called out the news to the others. Tessa came in with a small carpet bag and looked out the window. "Oh, that has to be Frenchie. He works for Mary Rose. She said she would send someone to escort us to the shore."

Marta scrutinized him as he dismounted in the front of the house. The horse looked relieved to lose the weight of the giant. As soon as he was on his feet, he took a rifle out of his saddle strap and walked to the door. "Are you sure?"

"It looks like he knows how to handle a gun," Tessa commented and nudged Marta out of the room to the front door. "He resembles Roman, does he not?"

Marta warned, "Tessa..." She would go on the run with Tessa and Helm, but she was not going to allow any match making. It wasn't until she opened to door to welcome him that she got a good look at his gentle, baby blue eyes. Or maybe... a little match-making wouldn't be a bad thing at all. After all, it sounded as if they would all be out to sea for a long time. Might as well make new friends in the process.

THE END