Disclaimers: The characters from the Queen of Swords are copyright to Fireworks Productions. No infringement of copyright is intended or revenue expected from their use. The story plot and other original characters are copyright to the author, Elizabeth Milligan.

Acknowledgements: Many thanks to Lisa and Cecilia for their careful editing of this episode, and to Maril for her help and encouragement.

Unfortunate Choice
by Eliza

Part Three of three

Scene 3

Montoya covered his face as he indulged in another expansive yawn. Lately, he seemed to be going to bed utterly exhausted. Dealing with Sabina was beginning to wear, and she had only been here for three days. Only three?! In Spain she had a number of distractions to keep her occupied, but it seemed that he was her only focus in Santa Elena. He didn't know how he was going to survive – without eventually killing her.

The thought brought a wide smile to Montoya's face, and it was at this moment that his bedroom door opened. The topic of his musings stood at the threshold.

She smiled back. "That is a lovely greeting." She carefully closed the door behind her as she entered the room uninvited.

Montoya's smile lessened, but it didn't disappear. He had always been drawn to petite, delicate women and Sabina was an ideal of the type. Her feminine figure was subtle enough not to look out of proportion over her fine bones. Her pale skin had always had the glow of a fragile china doll. Tonight her silky, black hair lay in a loose braid against the pale pink of her robe. If his guess was right, she would be wearing nothing underneath it. She may have the heart of a viper, but her physical beauty could not be denied.

He rose to his feet as she moved into the room. She seemed to take that as encouragement, for she walked directly to him as if she was confident of his welcome. He had forgotten how small her hands were, but they were strong enough to pull his head down as they slid into his loosened hair, guaranteeing that his lips would meet hers. It was very nice, and it made him instantly wary.

Gently pulling back from her kiss, he spent a long moment looking into Sabina's eyes before asking why she was there.

She gave him a coy, little smile. "Has it been that long, Luis? Have you forgotten everything about being married?"

"I have forgotten nothing about being married to you. And six years apart is long enough to know that you have not regretted staying out of my bed. Again, Sabina – why are you here?"

"I am not getting any younger, Luis." The smile faded and she stepped away from him, turning her back as if she were embarrassed. "I must have finally grown up and realized I had better make the best of the situation in which I find myself."

The reasoning didn't sound right. Sabina had never settled for anything in her whole life. Montoya made an informed guess. "Who is he?"

She spun back to face him and would have sounded shocked to someone less familiar with her. "I beg your pardon?"

"Has he followed you here? And have you assumed that in this backward wilderness it would be easier to conduct your affair without censure? I regret to inform you that you have been greatly mistaken."

He watched the anger build. She hated being seen though even more than she hated endearments. "He hasn't followed me. Don't be absurd, Luis."

The moment the words were out of her mouth, Montoya knew that they were the unadulterated truth. There had been someone in Spain. It was very likely that this change of residence had not been her idea either. He could almost see the political maneuvering that would get young Agustin his position in Monterey -- if he took his cousin with him to return her to her husband. Montoya wondered which of his enemies had arranged that.

These thoughts caused him to chuckle, which only enraged Sabina further. He could see it in the set of her jaw and the look in her eyes, but her voice was calm, even mocking, as she said, "It's not that he doesn't love me. He does – passionately. But he has recently become convinced of the truth of Final Judgement and is working to redress his sins. He charged me, on my love for him, to return to you. He wished to see me again -- in the Kingdom of Heaven. Since Agustin was on his way here, I imposed myself on him."

"‘Go forth and sin no more'"

"Something like that."

"He must be very wealthy. And royally titled, too."

Her smile gave her answer, but she seemed to catch herself before actually gloating.

Montoya was amused. This was so predictable it was almost a farce. He moved toward the doorway, whispering to her as he passed, "Your methods of seduction leave much to be desired, Sabina."

Scene 4

The colonel made his way to his office. He had always thought of it as his sanctuary, the place where he felt the most confident, where his power was focused. Sabina had usurped the room in the past few days, but he was certain not to find her there now. And she was not about to follow him across the courtyard dressed as she was.

As he approached the door, he heard a sound he shouldn't have -- the shift of furniture, the thump of something solid being set down with a heavy hand. Montoya moved to the end of the balcony and signaled to the soldiers on duty in the square that they should move quietly up the stairs. Then he opened the door to his office.

A lamp was lit, though turned down low. Illuminated by its light were a drawer, with its false bottom removed, and a man, with a bag of gold in his hand. Montoya recognized him. The colonel had seen Hector Domenico at mass every Sunday, children trailing behind him like a line of ducklings, and had asked about him. He was the last person that Montoya would have expected to find in this situation.

"Senor Domenico. How nice of you to drop by." When confused, it never hurts to start with politeness. Montoya sensed two of the soldiers come up behind him.

Domenico must have seen them for he gave a sigh and carefully put the gold back into the drawer. "I came to discuss the new tax, Colonel," he said conversationally.

Montoya smiled; very few men would retain their composure when caught in the midst of a capital crime. He instructed the soldiers to take charge of the intruder and then turned to see who else was coming up the stairs. Grisham was just reaching the landing.

"A late visitor, Colonel?"

"That seems to be the case, Captain. And it begs the question, how did he manage to gain entrance to my offices with your men on duty?"

This seemed to leave Grisham at a loss for words, but in ample supply of temper. He angrily ordered the prisoner to be taken to the jail and questioned. "And search him. We will check his home in the morning also, to see if he has stolen any gloves."

Domenico looked back at Grisham over his shoulder with a confused expression on his face. Montoya wasn't quite sure he had heard his captain correctly either. Grisham just shrugged at the questioning look Montoya sent him and said, "He could be the one."

Montoya's disbelief turned to disgust. It was just like Grisham to try something like this. Montoya had nothing against using a convenient scapegoat, but he was not about to let the captain off the hook that easily. "Just put him in a cell, Captain." He sent significant looks to the attending soldiers to reinforce the order. "I will deal with him *myself*. Tomorrow."

He moved to the balcony to watch the progress of the prisoner and his attendants. As Montoya lingered there, idly speculating on tomorrow's events, he looked over to the windows of his quarters. The curtain in Sabina's room twitched. A sudden chill ran down his spine and settled heavily behind his heart. He knew that he would sleep lightly tonight.

Act IV

Scene 1

Tessa had just topped a ridge on her way back to the yard from her morning ride, when she spotted a rider leaving the hacienda. She hurried back to the house and went straight to Marta. "Is something wrong? I saw a rider galloping toward town."

"Hmm? No. That was just a friend who came to tell me some news. He had to get back."

If Marta hadn't seemed so worried Tessa would have teased her about her "friend". Instead she asked, "What happened?"

Marta seemed distracted for a few more minutes before she focused on Tessa. She must have seen the concern for both the news and her reaction for she gave Tessa a small, reassuring smile. "It seems that Hector Domenico has been arrested. He was caught in Montoya's office with a bag of the colonel's gold. The colonel found him there, himself, and the guards followed soon after."

"This doesn't sound like the Hector Domenico that I have heard about. I always thought that he was a very honest, kind, responsible man."

"He is. And he loves his family very much – his wife and all seven of their children."

Tessa paled a little. "Seven?"

"He loves his wife *very* much," said Marta with a grin.

"I can see that this new tax might cause him some problems. Could it make him that desperate?"

"I don't know. Something doesn't feel right." Marta was starting to get that distracted look again.

"We need to find out what is going on." Tessa had almost made it to the door when Marta caught her and firmly placed her in a chair.

She held Tessa's gaze for a few moments. "This could be one of Montoya's traps," she said very seriously. "I think we have to be extra careful. We can't do anything that would make Montoya think that we have a special interest in Hector. I can go into Santa Elena and pick up a few items that we forgot during the last trip. No one would think twice about it. Lucita is sure to be in the pueblo, and she's likely to have spoken to Hector. If I happen to meet up with her, it would not be unusual for me to offer my sympathy."

"I could do that. I could talk to Senora Domenico."

"You have never met her. Why would a doña be concerned over the troubles of a farmer's wife? Particularly one that is not a tenant. I helped her nurse her children during that bout of chicken pox. We are more than acquaintances."

"But..."

Marta interrupted, with a speculative look in her eye. "If you do want to get some information while in town, you could always talk to Captain Grisham. I'm sure he would appreciate of the chance for a private tête-à-tête."

Tessa rolled her eyes, conceding this round. "Just don't take too long."

Scene 2

"Senor Domenico, I have delayed coming here because I am still in shock. You are the last person that I would have thought would indulge in criminal activity. You are a paragon of virtue in our community – faithful husband, loving father, diligent worker. What devilment has prompted this action?"

‘Devilment' was too close to the truth for Hector to deny, but he was not a foolish man. "I am afraid, Colonel, that telling the truth may turn out to be an even more serious crime than simple theft."

"Theft from the representative of the Spanish crown is hardly a simple matter. And you have heard the expression -- ‘the truth shall set you free'."

"I fear that it may set my soul free, Colonel."

"That is already your fate, Senor. You cannot make the situation any worse. It would be best to unburden yourself before meeting the hangman. All I ask about is the theft; a priest can help you with the rest."

The gravity of his predicament slowly dawned on Hector. He sat down hard on the bunk, his knees suddenly weak. The room started to spin and he rested his head on his knees, praying as the light-headedness slowly subsided. When he looked up again, Montoya was in the cell with him, leaning against the opposite wall, patiently waiting for the whole story.

Hector straightened his posture. He would tell the story. Without a word of embellishment or exaggeration, and leaving nothing out. And he would tell it to whomever would listen. If he was going to be facing final judgement, he would go without leaving any speculation behind him with regard to his motivations or his character. He was not proud of his actions, but the blame was not solely his. He looked Montoya in the eye and began to tell him about encountering the senora while searching for the colonel in his office.

Montoya did not move during the tale, nor did he react in any way to the unseemly behavior exhibited by his wife. When Hector had finished, the colonel remained still for another few moments and then took a deep breath. "This is very disturbing, Senor. You do realize that without witnesses you will have a difficult time proving your case. And the evidence of your own criminal actions is undeniable."

Hector had expected little else. It must have shown on his face for a small smile flashed across the colonel's lips as he continued, "It is enough, however, to prompt an investigation. The truth has granted you another sunrise, Senor. I will also allow you any visitors that wish to see you until sunset tonight. I know for a fact that your wife is outside."

It was hardly a reprieve, but Hector was grateful he would be able to see Lucita again, if for no other reason than to beg her forgiveness. Montoya left the cell and had the guard lock the door. The colonel had taken a couple of steps toward the exit when he turned back to Hector. "I do still strongly suggest that you arrange for one of those visitors to be the priest."

Scene 3

Tessa heard the door close and waited for Marta to come into the parlor to tell her what she had learned during the trip into town. It had taken all of her self-control not to follow as the Queen, but as there had been no word that a hanging would take place at noon, she assumed that she had at least until sunset to get to Hector. Montoya tended to time his executions dramatically – sunrise, midday, sunset. Right now Tessa was working off nervous energy by pacing, while waiting for her friend to confirm her suspicion.

She finally realized that Marta was not going to come and find her. She made her way toward the kitchen and heard the sounds of jars clanking and cupboard doors opening. Marta was putting her purchases away. Tessa stood in the kitchen doorway, too annoyed to say anything.

"What?" asked Marta when she finally took a good look at Tessa's expression.

Tessa couldn't believe her friend would have to ask. "You were just going to leave me wondering and worrying?"

Marta shrugged. "There was nothing urgent, and you knew where I would be." She calmly continued with her chores.

The casual comment had failed to calm Tessa's agitation. "Nothing urgent could mean that he is dead already?!"

"It could – but it doesn't." Marta smiled as Tessa sagged against the doorframe. "His sentence has been postponed until tomorrow while the colonel conducts an investigation."

That sounded optimistic. Maybe the situation wasn't as dire as they first thought. But what had happened then? Montoya didn't just pluck unfortunate citizens off the street; he always had an excuse to detain them -- even if it was a flimsy one.

Marta must have seen the question before Tessa had a chance to ask, for she indicated a chair at the table and sat in one herself. Tessa took the seat and leaned forward across the table waiting for the whole story. "Lucita was just leaving the jail as I finished the shopping. She was shaking and distraught, so I took her home. On the way, she told me everything Hector had told her. It seems that the plan was steal Montoya's gold to pay Montoya's taxes. Hector had not come up with this foolish idea all by himself; it was *Senora* Montoya who told him the location of the gold and how to get into the office. When Hector had second thoughts about the scheme and tried to refuse the senora's suggestion, she threatened to accuse him of an even greater crime. His most foolish act was allowing himself to be alone with the senora for a considerable length of time."

Tessa nodded her head. She understood what Sabina had threatened. Anyone who knew Hector, or even knew of him as she did, would realize that a charge of him even looking at another woman would be ridiculous. His devotion to Lucita was almost legendary. It wasn't the truth that was the issue, though; it was the appearance. Just the accusation of the comisionado's wife was enough to cause problems. She could understand his reluctance to test the judgement of the authorities and of the town. Marta continued with the story, "Even though Hector is not the most obvious thief, the senora had promised to keep the path clear for him. It seems that she did not hold up her end of the bargain. Montoya caught him red-handed."

"He has told Montoya this?" Tessa asked. Marta nodded. "And he has told Lucita this?" Again Marta nodded, this time with a puzzled frown starting to form. "So Montoya can now hang him for slander as well as theft." Marta closed her eyes and nodded a third time.

"It seemed to Hector that Montoya believed him," said Marta, as if she was trying to shine some positive light on the whole situation.

Tessa knew that it was time for the Queen to get dressed. "That doesn't matter. Montoya is not about to arrest his wife, and Hector did actually try to steal from him. I have to get him out of there, tonight."

Scene 4

It had almost become routine. Tessa left Chico at the edge of the pueblo. She would make her way to the back of the jail and climb up onto the roof. Then she would see where the guards were posted tonight, drop in on them – literally -- and release the prisoner. Easy.

She had her foot up on the first toe hold when she suddenly had the feeling that she was not alone. Before she could turn, the feeling was confirmed by the sound of a familiar voice. "I knew that you could not resist such a lure. You are becoming far too predicable."

Tessa drew her sword as her foot hit the ground and she spun to parry Montoya's attempt to pierce her heart through her back. "So are you, Colonel. I can even fight you with my eyes closed and my back turned." So her eyes hadn't been closed; Montoya didn't know that.

Or maybe he did. The smile that he gave her had a fierce joy in it. It had started to worry her that lately she seemed to be sharing that sentiment. He was the only one who came close to matching her skills. Grisham was strong, fast, and dangerous, but he lacked the subtle moves of a skilled swordsman. The colonel had obviously had training in Spain and must have been an apt pupil. The only down side to their duels was that he really wanted her dead. She missed the days of a challenging, but friendly spar.

The fight followed the standard pattern of first one gaining the advantage and then the other. It was never predictable, though. It was as if each of them gained skill with every engagement, learning from each other, learning *of* each other. The same maneuver never worked twice. It was a new trick she created on the spot that tangled their swords and sent both points into the sand. In the stillness and silence of their abruptly halted momentum they both heard it -- the click of a hammer being pulled back on a pistol.

The world suddenly came into sharp focus for Tessa. They were both in a slight crouch, both using the ground to contain the other's blade. She could feet the scalding heat of Montoya's arm pressed against hers from shoulder to elbow. Even though he was in just his shirt sleeves on this cool night, the intensity of the duel had brought a sheen of sweat to his face and throat. There was a small drop running along his hairline, down the side of his face. His eyes were not turned in her direction though, so Tessa followed his gaze to edge of the shadows in front of them. There she saw a pistol being raised. It looked ridiculously large in Sabina's small hands.

"Her loyalty is touching," Tessa said, trying to sound casual under the sights of a loaded gun.

"It would be, if she was aiming at you," Montoya replied just as calmly, as he straightened his stance. Then he started slightly, just a slight stiffening of his posture and a widening of his eyes, and shouted, "Shoot her!"

Two guns fired almost simultaneously. Tessa closed her eyes. She had been shot before; she knew what to expect. Then she opened them again in confusion. There was no pain, no sudden weakness. Neither bullet had touched her.

She looked around, slightly disoriented. Montoya had been knocked off his feet and was struggling to get back up. Blood was blooming at his shoulder as crimson as his roses. She looked toward Sabina and saw the woman stretched out on the ground. The sound of a sword leaving a scabbard behind her brought Tessa's attention back to her precarious situation. She turned to see Grisham striding toward her with his blade in one hand and a pistol in the other. The sound of more running feet decided the issue. At this moment, she was in no condition, mentally or physically, to take on the garrison. She would try to do something for Hector later. Right now her only option was to run.

Grisham saw her escaping into the night at full speed. "The Queen has shot the colonel!" he shouted at his men. "Get after her!!"

When the area was once again cleared of soldiers, Montoya looked up at Grisham. "The Queen shot me?" he asked, with a look that clearly showed that he wanted to know what Grisham was up to.

"I didn't think that you would want the world to know that your wife was trying to kill you. If the Queen didn't shoot you, then I did. And I have enough problems as it is without shooting my commanding officer."

Montoya smirked and gave a small nod. Grisham was a little surprised at the endorsement of his view of the situation, but he was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Grisham helped the colonel get to his feet, and watched as the man walked over to his wife. Montoya knelt down beside her on one knee just as Dr. Helm rounded the corner of the jail. The doctor had his bag in one hand and was still pulling on his clothes with the other.

"I heard that the colonel had been shot," Helm said, pausing for a moment in front of Grisham.

Grisham worked hard to repress the snide remarks that the doctor always seemed to prompt so easily. This time the situation was serious. "He has... and so has Senora Montoya."

Helm sprinted to the fallen woman. Montoya stood back to make room for the doctor, and surreptitiously handed Grisham Sabina's pistol as he passed by. It didn't take a doctor to tell that the woman had died swiftly. There was blood in the centre of her chest, but the stain was small for her heart had stopped at the same instant the wound had been made.

Helm looked up, his confusion evident on his face. "How...?"

Montoya remained silent, so Grisham took charge of the official story. "The Queen had a pistol pointed at the colonel. We both fired at the same time. The colonel must have moved at the right moment, but so did the Queen. I missed her completely. Senora Montoya must have been drawn here by the sound of swords, as I was. The bullet hit her."

"That was excellent aim for an accidental shooting," noted Helm suspiciously, getting to his feet.

"I'll make sure to get my gun rebalanced," said Grisham.

"The Queen doesn't carry firearms."

//Damn it, why can't he just let this go?!// Grisham could feel his temper starting to get the better of him.

"Maybe she no longer trusts her swordsmanship," Montoya speculated. "I have no idea why she had one tonight. What I do know, Doctor, is that one moment I am looking down the barrel of a pistol and the next my wife is dead." The rare, raw emotion in Montoya's voice rendered both Grisham and Helm speechless.

The doctor was the first to recover. "My apologies, Colonel. This isn't the time for these kind of questions. Let's go to my office and take care of that shoulder."

Montoya suddenly looked very tired. "It's a flesh wound, Doctor. The bullet passed right through. Let it bleed a while. I would prefer that you oversee the placement of Sabina's body in the church. I will find someone to help you and then meet you in your office." Helm looked as if he was going to argue, but eventually nodded his acquiescence. The colonel turned to Grisham. "Find the Queen!" he snarled, then walked away.

Scene 5

He had heard the clash of steel and the shots. For a few minutes, Hector was elated by the thought that he was going to be saved by the Queen of Swords. Then he heard Grisham's shouted command to his men, and his heart sank again. The last touch of his Lucita would be through the bars of this cage and the last sight of his children would be through a hangman's noose.

He was sitting on the narrow cot, lost in these dark thoughts, when Montoya entered the jail. The guard jumped to attention and then exclaimed at the sight of blood soaking the sleeve of Montoya's shirt.

The colonel waved off the concern. "The doctor needs some assistance and your compadres are chasing the Queen of Swords. This man is not going anywhere. Go help Doctor Helm; do whatever he needs you to do."

The soldier saluted and left the jail.

Montoya picked up a ring of keys from the desk and walked to Hector's cell. Hector could see the pain on the colonel's face and the fact that he opened the cell with one hand confirmed that all that blood was his. The Queen had really shot Montoya? And why had the colonel opened the door to the cell?

His confusion must have been obvious, for Montoya opened the door wider. "Understand this," he said slowly and carefully. "The Queen of Swords helped you escape. If I catch you, you will be executed for theft and the slander of my late wife. I suggest you run very far and very fast. Your family can follow you later – if that is what you truly wish."

Hector couldn't think of what to say, his shock was so great. He would hold his wife again and kiss his children. They would have to abandon everything they had worked for here, but he was alive and would rebuild.

It wasn't until Montoya turned away that all the words of his warning permeated Hector's mind. The senora was dead. It was then that he recognized the sorrow and regret that lay beneath the colonel's last phrase -- ‘if that is what you truly wish.'

Epilogue

The funeral Mass had ended and the small church was almost empty. Tessa turned back to take a last look at the one person who had stayed behind. Colonel Montoya had moved from the front pew to one of the side altars. The priest would accompany him within the hour to lay his wife to rest in the small graveyard just outside the pueblo. Montoya had expressed the desire for the burial to be private and no one had felt it necessary to press the issue.

Marta touched Tessa's arm, getting her attention, and they both started back to the buggy. Tessa took note of the change on the announcement board as they passed. "The colonel has repealed the head tax order in Sabina's name. I have a feeling that Monterey won't be clamoring for the money. He would not put himself out of pocket over a woman who wanted him dead."

"You're sure that Montoya's wife tried to kill him? It could just have easily been a ruse to get rid of her."

"But then why not arrange it so the Queen was blamed for her killing? It would have given Montoya an excuse to conscript extra men and the dons would likely have supported him on this. No, Montoya was as surprised to see her as I was, and I have no doubt that he believed she wanted to him dead. Grisham must have believed it as well. Neither bullet came close to me."

Tessa stopped, shivering a little at the memory. "I saw the look on her face, Marta. I am certain there was a plan to blame a death on me, but it was Montoya's death that was supposed to be on my head. That might have been what she had been thinking when she pushed Hector into breaking into Montoya's office. Her whole purpose for coming here might have been to make herself a widow."

She took another look toward the church and for the first time felt something akin to pity for Colonel Luis Ramirez Montoya. "I wonder what it's like to be eternally tied to someone who hates you. I remember him commenting once about a man finding out too late that he had made an unfortunate choice in life partner. At the time, I thought that he was just covering his tracks, or being cynical. I never imagined that he might be talking about himself."

"I wouldn't worry about him too much," said Marta as she linked her arm through Tessa's and started them toward the wagon again. "He probably is marking this as a day of celebration, just like the anniversary of his father's death."

Tessa glanced at the church again over her shoulder. "I can't help but wonder if he might have good reason for celebrating that one, too."

END

©Unfortunate Choice - by Eliza- September 2001

Please send your comments on this story to the author, Eliza.