Disclaimers: The characters from the Queen of Swords series are copyright to Fireworks and Paramount. No infringement is intended nor revenue expected from their use. The story plot and other characters are copyright to the author, Maril Swan.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Eliza and Terry for their generous help and suggestions with this story.

--------Act Four, Scene 1

"Dr. Helm, what a pleasant surprise," Vera simpered as the doctor strode up the walkway toward them. He could see her playfully nudge Tessa with her foot under the table. "This must be a social visit. There's no one here who is sick. You must have come to see Tessa because you never ride all this way to see me."

Helm suddenly felt ill at ease, outnumbered and outflanked by two beautiful women. He knew his cheeks were starting to redden, but there was nothing he could do about it. With a crooked smile, he said, "Actually, I did come to see Señorita Alvarado. It concerns an incident at her hacienda last night."

Tessa opened her fan and waved it languidly. Finally, she said, "What incident, Doctor Helm? I have heard nothing this morning."

"It seems the Queen of Swords paid your place a visit and created a little havoc. Two soldiers are badly wounded, another with a few bruises. Just thought you would want to know. Oh, and the workers are on their jobs again today. Apparently, the Queen's visit put some sense into their heads. I was getting tired of plastering salve on whip cuts and bandaging up broken ribs."

"Please sit down for a few minutes, Doctor and join us for some refreshments. It is already very hot." Vera looked across the patio at Marta sitting near the garden wall, a basket at her feet and some sewing in her hands. "Marta," she called sweetly, "Would you bring the doctor a glass of your excellent lemonade?"

Helm sat down opposite Tessa and tried not to stare. She had dark circles under her eyes as if she had not been sleeping, and her face was slightly flushed. 'Poor girl,' he thought, 'this latest scheme of Montoya's has really taken its toll on her. She looks tired and depressed.' Aloud he said, "Señorita Alvarado, if there is anything I can do to help you in your present difficulties, you have only to ask. I think it is appalling that an impostor has taken possession of your property and seems to be getting away with it. Is there no way you can prove your identity other than waiting for something from Spain?"

Marta poured Helm a glass of lemonade then set the pitcher on the table. "There is one thing, Doctor Helm," she said. "Tessa has an unusual birthmark on her lower back. If we can find the doctor or midwife who delivered her, we can prove that Tessa is the real Maria Theresa Alvarado."

Helm's eyebrows shot up and he grinned. "A birthmark! Of course. Irrefutable proof. Marta," he said heartily, "you're a genius!" He turned his attention to Tessa whose colour had deepened to a most becoming rose. "Where is this birthmark exactly and what does it look like?"

"Stand up, please, Tessa," Marta said, pulling her arm to drag her to her feet. "We'll show the doctor where it is."

"Marta, really," Tessa protested, as she stood up unwillingly.

Helm winked at Vera, and she laughed lightly. They were both enjoying this little diversion. "It's all right, Señorita Alvarado. I'm a doctor. I've seen lots of backs and birthmarks."

Marta turned Tessa around and pulled her blouse out of the skirt, high enough for everyone to see a warm red mark shaped like a half-moon, nestled in the hollow at the base of her spine.

"A very intriguing shape," Helm commented, leaning in for a closer look. "The birthmark, I mean." He laughed as Tessa turned abruptly and pulled her blouse down, fixing him with an angry glare.

"If you're all finished having your fun," she said hotly, and with a swish of her skirt, she stormed off toward the house.

Vera compressed her lips and sighed. "I have tried everything I can think of to get her mind off her hacienda. It's all she thinks about. So very distressing for her." She turned to Marta. "Why did you not tell us about this birthmark before? I will get Gaspar to start asking among the dons to see if they know who delivered babies around the time when Tessa was born. The midwife may still be living in this area somewhere. And, Doctor Helm, perhaps you could ask around the pueblo. Someone must know where she is."

"It's certainly worth a try, and may be her only chance. Thank you, Marta," Helm said with a warm smile. "You may have the key to saving your mistress' property."

----------Act Four, Scene 2

"My dear, you are getting worked up over nothing." Montoya placed both hands on Sofia's shoulders, smiling into her eyes. "It is exactly what I told you would happen. I know that vigilante. She does not kill anyone who is unarmed, and I have never known her to kill a woman. She is harmless really, rather pathetic. Do not worry; she will not come back. And if she does, I have given you more soldiers to protect you." He patted her arm paternally and moved across his office.

"Colonel Montoya, it isn't that she sneaked into the house and held me a swordpoint. It was what she said that I have started to worry about. She warned me that you would kill me as soon as I was no longer useful to you. How do I know you will not?"

She swept across his office with a swirl of rich satin. He recognized one of Tessa's formal gowns. Montoya had to stop himself from ruefully shaking his head. 'So overdressed for this time of day,' he thought as he surveyed her attire and cosmetics. 'Too much rouge and powder, not enough innocence,' he decided looking into those hard eyes. 'She will not hold up much longer as Señorita Alvarado. A child could see through her masquerade.'

"We must wait a few more weeks, Sofia, before you can legally transfer the ownership of the hacienda to me. Then you will receive your reward, enough gold to go anywhere and start a new life. You could be a lady in another place and no one would know where you actually came from. Think of that, my dear. A second chance, with money to keep you in style."

"And in the meantime? No one here will speak to me, the hacienda workers give me surly looks and the cook makes nothing that I can eat. I don't know how much more of it I can stand. At least in Monterrey, I was well liked."

"Of course you were, Sofia," Montoya said soothingly, "And you will be again. Have patience. You will soon have the last laugh when you leave here with a fortune."

Somewhat mollified, Sofia moved to the door. She smiled coquettishly. "Why don't you come out to my hacienda for dinner, Colonel? We could spend a most entertaining evening together. Some food and wine... Who knows where it could lead?"

Montoya stepped close to her and kissed her hand. "A very fine idea, my dear. How about tomorrow night?" He gazed warmly into her eyes, and pressed her hand to his cheek. "I will look forward with great anticipation to our evening together, my dear Sofia."

With that, she swept grandly out of his office. He restrained himself from slamming the door. 'Your hacienda indeed!' Montoya thought wrathfully. As soon as he was sure the woman was out of earshot, Montoya sent his orderly for Grisham. He had something urgent for the captain to do.

---------Act Four, Scene 3

Tessa sat alone in her room at the Hidalgo's, brooding, discarding one plan after another. She had finally decided to go to Monterrey to find someone who knew Sofia del Campo and was willing to come to Santa Helena to identify her. But that would take money, and all her money was locked in the hidden room at the hacienda. 'It looks as if I will have to pay a return visit to the villa tonight to get my gold. They shouldn't be expecting me again, not after last night.'

She was shaken from her reverie by a sharp whisper from the window. Grisham stood there peering in and grinning. Tessa was incensed but controlled it. "Don't you believe in knocking on doors, Capitan?" she asked brusquely. "This is the second time you have sneaked up on me. You should give a girl a little warning when you plan to visit."

"Open the window a little wider so I can get in," he said in an undertone. He glanced around furtively, checking to see if he was observed.

"You must be joking if you think I'll let you in here," she answered sharply. "What do you want?"-- 'Other than the obvious' she added to herself.

"I can't tell you if you won't let me in," he said urgently. "Listen, I have some news about the impostor."

Reluctantly, Tessa undid the latch on the casement and opened it. Grisham lifted himself onto the sill, swinging his legs into the room. He stood and reached for her, and met her hand, again fending him off. "What the hell...?" he muttered. "You like to play games, is that it? Hot then cold? Well, I like to play games too. This one's called "Kiss and Tell". You give me a kiss and I tell you what I know."

"I thought you were a gentleman, Capitan. That is not how a gentleman behaves." She smiled at him coyly. "Tell me what you know and I will decide if it is worth a kiss or not."

He sighed heavily. "All right. Montoya is sending some thugs out to your place tonight. He wants it to look like a robbery, but the plan is to kill Sofia. Then he'll confiscate the hacienda in the name of the Crown and buy it for back taxes." He bent his head toward her. "Is that worth a kiss?"

Tessa let him pull her close, trying not to offer too much resistance. All her instincts, however, cried out against this — she despised him, was revolted by him — yet, there was an attraction. Ever since their time in the mine together, she had seen him in a slightly different light. As his lips brushed against hers, at first exploringly, then more insistently, she felt her body start to betray her. The rush of desire made her knees weak.

She pushed away suddenly, as she thought she heard her name called. There it was again. Vera was coming, calling for her. Grisham's mouth dropped open and she could see he was scared. If Vera should find them together...

"Get out quickly!" Tessa said, pushing him toward the window. He leapt to the sill and was out of sight just as Vera opened the door.

"Tessa," she pouted prettily, "Didn't you hear me calling you? Let's go into town. I want to do some shopping." Vera came in and looked at her more closely. "Are you feeling all right, Tessa? You look flushed. I hope you are not coming down with something." She moved to the window and pushed it closed. "You should not keep the window open so wide. It lets in the heat. Maybe that is the trouble. Too much heat."

"Yes, too much heat is the problem, Vera," Tessa said a bit breathlessly. "A visit to town sounds like a fine idea."

--------Act Five, Scene 1

Getting in was the easy part, getting out again with a bag of gold would be much harder, the Queen decided as she lifted heavy bag and tied it to her belt. To make matters worse, it clinked when she walked. Tessa pushed open the door to the secret room, stepped out into the wine cellar and closed it carefully. She wondered if Grisham had his facts straight. She had been down here for nearly an hour and so far no robbers had shown up. 'Other than me,' she corrected herself with a grin.

Stealthily, she crept up the stairs to the main floor, and sidled along the corridor to the kitchen. The only illumination came from the moonlight casting white rectangles on the tiled floor. Tessa moved a chair into the shadows in the kitchen near the wall, and sat down to wait. 'What if they don't come,' she thought. 'What if Vera decides to come into my room at her hacienda and finds I'm not there? How will I explain that?'

Suddenly, she heard a creak, then a scrape as if something was being opened. 'I kept meaning to get one of the workers to oil that door,' she reminded herself as she arose from the chair. 'Maybe I should just leave it the way it is.' She was struck by the stupidity of the robbers; they were coming in the front door. 'I would have come in through the kitchen,' she thought contemptuously. 'Amateurs!'

With her hand firmly on the hilt of her sword, Tessa slipped back along the corridor and into her bedroom. Once more she found Sofia asleep, this time not alone — another dark head lay alongside hers.

'Great,' Tessa thought, 'now I have to save two of them.' She pressed herself against the wall behind the door, listening intently for the stealthy sounds of someone creeping toward the room. She quietened her breath, tensely alert for the attack.

The door handle began to turn with a small grating sound, and suddenly the door burst open and two men rushed in. Tessa flattened the first one with the hilt of her sword across his jaw, and jammed the second man with the heavy door. She opened the door quickly and he fell into the room. She booted him in the head, and he lay still.

Sofia awoke screaming and hauled the bedclothes over herself. The man beside her leapt from the bed and reached for a gun, but instead of aiming for the Queen, he turned it toward Sofia. Tessa threw her dagger, striking him in the chest. He fell onto the floor with a loud thump.

Breathing hard, Tessa hauled Sofia from the bed, sheets and all, and dragged her out of the room toward the back door. The woman was in such a state of shock, she nearly had to be carried. "Come on," Tessa said gruffly, "We've got to get you out of here. No telling how many more men he's sent."

She opened the kitchen door and thrust Sofia through it, then whistled for Chico. She mounted and pulled Sofia up behind her. "Hang on. We're in for a long chase if I know Montoya. He may be have been expecting me and set a trap somewhere."

She turned toward the coast, hoping any ambush would be set for the main road to Santa Helena. Behind she could hear the drumming of many hoofs and knew she did not have much of a lead. The coast road was her only chance; there were many caves and canyons along the way where she could hide in the darkness. If she could only get far enough ahead to reach them.

Chico's great chest heaved with the exertion of carrying two riders, one inexperienced and in danger of falling off. Sofia gripped Tessa's waist so hard, she could scarcely breath. Ahead she finally saw the rock formations and the blue sea. There was a trail down to the beach and Tessa took it, slowing her horse over the rough terrain, then urging him along the sand.

She took a quick look behind and saw the riders still coming after her. There was a bend ahead and a honeycomb of caves. She would hide in one and hope they rode past. As they passed the bend, Tessa aimed straight for a cave that was half-submerged by the tide. "No!" whimpered Sofia, "You'll drown us."

"Keep quiet, if you want to live," Tessa snapped. She urged Chico into the water and he waded into the cave. In the infernal darkness all sounds seemed amplified. Their breathing, the push and pull of the waves, and then the pounding of hoofs down the beach. Soon the hoof beats diminished and Tessa breathed a deep sigh of relief. "We'll stay here for a while until I'm sure they're gone."

Sofia was shivering with cold and the aftermath of terror. All that covered her was the sheet from the bed. In a quavering voice, she asked, "Why did you save me? I tried to have you killed last night and tonight you saved my life. Why?"

"Maybe because Montoya has a way of making people do things they would never do by themselves. Or maybe because only you can serve justice. Confess to being an impostor and you will be safe. I promise you. But you must tell the truth before witnesses. How the documents were stolen. Only the truth will set you free. And then you must get as far away from here as you can. Leave California, go to Spain or Mexico."

Sofia trembled and clung to the Queen like a lifeline. "He sent those men to kill me, didn't he? They weren't really robbers, they were assassins." For several minutes, she leaned against Tessa's shoulder, trying to get herself under control. At length, she murmured, "I am an impostor. Montoya promised to make me rich if I impersonated this Maria Theresa Alvarado. What is she to you, that you would take such risks for her?"

"She's a friend who was wronged."

"She's lucky to have a friend like you. I wish I had such friends." Sofia began to weep, her great shuddering sobs shook Tessa and made the horse sidle with nervousness.

Tessa wanted to comfort her, but Sofia was behind her on the saddle so all she could do was pat Sofia's head compassionately and whisper, "Sometimes it takes facing death to give you new life. Maybe you could make a fresh start somewhere."

The pursuers seemed to have gone, so Tessa prodded the horse out of the cave and along the beach. She took the trail back to her hacienda, watchful for any ambush.

Sofia gripped her waist harder, her voice edged with panic. "You're not going back there? Are you crazy? We'll get caught!"

Tessa turned slightly, observing the wan face and startled eyes of her passenger. "I've got to get those papers before Montoya does. Without them, Maria Theresa does not have any proof of her ownership of the hacienda. They were stolen from the house, were they not?"

In a subdued voice, Sofia answered, "Yes. The papers were taken a few weeks ago while the señorita and her maid were in town, so Montoya told me. But, you do not need the documents. I will confess before witnesses and then your friend, Maria Theresa, will get her hacienda back."

"I don't think it will be that simple. Besides..." Tessa laughed, as she kneed Chico into a fast trot, "you will need some clothes. Unless you plan to go around in a sheet from now on. Where did you hide the papers?"

"The valise is hidden in the bureau, beneath some underclothing," Sofia said with a hint of pride in her voice.

Tessa shook her head ruefully. "That was the best hiding place you could find? It's the first place they will look!" She snorted in disgust and pressed the horse to go faster.

The rest of the return journey was accomplished in silence. As they neared the rise above the villa, Tessa slowed her horse to a walk. She halted on top of the hill overlooking her home where the crosses of her parents' graves stood like sentinels guarding their daughter's land. She slid off and helped Sofia alight.

"Stay here and don't make a sound," Tessa whispered. "I'll be back as soon as I have the documents and some clothes for you. Then, I'll take you somewhere safe. Trust me." With that, she slipped away into the shadows of the buildings, working her way to her bedroom window.

The glass from the broken window crunched loudly under her boots as she reached for the sill. She froze and listened, but there was no other sound. With a quick leap, she landed inside the dark bedroom and ducked with a hand on her sword. The room seemed empty. She went to the door and leaned her ear against it, stilling her breathing to catch any sign of movement inside the villa. All seemed quiet, as if nothing eventful had happened a few hours ago.

Tessa glanced around her bedroom. Everything was the same as she left it except the body of Sofia's lover was gone. 'Is he dead?' Tessa wondered with a sickened feeling in her stomach. Swiftly, she moved to the bureau and began to search the drawers. Her gloved hands rifled through Sofia's highly-scented lacy things which she was glad it was too dark for her to see. Finally, she felt the hard edges of the valise and pulled it out. 'Now to get Sofia something to wear,' she thought.

At that moment, she heard bootsteps coming toward the door. A male voice said, "Montoya wants those papers tonight! He sent me as soon as he heard the woman had escaped. She probably hid them somewhere in the bedroom." This last statement was followed by the door being thrown open and two soldiers marching in.

Tessa dashed to the window, as the men entered. As their startled gaze fell upon her, she laughed. "Looking for this, boys," she taunted, waving the valise, as she vaulted out the window. Two shots followed her, but Tessa knew her territory. She ran for the stable and hid in its shadow as she made her way back up the hill toward Sofia and her horse.

Breathlessly, she called to Sofia, "Come on! They're after us ...again." With a swift leap, she was on her horse. She hauled Sofia up behind and once again, galloped off, this time toward the Hidalgo hacienda, hoping to reach safety.

---------Act Five, Scene 2

It was late morning when Colonel Montoya glanced up at the sudden rap at his office door. For a long moment, he continued to stare across the room toward the window, putting off this confrontation which he knew would come today. The second rap, a little louder, roused him to a peremptory, "Come!"

Two women and a man stepped in, and the colonel noted one of the women held a brown leather valise. He arose from behind his desk, his features schooled into a carefully bland mask. "Buenos dias, señorita..."

"Alvarado," she finished for him with a pert smile. "There has been a very interesting development since yesterday, Colonel. It would seem that the impostor has had a change of heart. She decided to give up the ruse of being me, and turned over the stolen papers." Tessa smiled sweetly as she proffered the leather folder. "These documents prove beyond doubt that I am the true Maria Theresa Alvarado."

Montoya took the valise gingerly and turned it a few times in his hands. He glanced at Doctor Helm then at Marta, who had accompanied the young woman into his office. He shook his head. "She had these papers, now you have them. I am afraid that as proof of your identity, these documents are now worthless. The Alvarado hacienda will remain under the protection of the Crown until you can furnish irrefutable proof that you are the daughter of Don Rafael Alvarado. I was derelict in my duty before in not asking for proof when you first arrived here. I will not make the same mistake again." As if that concluded the interview, Montoya moved back to his desk and dropped the valise onto it.

Dr. Helm stepped past Marta, and picked the folder up, handing it back to Tessa. "Actually, Colonel, we have that 'irrefutable proof'." A playful grin stole over his face as he watched Montoya's startled reaction. "A birthmark. When Señorita Alvarado was born, the midwife noticed a singular birthmark on her back. We have found the midwife. She attended most of the births among the wealthy families at the time of Señorita Alvarado's birth. Because of its significant meaning to her people, she remembered the birthmark. It is shaped like a half-moon. Though she is very old now, she is willing to come to Santa Helena and verify the mark."

The colonel focussed intently on Tessa. He snorted disdainfully. "Am I supposed to take your word that this birthmark exists?"

"If you insist on proof, Colonel, I will provide it." Tessa turned to Marta, trying to stifle the laughter that kept trying to bubble up from inside. "Marta, if you will help me, we will show this birthmark to the colonel." She turned away as Marta moved forward and loosened Tessa's blouse from under the skirt.

Another hand, not Marta's, touched the bared skin of her back. She inhaled sharply from the shock, unprepared for the rush of feeling from his gentle, probing fingers.

"Are my hands cold?" Helm asked solicitously.

"A little. It's all right." She felt her skirt moved down to the base of her spine. Her face burned from embarrassment. His hands were so warm and soft, she almost felt weak from the lovely sensations of his touch on her body. His finger moved to a spot in the small of her back and he tapped on it.

"There," Helm said, as he touched the small crimson half-moon shape. "Satisfied? Or do we need to bring Señora Peña, the midwife, here too?"

It was all she could do to hold in the nervous laughter at how ridiculous this scene must look. She heard Montoya murmur something and then the doctor carefully pushed the skirt back into place and pulled the blouse down to cover her once more. Tessa turned in time to see the colonel wave his hand, and catch the expression of defeat on his face.

"That will not be necessary. As the law in this territory, it is my duty to ensure that the Crown's land grants are kept in the hands of their legal owners. I am satisfied that this lady is the true daughter of Don Rafael Alvarado on whom the King bestowed the land grant. Thank you for your diligence, Doctor Helm, in helping to clear up this matter."

Montoya took Tessa's hand and pressed it warmly. "I never for a moment believed in the impostor. But, of course, my hands were tied, Señorita Alvarado. She had the legal documents, and you did not. What was I to do? I trust you were not too inconvenienced?" He kissed her hand smoothly.

"Actually, Colonel, there is a matter of all the damage that was done to my bedroom by your men. A precious and irreplaceable figurine was broken, my favourite painting was smashed and the drapery around my bed was slashed to ribbons. Will you be paying for those damages?" Tessa smiled innocently into the colonel's darkening grey eyes.

---------Epilogue

Tessa sat on her bed, watching Marta moving from the trunk to the bureau, replacing the clothing that had been removed over a week before.

"I hope this is the last time I will have to do this, Tessa," Marta said with a bright smile. "I washed out these drawers to get rid of the awful smell of her perfume." She turned with her hands on her hips. "I don't know why you gave her so much of your gold and all those clothes. She didn't deserve it."

"What else could I do, Marta? If Montoya had caught her, she would be dead by now. Besides, I wanted her to get as far away from me as possible." Tessa got up and looked ruefully at the drawing of Don Quixote on her wall. The glass was gone and a black bullethole pierced the old knight's shield. She shivered as if it was an omen. 'I'm getting too much like Marta,' she thought, 'reading meanings into everything.'

Marta broke into her thoughts with, "Well, at least, there can be no doubt now who is the owner of this hacienda."

"Yes," Tessa laughed, "for a while, I was beginning to wonder if 'I' knew who I was."

A gentle tap at the door made the two women start. Marta opened it to admit a little girl of about eight years old who shuffled shyly toward Tessa. Her dark hair flopped into her eyes as she lowered her head timidly.

Tessa bent down to her level and asked, "What is it, chiquita?" She pushed the lank hair out of the girl's eyes.

"Patrona," she said softly, "There is a soldier to see you. He said to give you this message. 'Tell your mistress Capitan Grisham is here to see her'. He is waiting on the verandah, señorita."

"Thank you, Tonia. Please tell the capitan I will see him in a few minutes." She ushered the child out and closed the door, sighing heavily as she leaned against it. She tried to smile at the look of confusion on Marta's face.

"What does 'he' want?" Marta asked sharply.

Tessa blushed under the keen scrutiny of Marta's eyes. "During the last week, Grisham was very helpful to me." Her voice dropped to an almost inaudible level. "I may have led him to believe he could court me." She swallowed and lowered her eyes at the horrified look that crossed Marta's face.

After a moment of tense silence, Marta suddenly laughed. "What colour wedding dress do you want?"

Tessa looked up in panic. "Wait a minute, Marta! You have to help me get out of this!"

"Oh no. You got into this mess all by yourself and you must get yourself out of it." Marta started toward the door. "Now let me see. Yes, the small bedroom would make a good nursery," she chuckled as she left the room.

END

©Mirror, Mirror - by Maril Swan - October 2001

Please send your comments on this story to the author, Maril Swan