Chapter 1

Diego sat at the piano, playing with his left hand as he waved a quill around with his right. Just a few more notes and his latest composition it would be finished...Diego continued to write as his father entered the room.."Diego! They're here."

"You're rather well-dressed," Alejandro looked at his handsome son dressed in his finest suit.

"Well, it's not every day my cousin Rafael makes the journey south from Santa Barbara with a new fiancée, no less. It's hard to believe Rafael is actually getting married."

"Well, he's certainly the proper age."

"Although he's younger than I, don't you mean," Diego smirked. I know that you wish that I would find someone to marry...I already have, Father. You just don't know it yet...

"There are some very attractive women in Los Angeles and it's well past the time for you to marry."

"Who would have me?"

"Any number of women. You have to show a little passion."

"I do have passion. . . for science, the arts, economics."

Several minutes later, the buggy carrying Diego's cousin Rafael and his fiancée pulled up in front of the hacienda. "Rafael! You made it. Your journey went well, I hope."

"It did, Diego. Uncle Alejandro. You got my letter?"

"Indeed. We've been expecting you."

Rafael went back to the buggy and took his fiancée's hand as she stood up. "Permit to introduce Margarita de Madera, my fiancée. My uncle, Alejandro."

"You've chosen well, Nephew."

"My cousin, Don Diego."

"Welcome to our fair pueblo."

"Thank you. I've been looking forward to visiting Los Angeles for quite some time. Of course, it's delightful meeting all of you but the truthfully, I can't wait to meet Zorro."

ZZZ

The de la Vega men and their guest enjoyed the dinner Maria had prepared. "So, Rafael. How did you and Margarita meet," Don Alejandro responded.

"We were introduced by a mutual friend. You remember Dona Amira Sanchez de Montoya. Don't you, Diego?"

"Amira Sanchez? Her brother and I went to university together. She was two years younger than me...She is married to Miguel Montoya."

"They have two sons and a daughter."

I am going to hear an earful from my father later...Grandbabies, Diego. I want grandbabies...Why aren't you married, Diego? The de la Vega line must continue..."That's wonderful, cousin. Give them my regards when you see them again."

"Maybe, I should enlist Dona Amira to do some matchmaking for my son, nephew."

"I am doing quite well on my own, Father," his son sighed, "Father thinks I am a hopeless case, Rafael."

"I introduced him to several of the caballero's daughters and my son is not attracted any of them. He spends all of his time at The Guardian, the mission and don't let me forget...Victoria's Tavern."

"Victoria's Tavern...Does it belong to Ramon and Francisco's sister? She had such a crush on Diego...always following you around...You should have seen Diego back then, Margarita. The calm, studious man who sits before you was quite a daredevil...climbing trees...riding horses...Half the girls in the pueblo were in love with him..."

"You're exaggerating, Rafael," his cousin frowned.

"Your recollections might be different but I remember you and Magdalena...the tall brunette..."

"She is happily married with two children. What does any of this have to do with anything? I thought we were talking about you and Margarita," the tall caballero attempted to redirect the conversation.

"Diego is right, Rafael. Don't tease him. When the time is right he will find the right woman to settle down with," she declared.

"Gracias, Margarita. My nephew has found a charming and wise woman to share his life with. May I propose a toast," Don Alejandro raised his glass of wine for a toast, "To youth. To love."

"And to wisdom," Diego added.

"Can one be both romantic and wise?"

"One had better be, Señorita."

ZZZ

"Diego, what do you think of Margarita?" Rafael admired Diego and valued his opinion.

"She seems nice enough. She is certainly very pretty."

"That's a safe thing to say, cousin." The younger don looked at his cousin thoughtfully. They had been close as boys but Diego seemed so different now...calmer, thoughtful and almost studious.

"I don't know what you want me to say. We have just met. You love her and that is all that matters. I hope you will be very happy together."

"Gracias, Diego. I hope that we will be...Cousin...I hope that I am not being too personal..."

"Just ask, Rafael. What's on your mind?"

"Why haven't you married yet? You're handsome, eligible and well-to-do...Why hasn't some woman caught your eye?"

"I haven't found the right woman yet."

"Los Angeles is small but surely there is some woman within the surrounding area that you are interested in."

"It isn't for lack of trying on my father's part I assure you. It's 'well past time for me to marry' in his own words."

"What about Victoria Escalante? You seemed to be quite taken with her before you went to Spain. Has she married yet?"

"If I didn't know better then I could have sworn that I was talking to Alejandro de la Vega himself."

"Why so defensive, Diego?" The young man looked at his cousin..."You seemed to be quite taken with her before you went to Spain...You would make some woman an ideal husband...I know that you want a family of your own. What prevents you from doing just that?"

"What woman would have me, Rafael?"

"You cannot tell me that there is not one woman in the entire territory that is interested in you..."

""I am not the most exciting person in the world not like...like Zorro," the tall caballero sighed, "Even though some women may find him attractive, I suppose..."

"I hope my fiancée does not become one of Zorro's many admirers."

"You don't need to worry about that. Zorro only has eyes for Victoria."