Author's note (given pamz' review): I'm sorry if the formatting makes it harder for you to read this story. It is, however, deliberate, stemming from my own preferences. If you prefer more white space between the lines, you can click the big E at the top right of the story a couple of times to increase it. Enjoy :)


Chapter 1 ―
Missing

`Padre?'
Padre Benites looked up from his book.
`Señorita Escalante! What brings you here this fine Friday morning?'
`I'm sorry to disturb you, Padre. It's just... I really need to talk to someone.'
The padre noticed she appeared upset. With a concerned look he invited her to join him on his porch.
`What is the matter, my child?' he asked kindly.
The young woman sat with hunched shoulders and wrung her hands. Her behavior worried the priest. She was usually such a strong and cheerful woman.
`Victoria, please. What's wrong?' he pleaded.
`It's Zorro!' she blurted. `You know he has been pardoned?'
Padre Benites nodded. A messenger had arrived in the pueblo three days earlier, bearing the pardon for Zorro and any accomplices. Many people had expected Zorro to appear, but he had not.
`He hasn't come for me,' Victoria sobbed.
`You expected him to?' the padre asked.
`Yes! I thought he would fulfill his promise.'
`Everyone assumed he would take of his mask,' he agreed.
Victoria shook her head violently.
`I don't mean that. I'm talking about his promise to marry me.'
Padre Benites looked at her in amazement. Had the hero of the pueblo actually proposed to the fiery señorita?
`It was to be a secret until he could take of the mask,' she continued sadly, `and now he can, but he doesn't come for me.'
In an attempt to console her, the padre patted her hand.
`Perhaps there is a reason for his absence,' he said. `When was the last time you saw him, Victoria?'
`Over three weeks ago! Before the royal emissary died,' she replied, while she tried to wipe the tears from her eyes.
He looked at her with a furrowed brow. What could explain Zorro's absence?
`Oh Padre,' Victoria exclaimed, suddenly fearful. `You don't think he is dead, do you?'
`What makes you say that, child?'
`He hasn't been seen since the royal emissary offered him a truce at Diablo Canyon,' she explained wide-eyed. `What if Risendo killed him?'
The priest shook his head. No, he did not believe that Zorro was dead.
`What does your heart tell you?'
Victoria sat silently for a while. What did her heart tell her? Despite her distress she felt hopeful. A small smile appeared on her tear-stained face.
`That he's alive,' she nodded. `Yes, Zorro is alive.'
`Well, then there must be another reason he has not been seen for over three weeks,' Padre Benites concluded. `I can understand why he hasn't been in the pueblo between the death of Emissary Risendo and the day he was pardoned. The alcalde gave him no reason to come.'
Since the death of Gilberto Risendo at the hands of Alcalde de Soto, the man had been downcast. He had not invented any new laws or taxes. He had not illegally arrested any pueblo citizens. He only ordered the lancers to patrol the area and to arrest any bandits they might find. He was afraid of what Don Alejandro might tell the governor, not only about the events that let to him killing Don Alejandro's son, but also about the way he governed Los Angeles.
`Yes, Zorro had no reason to come into the pueblo, because the alcalde was quiet,' Victoria conceded, `except perhaps to see me. I understand why he did not come though. It would have been too dangerous.'
`But why would he stay away after he got a full pardon?' asked Padre Benites. `There is no danger anymore, is there?'
Victoria stared at her hands. Tears welled from her eyes and streamed down her cheeks.
`Oh, Padre,' she cried. `It's me! He stays away because he's afraid of me!'
The priest stared at her with raised eyebrows. What could possibly frighten Zorro about the young woman sitting in front of him?
Before he could ask Victoria to elaborate, she explained, `Zorro thinks that I will not love him anymore once he removes his mask. He's afraid that I will still be in love with Zorro and not with the real man.'
Padre Benites nodded in understanding. The physical danger of bullets and swords had been replaced by the emotional danger of rejection.
`Fear is a strong emotion, daughter,' the padre said while smiling reassuringly, `much like love. It is not easy to overcome.'
Victoria rubbed her hands over her cheeks in an attempt to regain her composure.
`The pardon was probably as much a surprise to Zorro as it was to you,' he continued. `Give him some time, Victoria. He will surely come to you once he has plucked up the courage.'
Victoria smiled at him and nodded.
`Thank you, Padre,' she said gratefully. `That is probably what Diego would have said.'
When he raised his eyebrows at her questioningly, she quickly said, `I'm sorry, Padre. I didn't mean... I'm happy I came to talk to you.'
`But you would have preferred talking to Diego,' the padre concluded with a smile. `You miss him, don't you?'
Diego had gone to Monterey with his father and Felipe almost three weeks earlier. They had left directly after Gilberto Risendo's funeral, because Don Alejandro wanted to speak to the governor and Diego wanted to arrange his adoption of Felipe as soon as possible.
Victoria nodded slowly. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she missed her friend at least as much as she missed Zorro.
`I'm sorry, Padre,' she repeated, `but I must confess that I only came to you, because I could not talk to Diego.'
`It's all right, my child. You are hardly the first.'
Victoria looked at him in confusion. The first? The first what?
`Do you know how many people have come to me for advise only because Diego de la Vega is away?' he asked, though he didn't expect an answer. `You are not the only person who misses him. I do not think there is anyone in this pueblo who does not consider him a friend, except perhaps the alcalde. He does so much for them all.'
Victoria had to admit that everybody seemed to like her friend. Of course he was always friendly to everybody, and he was rarely in a bad mood. But what did he ever really do for the pueblo citizens?
`What has he done, Padre?' she sighed. `He just reads, plays the piano, writes poetry. What good does that do? It's not like he ever did anything against the alcalde's injustice or...'
`Ah, Señorita!' the padre interrupted angrily. `Just because you do not see Diego fighting with a sword and a whip, that does not mean he isn't important to the people of this pueblo! Yes, he reads a lot. Do you know what he reads?'
`Plays, poetry, novels,' replied Victoria.
Padre Benites nodded, and continued her list, `Medical journals, law books, science articles. Do you know why he reads them?'
`I don't know. I guess he likes it.'
`Oh, I'm sure he enjoys it,' he agreed, `but I believe that is not the main reason. I think he reads them because he hopes that he will be able to help people with what he reads, and he does. Many people go to him for advise. In his absence they come to me, although I must admit I can rarely do more than offer prayer and tell them to have faith.'
Victoria listened to him silently. No one had ever talked to her about Diego like this before. The padre's respect and appreciation for the young caballero were clear from his voice.
`You think that playing the piano doesn't do any good, but have you ever listened to Diego play without feeling happy and at peace? His love for music touches everyone who hears it,' the padre continued sternly. `And the poetry he writes! Victoria, you have no idea how his poetry has touched the people of this pueblo. I've taught many of the poems he published in his newspaper to the children at the mission school. They recited them to their parents, friends and neighbors, which has inspired several illiterate people to learn how to read. They wanted to be able to read the poems themselves. After a while they began to read the other articles in the paper, many of which were also written by Diego. Do you see now what good he has done? He helps them in any way he can, like he helps you whenever you need him.'
As he spoke tears began to spill from Victoria's eyes again. She felt guilty for having abused her friend. She felt like she had never really seen Diego. How could she not have known all this about him?
Padre Benites smiled at her. Although he did not enjoy paining the señorita, he thought it was time she learned to at least appreciate the man.
`Do not feel too guilty, my child,' he soothed her. `There is still time to make it right. When he returns, try not to take him for granted. He cares about you, you know. He deserves the same in return.'
`You're right, Padre,' she sighed through her tears. `I have been taking him for granted. He is always there for me. From now on I will be there for him too.'
The priest smiled at her and patted her hand.
`I'm happy to hear that, daughter,' he said seriously, `because I expect the de la Vegas will be back within a few days, and I'm actually a bit concerned about Diego.'
`You're concerned about him?' Victoria repeated worriedly. `Why? Is something wrong with him?'
`From what I know about Diego, I'm afraid he might blame himself for his brother's death.'
`Blame himself?' she exclaimed. `Why would he blame himself? The alcalde killed Risendo, and if he hadn't, Risendo would have killed Diego and his father!'
`I know that, my child, and I'm sure Diego does too, but I still think he will somehow find himself at fault,' said the padre. `So I want to ask you to talk with him.'
`Me? Why?' she asked confused. `Don't you think he has already talked about it with his father or Felipe?'
`Perhaps he has, but men are not always comfortable talking about their feelings,' he confided with a wry smile. `Diego is very guarded with his emotions. I'm hoping you will be able to get him to open up to you.'
Victoria chuckled. Surely Diego was the most open man she knew. But if Padre Benites wanted her to talk with him, then she would.
`I will try, Padre,' she agreed.
`Thank you, Victoria. Please let me know if my concern is founded.'
`I will. Now I must go. I'm afraid I have lunch to prepare,' she replied, while she stood to take her leave. `Adiós, Padre, and thank you.'
`De nada, Victoria. Vaya con Dios.'
With a satisfied grin Padre Benites watched the young woman walk toward the plaza. Oh yes, he had quite effectively settled Victoria's concerns about Zorro and turned her attentions toward Diego de la Vega. How long, he wondered, until the de la Vegas would return? And how long until Zorro would make his appearance?