Introduction

The man in black fell as the shot hit him in the chest.

"No!" Victoria screamed.

The nightmare ended abruptly, and she sat bolt upright in her bed. "No," she repeated to herself.

Was it real? Had it happened? She got out of bed, and went to the window. Opening the shutters wide, she stared out into the night. The cool air hit her and she breathed.

No, it wasn't real. It hadn't happened. She knew it was a dream, not based on trauma, but based on fears she held deep inside. She could lose her masked hero, any day. All it would take would be a lucky shot from a lancer, and he would die. She needed to work out who he was, and why he was keeping it from her. She was a big girl, she decided. She had the right to know some things, regardless of whether there were dangers. It was dangerous enough to be in Zorro's arms.

She sighed, and rubbed her arms, wishing for his comforting embrace. It was cold in the fresh air. Glancing towards the east she realised that the sunrise was moments away and there was work to be done. The fire in the kitchen needed tending to, and cooking breakfast for the guests of the tavern would be next on the agenda.

Shivering, slightly, she changed from her cotton nightdress to her favourite red blouse and tan skirt, thinking that if she dressed well, she would surely stop the shakes that were nothing to do with the cold. The nightmare was one of many, and try as she might to dispel her fears, there was no way she could. Zorro lived a dangerous life, and she had to cope with it the best she could.

She wondered with a half smile if Zorro visited the tavern without his distinctive costume, and if he liked her red blouse as much as she did. It made her feel brave and capable, and these days it came out a lot more than it had for a long time. She paused and wondered some more. Did he sit at a table and eat her food, and did he have a favourite dish? She smiled and shook her head.

If he came to the tavern, she would surely notice him. Such a tall man would be very distinctive and those eyes that shone through the mask were one of a kind. She couldn't recall seeing anyone remotely close to his stature in the tavern before. Diego de la Vega was tall certainly, but he was far from Zorro's stature. The man had no idea how to use a sword anyway, she told herself.

Zzz

The tavern was bustling within a few hours. She was busy directing her staff and overseeing the more important customers, and was as shocked as anyone else when the cowboy burst through the doors.

She was standing near the de la Vegas, and she was slightly surprised to see Diego stand immediately, his eyes narrowing at the intrusion. He stepped a little forward, in the process, shielding her behind him.

"Senores," the cowboy gasped. "The spring…don't drink from it…Up near the cliff tops…don't drink from it."

Diego went forward first, and caught the man carefully as he fell.

"He's exhausted," he said, glancing up at his father. "Looks like he ran a great distance."

"I'll get him a glass of water," Victoria said, moving towards the kitchen.

The man gave a moan, and became completely still in Diego's arms.

"He won't need the water, Victoria. The man is dead," Diego said.

Alejandro went to his son, and several dons crossed themselves and left the tavern quickly. Sergeant Mendoza paled and left to fetch the Alcalde.

"What must have happened?" Alejandro said. He stared into his son's eyes.

"Poison?" Diego murmured. "Why couldn't he just say the spring was poisoned? It would have taken less words, and far less energy."

"Dying men aren't the most rational of creatures, Diego."

"It's worth investigating the cause of the problem. Scientifically," Diego said. He stared towards the location of the suspect spring. "I could analyse the chemical components of the water and discover a solution."

"Science, Diego? It is worth just avoiding the spring altogether. Obviously the man was poisoned. You always delight in overthinking everything you come across, don't you?"

Alejandro left the tavern, and Diego stared after him with a frown on his face. The dead man still lay in his arms, and he lowered the body to the floor.

"Diego," Victoria said softly. "If you want to go out to the spring, I think it is a great idea."

"My father is right," Diego said. "I am always neglecting my responsibilities at home and investigating tangents."

"I'm not sure what you mean, Diego, but you do a lot of good for this pueblo. You and your father are just very different men, and it troubles you both at times – I can tell."

The Alcalde entered the tavern, and asked a few questions. Diego answered with short answers and left the tavern.

Victoria watched as the soldiers carted the dead man away, but her thoughts were with her friend. Diego was feeling unappreciated, she thought. She would have to make it up to him with one of his favourites, one of her flans would do the trick, she was sure.

Zzzz

Zorro raced his stallion across the plains towards the pueblo. He was taking a risk going to the tavern in broad daylight, he realised, but he had to see Victoria. It was becoming an obsession with him, he knew, but he could not help himself much during the last couple of weeks. He needed to be in her arms at least once every two days, and soon he felt it would be every day. He wasn't sure what he could do about it, and he knew that he didn't want to ration himself.

Her eyes always warmed when she saw Diego enter the tavern. Her eyes positively lit up with joy and excitement when Zorro swept her up in his wild embrace.

He swung out of the saddle, thankful that siesta in the summer made everyone drowsy. He had slept late that morning, so he wasn't feeling the drowsiness just yet, but the heat would get to him sooner or later. He climbed the wall easily, the habit becoming second nature. Creeping along the tiles, he looked for his usual window where he could swing down and eventually land in the kitchen with his beloved.

She was in the kitchen, washing dishes. It had been a few days since the cowboy's mysterious death, and the customers were slow in returning. The stigma of death in a place was always so strange, Zorro thought as he watched her from above. Silently, he made his way down to her, and managed to startle the woman.

"You!" She breathed, when most other women might have screamed. "You could have frightened me to death," she added, hitting him with the drying cloth, as she put down the plate.

He swept her into his arms, and held her close. His lips were on hers and she gradually moved her arms to travel around his neck to hold him closer as he kissed her.

She touched his hair at the back of his neck, and he flinched a little. It was a little too close to his mask for him to ignore it. He broke off the kiss, and took a step back, but still held her.

"Victoria, mi querida," he said. "You are tickling me." He gave a chuckle to conceal his concern, and moved away.

"I'm sorry. Your hair is so soft, Zorro."

"Hmm," he murmured, staring at her face for a moment. He glanced away and towards the door.

"What's wrong?" She asked with such a tone of innocence, that he was prepared to believe that her fingers had been completely free of intent, and he smiled at her.

"I heard about the man who did in the tavern the other day. I was concerned about the spring he was talking about," Zorro said. "I was also concerned about you. I just couldn't come any earlier. You were well looked after anyway."

"You're not jealous of Diego de la Vega, are you Zorro?" Victoria said with a slight frown. "He is my closest friend, and that is all."

"I have been delayed by other things, and that is what frustrates me," Zorro said. "Diego is no threat."

In his heart he wondered if that last statement was true. Part of him hoped it wasn't true. Part of him hoped it was. He sighed, and wondered how he had gotten into such a mess with himself.

"I am planning on going up to check on the spring. Diego de la Vega may be able to analyse the water for me. It wouldn't do to have the other springs contaminated as well. Some of the springs flow into the main water supply for the pueblo," he said. "I was wondering if you would come for a ride. The tavern is closed for siesta and it will be a few hours before you will be needed again. I would get you back in plenty of time."

She hesitated and glanced at the half finished washing up. "Only if you will help me finish the kitchen chores I will have to neglect," she said. She smiled at Zorro's look of mild annoyance, and wondered as it changed rapidly into calm acceptance.

He took her hands and kissed them both, and speedily agreed.

"If that is the only toll I need to pay to spend the afternoon with you, I will gladly pay it – every day."