Hey! Finally finished redoing the chapters. i just changed a few things. Now before we get started I'd like to say a few quick things.
#1- I don't own Zorro, not sure who it belongs to but it ain't me, sadly.
#2- I always welcome reviews but if you have a comment about something you think i should change or something that isn't quite right about my writings, please don't put it in a review, just stick it in a short, preferably polite PM. Thanks!
#3- Please, please, please, please, please review. More reviews = More Chapters
And- I'm trying to decide whether or not to make Cal a feminine Zorro. Please let me know what you think!
Chapter 1-
"Diego," Alejandro called out. Diego looked up from the book he had his nose buried in.
"Yes, Father?" He asked. Alejandro held up a couple sheets of paper in his right hand.
"I have received a letter from my good friend Joaquin Abila. He had requested that we look after his step-daughter while she is in Los Angelos." He said. "He says she has a bad habit of getting into trouble." Diego put down his book.
"Getting into trouble? What do you mean?" Diego looked confused. Alejandro put the letter down.
"He does not write of it but I have heard a few things." He said. "I believe she once spent three nights in jail while her father was away on business."
"Whatever for?" Diego asked. Alejandro thought for a minute.
"If I remember correctly she attacked a soldier when he was beating an old man." Alejandro said. "There have been a few other instances but I do not remember them at the moment." Diego nodded.
"Very well, are you going to?" He asked. Alejandro sighed.
"I do not know." He said. "I would like to do it as a favor to my friend but I'm not sure. . .if she gets into trouble. . ." Alejandro trailed off. Diego nodded.
"I understand," He said. A servant entered the room with a tray and some wine.
"Ah, gracias Pedro." Alejandro said.
-Z-
"Cal," Her father begged, "please stay out of trouble." The girl tossed her long, wavy, black hair off of her shoulder.
"Father," She said. "You know I try not to get into any trouble. It just happens. I do not like to see injustice." Joaquin Abila nodded.
"I know mi chiquita, neither do I, but there is nothing you can do." He said. Anita leaned out of the coach window.
"But there is Father, as Mother used to say, one drop of hot sauce can change the recipe." Joaquin laughed and shook his head.
"Si, and you become more like your mother every day." He kissed her on the cheek and waved to the driver.
"Alright." He yelled as the coach pulled off.
"Good-bye, Father." Cal yelled looking back and waving.
Once they were out of sight of the hacienda Cal leaned out of the window.
"Driver!" She yelled. The man slowed the horses.
"Si, senorita?" He asked.
"I would like to ride up there in the box with you, would you mind?" She called.
"If you would like to, senorita." The driver answered. Cal grinned as the driver slowed the coach.
-Z-
Diego dismounted his horse.
"Ah, Don Diego." The fat Sargent called. "What are you doing in town?" Diego smiled.
"A friend is coming in on the coach, I am here to pick her up." He said. "What are you up to this fine day?" Diego asked. Sargent Garcia wiped the sweat from his face.
"We are patrolling the pueblo. A couple peons committed some vandalism last night, the commandante ordered us to." Garcia sighed. "It is hot work, Diego." Diego tried not to laugh.
"How about a glass of wine?" He asked. Sargent Garcia's face lit up then darkened.
"I'm sorry Diego. The commandante has given me my orders." He said. Diego nodded.
"Perhaps next time." He offered. Sargent Garcia smiled.
"Thank you Don Diego. I must be going." The Sargent gave a half bow and walked off. The coach pulled into Los Angelos.
-Z-
Cal looked around the small town. A few people scurried around the plaza. One very fat Sargent and one very small Corporal marched in the direction of their garrison. A fancily dressed young man stood with a servant.
"Would you like some help getting down, senorita?" The driver asked her. Cal shook her head.
"No thank you, I think I can manage." She said, jumping to the ground.
Diego and Bernardo watched from a distance as the girl landed on her feet, her skirts billowing, her eyes flashing. Cal tossed her hair out of her face and looked around.
"Would you like me to get your luggage?" The driver asked. Cal looked up at the top of the coach.
"I think I can manage, thank you for offering." She said, digging a coin out of her purse. "Here, why don't you buy yourself a drink at the tavern. I am waiting for my father's friend to pick me up."
Diego headed toward the girl. She gathered her skirts and climbed the wheel, attempting to get her own bags.
"Senorita Abila?" He asked. Cal turned too quick and her foot slipped. She would have fallen if Diego had not caught her.
"Thank you Senor, you saved me from a nasty fall." She said. Diego sat her on the ground and took off his hat.
"You are Senorita Abila, aren't you?" He asked. Cal nodded.
"Si, I'm Cal Abila, and you are?" She asked. Diego raised his eyebrow.
"Cal?" He asked. Cal nodded.
"Short for California, my father named me in honor of our great land." She said.
"That's a nice name." Diego complimented. "Bernardo can get your bags." Cal shook head.
"I am perfectly capable of getting my own bags." She said, turning back to the stage. "But thank you for offering." Diego gently grabbed her arm before she could climb up again.
"Bernardo will get it." He insisted gently, motioning to the servant then to the bags.
"What are you doing?" Cal asked. Diego turned back to her.
"Oh, Bernardo has been deaf and dumb since childhood, but he would die for me if necessary." He said. Cal smiled.
"It is good to have such loyalty." She said. Bernardo climbed down the side of the coach with a carpet bag
"My father will be in later with a wagon to take your trunks to the hacienda. For now would you join me in a meal at the inn?" Diego asked. Cal tried to help Bernardo with a carpet bag but he wouldn't allow it.
"I am hungry, Senor de la Vega, thank you for asking." She said. "As for my trunks, I only have these two carpet bags. I did not want to over pack." She laughed, motioning to the bag in Bernardo's hand and the one on the ground. "Father has always complained that I do not pack enough, he would like me to be more of a usual young lady." Cal laughed as Diego opened the tavern door.
-Z-
"Father." Diego called, setting the carpet bag on a bench in the courtyard. Alejandro came out of a door on the veranda above them.
"Ah, Diego, I see you've brought back our visitor." He said, coming down the stairs.
"Yes, Father." Diego answered. "This is California." Alejandro raised his eyebrow.
"California?" He asked doubtfully. Cal nodded.
"Just call me Cal, everyone else does." She said.
"Cal?" Alejandro asked. Cal nodded.
"Everyone thought I would be a boy but I surprised them. I've been called that since I was 3." She explained. "It sounds better than California anyway."
-Z-
Thank you everyone for reading! Please, don't forget to review.