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Chapter 2—

Bernardo brought the other carpet bag into the courtyard and sat it beside the first one. A young servant girl followed him.

"This is Buena. She will help you while you stay with us." Diego said, introducing her. Cal shook her head.

"I don't need anybody to help me, I can take care of myself." She insisted. Diego smiled.

"As can I, but we all need someone to help occasionally." He said gently. Cal sighed.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt for a little while." She smiled at Buena. "Hello."

"Hello, senorita." Buena said softly.

"Please, call me Cal." She said, "if I may call you Buena?" Buena nodded and smiled.

"Would you like me to show you your room?" She asked.

Cal looked around the room. The room was tastefully decorated. The Mexican style rugs made the wooden floors look homey. The local Indian pottery sat on shelves and bookshelf. Buena sat the two carpet bags on the bed and began unpacking them. Cal was drawn to the window. She could see for miles and miles.

"Will that be all?" Buena asked. Cal turned away from the window out of which she had been staring.

"You're finished already?" She asked amazed. Buena smiled and nodded.

"Will that be all?" She repeated.

"Oh," Cal said, looking around. "Yes, I think so."

Diego walked into his bedroom. Bernardo followed him into the room and made several rapid hand gestures.

"You're slurring your words together again, Bernardo, slow down." Diego said. Bernardo slowed his hand gestures and repeated them.

"Bernardo!" Diego exclaimed. "While the senorita is very beautiful, I don't think it would be a good idea for El Zorro to fall in love again." Bernardo sighed elaborately and seemed to be disappointed. "Maybe someday my friend." Diego added. Bernardo looked at his friend and began to arrange some papers on his desk.

"Bernardo, please open the door for the Sargent." Alejandro said. Bernardo scurried toward the door and opened it a second before Sargent Garcia could knock.

"It never ceases to amaze me how the little one knows when to open the door." He said, taking off his hat and stepping into the room. "Good afternoon Don Alejandro, Don Diego, I've come to speak to you about one of your vaquero's. Comandante's orders." Alejandro nodded.

"Please, Sargent, come in." He said, motioning to a chair. "What is this all about?"

"Well, Don Alejandro, the comandante believes Miguel Lopez is one of the men who vandalized the fort a few nights ago." Garcia looked contrite. "I'm sorry, Don Alejandro, I'm only following orders." Diego placed a hand on the Sargent's shoulder.

"It's alright Sargent." He said. "We will send someone to get him" Sargent smiled.

"Gracias, Don Diego." He said. Diego motioned for Bernardo to bring some wine for the always thirsty Sargent.

Miguel walked into the sala escorted by two soldiers.

"What is it?" He asked. Diego stood beside him.

"The Sargent has orders to take you in. The Comandante believes you were one of the vandals to the pueblo." He explained. The vaquero looked around wildly.

"It is a lie. I am innocent. Tell them patron, please" Miguel begged Alejandro and Diego. Alejandro began to open his mouth but Diego made a small motion with his hand.

"If you say you are innocent, I believe you Miguel." He said. "But that does not change the fact that you must go with Sargent Garcia. We will be in later to speak to the Comandante."

"Please, Miguel?" The Sargent asked. Miguel sighed.

"Fine, I will go." He agreed.

"Gracias, Miguel." Garcia said. "Now if you're ready." He motioned with his hand.

Cal ran down the stairs and out of the courtyard. It was nice to get a breath of fresh, free air. She wandered over to the barn and inside. A horse stood patiently in a stall with a saddle on the stall door.

"Hello my pretty." She whispered. The horse nickered softly.

"You want to go for a ride?" She asked. The horse neighed. Cal laughed.

"Alright my pet, would you allow me to ride you without a saddle?" She asked. The horse nickered softly again. Cal read the name plate on the stall door.

"La Reina." She said aloud. "The Queen. Such a perfect name for you, my pretty." Cal opened the stall door and jumped onto the horses back without bothering with tack.

"Ride, my Queen, ride as fast as el viento."

Alejandro came storming into the sala, disturbing Diego as he played a tune on the piano.

"Of all the no good, dirty, low down tricks he could have played, why did he have to choose us to play it on!" He fumed. Diego shot up from his seat at the piano stool.

"What happened, Father? Where is Miguel?" He asked.

"The excuse about Miguel being one of the vandals was just that, an excuse!" Alejandro yelled, flinging his cape into a corner. "It was nothing but a dirty trick by our esteemed comandante to get Miguel into the cuartel so that he could arrest him on the charge of being El Zorro." Diego sat back down.

"For being Zorro?" He asked. Alejandro nodded.

"And our comandante has refused to give him a trial. He says that Zorro's deeds against the crown are enough evidence and has sentenced to hang him at dawn." He continued to rant. Diego stood and straightened his jacket.

"Con permiso Father, I believe I will retire, I have a feeling it will be a long night." He said. Alejandro stopped and looked at his son.

"Zorro will ride?" He asked. Diego nodded.

"Zorro will ride."

Spanish-English

Buena-good

gracias-thank you

sala-living room

La Reina-the queen

el veinto-the wind

cuartel-barracks

con permiso- with permission