Chapter 3

But what the old done not knew was that there were four man waiting for him outside the pueblo.

He was riding a mile out of the pueblo when out of the blue a man jumped against Don Alejandro's side with as result that he the old man felt off his horse and was taking by the other gang members and taking to camp.

So Jorge could send Dulcinea back with a letter pinned on her saddle, a letter addressed to his son Don Diego.

Miguel the head vaquero of the De La Vega came running at the hacienda, Totally in panic and out of breath.

"Master Diego? Master Diego?"

Diego who was in the library came running to the hall "What is wrong Miguel?"

Miguel who was still in panic tried to explain as slow as possible. " Master Diego, Dulcinea came back without your father and this was attached to the saddle horn, it's addressed to you. I came as soon as possible!"

He handed the letter to his young master.

" Thank you Miguel."

As he opened the letter he read,

Don Diego,

If you want to see your father again, bring 6000 pesos to Diablo Canyon tomorrow evening and come alone or your father will die!

But what he did not realize was that at the same time his ladylove was taken out of her tavern by the same gang.

It was when Pilar came running in that he begun to panic.

" Don Diego?"

"Pilar, What's wrong?"

Still, in shock she gave Don Diego the letter she found on the table.

" This letter is for Zorro?" Diego tried to be as surprised as possible.

" Yes I don't know how it will reach him but you are her best friend maybe you know a way that it could reach him?"

"Try to relax pilar, I have a message for Zorro to! My father has been kidnapped. I will try what is with in the power of men to let word reach Zorro!" With this words Pilar relaxed a little," "why don't you try to run the tavern until everything is over."

Diego waited just long enough for Pilar to leave for he opened the letter.
On that moment Felipe came true the fireplace when he saw Diego's ocean blue eyes turning into ice.
" You were listening?" Felipe nodded. He could here the anger he tried to control in his voice.

" Who ever did this got my father and Victoria, because the two letter had the same writing and the same text."

Felipe Who was a little worried signed a little Z in the air.

" Yes amigo, saddle Toronado Zorro is Rides to Diablo Canyon!"

They looked around and when nobody was near, they pushed lever on the mantle of the fireplace to sneak to Zorro's liar.

He was getting more and more angry and didn't understand why he couldn't control

his temper like he always does.

Fortunately Felipe was used to the other side of the so called 'mild-tempered caballero.

" I don't understand Felipe, I have a feeling that these bandits aren't amateurs and very dangerous."

While he was changing in his alter-ego he tried all what was in his power to cool down his anger, he knew he couldn't fight in anger because it could endanger the two people who meant the most to him in the whole world.

Normally was Felipe the one who soothed his mentor, but there were days like today that it was just too much for the young mute.
On moments like this Felipe was grateful for the relationship between Diego and Toronado.

Al tough Toronado was as much tempered as his rider, he still was a last resort in calming down his master.

The fire usually could be seen in the horse his eyes, were also a soft as a feather to the people he trusted , it was a side of the horse only Diego and Felipe saw.

Toronado understood Felipe without words because he too spotted the unusual large portion of anger.

Toronado took a step backwards before Zorro could mount his black stallion.

"Toronado, this is not the time to become cocky, we are in a hurry. It is not the time to play games, I need to mount."

Zorro looked at his horse who was shaking his head. " what's got into you all of a sudden? Since when are you refusing to ride out?"

Toronado nuzzled his head against Zorro's shoulder and started to nibble his shoulder as a sign that he needed to calm down first.

" Alright like usual the two of you are right. My anger was too big to ride."

After a few minutes, Zorro started to be his controlled self again. "Thank you old boy, you and Felipe are the best alley someone could wish for. Without the two of you Zorro would be dead already."

Zorro tried to mount Toronado again and this time they were ready to go, when he stopped Toronado.

"Felipe I know you are eager to help me from time to time, why don't you come after me with a carriage, but stay well hidden until you hear my whistle comprende?"

Felipe nodded and signed that he would be waiting behind the big tree a few minutes from Diablo canyon so that there was no risk of been seen together you can say you asked me, just in case.

With that being said Zorro and Toronado rode of into the night knowing Felipe would be following minutes behind him.

After Zorro rode out, Felipe rushed to the De La Vega stables to make a carriage ready and left to the place where he promised to wait.

Felipe, who wasn't naive, had hidden a few pistols and a sword underneath the seats and a dagger hidden in his waistband.