last time in out of jealousy...
Don Alejandro was approaching now, still with caution, Diego rolled his eyes before turning fully to his father, holding an apple in his hand.
Toronado smelled his favorite snack and bumped against the hand that was holding it.
" Not just yet, old friend, not just yet. Her father, give him this and he will be your friend forever." Diego threw the apple towards his father, who had no trouble catching it.
Don Alejandro reached for the horse with the apple in his hand, Toronado hesitated but the presence of his master and the apple won the battle.
Don Alejandro caressed the horse while the stallion was munching his snack, he know saw the animal in a whole other light, he would be the pride of the ranch one day, when all of this was over.
Don Alejandro saw that his son was lost in thoughts, remembering what he said earlier.
" We will find her Diego."
Diego lowered himself against the wall of the stable, his face in his hands after he gave his father the note he found at the tavern.
Don Alejandro read the note and understood his son's worries, he entered the stable, still with caution for the stallion, who had placed himself next to his master, clearly trying to comfort him by nuzzling his master neck with his soft nose, neighing silently.
Don Alejandro lowered himself in front of Diego, stroking the stallion head at the same time.
" I know this is hard on you Diego, but even you can't do a thing in this weather."
Diego lifted his head letting his chin rest on his knee, his eyes puffed from the silent crying.
" I know father, that is the reason, I here right now, I can't risk Toronado's life, he slipped once already, limping a little, nothing a good rest can't heal, but I feel like I failed her, I...I am so scared I will be too late this time, father, but Zorro is nothing without his team."
Don Alejandro sighed and placed a hand on the shoulder of his torn minded son.
" Even the mighty Zorro can't change the weather, Diego. Victoria is a fighter, you will find her in time you will see!"
" I hope you are right father, I really hope you are right!" sighed Diego
chapter 4
" Hmmm, where am I? What happened?" asked Victoria when she woke up out of her unconscious state.
" look, amigo, our princess in awake! I am going to tell the boss, keep a close eye on her and remember no partying just yet!" Paco said while he walked away to report to Juan Panteras and senora Sinestra. Paco and Ricardo kept their places on the opposite side of where they had tied Victoria.
Juanito and Antonio were guarding the entrance, they never underestimated an enemy, and this job was no exception, no, they were more alert because they heard the reputation of the black fox of Los Angeles, although they were happy to see the weather outside, the tracks would be washed away by the rain and without tracks it would be hard to find her in time, even for a legend like Zorro.
Juanito and Antonio high-fived each other while they laughed as they watched the rain coming down from a black sky, washing away every track in the dessert-sand.
Juan walked to the center of the cave, the place where the prisoner was held, the entire cave existed out of several little caves connected through tunnels.
" Look who decided to wake up after all this time, welcome back my little princess." laughed Juan while he walked towards Victoria.
" Who are you? what do want from me?" asked Victoria with a voice filled with anger.
" Don't answer that, Juan, your first name is the only thing she needs to know for now." boomed a familiar female voice out of the darkness of the cave tunnels.
A hooded figure appeared, she was facing the ground, her face covered entirely, the cloak was giving her a mysterious look.
Victoria was silent for a moment, her face turned towards the woman who just entered the cave.
" You see, Victoria, these men are like well-trained dogs, if you are a good girl and do as I tell you and they will leave you alone," the mysterious woman was now facing Victoria, Victoria gasped in shock, " Alberta Sinestra!"
Senora Sinestra ignored Victoria's shock, " As I was saying, be a good girl and I will be merciful, be a bad girl and I will give you to these men as punishment, every mistake again and again."
Victoria felt her anger rising, " Wait till Zorro finds out! You will wish you would run while you can!"
Alberta took Victoria's chin between her fingers, forcing her to face Alberta, " Tsk tsk tsk, first of all my dear, don't speak to me when your not being asked too, to tell you the truth my dear girl, I got the weather on my side this time, even the famous fox can't follow tracks that are washed away by the torrential rain. You have something that I want, his heart and I will own it when I am through with you!"
" Zorro would never give his heart to a bitch like you, even if you kill me!" she yelled towards Sinestra.
Sinestra laughed and snapped her fingers, Ricardo appeared next to her, let her see what I mean.
Ricardo slapped Victoria's face with the palm of his hand, bruising her face in the process.
Sinestra bent down towards Victoria, " I warned you, honey, don't mess with me! This was only a warning. Zorro will be mine whether you like it or not!" she laughed while standing up, " Juan, you come with me, Ricardo you stay here, we have a second cave to prepare! Don't let her out of your sight for one moment!"
with that, she left the cave and Victoria.
In the meantime the weather changed, the rain stopped falling and the sun had taken it's place and started shining over the desert town Los Angeles, drying everything the rain had touched with his drops.
Diego was eager to start searching again, hoping that Toronado recovered enough to help him in his struggle, help him to find the love of his life, he wouldn't fail her not again. His heart wasn't something that could easily be traded, if Sinestra thinks she could ever own his heart she better think again, his heart belonged to Victoria and that would be for the rest of his life, whether she lived or died.
He made his way down to his cave while he was lost in thoughts. He snapped out of it when he heard a voice down the stairs, he cautiously walked towards the stairs ready to fight whoever was down there, not thinking on the fact that his father knew his secret and easily could be down there, still not trusting the stallion he rode as the fox.
He placed himself in the doorway, leaning his shoulder against the frame of the cave, his arms crossed over his chest, laughing at the sight in front of him, he saw his father walking slowly towards Toronado, his hands in front of him, " I know you master isn't here yet but I just want to check on your leg for him."
Diego kept silent just a little longer watching the reaction of his horse, Toronado had a way to make himself clear to people who took the time to see his signals, the people who knew him.
Toronado shook his head from left to right when he saw that don Alejandro was approaching, he bent his big head to the right when he heard don Alejandro's soothing voice with that little bit of caution still sparkling through it.
He shook his head again before he watched his master like he was saying " seriously ?! Master, is he serious about that? Am I that bad?"
Diego shook his head and found it was time to release his father from his cautiousness.
" Father," Alejandro spun around when he heard his son. " Diego, how long have you been standing there?"
Diego laughed, " long enough, you don't have to be that cautious around him, he has accepted you as one of the team. That makes him the easiest stallion you ever met. He is sweet and loyal, I trust my life to this horse and he saved it more than once." Diego said before he walked towards the stable that was Toronado's home.
" Now boy, let me see that leg of yours?"
Diego touched Toronado's leg, the leg wasn't warm anymore but he wasn't healed for 100 % either.
"Father wasn't there a black horse in that new stock of Andalusian horses you bought?"
" Yes why?" asked don Alejandro confused.
Toronado bumped his head against his master with anger. Diego turned around.
" What? You didn't think I was replacing you?" He asked his stallion. Toronado bowed his head a little ashamed.
"Toronado, you are way to important to me," Diego said while he stroked the strong black neck.
" I need you in top shape for when I find Victoria, I will need you for the hard part of the trip. You are my favorite horse and that will be as long as I live."
Don Alejandro laughed at the sight of his son arguing with his stallion, in other cases he would think the man was loco but he knew the stallion and he knew his son.
"He is right Toronado and once Zorro retires, you get a second job as the ranches first prize steed."
Toronado lifted his head in pride.
" You rest now Toronado because I have a feeling I will need you now more than ever," Diego said before he walked away with his father to get that new horse that he would be using for tracking today. He saddled the horse with the name Diablo, he laughed at the name, some people would think that this would be an excellent name for Toronado!
He mounted the horse, his thoughts towards the woman who held his heart.
" Hold on Victoria, just hold on!"
TBC