Title: Body and soul
Author: Meg
Summary: Behind the bravado Zorro is the extraordinary mind of Diego de la Vega. Even if the body can't ride more, as long as the mind exist nothing is lost.
The morning was beautiful. Diego, who for last few days stayed at home, decided to make a trip through the neighborhood. His first goal was of course the tavern.
"Hola Diego!" Victoria welcomed him. Even if she saw him every day at the hacienda she still missed him, if he didn't come to the tavern in a few days.
"Hola Victoria!" He answered, still at horseback. "I have finished another landscape for your tavern." Felipe passed her the painting and she looked at it immediately.
She wished to decorate her tavern with pictures and Diego offered to paint some for her. Diego chose to paint Los Angeles landscapes, and his pictures were masterpieces. Sometimes Victoria wondered if such beautiful places were really near by the pueblo, but Diego always could tell her where they were situated.
Victoria looked at the picture she had become today without comprehending. The picture was dark, mostly painted with black, gray and navy colors.
"Diego, what is this?" She asked, thinking he made a joke.
"This, my dear, is Los Angeles at night." He answered and Victoria looked again. Now when she knew what she was looking at, she was able to see it. Yellow and red spots became lights and the gray lines shadows. The beauty of this unusual picture made her speechless and overwhelmed.
She bent and put a deep, long kiss at Diego's lips, temporarily oblivious to her other customers. Only when she broke the kiss she was able to see the unmistakable longing in Diego's eyes.
He couldn't stand it anymore and urged his horse to gallop.
ZZZ
Diego was so stirred about what happened - his feelings, Victoria's feelings - he thought he would explode. As an answer to his wishes Tornado come along, his behavior showed that something had happened.
A few moments later Diego, followed by Felipe, saw what. He saw four dead, naked men lying on the ground. From the traces he concluded a group of bandits attacked a coach. Diego suspected the men were soldiers and tried to defend the coach.
"A riddle, Felipe. Why are the men naked? Why don't we see bodies of the bandits? Where is the coach and who or what was inside?"
'Do you know?' Asked the boy, knowing his friend analytic mind.
"I suppose. If I'm right we must hurry. I'll tell you everything on the way." Diego pointed at the carriage's track. As they galloped he spoke to his young friend.
"As you know, after Zorro's 'death' I ask my friend Carlos, who is magistrate of San Jose for help. He started to send more patrols in this direction what helped to get some bandits away from Los Angeles. However, Los Angeles is a large territory and they can't take care of it forever. The way our alcalde is dealing with the people doesn't help either. People will soon try to revolt. That means repressions and death of innocent people. Carlos and I had send letters to the governor about it, and because the situation became so serious he couldn't ignore it anymore. He decided to send his secretary to investigate."
'You think in that coach was the secretary?' Felipe asked.
"Yes. The soldiers were his protection. He was kidnapped and because the bandits want to hide it they took their dead men and the soldiers' uniforms. Probably they will pretend to be the secretary's protection until they come to their destination. After a few days no one will suspect that these four men are in connection with the missing secretary and no one would ever know what happened." Diego silenced and slowed to look at the track. "I think we are close. I suppose we meet about five or six bandits, some of them may be wounded."
'What will we do? There will be too many of them for an open attack.' Asked Felipe uneasily.
"Yes, and if we come from behind them they will suspect we know what happened. Fortunately the way up here bents and because of the coach they must ride along the road. We will meet them from front."
'What next?' Diego suddenly smiled.
"I find the urge to greet my old friend." Seeing the lack of understanding Diego said. "I think two of them, probably from the wounded ones, will ride inside the coach to keep an eye at the secretary. As you recall I have something exactly suitable for this situation in my bags." Felipe's eyes began to shine.
ZZZ
Like Diego said they met the coach and three men a few minutes later. One of them was the driver, the second and third rode at both sides of the coach. They got at attention seeing two riders, but not in alarm. A few seconds later they met.
"Buenos dias, señors." Diego greeted them.
"Buenos dias, señor." One of them answered.
"Is the road safe?" Was the next innocent question and Diego got closer.
"Are here any roads safe? You better take another way or go back and take guards with you." The leader didn't want them to discover the soldiers' bodies.
"Like you are? Whom are you guarding?"
"Governors secretary." Answered the man without thought. Diego only waited for it.
"O! My old friend!" He cried and immediately was at the coach's window. He had only time to throw in a small bomb, which exploded at once and made all the people inside asleep, before he had to defend himself. The driver came to his compadre to help, while Felipe fought a duel with the other one. In a few moments all was over.
As the first task Felipe took the secretary out of the coach. Then, while the secretary slowly regained his consciousness Felipe bound the outlaws.
"How are you, señor secretary?" Diego asked from Tornado's back.
"I'm fine... I think." With difficulty the secretary lifted himself to his feet. "You're my old friend?" He asked.
"Well... you could be my old friend... or not. I don't know your name." Diego answered with mischievous smile.
"I'm don Luis Corazon." Answered the man.
"Nice to meet you, don Corazon. I suggest you will drive the coach yourself, after we put these bandits inside."
ZZZ
After short work, the bandits secured in the coach, they were on their way. Half-an-hour later they saw a patrol from San Juan approaching.
"We will leave you here. Take care of the killed soldiers, don Luis." Said Diego and turned his horse.
"Wait! Don't I have the right to know who saved me?"
Diego smiled. "This boy's name is Felipe."
Don Luis turned to the quiet boy.
"Thank you. I'm in your debt." The boy nodded with a smile. "And what's yours?"
"I'm... Diego. Good day, señor."
The next moment they were on their way back.
ZZZ
"Don Alejandro!" Victoria called a bit surprised walking into library. "I thought Diego would be here."
"No, he isn't here. I saw him ride to the garden."
"Oh, thank you." Victoria turned to go outside, but Don Alejandro stopped her.
"Victoria..."
"Yes, Don Alejandro?"
He stood and came to her with a smile, yet serious.
"I would like you to know... Your presence here, in the hacienda is very important to us. I don't know what I or Diego would do without you."
Victoria placed her hand on the old don's shoulder.
"It's equally important to me. You, and especially Diego, were the few people who helped me to go on after Zorro's departure. I can't imagine my life without your father like concern, without daily talks with Diego."
Don Alejandro smiled.
"You are welcome here as long as you wish. However, haven't you thought about living your life further? You should marry; have a good husband and bunch of children."
Victoria laughed.
"You couldn't induce Diego to marry so now you try to do it with me?" She asked with a mischievous smile.
"Well... I want babies. If not from him then from you." He answered with a wink and laughed.