Disclaimer: No copyright infringement meant with story. Characters owned by ZPI, not by me. I only wish to borrow them for a little while.
AN: Thank you for returning to my story. Hope you are continuing to enjoy this little AU. Like I've said, this story took a different direction than what I had expected, but it sure has been interesting. That Max is one unpredictable hombre.
Previously:
Cautiously, Diego approached Max. He quickly located another knife hidden in Max' boot and threw it into the bushes. Diego quickly tied Max' wrists, unwound the whip from his ankles, and bound them as well. He then went over to Victoria and cut her bonds with a knife.
Taking her into his arms, Diego whispered, "Are you all right, Victoria?"
"Yes, Diego, thanks to you. Again." Reluctantly pulling herself out of his embrace, she looked sideways at Max, sitting on the ground watching them with a sneer on his face. "What are we to do regarding Max?"
"Well, his two comrades are out of earshot; he's the only one who had seen me unmasked," Diego said, replacing his mask. "I doubt the Alcalde will believe him any more than he did before."
Riding towards the pueblo, Zorro hoped he was correct in his assertions to Victoria. Hopefully, his image as an ineffective, harmless dilettante would continue to hold out against any accusations Max might make. Now that Diego's dreams of becoming Victoria's husband were about to come true, he wouldn't be able to bear it if they instead came crashing down around them.
As they rode along, he snuck a glance at Victoria and found her looking at him, concerned. He pasted a small smile on his face, meaning to be encouraging, but Victoria shook her head slightly as if she knew he was worried as well. Zorro leaned over and gave her hand a quick squeeze, then brought his attention to the road ahead.
"We're almost at the pueblo. Let's stop for a moment, Victoria." He dismounted and checked the bonds of all three bandits, ensuring they all remained securely tied up. Walking up to Victoria, Zorro said, "They are secure. You shouldn't have any difficulty bringing them to the Alcalde."
"But…"
"No, I think this time it would be best if Zorro stays away for a while."
Max cackled from his position over the back of his horse. "You worry, rightfully so, de la Vega. Just wait and see, you will be joining us in the jail soon."
Zorro whispered to Victoria, "I know you can do it. Don't allow him to unnerve you, Victoria. I will see you soon." He desperately wanted to kiss her, but didn't want any further nasty remarks coming from Max, so he settled with squeezing her hand again and handed her the reins of the other horses. "Te amo, Querida."
Zorro headed for home, deciding that he will make an appearance as Diego as soon as possible, with Felipe by his side. He sincerely hoped he was right in what he had attempted to convince Victoria. Max still had no proof whatsoever in his claim Diego was Zorro. It would only be his word against Diego's and Victoria's. After all the insults and subterfuge he had to carry out over the years, Diego hoped it all had been worth it to build a reputation as the "useless" Diego so strong it would convince the Alcalde no matter what crazy claims Max or any other person might make.
As soon as Toronado entered the back entrance to the cave, Felipe was at his side, needing to see for himself Diego was all right. At his insistent signing, Diego shook his head as he dismounted. "Give me a moment to change, Felipe. Then we have to go into the pueblo."
Felipe gave a silent exhale of disgust but took Toronado's reins and led him over to his stall. He began to rub him down while Diego changed, but as soon as Diego was done, Felipe gave Toronado one last pat and rushed to Diego's side. "All right, all right. I understand your worry," Diego said with a sigh.
Felipe signed, "What happened?"
Diego shook his head. "Well, I tried to sneak up on them, and did get the two other bandits tied up and unconscious. However, Max outwitted me and was holding Victoria by the throat, asking me to unmask."
Felipe shook his head, the worry apparent on his face.
Diego attempted a reassuring smile. "The other two bandits were out of earshot and eyeshot when this was happening, and they were still unconscious anyway. Victoria was wonderful. She was able to take advantage of Max's distraction after I unmasked to get out of his grasp. I was then able to disarm him, after a short swordplay." After a pause, he said, "I sent Victoria to the pueblo to bring them to the Alcalde."
Felipe signed, "Why didn't Zorro accompany her, just in case?"
"I made sure the bandits were all tied up securely, and I thought it be better if Zorro didn't ride into town at this time. Because all Max would say was that Diego was Zorro, and perhaps the Alcalde would be better convinced if Zorro was right there as Max was making those accusations." Diego shrugged helplessly.
A look of concern again crossed Felipe's face. He signed, "I still am very worried, Diego."
"Well, I guess I am too, to be honest." Diego gave a one-shoulder shrug. "Let's get to the pueblo and make sure everything is truly all right."
~~Z~~Z~~Z~~
Diego and Felipe made it to the pueblo in record time, heading straight to the tavern. After dismounting and securing their horses, they rushed into the tavern and looked immediately for Victoria, who was surrounded by her staff and patrons.
The crowd parted to allow Diego to approach Victoria, who took her in his arms. "I am so relieved you are all right." Breaking the embrace, Diego looked at Victoria, searching her eyes for the truth. "You are all right, aren't you?"
"Oh yes, Diego. Zorro was able to rescue me from those bandits. They didn't harm me." Acting as if an idea occurred to her, she asked, "How did you know I was here?"
"Zorro stopped by the hacienda to inform me you were all right and to apologize for having to let you proceed alone to the pueblo with the bandits."
"Yes, he had to go chase several other bandits. I told him I was capable of bringing Max and his men into town by myself."
"Of course she was," Alicia said, her pride in her employer and friend evident in her voice.
"Oh, but Diego, you once again had to allow Zorro to do your work for you, didn't you?" Don Roberto, an older man well-known for his barely hidden disgust of the younger caballero, said.
Affecting his 'lazy Diego' mask, Diego sighed. "Yes, sadly indeed, I had to allow Zorro to rescue my fiancée. But what could I do?" He raised his hands helplessly, palms up. "The kidnappers did ask for him, in the ransom note, after all."
"Oh yes, Diego, what's this nonsense I hear about that bandit Max again insisting he saw Zorro unmasked, and it was you under the mask?" Don Roberto asked with a sneer.
Luckily Diego was still holding Victoria by the hand and was able to discreetly squeeze it, reminding her not to react. "Oh, that silly rumor is still going around, of me being Zorro? I still haven't heard of anything more ridiculous than that. Even Victoria, who loves me, gladly admits I cannot be the masked hero."
"Diego's right. I love Diego, but I love him for his quiet pursuits, his quiet strengths. Not everyone can be like Zorro. And certainly, Diego is not Zorro."
Diego covertly watched Don Roberto's reaction and wasn't completely relieved by it. He will bear watching, so that he wouldn't stir up trouble for me and Father.
"Well, my dear, with all of this excitement, I am suddenly exhausted. I believe I will head for home. Will you walk me to my horse?" Diego asked Victoria.
Victoria smiled, and took the arm Diego offered. They slowly walked out, but quickly went around the corner of the tavern.
"How did it go? Did the Alcalde give you any difficulty?" Diego whispered, concern clearly in his voice.
"No, not even when Max began his claims again that you are Zorro."
His face grim, Diego asked, "You sure? Ramon gave no indication of having the slightest bit of doubt?"
Victoria patted Diego's hand. "I'm sure, Querido. The Alcalde was his usual boorish self, but no snide remarks about you at all." Sniffing, she added, "He barely had the courtesy to ask how I was, after my 'ordeal'."
"Do you think it wise, or necessary, for me to visit him tonight?"
Victoria considered the question. Shaking her head, she said, "I don't think so, Diego. I think all is okay. And the garrison wagon will be here in two days' time to pick up Max and the others."
"Hopefully for keeps this time."
"I wonder how they escaped in the first place?"
"So they didn't say anything during the time you were with them? They didn't brag or anything like that?" Diego asked.
Victoria's face became thoughtful. "Yes, you do have a point. That is most strange, them not saying anything. All Max could talk about was what he was going to do once you, um, well, Zorro, showed up."
Diego decided he better not delay Victoria any longer. "If you need anything…."
"Don't you worry, Diego. Everything should be all right. You get a good night's rest." Smiling coquettishly, she asked, "Will I see you tomorrow for lunch?"
Diego returned her smile. "Of course." He gave her a quick kiss and broke off the embrace regretfully. "I better let you get back before the gossips start talking."
"Haven't you heard, Diego? Since we've gotten engaged, they haven't stopped gossiping."
Diego chuckled. "I suppose." Saying goodbye he walked her to the door of the tavern and walked towards Felipe and their horses. They left the pueblo without another word between them, but Felipe couldn't avoid smiling at his patron anyway.
~~Z~~Z~~Z~~
Two days later, the Alcalde again sat at his desk, contemplating once again the curious case of one Diego de la Vega. And cursing one good-for-nothing criminal for planting an idea that wouldn't go away. He had all but settled the issue in his head once Max and his cohorts had left the pueblo the last time, but now that he had been back…the Alcalde shook his head. Even though the criminals were loaded into the garrison wagon and left without incident, the Alcalde still was restless regarding the entire situation. Especially the accusations Max continued to spew as the wagon left the pueblo.
The Alcalde threw his pen down on the desk in disgust. Could he have been so foolish the past two years in not recognizing the sly fox under his nose? Could Diego de la Vega, instead of being the useless, foolish man he appears, be his masked nemesis? Has it only been pride clouding his vision in not seeing the evidence pointing to Diego's true identity?
Ramon wondered occasionally throughout the years how a man like Alejandro would end up with such a lazy, ineffectual son like Diego. It almost was unnatural. But often he had pushed such thoughts aside, and chuckled at nature's irony for giving Alejandro such a son. And really, nature has indeed acted many a time, giving mismatched children to parents, adding to the parents' sorrow and burden.
The Alcalde walked to the window overlooking the pueblo and looked out just in time to catch the man in his thoughts dismount his horse, take a step toward the tavern, and fall completely on his face. He turned away as Diego was assisted back up by the boy Felipe, who clumsily began to dust his suit off. Letting a loud laugh escape him, the Alcalde turned back towards his desk and sat down. He shook his head at his momentary foolishness. No man could be that good at playing clumsy, and Diego de la Vega was indeed one clumsy fool. He sighed at the paperwork at his desk and began to work on it, pushing such idiotic thoughts away.
AN: Well, there you have it. Another ending to one of my more "out of my comfort zone" stories. Hope it has been as entertaining and believable to read as it has been fun for me to write! At the end of this one, I will leave the happy couple to live HEA. Unless…ha, you never know. I always say I 'might' add a sequel…I haven't yet…but then again, I haven't run out of ideas so far. (Knock on wood!) Or, perhaps I should say more accurately, no ideas for sequels of my stories have arrived via my Muse yet.
Seriously, though, I appreciate each and every one of you who have read my stories! (and especially if you leave me a review, hint, hint).
I suppose I should get back to work and see what else I can come up with, now that I have one more story completed (yay, me!). Thanks again!