Chapter 14: Sanctuary.
Zorro smiled when he saw yet another group of wanna-be bounty hunters run. One of them even left his sword. He shook his head, he usually played with men who didn't know how to be a bounty hunter, seeing catching Zorro as a quick way to get a lot of money. They didn't think about the consequences for the masked man. Toronado couldn't help himself seeing that a simple farmer thought that he could beat his black master.
A snake surprised Zorro by jumping from behind a rock while he reached for the whip that he had swept out of the hands of a poor farmer. Zorro had quick reflexes but the snake quicker this time, it lashed out and bit Zorro in the arm. The masked man groaned in pain and fell back, he knew he needed to handle quick or he would be finished. He took the dagger he was carrying at his back underneath his sash. Toronado being a sensitive creature when it came to his master turned his head away from what Zorro was about to do.
He groaned through his teeth while he cut an X over the place where the snake had bitten him. The masked man brought his arm to his mouth and tried to suck out the poison. He knew that he needed to get home and quickly. Mounting his 17 hands tall stallion had never been so difficult. Toronado felt that his master wasn't on full strength so he stood as still as he possibly could. He only started walking the moment he felt his saddle getting heavier.
Toronado was walking for about half an hour when he suddenly felt the weight shift from his back to his side. He knew quickly that he wasn't going get his master at home at his own. He froze on the spot and let his master glide of his back. He looked in front of him and saw a little farm, that was the nearest hiding spot so it was obvious that he was going to pick up his master over there right after he alerted Felipe that something was wrong by arriving at the cave without him.
Toronado arrived into the cave, he didn't hear the usual sounds of Felipe doing his chores. He was sticking his head out of his stable looking around the corner but his silent master wasn't there. Where else could he be? He would be probably in the garden so Toronado turned around and walked out of the cave only to run around of the house towards the front garden. He was in luck Felipe was there and he was alone. Alright, Felipe was alerted and just in time because one of the other servants arrived and they couldn't be seen together without giving away Los Angeles best-kept secret, the identity of the masked fox. The only thing the mighty stallion could do now was going to the farm where he left his master and hoping that he would be able to hold on long enough to get to the cave where he would be safe.
They were in luck the farm wasn't very far away from the hacienda and running without someone in the saddle made him feel free for a while. He didn't regret that he gave up his freedom because he was very found on both his masters. The only two people he allowed on his back alone. There were others who he had allowed on his back but not without Zorro near him.
Zorro was putting on his gloves while thanking the lovely Magdalena for curing him of the snake bite and with that going up against her husband, who was one of the wanna-be bounty hunters he had defeated earlier.
He had fought the farmer, who was hoping on defeating the famous outlaw now that he was wounded. The only thing he didn't know was that Zorro could fight with both left and right hand. So he lost again and did something he would regret later, he ran to the alcalde. The alcalde never taking an opportunity to defeat his arch enemy followed the farmer. Zorro had left right before the alcalde would arrive he knew that his stallion was smart enough to find him. He was right the moment he heard a familiar neighing. Toronado had found him.
Alicio the farmer looked as his barn started to burn, according to the Alcalde the only way to lure Zorro out or let him burn alive, either way, they would win this time or that is what the alcalde told himself. Alicio felt fear creeping up when the only thing he hurt was the sound of his loving wife in need.
Zorro was on his way to the cave feeling strong again thanks to Magdalena. He looked over his shoulder one more time when he saw the smoke coming from the farm he just left. He just couldn't leave them not when the wife had saved his life. He turned Toronado around and galloped full speed back to the farm not knowing that he wasn't the only one seeing the smoke. A few miles, further along, don Alejandro and senorita Escalante were riding towards the hacienda to see that they really had bought the same Lamarca painting. Both having a heart of gold, they turned their horses and took the same way Zorro had been riding. Don Alejandro stopped when he saw a familiar black stallion behind the burning barn.
"Victoria look isn't that Zorro's horse?" don Alejandro asked curiously
Victoria nodded, "Yes there is only one stallion with such a beautiful gear. let's have a look and see if we can help him?"
Don Alejandro nodded and nudged his horse forward until they were almost next to Toronado. They jumped off their horses and wanted to help until they noticed with relieve that Zorro appeared throughout of the flames with an unconscious woman in his hand and a burning mask on his head. He was so busy saving the woman that he didn't notice the two standing next to their horses. He laid the woman next to Toronado and pulled down his mask. Turning around when he heard two gasps seeing his father and Victoria.
"D…" don Alejandro quickly placed his hand over Victoria's mouth to stop her from saying the rest.
"We will talk at home." his father mouthed silently. Diego still in shock, placed his back up mask around his head again and waited for Victoria and his father to leave, it was never a good idea to be seen with Zorro even if the whole town knew about his romance with Victoria. They would turn around and come from the other side like they hadn't seen him.
"Alicio what happened here? Where is Magdalena?" don Alejandro asked trying to control his emotions. The place was burned to the ground by the time don Alejandro and Victoria arrived at the farm again, acting like they never have seen it burn.
"My barn caught fire and we couldn't save Magdalena!" he said with pain in his voice. throwing daggers towards the alcalde.
"Yes it's sad but this time we have won," the alcalde laughed evilly.
"Tell me what have you won alcalde?" Zorro smiled from behind his mask and on Toronado's back.
"Zorro!" Victoria yelled pretending like nothing had happened like she hadn't seen the truth.
"Impossible, Lancers after him! don't let him get away." the alcalde yelled furiously.
Zorro disappeared again running with the alcalde and his lancers hot in his tail. He was sure that don Alejandro and Victoria would take care of everything else.
Victoria ran towards the back to see if the woman was okay.
"I lost everything I loved, don Alejandro!" Alicio cried.
it was only then that Victoria appeared with her arms around Magdalena.
"Magdalena?" the farmer whispered.
"Be careful with the alcalde next time, Alicio. Zorro had been on time this time but you can lose more than a barn next time." don Alejandro said sternly.
"Please thank him for me the next time you cross paths with him. He saved the life of my Magdalena." The farmer said crying from happiness this time.
"If his will ever cross our path again we will tell him that, Alicio and we will help you build a new barn," Victoria said sweetly
Diego was already reading a book the moment Victoria and Alejandro arrived at the hacienda.
Victoria jumped in his arms, "you have a lot of explaining to do, Diego but that can come later today first I want to say that, I do love the man beneath the mask and that I expect that Diego will soon ask to court me and I will surprise everyone with agreeing, being tired of waiting for Zorro."
Diego could only smile, "Diego will gather all his courage and ask for your courtship."
Don Alejandro placed a hand on his shoulder seeing his bandage on his arm for the first time now, "Are you, alright son? What happened to your arm?"
Diego nodded, " I am fine, a snake bit me but Magdalena saved my life."
"I am glad you are alright son because this is going to be a long night for you! I am proud of you my son." don Alejandro said before he continued, "Alicio thanks you for saving his wife, he will be more careful with the alcalde next time."
"What is going to happen with the barn?" Diego asked curiously.
"Well, we both had a painting we didn't like anymore and the alcalde bought it sight unseen. The money will go to Alicio and Magdalena. They will have a new barn next week."
"Now let start with why you wanted to become an outlaw?" his father continued. this was going to be one hell of a night.
The end