Zorro Meets his Match

Chapter 53 – The Coyote Waits

Agnes had come and spoken to Garcia for nearly two hours before Boudica saw her to the inn to rest. Diego and Boudica had been nearby as the couple spoke. Garcia had held her through the bars as Agnes cried softly. Garcia hated to see her in so much pain. He had kissed her goodbye and then let Boudica walked with her to the plaza. Boudica doubted very much the young woman would actually sleep, but perhaps she would at least settle a bit.

Diego stayed with Garcia as the women left.

Garcia sighed. "I am such a disappointment to her."

"No." Diego assured. "She weeps because she knows you are innocent of this, but she cannot prove it."

"Will you do something for me, Don Diego?"

"Si, anything, Sargent."

"Make sure she is well looked after. She deserves someone who will treat her well and gently."

Diego nodded. "That will be you if we can get you free."

Garcia sighed. He then looked up at Diego. "Why did the magistrate question if I had been with her last night? That would be highly scandalous, Don Diego. I would not have even dreamed of being alone with her until she was my wife."

"My point exactly, Sargent." Diego said.

"But why ask such a thing of a woman?"

"Because it does happen. Men and women yield to temptation. Many couples would prefer you not count how many months it took for a child to come." Diego said honestly.

"But she is a foreign woman and your ward."

Diego smiled at him. "To tell you true most do not wait. I admire your resolve to wait until your wedding night. A good mark of character if you ask me."

"What? Do you mean you…with the Senora…before you were wed?"

Diego chuckled. "Si and she very much enjoyed it or at least she did marry me after and does honor my bed often." He smiled a little. "And we have a beautiful little girl as a result."

"To know such things is a gift."

Diego looked at him. "You mean you have never…not even once?"

"No." The Sargent said.

Diego took a breath, startled. Garcia was an army man who had been in the army for nearly twenty years. How had he not bedded a woman? But then he used his money for wine and food it seemed not to seek his pleasure.

The Sargent looked at Diego. "Why? You only have been with your wife."

Diego choked a little and chuckled lightly. "No, Sargent. Though I have been my wife's one and only lover, I have bedded many women."

Garcia looked at him shocked. "And the women enjoy it?"

"I never heard any complaints." Diego said pacing before the bars. "But Sargent, I am making light of that. We need to figure a way to get you out of here."

"There is only one way to get me out of here. One desperate hope."

"And what is that?"

"Zorro."

"Zorro?" Diego scoffed. "He got you into this mess in the first place by throwing that rock through your window."

"I have been thinking about that and thinking about that, Don Diego." Garcia said as he paced in his cell. "And the more I think about it, the more I am sure that it was not really Zorro at all." He came to the bars. "I think someone has tricked me."

"Well we might consider that as a possibility, eh?"

"I should never have wanted to be commandante."

"Oh, don't say that Sargent." Diego said waving his hand. "Let us consider what your position is." He said moving to pace as well. "You know you're innocent. I know you're are innocent. Boudica and Agnes know you are as well. So there must be some way to prove it."

"I hope so."

"All right, now, they tricked you out to the pass."

"Si."

"They tricked you into dropping your sword so it would help incriminate you."

"Si, but shhh. Please, Don Diego, not so loud."

"They did it so they could rob the messenger and put the blame on you."

"Si."

"But why did the messenger think it was you? Did they find a man to rob him who looked like you?"

"Oh no, Don Diego. In the whole there is only one person who looks like me and that is my cousin in Monterey."

"You have a cousin who looks like you?" Diego said.

"You could not tell us apart, except for one little thing. He is skinny like a rail."

Diego sighed. "That is just it. How can a case of mistaken identity…unless…?"

"Unless what Don Diego?"

"Unless there was no mistaken identity."

"I do not understand."

"Unless the whole thing was a plot and the messenger was in on it."

Boudica returned and looked at the men.

Diego looked at her. "Is she abed?"

"As much as she can be." Boudica sighed.

Diego nodded.

"I still do not understand, the poor fellow was nearly killed." Garcia said.

"How do we know that? It isn't hard to pretend to be injured to wrap oneself up in bandages…"

Boudica looked at her husband. "Except he was wounded…" She looked at her husband. "All minor and could have been self-afflicted or he had help." She took a breath. "Head wounds are tricky though. They bleed a lot…"

"Maybe he was not attacked at all." Diego said nodding. "Maybe…" He paused looking. Don Carlos walked to the cell looking at the group.

"Prisoner." Don Carlos began without preamble. "It is my duty to tell you that sentence will be executed upon you tomorrow morning at sunrise."

Boudica's eyes widened. "That is only four hours from now!"

"Sunrise…" Garcia said softly. "I am not even awake by then."

"Your Excellency, I understand that the messenger is staying at your house. I would like to put forth some questions to him if he is able." Diego said.

"He is no longer at my house." Don Carlos said. "He is on his way back to Monterey."

"On his way back?" Boudica gasped. "Dr. Avila gave orders for him to rest at least two days to recover."

"Well?" Don Carlos looked at her.

"But he is supposed to be severely injured." Diego said looking at the magistrate.

"He was severely injured, but his orders were to return to Monterey immediately and he is doing so." Don Carlos said turning to leave.

"Your Excellency…" Diego said sharply. "In the name of justice, I ask that the execution be postponed for twenty-four hours."

"In the name of justice?!" Don Carlos sneered. "You, you Don Diego ask that."

Boudica looked at him. "Please. He was to be married. His fiancée is exhausted. It would give her more time to make her peace and…"

"I have little time for the whims of women, Senora. I am the King's magistrate and I am justice in this town!"

Boudica looked down.

Diego stepped before her. "You will not even do it out of mercy for them?"

Don Carlos scoffed. "Senor, you, from all I can learn…" He looked Diego up and down. "You are an idle young man who never before who has concerned himself with more than the cut of his clothes or the tuning of his guitar."

Boudica gasped and took a step forward, but Diego blocked her, shaking his head slightly as he listened, eyes on the magistrate.

"See you have no words to deny it, do you?" Don Carlos said in half amusement.

Diego took a breath as Boudica's face twisted.

"At least, your wife has sense enough to show distain." Don Carlos said. "Sentence will be executed at sunrise!" Don Carlos growled, and he turned to leave.

Boudica lifted a hand and made claws at the magistrate's back as he crossed the cuartel courtyard. Diego made a clicking sound with his tongue at her and gently lowered her arm.

"You see Don Diego, I should never have wanted to become commandante."

"My friend, I believe that two and two are just beginning to make four." Diego said.

"Well I am glad of that Don Diego." Garcia said.

"Do not worry Sargent. Something will happen."

"Something is going to happen…tomorrow morning at sunrise."

Diego hissed. "That's not what I mean." He looked over and saw Agnes coming to them. She looked pale and her face looked flushed from all the tears she had shed.

Diego nodded to her. "You could not sleep?"

"Could you?" she asked.

He shook his head. He gathered his wife to him. "Look, I cannot say anything more except do not give up, eh? Either of you." He said clasping Agnes's arm gently before turning to leave them.

"No, Don Diego." Garcia said, taking Agnes's hand in his. "I will not give up. I will be waiting…right here."

"So will I." Agnes said moving to a small stool before the bars.

ZzZ

Diego and Boudica rode their mounts back to the hacienda. They practically ran up their stairs to their room. There Bernardo greeted them.

Diego nodded for all three to go to the secret room. There he dressed quickly as Zorro. Bernardo grabbed his cape as he put his sword to his side.

Boudica was watching him.

He bent and kissed her gently. "There is one desperate chance. If Zorro can find the messenger and bring him back here." He walked to the stairwell as Bernardo followed him with his gloves. Boudica did as well and he reached up and touched her face lightly. "Say a little prayer I reach him in time."

Boudica nodded as he disappeared.

She then nodded to Bernardo as she went to the room. "He will have more of a chance if I ride also."

Bernardo gestured to her.

She nodded and took a breath. "Si. The Coyote will help this night."

She quickly dressed. There was a knock. She looked up sharply. Bernardo went to the door and opened it, revealing Buena with Esperanza. Boudica smiled as she walked forward, her mask on, but her cowl down and the sash not about her face as it hung loose about her shoulders.

She held her baby a moment, taking a deep breath of her soft baby scent. The baby was clean and clearly had just nursed. She was mostly asleep as Boudica held her.

"You ride, Senora?" Buena asked looking at her clothing.

"Si." Boudica said passing her daughter back to her wet nurse. "I must. Sargent Garcia could be hanged at sunrise for theft and treason."

She nodded. "He is a good man. I pray you can help him."

"I as well." Boudica said moving out onto the landing.

She turned back and saw Bernardo smiling at the baby as she moved, quickly to another room and then to the secret passage. From there she went to the kitchens and moved out to the stables. She saw a vaquero there, but used the shadows to protect her. She quickly took Domino, saddling him, quietly with the vaqueros talking in the other stable.

She then walked quietly to the gate. She opened it and stepped out, pulling Domino with her. She then closed the gate and mounted the gelding. With that she was off before the vaqueros would notice her.

ZzZ

Zorro rode after the messenger.

He found the man on el Camino Real, riding north, but at a leisurely pace, until he saw Zorro. Zorro then rode up and jumped onto his horse. However, the messenger knocked him with a blow to his face. Zorro dropped, hanging onto the saddle as the messenger kicked at him.

Zorro then cut the saddle causing them both to fall over an embankment. Zorro rolled and hit his head on a log, knocking him out. The messenger saw the unconscious form and tried to attack him, but Tornado reared protecting his master.

The messenger gasped as Zorro came to, blinking, and shaking the cobwebs from his mind as he saw Tornado guarding him. He took a breath and rose to his feet and looked at the man. The messenger took a breath, not wishing to run.

ZzZ

Meanwhile, Coyote crept into the pueblo. She took Domino to a home that the de la Vegas used often as a warehouse. For now, nothing was within it so it had no guards. She opened the door with her key and saw Domino inside. She closed the door, leaving him with the hay supply Bernardo left for Tornado when they had to hide him there.

She moved along, climbing a tree to get to the rooftops. Once there she moved about the plaza on soft feet until she was on the roof of the cuartel. She looked and then saw Reyes in the courtyard.

Garcia and Agnes were talking together not looking up.

Reyes was speaking to a lancer. They went to an arsenal. The lancer was to load the weapons, ready for the morning. Coyote moved, following them into the room. Reyes left. Coyote came behind the man as he lifted the first rifle. She hit him with her rapier sword butt, knocking him out.

She then went to the weapons, laying six on the table. She then loaded them with gunpowder mixed with dirt. She then loaded a wad of paper into the barrel and left them on the table. She then dragged the lancer over and set him against the wall with a small empty mug.

She then waited.

Reyes, as predicted came about an hour later looking for him. He found the lancer and kicked him awake, shocked the man would be drinking, but at least he finished his task. Coyote crept out before Reyes locked the door.

She moved and went to Domino. She lifted her recurve bow she had brought. A prize she had gained from the tribe she had befriended. She also had a quiver of arrows. She had also taken Zorro's whip.

She moved to the roof to wait.

ZzZ

Sunrise was only an hour later.

Agnes watched as the cuartel stirred. She held Garcia's hand as he watched also.

Coyote was watching. She moved to a corner and moved down to the courtyard, hidden by a carriage holding supplies as she looked about it, watching.

"Bring out the prisoner!" Don Carlos called, voice echoing in the crisp morning air.

Reyes unlocked the door and six lancers lifted the rifles. Coyote moved then, keeping to the shadows of the new daylight as Reyes walked to the door of the cell. He opened it.

Agnes hugged Garcia and she started to cry again. He held her and then gently kissed her before setting her from him. Reyes gently pushed her into the jail cell and locked the door to prevent her from interfering as ordered by Don Carlos who stood to one side.

Garcia was led to a wall. Reyes walked to him and offered him a blindfold. Garcia looked at it and shook his head.

"Well, goodbye corporal." Garcia said taking Reyes's hand.

"Goodbye Sargent." Reyes said.

The only sound was Agnes crying as she leaned against the bars weeping.

"I know what they think." Garcia said. "But at least you think I am innocent, don't you?"

"Of course, Sargent. There is no one more innocent than you."

"Gracias Corporal."

"Come along Corporal do not keep the prisoner waiting around." Don Carlos said.

"Do not hurry on my account, Senor magistrato." Garcia said. "I do not mind waiting around."

"Since it is customary, does the prisoner have anything to say before sentence is executed upon him?" Don Carlos asked as Reyes drew his sword beside him.

"Si." Garcia said.

"Very well, what is it?"

"I love Agnes very much." Garcia said looking over at her a moment. He then took a breath. "And I wish I had never joined the army."

A drummer began to beat a drumroll.

"Ready…" Reyes called.

The men lifted their guns.

"Aim…"

The men did.

Suddenly there was a loud crack as the rifles then were yanked away from their aim by a whip on the one furthest from Coyote. The men fired, but nothing happened.

Garcia gasped as Coyote looked at the men.

Don Carlos looked. "The Coyote!"

She bowed and then ran as lancers moved to catch her.

Don Carlos growled. "Catch her. You men, reload!"

Coyote moved, running up the stairs to the second floor and then flipping onto the roof. The lancers looked up, startled as the firing squad reloaded.

The lancers looked about and could not see the Coyote.

Don Carlos nodded to Reyes.

"Ready…Aim…"

An arrow hit Don Carlos in the upper arm. He gasped in pain and then whirled looking up to see the Coyote on the top on the garrison.

"The next shot is a kill shot, magistrato!" She called down holding a notched arrow. "This one will hit your heart or your throat, take your pick."

"Shoot her!" Don Carlos yelled. "Insolent bitch!"

Three lancers fired and she ducked down behind the battlement.

Don Carlos growled. "Firing Squad! Ready, Aim…"

There was a gunshot.

Garcia, whose eyes were closed, opened, pressing his hands to himself and then opening his eyes, he looked up. Everyone looked over and saw Zorro standing with a pistol pointed upwards with the king's messenger before him on the roof.

"Zorro!" Don Carlos cried.

Coyote smiled and then moved, jumping down to the thatched stable roof Zorro and the other man were standing on.

"Now tell them the truth!" Zorro said holding his rapier against the messenger's back.

Don Carlos held his arm and growled. "Shoot him! Shoot Zorro! And his obvious mate!" He said seeing Coyote there also.

"Just a minute Senores. You want your four months pay, do you not?" Zorro asked.

"Si! Si! We want our pay!" One of the lancers cried.

The others nodded in agreement as they lowered their weapons.

"Tell them what happened to him!" Zorro ordered the messenger.

Ariel took a breath. "Nobody robbed me." He said slowly. "I only pretended to be hurt, but I was told I could keep the money if I said I was robbed by the big fat Sargent."

Garcia groaned. "Please. Could you just say plump?" He asked.

"And here amigos, is you four month's pay!" Zorro said tossing the bag from his sash to Garcia who caught it and smiled. "Adios, my big fat Sargent."

Coyote chuckled.

Zorro looked at her and then smiled as he sheathed his sword and nodded to her to come with him off the back side of the cuartel.

She did so and he helped her down. She then bowed her head to him. "Until we meet again, Senor Zorro." She said.

Zorro watched her run off as he mounted Tornado to ride back to the hacienda.

Don Carlos was in a fury as the men came for their money from Garcia. "Go after him! Send the men after him!"

"Me? But I am under arrest your excellency." Garcia said.

"You are no longer. Send them after Zorro!"

"Men up on the roof! After him!"

"Not the messenger you idiot! Zorro and his Coyote mate!"

"Of course, Excellency, just as soon as we have the messenger behind bars, we will chase Zorro and the Coyote! Everybody up to the roof!"

Don Carlos growled. "Garcia you are a fool." He then went from the cuartel fuming.

Reyes smiled at Garcia as he walked behind Agnes whom he released from the cell. Garcia held her to him as she now sobbed happily that he was safe. Reyes joined them.

"I may be a fool, but I think it would be politer to catch Zorro another day, don't you?" Garcia asked.

Reyes smiled and nodded as the lancers moved to catch the messenger.

Zzz

Coyote had quickly stripped and pulled on her clothing for riding. She tied her hair back and rode in a large arch.

Zorro was letting Tornado have a drink was Boudica rode up seeing him.

"Zorro!" She cried happily.

"Senora!" He beamed moving Tornado to where she was looking at him. "Why are you here?"

"I was going to go see Agnes. Am I too late?"

"Si, but Garcia is safe. He will likely be talking to her for a while, perhaps getting a meal at the tavern with the pay he just got."

"You caught the messenger."

"Si."

She smiled. "Well done Diego. I was truly worried to lose a friend."

"I was as well. Especially one so innocent of the crime." He looked to the side. "Are you planning to hunt later?" He asked seeing her bow case at Domino's flank.

"I was thinking I might if I can find a good trail to follow. Puma needs fresh meat."

He chuckled. "Wise."

She then turned to be side by side with him. "Well with Garcia safe and Agnes not worrying if she will never marry, I think we should ride home husband."

"What about your hunt?"

"It can wait until later." She said.

He nodded and then moved quickly together back to the hacienda. Boudica released Domino seeing the gate was empty since the vaqueros were there working in the stables.

Boudica smiled at James before moving to go around like she was going to the house.

Zorro pulled Boudica up before him and they rode around to the bowl that led to the cave. However, Zorro rode to the cave and let Boudica down. She pulled the log away and Zorro rode into the cave. She replaced the log and walked in.

The twins were moving about, curious as Zorro dismounted. He sighed and looked at his wife as she stood watching the babies as they went to their mother to nurse, wagging their tiny tails excitedly.

"That was close, Boudica. I never wish to even think I may lose a friend so again."

She took a breath and nodded.

"The Coyote was there. I think she distracted them. All I saw was her firing an arrow at the magistrato."

She blinked. "Did she hurt him?"

Diego lowered his mask as they walked to the secret room. "Si. She put an arrow through his upper arm and threatened to kill him with the second." He smiled. "I have never seen her use violence before. Apparently, even she has limits."

"They say she is Zorro's mate."

"I have only one mate." He said. He pulled off his clothing and looked at her smiling as she looked up at him. He then grabbed her, lifting her onto the table and pressing into her as she leaned back holding the table edge. He laid his palms there and thrust into her, watching as she gasped in almost pained pleasure. She had not been ready for him, but still she welcomed her husbands need.

It was short, deep, and powerful. He leaned over her a moment before he lifted himself, kissing the tops of her breasts as she panted, eyes closed. He smiled as he pulled on his dressing gown. He pulled her dress down as she then sat up slowly.

"Breakfast is served." She said smiling at him.

He chuckled. "Indeed." He said bending to kiss her before he led her to their room. She moved to the desk and lifted her brush as she began to brush her hair.

"Agnes and Demetrio wed in only three days, Diego. Do you think they are ready?"

"This will bring them together certainly." He said watching her before he lifted his guitar to play. He smiled as he began to play and she sighed happily.

He then moved closer. "Did you know that she is not the only virgin coming to the wedding bed?"

She looked at him startled. "What?"

"I know. Twenty years in the army and he never touched a woman."

She blinked. "Does he then…like…"

He shook his head. "Certainly not. He is not that sort I assure you."

She nodded. "I will ready her for her marriage bed, but it will be harder with two people who do not know what they are doing."

"Never fear, beloved. I will walk him through some basics." He said. "Though it would be easier just to buy him a whore, he had too much integrity for that."

She nodded. She then stepped to him. "I love you Diego."

"As I you, my own." He said kissing her.

There was a knock. Bernardo came into the room holding the sleeping Esperanza in one arm and the watchful Tomas in the other.

Diego smiled and went taking the young boy to hold him as Bernardo laid the sleeping girl in her crib. He beamed as he gestured to Boudica as she walked to him.

Boudica nodded gesturing back.

He nodded and smiled.