Diego was awake half an hour before dawn, his body tired but his mind bright and curious. He was beginning to like and trust Luke, Pablo's manager of the vaqueros. Maybe it was an age thing, and the fact that the man had seen what he was truly capable of, and respected him for it. Luke was talented and dedicated to his position in the de la Vega hacienda. And he could be trusted to not tell his father when he was on the very edge of praising Diego. That was something rare.

He missed the camaraderie of his peers. University was a long time ago, and very far away. A fond memory and a list of correspondence friends. Europe was green and cool so unlike his home in Los Angeles with its dust. He loved both. But he missed the friendships.

Zzz

He made his way quietly out of the main house, and headed to the stables and Pablo's nearby house. The horses stirred at his footsteps, catching his scent, and he greeted and rubbed some of his favourites on their velvety noses. He had no sugar cubes with him, as they were reserved for Esperanza mostly, and some nudged him hopefully, before snorting with disgust and turning away when he showed empty hands.

"You spoil those horses," Pablo said, not glancing up from his work. "Coffee?"

"Just meeting up with Luke," Diego said, shaking his head. "He offered me some riding lessons."

Pablo glanced up at that, and raised an eyebrow.

"Everyone knows I need the practice," Diego said, a little unsure of the continued silence. Pablo was a quiet man, but he seemed to be contemplating Diego quizzically. "I've had my fair share of accidents."

"Yes," Pablo said, and drank his coffee. "Accidents."

Diego fidgeted like a guilty child, unsure of what else to say. Silence was probably the best course of action, he decided.

"I'll take some coffee, Luke seems to be running a little late."

Pablo poured the younger man a mug, and placed it on the table in front of him. He watched him silently.

"I taught you to ride," Pablo said after a while. "You were a natural horseman. I don't see why you forgot it all in Europe."

Diego shrugged. "I didn't get much practice," he said, lying. His uncle's horses were magnificent and he had taken advantage of his hospitality every day.

"You know, when you lie your little finger on your right hand curls," Pablo murmured. "It always has."

Diego placed his right hand under his jacket self consciously.

"You never told me that before."

"Why give away an advantage to a youngster hell bent on risky dares all day every day? Someone had to keep an eye on you. Your father is a great man, but an attentive father he is not."

"My father…"

"Has no idea what you have been doing since your return from Madrid."

Diego held his breath. What did he know? How much? He could trust the man with his life, he knew that, but if he chose to speak to his father the complications would be hard to deal with. Especially at the moment.

"I can guess what you've done, what you continue to do. I can keep secrets, I have kept several for longer than you have been alive. Your father doesn't deserve to be fooled forever."

"It is to keep him safe," Diego said. The old excuse sounded weak to his own ears, let alone Pablo's. "If he decided to join me, his life would be in danger."

"Not unlike your own."

Diego started to bristle. That was not the same. Pablo said it like it was exactly the same.

"It's different, I am trained for what I do. I am young, fit and strong. My father is a great man, but he is no longer those things. I can keep myself safe, I cannot keep others safe if they work with me."

Pablo went back to his silence.

"Stop judging me. I am not a teenager."

"Don Diego, sorry I am late," Luke said, breaking into the conversation suddenly. He glanced from his manager to his young employer with confusion. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."

"We finished our conversation, Luke. How about those lessons?" Diego said, forcing his voice to sound light. He glared at Pablo for a moment, while Luke saddled the two horses.

"I won't stop what I am doing," he murmured.

"Typical de la Vega…" Pablo grumbled, before leaving his office to attend other duties.

Zzz

The two men galloped the two horses until they were out of sight of the hacienda.

"Your father is riding this morning as well, Diego. He's likely to stay close to the herds and the other men, but we should watch for him," Luke said, reining in his gelding near a lonely tree.

"Luke, perhaps I was a little rash with what I displayed the other day."

"A little rash?" Luke chuckled. "Your father would have had a heart attack."

Diego dismounted and watched Esperanza pluck a few strands of grass out of the dust.

"You rode rings around us that day. Did more than a fair share of the wrangling as well. Any man would be proud to have you as a son," Luke added. "All on an unfamiliar mount."

"Yes."

"Why wouldn't you want anyone to know? Why wouldn't you want the world to know?"

Diego smiled a little. "I shouldn't have showed off, it was a silly thing to do."

"Doesn't it hurt when people consider you a coward? It's quite obvious you are not."

"One gets used to things. It's how you feel about yourself that really matters," Diego said, dismissing it with a shrug. "I'm worried about something. I thought I might ask for your help with it."

"What?" Luke leaned closer to his new friend. "You want to find out who Zorro is? I could help with that."

"No." Diego said and his voice firmed. "No. I don't want anyone from this hacienda getting caught up with Zorro. Not you, especially not my father. Can you think of any way to dissuade him?"

Luke stared at him blankly for a moment. "There is no way. A de la Vega cannot be persuaded out of their determined plan of action, that is one of Pablo's rules."

"My father is past his prime, he's out of training. If he joined forces with Zorro, his life could be in danger. If you did, your life would be too. You are a ranchero, not a swordsman."

"You are serious?" Luke said after a moment. "That could change with training. Your father is not so old as to be an invalid. You really are worried about it?"

"I know my father. I can't discourage him, he won't listen to me. If more than just one person tried, he just might listen. Zorro is one man, not a team. He won't be open to a change."

"You say that as if you speak for the man," Luke said a little cautiously.

"Of course I don't," Diego said, shifting his right hand a little. "I have considered his tactics, that's all."

"You have thought about joining him?"

"The thought did cross my mind," Diego said, unbending a little. "But the man is not used to working with others, obviously. That would make any action with him risky. He is not used to managing additional players."

Luke was quiet for a moment. "I don't know what I can do personally with your father. He talks mostly to Pablo, but he does toss me a few compliments from time to time."

"Do what you can," Diego said.

"Do you know who Zorro is?" Luke said quietly. "Maybe someone from your university? Maybe someone one of your friends might know?"

"At the moment I want to keep my father safe. Whoever Zorro is, he is best left on his own."

"Zorro needs help," Luke said. "There is talk all the time about plots and plans, and it is only a matter of time before one of those plans brings about his downfall. Then where would we be? Back to the times when we had no one. He needs to allow people to join him in his efforts."

"It would surely fail. People would die helping him."

"They would die for what they believe in, Diego. Surely that is something worthwhile?"

"They would still be dead."

"You are at cross purposes with your father, neither of you are going to be happy."

"Better that than to lose him to a violent death," Diego murmured, seriously. Luke sighed.

"I suppose we are done talking," Luke said. He gestured up with his head, and Alejandro rode into view.

"Diego, how are the lessons going?" Alejandro asked. The older man glanced at Luke, who smiled a little and shrugged.

"It is going to take some time, Patron. Diego was already tossed over Esperanza's neck twice this morning," he said, winking a little at Diego when the older man wasn't looking.

"What am I going to do with you, Diego?" Alejandro said, shaking his head. "As long as you are not hurt?"

"Just a few scrapes," Diego said, knowing his father wouldn't care to examine them.

"Well, I am glad you are seeking help to improve. Look after my son, Luke."

"Yes, senor."

Alejandro turned his horse and rode in the direction of the hacienda.

"Was that inept enough?"

Diego chuckled. "Perfect," he said. "If we meet once every couple of days, we can talk about what is happening with the Zorro business. And have a decent gallop. We could race."

"I think that racing is an advanced lesson."

Diego laughed out loud at that.