Diego edited a couple of articles that others had handed in, and smiled a little at the advice in Victoria's love advice column. He was half tempted to write in for some, sometimes. Just to see what she would say.

That was beside the point today, he chided himself. He needed all his wits about him, especially if it was Diego that was the target for mischief. He could defend himself, of course, but not in front of any sort of audience. He'd have to lead the men away from the pueblo, and then act. That would put himself in more danger, and possibly some of the townspeople.

Editing was soon finished with, mainly fixing careless spelling errors more than anything. It had distracted him a little, leaving his mind working on the more pressing issues as he focused on something completely different for a few moments.

Going back to his thoughts was tedious, because he was still blank. He had no idea what the plan was regarding himself, what he was up against. He figured MacKay was the ringleader with some of the men under him, to provide backup.

Victoria was at the door with a basket of food, for their meeting during siesta.

"Diego, what is wrong?"

"Oh, Victoria, the time is getting away from me today," Diego said, a little startled, even though he had opened the door for her. "I'm so busy."

"You look a little ill," she said, thoughtfully. "Are you feeling well?"

His stomach churned, considering the food for a moment. No, perhaps he wasn't well. The day had started so well.

"Perhaps too many tamales earlier," he admitted, although it wasn't the reason at all.

"Mendoza ate most of them. Is it the lady? Has something happened?"

Diego stared down at her. Maybe something had, he thought.

"I want to tell her everything, but I can't," Diego said, softly. "I don't want to upset her. I can't tell her anything."

"Why can't you?"

"I have lied to her," Diego said. "So many times, and she will never forgive me. Not a chance, not one in a million."

Victoria took his hands, and squeezed them. "A woman who truly loves someone can forgive anything."

"I don't know about this, Victoria, you have no idea what I have done."

"Well, I know that I will forgive Zorro for the mask, for not telling me who he is. That's because I love him with my whole heart. Do you know, he comes to the tavern everyday just to see me? I can forgive him for not saying anything."

"How can you be sure?" Diego's voice was a whisper.

"I know my heart."

"What if he is someone that you already know?"

"What?" She said, distracted from her own thoughts. "Why would you say that?"

"What if he is?"

"Someone I know already? Do you know something I don't?"

Diego glanced at the floor, unable to lie. He shook his head, more to clear his thoughts that tumbled over themselves. She took it as a 'no'.

"If it is someone I know, I am sure to be angry," Victoria said, admitting the truth to both of them. "But because I love him, I will forgive him. It is an act of will."

"An act of will?" Diego said. "Women think with their hearts, not their wills."

Victoria flushed red for a moment, and sighed. "I could be very angry with you at that. Women are human beings, I thought you knew that. An act of will, an act of the heart, whatever it is, it is deliberate and for the sake of love. I suppose with a man like Zorro, forgiveness might just be a skill I will need for a lifetime."

Diego sighed, and glanced down. "Would my love do such a thing for me, do you think?"

"Have you pretended to be someone other than you are?"

Diego stared into her eyes for a moment, surprised. "Yes."

Victoria nodded thoughtfully. "That's why she is not willing to acknowledge you. You need to present yourself as Diego de la Vega, a man of means and nobility. If she is in your class, she would not marry anyone less."

"I won't be loved for my name," Diego said, firmly. He bit his lip. What was happening to him? It was not real, why be defensive about the idea? "Besides, I believe she will not forgive me, so that is not the point. I won't tell her."

"Don't be stubborn, Diego. You do need to get married sooner or later. Why not to a woman you love?" Victoria said gently. "If she doesn't forgive you, it isn't the point. She'll be your wife, most women don't have a real choice in who they marry. She will grow to love you."

Diego shook his head, annoyed by the game he found himself playing. "I'd rather not talk about it. I was thinking too much. I want a woman who loves me, for me. Like you love Zorro. Like Zorro loves you. Is that impossible to ask for?"

Victoria patted him on the shoulder. "I hope you feel better soon, Diego. I'll leave this food here, and go back to the tavern. We can talk about this when you're ready."

"Thank you, Victoria. I appreciate it," Diego said, taking a deep breath to clear his head from the increasing confusion the conversation had sparked.

He watched her leave, and knew he couldn't live like this much longer. His heart would burst, his head would explode. If she never forgave him, he would have to leave the area as he had told her. For his own sanity.

Zzz

Diego unpacked the picnic slowly, placing the bottle of lemonade on the table and the sandwiches Victoria had packed for him. He was in the act of pouring a glass of lemonade when there was a knock on the door.

Diego opened the door, his eyes widening in surprise as he greeted MacKay. He was dressed in his town clothes and was very presentable. Almost a gentleman.

"Hey, newspaper man," he said, as he entered. "Got an advert for the paper."

"Well, let me have a look. I'll get it in the paper this week. We have room. It is a peso per word, I'm afraid."

MacKay shrugged, and placed the required payment on the table next to the glass. As Diego was distracted by the words on the page, MacKay added something to the lemonade, and then moved away from the table to wait.

Diego glanced at the coins on the table, and nodded. The amount seemed right to him.

"How is your hunt for Zorro going, senor?"

"Fox broke my trap, but he won't break my next one," MacKay said softly.

"I wouldn't take it personally, senor. He does this with everyone that tries to capture him. That's why he remains at large," Diego said, a spark coming to his eyes.

"That's what everyone says," MacKay said with a shrug. "He has never met me, has he?"

"I suppose not," Diego said obligingly. "The advert will run for the next fortnight, but then you need to pay for more runs."

"Of course," MacKay said. "I hope your day goes well, Diego."

"Yours too, Senor."