Diego's heart sank as he heard the order and saw the fear in Victoria's eyes as she was forced towards the garrison.

"You will do no such thing!" His father uttered in a commanding tone and signaled for his lancers to stop the newcomer's men, while several of the people there were also trying to free the taverness.

"She is clearly a rebel!" The newcomer underlined.

"She only said what we all know to be true." Don Alejandro replied.

"Indeed. You must have misinterpreted her words." Diego also intervened, seeing how his own father was close to getting himself arrested, as well. "Just like my father, the Señorita was simply informing you that news has reached us that Mexico has gained its independence and has claimed this territory. We were, of course, quite disappointed to find out, which is why some of us might well feel that the King we have been faithful for so long has abandoned us, Señor…" He tried to defend the woman he loved.

"Colonel Santiago Emilio Antonio Salvador Costilla y Barquillo." The man introduced himself. "And you are…"

"Diego de la Vega." The taller caballero uttered with a rehearsed smile, staring at the slightly older, 5'7" man with green eyes and a malicious smile.

"Oh, yes… The haciendado playing doctor." He concluded, as, allowing himself convinced by the caballero's defense of the young woman, he signaled for his men to let go of Victoria. "I hear you are also the newspaper editor." He, addressed Diego again "Then this might interest you for the next edition of the paper," as he said that, he turned to address the people gathered there. "The King of Spain has not ceded control over these lands, which makes everyone here still a Spanish subject. And, precisely because the King still cares about California, His Excellency, Governor Frasquez, has decided that, from this moment on, this pueblo is under military rule until the rebel outlaw known as Zorro is captured and brought to justice, together with all his accomplices."

As soon as his speech was over, the newcomer gave orders for the crowd to be dispersed and headed for the Alcalde's office, followed by his men.

Diego worriedly watched the new lancers, inwardly glad Victoria and his father had convinced him not to come as the masked outlaw.

As soon as they were gone, leaving his father to discuss the events with Mendoza and his other men, he headed for the tavern, intended on talking to the taverness. Once inside, barely noticed by the people who were avidly discussing the recent events, he headed to the kitchen, where Victoria was angrily cutting hot peppers to add to the food she was cooking.

"Were you aware that a small army was coming to have cooked so much food?" Diego wondered as he looked around.

"Don Diego!" She exclaimed as she raised her eyes to see him. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, since last night we were interrupted, I thought this was as good a time as any to talk. Victoria –"

"Don't!" She interrupted him. "Please don't say anything, Diego! I already know…"

"Yes, I assumed that…" He said hesitantly at noticing her attitude, then instinctively eyed her lips.

Victoria slightly opened them in response, then, suddenly confused about her reaction, she raised her knife at him.

Diego looked rather surprised by her gesture and, realizing what she was doing, she hurriedly left the knife on the table, taking a few steps away from her best-friend-turned-secret-admirer.

"Please, Diego! This is very hard for me, but there can never be anything between us." She uttered to his dismay.

Her words left him almost speechless, and he had much difficulty in uttering the only word he could think of at that moment "What?"

"I know you love me." She said as she turned around, unable to face him. "I might have feelings for you as well… I mean, you've just saved my life… which I know wasn't even the first time, so, of course I feel grateful to you! And you've been my friend for so long that I am unsure how I truly feel about you. Yet, I know I love Zorro with all my heart, and I have already promised to marry him. So, you see, the two of us can never be." When Victoria turned and let him see the torment in her eyes, Diego, who just realized he had been wrong about which secret the woman he loved and his father had discovered, could barely stop himself from kissing her, fully aware a kiss was all it would take to give him away.

A tense silence followed as the caballero was trying to decide how to react, and whether or not to end the secrecy already. Eventually, he decided that, given the recent developments, it was premature for him to do so before the newest threat to his masked persona had passed.

"I see…" He eventually answered with a sad smile, doing his best to seem disappointed. "I am glad you are certain about your love for Zorro. I truly hope he deserves you, Victoria."

Realizing there was nothing more to do but leave, he turned around and headed for the curtains separating the kitchen from the taproom.

"Diego!" The taverness uttered in an effort to offer him the consolation she was certain he needed. "If Zorro had never existed… there would be no one else I would have rather married, but you."

He only slightly turned his head and nodded before fully grinning as he exited, just in time for his father to notice his amusement.

"What's so funny, Diego?" The old don, who was irritated because of the Colonel's appearance and behavior, asked him.

"Oh… It's nothing…" He replied before another thought crossed his mind. "I guess I finally understand our conversations from last night and this morning. I'm afraid you and Victoria have gotten the wrong idea, but, to be fair, I didn't have the heart to tell her right now."

"What do you mean, Son? What wrong idea?" Don Alejandro inquired.

"Well… It seems to me like you both believe me in love with her when all I wanted was to tell you that I am planning on attending Manuel Hernandez's wedding in Monterey, and to ask Victoria if she wanted to accompany me… if you thought it prudent, of course. Felipe will also come, so it won't be just the two of us, since that would certainly not be advisable. I have no intention to cause anyone to gossip about Victoria and me." Diego explained with a smile.

"Manuel's wedding? What wedding?" His father asked.

"His wedding in Monterey. Didn't you see the invitation? He mentioned having sent one also for Victoria, and expressed his hope that we might allow her to accompany us, so that she'd feel safe enough to make the trip." The younger man told him. "But I assumed you won't be able to make it, seeing how you have just taken over as Alcalde, which was why I wanted to discuss with the two of you if you thought it prudent for Victoria to come with me and Felipe."

"So… You don't love Victoria?"

"Of course, I do, Father! She's my closest friend. I've known her since she was a baby. Weren't you the one to mention I am like a brother to her?"

"Yes… But you're not in love with her…"

"Father, had I been in love with her, don't you think I would have done something about that a long time ago?" Diego questioned, unwilling to simply lie about that particular fact.

Don Alejandro, taking his words to mean a blunt denial of him having any romantic feelings towards the taverness, just shook his head with some amusement. "Forgive me, Son. I don't know what I was thinking!" He said.

"Well, perhaps you can make up for it by telling Victoria just how wrong the two of you were about my intentions. I still hope she might like to come to Monterey. Manuel would be happy to see her there."

"Yes, of course. When is the wedding? And how come I didn't see that letter?"

"The wedding is on the 10th of January, so we'd have to leave just after New Year's. As for the letter, it's in the desk in the library. I guess I didn't have the chance to tell you about it."

"Isn't that rather short-notice?" The older don asked.

"Well, it's still a month away." Diego answered. "But I do have to make some preparations for the trip. I'm sure Aunt Alma will insist on hosting us, but she'll need to know how many people to expect. And, if she's away or the hacienda is going through renovations, I'll need to find another place to stay."

"Yes, that's quite true, Son. Don't worry! I'll discuss it with Victoria."

"Very well, Father." Diego replied and stood to leave, then seemed to change his mind and sat down. "Have you already thought about what to do about the Colonel?"

"No… Not yet, Diego. Perhaps I should just give him the money he wants and hope he'll leave us alone. But I doubt it will be so easy, certainly not considering Frasquez' last visit..."

"It never is…" Diego muttered. "Excuse me, Father, but I need to head for The Guardian's office. I have enough material for a few articles, and they won't write themselves."

Don Alejandro nodded and watched him exit the tavern.

ZZZ

Victoria came to the old don's table a few minutes after his son had left it to ask if there was anything he wanted.

"A bottle of wine, my dear, and two plates of arroz con pollo, one of which please send to my son at the newspaper office. I'm sure he will otherwise forget to have lunch." He answered. "And, if you have a few minutes, please join me!"

She agreed and, asking Pilar to tend to the taproom, brought his order just a few moments later, together with a plate of food for herself, then joined the caballero.

"Victoria, did you receive an invitation from Manuel Hernandez to attend his wedding in Monterey?" The don inquired.

"Yes, I did. It came a day or two ago, I'm not certain." She answered. "Why do you ask, Don Alejandro?"

"Because we were wrong, my dear. My son also received an invitation and, as it turns out, all he wanted was to discuss whether it was a good idea for you to go there with him and Felipe." He told her.

"You mean…"

"He's not in love with you, Victoria. He just wanted to see if he should make arrangements for you to accompany them."

"Are you sure?" She asked incredulously.

"Quite certain, my dear." He answered. "Although I must say I'm also disappointed. I guess part of me was hoping my son truly was in love with you. He hasn't granted a woman a second glance since that time he almost married while in Spain. At least the idea that he was in love already would have meant he hasn't completely given up on marriage…"

"I was such a fool!" Victoria chided herself, covering her face with her hands in embarrassment. "And I told him… I told him I would have married him… Just to console him… But he never even…" She stopped talking, feeling more embarrassed by the second.

"Don't fret, my dear! I'm sure he understands." Don Alejandro assured her rather unsuccessfully.

After finishing her lunch with Don Alejandro, Victoria decided to take Diego his lunch herself, so that she might get the chance to apologize. She, thus, prepared a tray with his food and a glass of lemonade and crossed the narrow road separating his newspaper's office from her tavern.

"Diego? May I come in?" She asked at knocking on the door.

"Victoria! Yes, of course!" He answered, wearing his normal smile.

"Your father asked me to bring you your lunch," Victoria said, leaving the tray on his desk.

"Indeed. I haven't eaten a thing today, so it's much appreciated." He answered with a grin, eyeing the food just as he had eyed her lips earlier, a look she noticed as she sat down on a chair placed in front of his desk.

"Diego –"

"I assume my father talked to you about more than food?" He inquired and the look she gave him together with the subtle nod was answer enough. "In that case, you don't need to say anything, Victoria. That little confusion was all my fault, and, as far as I'm concerned, we can just forget it ever happened." He interrupted her to say.

"Yes… Except that I've been thinking about it. Diego, are you sure you don't feel anything for me?" She asked.

"Victoria, if I was in love with you, I assure you that you wouldn't need to ask me that question." He replied, hoping their conversation would stop there.

She looked intently at him and he did his best to seem certain of himself, so she decided to accept his answer. Nodding, she, thus, stood up and turned around to leave.

"Victoria," he stopped her, "did my father also have the chance to discuss with you Manuel's invitation? Would you like to join Felipe and me?"

"Si… Si, Diego. I think I would." She answered.

"Very well. I'll write my aunt to inform her that she should expect the three of us in that case." He said before turning his attention to his food. "Thank you, again. It's delicious!" He said when he saw she was still standing in the doorway, looking at him eat. "Goodbye, Victoria!"

"Goodbye, Diego!" She said before exiting rather frustrated with him, wondering why the idea that he didn't love her bothered her more than the idea that he did.

The caballero watched her leave, then stood up and headed towards his window, from where he glanced into the plaza at the new lancers who were, at that very moment, standing in attention, awaiting their commander.

"What are you up to, Colonel?" He silently wondered, then frowned as he saw a contingent of soldiers heading for the medical office.

Barely taking another moment to think, he followed them to see what was going on. He arrived there just as Jessie was being escorted out, blood on her hands, a mother shouting for the soldiers to let her go.

"What's going on?" Diego asked worriedly.

"Diego, I was in the midst of a surgery. Please take over!" The young woman replied as she allowed herself to be escorted to jail.

Seeing his father had also noticed the commotion and certain he was not going to allow for Jessie to stay in jail for too long, the caballero did as the young woman asked and entered the medical office to continue the surgery, putting together a child's broken leg, sewing the wound, then applying some ointment to help fight a possible infection, before tying a splint to it so that it would stay in place for long enough to heal.

When he was done, he washed his hands and, after offering the mother a jar of willow tree bark with instructions on how to administer it, he locked the office behind them, headed for the jail.

ZZZ

"You can't prove she helped Zorro!" Don Alejandro was saying just as his son entered.

"What is this about, Father?" Diego inquired as he neared the older don who was trying to convince the colonel to free the doctor.

"There was a witness. Don Manolo's only surviving son. He found blood by the medical office the following morning, and a lancer told him she had been there the previous night, having left the pueblo just after they arrived." The Colonel informed them.

"And how reliable a witness is a young man who had just seen his father kill his stepsister, then his stepmother murder his father?" Diego inquired angrily.

"The Governor believes he's a very reliable source. It's why he decided to preside over the doctor's trial." The Colonel informed them.

"He's coming here?" Diego inquired.

"Indeed. Besides the requested sum of money, there is also the issue of the oath of allegiance, and he plans on being here himself to witness Spain's loyal subjects make their pledges. He's due to arrive in two days." Costilla y Barquillo replied with a large, evil smile reminiscent of Luis Ramone's. "Which is why I suggest you capture Zorro by then Alcalde." He continued.

Barely glancing at Diego before leaving the two men, the Colonel headed for the tavern, where he was planning on seeking accommodation, leaving the two De la Vegas with Jessie.

Don Alejandro took the keys as soon as the man exited, and opened the cell. "I don't care what he wants. He has no right, and I will not hang you!"

"If I escape, he will hang you instead!" Jessie replied.

"Not if Diego and I cut a Z on each other's jacket, tie our hands, and say it was Zorro to have helped you escape." He answered.

"I believe we'd better let Zorro deal with this," Diego suggested. "In the middle of the day, I doubt Jessie will be able to make it too far. Besides, where is she supposed to go?"

Don Alejandro sighed his agreement. "I guess you're right…" He said.

"We can't count on Zorro!" Jessie uttered.

The two men looked inquiringly towards her.

"Why do you think it wasn't he to help you when you, Victoria and Felipe were taken by those bandits?" She continued asking by way of explanation. "He's lost his memory. The day you were abducted I found him lying on a field, Tornado next to him, and a large bump on his head. He had no idea who he was and what he was doing there. Wherever Zorro is, he's in no condition to help me this time. Perhaps ever again…"

The tall caballero, who knew Victoria was smart enough to keep his secret messages just for herself, also realized De Soto had not told anyone about the documents he had left for him before he decided to organize free elections.

"Are you sure?" Don Alejandro asked her. "Because the truth, my dear, is that I am not aware of any Los Angelino who has lost his memory recently."

"Perhaps he's recovered it already. Or, perhaps, he's not a Los Angelino at all." Diego tried to offer a different explanation.

"That might be so, Son! But what if it's the second? In such case, the only way to help Jessie is by making sure she isn't convicted." Don Alejandro muttered.

"If the Governor will be presiding and he only comes in two days, that gives us just enough time to get our lawyer here before the trial starts. I will send one of the men to Santa Barbara with instructions to have Don Luis Cristobal accompany him back." Diego told his father.

"And if he's not here in time?" The new Alcalde inquired.

"Then I shall take over the defense until he arrives. If Jessie agrees." The younger man stated.