AN: Sorry for the delay with this next chapter. Been busy. Part of it is new material, part of it is old material. Hope you'll like it.
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"You're still wearing that suit?" Diego asked a few days later at seeing his father make his way to the breakfast table dressed in the clothes Señor Pañuelo had made for him.
"Why not? I paid for it, didn't I? And I happen to like this suit, even though the tailor who made it turned out to be a crook." He answered. "I can't understand, Son! Why did he have to plan a robbery when he had everyone in Los Angeles looking forward to having their clothes made by him? He could have earned a fortune by honest work!"
"Perhaps he lacked the patience to do so," Diego answered calmly. "Have you decided what you'll do with his accomplice?"
"He gave a written testimony, and I let him go last evening."
"So you believed him!"
"Yes. Even Pañuelo confessed the man was barely involved in the plan and had done nothing wrong, really. Not to mention he saved our masked hero's life! Zorro told me that himself. Besides, I also know where to find him. Miguel Pérez hired him as a helper."
"The blacksmith? With the pueblo increasing at its current pace, Señor Pérez will certainly need the help," his son smiled as he finished his coffee and stood up, a gesture Felipe hurriedly imitated. "I promised Jessie I would be at the medical office this morning." He said. "And Felipe promised me he will be setting the type for the next edition of The Guardian. I believe we should be going…"
"I'm coming, I'm coming! You two won't even let me finish my coffee lately!" Don Alejandro muttered as he stood up, took a sip of the blackish liquid, and followed the younger men to the stables, feeling unexpectedly old.
ZZZ
The pueblo was animated that day and Diego kept himself busy at the medical office the entire morning. His line of patients ended abruptly around noon, so he and Felipe headed towards the tavern. As for Don Alejandro, he headed for the church to talk to Padre Benitez after informing his son and grandson that he would join them shortly.
Jessie made her way to the pueblo just as the two younger De la Vegas found a table on the terrace. Seeing her friends, she stopped her buggy in the back of the medical office – where her horse had some shade and food while waiting for his mistress – then joined them for lunch.
It was barely a few moments later when Marisol, who had been playing in the back of the tavern with Ramon, hearing Diego's voice, forgot all about their game and headed straight for her Papi, asking to be taken into his arms. He picked her up and she locked her little hands behind his neck, resting her head on his chest.
"Last night, Marisol told me that she wants to become a doctor so that she could spend all day with you," Victoria informed Diego as she placed a plate of albondigas soup in front of him. "If you're not careful, you'll soon find her following you around like a shadow."
"Jealous?" He inquired with a smile.
"Very!" She confessed with a chuckle. "What am I going to do with her? All she talks about is her Papi! What her Papi said, what her Papi did, how her Papi let her ride on his horse. She's completely smitten with you!"
"She has good taste." Diego remarked, caressing the child's head.
Victoria frowned, folding her hands across her chest. "Isn't she a little too young for you, Diego?" She asked.
He didn't get to answer as a coach entering the pueblo drew their attention.
"Isn't that the San Pedro coach?" Jessie asked.
"I don't know of any ship due to arrive today…" Diego pointed out as they all looked curiously towards the vehicle that stopped right before the entrance to the tavern.
The door opened and three passengers exited, among which a distinguished woman with long, white hair and beautiful features. She was well in her late fifties and possessed a kind, genuine smile.
Looking around, her eyes soon rested on the people curiously looking at her from the tavern's porch. She smiled kindly, mainly at the little girl attached to the tall caballero's neck, and decided to head towards them.
Don Alejandro, who was just returning from the church to join his family and friend for lunch, almost bumped into the lady and they both remained there, just looking at each other for a few moments.
"Excuse me, Señora!" He apologized, staring at her.
"No need for apologies, Señor!" She replied with a smile. "This voyage tired me so that I was probably not even looking where I was going."
"Are you coming from far away?" Diego inquired.
"Quite far, yes, young man!" She confirmed with a kind smile. "I come from Spain. My ship arrived only a few hours ago in San Pedro. Pray, would you be so kind as to tell me where the Alcalde's office is?"
"It is right across the plaza, Señora!" Don Alejandro answered. "And I am the Alcalde, Don Alejandro de la Vega." He politely introduced himself with a little nod. "Is there something I might do for you, dear lady?"
"You are the Alcalde?" She wondered, rather surprised. "But, this is Los Angeles, is it not? I… I thought my son, Ignacio, was the Alcalde here."
"Ignacio de Soto? Your son?" Don Alejandro asked in disbelief.
"Si! Can you tell me where he is?" She replied with some fear that something might have happened to her only remaining child, a fear she had harbored since she had fist found out that Nueva España had declared its independence and had meanwhile become Mexico.
"You are Señora de Soto?" Jessie wondered, reflecting Don Alejandro's disbelief.
"I am." The woman confirmed.
"I am your daughter-in-law, Señora, Doctor Jessie Kent. Ignacio is currently tending to the vineyards at our hacienda, northeast of the pueblo. We had no idea you were coming… I am sure he will be very happy to see you!"
"Vineyards? And you are my daughter-in-law?" The woman asked almost shocked. "Oh, my! Such a beautiful woman is my daughter-in-law? And you are a doctor? Ignacio must have become quite a good man if a woman like you agreed to marry him!" She concluded. "Then you... you, young man," she said, looking at Diego, "you must be Don Diego de la Vega, his best friend."
That piece of information was a little shocking to everyone there but, just like the tall caballero, they attributed it to some misunderstanding, not even suspecting that it was, as far as Ignacio was concerned, the truth, for Diego, was the closest thing to a friend De Soto had in Los Angeles.
"And this, no doubt, is your beautiful family!" The woman continued, looking at Victoria, Marisol, and Felipe. "I am so happy to meet you all!"
"Don't frown Diego!" Jessie said, expecting to see her friend's embarrassed look, then questioning herself when she didn't find it. "I will clarify everything on our way to the hacienda. Señora, if you would be so kind as to follow me?" She invited her mother-in-law as she stood up, leaving Victoria a few coins as payment for the meal she barely had the time to touch.
"You don't need to call me 'Señora', my dear. Doña Maria will do for now, until you may find it in your heart to call me 'Mother'! Goodbye, everyone! I am sure we'll have ample opportunity to meet again, soon!" The white-haired woman said, following Jessie.
"Goodbye, Señora!" They answered in a choir.
"Well, Diego, De Soto's mother doesn't seem to be exactly what I expected…" Don Alejandro confessed, his eyes still following the two women as they had the coach driver load Doña Maria's luggage pieces into Jessie's buggy and they headed out of the pueblo.
"She seems like such a nice lady. How can Ignacio de Soto be her son?" Victoria asked, expressing the question going through everyone's mind.
ZZZ
A messenger arrived in the pueblo a little over an hour later, as Marisol was already taking her nap and the De la Vegas were about to part ways, each returning to his own duties. The man was dusty and sweat dripped from his forehead as he stopped in front of the cuartel and headed for the lancer on duty. Moments later, said lancer pointed towards the terrace and, after a few more words exchanged between them, the newcomer headed that way. "Don Diego de la Vega?" He asked as he neared the caballero, who nodded. "A letter for you, Señor, from Santa Barbara." The messenger said, handing over the document.
Diego opened the envelope somewhat intrigued, and read the note inside it. "It's from Uncle Rodrigo. He asks me to head that way as soon as possible… but he doesn't say what this is all about." He told Felipe and his father. "Were you told anything, when this letter was given to you?" He asked the messenger.
"I was only told it was urgent and that I needed to deliver it straight into your hands. I've been riding here since yesterday morning, only stopping during the night to sleep and rest the horse." The man said before saluting. He was heading for the taproom to ask for a room and find out where his horse could also get some well-deserved rest when he stopped in his tracks and turned again to face the De la Vegas. "Señores, the servant who gave me the message and paid for its delivery… I heard him tell a don that his master was gravely ill."
The De la Vegas exchanged a glance. "A medical emergency, then?" Don Alejandro asked his son. "But why call you when there is a doctor in Santa Barbara?"
"Maybe he's not in the pueblo. Whatever it is, I believe I'd better be on my way soon." Diego decided. "I will leave tomorrow at dawn."
"Yes… That is a good idea, Son…" Don Alejandro agreed. "And take two horses. Esperanza and Luna, perhaps. You can ride faster that way."
"Yes… I do believe that is a good idea, father." He answered before standing up, due to head for the medical office.
"And make sure you explain to Marisol that you'll be back soon, or nobody will be able to reason with her until you return!" The old caballero suggested.
ZZZ
Since he didn't know what illness his uncle had, the tall caballero decided to be ready for anything. He, thus, gathered all the medicines he believed could be of use, including the rarest of the ones he had, in a bag, took copies of his and Jessie's recipes for various medicines, his best medicine books, his microscope, and, when he was certain to have taken everything he might need, he headed for the tavern.
"Papi!" Marisol exclaimed as she came running to him her arms raised. Diego bent down and lifted her up.
"I wanted to talk to you, my princess." He said seriously. "How would you feel about a horse ride this afternoon? With Victoria's permission, of course." He added as the taverness neared them, a smile on her face.
"May I, Mama Victoria?" She asked her aunt.
"Alright… You can go. But I want you back in an hour." She actually informed Diego despite addressing the child. "I must give her a bath and I have already started warming up the water. It will get cold otherwise." Victoria explained to the caballero.
"I'll make sure to bring her back by six." He answered and, nodding his head as goodbye, left with the girl in his arms.
"Why do you let that orphan think you are her father, Don Diego? She'll grow up believing she's a rich Señorita and no man will ever be good enough for her!" Señor Peralta muttered, half in joke and half maliciously as he passed by the caballero and Marisol on the terrace.
"He's my Papi, you silly!" Marisol answered possessively before the caballero had the chance to. "Mine and Feipe's!"
"You heard her, Señor. As for men, I doubt any will be good enough for this princess. She's already more astute than some of the grownups I know, and she's not even 3." Diego muttered sarcastically, yet trying to seem polite, as he continued on his way to the stables.
ZZZ
"There was something I wanted to talk to you about," Diego told Marisol as they left the pueblo, mounted on his mare.
"What about?" She asked. "Why can't we live with you at the hacienda, Papi? I like it there." Marisol then inquired, not really interested in what Diego had to say.
"You, Victoria, and Ramon can come any time you want." He answered, fighting an instinct to promise the girl that they will soon be a true family and live together. She was too small to keep a secret and it wasn't yet time for others to start suspecting the truth, or that he had every intention of marrying Marisol's adoptive mother. "Next time, perhaps you'll stay for more days. But your mother is very busy at the tavern, so it is better for you to live in the pueblo… for now…" He couldn't stop himself from adding.
"Can we come tomoow?"
"You can go anytime you want, but I won't be there, Marisol. It's what I was meaning to tell you. I will be away from the pueblo for a while."
"Away? Whea?" She asked, looking rather frightened.
"I have to go see my uncle and cousin in Santa Barbara. But I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Can I come, too?" Marisol asked.
"That is not possible, my princess. I will need to ride very fast. Besides, I'll be leaving very early in the morning, long before you wake up."
"I can wake up ealie." She assured him.
Diego sighed. "Still, I can't take you. But I promise to return soon." He told her as, nearing a meadow filled with wildflowers, he stopped the mare and climbed down before helping Marisol.
"No, Papi! I don't want you to go!" She said as she locked her arms tight around his neck.
"I have to," Diego said in a soothing tone. "I am going there because my uncle is very ill and needs to see me." He explained as he lowered himself on one knee, hoping she would let go so that he might look her in the eyes as they talked.
"No, Papi! Don't go! What if you don't come back like my first papi and mami? I don't want to lose you!" She protested and soon started crying, still refusing to let go of him.
"I will come back. I promise!" He told Marisol, trying to calm her down.
"You won't! I know it!" She said, crying harder. "You want to leave me!"
"I most certainly never want to do that." He said convincingly and the girl slowly raised her head to look at his face. "I will only be away for a short time. Besides, Felipe and Grandpapa will be here and take you for rides." He assured her with a smile.
"I don't want Feipe and Gandpapa. I want you!" She said desperately as she again started crying against his collarbone.
Diego embraced the child, wondering what to tell her to calm her down when, looking around, an idea crossed his mind. With his right hand, he discreetly plucked a flower from the ground, hiding it in his sleeve.
"I tell you what…" He said. "Do you know I have a magic power?"
"Magic?" She asked, wide-eyed, her crying suddenly stopping as she again dared to look at him, this time taking a step back from her Papi to see him better.
"Yes." Diego said. "I can make flowers appear out of thin air."
"You can?"
"Oh, yes!" He said convincingly as he showed her his empty hands then, with a fast movement, he pulled out the flower he had picked up earlier making it look as if it had just appeared out of thin air.
The girl looked at the flower baffled, then at him, and again at the flower, unable to understand how it had so suddenly appeared in her Papi's hand.
"So this is what I'll do," Diego continued. "Every day I am away, I shall make a flower appear at your window, so that you know I am well, and thinking of you."
"You will?"
Diego nodded assuredly. "In exchange, you listen to your Mama Victoria and be a good girl, alright? And I will also bring you some presents from Santa Barbara."
"Pesents?" She inquired, her eyes shining.
"Presents." He confirmed.
"Can you bing me a puppet?"
"I believe so. Do we have a deal, then? Will you be a good girl until I return?"
"You will send me a flowa evy day?"
"Every morning, when you'll open the window, you'll find a flower from me there." Diego assured her.
"And you'll bing me a puppet?"
"The most beautiful one I can find." He confirmed.
Marisol smiled and nodded.
"Well, then… Now that we have a deal, how about we gather some flowers to take to your mommy? I'm sure she'll appreciate receiving a beautiful bouquet from you." The caballero suggested.
"Can't you just make it appea?"
"I could. But it wouldn't be from you…" He said.
Marisol stared intently at him for a few moments, thinking, then nodded and ran a few yards away, where she started gathering a bouquet.
ZZZ
That very evening, after Diego had finished packing some of his medical equipment and as Don Alejandro was finishing some paperwork in town, Felipe burst through the main door of the house, signing as he hurried towards his father.
"Felipe! What is it?" Diego asked at seeing his expression. "Bandits? Burning down De Soto's vineyards? Come Felipe!" As he said that, he opened the sliding panel, and they headed for the cave where Tornado was eagerly awaiting his master.
Four men were at the De Soto Hacienda, faces half-covered with bandanas, torches and swords in their hands. Ignacio and two of his men were trying to fend them off, but they were no match for them, and some of the vineyards were already on fire.
Doña Maria and Jessie also tried to intervene, and Doña Maria was almost injured by one of the bandits when Zorro came to their aid. He used his whip to force the bandits to drop their torches and cut the saddles from under two of the outlaws, causing them to fall off their horses. He then proceeded to disarm the other two as Ignacio was fighting the ones on the ground, and his men were hurrying to extinguish a fire before it engulfed all the vineyards.
"Do you need any help, De Soto?" The masked man asked as he had already overcome the two bandits on horseback, while Ignacio was still fighting.
"I am perfectly capable of defeating two bandits, Zorro!" He replied as he disarmed one of the men, but was immediately disarmed himself by the other when he stumbled and fell on his back.
Zorro used his whip to take the sword out of the man's hand, just as he was preparing to kill Ignacio. "I can see that!" He replied sarcastically as he proceeded to dismount and knock out the remaining bandits.
"I didn't need your help!" De Soto protested.
"He just saved your life, Ignacio!" Jessie admonished him. "Thank you, Zorro! I am certainly too young to become a widow!" She added, as she was heading for a bucket of water to help their men put out the fire.
"At your service, as always, Doctor!" Zorro replied, dismounting to tie up the men, then lend a hand to extinguish the fire.
After about ten minutes, when the vineyards were saved through their collective effort, Zorro put the already-tied-up thugs on their horses.
"I will take these men to Los Angeles!" He informed them as he was mounting back on Tornado. "I don't believe you'll need to worry about them anymore. Adios, Señoras! De Soto!" He saluted taking his right hand to his hat.
"Adios, Zorro! And thank you!" Jessie uttered as Ignacio was watching him ride away, for a few moments pondering if he should try to shoot him or not. The reward on the black-clad man's head was still 3,000 pesos, after all, but somehow it no longer seemed right to try and collect it. He, thus, decided against it because he knew Jessie would not appreciate such an attempt, and he didn't want to sleep in the barn the entire following month and who knew how many more after that. Plus, truth be told, experience had taught him that it was useless to try anything against the masked outlaw.
"I don't understand!" Doña Maria told Jessie as they were watching their savior ride away. "That man is Zorro? Ignacio wrote me that Zorro was a criminal, his archenemy. Why would such a man come to our aid?"
"Is that what he told you?" Jessie asked, barely containing a laughter. "Well, I believe we'll need to have a long conversation about Ignacio's definition of 'archenemy'."