Diego stopped by the Indian village on his way south, spending some time taking care of those still ill, while trying to get all the information he could about who and why might try to kill the people there. Again he noticed the medicine man staring defiantly at him – as if upset with his presence – just as he noticed that the tribesmen were doing their best to avoid talking about those culpable for their friends and relatives' deaths, none answering his questions.

Eventually, after advising the Chief (unnecessarily at that point) no to accept any more gifts, at least until the person or persons behind the entire plot were caught, the tall caballero made his way to Buenaventura, where he arrived at sunset.

The De la Vega heir was quite known in the small pueblo which had flourished outside the local Mission, considering he was often visiting to get provisions, or for ranch-related affairs. When he did, he usually stayed in one of the rooms the monks offered travelers or, on occasion, with one of his acquaintances if said acquaintance insisted and Diego felt that refusing the invitation might offend the haciendado in question. Yet, that evening, he headed straight for the tavern.

The establishment, a single-story building, could hardly offer decent accommodation, which was one of the main reasons why he usually avoided it. The man running it was only interested in money and gossip. Besides that, he was dishonest with his clients, always trying to cheat them on the bill or pouring water in both the wine and the tequila. Yet it wasn't that sort of dishonesty that most bothered the caballero about the innkeeper.

What truly bothered him was the man's behavior towards his wife. The poor woman had to do the cleaning, the cooking, and the sewing all by herself while, at the same time, take care of the five small children she had given birth to, and of the farm animals she and her husband kept in the backyard.

Consequently, since so much relied on her, nothing was done properly. The food was most often burnt or simply tasteless, the two rooms the family normally rented were quite dirty, the sheets were improperly washed, partly torn and badly patched, the smaller children were always running around screaming, and the innkeeper was constantly displeased with the poor woman whom he, most often than not, accused of laziness.

Diego, thus, didn't want to give the overworked woman more to do simply by staying at the tavern overnight, especially since he knew her husband appropriated every peso they received.

However, for once, the caballero was in Buenaventura with a different kind of mission, and he knew that, in order to find the people responsible for what had happened to the tribe, there was no better place to start an inquiry than the tavern.

Thus, after stabling the mares in the municipal coral, he reluctantly made his way towards the said establishment.

The noise inside could be heard from the terrace, but he didn't expect the chaos he was faced with upon entering. The patrons there were shouting and jumping up from their chairs in reaction to a chicken that had infiltrated their ranks, while the innkeeper's children and wife were running around, trying to apprehend the escaped aviary. As for the poor creature destined to become someone's burnt meal, it was doing its best to save its life, using its clipped wings to jump on tables before returning to the floor again to hide under the chairs and run around, confusing pursuers, only to repeat that sequence moments later. At some point, as if finally realizing it was in an enclosed space, the chicken hurried past the tall caballero and into the plaza, where it turned left and headed for the nearby fields. The innkeeper's small boys were, by that point, the only ones still having the energy to chase it and they slightly bumped into the De la Vega heir as they did so before following the chicken outside.

"Buenas tardes, Señor Gutiérrez," Diego addressed the plump man behind the counter who had spent the last few minutes pointing out where the chicken was in the taproom and ordering, with little success, its urgent confinement. "I see you run quite an animated establishment." The caballero remarked with a grin as he leaned against the bar.

"That darn chicken! If I catch it, I will boil it alive!" His interlocutor uttered.

"The chicken is lucky it is not you chasing it, in that case," Diego replied only half-serious.

"That's true. But I have my duties. I can't run around chasing every bird that escapes, Don Diego."

"Indeed. Tell me, Señor Gutiérrez," the caballero decided to get to the point at noticing some of his acquaintances were just entering the tavern, "do you, by any chance, have a free room for the night?"

"A free room? Of course, I do! Even if I didn't, I'd make sure to solve that problem. For you, Don Diego, there is always a room in my humble tavern." The man said, hoping to ingratiate himself to the young don who was known to be quite generous with his friends. Having said that, he hurriedly called his wife, who had meanwhile returned to the kitchen to wash some of the dirty dishes. "Rosita, go prepare a room for Don Diego!" He ordered.

She nodded and hurriedly obeyed. A bucket of water and a cloth in her hands, followed by the two daughters, who were carrying a clean, alas quite patched-up, set of bedsheets and a broom, she headed for one of the guest rooms.

Diego couldn't help but feel guilty that they now had to do more work so that he could spend a comfortable night there. So, when the mother and the daughters finished their work, he made sure to offer them several pesos as gratitude. They smiled as they accepted the money, and left looking less tired than they felt.

After leaving his luggage in the room, together with the bag of clothes and toys he was taking for Marisol, he headed back for the taproom, where he joined his acquaintances at their table.

"So, what brings you here this time, Diego?" Don Benjamín, a young caballero who had settled in Buenaventura some six years earlier, asked.

"I've been visiting my uncle and cousin in Santa Barbara. Rafael has been quite ill lately." He answered.

"I did hear some sort of illness is going around… It's not that, is it? They say it's very contagious and quite deadly." The other man, an older haciendado called Don Samuel, said.

"Well… He's not dying, nor is his disease contagious if that is what you're asking. In fact, neither is said deadly disease affecting the Indians south of Santa Barbara, since I assume that's what you're referring to."

"Yes… Yes… It's good to hear it's not contagious... But I hear many died there. Quite a shame."

"It's always sad to see innocents suffering," Diego muttered, throwing the older man a suspicious look.

"Indeed. I do hope your cousin recovers soon, and, please give Don Rafael my best!" Don Benjamín said.

"Also from me." Don Samuel uttered.

"I most certainly will," Diego assured them. "But, tell me," the tall caballero muttered, trying to change the subject towards what interested him, "what is the news in Buenaventura?"

"News? Well, we have a new alcalde," Don Samuel answered, "seeing how the previous one left with half the garrison, accompanying the former governor to Spain..."

"Oh? Anyone I might know?"

"Doubtful. He is one of the men who had accompanied Deputy Governor De la Cruz here from Mexico City. Besides, he's due to organize elections soon..."

"And our friend, Don Samuel here, is considering taking your father's example, Diego, and running for elections." Don Benjamín said.

"I'm not considering it. He's the one pushing me to do it." The older caballero said, pointing his finger at his younger friend.

"Well, I think it would be a good decision, and I am merely trying to make you see that." Don Benjamín told Diego.

"And I am trying to remind him that I only fathered daughters and there would be no one to take care of my hacienda if I'd take on running the pueblo. I'd be ruined in a few months." Don Samuel muttered. "Don Alejandro is lucky to have you Diego, but not all of us have been similarly blessed with good sons. But speaking of Don Alejandro, I was hoping you might give him a message from me."

"A message?"

"Yes. Tell him… Tell him I am willing to offer 5,000 pesos for her. Final price!"

"For who?"

"The mare. The black one."

"I fear Luna is not for sale, Don Samuel."

"Nonsense! She's a horse. Every horse is for sale! Just tell me how much your father wants for her! Will 6,000 pesos do the trick?"

"As I said…" Diego uttered, rather amused, "she is not for sale."

"6,500!"

"Señor…"

"Fine! You drive a hard bargain, Diego… 7,000, and I want the mare by the end of the week!" The man said.

"What is so fantastic about a horse that you are willing to offer such a fortune for it?" A newcomer inquired mockingly as he approached their table.

Diego turned to see who it was, but couldn't recognize the tall, slender, green-eyes caballero looking back at him. The stranger had come accompanied by two rough-looking vaqueros who, by the look of them, were either mestizos or Indians, for they even dressed the part.

"Don Iván…" Don Samuel muttered as a greeting as a frown appeared on his face at raising his head to see him and his men. From the look of it, Diego didn't have much trouble realizing they disliked each other

"And who is this? Are we not gentlemen, or have you forgotten your manners, Señor, seeing how you have yet to introduce me to your friend?" Don Iván asked, pointing at the Los Angelino.

"Don Diego de la Vega, may I introduce to you Don Iván Castro, owner of our pueblo's smallest and furthest away hacienda, as well as hopeful candidate for the position of future alcalde?" Don Samuel uttered disparagingly.

"Not just hopeful, Don Samuel. You'll see!" Don Iván said as he sat down next to Don Benjamín, whose presence he barely acknowledged. The vaqueros accompanying him headed for the bar where, in the innkeeper's absence, they poured themselves some tequila, then headed for the terrace. "As for my hacienda, it might be small and far away, but I have every intention of making it the envy of all California. Just give me a year or two and you'll see!"

"Your hacienda is surrounded by Indian land, Señor, and your vaqueros are thugs, rather than hard-working men. Unless you are willing and have the resources to move to another and hire better vaqueros, I see no way for you to enlarge it." Don Samuel said.

"That's because you are narrow-minded and live in a world confined by rules, while I am perfectly capable of bending them to my will." The other don replied, delighting himself with the ire-filed glance he received."

"I wonder where Señor Gutiérrez is… I was hoping to order us a bottle of wine…" Diego uttered, trying to deescalate the conflict glooming between the two dons.

"He's outside teaching his wife and daughters a lesson." Don Iván told him in the same tone one would use to say that a wall is white. "Something about them not giving him all the money they received."

Hearing that, Diego stood up, but Don Samuel caught his arm. "Don't! You'll only make it worse if you try to interfere. He might behave tonight, but you won't be here tomorrow."

The tall caballero realized the older man had a point, so he sat back, gritting his teeth.

"What do you care about that wench and her daughters?" Don Iván asked.

"I'd advise against using such language in my presence, Señor, especially when referring to an honest, hard-working woman." Diego said coldly.

Don Iván stared at him rather surprised, but decided against angering the taller man who, at that precise moment, seemed rather intimidating. "Right…" He said. "But why are we even talking about them when I'd rather talk about that horse worth 7,000 pesos?"

"That horse is none of your business!" Don Samuel muttered as he stood up. "Excuse me, Señores, but I believe it is getting late, and I am due back home." He muttered.

After nodding his goodbye to his friends, the older man gave a spiteful look to the newcomer and headed out the door.

"I hope he didn't leave because of something I said." Don Iván uttered mockingly.

"I should be going too, Diego. But I hope to soon have the pleasure of your visit. Do stop by my hacienda the next time you are here. Spend the night! You know you're always welcome, and you haven't visited in ages." Don Benjamín said moments later.

"Thank you for the invitation," Diego told him. "I'll keep it in mind."

Don Benjamín nodded. "Have a good evening, caballeros!" He wished them before heading out.

"So… What can you tell me about that wonder horse of yours?" The newcomer insisted.

Diego gave him a look that mixed his residual ire at the man with some bafflement. "A good mare, but hardly worth 7,000 pesos. It's just that my father has an emotional attachment to her." He replied. "But what about you, Señor? How come this is the first time we meet? I thought I knew all the caballeros living in this territory."

"I only arrived a couple of months ago. My ranch is about midway between here and Santa Barbara." The other don explained.

Diego looked suspiciously at the green-eyed man. "Don Samuel mentioned Indian lands in your vicinity. You haven't happened to have troubles with the Indians, have you?"

"Troubles? My only trouble is that those vermin refuse to leave their lands…"

"You have tried acquiring them?"

"I made them an offer but they foolishly refused."

"A shame…" Diego muttered.

"Indeed. Now they say they have a contagious disease and, instead of leaving their lands, they remain there to spread it to us all. Everything because the alcalde of Santa Barbara decided to institute a quarantine."

"I believe that was the right way to act at the moment, especially since he believed it was a disease that could spread to others. But you can rest assured, Don Iván. As it turns out, there was no disease, but poison."

"Poison?" The other man inquired. "How do you know?"

"My cousin happened to have visited the tribe and fell ill soon after, just by touching a blanket," Diego told him.

The other don looked at him rather dumbfounded for a few moments. "It's not a disease… And you discovered this?" He inquired.

Diego nodded with a fake smile.

"But, how can you be sure? What qualifies you to make such claims?" Don Iván continued.

"I've been working as a doctor in Los Angeles for over a year now, so I do have some medical knowledge…"

The other caballero stared at him a few moments before chuckling for a few moments. "Oh… I remember now. The new Deputy Governor did mention that the son of the Alcalde of Los Angeles is a doctor as well as the local newspaper's editor. You must be him… Quite a busy man, aren't you, De la Vega?" He said with a wicked smile.

"I am lately, actually… Quite busy..." Diego said with a pensive smile contrasting that of the other man.

Don Iván stared at him for a few moments, before standing up. "Well, I believe I should also be going. I'll see you around, Señor!"

The tall caballero watched the man leave to join his vaqueros on the terrace, just as the innkeeper returned, followed by his wife and two daughters. Diego frowned as he noticed that half of the woman's face was reddened and, just like their mother's, the two girls' eyes were swollen, a clear sign they had been crying.

Unwilling to talk to the innkeeper at that point, knowing fully well that he'd expect to be handsomely compensated for every information he'd give him, the caballero looked around the tavern and, not finding anyone he knew or deemed in any way helpful, he headed for his room.

ZZZ

Felipe was in the cave when Diego arrived the following evening, cleaning Tornado's stall, and the older man hurried to embrace him. "Anything happened while I was away?" He asked.

"De Soto's mother volunteered to help Señorita Escalante at the tavern. And a boy Padre Benitez cares for at the Mission disappeared a few days ago. The Padre asked Grandfather for his help as soon as he realized the boy was missing, and he and some lancers found him and brought him back the following day." The younger man signed.

"Is he alright?" Diego asked, genuinely concerned for the child.

"Yes. He had fallen and injured a leg, so he couldn't return to the Mission. He was hungry and scared when they found him, but Jessie took care of the injury and he is getting better."

"That's good to know, Felipe. Have you done as I asked?" The tall caballero queried.

His son shook his head, earning a disconcerted look from Diego.

"I asked Ramon to do it." The younger man signed mischievously. "It's easier for him to leave the flowers, and he was happy to help." He continued to explain.

Diego shook his head with a grin. "I guess you're right." He said as he took off his shirt and poured himself some water to wash.

"Marisol will be happy to see you." Felipe signed.

"And I'll be happy to see her. But I'm not going to Los Angeles just yet." Diego told him. "In fact, for now, nobody can know that I am back."

After informing Felipe about what had happened while he was away, Diego made sure Esperanza – the only one of the mares he had brought back with him – was fed and groomed, then spent the night resting in the cave. The next morning Zorro left on Tornado, heading north.

ZZZ

Since Diego and Zorro couldn't be seen in the same place at the same time, at least not outside Los Angeles, he had to keep the mask on for as long as it took for him to find the culprit or culprits he was looking for. That meant that he needed a good hideaway, isolated enough, yet able to offer him everything he needed.

There was no secret cave near Buenaventura, but Diego had not relived the same day over 1400 times in vain the previous year. During that time, he had managed to find several new hideouts within riding distance of Los Angeles.

The one he was heading for was an abandoned mine situated some five miles northeast of Buenaventura. The place was stable, rather narrow, and some eighty feet long, composed of several chambers. It ended in two tunnels, one which led towards an isolated meadow through which ran a small stream. The other one led nowhere, since it was never fully finished, the miner having realized rather quickly that what they were looking for wasn't there.

Having gone by there to check the place the previous morning, Diego had already left Luna in the meadow by the northern entrance, making sure she'd have shelter, food, water, and the freedom she needed in case she had to escape danger. The mare was strong, fierce, and trained to find her way back to the De la Vega Hacienda, so Diego hardly worried about leaving her alone for a couple of days.

Upon his return, he found her in good spirits and glad to see her master. So, leaving Tornado to get some rest after the long way there, Zorro set up camp, took about an hour to rest, then mounted Luna and headed for Buenaventura.