I suppose you al have guesed by now it isn't Diego who de Soto has captured. ;)

Chapter 25

Diego was glad when the hacienda finally came into sight. He was in excellent shape, but the sun was merciless and burned brightly without a cloud in the sky.
Wearing all-black clothing made it even worse. After walking seven miles in the heat, he was thirsty and longing to go home. Hopefully, Toronado had also found his way home. The front leg of Toronado was cripple, and that had left him no choice but to send the horse home ahead of him and continue on foot.
Over the past two hours, he had mainly thought about what to do once he got home. By now, it was almost siesta time, and he hoped to persuade his wife to accompany him to their bedroom.
He longed most for a bucket of refreshing water to quench his thirst. The next thing on his list was a hot bath to wash off the dust that had penetrated his clothes and find the company of the most adorable woman on earth.

For the past three days, physical contact had been more distant than was usual between them.
Victoria insisted that there was nothing to worry about.
He did nothing but worry over her.
Going through his medical books had not yielded any satisfactory results.
When he returned to the hacienda, Diego had planned to go to the pueblo to see the doctor.
A warm, relaxing bath might also do Victoria well.
He could offer to massage her shoulders, trying to make her relax a bit. Zorro closed his eyes for a moment to envision Victoria in the bath.
Her long wavy hair would tumble over the edge of the bath. Her skin would shine like polished ivory, wet by the warm water.

He shook his head to get the image out of his head. When he got home, he would freshen up and then go to the doctor to ask if the man was coming for dinner tonight. Victoria would be furious if she ever found out what he was planning to do behind her back. As soon as he was sure that there was nothing to fear from her health, he would apologize to her.

Zorro looked to the south, where the sun burned relentlessly in the sky. On the horizon, the hacienda was visible. The gate was open, and although his father knew his identity, Diego chose to enter through the back. The servants should not suspect that the son of their patron had a second identity.
From a distance, the hacienda looked peaceful. He would be home soon and ask Victoria to spend some time with him.

After another quarter of an hour of brisk walking, Zorro stepped onto the hidden floorboard, revealing the entrance to the cave.
Upon entering the cave, the first thing he noticed was that Toronado had not yet returned.
The second thing that caught his attention was the small figure of Victoria, almost glued to the peephole as she stood on a keg of gunpowder.
As he approached her, he said. "Querida, what is it?" Diego spoke soft, as he knew noises from the cave could penetrate the library.

Victoria turned around, the keg beginning to wobble dangerously from her sudden movement on a rough surface.
"Diego!" she screamed, trying to regain her balance.
Diego was just in time to grab her and save her from falling. "Thank God, I was so scared, so scared."

Victoria clung to him desperately.
Sensing that something troubling must have happened, he asked worriedly. "What happened?"

"Manuel came to tell us that Zorro and Toronado have been captured and will get hanged. I was so terribly scared that something had happened to you, father thought it could be a trap.
I'm so glad you're all right." Victoria rattled on at a furious pace. Diego needed all his attention to taking in the torrent of information. "Where is Toronado?" Victoria finally asked when she noticed that the horse was not in the cave.

Diego got the opportunity to answer.
"Toronado, I sent him ahead. He got crippled.
That's why I had to walk back."

Victoria's face turned from genuine joy to intense concern in less than a second. "Then de Soto really has captured Toronado. Someone also got arrested on suspicion of him being Zorro. I don't know who, but de Soto will hang the poor man at sunset. "

"Where are father and Felipe?" Diego wanted to make sure it was neither of them.

"Your father is with don Sebastian, gathering men to help free Zorro. Don Marco has gone to the alcalde to try and change his mind. Wouldn't he succeed, don Marco wanted to try and stall some time."

Diego had let his eyes wander through the cave. He was trying to match the information Victoria gave him with what he suspected.
"And Felipe is also gone to the pueblo, armed." Noticing weapons were missing.

"Yes, I think so. He must have sneaked out while your father was talking to don Sebastian and don Marco." Victoria had started rattling on again. She stopped for a moment to take a breath before continuing to give Diego as much information as quickly as possible.
"Manuel has taken Jupiter and is on his way to San Diego to inform and try to persuade the magistrate to come to Los Angeles. What most likely will not succeed, not in time anyway. Your father hopes de Soto will get convinced to give you…, eh Zorro, a fair trial.
Although that's more about trying to give Zorro a chance to escape."
Victoria wrapped her arms once more around his neck, leaping to get closer to Diego.
Instinctively, he caught her and pressed Victoria against him for reassurance. "I was so afraid." For a moment, they took time for a fiery kiss.

Diego lowered her back to the floor.
"I'm glad my father managed to pursue you to stay here."

Suddenly, Victoria avoided his eyes and started playing with her hair.
"Si, something like that." She said, stammering while smiling. "Diego, there is an innocent man in prison who de Soto plans to hang tonight."

"Not going to happen. Sunset, you said, right?"
Diego glimpsed at the clock on the bookcase. "Then we only have a few hours left. It's going to be tough without Toronado's help. Zorro will have to free both of them. I'm going to the pueblo to see what I can discover and find Felipe. In the meantime, would you mind trying to find my father?
And can you, please, get me a large glass of water? I'm dying of thirst. I'll come as soon as I've changed my clothes."

"Yes, yes, of course." Victoria turned around to run to the library. At the top step that led to the narrow passage to the hidden door, she stopped for a moment and turned around.
Diego was safe. Diego was safe. It was time to help Toronado and an unknown man in jail. Victoria just had to see her husband again to make sure he wasn't a fantasy. "I'm so glad it isn't you. I mean it is terrible..., I am just so glad."

Victoria ran to the kitchen, filled the largest glass she could find and a water jug, and put it on a table in the library. Then she ran to the stables and started saddling up Esperanza and Pandora.
She was just putting the halter on Pandora when Diego ran into the stable. He saw what she was doing and grabbed Pandora's saddle from the stable door.
After checking the buckles, Diego lifted Victoria into the saddle of the light brown mare she usually rode. "Find father and tell him to return to the hacienda. I think I have a plan to free that man and Toronado, and I am going to need all the help Zorro can get."

Diego mounted Esperanza looked at the woman he loved. "I love you." And away he went.

.

Victoria licked her lips. She was thinking about where to go first. There were almost no houses to the west. The nearest larger rancho belonged to don Carlos. The dons had probably already been there.
She had heard how the men had agreed to meet at the crossroads outside the pueblo. That was in about twenty minutes. She would ride to the crossing and start her search there in the eastern direction.
The hacienda was still visible in the distance when Victoria saw a cloud of dust rapidly approaching. For a moment, she hoped it was don Alejandro or Felipe. But the rider was coming from the wrong direction to be either of them.

"Doña Victoria." Victoria got greeted barely a minute later. "I am looking for don Alejandro, have you heard? My brother, Francisco, has been arrested on suspicion of being Zorro. I only just heard about it from our help. I was away, checking the water supply, or the man never had a chance."

So it was Francisco Carvajal who had mistaken de Soto for Zorro.
"I heard something like that.
Diego has already gone to the pueblo to see what he can do."

"Don Diego?" Estaban Carvajal sounded genuinely disappointed.

"Don Alejandro is visiting the farms nearby to ask men to come and see what they can do to help your brother."
Victoria had to tell Estaban the people of Los Angeles were trying to help.
"I only heard Zorro got caught. As far as I know, no one has any idea of who de Soto has in his jail. Don Marco has gone to the alcalde, trying to make him see reason."

"De Soto and reason?" Estaban laughed derisively. "Those are two opposites."
Estaban Carvajal was genuinely upset at the idea of what was in store for his brother. "And Zorro is the last person on earth I could expect help in this situation."

"Zorro helps anyone in need!"
Without thinking about it, Victoria stood up for the masked hero who couldn't defend himself at the moment.

Estaban smiled smugly. "Doña Victoria, with all due respect, in this case, the man would be a fool if he did so. If de Soto hangs my brother and believes Zorro is dead, he is able to live his life as a free man."

"If Zorro wants to be free, all he has to do is take off his mask and stop riding." Victoria took a deep breath. She knew she was overreacting. A little calmer, Victoria continued. "After all, no one knows his identity. Zorro has been fighting for justice in Los Angeles for years.
And he will continue to do so as long as necessary. As soon as Zorro hears what has happened, he will do everything in his power to free your brother. I am certain of it."

"That's easy to say."

"Listen, Estaban." Victoria had to tighten the reins in order to keep Pandora in control. The horse appeared to be equally anxious to accomplish her mission as her rider. "As long as Francisco is alive, there is still hope. You go to the pueblo and tell Diego and the dons what you told me.
The people need to know who it is de Soto had arrested. I'll go find don Alejandro and send him to the pueblo as well."

Estaban wanted to ride off, but changed his mind, sneering. "Actually, I'd rather have you go to get Zorro. If anyone knows where that fox is hiding, it's you."
Estaban looked at Victoria suspiciously. "Or were you already on your way to him? The rumours are true, aren't they? The two of you have got along particularly well in the past."

The accusation dripped off the remark the man had made. Victoria counted to ten.
"Estaban, I can understand you are upset. So, I will pretend not to have heard what you said. Nevertheless, I will answer your question."
Victoria tried to appear as honest as possible. "Estaban, I wish I knew where I could find Zorro I don't know. With any luck, he already knows someone innocent is in jail. " Lied Victoria glumly. "I am sure that Zorro will never allow an innocent person to be punished for anything if he can prevent it. Even if it means he is putting his own life at risk."

"I hope you are right. In any case, de Soto will regret having arrested Francisco. You have my word on that."

Then Estaban gave his horse the spur. Victoria made a quick prayer that all was to end well.

Several men had plans to make de Soto pay for his mistake. Estaban seemed to her to be someone prepared to take revenge if he saw fit. Diego hated bloodshed. With so many men determined to help the prisoner, Victoria doubted even Zorro could succeed in getting everyone through the day unscathed.

.

On arrival in Los Angeles, Diego found the entire pueblo in an uproar. A large crowd had gathered in the plaza. Men, women, and even children.
A large banner had been made, reading: Zorro, hero of the people.
Numerous people were banging on the cartel gate as they scanned. "Free Zorro! Free Zorro!"

The lancers were all inside the cartel. Diego suspected all the entrances got barricaded in every way possible. At least the double door was sturdy enough to keep out the angry mob.
Don Marco came up beside Diego, looked at him, and said, full of frustration. "That man is impossible! By the way, thanks for coming. It's doing your credit."

As if he had no idea what was going on, Diego asked the don. "Don Marco, what's going on here?"

"Haven't you heard? Oh, I just thought...,"
Don Marco glared at Diego again, stopped talking, and continued. "Never mind. De Soto had captured Toronado. And they say he has also caught Zorro. The latter is uncertain because de Soto refuse to tell anything besides Zorro will be executed today."
Don Marco told Diego how his conversation with the alcalde had gone. "De Soto is stubborn, refuses to give any information, and is unwilling to listen to reason.
Your father and Sebastian are gathering more men. Lots of us are willing to fight. And as you can see, the dons aren't on their own. There are plenty of people willing to help Zorro escape." Pointing to the plaza.

"And do we know who the man is that de Soto is holding prisoner?"
Diego hoped don Marco had the missing information on the prisoner's identity.

"Nothing, as said, de Soto refuses to say anything.
I have heard men swear they have seen Toronado. Also, they say a man got dragged into the prison and was not recognized.
Otherwise, I would think it is some trap from de Soto to lure Zorro to the pueblo."

Diego, meanwhile, was trying to assess the situation around the cartel and on the plaza.
Entering the pueblo undetected was not so difficult. Freeing the man would prove to be a challenge. But Toronado also needed to be set free, and could not yet be ridden. The cartel was walled, and to find a quick, safe way out for the horse seemed almost impossible.
Suddenly, Diego felt someone tapping on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Felipe looking relieved.
"Nice to see you too."
Diego quickly pulled Felipe away from the crowd, and in a whisper, the two exchanged their information.
Felipe had climbed onto the roof of the cartel and had heard things. Among the identity of the prisoner and the exact time, the sentence would get carried out.
Diego took Felipe by the shoulder and whispered.
"I have an idea. Come with me."

.

Meanwhile, Victoria had found don, Alejandro.
The two men had split up after they visited the first farm. It allowed Victoria and Alejandro to speak freely.

"Are you sure isn't Diego who de Soto arrested?" Asked Alejandro for the fifth or sixth time, still not quite sure what Victoria was telling him was the truth.

"Si, Diego came in not long after you left. He has gone to the pueblo to see what he can find out and find Felipe. It's Francisco Carvajal who de Soto has arrested."

"Francisco Carvajal?" It took the don as much effort to believe this as it had when Victoria had said the first time that his son was safe. "He and his brother have only lived here for about eight months! De Soto has been after Zorro for years. Tell me, how on earth can he think Francisco is Zorro?"

"I don't have a clue.
Maybe, de Soto is just glad he finally got able to arrest someone. To my knowledge, our alcalde always has had trouble understating facts from assumptions."

"You're right. It doesn't change the fact that there's a man innocent in jail, and de Soto wants to see him hang."

"And there is Toronado. Zorro does need him to get Francisco out of jail." Spoke Alejandro thoughtfully.

"De Soto does have Toronado. Diego also will have to free him. He said he might have a plan and thought he may need our help."

Alejandro stopped his horse
"Victoria, have you told Diego you're pregnant. Surely, he wouldn't consider asking for your help, knowing you carry a baby."

"I haven't had the time. And you're not going either. Diego would never put any of our lives at risk. I will help him should he ask."

"Victoria, I don't think...,"

"Father, women have been having babies for centuries in all kinds of circumstances. I trust Diego with my life, as with the life of our child. Should you wish for your first grandson to get named after you, I advise you to do the same."

Alejandro was becoming impatient. The woman was so stubborn. "Victoria, please, be reasonable."

"But I am reasonable. I love my husband. He needs me, and I'll do anything for him. He'll do the same for me."

"Now, young lady, you listen to me!" Alejandro did feel furious, pointed his finger at Victoria.

Don Alejandro could be impressive when he was angry. He had seemed to forget that the Escalante temper was even more famous than the de la Vega's.
"No, you listen to me! Has your son ever let anyone down? We are going to the hacienda, hearing what Diego has planned.
You have my word. I won't jeopardize the life of my child. But I will help, should Diego ask. You can choose to come with me, keep your mouth shut and help. Or you can go to the pueblo and watch people, including me, Diego and Felipe, get hurt. Because that is what will happen. Diego will only ask for our help if he sees no other option, something you know as well do I."

The eyes of Victoria shoot sparks in anger. Like a lioness, she was defending the man she loved.
Alejandro felt admiration for her. Victoria, indeed, was the kind of woman he had always hoped his son would marry and become the mother of his grandchildren. She was right on one thing, Diego would die before letting anything happen to the woman he loved.
It felt like he had no other option.
"If you give me your word, you have mine. I won't say a thing."

Victoria nodded. "I swear."

Alejandro hesitated just a little longer before he looked in the direction where the hacienda was out of sight.
"Then let's head back to the hacienda. With any luck, Felipe and Diego will be there by now. From there, we will look further."

The horses were steered in the right direction and urged to a smooth trot.

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