Chapter 5

Several days later, Diego still refused to come into town with his father. The man was determined to not get involved with whatever troubles his son and the Señorita were having, but his son's silence was becoming infuriating.

He smiled as Victoria re-filled his glass with a smile. He was sitting outside with a few of the pueblo's leading caballeros watching the alcalde's office with great interest.

"And what are you three up to ?" She smiled politely, remembering the night Diego had watched the alcalde's door with great curiosity.

"The alcalde and the Señora have been in there for quite some time." Don Ricardo chuckled.

"Probably wanting some privacy from prying eyes." She observed. "No woman likes being watched with a man she cares about."

"I would assume that you are speaking from experience, Señorita?" Don Carlos smiled.

"And why do you think I would enjoy being seen with Zorro?" She said curtly.

Alejandro noted the tinge of anger in her voice when she said the man's name and wondered if something also had happened to cause a rift between the señorita and her masked love.

"There is very little that is private about Zorro." Don Carlos added. " Everyone knows of his feelings towards you, Señorita."

She said nothing, turned on her heal and went back into the tavern.

"Hmm, something is going on between Zorro and the Señorita." Don Ricardo observed, leaning back in his chair.

"You noticed too, hmm?" Don Carlos smiled.

"Maybe she discovered his identity and is disappointed!" Don Ricardo laughed and was joined by Don Carlos.

"Listen to us, we sound like a pair of old Señora's!"

Alejandro remained silent, noting that Victoria's strange behavior had not only extended toward his son but to her masked man as well. What and interesting turn of events.

Victoria leaned against the doorway. Her head began to swim when she overheard Don Ricardo's comment.

Was what he said true? Did she really no longer love the masked man simply because she knew his identity? Was it simply shock that drove her into her depression? Or was she really disappointed that her hero was only her friend Diego? Was she disappointed with the man behind the mask?

She was unable to complete her contemplation when she heard the familiar crack of a whip. She tried to resist the urge to step outside to see him but the people filling the tavern heard the sound as well and rushed into the plaza.

He was not only a hero in Victoria's eyes, his deeds had helped many in the pueblo and he was well loved among them all. What a strange contrast to the man Diego had become. Or maybe not. Maybe he had taken on the persona she knew as Diego just for that very reason; to deter suspicion. Well it certainly worked. She had to admit that the last week that she had spent with Diego because of that lottery, she had seen a different side of him. One she had not thought him capable of displaying.

She followed the crowd out of the tavern and watched as the familiar figure of the fox kicked at an approaching lancer. Two others rushed toward the black-clad man and he effortlessly disarmed them with a flick of his wrist.

Victoria watched as the man maneuvered easily around the approaching lancers.

DeSoto stepped out of his office, the lady Rosales on his heals, and drew his blade. As he stepped into the plaza, he sneered at the masked man. "Well what do we owe this pleasure, Zorro?"

"I want to see proof that the unjust taxes you are imposing on the people of Los Angeles are being used to benefit the pueblo!" The masked man answered, loud enough for all to hear.

"What you want and what you will get are two different things!" DeSoto calledin answer. "And what you will get is some cold steel through your heart."

Victoria could see the masked man tilt his head as if to laugh. "I'm sorry, Señor, but my heart belongs to a certain señorita. You may not have it."

"We'll see about that!" DeSoto lunged and Zorro parried easily. The men circled one another, blades unmoving, until DeSoto feinted to the right and switched blade direction at the last minute in an attempt to catch the masked man off-guard.

The man in black stepped back and parried. He quickly rolled his blade around the alcalde's and slapped it away, nearly causing the man to drop the sword.

"I really don't have time to argue with you, alcalde." Zorro parried downward when the alcalde lunged toward his midsection and quickly brought his blade atop the alcalde's and struck it , this time causing the alcalde to loose his heavy-handed grip on the handle.

DeSoto looked around the plaza at his guards who were just standing there watching the duel rather than re-loading their rifles. "Guards! Re-load and shoot him!"

Zorro brought his blade to the alcalde's throat as a few lancers raised their loaded rifles.

Victoria noticed how close the masked bandits blade was to the alcalde's neck and for a moment she thought he was going to kill the man.

"I want those funds used for something to benefit the people!" His voice reflected a barely restrained temper and the alcalde nodded reluctantly.

Zorro whistled for his stallion and mounted effortlessly when the horse responded to the call.

Alejandro blinked when he noticed the masked man mount the large black stallion in the same manner as he had seen his son do a few days prior.

When the large stallion turned and trotted toward Alejandro, the man was slapped with recognition as his eyes viewed the masked man in a new light.

Alejandro narrowed his eyes and watched as the man searched the crowed for his lady love.

When he found her he gave her his familiar two fingered salute but, to Alejandro's surprise - well maybe not if the similarities he had just recognized panned out- she did not smile or blush when he directed his complete attention toward her. Her stare was blank as she gazed at him and then she turned on her heal and strode back into the tavern.

Rifles cocked all around the masked man and he pulled Tornado around and galloped out of the plaza, the bullets narrowly missing him.

Alejandro released the breath he had not realized that he had been holding and rushed into the tavern after Victoria. When he didn't find her, he strode angrily through the kitchen curtains and to the back door he noticed was ajar.

"What do you think you are doing?" Alejandro asked gruffly.

Victoria did not turn to him. Simply watched the large stallion gallop away . He was almost out of view and Alejandro waited until he could no longer be seen.

Victoria lowered her head and turned to resume her duties as proprietress when Alejandro stopped her.

"Victoria?"

"Oh." She looked up at the caballero, as if just noticing that he was standing behind her. " What is it, Don Alejandro?"

"What is going on?" His tone indicated that he wanted to know the truth but she was reluctant to discuss it with anyone, least of all the man's own father.

"Alejandro..."

"Listen, I don't know what the problem is but you treated that man like he was nothing to you today."

"Maybe he no longer is." She whispered and turned away from the caballero.

Alejandro shook her comment out of his head. He would respond to that one in a minute. He needed to finish his train of thought before she changed the course of the conversation.

"He turned his back on every single soldier in that plaza today and risked getting shot in the back just so that he could catch your eye." Alejandro struggled with this newfound knowledge. He wanted to disbelieve it but the fact remained that he could now see that there were similar things about the masked man and his son. He needed to finish this talk with Victoria and then get home to confront the young man.

"I didn't ask him to!"

"Victoria, do you know who he is?" Alejandro dared his voice barely audible. He risked a look around to make sure no one could overhear their conversation.

Victoria shook her head but he could see that her shoulders were shaking. He turned her around and his heart broke for the young woman's tears. He embraced her tightly and she melted into his arms, sobbing openly now. She didn't try to conceal her unhappiness.

"Are you disappointed by your discovery?" He whispered into her hair.

She pulled out of his embrace and glared at him with fire in her eyes. "Do you know? Do you know who he is? Do you know that I see him every day and I could never tell? I hate him for that! I hate him for doing this to me! I must be the pueblo's biggest fool!"

Alejandro sighed sadly. She did know and he needed to find out of this masked bandit of the night was indeed his son as he suspected.

"Who is he, Victoria?"

She chuckled incredulously. "You don't know? I bet he has enjoyed this little masquerade. Keeping this information from his family!"

Alejandro closed his eyes and sighed. That was the only confirmation he needed and he whispered. "Diego."

"I've been close enough to kiss Zorro, Alejandro!" Victoria sobbed. " Why couldn't I tell? Why didn't I know when I would see him in the tavern the next day? He said nothing. Revealed nothing to me. It's like he enjoyed keeping the secret! Keeping me in the dark about his activities."

"I don't believe it." Alejandro whispered. " No." Alejandro changed his mind. Only a few short months ago, before he had discovered he had another son, he would never have believed Diego could be Zorro. But after seeing how he fenced with his brother, easily disarming the King's Emissary himself, Alejandro saw with an astonishing clarity, the similarities between the two men. "I do believe it."

"I need to go home. Please come by the hacienda tonight." He pressed a kiss into the young woman's hair and took his leave.

As Alejandro made his way out the door, he could hear the whispers around every table. Many thought there was a problem with Victoria's romance with the masked man due to her cold reaction to him earlier. If Alejandro could push Diego and Victoria to make up, perhaps those rumors could work to their benefit.

Don Ricardo caught Alejandro's attention before he stepped outside. "So, my friend. What do you think about this interesting turn of events?"

" I think there is trouble in paradise."