Chapter 4

Alejandro slumped in his chair, sleep refusing to draw the distraught father into its sweet embrace. Victoria had finally succumbed to exhaustion, but even she was uncomfortably sprawled in a chair across from him, her head pillowed against his son's motionless hand.

It was all too much for his sleep-deprived mind to comprehend. His son; Zorro! He couldn't quite bring himself to believe it. Victoria believed it. The padre believed it. Felipe, had known for some time! Alejandro just couldn't believe that his son had been able to carry out such a deception under his very nose. In his own hacienda.

But if it was true, then no amount of penance could he do to correct his mistakes, his harsh words, his continued insults and disappointment in his son's actions - or, lack thereof.

Felipe stepped in carrying a tray of food for the unconscious man and his two dedicated caretakers. Alejandro took the tray and set it on a nearby table and implored Felipe to take a seat. "Tell me, please."

Felipe shook his head and gestured slowly. He couldn't betray his friends trust. Diego would need to tell them of his secret life. If he - died, before he could; then Felipe would deliver the letters, written in Diego's own hand, detailing his actions as the masked bandit.

Alejandro sighed sadly, disappointed that Felipe would tell him nothing. The doctor came and went, as did the Padre, but Diego's condition had not changed.

When Victoria awoke, the dark circles under her eyes and the lack of smile on her beautiful face seemed to have aged her by years. Felipe gave her a warm plate of fresh tamales but she picked at it, eating a few bites at most.

Commotion outside the door drew the attention of everyone crammed into the tiny room and Alejandro angrily pulled open the door just as the alcalde reached for the knob.

"My son is ill, sir. Please keep your voice down."

"I've come to inform you that we have caught one of the two bandits responsible for injuring your son." DeSoto glanced inside but Alejandro situated himself in such a way as to obscure the alcalde's vision of his son.

"Thank you for your dedication in this matter," Alejandro was in no mood to deal with the alcalde.

"We are still searching for the other." DeSoto added as Alejandro stepped back and began to close the door.

"Curious that Zorro has not come to your aid. He's always been quite the staunch defender of your family." The alcalde added quickly, causing Alejandro to stare up at him.

"Perhaps its time for your men to start doing their jobs rather than depending on Zorro to do it for them." Alejandro snapped, a little more harshly than he intended. But his patience was at an end and he wasn't in the mood to play the alcalde's games.

DeSoto's eyes narrowed at that but he was prevented from commenting further when the padre stepped quietly into the room. "Please, Señores, Diego doesn't need to hear your bickering."

"So he's woken, then?" A curios eyebrow raised at the implication.

"No." Alejandro stepped aside so the padre could enter the room, and then closed the door, leaving the alcalde outside.

"Very interesting that Zorro has not come to your aid." DeSoto turned on his heel and strode out, calling for Mendoza as soon as he set foot into the plaza. "Very interesting, indeed."

"Sí, mí alcalde?" Mendoza clumsily smoothed his wrinkled uniform.

"Have you seen Zorro at all since de la Vega was shot?"

Mendoza thought for a moment. "No, alcalde. But, it has only been a few days. We don't usually see Zorro unless you-" The Sergeant coughed.

An eyebrow raised curiously. "Unless I? What, Sergeant?"

"Well," Mendoza gulped.

"Spit it out."

"Well, unless you-"

"Yes?"

"Unless you start overly taxing or hurting the people." Mendoza said quickly, wincing as he waited for the alcalde to refute his statement or worse.

"Yes, indeed." DeSoto rubbed his whiskered chin. "I do believe that it is time to levy a new tax. I've grown fond of Zorro's visits to the plaza. I find, I - miss him if too many days go by without his arrogant appearance."

Mendoza stared at DeSoto. "A - new - tax? What else is left to tax, mí alcalde?"

"You shall see." DeSoto grinned wickedly and turned to lay a firm hand on Mendoza's shoulder. "Take a few lancers out and patrol the countryside."

"Uh - what are we looking for, alcalde?"

"Zorro, of course!"

Mendoza stared incredulously after DeSoto and shook his head wondering when the man's incessant quest to find the masked man would finally end.

"The alcalde is up to something, my son." Alejandro gripped Diego's hand tightly. "You must wake up. If- if Zorro doesn't make an appearance soon." The old don sighed. "He is an intelligent man. He'll figure it out."

"Perhaps it is time to move him to the hacienda." The padre said slowly. "Doctor Hernandez says he's stable enough."

"But he's still unconscious!" Victoria's eyes widened.

"Yes, but he will be more comfortable in his own bed. In familiar surroundings."

Alejandro agreed. "Perhaps familiar surroundings will help him heal." He turned to Felipe. "Ride back to the hacienda and bring the carriage. Make sure there is enough bedding to keep him comfortable for the journey."

Felipe nodded and quickly left to follow Alejandro's instructions.

When he returned, he noticed the Sergeant walking slowly, nervously through the plaza. He stopped to watch as the Sergeant nailed a piece of parchment to the post outside the alcalde's office.

People gathered to read the notice as Mendoza hurried off to post another copy on the outside of the tavern. By the time the nervous Sergeant was finished, the plaza was filled with people, all griping over the announcement of the new 'income' tax.

Felipe jumped down from the wagon and quickly read over the parchment that Mendoza had just affixed to the outside of the church wall. If he could have formed the words to swear, he would have done so - and confessed such a thing at a later date. Zorro would be needed to force the alcalde to rescind this new tax. But Zorro was lying on a cot in the church fighting for his life.

The mute rushed into the church, a plan formulating in his mind. First he needed to help Alejandro get Diego home and settled into bed, and then he would put his plan in motion. He only hoped it would work, or it wouldn't be long before DeSoto figured out the real man behind the mask was none other than his old schoolmate Diego de la Vega.

Victoria insisted in accompanying Alejandro to the hacienda and Felipe hid a small smile, happy that his friend's fears were unfounded where the pretty Señorita was concerned. Felipe knew that Diego's one and only fear had been that Victoria would not love him, the man behind the mask. But it was very clear, that she did. It wasn't just friendly concern that had kept her glued to the unconscious man's side for the last several days straight. Felipe only hoped Diego would live long enough to realize it.

"Felipe, please ask Maria to prepare the guest room. Victoria will be staying indefinitely." Alejandro said as he smoothed the cool sheet over his son's chest when they arrived at the hacienda.

Felipe nodded and excused himself, happy that neither Alejandro nor Victoria cared to question him further about Diego's activities as the masked man. He found Maria and delivered Alejandro's message before slipping into the refreshing solitude of Zorro's cave.

In his distraction, he didn't notice two eyes widen as the fireplace door swung closed.

TBC