Epilogue
Toronado raced down the dirt-packed road, his rider giving him full rein to run like the phenomenon for which he was named. Dark hair whipped around Diego's face and the black cape flapped around his back like a pair of demonic wings swooping down from the sky.
Even knowing that his life would now forever hang at the alcalde's very whim, the caballero felt a strange sense of freedom spreading through his body. He would never again be able to oppose the alcalde – he hoped there was never an occasion that he would want to – and Zorro had been forbidden to enter the pueblo. But the masked man could patrol the countryside for bandits, so long as he was never seen. He could still protect his people.
Ignacio de Soto had freed him from a web that he had not known how to cut away. Trapped by his own goodness and concern for those less fortunate had prevented him from starting a life with the woman he loved. He could never have given up Zorro, not if there was an innocent who needed help. But de Soto's ultimatum, given as it was, had opened Diego's eyes to the benefits of working with the alcalde - even if the man didn't know it.
Twisting the reins lightly around the saddle horn, Diego raised his arms and let the wind whip around his body. He felt free. For the first time since he'd returned from Spain.
Before he knew it, he was several miles from the pueblo and the hacienda. Taking Toronado's reins, he turned the sweat-soaked stallion back toward home and walked him along the little-known path to the cave.
A snort coming from the passageway alerted the inhabitants that someone was coming.
Victoria paced restlessly, turning toward the sound of the noise with a hopeful look on her face. Felipe was sitting on the stairs, his arms wrapped around his knees, and Alejandro was sitting in the ornate chair behind the desk absently fingering the feathers of the quill that lay in front of him.
Victoria stared at an unmasked Zorro as Toronado came to a stop in his customary spot. When he dismounted, she flung herself into his arms, murmuring thanks to God for keeping him safe. Victoria clutched him tightly, breathing deeply of his intoxicatingly masculine scent.
Felipe and Alejandro stood at the rail behind them, smiling with their own thanks to the Lord for Diego's safe return, and then with laughter as Victoria drew the unmasked man's head down and kissed him deeply.
Alejandro rested a hand on Felipe's shoulder and the younger man nodded to the caballero who would soon be his father. They backed away from the couple embracing in Toronado's stall, knowing that they would hear what had happened eventually. For now, they would have to be patient as Diego and Victoria spent a few private moments in one another's arms.
They would all have the scars to remember their day of imprisonment, some emotional, most physical, but all very, very real. And they would linger far past the time when the events of that day had passed into long forgotten history. But right now, at this moment, they couldn't help but be glad for this unexpected turn of events. The pain had been real, but the joy would last even longer. The past was the past, and their future could now truly begin.
THE END
Jkl88 – Yes, the story was meant to show that they both truly did win – in a roundabout way :) Wedding? Naw, I've done too many of those.
MadaMaq – Diego and de Soto won't be friends for a very long time. De Soto may have let Diego off, but he is still very mad that he was duped for so many years.
Kezya – Nothing big for an Epilogue, really; just a homecoming of sorts. Thanks for reviewing. Glad you liked the story.
Beverly – I rather liked the resolution myself. They both won.
Uhm. What – ahh, a reviewer of so little words. Heh. Glad you liked it.