Where there is Justice: The New and Improved
Okaaaaay, because my previous version of this story was unappreciated by some, I have fixed some glitches and made it even better. I hope that you enjoy it!
This story is set a few days after the episode "The Discovery" on The Family Channel Series of Zorro.
Disclaimer: I do not own Zorro, although I wish that I did. I just wrote this because the series never ended correctly. visit: newworldzorro . com
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Victoria Escalante quickly swept the veranda outside of her tavern. Resendo had been dead for three days and his troublesome mother had not left the town yet. Victoria had her hands full with the tavern, but she rejoiced when she saw Mendoza walking towards her.
"Buenos días, Sergeant."
"Ah, buenos días, Señorita." He looked around and rubbed his stomach. "You wouldn't happen to have some tamales just lying around, would you?"
She gave him a friendly glare. "Mendoza, if you want a lunch, you must pay for it." He looked upset and followed her to the other side of the veranda.
"But Señorita!" He was stopped by the strange presence of a young woman. She flipped a coin in the air and caught it.
"I'll pay for the Sergeant's lunch, Amiga."
Victoria looked the woman over. "Oh, and who might you be?"
"My name is Mara. I'm looking for someone."
Victoria passed a look at the Sergeant. "And who might that be?" She expected Mara to say 'Zorro', but was wrong.
"Gilberto. Gilberto Resendo."
"Oh, I see. Did you know him?"
Mara's face reflected that she did. "He was my fiancé."
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Diego slowly sipped on his juice and watched Mara from a distance in the tavern. Felipe was sitting next to him and he patted his arm. When Diego looked at him, he signed a message. Diego watched his hands move and spoke.
"Do I think that she is Gilberto's fiancée?" Felipe nodded. Diego always knew what he was saying. "Well, it's hard to say. She says that she is, but it's her word against a dead man's." Felipe signed some more. "That's true. Señora Resendo is still here and could tell us the truth. Although I would never trust her after the Gilberto ordeal."
Alejandro walked up to them and put his hands on the table.
"Well, it seems that Gilberto had a fiancée."
"Yes, ironic, isn't it?" Diego said.
"How could a man like that catch such a beautiful woman?" Felipe and Diego looked over at her. She was sitting alone, drinking some juice with a smile on her face. She had reddish brown hair that was very long and she was wearing a tan riding suit with a saber at her right hip. She had a youthful face and barely looked twenty. They both silently agreed that she was very attractive.
Diego looked from her to his father. "Father, why don't we go and speak to her. We could find out more that way." Alejandro nodded his head.
"That's good thinking, son. I'll go and get her." He got up from his seat and walked over to Mara. He said some words to her and she smiled, got up, and took his hand. He brought her back to Diego and Felipe.
"Señorita Mara, this is my son, Diego and his son, Felipe." She smiled warmly at them and directed her vision to Felipe.
"Buenos días, it is good to meet you. I was wondering if you knew a friend of mine; Gilberto Resendo? You look so much like him."
Diego laughed a little and grimaced at the thought. "Yes, we did know him. He was here a few days ago."
She turned to Alejandro. "Well, where did he go?"
Alejandro hesitated. "Señorita, I thought that you knew. Gilberto was shot. He is dead."
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Mara looked down at the table after the news came to her and Diego could detect the slightest smile on her face. The tavern door opened and Señora Resendo walked in. She froze when she saw Mara's face.
Mara smiled. "Señora Resendo, we meet again."
Alejandro bristled at the sight of her. "Señora, do you know this woman?"
She stuck her nose in the hair and spoke haughtily. "I've never seen her before in my life." She smiled at Mara triumphantly. Mara reached for her sword but Felipe stayed her hand. She had not noticed him come to her side.
"I see," Alejandro said.
Mara slid her sword back in its sheath and brought out a paper from her pocket. She unfolded it and held it out to him, but kept a tight grip on it.
"Here, deny this, Señora."
Alejandro read it. "Gilberto De La Vega and Mara Kendall are engaged to be married. Señora Resendo's signature is at the bottom as one of the witnesses."
"It's a lie." They turned back to Señora Resendo and back at the paper. Diego studied the signatures.
"That is Gilberto's signature and Señora Resendo's." Señora Resendo hurriedly left the tavern.
Mara sighed relief. "Gilberto tricked me into the engagement with his impeccable charm. I came here to tell Gilberto that I did not want to marry him anymore. He only wanted to marry me for my money."
Alejandro looked up. "So, your family is rich?"
"Sí, much more rich than the Señora makes herself out to be. The Kendalls have always been rich."
Diego dropped his corner of the paper. "Kendall? You wouldn't happen to be related to Sir Edmund Kendall, would you?" She smiled at Diego as she folded the paper back up again.
"He was my grandfather. He taught me everything that I know."
"Is that so?" She turned to see the Alcalde standing in the tavern with a few lancers behind him. "Well then, Señorita Kendall, would you fight with me?"
Alejandro rolled his eyes. "Alcalde, you can't do that." Mara stopped him.
"It's alright, Don Alejandro." She walked towards the Alcalde with a smile on her face. She studied him for a moment and then she spoke. "Don't tell me. Ignacio De Soto."
The Alcalde looked astonished. "Yes, but … how did you know that?"
She shrugged. "You took under my grandfather. I know the names of all his students and where they live." She smiled at him and placed a hand on her saber. "Alcalde, if you wish to challenge me, by all means, do so. But, I hope that you don't mind being beaten."
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Mara was sitting on one of the outside benches at the tavern sharpening her saber. She knew what kind of man the Alcalde was: one that could easily be beaten with a sharp mind. She looked up at the approaching figures of Alejandro and Felipe.
"Don Alejandro, Felipe. Where's Diego?"
Alejandro looked a little frustrated. "He stayed at home. He said something about the excitement of swordplay was too much for him." She caught a slight smile on Felipe's face at that comment.
Mara smiled as well. "I see. Well, we can't all be as gallant as others." Alejandro walked over to some friends, but Felipe sat down next to her.
"Felipe," she said, as she sheathed her saber. "What kind of a man is the Alcalde? What sort of tactic can beat him?" Felipe smiled and began to sign his answer. He said that the Alcalde was a coward and easily beaten by threats.
"Threats?" He nodded. "Typical. Most of the Alcaldes here cannot back up their big mouths." He smiled and she pointed to the Sergeant who was walking with the approaching Alcalde. "Now, take the Sergeant for example. He would make a most exquisite Alcalde." She stopped talking as the Alcalde reached her.
"Señorita, are you ready?" She smiled and winked at Felipe.