Sorry I haven't updated. I've been working my tail off finishing one of my novels. I finally finished it this morning and I'm going to try to publish it. Wish me luck!

Thanks for the reviews! It really means a bunch to me!

visit: newworldzorro . com

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Diego walked up to the veranda with a smile on his face.

Alejandro greeted him. "Ah, Diego! You missed a good fight today."

He looked upset, but Mara could tell that it wasn't real. "I did? What happened?"

Alejandro looked proudly at Mara. "Señorita Mara beat the Alcalde and she's going to talk to Zorro tomorrow about a pardon."

"Zorro was here?" He snapped his fingers. "I missed him again. What a pity." He sat down next to Alejandro and Mara caught a smile pass between Diego and Felipe. Victoria walked up with drinks on a tray and set it down.

"If you don't mind me asking, Señorita Mara. What do you have planned for Zorro?" She looked hopefully at Mara.

"Zorro is a friend of the people. He deserves to live his life in peace. I hope that after I pardon him, he will marry and have children with a lucky Señorita." She smiled at Victoria who beamed and walked back into the tavern.

"I have to admit, Mara. You are a big change from our Alcalde. He'd probably lure Zorro into the plaza and try to capture him on the spot."

Alejandro drank some of his juice and laughed at Diego's comment. "True, son. He'd have all of his lancers posted around the pueblo."

"Only a fool would try to capture a man like Zorro," Mara said. Alejandro passed a look at Diego and Felipe.

"Señorita Mara, we were wondering if you would like to stay with us at our hacienda, for the time being."

"That is most generous of you, Don Alejandro. I would be honored."

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Mara walked into the De La Vega hacienda in awe.

"It's beautiful, Don Alejandro! I've never seen such a house before." Alejandro patted her shoulders.

"Thank you, Señorita Mara. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to." He disappeared through a doorway and left her with Diego. She wandered over to the fireplace and placed a hand on the side of the mantle. Diego raced towards her.

"Uh, Mara. Wouldn't you like to sit down?" He motioned towards a couch next to the window. Felipe dashed into the room and began to sign to Diego. He turned to Mara.

"He says that there are horse thieves near our stables."

Mara sat down on the couch. "Shouldn't you go do something about it?" She smiled at him.

"Well, I'm not really a man of action. You are the one with exquisite fencing skills."

"But, Diego, it is your stables."

"Uh, why don't you go tell my father? He'll know what to do." Diego looked very uneasy about Mara not leaving. Felipe started to sign again.

"He says that they're stealing your horse."

Mara shot up. "My horse? The little..." She ran out of the room but stopped in the doorway.

"Zorro rides, my friend." She heard a door open and footsteps, and then all was quiet. She opened the big oak door and looked out. She saw the horse thieves with the horses and then she saw Zorro. She smiled a little. A hand landed on her shoulder and she jumped. It was Felipe.

"Felipe, please don't do that. You scared me." She looked back outside but Zorro was gone. "Now where did he go? Felipe, where's Diego?" He motioned that Diego was reading. "Reading?" She started to walk back into the study but Felipe stopped her. He motioned that she should go check to see if her horse was all right. "Felipe, I didn't even see my horse with those bandits. I'm sure that he's fine." She got past him and found the study empty. "I thought that you said that he was reading. He's not in here." Felipe's eyes grew wide at something behind her and he motioned that Diego was in his room. "In his room? I see. He wanted to get away from the action." Diego walked into the room with a book in his hands.

"Mara! What did I miss?"

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Lol. Just like Zorro.