Chapter 37

Victoria was now over six months pregnant.
The news of Felipe being able to hear and speak was something everyone had grown accustomed to.
Don Marco got elected as the new alcalde to the satisfaction of many.
Pilar and Estaban were now officially engaged.

Also, Estaban had discussed with don Marco submitting a request for Zorro for a general pardon to the governor. A signed letter approving such a request had come from Madrid from his father because the man trusted his sons judgment.
It could still be a matter of months, but it was beginning to seem most likely Zorro would get his pardon.

Who had initially come up with the idea was unknown. Most people believed it had been an idea that Padre Benitez and Mendoza had come up with after the first rumours of a pardon started.
Whoever the instigator had been, his idea was echoed by almost the entire community.

Everyone, young, old, poor, rich, don, farmer, market vendor, peon and even most of the lancers, all wished to contribute to the pardon to thank Zorro for all his years of help in the direst situations.
And so, it got decided that the way to do it was to have everyone who had something for which he or she wanted to thank Zorro would write a letter to the governor. Including an explanation of what Zorro had done for that person.

Diego was overwhelmed by the amount of requests to help with the writing. As were many others who could read and write. The majority of Los Angeles residents were illiterate. Yet many of them wanted their experience to reach the governor as well. Eventually, Pilar had made the tavern available as a place for volunteers to write down the many expressions of gratitude for Zorro.
The governor would get inundated with hundreds of letters. All different. All with the same request. People who were trying to convince him Zorro deserved a pardon.

Diego, Victoria, don Alejandro and Felipe were all among the writing volunteers. Not because they wanted to be. But because everyone had simply assumed that they would do this. After all, for many years, don Diego was the one to ask would you wanted to master the art of reading and writing. And since his return from Spain, the don had never refused anyone who asked for help in writing a letter or reading it aloud.
Mendoza had spent two entire days writing a letter of over nine pages. He even had passed on lunch the first day, having dinner twice later that day.

For Diego, the biggest surprise came two days ago when a group of six Indians rode into the pueblo. Felipe confessed that he had told Keenona of the letters getting written. The befriended Indian tribes in the area had come together. They decided to write a letter to thank Zorro for what he meant to them.
Diego looked at all this from a distance, muttering to Mendoza standing next to him. "If things continue like this, Zorro can forget about his pardon."

"Don Diego, how can you say such a thing? Look around you and see how many people are doing their best to contribute." The sergeant waved his hand across the plaza.

"Sergeant Mendoza, I think that's where the problem lies. Look at the large number of letters that have been written. Surely, no sensible man is willing to believe one man could have done all these things Zorro did."

Mendoza stuttering. "But, don Diego, it's all true. Zorro really did do all those things."

"Sergeant, I am aware of it. But who is willing to believe that? Tell me honestly, if you had never met Zorro and were to read all those letters, would you believe one man was capable of doing so much? Overkill hurts. And besides, I don't think the governor will read all those letters. He's a hardworking man."

The sergeant was disappointed. He had helped write and heard stories he didn't know and made him like the masked man he admired and considered his friend even more. Like so many others, he hoped, all this effort could help Zorro get pardoned. "So you don't think we should go out of our way to plead for a pardon? You think Zorro should remain a wanted criminal for the rest of his life?"
Mendoza felt disappointed in don Diego. He was well aware of things as they had occurred in the past between Zorro and the don. He also recalled the circumstances of the unexpected marriage between his friend and doña Victoria. Nevertheless, he had thought that everyone involved had come to terms with the unfortunate circumstances. Don Diego and doña Victoria appeared happy. And as far as he knew, Zorro had accepted the señorita who had once been his beloved had continued on with her life.

Diego glared at Mendoza. The man looked defeated. "No, it's very noble what everyone is trying to do. I would merely do it differently."

Mendoza thought for a moment. Don Diego was one of the smartest of men he knew. And Diego knew to be persuasive in all kinds of affairs. So the sergeant asked him. "Don Diego, tell me, what do you think we should do?"

"Let us send out only a limited number of letters. For example, one on behalf of the dons. One on behalf of the padre. Maybe also on behalf of the doctor and maybe the lancers."

Mendoza nodded thoughtfully, "And the one on behalf of the Indians."

Diego interrupted, "No." Cautiously, he tried to explain why.
"Zorro has done things to help them. Some of these things were more to the advantage of the Indians than the Spanish crown. It may be that that information is not well received in Monterey."
Diego regretted having to say this. In his heart, he did appreciate the gesture of the natives as much, if not more than all others. Unfortunately, it was a fact that the authorities in Monterey and Madrid regarded the original peoples of the new world more as a burden.

After such a conversation, you could leave it up to Sergeant Mendoza to make sure that everyone knew about it in no time.
Coincidentally, don Marco, who was by no means a stupid man, agreed with don Diego's reasoning.
So he called a meeting. And despite the many protests, the majority agreed to the proposal to send a limited number of letters. Twenty people got chosen to write down their thoughts about Zorro. And anyone who wanted to could sign the petition for pardon that don Marco had prepared.
The first to sign this petition was Mendoza.

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This morning don Alejandro and Felipe had left for the cattle auction in San Fernando.
Alejandro hoped to sell two bulls there for a good price.
Diego was in the cave working on improving his project with food preserves. He had managed to make contact with a sea captain to take his jars on a journey south. In two weeks, the ship would set sail. And Diego had promised the captain to have a hundred jars ready by then.

Victoria had worked in the garden with Manuel all morning. Noon was approaching and was it getting too hot for Victoria to be outside. Manuel had taken the cart full of weeds and garden equipment to the barn.
He would take the weeds to the compost pile and store the equipment in the designated racks in one of the barns next to the hacienda.
Victoria noticed a forgotten rake against the wall.

Without thinking about it, she grabbed the garden tool and walked to the shed where these got kept. To get there, she first had to pass the stables. She heard voices. Probably from vaqueros who had returned from their working day. Although, that would be very early. Victoria didn't think much of it. The foreman did a splendid job, and don Alejandro trusted him. He must have ordered the men to return this early for some reason.

"We'll steal that horse and get the hell out of here."

These words didn't sound like something the vaqueros would say. Victoria stopped her stride and listened more closely.
The stable had a number of chinks thick enough to peek through.
Victoria could see three men working on getting Jupiter out of his stable.
She had to warn someone. Diego was busy in the cave. Manuel was closer and most likely within the ears range.

The men had already put a halter on Jupiter and came straight at her. As soon as they went through the door, they would see her.
Victoria tightened her grip around the rake. What she could do with a broom, she had to be able to do with a rake, right?

Victoria stood about three feet away from the door, waiting for the stable door to open.
Hopeful, she glanced briefly in the direction of the barn, where no movement was visible. She held her breath. Her heart was pounding in her throat.
She heard footsteps coming closer, and the door swung open.

As soon as one of the men was within reach of her rake, she lashed out. With all the strength she felt inside Victoria, let the rake come down on the first man. Before the man realized what was happening, she had rammed the forked side into his crotch.

The man cried out in pain and dropped to the ground, groaning.
The other man released Jupiter, reaching for his sword.
Since the sword was shorter than the rake, Victoria had the advantage.

She launched her attack with purpose and precision. The man still tried to avoid her.
The third man doubted what to do, and he chose to save himself. He jumped on Jupiter's back and urged the horse to a gallop.
Victoria was too busy fighting the second man to notice.

Diego's instruction taught her how most people would react to a frontal attack. The man lashed out in her direction with his sword. His back partly turned to her, and Victoria hit him on the shoulder. The man cursed. Victoria turned around and aimed for his knees.

Manuel came running towards the sound, holding a shovel in his hands. Seeing his patroness fight, he slammed the shovel on the head of the second man, making him fall to the ground unconscious.

"You let a woman do the fighting for you." Muttered the first man who was still lying on the ground. His knees pulled up against his chest, and his face was full of pain.

"History has proved my patronnes can handle a broom better than her husband handles a sword. Let's face it. She got you on your knees." Manuel grinned.

Victoria pointed in the direction the man had vanished. "Manuel, one is escaping! He has stolen Jupiter!"

Manuel nodded to Victoria.
"First things, first.
Dona Victoria, are you all right?"

Victoria swept a strand of hair that had come loose from her face. "Yes, Manuel. Thank you."

"If you'll allow me to keep an eye on these two. Ropes are hanging on the other side of the stable door. We need to tie these two first."

Victoria did as Manuel had asked her, and not much later, both men were on the ground with their hands tied. One was still groaning in pain while the other was foaming with rage.

Manuel checked whether the ropes were tight enough and said. "Dona Victoria, why don't you go warn don Diego. I'll send out men after the third man.
Then I will go to the pueblo to bring these two to jail and tell the alcalde what happened. The lancers can then organize a search party and inform the other ranchos that horse thieves are around. You better stay inside in case he returns."

As most dangers had passed, Victoria noticed that she was trembling. Still, she managed to nod, utter the words, "you do that." and rush herself inside. Manuel was right. She needed to warn Diego about what had happened.

.

Diego looked up when he heard Victoria enter the cave. She seemed dishevelled and looked scared.
"Victoria, what happened? Are you all right?" He asked as he let the wooden instrument he was working on fall down on the table, to wrap her in his arms.

As soon as Victoria had told Diego what had happened, and after he was sure that Victoria was unharmed, he started to change his clothes.
After Toronado, Jupiter was one of the fastest horses in the region. If he wanted to catch the horse thief, he had to hurry.
Zorro saddled Toronado and gathered his supplies.

"When I come back, I'll order Manuel from this moment on you are not be walking outside alone. Fortunately, this time it ended well."

Victoria protested. She saw no reason for such a thing. "Don't you think that's a bit of overreacting?"

"Victoria, I can't always be around you. Knowing someone is with you when you outside only reassure me somewhat."

Victoria sputtered against it. "I don't like being watched constantly."

"It's not to keep an eye on you, my love. It's for my peace of mind and the safety of you and our little one." Diego put his hand on her belly and felt what he had thought for several weeks was the most beautiful feeling he had ever felt. Their baby reacted with gentle movements against his hand as he touched Victoria's round belly.
"Please stay inside until I return. And if you think those men are coming back, hide in the cave. Do it for me and our little one."

Victoria sighed. "All right. But only when you also promise me to be careful."

Zorro had put his mask on and was getting his gloves on. He took her hand in his. Victoria was breath taken. He bent towards her, kissed her hand, and said. "Mi querida, siempre tengo cuidado, cause it is you to whom I return."

.

The tracks were not that difficult to find and follow. Jupiter had galloped the first few miles from the hacienda at great speed. Zorro was worried because the direction in which the man was riding had several areas of quicksand. Due to this, this year, the de la Vega rancho had already lost several animals. Alertness was therefore required.
The man seemed to have a specific goal in mind. Zorro remembered about five miles further west was an abandoned farm.
It stood on land that, at the time, alcalde Ramon had sold to a couple of newcomers at a scandalously high price. The land had turned out to be worthless.
In the end, Zorro's intervention had made alcalde Ramon realize it was better for him to buy the land for the same amount of pesos as he had sold it. The couple had chosen to leave Los Angeles and try their luck again further north. All that remains of the newcomers and that time was a small abandoned house with an attached stable.

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I hope to post the final chapters before the end of this week.

Let me give you a choice.
In the first chapter it already says that quite a few intimacies would take place in this story. And I hope it was enough to please everyone who likes reading this kind of chapters.
I have almost finished the last chapter.
My question is, should I post the final chapter as it is at the moment. Or do you want the extended version?

You know what to do if you want the longer chapter ;)