This story is the result of the Valentine's Day challenge made by Cris Martin. It must contain the following elements.

1. Acceptable genres: Romance; Romance/Adventure; Romance/Humor; Romance/ Suspense.
Romance and suspense
2. Victoria cooks;
I wasn't sure how to read this. In the Netherlands, we use the same word for cook and boil. So, one can cook a meal. You can boil in an emotion like anger, excitement, etc. Victoria, she cooks. And she boils.
3. Don Alejandro bumps his head (doesn't have to result in any real injury);
I didn't want him to bump his head. Instead, he hurts a different body part. If you insist, you can read bumped his head.
4. Felipe runs interference (you choose for what);
Well, he does something not handy.
5. The Alcalde has his plan thwarted (you choose the plan.);
Done.
6. Mendoza rides on Tornado (with or without Zorro - it's really up to you);
I think, in this case, it is Toronado who allows Mendoza on his back.
7. Diego or Zorro is shirtless (at some point, not necessarily during the entire story…, but…, who would object to that, really?:P);
He will think twice before giving it a chance to happen again in the way it does.
8. Includes an unexpected spin on the already 'classic' kiss reveal (i.e. Vic recognizes Diego is Zorro by kissing one of him:P);
Yes, not very unexpected, just a little.
9. Must be published in full by February 14th, 2021;
I think I can manage that. Even if it stopped me from working on my other story.
10. Max. 3 chapters. Word count doesn't matter.
Done
11. Must have a happy ending.
I am not going to tell you.:))))

Enjoy reading, and I like to know what you think of it.

I do not own any of the characters or series rights.

Chapter 1

It doesn't matter. How fast a lie can run.

Diego had taken the opportunity when it occurs. In the last couple of weeks horses, were stolen from different rancho's. His father was already missing four young mares, including his great pride Luna. And he wasn't the only one. In a total of over twenty horses had disappeared. Dressed as Zorro, Diego had been out a few times, trying to find something giving a clue. The ones stealing the horses were well in hiding their tracks.
Yesterday afternoon more horses had been stolen, from Don Marco, his property this time. And so his father and other Caballeros had organized one more time a search party. It had not taken much effort to convince his father Diego would not be of any help, and he preferred working on his painting.

And so, Zorro had gone out even before his father had left the hacienda. Believing his son was still asleep in his bed.
Now, hours later, Zorro had to admit these horse thieves were indeed clever. They had laid out false tracks, even tricking Zorro twice. Both pair of tracks circling back to a mountain wall.
Irritated for how was it possible for men to steal horses and not leave any traces? The horses had to be somewhere? The tracks he was following now were also false. For the mountain, the wall was coming closer for the third time.
It made him wonder whether the track was fake. For it leads back to the same spot for the third time? He wanted to take a closer look. Why this spot? It was weird.
Dismounting Toronado, Zorro starts to examine the rocks some more. Toronado is scratching his hoofs over the ground, some 30 feet away from where he is looking. Studying for why Toronado is doing this, it looks like a massive stone wall. What is it the horse has seen or smelled? It is then when he sees under a bush some footprints in the sand. Zorro follows the imprints in the dirt, and the footprints vanish in the wall. A secret entrance?

Taking a better look around to see or there is some sort of leaver system. Like the entrance of the cave, back to the hacienda has. In a tree is hanging a rope. Was it that simple? With his eyes following the ropes, he pulled it. Some branches tied to a wooden board moved away reveals an entrance wide enough for a horse to enter. Sending Toronado away, knowing the horse would stay nearby and out of sight.

Zorro had his hand on the handle of his sword. Might the thieves be in the cave it was going to be at least four. It was not an actual cave. Daylight entered the narrow rock crevice. He had walked about 60 feet when the narrow corridor ended in a rather large, hidden field. An improvised fence prevented some fifty horses from entering the narrow corridor. On the left side, a small waterfall ending in a creek. Except for the horses, the place seemed deserted. There were signs that men spend time here. He found some remains of a fire and a camp. Probably the men were out to find more horses. It could take hours before they returned.
Zorro started to check some horses. Water was plenty to be found. And the field provided with sufficient vegetation for some more days. For tonight the horses were safe. Zorro would return tomorrow morning, just before dawn, catching the horse thieves by surprise. After that, informing his father dressed as Zorro, he had found the missing horses.

It was way after siesta time, and Zorro had been riding since early in the morning. His father was probably back by now and wondering where his son was. Hopefully, Felipe had come up with some believable excuse. It had been a hot day, even for Los Angeles. Diego felt sweaty and was convinced his scent, could be smelled within a four miles radius. If he hurried, he would be back in the hacienda in time to have a nice refreshing bath. Entering the cave, it did not surprise him to find Felipe in it. Answering the questions, the boy must-have. "Yes, I have found the horses. They are tucked away in a secret valley. About eight miles from the pueblo. Near the road to Santa Paula. Tomorrow Zorro will return, hoping to catch the men responsible. It wasn't easy finding the entrance. It concealed in some bushes growing against a rock wall.
Has my father returned yet? Good, then we don't have to come up with an excuse."

Felipe started to take care of Toronado. The bog gave the horse some fresh water and took off his gear. In the meantime, Zorro changed his outfit into Diego. "I'll long for a bath. Don't worry. You take care of Toronado. I will ask Sophia to prepare me one myself. I think I just have enough time before dinner."

Toronado was restless. It was not often, but sometimes the strong horse had a will of his own. And he did not want to be in the cave. Diego trusted his stallion to know he would come back as soon he is needed. "It looks like Toronado wants some time of his own as well. Let him go, Felipe. I am sure he will be back tomorrow morning."
It was like the horse had understood his master's exact words, for the moment Diego said it, the horse shakes his head, making Felipe take a step backwards and walked out of the cave. Toronado knew how to use the lever system that opened the secret door out of the cave.
"I guess he really did want some time off. Who can blame him after a long day of hard work."

Having finished changing, Diego pulled the leaver, opening the other secret door. The one leads to the library. His father was not there, so quickly, Diego started to make his way to his private rooms. Ringing the cord, one of the household helpers knocked on the door and came in.
"Sophia, I want to have a bath. Can you prepare me one?"

"Certainly, don Diego."

.

Sergeant Mendoza was desperate. The alcalde had ordered him to travel to Santa Paula. There was the rumour that also in and near Santa Paula horses get stolen. The alcalde of Santa Paula had asked for a meeting. Having a reason to believe, the stealing was done probably by the same horse-thieves. And the pueblos had to work together. To try and capture the men responsible for it.
De Soto had written a letter he was to come to Santa Paula on February, 13th. That was four days from now. Sergeant Mendoza and private Gomez sent out to deliver the letter. It had seemed like an easy task, and the ride had gone smoothly. It was about ten miles from the pueblo on the way back. The men got caught in an ambush. Five bandits had opened fire on the soldiers. The two men had not stood a chance and were both left for dead. Private Gomez was dead. Mendoza was shot, in his leg. The horses had run away, and he could not even get up to try and walk. The pain was too intense. Mendoza started to fear for his own life. He was losing blood rapidly. His water can be empty, and nowhere was a sign of a traveller on the road.
In the beginning, Mendoza had hoped he would be going to found soon. After more time passed, he was beginning to lose hope. The only man, he knew, brave enough to ride the road from Los Angeles to Santa Paula in the dark was Zorro. And even if Zorro somehow knew he needed help. Why would the masked man come to help him? Someone who was an enemy most of the time. The pain only got worse, like it was getting infected.
The sergeant did not want to think of it. He knew the dangers. Having served in the army for over twenty years now, he had seen what a bullet wound getting infected could do to you. Men, losing a limb or their lives.
Surely, the alcalde would organize a search party when he found out his sergeant and one of his soldiers had not returned from their mission to Santa Paula. He had to pray he was found on time. From the lifeless body of private Gomez, Mendoza had taken the gunpowder, bullets and knife. Ten bullets were all he had to keep the coyotes of him all night. He wanted the pain to end. Slowly the sergeant was losing his consciousness.

Mendoza felt something wet moving over his face. It felt nice and cool. He opened his eyes, seeing the sun starting to disappear over the horizon told him it was going to be dark soon. The pain in his leg was killing. The wetness in his face came from a horse that was licking it. The horse pushed his large head against the sergeant's body. Like the horse was determined, to help him to get up.
It was a magnificent black horse. That looked like Toronado. Surely it wasn't the half-wild horse of the pueblo's most notorious hero. The horse kept on pushing against him. It was annoying, Mendoza did not want to move. He wants to sink into being unconscious again. The horse laid down. Pushing his head against the body till Mendoza finally started to do what the horse was urging him. He had to try to get up and get on the horse. Can not stay here. He needed help. It took a lot of strength, actually the last strength, left in the sergeant his body.
Laying on the back of the horse Toronado got up and slowly started to walk again, carrying the sergeant.

.

Don Alejandro returned to the hacienda feeling frustrated. He had been riding with the other Caballeros and vaqueros since right after dawn. As they had tried to find tracks of the stolen horses. Nothing, nothing the men had found. Twenty-five horses had disappeared in thin air. Each worth at least two thousand pesos. Twenty men had searched the area. All skilled trackers, and nothing!
Tomorrow they were going out on a search again. Only returning to the houses for a good meal and a good night sleep. His old body started to refuse spending long days in the saddle.
Alejandro was almost home when he saw in the distance a horse with no rider coming closer. Was it one of the missing horses? On his guard, one hand on his gun, the horse came closer. And the old don saw that someone was laying on the horse. The horse stopped next to his, just as Manuel came out carrying a lantern.
"Patron, you have returned. Have you found the missing horses?"

"No, Manuel, not even a single trace. Give me some light." It was only then the old don saw the horse was Toronado. Zorro's horse, the man on the proud animal, wasn't Zorro. The man was a lancer in uniform, and he looked injured. With the help of Manuel, they helped the man off the back of the large stallion.
It was sergeant Mendoza, he was bleeding, and his skin was burning up. "Manuel, help me get him inside, then go to the pueblo and get the doctor."
The sergeant was a heavy man, making it impossible for Manuel and don Alejandro to carry him in.
"You wait here, I go get Diego. The three of us should manage." Alejandro walked away to go and search for his son. "Diego! Diego!" Now, where was that son of his?

It was close to dinner time, and Diego should be home, getting dressed for dinner. The don walked over to the private chambers of his son. Without knocking, he let himself in the small salon. "Diego?" Knocking on the door of his son's dressing room. Not waiting for an answer, he opened the door. "Diego?"
In his dressing room Alejandro found his son lazy in the bathtub asleep.
His son had been doing nothing in and near the hacienda all day. Probably slept till almost noon, the rest of the day doing some painting or whatever it was he did, and now he was sleeping in the bath?

Alejandro, picket up the bucket standing next to the tub. It still had some water in it that had gone cold. He did not even feel the least bit sorry for what he was about to do. Alejandro emptied the bucket over his sons head. Who was awake instantly. Not paying any attention to his son as Diego tried to understand what had happened and splashing water all around.
"Diego! Stop making such a mess! Get out of there and get dressed this instant. The sergeant is injured and needs our help. Now Diego!" Throwing the bucket on the floor, it bounced back to land on one of his foot. "AU!" With his other foot, the don kicked against the bucket. That had hurt his toes far away.
After the don left the dressing room, he stands frozen to the ground for a full minute. Trying to remember or what he had seen was correct.
Diego had been asleep in the bath. The water had reached halfway up his chest. The upper part of his chest had been visible, had scars on it. They were all healed, yet there were so many? One in Diego's upper arm, the don could swear he had seen a gunshot wound. When had Diego ever been shot? His son was famous for avoiding danger as much as possible. On his left shoulder was a large scar. That when it had been a fresh wound, would have needed stitching. And by the looks of it was done, by a blade or sharp knife. Also, some yellow marks of old bruises had been visible. Those must be like a week old or something. Diego only had gone to the pueblo a couple of times this week. Surely, that could not have cost him to have all these bruises all over?
What was it Diego did do when he said he wanted to work on some experiments?
For now, accepting, that must be the cause. There were more important matters that needed to deal with first. Alejandro went back to Mendoza.

The sergeant was still unconscious, laid on the ground. Manuel, sitting next to him."It looks like he was shot, in his leg, patron. He was incredibly lucky Toronado found him."

Diego came out of the hacienda. He had quickly put on some clothes, wearing his trousers and a half undone shirt. As soon as his father saw him, he told Diego what to do. "Let's carry Mendoza inside to one of the guest rooms."
The three men together managed to carry the heavily injured sergeant in and put him on a bed. "Manuel, go to the pueblo and get doctor Hernandez. After that, find the alcalde, and tell him sergeant Mendoza is here and that he is injured."

Diego had some medical knowledge and started to examine the sergeant. "He has a gun wound in his leg. The bullet is still in it, as far as I can see. And it has already started to get infected. It is a small miracle he was so close to the hacienda and managed to get here."

"Si, the sergeant was lucky. It was Toronado who found him and brought him to the hacienda. Once again, the sergeant owns Zorro, his life."

"Toronado brought the sergeant here?" Diego asked his father puzzled.

"Si, Mendoza was on Toronado's back. The Strange thing is, Toronado wasn't wearing his gear." The old don went in silence for a second. Like he wasn't willing to think the worse. "Let's just hope nothing has happened to Zorro."

"Father," Diego tried to reassure his father. His father always had admired the masked outlaw. And since Diego was pretty sure no harm had come on Zorro. It did make him wonder or, Toronado had somehow known the sergeant had needed help. "I am sure Zorro is fine. I mean, if Toronado wasn't wearing his gear, it must mean Zorro was not riding him at the moment."

"Si, I suppose you are right, son. Still, better not mention this to anyone. Especially to the alcalde."

"I agree."

Diego asked Sophia to get a bowl of boiling water and a bowl of cold water. Using cloths to place a cold compress on the sergeant's head to help break the fever. Both men waited for almost an hour for the good doctor to arrive.

.

Waiting in the library, a knock on the front door announced the arrival of an unexpected guest. It was Felipe who opened the door. Señorita Escalante rushing in. "I came as soon as I heard. Is it true? Is Mendoza injured, and was he riding on Zorro's horse?"

Alejandro walked over to the concerned woman. "It is true. Mendoza has a gunshot in his leg. The wound has already begun to be infected. Doctor Hernandez is with him now. As for Toronado, how did you know?"

"Manuel came to the tavern in search of the alcalde. I was just cooking my special roast chicken. You know, it is one of the sergeants' favourites. That is how I know. Is…., is Zorro…?" Victoria was worried. For the sergeant, and even more for Zorro.

"We do not know, Victoria. Toronado was alone and not wearing his gear." Seeing how white the face of Victoria got in seconds, the don went on. "This is a good thing, Victoria. It means Zorro wasn't riding him."

"But we don't know for sure, do we? We need to go out and find him. What if Zorro is injured, as well as Mendoza?" Pleading, the young woman looked at the tall caballero she saw as her closest friend.

"Victoria, you know that is no use. It is a moonless night. And Zorro can't be found unless he wants to. We better wait to hear what the doctor has to say about sergeant Mendoza and pray he can get the bullet out in time."

"But what if Zorro needs our help as well? I can't just stay here and do nothing."

The old don agreed with his son. "I am sure Zorro is fine. I do not think Toronado would go to so much effort to save Mendoza. Zorro needed him at the same time. Have faith, Victoria."

At that moment, the doctor walked into the library. "I managed to get the bullet out. But the wound is already severely infected. If the fever doesn't break, I might have to take the sergeant his leg to save his life."

Victoria was frightened placed a hand over her mouth as she tear-filled up her eyes. "Oh no, that is just terrible."

"Sergeant Mendoza is unconscious now, and all we can do is wait and pray the fever will go down soon. I have done all I can. It is a miracle he made it to the gate of the hacienda anyway."

"It was Toronado who brought him." Victoria provided the doctor with the information she got.

"Toronado?"

"Si, Perhaps Zorro is injured as well. Maybe we must go and try to find him." Victoria hoped to get some support from the doctor. That would convince the two dons to go and search for her loved one.

Like everyone else, the doctor knew of the feeling between Zorro and Victoria and understood her concern. "Señorita Escalante, do forgive me, but I think Zorro is fine."

"But what if he…" Victoria tried again.

For a second, the doctor's eyes glared over to don Diego, going up and down over the man's body. "Señorita, I am sure Zorro is fine. The reason for me knowing this...," Carefully chosen his words. "If Zorro... would require medical help…. Well, let me just say I would have known by now."

"How can you know so sure?"

The doctor sighed. "I just know señorita, trust me."

Victoria felt a bit reassured. It also made her wonder, had the doctor treated Zorro before?

"Now, don Alejandro, I hope you will forgive me, but I need to return to the pueblo. I need to check up on one of my other patients.
I'll be back in the morning. Till then, try to keep the sergeant as comfortable as possible. If his fever gets worse, call me again. Although I hope not, for if that is the case…, well let's not run forward and hope for the best." The doctor gave a small bottle containing a white powder to Diego.
"One teaspoon, in a glass of water. Try to make the sergeant drink as much as possible it helps to get the fever down."

.

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