CHAPTER TWO
Lucinda locked her bedroom door before slipping outside onto her balcony. The riding clothes fit perfectly and she had cut out a mask from an old leather skirt that she didn't fit into anymore. She pulled herself over the railing and hung down until she felt she could let go. It was a small drop from the railing to the ground, and she was on her way to the stables as soon as she felt the dirt under her feet.
Topaz was bedded down for the night, as all the horses where. Everyone had gone. He looked at Lucinda as if to ask what was going on. Putting her finger to her lips, Lucinda said, "Be quiet my little brown angel. Momma is taking you for one of the most exciting rides of your life."
Topaz flicked an ear and looked at her.
Lucinda grabbed the halter and slipped it over his velvet soft nose. He nudged her see if she was holding sugar in her palm. She almost always brought him treats. "Not this time Topaz," Lucinda said.
Once he was saddled she lead him out the back of the stables. Then they were off. The wind felt calming on her face and she wondered if El Zorro always felt like she did at that moment. Excitement mixed with a dose of fear surged through her system. The world rushed by in seconds as she guided Topaz past trees and boulders.
The town was quiet and dark as she rode up to it from the back. Sidling up so that she was next to the side of a balcony that was attached to the main buildings that surrounded the jail, Lucinda grabbed her saddle horn and gently pulled herself onto Topaz's back. She was glad for the many months of training that he had. Keeping the training a secret had been difficult. Her mother was convinced that women didn't need anything to do with horses. She would never have approved of Lucinda training Topaz like she did. At this moment though, as Lucinda grasped the railing with her hands and pulled herself up, she couldn't help but think that every sneaky training lesson had been worth it. Topaz stayed as still as a scared deer.
"Rosita, did you shut the window?" A man's voice called out. Lucinda's heart went to her throat and tried to jump out. A quick clicking noise with her tongue told Topaz to run along until she called for him. Another nice trick Lucinda could have hugged herself for teaching him. The light flickered on and Lucinda ducked over to the side of the window pressing herself against the cool wall. She listened to the window scraping as it was pushed down. The light went out and she started to breathe again.
Finally after threading her way over the buildings she could see the jail cell in the yellow moonlight. The shadow of the guard hovered over the ground like a giant.
"Who goes there!" the officer called out in a menacing voice. Lucinda flattened herself onto the rooftop that she had been perched on. She wondered if she got herself caught, how she was going to explain herself to her mother. Explaining everything to her mother sounded more frightening than actually getting caught by one of the Capitan's men.
A bald man holding a tin cup stepped into the moonlight.
"It is only me," the man said as he held out his cup.
"Get lost old man," the soldier said pushing him away when that man came close enough. After that the soldier sat down on a chair that was besides the cell. He leaned forward as if he was studying the ground.
"Is your hobby terrorizing blind men and old women, Senor?" The cold steel of Lucinda's blade tickled the back of the soldier's neck and he tried to speak. She stopped him. "No, I don't want to hear any excuses. You never gave them a chance to speak, now you will not be permitted to explain. Turn around slowly," Lucinda said still holding the sword up to his neck. She grabbed the jail keys from his waist band and inserted the key into the lock. She could see the woman in the corner, but only barely. She was cowering in fear.
"Please come out," Lucinda said motioning with her hand. "These men will not bother you anymore. Go home and be with your family."
The woman needed no more coaxing. She darted out corner, "Gracias!"
Not waiting for Lucinda to reply the woman shot out of the cell and disappeared into the night.
"Now step into the cell." Lucinda instructed.
"Who are you?" The man asked.
"You can call me the Crimson Rose." With that Lucinda shut the cell door and locked it.
"Capitan Monasterio! Capitan Monasterio!" The man started to yell as soon as Lucinda drew her sword back. She should have know he was going to start a ruckus. Maybe that was her first mistake, she thought. She could have knocked him out cold once he was in the jail cell. Too late for second guessing. She dropped the keys into the well just as the Capitan's door swung open. The incarcerated man let out a furious shout and shook the bar doors.
"What is the matter with you?" The Capitan's voice was slurred with sleep.
"That woman!" The soldier pointed to where Lucinda retreating form.
"Lancers to arms!" the Capitan's voice ran out in the clear night. Men poured out of the surrounding buildings and rushed at Lucinda, but she was already at the balcony and whistling for Topaz.
Two of the lancers reached the balcony, but Lucinda had jumped onto Topaz before they were able to climb up.
She saw a dark form toward her and she pushed Topaz forward. It was Zorro.
"I'm sorry Senor Zorro, but the woman you planned to save tonight is probably at home and in bed by now," Lucinda couldn't keep a small note of triumph out of her voice.
"Senorita, please go home. This is dangerous work that does not befit a woman."
Lucinda clenched her teeth and bit back the comment that was begging to come out. "I have done you a service Senor, and I plan to do many more if I am able."
"Then I pray Senorita, that you are not able too. I do not wish any harm to come to you."
Lucinda nudged Topaz forward just as the lancers and their horses had made it out of the gate. It wasn't hard losing them since half of them decided to take off after Zorro.
Back at the stable she dismounted and led the desperately tired Topaz into the stable as quietly as she could. She unsaddled him and bedded him down for the night.
"All men are the same Topaz." She pet him and then kissed him on the nose, "I miss Grandfather so badly. He would have approved me doing something to help that woman. After all he was the only one who taught me anything about fighting."
Topaz gave a quick nod as if to say he understood.
Lucinda heard the knocking even before she climbed through her window. "Yes, who is it?" she asked as she threw off her riding clothes. They lay crumpled on her bed as she yanked her night clothes and robe off of the hook above her door.
"Lucinda, what on earth have you been doing?" Her mother's voice came through the wood door and hit Lucinda like a stone wall. Glancing around the room wildly she flung her riding clothes into her closet and shut the door.
"Nothing really," Lucinda plopped herself at her writing desk and pulled out a bunch of papers and writing utensils.
"Then open this door immediately." her mother's voice sounded sharper then a dagger point.
Her mother bustled in as soon as she heard the lock click. "I was calling you for a whole minute!"
"I am so sorry Mother," Lucinda tried to breathe normally. "I was busy."
"With what?" Maria asked looking around the room. She laid eyes on Lucinda's writing desk. "Where you writing?" She sounded amazed.
"Well I.." Lucinda started.
"I never knew you were interested in writing." Was it her imagination, Lucinda thought, or did her mother actually sound pleased?
"Let me see your work," Maria said excitedly.
"I have only just started," Lucinda said and quickly went over to her desk and started putting things away. "It is horrible stuff really."
"Well suit yourself, but one of these days I want to see a sample of your work," Maria sniffed. "I just came in to say good night."
"Good night Mother," Lucinda said quickly. She breathed a sigh of relief when her mother finally walked out of the room.
At that very moment a couple of miles away, Capitan Monasterio was looking at something very carefully. As he turned it over in his hands he tried to think if he had seen it on anyone. He rubbed his eyes. It was too late to think about it. He was glad he had spotted the mother of pearl shell glinting in the moonlight. The last thing he had expected was to find a necklace in the dirt. His first clue to the identity of the Crimson Rose. He smiled as he put it in the desk and turned off the lamp.