CHAPTER SIX

The moon was high and shining down on Lucinda as she rode. Branches cracked and splintered under Topaz's strong hoofs. She urged him on until she came to a river that was near her fathers Hacienda. She wanted to think so she decided to walk Topaz part of the way to the stable.

Sliding off the saddle she landed with a jolt on the ground. A branch snapped and Lucinda grabbed her sword and spun around. She took a breath as she realized she had her sword pointed half an inch away from Diego's neck.

"Do you think I wear this outfit for fun?" were the first words out of Diego's mouth once she put her sword away.

Lucinda turned around and started walking. "No," She said coldly.

"Why in the world.." Diego began.

"Leave me alone Diego." Lucinda could feel the anger rising up inside her causing her skin to tingle.

"Pardon me for caring Senorita, but when someone finds out that his close friend," He barely held back the word woman, "Is an outlaw.."

Lucinda whirled around and Diego almost tripped over her. "Did I ask you to be concerned for my wellbeing?" She shook her head. "No I didn't! Keep your little lectures and speeches to yourself. You are nothing but a hypocrite!"

Diego stopped, "I'm a hypocrite?"

"Yes a hypocrite! Don't tell me not to do something that you have been doing for months now."

"What's really bothering you Lucinda?"

"I thought I was your friend Diego."

"Lucinda," Diego said grabbing her hand. "You're the best friend I have."

Lucinda yanked her hand away from him. "If we were really friends Diego, you wouldn't have lied to me."

"I have never lied to you!"

"Not telling me the truth about you, and listening to me talk on and on about how great Zorro was, is just as good as lying!" Lucinda turned her back. A couple of tears down the bridge of her nose and dropped to the ground.

Diego grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. "Do you want to know the reason I never told you?"

"I never would have told anyone," Lucinda said.

"I know that. I've always known that about you." Lucinda could see Diego in the moonlight. He was smiling. "The real reason I never told you, was that I love you too much. I would never want to see you get hurt because of this double life I'm leading."

Lucinda felt like she had been smacked across the head. "What?"

"What do you mean?" Diego asked. He sounded unsure.

"You never told me you loved me."

"I wanted too. Many times I almost told you, but all I could think of was that somehow if someone found out about me, then they would be able to harm you."

Lucinda smiled for the first time since leaving the Capitan's office. "I have to get home before someone misses me."

Diego nodded. "Be careful."

"I'm not that faraway from the Hacienda," Lucinda said.

"I know, but be careful anyway."

Lucinda nodded. "Thank you." She grabbed Topaz's reins which she had dropped earlier. "Diego," she said quietly.

"Yes?"

"I love you too." With those words she swung up on Topaz and pointed him home.

The End