Chapter Thirteen: Lolita's Secret Guest (Part 2)

Lolita's heart pounded wildly as she felt Zorro leaning against her, possibly already unconscious from the ordeal. She thanked God and the Virgin Mary for pushing her on to follow the masked outlaw and arrive in time to take him away before the attackers could regain their senses or reload their weapons. It was thanks to Tornado, really, who rode alongside them now as she hurried home. He was the one who guided them to the old, abandoned house where the explosion had taken place.

"Go, Tornado!" she called to him, sensing he could understand the urgency in the situation. "Go back home and hide for now! I can't hide you in the stables! Go!" As she flung her arm out in an effort to show him to leave, she was amazed to see him nod his great black head, his mane flapping in the wind, before turning from her and heading down the old road, vanishing into the night. Giving a breath of relief, Lolita kept one hand on the reins while the other rested on Zorro's limp arms. Gripping his wrists tightly, she held her breath as she forced Bonita to slow her speed down to a trot. "Please don't let them see me," she prayed desperately. "Please, oh please!"

Arriving at the stables, she brought Bonita to a halt once more that evening, her heart beating furiously in her chest as she looked around. "Zorro?" she whispered, turning her head to see his face resting on her shoulder. Her heart ached for him as she saw scratches on his skin, a thin line of blood appearing on his cheek. "Zorro, please," she pleaded, shaking his arm gently.

He stirred at this, his eyes blinking open as he moaned softly. "…Lolita?" he asked, wincing as he felt his body crying in pain.

"Zorro, I need to get off my horse, then I can help you get off. We're at my father's hacienda. Can you sit up and wait for me to help you?" He nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line as he squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the pain. As best as she could, she dismounted before grabbing his arm, assisting him as he slid off the horse slowly. "Put your arm around me," she urged him. He obliged, letting her take him towards the back door. Each time he walked, he felt pain shot through his leg, his back aching and burning as well. "Just a little more," she whispered reassuringly, urging him to go on.

No sooner did she reach for the handle, the door opened suddenly, a figure looming in the doorway. Lolita bit back a cry of surprise, fear consuming her until she saw the figure tapping her right foot rapidly in irritation. Recognizing that feature, she gave a sigh of relief. "Consuela-!"

"Lolita Rosalinda Pulido, I am going to-!" Consuela never got to finish her threat. The moment she saw Zorro leaning against her mistress, his cloak tattered and his leg gushing out blood, her eyes seemed to bulge from her head. "Madre de Díos!" she gasped. "Get him in here!" Together, the two women yanked him into the kitchen, Consuela's motherly, practical side shining through. "Lolita, take the saddle off of Bonita, or people will be suspicious in the morning," Consuela ordered quietly, pointing at the door. "Come back when you've finished. I'm going to clean up his leg and bind it before we take him upstairs."

"Gracias," the girl whispered breathlessly, running off to do as she was told.

Zorro leaned back against the chair, biting his tongue as the servant woman took one of the linen towels and tore it up with a kitchen knife. Kneeling down, she checked his wound and tsked him with her tongue. "You are lucky, Zorro. It seems the bullet grazed you, but it missed. It would have been quite a job trying to get it out without the proper materials. I'll have to cleanse this once we are in Lolita's room."

"Consuela…I can't…stay," he grunted.

She gave him a dirty look as she tied the rags around his leg. "Listen to me, Don Diego," she hissed. "If you even think of walking out there, the soldiers will catch you and Riviera will have you at his mercy. Lolita will be heartbroken and guilt-ridden. The only place in this house you can stay is Lolita's room, since harboring an outlaw would be against the law. This family is very grateful to you, but I doubt they will want any more trouble with that horrid man…unless you plan on revealing your identity to Lolita?" She watched him shake his head in defeat, nodding her own afterwards. "I thought so. Make yourself comfortable. You will need at least a day or two at most before we can let you scurry off. Don Carlos and his wife have gone to Monterey and won't be back until the end of the week, this should make things a little easier for you to recover in peace." She closed her mouth soon after, hearing Lolita tiptoe back into the kitchen. "Ready, hermanita?"

"Ready," Lolita nodded.

Together, the two women had the man in black place his arms around their shoulders, allowing them to assist him as they dragged him through the darkened house. Making their way up the flight of stairs at a slow, painstaking rate, both mistress and servant were alert as they pulled their patient into Lolita's room. At long last, they placed him gently on the bed, hurrying to close the door and light a candle.

"His back," Lolita gasped as she remembered. "There was an explosion – a small one, but he was so close…check his back, please!"

Zorro did not argue as he laid himself face down on the bed, holding his breath as the women carefully took his clothes from his body, inspecting the damage.

"The cuts are not so bad," Consuela noted. "He's suffering more from the stings and soreness of having his body thrown by the force of the blast, I'll wager. I'll have these cleaned and disinfected in just a bit. He's lucky you were close by to bring him here right away…" She narrowed her eyes at Lolita at this. "And you, señorita, are very lucky that you weren't hurt, caught, or killed! What were you doing out there?!"

"Consuela, please!" Lolita pleaded, her eyes tearing from seeing her hero in pain. "I'm sorry, I snuck out and wanted to be alone. He found me and told me go back, but I followed him, and when the explosion went off, I…I had to help. Please, I don't care if you're angry, but help him now!"

Heaving a sigh, Consuela arose to her feet and kissed her friend on her forehead. "I will, I promise…stay here and keep watch for now, won't you? You can help me clean out the wounds and patch them up." Without another word, she left the room, shutting the door after her.

Lolita turned to Zorro as she sat on the bedside, cautiously removing his hat and setting it on the nightstand. His eyes were closed as his breathing was shallow, but he managed to startle her when he spoke up. "Lolita…I'm sorry you had to become a part of this…to see me like this-"

Without a warning, she bent down and pressed a kiss to his cheek, taking his ungloved hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "You do so much for Los Angeles, and you've done so much for me and my family…I think it's my turn to help you now." Taking great care to straighten his mask and adjust the black bandana he used to cover his hair, she stroked his cheek and began to hum the same tune she had sung at the stream's edge that evening. "Rest, Zorro…I won't desert you…not ever."

~Z~

As the servants left the sala, Don Alejandro paced the floor, stroking his moustache in anxiety. "Bernardo, you're certain Tornado came back without Zorro?" he whispered, scowling when the mute manservant frantically confirmed what he said. "I don't understand…what could have happened? Why hasn't Diego come home?!" In an effort to make Diego's disappearance seem unsuspicious, he claimed that he had left late last night to visit a family member that was ill. Having run down to the hideout to see Bernardo's message was true, he fought to stay calm. He did recall there was a random blast last evening that people claimed had come from the abandoned Juarez estate, but no body was found…only a few scraps of cloth and a portion of the verandah that had been blown to pieces.

"Just where could he be-?!" Alejandro paused upon hearing a horse trot up to the hacienda, rushing out of the house and through the courtyard to greet the visitor. He desperately hoped that it would be Diego, but he was certain it would be otherwise. Seeing Consuela dismount her palomino outside the Mexican-styled home, he masked his disappointment with a considerate smile. "Buenos dias, Consuela."

"Buenos dias, Don Alejandro, Bernardo," she greeted them politely, peeking over their shoulders to see if anyone was running about. "I have a rather important message to share…it involves someone you know." She nodded as she watched Bernardo make a 'Z' in the air, instantly earning Alejandro's attention.

"Please, come to the library with us," he insisted, motioning for her to follow. Leading the way, Alejandro guided the group to the private room, locking the door after him before gesturing for the servant to sit. "What news do you bring of my son?" he whispered, his eyes filled with worry.

"I don't suppose you heard of the explosion last night?" she asked quietly, watching them as they nodded their heads the affirmative. "Zorro was there, and he found out that Commandante Riviera has hired some men to do more secret operations. He has only been able to smuggle out three of the cuartel's barrels of gunpowder but he wants these men to blow up certain dons' lands so that the property may be destroyed and even have some livestock damaged. He plans to offer them a sum of money to purchase the land and then become the largest and wealthiest landowner in Los Angeles."

"That dog!" Alejandro spat. "Diego left last night to see how far he would go…don't tell me my son was killed, Consuela!"

"No," she shook her head. "I spoke with him last night and this morning when Lolita was asleep. He said he found out some of the dons that may be attacked…" At this she handled him a last, which he took at once. "He believes the Pulido house may be next, and you will eventually be visited."

"I see," Alejandro murmured as he read.

"He tried to stop them but one of the men, an absolute lunatic in my opinion, managed to fill a bag with gunpowder, light it and toss it at him. He wasn't killed, thank Heaven, but he was injured. The blast made him disoriented and he received some cuts on his back from the debris that was sent flying. It appears one of the men tried to shoot him but the bullet only managed to graze his leg."

"Praise God," Alejandro sighed while Bernardo made a sign of the Cross, heaving a breath of relief. "Where is he now?"

"Lolita snuck out last night and managed to grab him right after the explosion. She brought him to our home and he's currently resting in her room. She stayed up with me all night to make sure his wounds didn't get infected, and she's made up the excuse that she has a stomachache from last night's meal and wants to rest all day so that no one except myself will go in. We're lucky, though – Carlotta plans on going out later today, and Yolanda rarely leaves her room at any rate. You remember that Don Carlos and Doña Catalina left for Monterey yesterday and will they won't be back until later this week. For now, we should be all right. We thought it best if he stayed still until the wound heals a bit more and the pain subsides, at least for another night or two."

Alejandro had to smile as he heard how Lolita remained by his son's side, faithful and true. "Dear Lolita…she's a brave and sweet girl."

"She is…reckless, also, but she is very compassionate," Consuela nodded. "She asked me to go into town to purchase some things for our secret guest, but I wanted to come here and tell you first." Bernardo knelt at her side, kissing her hand graciously while his eyes shone in thanks. She smiled back at him and kissed his forehead. "Don Alejandro, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, would you let me take Bernardo into town and then back to the Pulido hacienda? I think he would be a great help to us taking care of Zorro."

"Of course, Consuela. It will give us both peace of mind. Thank you," he said, bowing before her and kissing her hand. "I have already told the servants that Diego rode out late last night to check on an ailing relative in San Juan Capistrano. I will continue to use that excuse until he returns, and if Lolita or any of the Pulidos should ask, just tell them what I have said."

"I shall," she vowed firmly. "Come Bernardo, we have much to do." Excusing herself, she led the way out and agreed to wait for the mute until he came around with his own horse. "Just a little while longer, Lolita," she thought, hoping that no one would intrude in her room. "Just a little while longer…help is on the way."

~Z~

Commandante Riviera marched steadily across the plaza, ignoring the glares and hateful looks of the few people who dared to glance in his direction. Deep within him, he felt his rage boiling at the job one of his men did. Masking his emotions, he entered the posada of Teo Gonzales and sat down across from a table where two men sat.

"Can I get you anything, Commandante?" Gonzales asked stiffly, not caring for having the Commandante's presence but unable to turn him away.

"One bottle of wine," he answered coolly, waiting until the man had left before he let his eyes dart over to the men. "What happened to Pedro?"

"He was scarred badly, Commandante, he was so close to the explosion," one of the men responded in a whisper. He stopped himself from saying another word as another person entered the posada.

Riviera turned his head slightly and saw it was Don Diego de la Vega's mute servant, Bernardo, handing a list to the inn-keeper and tavern owner, his usual clueless smile plastered onto his face. Rolling his eyes, he knew that the deaf man would cause him no grief, so he spoke again, his voice still soft. "Which one of you idiotas do I have to thank for that little episode? It almost gave my plans away."

"It was Alan, Commandante," the second man insisted. "I saw it with my own eyes. He seemed so anxious to get the job done, and when Zorro appeared-"

"Tell me that infernal fox is burning in hell!" he demanded in a growl, startling the others.

"No, señor," the first shook his head. "He was hurt bad, and Alan tried to shoot him through the smoke, but some figure rode up to him and took him away before we could go after him."

"So…he has an accomplice, eh?" He stopped himself, waiting as Gonzales returned and poured him his wine. Once the man had left, he leaned in to the men. "Alan is a loose cannon waiting to explode…I can't have another mistake happen…it will be just like having Martinez and Juarez all over again." He grimaced at this, taking a swig at his drink. "What about our third man?"

"He made it out all right, boss."

"Good…kill Alan when you get back."

The two men's eyes widened at this. "Kill him? But-!"

"Or I'll kill him and you two afterwards," he snapped, stopping himself once more as he heard the door open. Agitated, he glanced back to see the Pulido's servant woman, Consuela, enter the vicinity and join Bernardo, asking Gonzales questions that Riviera did not care to hear. Bernardo seemed to feel the same way, wandering aimlessly until he sat by himself at a lonely table a good distance from the Commandante and his men, sipping a glass of wine merrily. "Listen," he hissed. "Don Carlos will be back in about six days' time. Until then, we lay low. Once he returns, I'll surprise him with a visit and stay for supper to distract him. You and the other two will set up the rest of the gunpowder and blow up the stables…perhaps even some of the house if you can. I'll be there to make a daring rescue and get the women out, and afterwards I'll convince them to sell me their damaged property. Then I'll pay you for your troubles once I'm able to purchase more gunpowder. Are we clear?"

Unbeknownst to the three men, Bernardo had absorbed every word they had spoken. Watching them make their final agreements, he knew he had to tell both Consuela and his master before it was too late. He only hoped that Zorro's wounds would heal and fast – if Zorro was unable to stop these men from destroying the Pulido home, then who knew what would happen once the bigger explosion took place?

~Z~

"Well, good afternoon, Señorita Carlotta," Ricardo del Amo grinned widely as the young woman approached him at the door. "How are you this fine day?"

"I'm doing much better now that you've arrived," she giggled flirtatiously, batting her eyes at him behind her fan. "Won't you come in?"

"Gracias," he thanked her, fixing his cufflinks as he entered the hacienda. "It's awfully quiet here."

"Papá and Mamá have gone out to Monterey. I'm afraid they won't be back until later this week," she informed him. "My sisters are occupied in their rooms at the moment. Please sit down. Can I offer you something to drink?"

"A glass of wine, if it wouldn't be too much trouble," he requested.

Carlotta snapped her fingers and called for one of the mestizo maids who worked in the hacienda, ordering a glass of wine and a cup of tea. Ricardo leaned back against the sofa, stroking his chin in contemplation as he drank in the sight of the elegant and commanding Carlotta. She had wit and grace, and she was without a doubt stunning. There was no one else he knew that could pull of some of the extravagant gowns she wore just to be in the house. She would make a fine doña one day if she ever married.

"What brings you to our humble abode this afternoon?" she asked coyly, crossing her ankles as she lowered her fan ever so slightly to show a seductive smile on her red lips.

"I heard that Diego de la Vega was out of town for a few days, also, so I thought I'd stop by to visit. He always monopolizes you beautiful ladies," he winked, earning a dainty laugh from his hostess.

"Well, Don Diego is very charming," she admitted, accepting her tea as the servant returned and offered them their beverages. "But that does not mean we don't notice you also, señor."

"Is that so?" he smirked, raising his glass to her.

Their conversation was interrupted when the front door opened. In came Consuela and Bernardo, carrying a basket of miscellaneous items that meant nothing to both Ricardo and Carlotta. "Pardon," Consuela curtsied politely as Bernardo swiped his hat from his head and bowed. "We've just returned from town. Please excuse us for the interruption."

"Have you come with the herbs for Lolita?" Carlotta asked, immediately regretting asking as Ricardo perked at the mention of her stepsister.

"Sí, Señorita," Consuela confirmed. "I will be upstairs attending her. I asked Don Alejandro if I could borrow Bernardo to assist me in caring for Lolita."

"Very well," Carlotta waved it off, not caring what the deaf mute did so long as he did not get in her way.

"Ah, may I see the señorita?" Ricardo asked, rising to his feet.

"No," Consuela answered sharply, a cool smile on her lips. "I'm sorry, Señor del Amo, but Lolita is not feeling well today. Perhaps another time." She could see Bernardo fighting to hide a smile at her refusal, hiding his mouth behind his palm as he pretended to scratch his cheek.

"Well, couldn't I at least say hello?" he prodded, receiving another disapproving look.

"You would not want to leave your hostess alone, Señor," she said curtly, gathering her skirts in her hands as she handed Bernardo the basket. "Please excuse us." Motioning for the mute to follow, she led the way up the stairs and knocked on Lolita's door, entering and closing the door at once.

Ricardo could feel Carlotta's eyes on him and he was stunned to see them shining with tears. "Señorita-"

"Don't," she snapped, raising her fan to hide her face once more. "I'm sorry but I'm not feeling very well either. I'm sure you can show yourself out. Good day."

"Carlotta, wait!" Ricardo called out, reaching for her as she ran up the stairs and rushed into her room, slamming the door after her. Having reached the top of the steps, he sighed in defeat as he realized she would not speak with him now. Still, he could not help himself. Turning away, he moved towards the door he had seen Consuela and Bernardo enter and knocked upon it.

There was a heavy silence which hung in the air for some time until he heard a familiar voice reluctantly answer, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Lolita. Ricardo del Amo," he responded. He waited a moment, his hands curled into fists as he waited anxiously, until the door opened.

Lolita had her hair coiled and coiffed into a casual bun atop her head, an elegant satin robe covering her body from neck to toe. She had one hand curled over her stomach as if she were in pain, the other clutching the neck of her robe. "What is it, Señor?"

"Lolita," Ricardo blinked, stunned to see her in such a state. "Are you all right-?"

"I thought Consuela would have told you that I don't feel very well right now," she answered curtly, her brows furrowed as she frowned. Her voice was weary but she was still filled with her usual determination. "Please, leave me alone-"

"Couldn't we talk for a minute, Lolita?" he pleaded, reaching for her hand.

"No," she shook her head, taking a step back and closing the door. "Ricardo, I need to rest. I don't feel like myself. Come some other day. Adios."

"Lolita-!"

Without another word, Lolita shut the door and locked it, leaning against the wood as she held her breath. She listened for his steps, hearing only silence for a moment before Ricardo finally admitted defeat and took the stairs, showing himself out. Peeking out the door, she made sure he was completely gone before shutting and locking the door once again, heaving a breath of relief. "That was close."

"I'll say," Consuela smirked. "You should have pretended to vomit, that would have sent him running."

"Very funny," Lolita pouted, taking the robe off to reveal a simple lilac frock. Glancing at the mute servant, she raised an eyebrow at Consuela. "You're certain it's safe for Bernardo to be here and see Zorro?"

"Quite. He's very trustworthy. He won't tell," the woman promised.

"Trustworthy or adorable?" Lolita asked as she crossed her arms over her chest, now wearing a smirk on her lips as her servant blushed. Bernardo pretended not to hear what she had said and merely beamed, pleased with what he had heard and seen. Patting the mute on the shoulder, Lolita smiled sweetly at the man. "Gracias, Bernardo. We need all the help we can get." Looking over her shoulder, she saw Zorro resting, his back rising and falling slowly as he slept soundly on her bed. "It's only a matter of time before someone decides to come in and check on us."